menagerie (september 2005)

8/3/2019 Menagerie (September 2005)

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. XLVI no. 4 September 2005


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MUSIC

Parokya ni EdgarHalina sa Parokya

- Ramona Torres- Nino Rive

- Kristel Kaye

ce I was little (no really, I once was),s scoffed at the paradoxical aspectge-old adage, Try and try until you. Weve been told, by parents,

ers and proverbs alike, that we shouldstand up every time we stumble; to the path each time we go astray, tobe willing to pay the price. The list

ogies goes on.seriously, for me, what never ceases

ze me is that, more often than not, weselves measuring our self worth by theof erroneous attempts we make wheno achieve something. As wise meno err is human, and that as much ase, we should learn from our mistakes.e we are, living in a society that isintolerant of errors.as pop singer Natasha Bedingfieldn her song Unwritten, Weve been

oned to not make mistakes, but I cantt way Indeed, mistakes serve as ant to our humanity and a driving forces our will to learn.t is why for this month, Menagerieshow that mistakes can actually yieldesults in more ways than one. Thefeatured here are those of peopleves have been glorified, even made

because of what they initially thoughtstakes. In addition to that, well alsoystifying myths, examining the natureos, and, of course, exploring roadswith career shifts.hese plus many more are in store fore. So again, sit back and enjoy thisissue.

Juan Carlos ChavezMenagerie Editor

ER CONCEPT AND 3D ART:MICHAEL JAUDIAN

OUT:MICHAEL JAUDIAN

:QUIZON & CHARM VENTURA

Its more than a decade since Chito Miranda asnd co. started redefiningOPM music. With the release of their latest album,Halina sa Parokya, thequintessential pop/rock group has proven that time hasnt dulled theirabilities one bit. This time around, the Pambansang Banda ng Pilipinasfeatures a more-or-less wholesome mix of songs, with some conceptsdrawn from Batibotand Sesame Street, as evidenced by the colorfulalbum art depicting puppet versions of the band members. Of course,since this is Parokya ni Edgar were talking about, subtle jabs of irrever-ence accompany the zany music and quirky humor of the album.

Halina sa Parokya contains an eclectic variety of tracks that willsurely delight both fans and newcomers to the bands catchy musicand witty lyrics. The 16 cuts, plus a bonus 17th track, ranges from theclassic spoofs to the thematic ballads that weve come to associate withParokya ni Edgar. The carrier single Mang Josecalls to mind the pastParokya hit Mr. Suave. This time t hough, its a superhero-for-rent whosin the limelight. The somewhat guttural vocals complement the songsraucous lyrics about the absurdity of the hero at the songs center. Aperfect example of the classic Parokya brand of humor, clever and amus-ing at the same time.

Other highlight tracks are spoofs on past songs, including WalangNangyari, a spoof of Andrew Es song Andrew Ford Medina, and TheOrdertaker, a spoof of the System of a Down hit Toxicity. The influ-ence of Pinoy rap on the band also shows in Bagsakan, a collaborationbetween Parokya, Francis M, and Gloc-9, and the ubiquitous first dayof school anthem First Day Funk, played everywhere ad nauseum andnow synonymous to Rexona. Then there is the punk/pop ballad ParaSayo, which is engaging and sweet without removing the swift stringsof the guitar.

The other tracks of the album are so-so, and of mixed quality. Theacoustic guitar-infused song Gitara and the gimmicky cut Pedros BasuraMixare a hit-or-miss affair. However, the overall quality of this albumdoesnt suffer much, as the rest of the tracks are solid, hilarious Parokya

efforts worthy of enjoyable consumption.Halina sa Parokya is another enjoyable ride from the

masters of hilarious antics. As one of the icons of thelocal music scene, Parokya ni Edgar does not disap-

point, once again turning out an album that is sureto become a part of Pinoy pop culture. This is onesuperhero worth paying for.

Tucked in an unassuming corner of Makati is Fat Michaels Place, a house slash restaurant that endures mits charismatic dcor than its lutong bahayappeal. Not located on usual hip strips, its growing clientele flocdiscover the hazy enchantment behind this uncommon dining place. The miniature house of Michael immestrikes the diner with a French provincial atmosphere. Dusty carpets spread across the floors, old plates and pictures hanging on the walls, and the native carpentry somehow give justice to the dingy ambience. Once scharming color-penciled menus will introduce you to the Filipino-Italian food they serve, or for a better lookprice tags, skim through the chalkboards that add a restrained caf experience to the place.

The interiors create great effects on the dining experience; as much as diners enjoy the anomalously dble recipe of the Rosemarie Chicken Salad (PhP185), a careful concoction of green leaves, apricot, prunes, cstrips, and croutons, the very languid and rustic feel of the house provides customers a respite from the usuaand bustle of typical on-the-go restos. For salads and main courses, prices range from PhP105-P295. To cautrestless, Fat Michaels Place isnt for the A-type personality. Food is served slow, such that its maxim attestcook slow, live with it. The Aligue Pasta (PhP195) is a recommended skip, for it intends to leave a bland, fainto the palate. But its Grilled Seafood Pasta with Kesong Puti (PhP205) is a delightfully exceptional break, thathe heaps of kesong puti over shrimps and tomatoes. A slight hitch, though correctable, is that the crust grudleaves a 3M Pizza feel to the tongue. The Choco Coffee Cake (PhP105) with its layered taste deserves a trSurprisingly, the Iced Tea (PhP45) emerges as the winner, with a very unique peach-like taste, absent even dining cafes of posh hotels.

