encore

encore
editor’snote
The seniors performed exceptionally well and the
readers demanded for more. They wanted a repeat. They
craved for an encore.
In turn, we, the juniors, were pressured. We were
poised to match what our predecessors have produced.
We doubted that we can do it because the class was
divided into two. Out of the original U3A branched out
U3B. The tripod had lost one of its legs and was afraid
that it cannot stand up anymore. We were afraid because
we will be reaching for the goal not as a whole class but
only half of it.
Both sections persisted. U3A tried to look for
innovations - fresh ideas that would make us, at least,
worthy successors of the higher batch. We tried to think
outside the box.
Thus, the ambitious idea of producing and circulating
a digital magazine was born. Aiming to distribute the mag
through the internet and through mobile phones, we strove
to learn their very own language - the machine language
that is. As communication students, we believe that to
harmonize with the machines, gadgets, and technology
we have to communicate with them through their native
tongue. “100010010101010 101011000….,” uttered from
our mouths.
The very language inspired us. It made us realize that
the one’s and the zero’s in the machine tongue could only
translate to one thing. It is that we, not only the U3A
class but also U3B, will either be targetting for number 1
or 0.
This is where you, the readers, come in. It is for you to
find out and judge if the AB Communication juniors have
been successful in their quest to reach for the top spot or
not. The choice is easy. It’s either one or zero.
Our ‘judges’, this is all for you. We offer this mag to
you, our dear readers.
We present you our encore presentation.
In St. La Salle,
Alex Dimasacat
Editor in Chief
photography by
Jonh Philip Malinao
digital editing and
concept by
Alex Dimasacat
encore encore
editorial
e ditorial
Roast
the
Pigs!
The hogs are more gluttonous in the year
of the pig.
The Batangas province, since late
quarter last year, was unceasingly featured
on national news for being a hotspot for
political clashes, particularly between the
gubernatorials. Lipa City incumbent Mayor
Vilma Santos finally obliges after being urged
by Batangas mayors and church leaders to
run for governor. By doing so, the popular
actress will be running against her brotherin-law Ricky Recto and her husband’s cocandidate in the administrative party,
incumbent Gov. Armand Sanchez. Nestor
Sanares, who also has his eyes set for the
gubernatorial position, also adds to the
confusion of the Batangas electorates.
Worse, the intensity of the problem is not
even halfway there. On the national level,
the voters will again be facing the good old
ingredients of Don Juan de la Cruz’s filthy
election recipe: the killings, vote-buying,
bantay-salakay poll watchdogs, and other
dubious garnishes that make it a classic yet
disgusting Filipino dish.
Like pigs, most election candidates will
gluttonously take advantage, slob, and munch
on power like Lucky 4A Feeds. In the year of
the fire pig, majority political wannabes would
not be burning with passion for patriotism and
encore democracy. Rather, these pigs would be using
their fire to burn the right to honest suffrage.
Encore does not condemn the likes Mayor
Vi for pitting against the hogs in the pigpen.
Her situation was only used as an example
on how even more confusing the election can
be. Instead, Encore denounces the electorate
system for being a pigpen that nurtures the
so-called hogs. Yes, as clichéd as it is, the
pigpen system. The scenario has always been
the same, election after election.
For this reason, people who are voting
with less enthusiasm and participation would
certainly be waning.
“We are only too aware that is has been
easier to succumb to apathy and hopelessness
regarding our country and its political state,”
said the Catholic Bishops Conference of the
Philippines last January.
However, as the bishops stressed after
the statement, Encore calls Batagueños,
Lasallians, Filipinos and everyone “never to
lose hope.”
We are called to vote sensibly. Instead
of fattening the pigs by voting irresponsibly
or not even participating at all, make them
squeal. Roast them through the power of our
ballots.
Vote scrutinizingly and distinguish the pigs
from the real candidates. (Disclaimer: I was dumbfounded after reading my colleague’s columns. One talked
about world peace and the other two tackled the upcoming elections. Thinking I would
look like a bozo if I stick to the original plan to write a light column, I browsed Yahoo!
News for a current event where I could express my insights on. It was to no avail. I
pursued the plan and opted for a lighter column because of one or all of these reasons:
I was frustrated when Philippine Daily Inquirer Publisher Isagani Yambot rebuffed
my political column, which I considered a winning piece; I was fed up bisuggesting
desperation and escape whenever I would write a column about the country’s present
condition; I have already expressed the staff’s united political viewpoint on the
editorial; or simply, I was in no intellectual mood at the moment. Thus, forgive me
and please bear with the dim-witted disposition today.)
Crash Course
I am tired, pissed off, and sad.
Having communication productions and projects as substitute to written
exams was not that amusing at all. At first I thought it was the contrary since
I would not have to boringly study my notes anymore. Now, I wish I were
locked up in my room, memorizing gazillions of communication theories
word per word instead of the damn stress. I was deprived of sleep for days.
I could not take advantage of mom’s absence (she was out of the country
for a vacation) to host house parties and booze sessions. I was so pissed off
during the past few days that my temper was way shorter than usual.
Somehow, I could not believe how I am enduring all the hardwork. Two or
three years ago, I could have just bolted out and escaped the responsibility.
I would not even bother to be bothered but instead, I would just chill out
and relax, chillax.
For some reason, I cannot.
Three years ago, I was admitted to UP Diliman. However, I did not opt
to attend the premiere institution because I was too lazy to study. Taking
the Political Science slot meant “Welcome to Nerd Neighborhood” to me that
time. I was too cool and yes, stupid to disregard the once in a blue moon
chance.
I was intellectually arrogant ergo stupidly arrogant. I picked a random
program at De La Salle Lipa, thinking that I could fare excellently in any field
of study and in any academic institution. I took BS Computer Engineering
and performed satisfactorily. I may have skipped a lot of classes, maximizing
the 11-absence and 7-absence allowances, but I always managed to keep
up and stay ahead. Passing my subjects was a breeze. However, I was not
as happy. Ten years from that time, I imagined myself, working a job that I
am not passionate of.
Eventually, after two years of Calculus, I scouted for another course.
I eyed for AB Communications stupidly (still) for the reason that AB
Comm was known as a haven of beautiful collegialas (peace, hunney) in De
La Salle Lipa. The useful tip was courtesy of my Engineering friends who had
their fair share of relationships with AB Comm girls. And susbstantialy, my
work experience in Lavoxa would be more utterly significant when put in a
comm resume rather than an engineering resume.
I made up my mind and crossed-course.
Two years later, I was convinced that I found my haven. The AB Comm
Department was a place inhabited by not only beautiful damselles (U4A,
U3A, U3B, U2A and U2B friends, you should be treating me for dinner for
lying to…erhm flattering you) but a haven that I could call mine. “This is my
h(e)aven right here,” as Daniel would have said in U3A’s Echoes of Angels.
I found my match. And it was after a tedious crash course and two
years of scouting for the perfect program. I was in a two-year crash course
until I found nirvana at AB Comm. Moreover, I have found not only the right
program but also a new set of friends.
I therefore conclude that the love for the AB Communication program
is the reason why am I enduring all these - the sleepless nights, cramming,
dehydration and even quarrels.
Coming up with this magazine maybe a traumatizing experience because
of a broken spirit, a stressed heart, and a disappointed feeling. However, I
would forever cherish this.
I am tired, pissed off, and sad but I am loving it. Because when you love
your work, you are technically not working at all.
Alex Dimasacat
Schnizzle Dizzle
encore
Rudnie C. Manalo
On the Edge
encore Before I Ink My Thumb
Tainted
In a few months’ time, a new set of rulers and lawmakers will take on a
new position. The people will give them another term to prove their worth and
another chance to fulfill the promises they made during the campaign.
However, we still have time to address them with our own wants and desires
for our society. Voting is not the sole right of every Filipino. We can also use
our right to tell the future leaders of what we truly need. And through this
open letter, we can present the real scenario of the problems and let them
be the instrument for its solution.
I was blindly flipping through the channels (I say blindly because
for some reason, our downstairs TV tends to take approximately
60 seconds before showing anything on screen, no exaggeration)
when my ears caught the words “Big Brother” being spoken on CNN.
Initially thinking that the discussion was about the local version of
the show, I decided to endure the wait because even just the thought
of Kim Chiu on CNN is, in itself, already mind-boggling.
To my dismay (or relief rather), the discussion was about the
UK celebrity version of the popular reality series. Instead of being
entertaining however, the show has been accused of evident racism
as exhibited by the behavior of other housemates towards an Indian
actress named Shilpa Shetty.
Because of her nationality, Shetty became the other housemates’
object of ridicule. She was continuously criticized by her fellow
celebrity housemates for her accent and even for her cooking as
proven by one housemate when he firmly disagreed to eat a meal
that Shetty cooked, claiming that it was dirty. On national television,
some housemates even went as far as to calling her a “dog” and
saying that the Indian actress “made their skin crawl”. Although there
were several occasions where Shetty tried to fit in and make friends,
all her efforts were ignored as the housemates went on insulting her
and making her cry.
Through the hugely popular show, the issue has escalated from
a personal battle of a small group into a global attack on various
nationalities and cultures. Since the evidence of the housemates’
bullying and racism against Shetty, more than 50,000 complaints
have been reported. Moreover, trade relations between India and
Britain are in danger of being scarred because of such treatment.
In our country, the impact of the show’s local version may not
be as shattering but it is by no means insignificant. Whether or not
we realize it, the media has managed to amplify the slightest detail
and transmit it to any location on the planet. Because of this, every
issue becomes a worldwide concern because we as human beings
are affected by them one way or another. Although the racism was
directed towards an Indian, we cannot help but relate to Shetty’s
feelings because we too belong to a race which is deemed inferior to
the Whites. Moreover, even some of those who belong to the White
race are likewise offended by this simply because an attack on a
fellow human being should never be considered as acceptable.
The same is true for all. Even in small communities, a person’s
skin color or culture should not keep him or her from living a life with
equal opportunities because the diversity of human beings is exactly
what makes each one of us unique. Think about it, if the world were
all painted in white like a blank piece of paper, then it wouldn’t be as
fascinating and as wonderful as it always has been.
In the middle of the commercial break, I heard a little girl singing
this on the Dove commercial:
“…I’ll see your true colors shining through. I see your true colors
and that’s why I love you, so don’t be afraid to let them show. True
colors, true colors, are beautiful like a rainbow…”
I sang along, contemplating whether or not I should taint the
impeccable whiteness of the blank paper before me. But before I
even have a chance to think more thoroughly, here I am smearing it
anyway.
To the would-be-winners-through–honest-means politicians,
By this time, you are probably seeking support from people, shaking
hands with them, treating them as someone you know for a long time or
maybe, making long speeches in front of a crowd of hopefuls and telling them
to remember your name when they will finally exercise their right.
Being a student, I can clearly say what I want. I have the privilege of
learning and studying as well as discovering the needs of the students
like me and the people around me. Yes, we hear you talk about your
plans and your promises. And with that, I would like to specifically stress
the need to resolve problems in education.
A lot of students like me still cannot afford the cost of education. Yes, there
are scholarship grants but the miscellaneous fees that a student needs to pay is
even bigger than the cost of the tuition fee, which is quite intriguing and boggling
considering that they are in enrolled in a should be, low-cost school.
You said that the youth are the primary target of your plans and platforms.
The promise of affordable education was still fresh in our minds, way back three
years ago, when you were in the same position you are right now, asking for our
votes. But the promise, once again, is used as a promise that will eventually be
broken or shall I say, one that will forever retain a promise. With these, I hope
that the promise that was used a long time ago can finally have its realization in
the near future.
The quality of education in the Philippines is dropping in an alarming rate. From
a student’s perspective, the school is really to be blamed. Factors are pointing to
the inefficient programs and training given by colleges and universities. More and
more Filipinos, though finished schooling, have a hard time finding a suitable job.
Because of this, they were left with nothing but to continue looking for a career
that would fit their qualifications and trainings. And at the bottom of this turmoil,
millions of jobless graduates are piling up year after year.
After graduation, the students are on their own, without any chance of
creating a good future because of their weak foundation. They all depend on you.
We all depend on you. The elders said that the youth are the future of our nation.
We are not passing on the responsibility but now, our future lies in your hands,
in your sincerest service. And with that, you are the future of this nation.
Our dear leaders, we are looking forward to the fulfillment of our appeal.
These are just a few of the ailing situations that we, students, are experiencing.
The youth are counting on your genuine dedication and service the way you’re
counting on our votes. Millions of people are expecting from you, not only the
youth but also the whole nation.
Through this letter, I hope that you recognize the worth and the role that
the youth is playing in our society. With these problems and a lot more hindering
us from continuing our dreams, we will be left with nothing but a piece of an
underdeveloped land, deprived of the possibilities of becoming an industrial
leader.
I am looking forward to seeing the improvements in education. I still have a
year to stay as a student and I hope that it is still enough time to see the problems
addressed and eventually witness the progress that everybody deserves.
Respectfully yours,
rcm
Mihaela Mae Hinayon
Colorblind
encore
The Paradox of Politics
Genalyn Baloloy
GENuine Talks
encore What is it in politics that everybody wants to get hold of it? Is
there more money in politics? Or is it about the power and fame
that politics can provide?
I just don’t understand why people crave for the position
in the government, like those showbiz personalities. Showbiz
industry is a big place and a good field, if I may say. If they really
want money, power and fame, they already have it. It’s in their
hands. But why do these stars choose to enter politics? Maybe
they only want the best of both worlds. But the question is, do they
have what it takes to be the next leader of our country?
I think I could blame the rules on candidacy. According to that
rule, an individual can run as long as she/he is a Filipino, can read
and write and is at the right age (In this case I could run in the next
few years! But I don’t have plans of joining their circle). This rule
should be revised; a leader should at least be knowledgeable with
our constitution and can really represent our country.
Nowadays, according to Alan Robles, people viewed politics as a
circus and politicians as clowns who entertain the public and make
them laugh. This could be because of showbiz stars that entered
politics and if this will continue to happen, our government will be
providing us with only entertainment, not our needs. Imagine if
most of the politicians were celebrities, what would be the present
state of our country? We’ll probably be a bunch of hungry Filipinos. As I
observed, people from the government are becoming a hot item in showbiz
and the stars are eyeing for the position in the government so which is which?
If this is the case, whom should we vote for in the upcoming election?
Filipinos should be matured enough to know who’s worthy of their votes.
There’s too much entertainment in our country and it’s time to be more
serious. Voters should know the candidate’s capabilities before they vote for
them. Showbiz personalities have a great edge towards the other candidates
because they have a high name recall and like what they said, “malakas
ang hatak sa masa.” However, this is not enough. People should set high
standards in choosing a candidate. Start asking, could those stars alleviate
the problems of our country? Are they capable enough to answer the needs
of the Filipino citizen? Remember that politics is not like the usual thing that
they do. Here, there’s no retakes and no cuts that could help them polish
the matters that they would be dealing with. Given the fact that they look
good on camera, we all know that it is not enough. Aside from that, what
other factors do they have that would put an end to the crisis that all of us
are facing?