The cramped place will cater more to the artistic types, coupled with the stifling atmosphere reminiscdepressing Sunday afternoons. It wouldnt be surprising to sit adjacent leaky air conditioners and to enjoy thepany of houseflies either; they all add to the charm of the place. By far, its food is nothing spectacular. It fachieve the stark contrast of a jerry-bistro housing exceptional food. Fat Michaels Place ring of Grandmas rest a low-key resto coupled with her equally unpresumptuous cooking. Go to Fat Michaels if you need to vimemories, or if you want to take a peek into an artists world. When youre there, your eyes digest more bepeculiarities than your stomach does food.

Its hard to forget a place whose surroundings stir forth a lot of sentiment and imagination as much as Fat Mdoes. Alas, it is also a tad harder to find. So make sure to ask for directions when you make your reservati

If you have been looking for an intelligent and freperspective into the typical teenagers life of joys awoes, then you would probably find something wowatching in this TV drama. From the creators of TWest Wing, Jack and Bobby looks into the personlives of two adolescent brothers; one of them eventally becomes the future US president.

In the story, president-to-be Bobby McCallist(Logan Lerman) lives a life that not many teens astrangers to. He has an overprotective mother (Chrtine Lahti) with a smoking problem, his older brothJack (Matt Long) openly admits that he is embarrassof him, and people claim that his personality wouldthe words totally uncool. With each episode, Bobexperiences incidents in his teenage life and learlessons that would ultimately affect who he becom

as the U.S. president.A particularly interesting feature to note is ththe show uses flash-forward interview segmenSeveral 15-second interviews (that take place in ye2049) with President McCallisters colleagues taover the screen in between parts of the story. The odrawback is, at certain points, the interviews couldquite distracting to the viewers since they interruthe flow of the story.

On the whole, though, Jack and Bobby wouldjust the thing to watch if you want to kick back anrelax. The plot is interesting enough, and the actinggood, though there is still room for improvement.

Finally, an explanation for shizzle. UrbanDictionary.com is the answer to the kind of words that Mer-riam-Webster cannot define: slang. Teeming withthousands and thousands of definitions coveringghetto and pop culture, this online slang bible justmight be able to shed some light on that obscureg-to-the-bizzack song on the radio. It exists fromcontributions of absolutely anyone who coins a word,phrase or expression and wishes to share it to therest of the world.

The terms range from hilarious descriptionsof human behavior (carspective: the valuable in-sight that comes during the long drive home), tometaphors of mundane things (dish jenga: the pileof precariously balanced dishes in a dishrack thatcannot be disturbed lest there be an avalanche ofchina), to internet jargon (pwned: to be made a foolof), to ghetto speak.UrbanDictionaryis witty, liberal,and out-of-the-box.

What it isnt though, is discreet. To the easilyoffended, it might not be as amusing since someof the words contain racial slurs, profanities, andsexual references. Nevertheless, UrbanDictionary.com is still worth a visit. Also, by subscribing to theWord of the Day, not only will you pick up a funnyphrase or two, you will also get to observe the waythis generation acts. And realize that these days,old Mr. Webster isnt the only one in control of thewords anymore. Fo sho.

TELEV

ISION

WEBSITE

FOO

D

Fat Michaels Place1154-A Rodrigues Avenue, corner GerneralLacuna St., Bangkal, Makati City,

Urban Dictionarywww.urbandictionary.com

Jack & BobbyStudio 23Saturdays 9:00-10:

- Jensen Ching

rs Note Rant n Rave

s e p t e m b e r 2 0 0 5t h e l a s a l l i a n menagerie2 s e p t e m b e r 2 0 0 5 t h e l a s a l l i a n menag


3/9

the ManBehind thePigs Nest

MARIA CARMELA SIOCO AND NICOLE TANGCO

Normally, when you call up a celebrity, youdexpect a secretary to pick up the phone. Youremade to wait a century before youre toldSorry, but Mr./Ms. Big-So-and-So cannot cometo the phone right now and If you would beso kind as to just schedule an interview someother time.

But in this mans case, it was a complete sur-prise. He not only answered his own telephonefor this interview, he also candidly spoke of hisschedule for the day and kept joking around.

Apolonio Pol Medina, Jr. is the highlyacclaimed virtuoso behind the Pugad Baboyseries that has been entertaining the Philippine populacefor seventeen years. His handiwork appears everyday inthe Philippine Daily Inquirer and over the years, he hascompiled his works into books. He has so far producedseventeen volumes of his sometimes biting, sometimesgreen but always entertaining strips. But despite all thefame that this cartoonist has amassed throughout his career,he remains to be a down-to-earth man who has his feetplanted firmly on the ground.

The keeper of the pigsWhen one thinks of a car toonist, one usually visu-

alizes the shabby-looking bum-type with all his time in hishands. At least for Pol, this is not so. As a cartoonist for amajor daily broadsheet, one of the main difficulties is thatthere are absolutely no sabbaticals; there is not so much asa days break. If I want to take a week off, I have to submita weeks worth of comics in advance, Pol explains.