Those stars would probably say that they are not after the benefit that
they could get through politics, and then think twice. What would be the
reason why they are running for that position? Don’t give us that crap that
they are after our welfare and that they just want to be heroes to someone’s
lives because if that’s their reason, they could help the Filipino even if they
are not in the government. But come to think of it, that’s the perfect formula
for another corruption scheme and malfeasance. Remember that the world is
on fire with desire and aversion. This teaching is according to the Buddhists
that we are all running after things that are pleasurable and are fleeing from
things that displease us. One reason why stars may be inclined towards
politics is that they could get pleasure from the wealth of our country. They
may be leaving stardom because they were deluded by their insatiable
hunger for power, money, position, popularity, and possession.
Not many of us give too much attention to our politicians. But if we’d only
spare our time and give some attention to our politicians and look closely at
the role they play in our lives, then I’m sure that we would know that all our
lives we’ve been living in an entertainment world. This is a country where
entertainment is ubiquitous and government is also susceptible to it. Okay,
others may pay no heed to actors and actresses running for government
positions either be local or national but don’t you think that you are just
giving them the opportunity to fulfill their agendas and to play with our lives
and money which we work hard for? We have to do something for the benefit
of our country, so chuck out the clowns in politics.
Lipa gives carpet to nat’l artist
Maria Fenella Mabiling and Susana de Castro
“He takes
the reader
to a journey
in
the past
t h a t
continues at the
present and
actions at
t h e
Bienvenido Lumbera
DLSL eyes campus radio
Raymond Co
To be spearheaded
by the AB Communication Department, a very
first campus radio station will be hitting the
airwaves this June.
The
station
will
have various segments
such as developmental programs to cater
to the needs of De La
Salle Lipa’s (DLSL) immediate
community.
Fresh music and public
announcements will be
supervised by the Association of Communication Students (ACTS).
Disc jockeys (DJ)
will be selected from
the students of the AB
Communication department. An audition will
be held prior to the airing. A forum is to be
conducted tentatively
present that has its
roots in the past”
This was described by
a critique of Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera in his homecoming, February 15.
The depiction bears the
national artist’s magical
artistry that inspires his
fellow Filipinos, especially
the Lipeños
Dr. Lumbera was
awarded as the National
Artist for Literature or Gawad Pambansang Alagad
ng Sining after President
Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo chose him among
the various nominees
screened by the National
Commission
for Culture and the
Arts (NCCA). The
said award was
given to a very rare
few to recognize
their significant contributions in the development of Philippine Arts
whether music, dance,
theater, visual arts, literature, film, broadcast
arts, fashion design, architecture, or allied arts.
Lumbera was a true-
blood Lipeño. He was
born in Lipa on April 11,
1932. He received primary
schooling in Padre Valerio Malabanan Elementary
School and spent his high
school years at The Mabini
Academy.
Lumbera came back
to Lipa for a special tribute which was held at
the Lipa City Youth and
Cultural Center. Mayor
Vilma Santos-Recto, other
government officials and
student gathered to commemorate one of the Philippine pillars of literature.
De La Salle Lipa (DLSL),
Lipa City National High
School (LCNHS), Bolbok
National High School, Lipa
Science High School, Lipa
City Public College (LCPC),
AMA Computer College
and The Mabini Academy
(TMA) were among different academic institutions
that participated in the
said event.
A day before the tribute, the national artist and
his spouse Cynthia Lumbera granted DLSL an ex-
before its launching
date for the purpose of
information dissemination.
national artist/p.12
The radio broadcasting equipments will be a
permanent addition to SOUND CHECK. Prospect disc jockey Kathlyne VilAB Comm’s Media Cent- lena soundchecks the newly deployed radio equiper. “I am hoping that the ment in the Media Center. (John Philip Malinao)
students will maximize
its usage so as to also
maximize the learning of the students”,
AB Comm Department
Head Eldrick Peña said.
“I am happy that we will
be acquiring it (radio
station) not only for our
department but for the
whole Lasallian community as well.”
The radio transmitter will be mounted at
the roof deck of the Mabini Building.
encore
Film workshop hits year three
Mihaela Mae Hinayon
gether with Fernandez, the short flicks
The
annuwill be critiqued
al Lipa Film and
by film giants Dir.
Video
Workshop,
Peque Gallaga and
spearheaded
by
Dir. Lore Reyes.
the AB CommuniThereafter, the
cation Department
best film, together
under Eldrick Peña
with other award
is now on its third
categories will be
year of implemenannounced at the
tation. Filmmaker
Gawad
Balisong
Gabriel Fernandez,
which will coincide
who was also last
year’s facilitator, is IT’S A WRAP. Dir. Gabriel Fernandez oversees the AB Comm with the workshop’s conclusion.
currently conduct- juniors during a mock shoot, March 10. (Aldrin Jade Bisco)
ing the workshop from 10 am to 5 film genres and a
which commenced pm. It serves as variety of ways on DLSL stages charity show
Czshevinah Hae Alejandro
last January 27 and an elective subject, how to utilize the
De La Salle Lipa (DLSL) celebrated its
is slated to con- Film Production, of camera for storyfoundation week by extending help to its
clude this March AB Communication telling.
juniors.
At the end of outside community through “Sagip Buhay:
24.
Throughout the the program, the A Show for a Cause” which was held at the
The workshop,
which will run for two-month event, students are ex- Sentrum, February 16.
Co-sponsored by Lipa Mary Mediatrix
nine
Saturdays, the students will be pected to produce
is held at the AVR exposed to various a short film as their Center (LMMC), the variety show gener4 of the Sen. Jose filmmaking tech- final requirement ated funds for cancer patients. The prodifferent for the course. To- ceeds would be donated to the latter via
Diokno
Building niques,
the Good Samaritan Foundation.
An audio-visual presentation (AVP)
Comm studes witness Cinemalaya flicks
was presented by the said foundation’s
Carmela Roxas and Marvelonne Asilo
Administrative Manager, Oscar Mulhern.
Two
batches nication
audience Film Festival 2005.
last NoThe
second
v e m b e r batch was a display
26
and of Milo Tolentino films
D e c e m - – Orasyon,
Buog
ber
7, and Apak. Orasyon
r e s p e c - won Best Short Film
tively.
in Cinemalaya 2006.
T h e The said horror flick
I SING FOR A CAUSE. Piolo Pascual perm u l t i - was a modern paraforms before a Lasallian audience during
a w a r d ble about a religious
the Sagip-Buhay charity show. (P. Malinao)
w i n n i n g widow, Lola AmparAng Pag- ing whose vulner- The AVP presented the benefactors of the
dadalaga ability showed at charitable event.
ni Maximo the arrival of a nosy
Mayor Vilma Santos-Recto extended
Oloveros riddling housemaid, her gratitude to DLSL and LMMC for iniatand Man- Lucing.
ing such a generous act. Santos-Recto also
syon were
Open forums fol- presented the guest performers of Sagip
s h o w - lowed after each of Buhay. “Wala po silang (the actors/perof Cinemalaya film cased on the first the screening dates. formers) hinihinging talent fee. Bagkus ay
screenings
were batch. The former, Tolentino, Head of nandito sila para pasiyahin kayo at makatstaged at Shoemart which was directed StudioIndio
Films ulong sa mga cancer patients.”
(SM) City Lipa and by Aurelito, won Best and Milo ProducPiolo Pascual, Ogie Alcasid, Lovi Poe
at De La Salle Lipa Short Feature Film in tions, answered the and Pinoy Dream Academy scholars Kristof
Mini-Auditorium be- the Cinemalaya Phil- queries and also
Abrenica, RJ Jimenex and Emman Abatayo
fore an AB Commu- ippine Independent
cinemalaya/p.12 performed various song numbers.
encore 10
Media Congress caps service for the Filipino
Susana De Castro
“When you’re for the service
of the Filipino people, you can’t go
wrong.”
These were the words of Eugenio Lopez III, ABS-CBN Broadcasting
Corporation chief executive officer,
that were addressed to delegates
from over 50 schools nationwide
during the 2nd Pinoy Media Congress held at Miriam College, Nov.
27- 28.
The goal of the two-day convention, according to Gerard Josue,
President of Philippine Association of
Communication Educators (PACE),
was to validate theories through dialogue with media experts. Moreover,
he emphasized that the event was
organized not only for public relations purposes but also to serve as
an opportunity to promote fellowship of the attendees.
As a means to increase their exposure to different forms of media,
students from the De La Salle Lipa
(DLSL) AB Communication Depart-
ment participated
in
the
program
a l o n g
with other
representatives from
other institutions
such as
Batangas State
University (BSU),
Ly c e u m
of Batangas, De
La Salle
University Dasmariñas
(DLSUD),
Ate n e o
HANDA NA BA KAYO? Korina Sanchez
readies younger media counterparts for professional tips regarding the communication
profession. (Alex Dimasacat)
AB Comm seniors seize the day,
showcase theses
Bernard Bautista
Senior AB Communication to our alma mater,” said one of
students, U4A, held a public the seniors, Kasy de Pedro.
screening of their theses at the
The short films that were
Mini Auditorium, Mabini Build- showcased were Stop Over, Isang
ing last February 20.
Basong Tubig and Balintataw.
U 4 A’s
DocuC a r p e
m e n D i e m ,
taries
a
Latin
Huling
phrase
Hirit ng
m e a n Kapeng
ing “seize
Mainit,
the day”,
Madre
featured
L a u r a
their final
M e n projects
d o z a :
comprised
Misyon SEIZING THE PANORAMA.Seniors Gerard
of
short
era and
Sarmiento and Fatima Vergara tapes the exterior
f i l m s ,
Hiwaga
of the Lipa Cathedral for their documentary.
documenng Lawa
taries, and research papers as- educated and informed the pubsociated in the field of commu- lic about the barako coffee, a
nication.
charismatic Lipeña nun and Taal
“Carpe Diem is a way of say- Lake, respectively. The written
seniors’ theses/p.12
ing farewell as we bid goodbye
de
Manila
University
(ADMU), and
University of
the
Philippines
Diliman (UP-D),
to name a
few.
I
n
Lopez’s keynote address,
the role of
the youth in
ushering
a
new beginning for the
country was
also given focus. He also
delivered a
speech
in
honor of his
media
congress
/p.12
Comelec confirms
ACTS re-election
Lea Marie de Castro
Due to failure to reach the
required number of votes last
January 25, the Commission on
Election (Comelec) recently confirmed a re-election for the incoming officers of the Association of Communication Students
(ACTS).
According to Comelec Chair
Melanie Quilla, only 35 out of the
160 total electorates participated
during the election, thus falling
short from the required minimum
number to validate the election
results.
Thus, Comelec, in coordination with ACTS President Fatima
Joy Vergara, has decided to conduct a re-election for those who
were unable to exercise their
rights to vote. Vergara opted to
have the re-election done during
the upcoming AB Communication
assembly this March.
encore
11
commfinder
Marlon Luistro, a former Associate Editor of Umalohokan, got
a stint in Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) as a Southern Luzon Bureau correspondent. His credentials as the Associate Editor of Umalohokan, De La Salle Lipa’s official newsletter and as a contributor
for Balikas, the community paper in CALABARZON Region won him
the early pitch.
During his ten-month work in PDI, his pieces were featured
in the front page a number of times. His news article on typhoon
Reming was even published as a banner story last November.
Luistro also wrote for the now defunct Newsbreak Magazine.
He is currently doing an in-depth report for Philippine Center for
Investigative Journalism (PCIJ).
Cristine Antoinette “Toni” Catu first worked as an ëditorial
assistant in Animo (De La Salle Philippines official magazine) and
Blue Blood Magazine (Ateneo’s magazine). Hector Gloria and Eldrick Pena referred her to Animo publisher Albert de los Santos.
However, Catu insisted on pursuing what she is passionate of,
which is production work. She received an offer from ABS-CBN as
a writer for ASAP but opted to be a production assistant (PA) for
“Maalaala Mo Kaya.” She believes that starting from a PA will serve
as a stepping stone for higher positions. Catu also worked as transcriber for Gud Finds, aired on the Lifestyle Network and Cinema
One’s VIP List.
Geoffrey Latayan worked as a writer at Cornelis Pols Design
right after graduation. His first assignment was an article about
Loren Berberabe, who was an alumni of De La Salle Lipa (DLSL)
Unified School. While working in Cornelis Pols Design, he was also
busying himself as a freelance sports writer of Animo Magazine
where he had his first article about the De La Salle University – Manila’s football team together with former classmate Cristine Antoinette Catu.
Now, he is working at Universal Flash Magazine which is the
official magazine of Philippine Taekwondo Association.
For Ralph Quijano, his Film Workshop in third year became
an eye-opener for him to devote his time in filmmaking. He was
given a break during the workshop and attended the Film Workshop in Bacolod. Director Gabriel “Gabby” Fernandez bankrolled his
tuition fee for the whole summer and Br. Manuel Pajarillo also lent
his helping hand to develop Quijano’s talent. He also took Directors
Apprenticeship (DA) under Director Peque Gallaga.
After the workshop, Quijano went back to De La Salle Lipa to
work under the Office of the President for Development. He made
an audio visual presentation (AVP) for the school, applying the
skills that he acquired in the Gallaga workshops.
Borgie Marasigan, on the other hand, worked in the field of
marketing. The former Chevron spiker, was hired by Nissan Motors, courtesy DLSL’s annual job fair. He works as analyst in the
Nissan Motors’ Marketing Division. He also serves as field representative for auditing.
Marasigan confessed that he had a hard time adjusting to a
field which is far different from his field of study.
Jhonna Adarne, like Marasigan, worked a sales/marketing
job. Eventually, after two months, she was promoted as administration staff of Filra Airconditioning.
Lea Marie de Castro
encore 12
national artist/p.9
clusive interview held at the Lipa Grille. The
former shared childhood experiences in Lipa.
He also mentioned about his view in regional writing, several creative projects and his
hopes for a traffic and drug-free city.
One of Lumbera’s famous work of arts is
the “Rama Hari”. This is a collaborative work
with Alice Reyes and composer Ryan Cayabyab that connects the Filipino audience to
ancient Indian myth, “Ramayana”. He also
has his revision of “Florante and Laura” of
Francisco Baltazar and “Hibik at Himagsik”
of Victoria Lactaw.
‘Bad’ addicts
get worse
Aldrin Jade Bisco
Feathers
cinemalaya/p.10
gave tips to the
students.
Tolentino chose
six AB Comm studes
to serve as the production people for
his next film entitled
Sa Kanlungan ng
Impyerno (On Hell’s
Cradle). The production team will be
comprised of U3A’s
Bernard
Bautista,
Marvelonne
Asilo
and
Czshevinah
Hae
Alejandro,
U1A’s
Cassandra
Moira Sawali and
Nikki Olivia Bautista
and Ralph Quijano
of AB Comm’s pioneer batch. Bernard
Bautista will serve
as assistant director,
Asilo as executive
producer and Alejandro as production
designer. The rest
would serve as cast
of the short film.
seniors’ theses/p.11
tackled topics on Philippine print media and development communication.
Thesis defense was held, February 4,
at the Media Center. The panelists were
Jessica Macamay, Paulo Carillo and Marketing and Communications Office Head
Lorna Achico.
media congress/p.11
father, Eugenio Lopez Sr. whom he
pointed as the one who taught him that an
individual should have competence, skills
and heart to achieve success in his chosen
endeavor.
Meanwhile, other noted media practitioners that graced the event were Regina
Paz Lopez, ABS-CBN Foundation Managing
Director, who tackled corporate social responsibility in relation to uplifting national
consciousness, and Korina Sanchez, chief
correspondent for Philippine and global operations, who shared their experiences and
gave tips to their budding counterparts.
Badminton
addiction is in a worsening state, proving
that the said sport truly is today’s fastest growing sport.
Despite the expensive court fee, badminton equipments, and
accessories, there are still lots of people in this third world country
who practices the pricey game of badminton. This is because badminton may soon be as popular as basketball. Thus, other countries around the world are giving priority for the said sport. Some
of these nations are China, Denmark, Malaysia, Korea, Indonesia,
the United States, Japan and England. World-class netters like Lin
Dan, Bao Chun Lai, Taufik Hidayat, Kenneth Jonassen and Peter
Gade, sprouted like mushrooms.
Records were also made. Fu Haifeng set the new world record
for the fastest smash, 332 kph, at the Sudirman Cup in Beijing. It
was a way large deficit from the preceding record since England’s
Simon Archer held it previously at 260 kph. Fu is ranked fifth in the
world with men’s doubles partner Cai Yun in 2005.
In the Philippines, we have our very own Kennevic Asuncion
and Kennie Asuncion. The siblings have dominated various prestigious tournaments like the Japan Victor Company (JVC) Badminton Open. They were also the first to represent the Philippines in
the World Badminton Championship (2004).
Badminton Philippines dub Kennie Asuncion as ‘the country’s
number one player, be it in women’s singles, women’s doubles,
and mixed doubles.’ She has played and won in world-renowned
events. Aside from competing in local and international tournaments, Kennie also serves as head coach of the Ateneo de Manila
badminton team.
Fortunately, NGOs as well as the government recognizes the
potential of badminton. Various private and government tourneys
are staged not just in the capital but also in different provinces.
Budding netters compete for different badmintons cups in the
Palarong Pambayan, Palarong Unit; Regional Athletic Associations
unit, regional and provincial meets; all the way to Palarong Pambansa.
Subsequently, many Filipino badminton addicts will rise and
reap titles from local tournaments and someday, from the international scene as well. Badminton addicts are getting worse (for the
better) as they improve in number but also in their performances
as well.
***
Badminton was as not as popular today than in my elementary years. Before, they (including) thought that badminton is
sissies since it is an easy, effortless and less exciting game. The
perspective has changed when I sent as delegate for the Palarong
Pambayan. Watching skilled players from other schools has made
me realize the limitless extent of dexterity and talent that one can
achieve through badminton. I was not stereotypical about the
said sport anymore, instead, I was excited about the possibilities. I was even more excited about my potentials when
bagged 2nd place and defeated one of the most brilliant player
in the said tournament.
I continued playing badminton when I reached high school.
Pressure and enthusiasm got into me when I met players who
were really good at playing. That group of people invited me to join
our town’s badminton association. Not once did I hesitate. I immediately joined the association. Thereafter, my performance boosted
into new heights through the help of the association’s instructors.
I joined the intramurals and competed with 16 other sections.
After rough and tough matches, I eventually got the gold. Then, I
opted to be a member of the first batch of badminton varsity netters in our school.
My story of being a bad addict did not end in high school.
The badminton persisted even during college. I tried out for
the De La Salle Chevron (De La Salle Greens then).
I did not pass the try-outs. I felt sorry for myself. I thought it
would be the end of my addiction until another opportunity came
into my grasp. Intramurals seemed to favor me again when I won
the gold for the second time. It became my ticket to the Chevrons.
As a Chevron, I was sent to various out-of-school tourneys
and fortunately won some of them.
A couple of years have passed and my performance in playing
is at its peak until an accident changed everything.
Last summer, my younger brother accidentally dropped a
knife onto my right foot. It literally lacerated the flesh and almost
cut my foot’s vein. I felt the weight of the world on my back as the
doctor sew my foot and thought that I could not play anymore. I
was right, I was not able to play anymore because of fear.
However, after a six-month rest, I felt that I recovered and
was ready to play again. I may have missed the chance to play the
Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) Provincial, recently
held last month and other previous tournaments but I am very
thankful that I given a chance to make a comeback. My coach
texted me and ask if I would be willing to play at the coming National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) – South this March.
Of course, I will!
I then realized that God is really good for letting me continue
my ‘addiction’ again. Hindrances may serve as thorn to an individual’s goals but if he has faith, that thorn will instead become
his badge to overcome the barriers and become an invulnerable
athlete.
encore
13
Sarmiento qualifies
to nationals
Aldrin Jade Bisco
AB Communication junior
Mary Joyce Sarmiento along
with the Chevron basketball
team and twelve other Chevrons were drafted to represent
Region IV-A in the upcoming
Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) Nationals, April 15-22.
Although the Chevron lady
spikers (representing Batangas)
were not able to successfully contend the crown from Cavite’s De HOLDING THE HOLY GRAIL. Chevron lady spikers captain Joyce
La Salle University Dasmariñas in Sarmiento, holds the championship cup after sweet victory at the
the PRISAA Regionals last Febru- PRISAA Regionals. (MarCom)
ary 23-25, Chevrons team captain Sarmiento, who wowed other lete Atienxa, Bernadette Kristine cent Mercado would also be disteams through her exceptional Cabrera, Dianalhen Hernanadez patched.
gameplay, was drafted to the lat- and Hazel Lagos. Jay Africa and
Two golds and two silvers
ter’s PRISAA Nationals lineup. Ken Mick Bautista will be rep- were garnered by the Chevrons
Thus, adding to her lengthy list of resenting Region IV for athlet- in the regionals. The golds qualiNationals appearances (including ics. Meanwhile, Imee Malgapo, fied the men’s basketball team
the Palarong Pambansa).
Manuel de la Cruz and Sato Ruiz and men’s table tennisters to
Other Chevrons who were Lipat will compete for women’s the nationals. The silvers were
drafted by the winning teams basketball, chess and swimming, bagged, courtesy of the Chevron
for the PRISAA Nationals are repectively. Table netters Randy men’s and women’s volleyball
Sarmiento’s co-spikers Claudel- Losa, Joaz de Veyra and Paul Vin- teams.
Chevrons nail Green Archers, 82-78
Nico Anthony Sanchez
De La Salle Lipa (DLSL) turn the 3rd quarter’s tide in their faChevron quintet speaked vor, 57-61.
past Team B of the De La
As the last quarter’s opening
Salle University – Manila buzzer sounded, pressure surmount(DLSU-M) Green Archers in ed both La Salle teams. However, the
a tight exhibition game, 82- Chevrons prevailed and managed to
78, held at the De La Salle “stay focused on the game plan,” as
Sentrum during the DLSL’s forward Ryan Jay Samiano have said.
45th Foundation Week.
DLSL’s Harry Habit converted a
It was a tight game right lot of free throw points and De Roxas
from the start. Both teams continued a superb display of sheer
hussled and gained the lead athleticism, eventually ending the
in seesaw transitions.
game with a game-high 37 points, 8
Although the Archers rebounds, 2 steals and 1 assist.
led a four-point deficit at the
De Roxas also banged in 3 triples,
end of the first buzzer, 17-21, including what turned out to be their
the trailing Chevrons turned winning trey under the last minute of
back the tides at the end of the game.
the 2nd quarter, 44-38, courThe Archers could have forced
tesy of its star cager Boyet De extra time to overcome the Chevrons
GREEN VS WHITE. A Green Archer fol- Roxas. Led by Joseph Bagats- but were not able to prevail because
lows through after a set shot relase while ing, DLSU-M took back what’s of De Roxas’ tide turning three point
Chevrons (in white) await for a rebound. theirs in the first quarter to jumper, 82-78.
encore 14
MAD DASH. Runners flock en masse at the starting point of the Batangas lefg of the Milo Marathon. (Lavoxa archives)
Batangas hosts Milo Marathon
Milo Marathon, the
country’s biggest and
longest running footrace, held its inaugural
elimination run at the
Plaza Mabini, Batangas
City last February 4.
The “Pearl of the
South” played host to
more than 4,000 runners vying for titles in
the 3K kiddie age group,
Rey Francis Atienza
5k fun run and the much the Milo National Ficoveted 21 K qualifying nals last December 10,
race.
completed the course
Former champion in 1:7:6. He gains the
Crecenciano Sabal of ticket to reclaim his
Sultan Kudarat and glory at the national
Maricel Maquilan of leg this November 18
Polomok, South Cota- in Manila.
bato topped the said
“Babawi ako this
21 K race.
year. Mahal na mahal
Samal, who fin- ko ang koronang iyon,”
ished 7th overall in said Samal.
Spikers continue back-toback glory
Meanwhile, Maquilan captured her second
straight leg, clocking
1:26:33 in the women’s division. She also
topped the Batangas leg
last year.
Like Sabal, Maquilan’s display of perpetual endurance proved
too much to handle for
other competitors.
Nico Anthony Sanchez
Unequaled
and chalked down Emilio to start the season,” what we started – to
College- said Jeffrey Versoza, play and focus on our
unvanquished in the Aguinaldo
game plan and
men’s
divicooperate
sion,
the WE ARE INVINCIBLE. Chevron spikers strikes a pose for their re- to
De La Salle sounding victory at the NCAA-South, prior to another reigning glory and work as a
team.”
Chevrons vol- at the FSC Cup. (MarCom)
Ve r s o z a
leyball squad,
and his teamas of press
mates eye for
time, holds a
the
champi2-0 win-lose
onship game,
standing.
to be held on
Thus, taking
March 13 at
themselves
the De La Salle
on the top
Sentrum.
notch of the
Other parFriendship
ticipating
Solidarity Cup
schools
for
(FSC)
volleyball men
As soon as
are
UniverFSC
opened
sity of Batanits ninth seagas (UB), San
son last February 3, the Chevrons Cavite and the Lyc- Chevron spikers team Beda Mendiola (SBM)
captain. “I guess we and Lyceum institute
relished glory early eum of Batangas.
“It was a great way were just continuing of technology (LIT).
on as the wallopers
encore
15
comm
Chevrons
interview by
Marvelonne Asilo
text by
Alex Dimasacat
Cassandra Moira
Sawali
Multi-awarded
jin
With
already
30
within grasp
taekwondo
s t a r t e d
just in the
rookie Sanitely a preto the Chevron
five of her 60
tally were won
als.
“I got into
because of I
s e l f- d e f e n s e ,”
student. My siband we needed
tection.”
golds
since her
stint
that
when she was
fifth grade,
wali is deficious addition
jins’ roster. Fifty
overall medal
in the nationtaekwondo
wanted to learn
said the U1A*B
lings are all girls
added pro-
Harriet Hernandez
Seasoned tennister
Playing table tennis for almost ten years, the
Chevron table tennis team captain is a certified
seasoned and experienced tennister. She had a fair
share of winning prestigious awards like recently,
in the PRISAA Provincial and in the Women’s National Collegiate Athletic
Association
(NCAA).
Since
her table tennis
stint that started
in the fifth
grade, Hernandez has joined
and became a
veteran of
them all exc e p t
her ultimate
dream
which is
to play in
the nationa l s .
With tremendous skill and dexterity that
she possesses,
the
said
dream is a piece
of cake.
encore 16
Dulce Kwok
Budding Sharapova
“Do you want to be like Maria Sharapova?”
This was the question that inspired Kwok and
served as her ticket to the De La Salle Chevrons.
Coach Alvin Dimaculangan turned a girl who haven’t
even mast e r e d the basics yet to a skilled
netter
in no time. As proof,
Kwok won her first
tournament in
the
Private
Schools
Athelt i c
Associat i o n
(PRISAA)
b
y
bagging the silver
medal.
Being a fan of
Sharapova, a player who
not only
has superb skill
but also
poise and sophistication,
Kwok manages
her time
between training
and
study to become
a
full-fledged
pro
like
her idol.
Eric Paolo Santos
Dedicated booter
U4A Santos
throughout
primary
school
now in the
level.
Inand influby
his
h
e
dedia n d
orit
o
pride
C h e vfootball
was a booter
since
his
years and
tertiary
spired
enced
brother,
m u c h
cated
goalented
bring
to the
r o n
squad.
“ N o
challenging
I
always
that
I
ing every
the field,”
matter how
a game is,
make sure
enjoy playtime I am in
said Santos.
He alots more than 18
hours of practice (4:00-7:00 pm) per regular week and a hefty
5 hours, everyday during summer breaks.
The Badminton Commandments
Aldrin Jade Bisco
When the God of Badminton came down to the summit of Mt. Mizuno, He called
Lin Dan (Asia’s top badminton
player) who went to the summit where He said to him, “Go
down and give this warning to
all people who are badminton
enthusiasts.”
So Lin Dan went down to
the people and said to them…
God spoke all these words.
He said, “Badminton is
thy game. Thou shall not
play other games besides
it.”
The god of badminton proclaimed that badminton is addicting to that you do not play
other sports beside it. Badminton is one of the finest
sports in the planet because
intense and spirited fun that
also keeps your body fit and
your brain active.
For He, the badminton god,
is a jealous god.
“Thou shall not take anybody’s name in vain.”
Thou shall not curse every
time you lose a point. Don not
lose your cool if your opponent
heckles you after he hits you
in the face with the shuttle. There is a proper time
for everything. Wait for
your revenge.
“Remember
the
badminton
day,
whether
your group
plays
on a
weekday, a Saturday, or
even a Sunday.”
B a d minton
is
so
special,
that
it
demands
an entire
day (every
week) to be
dedicated
to
it. Despite your
hectic
itinerary,
there must be time
for play and fun,
which only badminton
could provide.
“Honor
thy father
and mother,
even if he
is a stage
father and
she is a
stage mother.”
In
tennis,
Maria
Sharapova always
h a s
her father watching
and
coaching her game.
Thus, he is a stage
father. In badminton, do not be embarrassed if your parents
are very supportive of
your precious skills.
“Thou
shall
not
hesitate to kill your opponent’s short return.”
A real badminton player
is no chicken. He stays close
to the net. He waits. Then,
he goes for the kill and gives
an opponent a short or high
return. He pounces on the
bird with all his might.
“Thou shall not commit adultery on court.”
Deceitfulness has no
room in the playing court.
Badminton is not a game
for cheaters.
“Thou
shall
not
steal or even borrow someone else’s
racket.”
The
badminton
racket
can be pretty much expensive. A Prince racket is a
bargain at Php 1,500 when
on sale. But other than
that, quality rackets
like Prince and Yonex
can be as expensice
as Php 3,000. For
starters, go for
the Wish rackets
which
usually
ranges
below
P1,000.
“Thou shall
not bear false
witness against
a player.”
Line? In? Or out? The decision whether the ball (or
shuttlecock in this case) is
in or out usually creates a
commotion. Look at the cock
with discerning eyes and
watch where it falls.
“Thou shall not covet thy opponent’s mixed
doubles partner.”
On a doubles game, an opponent usually have his hot
girlfriend (with a gorgeous
physique shape by badminton), as a doubles partner.