But the work is only half of it. Cartoonists may havea Bohemian glamour to them, but they alsohave normal lives. Pol is the man of thehouse of five children. A regular day forPol starts with a wake up call at five AM.He is both family cook and school busdriver. He prepares his childrens baonand drives them to and from school. It isonly when he finally gets time to sit downthat he starts sketching his cartoons.

Architecture, Iraq and the InquirerWhile Pols life may now be quite

comfortable, like most things, it wasnt

always so. As many of Pol Medinas fans may alreadyknow, cartooning was not his primary career choice. Polgraduated with a degree in architecture in the Universityof Santo Tomas. He delved into this field since he believedthat it was more serious work for an artist. This led him toa refinery in Iraq as an overseas contract worker. There,he became the project architect for two years. His plansof continuing with architecture, though, eventually met itsdemise when his earnings were not enough to sustain hisneeds. I needed to moonlight to have gas money, hestates.

Despite the initial career slump, what was clear is thatPol has always known what he is deep inside: an artist.His idols include the likes of Dick Giordano and Jack Kirby,both legends, the former as an inker and the latter as thebrilliant mind behind such creations as the Fantastic Four.As both men have developed for themselves a niche in theirrespective artistic specialties, Pol has likewise carved outa spot for himself in Filipino pop culture.

Interestingly, it might have been something that neverwould have come about. Pol owes his popularity mostly tohis talent but part of his success can safely be said to havecome from the broadsheet where his strips come out, thePhilippine Daily Inquirer (PDI). On his choice of broadsheetto apply for, he says that I did not decide. Fate took me tothe Inquirer. It was the only paper where I offered PugadBaboyand they accepted it right away. According to onestory, when he decided to enter cartooning back in 1988,he intended to apply to different newspapers, starting withthe market leader of the time, the Manila Bulletin.

PDI was a relatively young publication at the time, butfate, in the guise of a confusing bystander who thoughthe was giving directions to the Bulletin, led him to PDI,and as he said, hes never looked back. Even the bookcompilations seem to have been something fate cookedup. In 1989, a Communication Arts student from De LaSalle University, Frank Aldana, used the then one-year oldstrip as the basis of his thesis. Frank got his 4.0, and PolMedina got his book series started.

The strips strippedPugad Baboy stands out in the minds of people

because, other than the fact that it is the only strip withnearly all the characters are overweight, Filipinos find theirlife stories jumping out at them. Its no wonder, since PolMedina gets all his material from his life and those of thepeople around him. In a previous interview, he shares thathe himself has three characters representing him: MangDagul is his serious side, Utoy is his childish side andPolgas, his adventurous side. As does Pol himself, each ofthese characters sports an earr ing on their left ear.

His family being very unique, he was able to come

up with characters representing each member. Othercharacters were based on people from our society: thepoliceman (Patrolman Durugas), the government official(Senator Cabalfin), the teacher (Ms. Nobatos), the doctor(Dr. Sebo), the NPA men (Ka Noli) and so many others.He then takes these people and sets them against a back-drop laden with our own culture a nd enriched by his ownexperiences.

To make his art even more distinct, he allows hisacters to evolve. As the people he based his charon grow and change with time, so do their ink-and-twins. The net result is that at any given point, theralways be something every generation can relate withalso makes the characters more real because like npeople, they change.

His two cents for cartoonistsTo budding cartoonists in college, his advice

emphatic on the importance of education and origiGet that degree first. Everybody can draw cartoonot everybody can tell a stor y. So stay in school and those ideas before getting into this craft.

Generally, Pol Medina has felt no regrets whcomes to this career shift. I consider every experiehave as story material for my comic strip. If I had a plife, Id have nothing to write about. Pol has embevery aspect of his career and has considered each eence and yes, mistake, as a stepping stone in establhis current professional status. Mistakes, after all, seembad when one first makes them but when one looks they may actually be the stuff of blessings.

From the unfortunate mishaps in the field of arcture, Pol Medina has met ultimate success. His camasterpiece has garnered much recognition throuthe country as a vivid reflection of the Filipino wipsyche. Pugad Baboyis among the leading comic in the Philippines; its seventeen volumes are a testato its enduring brilliance. Success is subjective to difpeople, and he aptly describes what it is for cartooWhen youve reached the point where you can livefortably with what you make in cartoons, youre th

have reached that point seven years ago and Ive looked back. But beyond that he, with his ingenicrafted horizontally-challenged characters and polisatirical quips, has succeeded in encapsulating thessence of the Filipino mindset greatly above all cartoonists in Philippine history.

Pugad Baboy Comic

taken from pmjunior.co

Lounge



4/9

Accidental discoveries in whatever forms alwaysmanage to turn heads, not least because theseserendipitous moments truly have the power to

alter history. But whats worth pointing out is justhow much serendipity is there in these discover-ies? Not much, it turns out. Louis Pasteur certainlygot it right when he said that Fortune favors theprepared mind. Indeed! By and far, fortune alsoseems to have a penchant for those who capital-ize on mistakes.