It is easy to give into temptations. But when the going
gets tough and tough, go for
the kill!
“Thou shall not covet
thy neighbor’s goods.”
When you are playing at
court 7, try not to look at the
player at court 8. You may
envy him because of his Armotec 800 racket, Nike shirt,
Adidas shots, Dunlop socks
and Victor Shoes. Drool all
you want but never ever steal
a fellow netter’s goods.
And the covenant has been
made. The people witnessed
thunder and lightning, heard
the blast of the trumpet and
saw the mountain engulfed
in smokes.
encore
17
Build and Be Fit
Nico Anthony Sanchez
Man has always strived for maximum strength and
physical perfection since time immemorial. A man with
a good physique and a graceful body has always been
looked upon with admiration everywhere. Men like Apollo,
Hercules and Samson will always be remembered with
respect until better counterparts would come and dazzle
the world with more beautiful and proportionate bodies. “A
nation’s health is the nation’s wealth,” an old saying that suggests than every nation can be boastful of having produced
men of towering strength and enviable physical perfection.
Bodybuilding is the process of developing muscle fibers
through the combination of weight training, increased calorie
intake and rest. It originated from the Greeks wherein their
basic idea was to celebrate the human body and its functions.
However, their time was much different than it is today. They
were not so concerned about symmetry. All they wanted to
achieve was massiveness and strength. Now, strength training in body building is considered mainly for health reasons
and just to look good.
The easiest way to assure proper energy before your
workout and to replenish glycogen afterwards is to consume a
whole food nutrition supplement before and after a workout.
Nutrition is by far the most important factor and is almost
always responsible for either success or failure in bodybuilding and most fitness programs. Although very complex, a
basic understanding can guide anyone into the right direction.
As you progress in your bodybuilding and fitness programs
and gain further understanding of the relationship between
performance, recovery and nutrition, you will be able to find
certain nutritional strategies and manipulations that will help
drive you to new heights.
The key to building muscle is diet and exercise. Exercise
will improve your muscle tone, help control your weight, reduce blood pressure, prevent heart disease and improve the
functioning of your systems, from digestion to sleep.
The amount of exercise you do depends on the shape you
are in and what you believe your ideal physique to be. When
creating a muscle building regimen, it is important to keep in
mind your level of weight training experience. If you do not
have a great deal of experience, it is important to ease into
a weight training routine. As a rule of thumb, three to four
workouts per week of at least thirty minutes should keep
you healthy. It is also essential to do research or consult
a nutritionist when figuring out a diet which will support
you in building muscle.
A very important aspect of being able to build muscle, aside from doing the exercise is to be consistent with
your efforts. Building an impressive physique involves
persistence and determination, but no matter what anyone says, the decision well within your ability and if you
really opt to be health-smart.
encore 18
encore
19
Which
A
B
Paris Hiltons
Are you a fan of both form and
function? If you need someone that
straddles both sides of the style,
then you might be one of the sossy
bunch. The trends of the fashion
industy are at their disposal. They
are AB Comm’s jetsetters, usually
referred to as the “kikays”. These
Paris Hiltons have the innate sophistication to confidently answer
why blue does not match well with
red and how Dolce is related to
Gabbana.
are you?
Out of hundreds of academic institutions in the Philippines, you opted to go to De La Salle Lipa. The latter gladly
welcomed you and you found acceptance.
Out of the dozens of La Salle’s course offerings, you chose to
enroll as an AB Communication student. You found belongingness.
Two down and the only thing left on the Love Needs
checklist is group membership. You made it to the AB Comm
clan but which subclan do you belong to?
You found belongingness.
...
encore 20
Photo by :John Philip Malinao
In Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, acceptance, group membership and belongingness would satisfy an individual’s want
and need for love.
Model : Joanna
Alex Dimasacat &
Ma. Fenella Mabiling
which subclan do you belong to?
encore
21
GEEKsters
encore 22
Photo by :John Philip Malinao
Photo by :John Philip Malinao
Model : Lisette Pujanes
“Who says black is
for mourning?” Usually
band members of the AB
Comm clan, the Goths
can be seen following
the dark hued color palette themes. They are
usually into skateboarding and they love rock
music (whether it may
be punk, alternative or
metal) that’s why they
rock!
We know that all
of us, AB Communication students, are
naturally gifted intellectuals. However, the
brainy bunch is what
others consider as
the androids. There
are consistent dean’s
listers and often debate champions and
quiz bee bets. They
are sometimes coined
as the nerdy bunch
because they can always be seen reading
books. If you want to
spot them or consider
joining their crew, go
straight to the lib and
you surely would not
miss them.
Model : Kristine Cua
Goths
encore
23
Girl Abundas
ENDANGERED SPECIES
encore 24
Photo by :John Philip Malinao
Photo by :John Philip Malinao
Model : Cyrus
Males in the AB Comm
world are rare species. Even
rarer are the straight ones
of the species. These endangered ones are often seen
chit-chatting with the girls
– either being one of the
girls or playing Hugh Heffner,
collecting playmates for his
Playboy Mansion.
Models: Mae Japson and Aylnn Tenorio
They live up to AB Comm’s
name – loud and reliable
when it comes to the latest chika. They are blessed
with extra large pairs of ears
to catch extra “chismax” on
their radar. But, do not mistake them for gossipers who
talk bad about other people.
They are just the ones often
bulging in to conversations,
saying, ”Ano ‘yun? Pa-nose
naman.”
”Ano ‘yun?
Pa-nose naman.”
Now that you know some of the various
subclans that make up La Salle AB Comm,
it’s just a matter of deciding which group
you would swear membership to.
When you’ve finally made up your mind,
accept our congratulations, for having
inked all the checkboxes in Maslow’s Love
eeds checklist. You will be assured that
your love-o-meter will always be maxed
out because the AB Comm clan is definitely a loving family.
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25
I see it....
Alex Dimasacat
(The Unspoken Truth Behind Media Center Ghosts)
Imagine.
It is thirty minutes past eight. As soon as the clock’s hands strikes the said time, your class which is
being held at the Media Center (MC) is dismissed. With 8:30 being the last possible time of dismissal in
De La Salle Lipa, your last class (as well as everybody else’s) is dismissed. Absolutely everybody, except
the nightshift guards, vacate the school grounds.
You stroll excitedly towards the college lobby – looking forward to satisfy your groaning stomach and
have a good night-free-from-stress rest.
However, as you are waiting for the bus to arrive, you reach for your pocket and realize that your
cellphone is gone. You think of places and nooks where you must have left your precious 2-megapixel
camera phone.
Eventually, you remember that you placed it temporarily at the MC mini-library desk while you were
signing in the logbook after returning the Ytu Mama Tambien VCD. You are certain that you left the precious phone at the said location.
You are about to text Sir P to ask for the keys but you suddenly remember that he left home early
after finishing teaching his last class at 3:55 pm. Moreover, the resident student assistant usually leaves
the MC at 5 pm everyday so there is no other option but to get the keys yourself from the Jose Diokno
Building security guard.
After arguing with the guard and insisting that you had really left your phone at the MC, the latter
eventually gives you the keys.
You walk up the dimly lit stairs (since the elevators stop operation after 8:30). The four-floor hike
seems like an eternity but you are no chicken…you eventually reach the MC.
Opening the main doors and turning on the corridor lights are a breeze. You feel a little bit scared
but you ignore the fear because (a) you’re too bothered being hungry than being scared and (b) your 2
megapixel Moto is too precious to be left unattended overnight.
As you open the last door, which is of the mini-lib’s, the light suddenly goes out.
You do not know if it is just paranoia, a blackout maybe, or just someone intentionally flicking the
switch off.
A luminous little lady in white appears before your eyes!
Your initial reaction is to close your eyes. However, her luminosity penetrates your thin eyelid.
Run!
You are too scared to run.
All you can do is to cover your eyes with both your hands, support the thin protection of the luminapenetrated eyelids and well…for heaven’s sake pray!
“Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women and blessed is…”
As you are halfway praying, the little ghost uncovers your face by holding and forcing your hand very
strongly through her puny grasps.
She stares at you, eye to eye, and joins you in praying the “Hail Mary.” You could feel her breath as
she prays.
In chorus you both pray, “the fruit of your womb Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners
now and at the hour of our…death. Amen.”
She gives you a wink and then you collapse in fear.
Very spooky isn’t it?
However, I must remind you that all ghosts in the MC are passive. This is according to AB Communication students who had firsthand and secondhand experiences with the said wandering spirits.
Read as the author helps uncover the unspoken truth behind these urban legends.
I See it…
“They’re everywhere.”
This was stressed by AB Comm senior, Gerard “Gege” Sarmiento, whom everybody affirms for having
a third eye.
Having affirmed that there are indeed three ghost in the MC, he stresses that all of the buildings in
the De La Salle campus house ghosts.
“The first ghost lurks in the corridors of the lab (AB Comm Laboratory a.k.a. MC), the second one
frequently observes the mini-lib and the last ghost is a woman inside the glass enclosure of the Blue
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I feel it...
“They’re every
where.”
“Their presence drains
energy.
“There is a man crucified in the glass
enclosure of the blue
room. His face was
bloody,”
But I dare not speak
about it...
“It happened around 11 pm .....
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27
Room.”
Gege shared that the last ghost usually stands by the nook to watch movies with the students during film showings.
Gege feels uncomfortable whenever he encounters the said ghastly silhouettes.
“Their presence drains energy. However, I assure you that these three MC inhabitants are passive,”
concluded Gege.
I Feel It…
Kasy de Pedro (does not have a third eye unlike Gege), also from class U4A, recounted a secondhand encounter with one of the said urban legends.
The spooky experience happened during last year’s AB Comm Night…
“It happened around 11 pm. I lost my phone and couldn’t remember where I must have misplaced
it. Thus, Diane Montenegro (also has a third eye like Gege) tried to go down (from the 7th floor where
the AB Comm party was being held) the Media Center to look for it.
“Pagbubukas pa lang ng main doors, scared na scared na talaga ako dude. Well, there was no
choice but to just ignore the fear since my phone was really important to me.”
“We headed for the mini-lib thinking that I must have misplaced the phone at the said room’s table.
However, as Diane was reaching for the door, I almost felt like I was being possessed. I literally knelt
in fear and begged her not to open the door anymore. Diane insisted.”
“Diane had a hard time opening the door – as if someone was pulling it back. When she finally
opened it, I caught sight of the phone and asked Diane a favor – to get the phone for me because I
was, at that time, really trembling in fear.”
“As soon as Diane got the phone, we ran for the MC’s main doors.
“We were free in an instant, free of fear and free of ghosts. Yikes!
“However, as Diane was about to close the doors, we heard someone weeping in a low voice! Because of extreme fear, we left the main doors open and literally crawled our way from the fourth floor
up to the seventh floor.”
When Kasy and Diane finally reached the 7th floor safe (but not sound), the latter told the former
what she really saw…
“I saw a woman in white through the mini-lib door’s glass pane. It was she who prevented me from
opening the mini-lib door. That is why I had a hard time opening the said door,” explained Diane. “Yes,
I was also scared. I really thought that the ghost was really going to lock us both inside the MC. Buti
na lang hindi.”
When asked if she had other closer encounters with ghosts besides the said paranormal experience,
Kasy exclaimed, “Wala pa at ayoko ko nang makaranas ulit!”
…But I dare not speak about it
“They do not want us to talk about them,” said Gege.
It is considered taboo to speak about the ghosts because of the said reason, because of fear and
because of Sir Peña’s warning not to talk about these ghosts anymore.
“These people (those with third eyes) may talk about these ghosts but so far, I haven’t encountered
one,” AB Comm Head Eldrick Peña said. “There are no ghosts in the media center.”
When the author jokingly asked the then resident student assistant, Princess Lacerna, about the
ghosts, the latter (while having a concrete look of fear in her face) did not comment.
However, the psychics, who were invited as guests in U4A’s “Talk a Lot Show: Halloween Edition,
validated the MC sightings.
“There is a man crucified in the glass enclosure of the blue room. His face was bloody,” said one of
the talk show guests, Reginald Rivera.
Moreover, his fellow psychic “Kuya Angel” affirmed that there were many ghost observers dur-ing
the taping of the said production.
No matter how much these spirits give us the chills and the goosebumps, the author reminds all
the students not to be hostile or vigilant about them.
We also have to be passive in return since they are unreceptive. Leave them be and they will leave
us alone in return.
“I see it and I feel it, but I dare not speak about it.”
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Give Peace A Chance
Maria Fenella Mabiling
Lenten Season is in the air. This is the time when people, especially the Catholics, spend their days on vacations and reunions. But, how can you force a smile
if you have a heavy heart? Got an axe to grind with a friend, an ex, or even your
mom?
I think that making amends doesn’t necessarily start with seeking out the other person you’ve hurt or the person who hurt you. Rather, it begins with making
a personal decision to put an end to all that bitter name-calling and finger-pointing.
So, read Encore’s guide to living a happier life through learning to forgive
yourself and others.
“I will recognize my frenzy.”
This may sound contrary to what positive-thinking preachers say, but for me,
immediately replacing feelings of betrayal and anger with get-happy mantras will
only suppress your emotions and when you lock something in, it will always find a
way to come out. Allow yourself to wallow and feel your pain. Doing this validates
that you are hurting.
One great way to let your anger come out is to write a letter to that person
without sending it. This will allow you to say everything and anything that’s on
your mind. Once you feel you’ve purged yourself of every emotion, sign the letter and seal it. Now, it is up to you to decide what you want to do with it: do you
want to keep it or burn it? The point of the activity is to get all the negativity out
of your system.
“I will stop blaming other people for my misery.”
When you are the victim, all you do is to point out your aggressor and wait for
other people to pity you. It’s easy to be angry because there’s someone to blame
for your misery. But, when you feel too tired to stay in the angry state, this is the
best time to move on.
For me, to forgive is to let go. To forgive does not mean that you have to
whitewash all the disputes and differences that exist between you and your enemy, nor should you treat them as saints. Simply, it means forgiving your foe to
allow you to change your relationship from one of bitterness and distrust to one of
love.
“I will say what I feel.”
Sadly, many relationships end because they don’t say what they truly mean.
Most of the time, we assume that the other person knows we’re upset with them
only to realize after some time that they were clueless about what we’re feeling.
If confronting the person who hurt you is hard, adopt a bitch buddy. This is
someone who will hear you out when you’re at your lowest low and will not judge
you. Doing this will help you sort out what your true feelings are and may help
you eventually speak up to the person you need to talk to.
These are some of the peace-giving strategies for yourself and for others. Forgiving someone is not for the other person, but more for yourself because when
you do that, you release yourself from all those ill feelings you were holding onto.
And when you allow yourself to forgive and be forgiven, that’s when you become
truly free.
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Grace under
How far would you go to fit in to the
right peer group? Here’s how to handle
the pressure without compromising your
own values and self-respect – even when
the heat is turned up to the boiling point.
Making popular friends, getting invited to the
hippest parties, and fitting in with the “in” crowd
– who among us hasn’t wished for those? Admit
it! We’ve all been guilty of wanting to be so like the
friends we admire. That’s why we copy the way
they dress, the way they walk and the way they
talk. Friends, after all, are truly a big influence,
which is way cool if they bring out the best in you.
Sadly, it’s not like that all the time. So,
when options of others dominate your decision-making, that’s your cue to ask yourself tough questions like “Is this what I
really want? Will this make me happy”
Like attracts like
Your two best girlfriends positively love
Catherine Zeta-Jones and agree that Adam Sandler is the funniest. Maybe you even enjoy the
same sports or extracurricular activities they
do. But at some point, you’ll want to try something new, something different from what your
barkada likes to do during the weekend. Don’t
feel strange when you find yourself wanting
to be with people outside your regular group.
Sometimes the choices you make will be
difficult. What your friends find cool and hip
may be the exact opposite of what your family
approves of. For a teenager, “peer pressure”
are two words that spell the big difference between being branded major cool or big time
nerd – but it’s all part of the experience. You
learn to make choices that will determine who
you are and what you want to become. So don’t
panic! Here’s how to deal with those pressurecooking situations without losing your cool.
Ms. Singled Out
Your Dilemma: “Most of my friends have
boyfriends. I’m really not in a hurry to
have one, but sometimes it feels like
everybody expects me to get one too!”
Your Worst Fright: “I’ll forever be the
“malaking hadlang” when I’m with other couples – and that’s so pathetic!”
What to do: Rule number one: Never rush
into a relationship because everyone else is
doing it. There’s a right time for everyone,
and until you meet that special guy, have fun!
Fashion Victim
Your
Dilemma:
“My
friends
like
to
wear branded clothes and put together
trendy outfits. Sometimes it’s hard, because clothes like that are expensive.”
Your Worst Fright: “My friends will label me
baduy and won’t want to be seen with me.”
What to do: Can’t afford designer labels? Don’t
let your cash flow limit your look. Invest in one
big piece (a good pair of jeans that fits well will
always be in style). Or play fashion detective
and check out stores that offer similar styles
at more pocket-friendly prices. What counts
is feeling confident in the clothes you wear.
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(peer) Pressure
Popularity Princess
Your Dilemma: “I need to hook up with the right
friends or I can kiss my social life goodbye.”
Your Worst Fright: “I’ll show up at my
high school reunion years from now
and people won’t remember who I am!”
What to do: If you really think someone is
worth getting to know, go ahead and befriend
that person regardless of how high he stacks
up on the cool-o-meter. You could be missing out big time if you allow the opportunity to slip away. Don’t limit yourself to people who like exactly the same things that you
do. Hanging out with different kinds of people
– even the ones that your friends find “uncool” – makes you a more interesting person.
Ma. Fenella Mabiling
In the end, it’s not the clothes you wear, the
parties you attend or the number of boyfriends
you’ve had that make you a worthy friend.
What’s your concept of who you want to be? Remember you don’t have to fit into other ideas of
what kind of person you should be. Your teenage
years are the time to explore your individuality,
discover your talents and like who you are in the
process. Part of asserting your uniqueness is not
just going with the herd mentality. When the
pressure’s on to be like everybody else, remember this: true friends will respect and want to get
to know you – not someone they wish you were.
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
Your Dilemma: “My best friend asked me to puff
on a joint infront of the coolest seniors at a party! I
freaked out but acted like it was normal to me.””
Your Worst Fright: “If I say no, she’ll always
be on my case about being such a jerk.”
What to do: If your friends are supportive
and they respect your decision, then there
shouldn’t be any conflict. But if your friends
are pressuring you to do something you
no longer feel comfortable with, then tell
them. Take a stand. Say no and then leave.
Sex and the teenage girl
Your Dilemma: During a really tender moment alone, my boyfriend asked
if we could go all the way. He’s a really nice guy and I am so in love with him.”
Your Worst Fright: “If I refuse him,
I’m sure he’ll break up with me.”
What to do: Cooling your heels with the
right crowd makes a difference – so spend
time with people who share your basic values, who can support and encourage you
when you’re pressured or confused. Talk
to your parents or your guidance counselor. Have a firm grip of what you believe
is right for you and set limits beforehand.
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31
Joy FATima Vergara
A FAT
Czshevinah Hae Alejandro
LIFE
When asked to briefly describe herself,
Joy Fatima “Fatz” Vergara did the contrast.
She lengthily depicted herself as strong and
articulate; obnoxious but affectionate; enthusiastic and generous; and imperfect but
human. However, we couldn’t blame her because the outgoing Association of Communication Students (ACTS) President has experienced (and is experiencing) and done
(and is doing) a lot more than a normal person could experience and do. Thus, proving that Fatz is really living the fat life.
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33
strong and articulate.
obnoxious but affectionate.
I’m imperfect but human.
My imperfections make me
HUMAN.
enthusiastic and generous.
All I can say is whoa. Enough, of the fun
stuff. Let’s talk about the serious part. What
made you decide to take the AB Communication course?
I actually wanted to take up Business Administration because my mom took the said
course. She is my ultimate idol. However, she
told me, “Mahirap sumabak sa giyera kung wala
kang alam sa pamamaril.” Mom convinced me
to pursue AB Comm since I am so into writing.
Did you have any regrets after you followed
her advice?
None at all.
What stuff would you normally do in your
leisure time?
I’d write because my first love is writing. I’ve
been joining presscons since I was in the fourth
grade and I had been an editor in chief thrice
(once in primary school and twice in highschool).
Na-stop lang ngayong college because my mom
wanted me to focus on my academics. I’d also
read books and/or sound trip because for me, life
would be black and blue without books and I just
couldn’t let a day pass without listening to any song.
Of course shopping because we’ve noticed
that you always wear the new and expensive clothes. Do you always buy signatured
items?
Yes, but I also buy affordable ones.
Rad! A music-loving bookworm! So who are
your favorite authors?
My favorites are JK Rowling for the Harry
Potter series; Nicholas Sparks for The Notebook and Og Mandino for Twelfth Angel.
What other leisure activities do you indulge
yourself into?
I
also
indulge
myself
in
watching
movies
and
of
course,
shopping!
Whoa, that’s a lot. What are the items in
your kikay kit right now?
Well, my bronze sheer for my cheeks and Born
Lippy strawberry lip balm, both from Body Shop;
Shu Uemura oil control paper and my Shiseido luminizing brush powder. Sila kasi ‘yung mabilisan mo
agad magagamit, walang hassle, saka kahit saan
pwede dalhin. And I barely bring makeup nowadays.
(jaw of interviewer almost dropped).
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Are there specific items that you buy when
you shop?
Yes. Kadalasan books lang din binibili ko saka jackets, and shoes, and bags, and
gifts for my bf, and all…haha, lahat pala ano?
Indeed, you are a true-blood AB Comm. What
was your favorite major subject? Professor?
Interpersonal Communication (Interco) and
the said course’s teacher in charge, Ms. Cherie Glo Cabungcal. I really love all the profs and
all the courses. However, I could not ever forget
Ms. Cherie during Interco, especially during the
finals where we were tasked to ask super ethical
questions to a panel of reporters. We were only
allowed to ask one question and it’s either you
get a perfect score when you execute the ethical question right or you get a zero. Fortunately,
my question was ok naman. My other classmates
were begging me to construct questions for them
because Ms. Digger (Ms. Cabungcal) was making
them cry. Ms. Digz was the only prof that makes
me that nervous. And of course, I also love Sir P.
Whom do you admire most in the media industry?
ABS-CBN’s news anchor Karen Davila and Philippine Daily Inquire columnist Conrado de Quiros.
Do you consider following their paths?
Nope, because for me to be somebody important in this industry, I have to start and make
my own path. I’ll forever just admire Karen
Davila and Conrado de Quiros. I also think naman that both of their fields are not in line with
what I want to pursue – which is screenwriting.
personality
and
aura.
That
triggered me to run for ACTS president
then. They believe that I can lead.
Would you work right after graduation?
Yes. Actually I am working right now
as junior secretary for my family’s Global Research Training Academy and Call
Center. I’m the eldest daughter that’s why
I’m obliged even though I wanted to rest.
What advice can you give to your little
AB Comm brothers and sisters?
Just like Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
said, and I quote, “It is delightful to transport
one’s self into the spirit of the past, to see
how a wise man has taught before us and
what glorious height we have at last reached.”
Get out of your comfort zones. Every time
you let go of these so-called zones, you do
some growing up. Take chances. However,
in every chance you take, do not forget to
rest your feet onto the ground. Keep reaching or the stars. Believe that life is unfair so
as Og Mandino would say, “Always do your
best. What you plant now, you will harvest
later.” Lastly, go on and love. Carpe Diem!
How would you like to be remembered?
Say them in a few words.
My star sign is Leo and I was born during
the Year of the Tiger that’s why my first description of myself would be strong and articulate.
The second description would be obnoxious
but
affectionate.
I’m
obnoxious and bitchy in nature.
I let them
feel extreme affections and goodness.
I am enthusiastic and generous. I love
everything I do and I enjoy doing it. Mahilig akong magbigay sa friends ko ng
kung ano-ano kahit walang okasyon basta ginusto ko kasi “I care, love, treasure
and thank them for coming into my life.”
Lastly,
I’m
imperfect
but
human.
My
imperfections
make
me
human.
In your opinion, what personal traits made
you the ACTS president?
My professors often mention that I have a strong
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35
sAYONARA U4a
Jen’ Lein Jade Guan
Graduation day is perhaps the most anticipated event by AB Communication students,
especially the senior U4A’s. That said day is the culmination of their arduous challenges.
Before anything else
At first, it was not easy. Before they reached
the end, they had to face a lot of trials. They had
to gradually pass and complete all their course requirements – the tons of production work, their
theses, research papers, quizzes, projects, reports, and major exams. You name it and they’ve
done it. They’ve exhaustingly done them all.
They had to go through a series of different courses. They had to master all the technical aspects. They
had to utilize full percentage of their skills and hardwork
just to count towards the day that they are waiting for.
Four years have passed
Four years have passed for U4A. So many has
changed in their personalities and they have developed mentally and physically. The big difference is
evident when one will browse to through old photo archives of the Media Center’s mini-lib-rary. They have
transformed from being nene’s and totoy (for Kuya
Gege) to mature and sophisticated ladies and gentleman. It’s amazing to see how they have transformed.
The batch has perked up a lot. They have honed
their talents and enriched their knowledge – proven in
their quality productions. They turned the rustic into
reality through the dramatic sepia photos, presently
paving the walls of the Media Center. Forever Witches
symbolized their forever bonding because it is where
(according to most U4A’s) the class has bonded.
Of course behind the productions, there were aberya’s (as they say it) and even quarrels but they have
managed to finish with concrete smiles on their faces.
The Most Awaited Step Has Come
If the past years have been busy ones for
the seniors, then their remaining days were the
busiest. They became busy not only with the productions. They were also busying themselves
saying goodbyes and seizing their last days.
An unexplainable feeling of joy and sadness
will rush through them the minute they hear
the graduation song. Well, everybody has experienced similar feelings during primary and
highschool graduations. However, the tertiary graduation would be the most memorable.
It closes a scene in their lives and begins
with a new scene – prompting them to prepare their new sets of shotlists. It has been
quite a journey but the journey isn’t over yet.
A new door of opportunity opens before them.
We will miss you guys.
Goodbye U4A!
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Make up Your Day
Jen’Lein Jade L. Guan
Looking great is a universal trend. It helps you
show your distinct characteristic. That’s why makeup is considered to be one of the most important
“stuff” a girl should have. When you check out a
girl’s bag, you will most likely see things such as
foundation, pressed powder, blush on, eyelash
curler, and lipstick. Name it all, they have it in
their “kikay kit.” Make-up makes you look good
and it adds up the feminine and attractive appeal.
Just the right touch and shade of make-up can
1.Wash away dirt
Before getting started, just remember
to wash your face to remove the dirt.
2. Tweeze time
Well-shaped brows brighten up
your face. Before you tweeze, apply
a warm washcloth to the brow area
to avoid a red, post-plucked bumpy
surface. Follow your natural shape.
3. Oh so natural
For a complexion both natural
and flawless, use a foundation to
smoothen and unify your skin’s
texture. Choose a shade close to
your natural skin color.
4. Spotless shine
Cover imperfections and dark spots in a
flash by using a crème concealer.
Choose a shade that matches your
skin tone, dot or move smoothly
on the affected area and blend
lightly with fingertips until the
skin looks smooth and even. This
gives your face an evened-out, clearer
appearance and you’ll feel like you have nothing
to hide.
5. Touch of powder
Use pressed powder for light touchups during the day to keep your
complexion perfect.
6. Rosy cheeks
Add color to your cheeks for a glow
that looks fresh and radiant. Apply
the blush on the apple of your
cheeks. Use a brush to sweep
color across your cheekbones for
a beautiful and rosy finish.
Before
After
7. Brows it baby
Fill in brows with eyebrow makeup
and finish with clear lash gel to keep
them in place. Use light stroke to
organize the shape and thickness
of your own brows.
8. Color coating
Aside from concealer,
try coating your lids with frosty white
eyeliner before putting eye shadow.
This intensifies whatever color you
put on your lids. Apply gentle eye
shadow all over your lids up to your
brow bones.
9. Curly lashes
Curl your eyelashes. First, press it
gently, slowly adding pressure. Start
at the root, hold for ten seconds,
then your eyes will be more
attractive. Curling your eyelashes
make your eyes larger instantly.
10. Coat it off
Apply two coats of black
or clear mascara on your upper lashes
and a single coat on your lower lashes.
11. Shine and shimmer
Lipstick is always applied last. Line
your lips with a lip liner and use
the same liner to fill in you lip. On
top of that, apply a coat of your
favorite lipstick. Top it off with lots
of clear lip gloss.
Now you’re set and ready to
face the world. Stand up, look at the mirror and
discover a fresh new you. You have achieved the
gorgeous and alluring look you’ve ever wanted. Be
confident and show them what you’ve got!
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Stay on TOP with PHOTOshop
...true work of
“digitalized” art.
Rudnie C. Manalo
Gone are the days of plain pictures hot off the
black room, with just the same elements as what
other photos have. Artists and cartoonists satisfy themselves with the medium they are using
witho u t
e n tertaini n g
t h e
possibility
of experimenti n g
with
their
work.
T
o
break
t h e
m o notony and simplicity of their outputs,
they slowly began to consider enhancing their works digitally.
The introduction of Adobe Photoshop paved the way to more creative
and expressive art pieces resulting to
over the top and unimaginative works.
Though at first, it was difficult to dip
their hands into the brushes, layers,
lasso, magic wand and other tools and
terms applicable to Photoshop, it took
quite some time before they got totally
submerged into the this software wonder. Eventually, the need to learn all
these terms and functions arose.
Tutorials provide the step-by-step process in using tools and applying it to
transform a simple sketch into a true
work of art. There are a number of recommended Photoshop tutorials that
will launch a surefire career for you in photo
and artwork enhancements.
With mostly gray and dark colors dominating
its home page, Biorust.com features artworks
from its members. It has a group of Photoshop
addicts and through the site, their works were
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get to be shown to other art lovers. Tutorials
include not only for Photoshop but also for other software like Adobe Illustrator, Macromedia
Flash, Maxon Cinema 4d and a lot more.