In 1933, Ralph Wiley, a college student who cleaned glassware forDow Chemical Co., stumbled across a vial that he couldnt clean. Hecalled the deposited substance eonite, after an indestructible materialin the comics Little Orphan Annie. Researchers at Dow then developedthe eonite into a greasy, green film called Saran. Initially, Saran wassprayed on fighter jets as a measure against salty sea spray and carmakersused it on upholstery. Subsequently, Dow refined the Saran into a transpar-ent, odorless film later marketed as a food wrap. Today, polyvinylidenechlorine, or cling wrap, has revolutionized the food packaging industryand many a modern kitchen, efficiently protecting food against oxygen,water, acids, bases, and many solvents.

After centuries of nomadic living, it was only in 1948 that a Swiss engineer nGeorge de Mestral took advantage of the burrs that stick to furs and other fabrics someone passes by in a field of weeds. On his daily walk in the Alps, he took a closeat the cockleburs that kept clinging to his dog and his jacket. When he examined onethe microscope, he saw that it has thin strands with tiny hooks. It took him almost tento realize the practical use of the burrs by applying their hook-and-loop principle thtwo strips of nylon fabric. This invention came to be known then as the Velcro, froFrench words velours, or velvet, and crochet, or hook.

A textile engineer named Jacques Brandenberger only wanted to develop atransparent coating for tablecloths after witnessing a wine spill in a restaurant whenhe accidentally got a resultant mixture that was too rigid to be useful. The idea ofhaving a waterproof coating was done by applying liquid viscose to cloth. Whenhe found out that the viscose film could be easily separated from the tablecloth, heimmediately saw the potential of his discovery. The transparent sheet was later oncalled as the cellophane, which is extremely useful for food packaging.

One thing you have to know about resistors is that these little, millimeter-scale cylindersto control electric current are marked by a unique series of tiny, colored bands. Now wthought that a tiny stripe could make all the difference? Certainly not Wilson Greatbatcwas an assistant professor of engineering at the University of Buffalo during the 1950s. Atime, Greatbatch was working with some cardiologists on a way to record heart soundshe reached out for a 10,000-ohm resistorbrown-black-orange. Unknowingly, he grabbrown-black-green resistor insteadabout 100 times stronger that what he neededand plit into the circuit. The circuit suddenly pulsed for 1.8 milliseconds, stopped and repeateagain. It was certainly no good for measuring heart sounds but Greatbatch knew what ha heartbeat! He went on to create the first implantable cardiac pacemaker, a far cry frtable-radio-sized, external pacemakers of his day. Whoever thought that one careless mcould end up saving countless lives? With the pacemaker, Greatbatch beams, Grandpabe in the mainstream again.

RUSSEL STANLEY GERONIMO AND ANNE LORRAINE NG

Popsicles

In 1905, 11-year old Frank Epperson tried making soda pop,then a popular drink, by mixing soda water powder and water.Accidentally, he left the soda out on his porch all night. Tempera-tures dropped so l ow that the next day, young Epperson found hissoda pop had frozen with the stirring stick in it! He didnt knowit yet, but he had accidentally concocted the very first popsicle! It

wasnt until 18 years later, in 1923, that Epperson rememberedhis invention, applied for a patent and started selling Eppsicleice pops in different fruit flavors. Later on, his kids started referringto it as the Popsicle and ever since, its been hard toresist the refreshing allure of this tangy sum-mer treat!

post-it notesNobody thought that a weak adhesive was useful until a man named

Spencer Silver invented the ubiquitous Post-It Notethat could be used as aself-sticking paper. Silver stayed up all night trying to invent an adhesivestronger than the ones already developed by 3M Company. Unfortunately,instead of coming up with a strong product, he came up with a weakadhesive, which stuck to surfaces but could easily be removed. Four yearslater, the 3M scientist named Arthur Fry remembered Silvers failed ex-periment when he used some mark ers as bookmarks in the church choir. Annoyedbecause they kept falling off, he began using the notepapers developed by Silver.This invention came to be known today as the Post-It Note, which has become oneof the most popular office products.

cellophane

pacemakers

saran wrap

velcro

artificial sweetenerSIn 1879, Constantine Fahlberg went to Johns Hopkins University upon an invitation b

renowned chemist Ira Remsen. One day, Fahlberg left Remsens lab and proceeded to ener without washing his hands. He noticed that his food was unusually sweet and afterinvestigation, was able to trace the sweetness back to the compound he handled earlier in thWhile working on an experiment on coal tar derivatives, and at Remsens suggestion, Faoxidized a sample of orthotoluene sulfamide and came up with orthobenzoyl sulfimide. Hethis saccharin, after the Latin word for sugar, saccharum and went on to patent and mature saccharin as a sugar substitute. Today, it is most famously found in Sweet n Low anddiet sodas owing to its long shelf life and zero calorie content, despite the many controvsurrounding its consumption after studies suggest it as a possible carcinogen.

BLUNDERSTHAT CLICKED

sh course 101



5/9

LJ ALMENDRAS, NAZRIN CASTRO, AND ANGELA VELASCO

Father and mother are the parents whobring me up, while a teacher is the par-ent who educates me, says a Koreanproverb.

But where do we draw the line thatseparates the role of a teacher from thatof a parent? Nonetheless, in nurturingboth acts upon, to equip a child withknowledge guided by ethics and morality.Then the more appropriate question wouldbe, where does it begin or rather, wheredoes it end? The difference lies in the levelof objectivity or extent a teacher disciplines,a teacher imparts, but only to the limits of theclassroom walls. Teachers are students secondparents and the school is their second home. Orso they say. Schooling is when a child departs fromhome but to continue a time well spent of learning ata concrete foundation. This circumstance is the implicitidea that parents entrust their children to the institution thatwould impart knowledge and wisdom, provide nurturingand pervade learning with love and understanding set inthe shared goal of a teacher and a studenta continuationof the fundamental idea of what has started at home. Butwhat if the latter goes beyond the mandated functions ofthe unwritten constitution of student- teacher relationship?What if the allure of the forbidden is so lavish that it temptseven the most moral of teachers? Would there be a trade offwith the disposition in culture or a violation of presentviews to act in a manner of ones ownchoosing?

Truth, Lies, and Consequences.Like our very own parents, there are a lot of things that students

may find admirable from teachers. On the contrary, we might find itunlikely as well when a simple admiration becomes too overpower-ing, it becomes an infatuation. May it be that smile that brightens aclassroom fellas day after a days work or that great sense of humornot evryone in class appreciates, that makes it all so charming. At

the same way a teacher admires a students perseverance andenthusiasm, a couple of extra time could always be arranged

for consultation. But wonderers are left asking, is

it quite possible that the teacher deliberatelymistakes this eagerness for a more personal

interest in a student for the need of a huge surge of egoboost? Students and teachers are mutually responsive whenit comes to personal sentiments that concern the factorssecluded within the same environment of the school. Itvaries, from cooperation and competition in the class orfaculty, family conflicts, inferiority complex, or the merewant of attention and appreciationtied with the dealingsof daily routines of coming to school, teaching or learning,socializing and at the end of the day, going home . Itsjust a matter of perception, or interest or even by chanceactually, that makes it rather controversial.

A student discloses, the teacher relates; a studentconfides, the teacher consoles. The innocent relationbetween the student and the teacher could flourish into aspecial feeling of affection when comfort and trust havealready been established within the rapport. The conform-ity of the relationship comes with the acceptance of bothpartiessense of ownership for the teacher and sense ofbelongingness for the student or vice versa. Could it beanything beyond that?

On the Teacher : On the StudentThere are two contradicting forces in the formation

of the forbidden relationship sentient to the teacher. Ateacher has the duty of being in charge of a class andtherefore has the authority to set the rules or even breakthem. Bringing this kind of mind set within the relation-ship and taking control actually means ownership of theresource which is , in this case, the student. It starts with apremeditated action of the teacher that allows an exerciseof power and autonomy over the student to submit to hisor her will and eventually leads to the manipulation of theentire relationshp, indirectly, intentionally, or so it seems.

A teacher could say no to the budding relationship if one

really does not want it to go beyond what is denominof his or her function. But inundated by the possibilitiesweakness that could also lead to the same interest, the pgives in and is in turn manipulated by the circumstaBut then again, is he or she inflicted by need orthe inflictor of need?

It is undeniable that many youngones seek attention. A deeper appre-ciation felt from a teacher could bea result from what he or she mightconsiders lacking at home maybe compelled in school. Maybe,there really are some things un-expected people come in handy.But considering how daring andplayful the young could get, thenmaybe its just one of their nasty hab-its. Again, it is a matter of perceptionfor one cannot solely rely on what isphysically evident on matters of pro-fessional and moral conduct.

Their Lips Are SealedA student- teacher relation-

ship is considered a taboo in thesociety because of its existentialnature opposing the conserva-tive moral obligations tied withcultural expectations. Whensuch forbidden relationshipoccurs, there is a betrayalof societal trust, since par-ents rested the faith of the

growth of their childs

r Story

My Teacher,My Soulmate



6/9

PHOTOS BYDANNABLE

CONVERGENCE

If ignorance is bliss, why do we seekknowledge?

I guess its a balance of some sorts. Were only human and tfact of wanting to attain knowledge is a very human quality. It power. But sometimes, ignorance puts things in perspective. I donwhy though, it just does.

-Anton Javier, IV-A

We seek knowledge because man is naturally c urious.

-Valerie Ang, III-

We seek knowledge because humans are rational beings. be imperfect, (but) still we strive knowledge because knowledgpower...and people want power...

- Ivan Payawal, III-CAM-MM

Are we seeking knowledge? Hindi naman, eh.We learndo not seek this KNOWLEDGE

-Clarence Arreza, I-AB-

Because man is created with the ability to think and the hufind meaning in his life. Bliss has no meaning. You wouldnt kn

-Krizia Leal, II-MEM

Because todays bliss might become tomorrows bane. Lihappens in unprotected sex.

-Abin, II-BS

Because we try to think ourselves better than ignorant.

-Joey Alvero, I-AB

Its in our nature to be curious. Even if the end result woulgood, we still feel like we should know.

-Mark Lim, IV-M

A life without knowledge would actually cost you more.

-Joseph Carunungan, V-BSBy pursuing knowledge, an individual will set his intellectual

ries. By setting those boundaries, one either gains content or pleathat person has attained relative knowledge, but not all the knothis world has to offer.