A step-by–step procedure is the
usual format of Biorust tutorials and
even other tutorials alongside with
the illustration of what you should
see in your Photoshop window. In
the illustration accompanying the
text, comments and arrows pointing directly to the buttons help readers to clearly understand and follow
the procedures. However, it tends
to be too wordy that sometimes it
can confuse users on what step to be
executed next. Feedbacks and blog
entries of members and other enthusiasts are shown below every tutorial
to show the reactions of the people
who followed the featured tutorial.
As its name suggests, Good-tutorials.com offers worthy tutorials with
a number of categories to choose
from.
It
is
s u p ported
by ot h e r
links
t h a t
a l s o
p r o vide instructions
f o r
digital
editi n g .
Categories
l i k e
photo retouch, photo effects, textures and photography are some of the most viewed sections
in Good-tutorials. Upon clicking on a particular
topic, another window will pop up, directing to
you to other sites where the chosen tutorial belongs, thus making it a compilation of the best
tutorials from supported sites. Most sites linked
to Good-tutorials are the good ones, living up to
the name of the site.
However, there were some sites that will link you to other unrelated sites or
sometimes the linked site does not support the topic anymore, leaving you no choice
but to start from step 1.
The modern and techy environment of Tutorialized.com makes it a legitimate
Photoshop tutorial site. Compared to the other two sites, Tutorialized.com includes
tutorials not only for Photoshop but for other programs like Dreamweaver, Paintshop
Pro, Flash and a number of other softwares.
Like in Good-tutorials, Tutorialized.com supports a range of websites where tutorial topics are linked. Each category is linked to other sites ranging from ten to a
hundred sites. Because of this, it is hard to navigate through the entire site and sometimes, other tutorials are repeated in the same category or even in other categories.
Enough with the boring look of a simple photo or an ordinary artwork. With Photoshop and the web tutorials, the possibilities and the outcomes are endless. Once
you become familiar with the basic steps, tutorials of which can also be found in tutorial sites, you won’t be able to get enough of the ideas and you could easily make a
pimple disappear out of any photo with the clone tool or whiten the teeth with some
adjustments in the levels. Two different pictures can be merged into one with a few
cloning skills and the addition of downloadable brushes. With these enhancements,
the photo, artwork , or any image that you can think of will not be as blunt or as bare
as the usual outputs but a true work of “digitalized” art.
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39
Brewed Awakenings
Sipping coffee is not just for breakfasts or
afternoon coffee parties anymore. With the
monopoly of Starbucks in the coffee industry,
sipping the brew meant lounging with class.
Starbucks, the Rustan’s Coffee Company
owned franchise, has 31 brewing stores in
Makati City alone from a total of 99 all around
the Philippines. Ironically, Lipa City, which was
once the coffee capital of the world, houses no
Starbucks shop at all; to think that Lipa was even
proclaimed as a city by Queen Maria Christina of
Spain herself because of its remarkable coffee
industry.
Lipeños’ coffee frustration went to a halt when
Cafe Barako de Lipa was opened last October. The
cafe was a respectable alternative to Starbucks.
Coffee fanatics and non-afficionados alike rejoiced
and flocked the doors of the said coffee bar.
These shops appealed not only to adults but
also to teens and pre-adults belonging to the A
or B class.
The brewed experience comes to an awakening.
The coffee renaissance makes coffee more than
just a drink but rather…an experience.
Venti Experience
Starbucks Coffee offers a soothing, earthly
ambience. Soft jazz music is played throughout
and its bar’s interiors are designed to complement
the relaxing mood. Thus, it is an ideal venue
for studying, casual meetings, focused group
discussions (FGD), deep lengthy conversations
and hangout sessions during a lazy afternoon.
For the jaded customer, Starbucks offers
swish reading materials which ranges from the
Philippine Golf Magazine to Vogue Magazine. Its
bars are wi-fi hotspots, offering free internet
service.
The friendly baristas (the pub staff) are
employed through a thorough screening, for them
to emanate the sosyal image of Starbucks.
Coffee prices range from Php 85 to Php 120.
Alternatives to coffee such as frappe and iced
refreshments topped with whip cream range
from Php 100 to Php 150. Sizes vary from
short, tall, grande to the extra large venti.
Espresso a la Barako
Who better to display the master art of
brewing than the people who first mastered
and cultivated the coffees? Coffee at Café
Barako de Lipa is brewed the Batangas
way. The café’s specialty, our very own
barako espresso is blended by following
the Lipeños long tradition of mixing varieties
(such as arabica and libreca) with Barako to
produce the strong flavorful blend.
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Alex Dimasacat
Café de Lipa’s interior also follows the earth
theme, but on a more serious tone. Thus, making
it appeal more to customers in the older age
bracket. The old 90’s music that is often played
at the bar, albeit the emanated relaxing mood,
downgrades the sophistication of Café Barako de
Lipa. The baristas, although friendly and nice,
are not as classy of the former shop.
However, Café Barako de Lipa offers Php 75 to
110 brews and blends at regular and tall sizes. Its
proximity is also a plus since the said coffee bar
is located at San Carlos, Lipa, near Robinson’s
side exit.
Coffee, at first may be an elixir to regenerate
the sleep deprived body. After large quantities
of it, it then becomes an addiction. After a
while, coffee becomes a social event where the
experience is shared in groups.
That is the reason why coffee shops are
enticing hangouts and have such an appeal even
for non-coffee aficionados…like me. Mihaela Mae Hinayon
I must warn you: the two
and a half hour flight from
Manila to Bangkok will always be the longest and
most excruciating part of the
travel experience, regardless
of which airline you choose
to board.
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41
Although the duration of
the trip is a relatively short
one, the nerve-racking wait
coupled by the intense anticipation will certainly take your
anxiety to a whole new level.
Of course, this does not sound
even remotely close to a relaxing scenario but it is nevertheless the truth—at least, for
me it is.
When I was on my way to a
two-week vacation in Thailand
a few summers ago, I could’ve
sworn that if it were only possible, I would’ve been able to
burn a nice big hole through
the plane’s glass windows just
by staring through it with paramount eagerness. When the
plane finally landed on Don
Muang International Airport
however, it was already too
dark to take a closer look at
the many tourist destinations.
Nevertheless, it was definitely
well worth the wait.
The next day, I fared better at absorbing the sights of
the famed city. At a glance,
it looked a lot like Manila
with its commercial buildings
and thriving population, but
one can just as easily get a
glimpse of its culture through
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the sounds of their language
and the smells of their delicacies. We took a cab from the
apartment at Baan Pakdee
and took a bus ride or two to
get to Chatuchak, a weekend
market which reigns supreme
among all other markets.
Being the largest market in
the world, Chatuchak is a community in itself with over 15,
000 shops and stalls situated
on 1.13 square kilometers of
land. It is estimated that about
200, 000 – 300, 000 visitors
flood Chatuchak each day to
treat themselves to a diverse
selection of products sold at a
great bargain. Although most
of the shops are open only on
Saturdays and Sundays, visitors will find it very convenient that the market offers an
extensive range of products
from food, jewelries, clothes,
handicrafts, household items,
plants, and even live animals.
On Wednesdays and Thursdays
however, the market transforms itself into a sanctuary of
flowers and plants as it opens
its garden plants section to
customers, thus making it the
ultimate shopper’s haven.
After completing (only partially) my shopping list, we
headed to another tourist destination, an amusement park
called Dream World. As Bangkok’s version of Disneyland,
the venue boasts of colorful
parades, unique shows, and
breathtaking rides that will
surely delight every thrillseeker. Once already tired
from all the adventure, tourists can unwind while savoring the one of a kind sweetness of Thai fruits (even their
local sampalok and suha do
not contain even the slightest
trace of a sour taste!) while
observing the people’s way of
life.
While most Thais do not
speak much English, they are
nevertheless very friendly
people who communicate
through warm smiles and kind
gestures. As the day drew to
an end, we went back to the
apartment several bus rides
later and smiled back at locals
who willingly gave up their bus
seats for us.
On my way home, I learned
that the people there really do
make it a point to be of assistance to tourists as a way
of thanking them for boosting
their economy. With that, I’m
sure that every tourist who
visits Thailand not only gets
a glimpse of the prosperous
kingdom, but is also given a
chance to feel like royalty.
HK 360
The vacation which my family had last summer is still fresh
and worth remembering. I first witnessed the wonders of the
beautiful city of Hong Kong. The hour-long flight from NAIA
airport to Hong Kong International Airport was worth the wait
because of the beauty that welcomed me. When we landed, I
was so excited to see the wonderful scenery of Hong Kong. It
was five in the afternoon when we arrived at Shangri-La Hotel,
Hong Kong and got some rest before touring the thrilling night
market. We started buying our pasalubongs for our friends
back home. We ate Hong Kong’s hot and steamy street food
which I could say was one of the best street foods I have
ever tasted.
On our second day, we joined a tour group that brought us
to more great destinations in Hong Kong. I will never forget
when I accidentally left my passport on the tour bus that we
rode going to Ocean Park. Upon paying 250HK dollars, we excitedly entered the grand entrance of the park. Although quite
expensive, we didn’t care how much we paid because we just
wanted to go inside and have fun. Visiting Ocean Park was one
the unforgettable parts of my visit to Hong Kong because, that’s
when I had my first ride on the famous roller coaster which is
called ”The Dragon”.
Surprisingly, two pandas caught my attention while they
were eating bamboo leaves. The dolphins and the sea lions
show amazed us with the tricks taught by their trainers. We
also visited a huge aquarium-like chamber where we saw different species of sea creatures like fishes, sharks, whales, and
jellyfishes. The said place was divided into different areas just
like the divisions of floors in the sea.
The subway ride was also memorable,
not because it was clean and spacious unlike our local MRT, but because of its speed
and aerodynamic structure.
We also visited neighboring China that
took only an hour of bus and train rides. We
were excited to see the new attractions and
theme parks in China. Likewise, our trip to
the “Window of China” was pretty amazing because the scenery and views were
breath-taking. Indeed, I can say that
the experiences I had will be cherished
forever. Also, the memories I shared
with my family will surely last for a lifetime.
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43
Media Center (MC) is a dwelling place packed with beautiful memories of all AB Communication students. It is a training ground which comprises the blue room, radio booth, mini
library, recording area, TV room, editing room and of course
the office of the Area Chairperson Eldrick Peña. Every part of
it sheltered wonderful stories that will last for a lifetime.
Serving as our second home, each corner of the MC witnessed all our joys and triumphs. This is the only place in La
Salle wherein the AB “clan” relishes heart-warming comfort,
love, understanding and acceptance.
Everybody has their own sentiments so let us discover
some of the experiences of our fellow AB Comm brothers and
sisters.
“We used to be able to watch movies at the TV room. I remember when we stayed there
during our break time and watched “The Notebook”. We did not attend the next class!”
Rachel, U1B.
“Palagi kong nakikita ang crush ko, hehehe!” Utan, U2A
“My memorable experience is noong theater time namin, kasi noong time na ‘yun, ang
daming ginagawa sa MC. Doon kami nag-ayos ng mga costumes, props at set para sa Echoes of Angels. Sa MC ko naranasan ‘yung sobrang ngarag! But still masaya.” Anjo, U3B
“Kapag nawawalan ng power, nawawalan din ng klase! Yahoo!” Lara, U2A
“Noong itinakas ko ang speaker sa radio booth for our report in Famlife. Nagkaroon kasi ng
konting technical problem. Sir P, sorry. Ibinalik ko naman po ng maayos.”
Rj, U3B.
“When we were getting ready for our play, Echoes of Angels, we had a lot of make-up
tests, very tiring! Tsaka ‘yung birthday party para kay Sir P.”
Angela, U2A
“We stayed in the TV room until p.m. to do our Christmas lantern. It was the first time
of ACTS to participate in this kind of activity so we really exerted effort in doing it. Even
though we did not win, it was still okay because for us, our lantern is the most beautiful.”
Mims, U1B
“Noong nag-stay po kami noong AB Comm Night, nanood kami ng movie tapos nag-ghost
hunting. Super saya!” Aisa, U2A
“Nag-brown out habang nagkaklase kami ng Wribrod with Sir P. Tumakbo ako at sumiksik
sa mga classmates ko. Sobrang dilim kasi, katakot!” Eileen, U3B
“Last semester, when my friends (Ishte, Ekah and Macko) and I felt sleepy in class, we
snuck out of our classroom and went to the MC. We just stayed there and took a nap on
the sofa at the TV room.” Em Tolentino, U2A
Chronicles of Precious Experiences
Jen’ Lein Jade Guan
MC.... a dwelling place packed
with beautiful memories
“We usually spent our time here at MC where we can easily get-to-know the higher years
and siyempre pati si Sir Peña.” Erwin Joy, U1B
“Bonding moments with Sir P. Dito kami naging close eh! –Hahaha! Dito kami lagi nagaaway, nagsisigawan, nag-ookrayan, nag-iiyakan at nagtatawanan. Basta lahat na! As in
saksi ang Media Center.” Kassy, U4A
“Before kami mag-present ng midterm play namin, ‘yung Weirdest Honeymoon Ever. Sobrang ngarag talaga kami tapos sama-sama na kaming nagbihis sa editing room.” Nek,
U3B
“I remember when we stayed at the editing room until 7 pm because we asked Kuya Ralph
to help us in editing our music video.” Kamille, U1B
“Ang daming tears and laughter. This place is almost our second home.” Kareen, U4A
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45
5 Great Ways to
Expend Energy
Maria fenella Mabiling
1. You better shop around
Take off for two hours of nonstop window shopping (don’t
you dare slow down to whip out that credit card!) and you’ll burn
as many calories as you would in a half-hour kick-boxing class.
2. Bust a move
Get your groove on at Kamikazee’s next show or a Gary V.
concert – now you don’t have to worry about skipping your step
class.
3. See Spot run…
…and keep up with him! Jogging your dog is much more fun
than being cooped up inside a gym on the treadmill – plus it burns
twice as much energy as a leisurely stroll.
4. Girl fight
Lianne Kamille Manalo
Start some friendly pillow-throwing the next time your pals
sleep over. A mere 10 minutes of fun will make you feel as if you
did 10 minutes of water aerobics (even more if you’re laughing!).
5. Lend the boys a hand
Cart sports equipment after watching your team win. For that
much exertion, you could have played in 20 minutes of the football
game! (Find your heart racing? Check and see if it’s from the heavy
lifting or because of the hot players leaving the field!)
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47
To be the most
popular
band in the country is
one of their
greaTest
dreams. They express
their
love for
music through
their
SONGS
“Iyo ang stage,” I remember it well
as said by Dihatsu’s band manager, Kristine Luneta (Ishte). This is probably the
band’s motto when asked about conquering stage fright. This is probably the reason why Edelyn Marie Tolentino (Em),
vocalist and keyboardist; Devi Antonio
Dayanghirang (Devi), rhythm guitarist
and vocalist; Marco Paulo Andal (Macko),
lead guitarist and vocalist; Edson Castillo, drummer; and Roveen Villaga, bassist; just seem to have fun and do their
best when performing on stage.