-Luarni Sim, II-AB

compiled by Juan Carlos Chavez and Elvin Ngo

well-being to someone who is not blood-related, someoneoutside the boundary of familial bond. In the same way,there is also the sacrificial offering of professional integ-rity on the part of the teacher. Theteachers code of ethics states thatthey should always be professionalin the manner of delivering theirfunction and only to the extent ofwhat is expected of them. It isinevitable that occasionally teach-

ers undertake actions in responseto personal issues concerning thestudent or in most cases, issuesconcerning themselves. But thisshould not hither the existenceof the parents who have the le-gitimate role to respond to theirchilds personal needs and toprotect what is theirs.

Society has dictated theway we perceive things andthe way we live. It has estab-lished that romantic teacher-student relationships are for-bidden. Yet society does thiswithout regard to the possibil-ity that these relationshipscan work. Society must givethese relationships a chanceto work. For without the op-portunity to achieve successwithin the relationship, then ther e woul d be nosuccess at all. Indecent, unethical, deviant, depending fromwhose point of view but they only seem to matter becausesociety dictates.

THEIR STORYLove can be found in the most peculiar places, sparked

by the most unusual things, or even discovered in themost unlikely people. Deviant as what society refers to

going against social norms. Paolo and Carlahad it. It was something they both found in oneanother. A discovery they dare explored. Theyhad first met each other during Carlas senioryear of college and his first year of teaching,

she being one of the students that stood out

among the many he had taught in his class.It wasnt her stellar academic performancethat caught his attention (in fact she onlymaintained average grades in his class).Her vivacious personality made her knownand approachable to all. He couldnthelp but develop a small crush on herbecause of the incredible appeal of hercheerfulness. Paolo was surprised whenhe bumped into Carla in his best friendsbirthday party. The two discovered theybelonged to the same circle of friends.This coincidental connection allowedthem to know each other beyondthe limits of the classroom. As thesemester progressed, the two main-tained the potential friendship theydiscovered that night. Carla found agreat sense of security from him, so

great that she found strength in him whenever shehad to face deep, personal problems. However, althoughthe attraction was undeniable, they did not immediatelyact upon it. Both took into consideration the consequencesthey would have to face after being involved with oneanother. Finally they realized that certain sacrifices mustbe made to attain something great. A lasting relationshipof two happy years.

Perhaps love is that one factor that deliberately breaks all barri-ers, bounderies, and odds. Its a risk taker that only breathes strengthand hope. It chooses no one in p articular, but it is a choice, it existsnot for what one is but simply for who that person is. But more thanthat, it deviates, it lives amidst all prejudices, that of criticisms andof false judgments. And more than anything in the world, the onlything that matters is the truth.

Names have been changed and the class not speci-fied for the sake of confidentiality.



7/9

There are many things we do not want about the world.Let us not just mourn them. Let us change them.

Ferdinand Marcos

Martial Law. Never before had any two words madesuch tremendous impact to Philippine history. During thistime, the writ of habeas corpus was suspended, freedomof speech was banned and the Philippine Senate andCongress were immobilized.

Indeed, it was a grim period in Philippine history.Many Filipinos were stripped off their human rights intheir own homeland. Consequently, thousands of familymembers and comrades abducted, imprisoned, and worse,killed. Economic stagnation, political repression and insur-gencies sprouted from the callous disregard for humanity.Rampant government corruption and exorbitant expendi-tures contributed greatly to the swelling international debt.No wonder it is difficult for many Filipinos to accept thatanything worth being called good ever survived from thisdictatorial era.

Time travelThe date is September 21, 1972. It was more than

three decades ago that the Philippines was placed undermilitary rule. It was during this period when the word dis-cipline was strictly given meaning. People were expectedto comply with numerous rules, even in their own attire.Slippers were prohibited. Men werent allowed to sportlong hair and women werent allowed to wear skirts.

Only citizens on the call of duty or on night shift wereallowed to roam the streets from 10:00 pm to 4:00 am.Anyone caught disobeying the imposed curfew would be

apprehended and obliged to do civic duty.Immediately after the declaration, sources of informa-

tion were blocked. Forms of media and broadcastingwere forced to a halt. Rallies were banned. It wasnt onlyuntil a week after the proclamation that the nation onceagain showed signs of life. Classes and work resumed.Government-sponsored channels like PTV 4 started airing.Other private television programs and radio stations re-commenced only after a year of the declaration. However,the content of their programs still underwent the needleseye before being released to the public. Even movies andsongs were scrutinized.

On a different angleFor years, Martial Law has always been associated

with its negative effects. The trauma it imposed on theFilipinos has been so glaring that people only notice theblack blotches of ink than the whiteness of the paper. Alot of people have been marred by the evils of MartialLaw that they forget to acknowledge the good it has also

imparted. But of course, its also worth mentioning that theMarcos regime was also responsible for programs thatglorified the country.

As austere as the stern discipline and strict implemen-tation of rules may seem, it did succeed in generatingfavorable and healthy living conditions for the people.According to Mariano Surio, 70, from Pasay City, Therewere no crimes during that time. The streets of Manila werequiet and safe. You can actually walk these streets withoutfear of danger or whatsoever. It is a given fact that it isimpossible to completely abolish crimes but these offenseswere at an all time low during the period. The military

was vastly visible and felonies were greatly prevented. Itwas a fascinating time in history, shares Amy Canicosa,50, resident of Makati. Culture was flourishing with allthe infrastructures that were being built to showcase them,like the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), PhilippineInternational Convention Center (PICC), and Film Academyof the Philippines. These structures were built to rival theirinternational counterparts and to show to the world that thePhilippines is just as glamorous as First World countries.