They get to build memories and get
through wonderful experiences as friends
and as band members. Their dream is to
be one of the most popular bands in the
country, to record their own songs and
to express their love for music through
it. They get to share profit equally, “hating kapatid” up to the last centavo so you
see, no one loses because each of them
sacrifice their time on the endless jam
sessions and band quarrels. The band
manager, Ishte, handles this.
You are probably wondering what’s so
special about this band. Aren’t they just
an ordinary band who gets to volunteer
in events in school? The answer is no.
Welcome this group of people who gives
importance to friendship, music, originality, and the probability of being known to
the whole country for their goal.
Neck (First Idea)
Em, Macko, Ishte, and Devi were
all friends even before they formed the
band. They all wanted to join the “Globe
Kantakabataan” last July so they opted
to build a band along with Devi’s friends
who gave the band its name, “Dihatsu”.
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They love the name so much that even if they
don’t know its meaning, they still adopt the
name.
Sound Hole (Strumming to Popularity)
Their first gig was in SM Batangas where
they were invited to rock the opening of Ford
Batangas. They got to play their music, mostly
alternative rock. The band was supposed to
have a gig at Ledge Bar in Batangas but one
of their members was not available because of
his class schedule. This only showed how tight
the group is and how important studies are for
them. The first song they made was “Lakas Mo
Kabataan”, composed and arranged by Em. It
spoke of the youth and was written for a songwriting competition sponsored by the Council
of Student Organization (CSO).
Body (Beat of the Biz)
According to Ishte, Lilian Band is considered their greatest rival. “Given the fact that
they are so good, we’re still friends with them,”
Ishte stated. As opposed to their rival band
who is undeniably prominent in school, they
even greet each other “goodluck”. There is no
denying that the Lilian Band is one of the best
in school that’s why they look up to them and
consider them as rivals.
Fret Board (Fans)
When asked about their fans, they all said
that they were overwhelmed and flattered
with the gestures of the people who support
them. Some even skip classes just to watch
their band perform as told by Em.
Tuning Pegs (Tuning It up)
The problem we usually get during jam
sessions is when they don’t memorize their
songs/chords thus making a song all messed
up. What do they do to resolve this? “Nagpaparamdam pero hindi sinisisi, kelangan intindihin kasi busy basta huwag na lang uulitin,” said
Ishte. They don’t let fights ruin them because
this could affect their music and more importantly their friendship. When asked about how
they take criticisms, “We hear people who say
that they don’t believe in us, hindi namin pinapatulan” Ishte calmly added. “We just give our
best shot, as in ‘performance level’ to prove
them wrong.”
Strings (Spark of the music)
Em admits that she worships Loujee, vocalist of Mojofly because she is gorgeous and
amazingly blessed with such a beautiful voice.
This is also why the group is trying to discover
the hoops and loops of different music genres. “hating
kapatid”
They are considered as one of the most admirable students
in the AB Comm department. They continue to be the pride of our
program. Truly, their friendship will stand through time, as harmonious and as beautiful as a guitar playing.
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49
If the prospect of being a broke summer
bum is starting to make you miserable, go
find yourself an interesting summer job! This
way, you can fill your days – and your pockets – while meeting new people, building your
character, and enhancing your skills. Here are
a few pointers before you go job hunting:
1
2
3
4
5
Seek and you will find
JOB
Ma. Fenella Mabiling
SUMMER
We know what you
can do this summer!
5 Ways you can score
a summer job!
You don’t have to check the yellow pages to find a job– just ask around. Can you help out in your
Tita’s bakeshop or your neighbor’s house ware showroom? How about the local burger joint? You’d be
surprised how many opportunities await you if you just know where to look. There’s no room for shy gals
here – ask, ask, and keep asking. Before you know it, you’re already getting hired!
Keep an Open Mind
You’re preparing to go to work, with visions of being a high-powered (insert your dream position here) dancing in your head. Don’t be disheartened if you find yourself photocopying documents or making coffee for
the first few weeks. Remember, everyone starts out small so relish every
Trust Yourself
Don’t be afraid to share and contribute your ideas. You weren’t
hired because they needed an extra paperweight. Put that young,
fresh mind of yours to work. Find an appropriate venue and speak up! You never
know, if they’re impressed, this could
e a start of something big.
Enjoy Now
After all, this is summer vacation. Don’t get too worked up. Be yourself and always put your best foot forward. And please – have fun!
And LEARN
BECOME a
Ma. Fenella Mabiling
Summer is hitting the town again. Resort accommodations will begin to rise once more.
But don’t you just think of making your summer vacation extra thrilling and electrifying? Don’t
make summer a bummer! Instead of frittering away all your precious vacation time mindlessly,
here are some ideas you can use! These Great Gimmick guidelines guarantee group bonding!
1. Have a Picnic.
Find a nice park where you can bond with friends and commune with nature. Pack a basket
of goodies, chilled iced tea and a colorful blan-
ket to spice up the mood.
2. Make a Music Video.
be
Give the Pussycat Dolls and Black Eyed Peas a run for their money. All you need is a camcorder, your barkada, and loads of guts and imagination.
3. Visit an Orphanage.
Plan a few games and pack a few snacks. It doesn’t take much to make orphans happy. Just spend the afternoon with them and watch their
faces light up.
c
o
o
l
GIMMICK
G
U
I
D
E
L
I
N
E
S
to
4. Paint a Mural.
No real artistic training required – just lots of paint, a lot of friends, and a whole lot of
creativity. Who knows maybe you have a hidden talent in this stuff.
5. Have a Real Slumber Party.
No summer is complete without a pajama party. Prepare
a beauty night kit for your friends and give each other a makeover. Games like truth or consequence will make the sleepover even
more exciting and will definitely strengthen your friendships with
one another.
Don’t make summer a bummer!
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51
Flower to Remember
Cshevinah Hae Alejandro
Flowers have their own beauties. Different colors and different forms comprise the wide variety of these beautiful ornaments. All over the world, flowers signify various meanings depending on the country’s bounding culture. Encore had
managed to compile a list of popular flora and the meaning of each color and variety.
CHRYSANTHEMUM
1) Bronze(friendship) - “Though I value our friendship, I cannot love you”
2) Red (reciprocated love) - “I love you.”
3) Yellow (discouragement) - “My heart belongs to some
one else.”
4) White (truth) - “I believe in you.”
DAFFODIL
5) Yellow (refusal) - “I am sorry, I do not love you.”
FORGET-ME-NOT
6) (remembrance) - “Think of me during my absence.”
HYACINTH
7) Blue (devotion) - “I will give my life to serve you.”
IRIS
8) Purple (ardor) -“You have set my heart a-glow”
IVY (Bonds)
9) Purple -“I have the desire of having you as my bride.”
JASMINE 10) Yellow (elegance) - “How dainty and elegant you are.”
LILAC
11) Purple - “You are my first love.”•
MYRTLE
12) (fragrance) - “Be my sweetheart.”
ORCHID
13) Purple(luxury) - “I will make my life sweet for you.”
PRIMROSE
14) Blue (dawning love) - “I might learn to love you.”
ROSE
15) Red (love) - “I love you.”
16) Yellow (misplaced affection) - “I love another
ROSEMARY
17) Violet(remembrance) - “I will always think of your memory.”
SWEET-WILLIAM
18) (coquetry) - “I was only teasing you.”
TULIP
19) Red (believing) - “I declare my love for you.”•
20) Yellow (hopeless love)
21)Violet (modesty) - “You are very sweet and pure.”
The next time you give a flower,
be sure to check on the list to
avoid a sending wrong “signs.”
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53
Comm Trotting Mishaps
AB Comm students, being the creative and sophisticated people that they are, are known for their great
taste. Their taste for high fashion reflects their colorcomplemented clothes. And because of the so-called
sophisticated taste, they don’t just hangout anywhere.
Most can be seen making tambay at Café de Lipa or
Starbucks. However, in a hazy month that signals that
summer is near, these AB Comms would not be seen
sipping hot coffees and espressos at the said joints.
They are slurping on smoothies instead.
The following refreshing blends are home-made alternatives to the Starbucks and Café de Lipa creams.
Mind you, all of the following shakes are made of chocolate since Encore Mag knows that majority of the AB
Comm lasses have a lust for chocalicious chocolates
especially in the hot season.
Rey Francis Atienza
As you continue your day, you still can’t say what will happen with the succeeding time you have.
There will still be some instances when you’ll be surprised of what might happen.
Certain unforgettable, or should I say, embarrassing experiences will stop just in front of you anytime, anywhere. So, read on as Encore gives you the teeny winny experiences of our fellow Comm family. Alas! The world isn’t big enough to hide from a humiliating moment!
I had a conversation with my crush. She experienced a saliva shower
from me.
-Dende/U2A
I got lost on my way to school. I
had no choice but to walk the Calabarzon road
for one hour.
-Kristine Cua/U1A
I tripped and fell on the side gate area when I
was in Level 6.
-Jeannine/U1A
I got out on the stage, thinking that I was
called out. It was my ka-member pala. The
audience laughed and shouted at me.
-Yayeth/U1A
When Ivan Pesa and I danced and he accidentally upskirted me. It was really humiliating
because all the froshies were watching.
-Claire/U1A
One time in the internet lab, I had to restart
my computer. I restarted the wrong computer.
I pushed the restart button pala of my seatmate’s CPU. OMG, what a shame!
-Betsy/U1A
My friend and I were joking and fooling around
when my bra unhooked in front of many engineering students.
-blue’s clues
We were in classroom, waiting for our next
class when my fiend played an mp3 aloud. In
front of everybody (including my crush), I sang
the song as if I was having a concert. However,
everybody gave me a funny look. My friend
whispered that I had been singing the wrong
lyrics.
-zhy
Chocoholic Milk Shake
½ cup cold Magnolia milk
1 pint chocolate cream
4 tbsp chocolate syrup
whipped cram
grated bittersweet chocolate
Chocolate Banana Power
Shake
4 pcs large, ripe, peeled and slice
lactan banana
2-3 cups ice cubes
½ glass of chocolate drink
½ cup evaporated milk
½ cup condensed milk
1 cup water
Combine all ingredients in blender
and process until smooth.
My shades fell in the toilet bowl.
-Donna/U1A
I had to empty my bladder. Being so tense because I had to hold it for so long, I accidentally
entered the males’ CR. A man saw me go out
of the CR. He was waiting pala outside for his
turn.
-smiley
I walked the long way from Noli 4th floor to
the Diokno building. I didn’t notice that my fly
was open.
-Nix/U1A
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Choco Chiller
½ cup prepared strong chocolate
1/3 milk chocolate bar
2 cups softened vanilla ice cream
2 tbsp whipped cream
2 tbsp grated milk chocolate
Blend milk, ice cream and chocolate
syrup until smooth. And voila, just
pour the blend into chilled glasses.
Top each up with whipped cream and
then sprinkle the grated chocolate.
Chocolate Strawberry Shake
4 pcs chocolate chip cookies
1 cup fresh milk
½ tsp vanilla
1 cup softened chocolate ice cream
3 pcs steamed strawberries
2 pcs fresh strawberries
Blend all ingredients except the cookies. When smoothened enough, add
the cookies and then blend again until
the cookies are chopped into grainy
bits. Pour into two tall glasses and
place the fresh strawberries as toppings.
“home-made alternatives to the
Starbucks and Café de Lipa creams”
Place the strong chocolate and milk chocolate bar in the blender. Process on high speed until the milkchoco bar is chopped into tiny bits. Add the vanilla ice and then blend again on high speed until smooth.
Pour the blend into two tall glasses. Top each with 1 tbsp whipped cream and the sprinkle the grated
chocolate.
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Food 101: A Menu for A Healthy You
Everyone wants to have a nice and healthy
body. It’s never too late to put into practice
those everyday habits that can really make
a difference in your long-term health as well
as your zest for living. Eating foods that are
high in nutrients help people reduce their risk
for some diseases. Good health also includes
drinking 8-10 cups of liquids per day, and exercising for 30 minutes or more preferably all
days. You don’t have to change everything all
at once. Just do some little things every once
in a while that will move you toward a more
healthful pattern.
Here are some nutritional and delicious
yet unfamiliar recipes that you should try and
share with your family and friends to have a
healthy life. Enjoy this variety of delectable
dishes each day!
Grace Paulen Marasigan
Baked Rice Balls
When you make this baked rice ball you don’t
need to prepare for other dishes because this can be
your main dish good for lunch and dinner.
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups ground beef
1 small onion chopped
1/3 cup tomato paste
2 pieces MAGGI Beef Broth Cube dissolved in
2 cups water
dash of pepper
1 cup rice washed
1/8 cup cheddar cheese grated
1 tbsp. butter
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 medium eggs slightly beaten
1 cup dry breadcrumbs1/2 cup tomato sauce
1 tbsp. MAGGI Savor
1/2 pc. bay leaf
This sinigang
1 tsp. oregano
is different from other main dish. It is a mix of Tra- 1 tbsp. sugar
ditional kare-kare ingredients in sinigang. 1 tsp. salt
Procedure
Ingredients
1. In a skillet, saute beef and onion in 2 tbsps. oil;
1 kilo beef knuckles cut into stir in tomato paste and cook for 5 minutes. Add 6
serving pieces
tbsps. broth and pepper.Cook for another 15 min16 cups water
utes; remove from heat.
1/2 cup tomato quartered
2. Combine rice with the remaining broth; sim1/2 cup onions quartered
mer until rice is cooked. Remove from heat and let
2 cups puso ng saging sliced stand for another 15 minutes. Measure 3 cups and
2 cups pechay agalong cut up transfer into a bowl; add cheese, butter, flour and
3 pieces long green chili
half of beaten eggs. Mix well to blend. With floured
2 25 g. sachets MAGGI Sini
hands, shape rice into small balls. Flatten and top
gang sa Sampalok with Gabi
with 1 tbsp. meat mixture. Top with more rice to
Procedure
cover meat. Shape into small balls. Dip in remaining
1.Combine first 4 ingredients in a pot and boil
beaten egg and roll in bread crumbs to coat. Place
over low flame until meat is tender, adding more on a baking sheet lined with lightly greased foil;
water if necessary.
bake at 350 degrees F for 30 min.
2. Add in rest of the ingredients, cooking 2 min- 3. Meanwhile, stir tomato sauce into remaining
utes between each addition.
meat mixture and add the rest of the ingredients.
Cook for 5 minutes; pour meat sauce over rice
balls.
Beef
Knuckle
Sinigang
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The Skin Commandments
Compiled by
Maria Fenella Mabiling
Our skin can really get dry during the summer season.
The feeling of oily and rough skin can make us annoyed and
prevent us from hanging out and savoring the cool waters
that await us so here’s what you can do to keep summer skin
in the pink of health. You glow, girl!
1. Thou shalt hydrate yourself.
Drinking lots of water during hot
weather is the name of the game.
Taking lots of water facilitates this
cooling off mechanism in the skin.
2. Thou shalt adopt a regular cleansing routine.
Use a gentle cleanser followed by
an alcohol-free facial toner. Be gentle
with your skin. Don’t scrub your face
with abrasive cleansers that can irritate your skin.
3. Thou shalt moisturize.
After a shower, towel off, then apply a facial moisturizer and a body lotion to slightly damp skin to lock in
moisture.