Paving the WayNobody can deny

the futuristic optimism ofMarcos programs underMartial Law. Of these wasa massive campaign forbuildings and construc-tions, which were meant tobring life to the rural areas.By the end of the dictator-ship, the infrastructure net-

work- national highways,bridges, and farm-to-mar-ket roads- was six timesmore in length than at thestart of the century.

According to Mrs.Emma Gregorio, a schoolteacher who lived duringthose times, Umabotsa rural areas yung mgakalsada galing sa citynoong panahon ni Mar-cos. Nagkaroon din ngmga tulay tsaka lumakitalaga yung mga daan.That, she says, is the majorfactor to the sudden boostof economic growth for most barangays, a communitysystem that was successfully revived and flourished duringthe era.

School buildings also started mushrooming throughoutthe country during the first three terms of Marcos term,reaching 42,000 in number, as compared to the mere 400left by his predecessor. Airports, piers, harbors, dams, ir-rigation canals, and other more structures served p art of hisgrand construction legacy. All this was built in support of hisvision to increase rural activity and income, as well as the

overall living standards of the common Filipinos, which didhappen for a time.

Economic RenaissanceAmidst all the controversies and hardships that surround-

ed the regime, what seemed to noticeably shine through is theadministrations push for agricultural advancement. Becauseof extensive research on rice funded by the government, andthe corresponding adoption of the technology to the currentrice production, the Philippines was able to boast itself asthe second largest exporter of rice in Asia during that time.The agricultural sector grew as the farmers were provided

with much-needed technical and financial incentivesfactors contributed to the upsurge of agriculturaand the dramatic increase of manufacturing acticountry. Real GNP grew at an average rate of seveannually matching the exchange rate of P7 to $1, bnot. The strength of the currency was evident not onthe exchange rate but also because the cost of livhigh and the purchasing power of the Filipino pesthe typical family could afford to eat 3 times a d

tourists were not immrosy glow of the econinflux of visitors reacmillion as compared tdred thousand of theyears. With the infraand developments tMarcos spearheadedand investors were enand drawn to the maof the Philippines. Aninternational capital

dramatically as the Pprojected itself unto economy as a countwages and industriaThe Philippine economMartial Law was cataall time highs that this nnever experienced.

Lessons LearneWith the thriving

and crime-free environPhilippines under Maseemed like an idealive in. The Martial Lawindeed be one of thperiods of this coun

showed us that through discipline, cooperation agovernance, the Philippines has what it takes to the top countries in the world.

It was once said that one must embody the chone wishes to see in the world. If Filipinos truly weconomy and the country to prosper, the change mwithin. Now, more than ever, there is a need to deresuscitate this country. Each citizen must assess thand work for the betterment of this country rather thblaming the government for its deficiencies. The wh

must first need to stop the political bickering anirrelevant issues that are side-tracking progress anmore important affairs.

Change is not something to be afraid of, but sto strive for. The citizens of this country have that they have proven by mere will and cooperation. Tinitiated the change from silence to screams, fromness to awareness, from dictatorship to democranot forget that there are always two sides to a stosure as martial law conjured up many evils, somcos dreams of greatness for the Filipino people it into reality.

Triumph Amidst the TurmoilMICHELLE LAUREN REYES AND DIANNE MARGARETH TANG



8/9

Detourthrough thePhilippines

PHOTOS BY KARLA PERALTA

Were moving where?Those were the first words that camefrom my mouth when my father announced that we wererelocating to the Philippines. It was a suggestion that left

me angry and hurt. How would he expect me to survivean entire 2944.12 air miles away from my friends, mycousins, my school, and my entire life? I was supposedto live out my life in India - study hard, get into a goodcollege and settle into a reputable job. That had been theplan but somehow by some fluke of chance the plan tooka turn to the southeast side of Asia, to a place I had onlyvisited as a baby.

The Adjustment PeriodDespite all my protests, the move was inevitable and I

soon found myself in a country where everything seemedforeign and new. Though I was still in the period of resent-ing my adoptive country, I couldnt help but stare in aweat the big flyovers a nd malls. We didnt have those backthen in my homeland.

Indeed, my first few months can be compared to liv-ing in an unknown planet where everyone around mewas speaking but I had no idea what they meant. WhenI first tried out school, I could neither understand any ofmy classmates nor comprehend the way lessons weretaught. I was teased and taunted mercilessly for being anInglesera. Everywhere I walked, there would be peoplelooking strangely at me. Generally, I remember that my firstimpression of Filipinos was far from anything nice.

In-Like with the PhilippinesBy the time I was 11, I learned to speak Tagalog flu-

ently and life became easier. I soon came to realize that thePhilippines wasnt as bad as I had envisioned it to be. Infact, unlike other cultures, the Philippines is actually hometo the warmest people I have met in the span of my life.

The whole country is a close knit community unlikemost other cultures where its each man and woman forthemselves. You can actually have a conversation withsomeone next in line to you when buying clothes in thesame section as you are, unlike in other countries where itwould be weird and embarrassing to do so. It was also here

in the Philippines where I lear nedto enjoy lifes small pleasures such assharing a plate of isaw with friends or eat-

ing dirty ice cream on a hot summer day for almostnothing. The 7,107 islands of the Philippines are hometo some of the most breathtaking feats of nature such asthe Banaue Rice Terraces, the Chocolate Hills of Bohol,the beautiful coral reefs, and of course the many heavenlybeaches. Suddenly, living here started to seem all right.After all, how many people can actually boast about liv-ing on group of islands, which tourists around the worldpay to see?

Hoy! Pinoy Ako!I am Pinoy, although not legally, but its how you feel

that counts. After living seven whole years in the Philip-pines, I am now an absolute and total Pinoy junkie byheart complete with a history of telenovelas, noveltysongs and local expressions to back me up. Yes, thismight neither be the safest country nor the most developedbut what it lacks in civil aspects it makes up with a lot ofheart. Ask any foreigner who has passed by this islandand I guarantee you that they will tell you of the hospital-ity and warmth of the Filipinos. People all over the worldmay value this country only for its beaches and holidayhavens, but its real beauty lies in the hearts of its residentswhere warmth and love radiate. What I had perceivedas lack of discipline was actually the Filipinos love of lifeand socializing, which I myself have come to adapt. Itstarted out as what seemed to be a mistake of giganteanproportions but it turned out to be one of the best thingsthat happened in my life. This country has bared witnessto all my shortcomings and achievements and while mybloodline and birth certificate are neither Filipino, my heartis definitely a converted Pinoy.

And to those who pine on leaving the country for abetter life, well take a look around you. Where else wouldyou find so much love all inside one archipelago? ThePhilippines and the Filipinos are beautiful and have somuch to offer be it the beautiful geography or the infinitekindness of the community. I dont think I could have chosena better place to grow up in if I tried.

entavos worth

I find it amusing that so many peoplejust cant wait to graduate. Knowingwhat I know now, I wouldnt hurry. Itsimply isnt all its cracked up to be.Like most students, I once couldnt waitto get my diploma and get started onthat long and winding road of li fe. Butnow that its actually within my reach,Im wary about taking it. More thanthat, Im scared stiff. Scared right downto my socks.

Society tells us that the school isthe place where we learn a craft todevote ourselves to for the rest of ourlives. This choice will not only help us

find our corner of the s ky, but it shouldserve the greater scheme of things. Assuch, beyond the academics, we arealso taught about our society and moreimportantly, about how to live in it.

Yet, as uncertain as I was whenI first entered college as a hopelesslynave freshman, I cant help feeling thatI am even more uncertain now, for inthe life I will shortly be starting, thereare no textbooks, no professors, notests, and no grades. There is only life,in all its frightening reality.

The mistakes weve madeAmong the things that make leav-

ing school behind oh-so-hard are thewhat-ifs. What if I had studied just awee bit harder? What if I had chosento shift, or enter a completely differentcourse? As much as these questionscan be somewhat disturbing, there isno real way to tell.

While there are some things inmy past that Id like to change, if Ireally think it through, even if I could,I most likely wouldnt. I am a product

of my experiences and my mistakes,so changing these blemishes wouldamount to changing who Ive become.With these then, theres only one thingto do: accept them, learn from themand move on.

The friends weve foundChanges are easy enough to take

when you know that you can rely on theconstancy of the people who surroundyou. True friends ensure that you wont

be alone through every ordeal youface. However, since graduating fromcollege usually means that you and yourfriends will go down myriads of pathsthat in a lot of cases, may never crosswith yours again, even this assuranceis pulled out from under your feet.

Once you leave school, yoursocial life no longer remains in thebackground; it becomes a responsibil-ity. Baz Luhrmanns piece EverybodysFree(To Wear Sunscreen) says that oneshould remember that friends come andgo, but there is that precious few oneshould hold on to. Now, I realize that I

must now make the choice to keep thelinks to the people who count alive. Itmight be tough, and new, but at leastyou can take the drivers seat and takecontrol. This is good, because espe-cially at this point, youre going to needevery bit of help you can get.

The life well liveNow, here comes the doozy.

While some concrete move can betaken regarding mistakes and friends,theres no way to imagine a completeplan of action for something that hasnthappened yet. And this is perhaps thebiggest fear I have, the one that has thepower to send me into doldrums thattake days to end. Its what I call thenightmare of what now?

Which career should I enter? Whoshall my partner for life be? What willhappen to me if I fail?Such questionsline the road ahead. Its easy enoughto answer these questions within theconfines of the classroom. In the realworld, how Ill answer them can build

up my dreams or send them crashingdown.

One comforting thought is that Iknow I am not alone in my fear. Miseryloves company, yes, but one cannotdeny that there is safety in numbers.This thought alone should give one thecourage to face the beyond. If manyhave done it before and succeeded,then I can too.

Life is essentially an adveYou can make plans, bring a mapyour truest friends, but you will still to be ready to improvise as yoYes, with improvisation, you risk wrong, but just like any gamble, iodds that make it interesting. Wittle faith, spontaneity, love, and mit seems the only thing that can this trip go awry is myself.

GearsShifting

NICOLE TANGCO


YASMIN NAJIB


9/9FUEL THE LASALLIAN ART & GRA

menagerie (september 2005)

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