4. Thou shalt plan outdoor activities.
The sun’s rays are most intense between 10am and 2 pm, so try to avoid sun
exposure during this time. If you must,
wear protective clothing and a hat and apply sunscreen to any remaining unprotected skin.
5. Thou shalt wear sunblock.
Make it a habit to use a sunscreen
that is non-comedogenic. It’s best to
apply this 30 minutes before sun exposure and re-apply every three to
four hours while in the sun or water.
6. Thou shalt pay lip service.
Your kisser is a majorly sensitive skin area, so beware of the burn,
girl. Unless you want bloated lips,
dab on lip balm with sun protection.
7. Thou shalt bathe after swimming.
If you have skin asthma or a history of skin allergies, saltwater and chlorine can dry your skin. A
quick shower will lessen your chances of developing
a rash or itches. Lather up with a soap that cleanses
as well as exfoliates your skin.
8. Thou shalt pimple-proof your face.
How? Go bare faced (save for your sunscreen)
when doing active sports. Why? Putting on foundation and other makeup can clog your akin and cause
breakouts.
9. Thou shalt change out of wet or sweat-stained
clothes.
Otherwise, you’ll invite organisms that may cause
skin allergies. If you’re prone to getting an-an – white
spots and streaks on your skin when you tan – wearing wet clothing provides a moist environment
where the fungus can grow.
10. Thou shalt eat lots of fruits and veggies.
Summer is when the picking is at its freshest, so
head for the salad bar. Drink lots of natural juices; eat
a lot of raw, unprocessed fruits. Fiber will flush out
toxins in your body, which translates to clearer skin.
Source: Candy Magazine, May 2000.
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57
Between the Lines
Maria Fenella Mabiling
Space Cadet
Ever wondered what your hands say about you? According to palmists, every characteristic, from thumb flexibility to finger length, reveals something about your personality. For
a glimpse of your character, or that of a friend’s or crush’s, just raise your hand and start
reading.
Relax your hand in front of you to see which two
fingers (not including the thumb) have the most
space between them.
*Index and middle
You know exactly what you want and like to make
the decisions, especially in relationships. Your confidence will serve you well – as long as it isn’t mistaken
for arrogance.
Thumbs Up
One way to read a thumb is by checking the flexibility of its
tip (the top joint). Gently try to pull it back.
*Stiff
You’re a practical type who never wavers once you decide
to do something. Watch out, though: Some may praise your
single mindedness, others may call it obstinacy. You’re great
with money, but don’t forget to splurge every now and then.
*Middle and ring
Takin’ it easy is your motto. Your friends appreciate your calming influence, which is why they forgive
your habit of forgetting things like birthdays.
*Ring and pinkie
You’re an indie player who allows the heart to rule
the head. At times, those close to you may question
your decisions. When this happens, you may want to
proceed with more caution.
Digital Analysis
To decide whether your joints are smooth or knotty, don’t
just use your eyes, feel the fingers too.
* Knotty
Do you wow your friends with your math skills? No surprise. Knobby-fingered people are analytical, practical and very
philosophical.
*Smooth
The arts are your calling: Smooth joints are often a sign of
artistic abilities and creativity. Your intuitiveness makes you a person who can come up with great ideas and also act instinctively.
Hands down
Determine finger lengths by comparing your fingers with
the height of your palm. (Medium fingers will equal the length
of your palm).
*Short
Worrying about the nitty-gritty is not your forte because
your gray cells work at rapid speed. When a decision is needed, you’re faster than FedEx. But sometimes, you forget to
think before you act.
*Medium
As befits someone who’s right in the middle, you’re known for your level headedness. You’re not
the one to act rashly, and you don’t get too wrapped up in the little details. Your balanced behavior
enables you to keep things in perspective.
*Long
Playing detective is right up your alley. Your long fingers are a reflection of your patience. Your
friend admires your listening skills, which makes you the confidant of choice. Just remember, not
everything has to be analyzed to death!
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Section Leader
Each finger is divided into three sections (phalanges). Examine your finger carefully to
determine which part is the most prominent.
*Top
Who wants to be a millionaire? You, perhaps! You’re born money manager with a gift for
negotiating and leading.
* Middle
When in search of beauty, you just head to a museum. Though some may be intimidated
by your deep thinking, others will be attracted to your style and intellect.
*Bottom
The best of everything – that’s what you want. Just be careful that your appetite for
luxury doesn’t deplete your bank account.
Given the above information, there’s more to palmistry than examining those strange
squiggles on your hands. You have a life of your own. These are just guides to know yourself better.
Source: Seventeen Magazine 2001
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59
5
Top Flick Picks
Cszhevinah Hae Alejandro
Media Center (MC) has its own library where Communication students can use and find books,
magazines, videos and other equipments that are related to the course. Videos are the most wanted
things of the students and faculty, either from the clan or other programs.
There are more or less 250 VCDs in the collection of MC. Most of them were donated by faculty
members and students who want to share their favorite flicks to their peers. Borrowers could watch
every video as long as they record it on the monitoring log. We tallied the sheets and listed the ten
movies that topped the list.
The Exorcist
Based on the novel of William
Peter Blatty, the Exorcist frightens audiences up to the bones.
With its infamous possessed girl
and her spider-like walk, the
movie captured the senses of the
movie goers and even paved way
to the growing blockbuster films.
3
2
Sister Act
It is a hilarious rendition of
Whoopi Goldberg to her character as Delores. The comedic
acts and musical a la Broadway
scenes in the movie became its
ticket to “blockbusterdom.”
Forrest Gump
The movie is a satiric attack on national issues concerning the American history.
The slow-witted Forrest Gump came faceto-face with these issues and had a hard
time comprehending it. Though the theme
of the movie was quite political and social
at the same time, still the viewers find it
interesting and entertaining.
4
The Wedding Planner
Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey starred this romantic comedy flick about the crazy life of a wedding planner. Being famed for being
romantic, viewers find this film as
one of the “must-see” for those with
romantic-infused character.
1
8
The Notebook
From the best-selling novel of Nicolas
Sparks comes a wonderful film that continues
to amaze audiences as much as the readers
of the novel were. With the touching story of
two lovers separated by time, The Notebook
became an instant favorite to tear-jerker slash
romantic movie fanatics.
So Close
A Hong Kong-produced film, So Close featured action-packed scenes, not of the usual
denim jacket-clad police officer, but of sassy
and feisty girl “commandos”. Influenced by
movies like Tomb Raider and Charlie’s Angels,
So Close became the Asian version of these
blockbuster Hollywood films.
6
I am Sam
A touching story of a father-daughter relationship is the movie’s main plot. It revolves
mainly on the two characters who where left by
the only women in their lives. It’ melancholic
storyline hooks viewers because of the typical
“drama” that the usual Filipino viewers find in
our local teleseryes.
9
The Ring
The prominent character of Sadako in this
horrifying film originated from two creative
Japanese directors. With our local thrillers like
Feng Shui and Pa-Siyam which are all influences of the “Sadako” fever, The Ring successfully
breached the local scene.
7
10
Serendipity
The great chemistry of John Cusack and
Kate Beckinsale made this film a surefire hit.
Because of a different twist and plot offered by
the film, love story suckers find this film as one
of the best love story ever made. They somewhat make the film as their own basis for their
own love stories.
Bring it On
It is a typical teen movie focused on the
conflicts and competition behind cheer dancing. Because of its young and feel-good theme,
many teens, almost the same age as the characters in the movie, can easily relate with the
situations in the movie.
With the following titles that made our list, one can say that the Communication students have a wide variety of choices when it comes to movie preferences. Lucky for us that we have the opportunity to experience not
only the beauty of the film but also the thrills of making it.
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61
A Life Less Miserable
I Chose to Be Unhappy
Janel Patricia Cuna
Lianne Kamille Manalo
I chose to live inside a box
Where I could be all alone,
For the materialistic place outside
Is just where my jealousy will reek and subside.
I chose to build a wall around me
To protect what is inside my heart.
Hatred and selfishness
Are never good ways to start.
I chose to be confined here,
Together with my pals – depression and pain.
Because outside I found no place.
I yearned for acceptance but found no trace.
If I die in my little corner
And no one seems to notice,
I will not cry nor feel lonely.
I am used to that, so do not worry.
You may say that I am a fool,
But you could never blame me.
The cruelty of the world is infectious,
So I chose to hide and be unhappy.
Fairy Tale Ending
Raymond Co
This life I’m having
Is fucked up and tiring!
There’s no place to retreat to, nowhere to
run.
Nobody to be with, no one to love.
A life less like living,
Rather a lot like dying,
Makes me scream
And thump with anger and grim.
Yet still I believe
in those happy endings,
Where one must start a happy end
through a new beginning.
A Human Republic
Grace Paulen Marasigan
I thought sweetness can be found
In one’s embrace.
I thought honesty can be found
In one’s eyes.
I thought love can be found
In one’s heart.
But never would I have thought, that they can
all be found
In one’s freedom.
Never cry
For someone who made you smile.
Never frown
Because it will only make you feel down.
Never run
When work is not yet done.
Never sleep
When the day is not yet to keep.
Never lie
To those who innocently believe.
Never shout
At someone with a fragile heart.
Never commit,
When you know you cannot submit.
Never leave,
If by doing so, someone would grieve.
In a caged existence, one can be happy
Yet sad;
One can smile
Yet frown;
One can be honest
Yet deceiving.
Yet in a liberal heart, one may be cuffed
But free.
Go!
Janel Patricia Cuna
Go placidly into the wild
And seek for serenity inside.
Go beyond the darkness of the night.
And seek light amidst the blight.
Go against hatred and anguish
And utilize love for them to be vanquished.
Go against the raging war
And seek peace before it makes a
scar.
Umuna na Si Unan
Lea Marie De Castro
Nangangarap akong sa kalaunan,
Babalik ang aking malambot na unan.
Unan, iyakan at karamay,
Unan, kayakap sa aking paghimlay.
Ni minsan sa aking isip ay ‘di sumagi,
Na sa iyong pag-ibig ako ay masasawi.
“Wag kang bibitiw bigla…” lagi kong sabi.
“…dahil masaya ako sa tuwing ikaw ay katabi.”
Unan, aking tanging mahal,
Tinanggap mo kung sino ako – isang babaeng pagal.
Ngunit isang araw, iniwan mo ako at sa iba sumama.
Oo, maganda siya, kahawig ni Binibining Narda.
Iningatang pinagsamahan, nasirang walang kamalay-malay.
Bakit kami naghiwalay?
Hindi pa rin alam and dahilan.
Tanging masasabi ko lamang ay ewan, ewan, ewan.
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63
“Masama bang kumain ng paborito kong
piniritong manok?”
Susana De Castro
“Para silang mga
martilyo na
pumupukpok
sa akin hanggang
sa lumubog
na ako sa kahihiyan.“
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Masayang balik-balikan ang
ating kamusmusan, lalo na
noong wala pa tayong pakialam
sa mundong ating ginagalawan.
Sa aking pagbabalik-tanaw,
hindi maiaalis ang poot na aking
naranasan noong ako ay nasa
ikaapat na baiting pa lamang.
Halos lahat sa aming pamilya ay ipinanganak na malusog
kaya’t ano pa ba ang aasahan
mong hitsura ko?
Si “Suzette na Mataba,” yan
ang bansag sa akin, suking suki
ng mga nanggigigil.
Naisip ko nga noon, “Masama bang kumain ng paborito
kong piniritong manok?” Para
bang kahit busog ka na, hindi ka
pa rin titigil hangga’t kaya mo
pa. Ganoon ako kumain kaya’t
‘wag nang magtaka na kahit
nasa ika-apat na baitang pa lamang
ako, ay
sitenta
kilos na agad ang
timbang ko.
Minsan, nasisi ko ang aking kapatid na si Leonora dahil
sa pagpapagupit niya sa akin
ng Barber’s Cut na nakadagdag
tuloy sa kapangitan ng hitsura
ko. Para raw akong monay na
naglalakad habang suot ang
paborito kong berdeng t-shirt at
maong na pantalon.
Punong-puno ng panlalait
ang buhay ko simula noong
nagsampung taon ako. Para silang mga martilyo na pumupukpok sa akin hanggang sa lumubog na ako sa kahihiyan.
Sinubukan kong magpapayat
ng kaunti kaya’t sumali ako sa
volleyball team. Pinalad ako at
naging captain belle kaya, kahit
papaano, ay nagkaroon naman
ako ng kaunting tiwala sa sarili.
Ngunit hindi pa rin iyon naging sapat upang makatulong
sa aking self-esteem hanggang
dumating ang isang nakakaantig na konbersasyon na hindi ko
malilimutan.
Nagpapahinga ako noon sa
7-Eleven nang
nilapitan ako
ng isang
guro
at
nakipagkwentuhan. Nagaalangan pa
akong magsalita
noong una. Subalit nang maramdaman kong nais talaga
niya akong kausapin,
umupo ako nang maayos
at inihanda ang aking sarili
para sa sari-saring usapin.
Napag-usapan namin ang
buhay ko at ang mga tao sa
aking paligid. Tinanong niya
ako kung sumasama ba raw
ang loob ko sa aking mga
naririnig.
“Natural sir, hindi naman po
ako bato upang hindi makadama,” ang matapat kong sagot.
Napatulala ako nang bigla
niyang sinabi, “Papayag ka na
lang bang tapak-tapakan ng
iba? Patunayan mong kaya mo
rin ang kaya nila!”
Naantig ang aking damdamin at naging inspirado da-
hil sa binitawan niyang mga
salita. Sa halip na ilubog ang
sarili sa putik, napagtuunan ko
ng pansin ang mga positibong
aspeto ni Suzette na Mataba
– isang nilalang na mataba at
busog sa talento. Nagpursige
akong linangin ang aking mga
kakayahan at nadiskubre ang
pinakanatatangi dito – ang
pag-awit.
Ang katawan, na kadalasang kinukutya ng mga tao, ay
nagbalik upang ipakita ang talento na hahangaan ng karamihan. Taglay ko ang talentong
nakatulong sa akin upang
magkaroon ng lakas ng
loob – ang pag-awit.
Taglay
ko rin
ang pagiisip
na
hindi
sagabal sa
pag-abot
ng mga
pangarap,
at pagiging
kakaiba.
Ubos na ang
luha ko at wala na rin
akong
panahong magkulong sa loob
ng banyo, itutuon ko na lamang ang sarili sa mga bagay
na makatutulong sa paglagong
pansarili.
Sa mga nagutya sa akin,
salamat. Natutunan kong maging matatag – isang aral na aking napulot na nagdulot sa akin
ng malaking pagbabago.
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65
Million-worth Sacrifice
Grace Paulen Marasigan
We all have grandmothers and our own stories of
admiration about her. However, this one is not about
mine…but that of a friend’s.
My friend still loves his grandmother so much although she passed away a long time ago. Until now,
their bond continues. If he needs something or has a
problem, he prays to the Lord and asks for his grandmother’s intercession. He believes she is a saint even
if she was not canonized by the Catholic Church.
“She was a living saint,” my friend would tell me
often. He relates that when he was just a child, he
would go to his Lolay’s house and stay there the whole
day. Yes, that’s how he called her. Lolay. They were so
close that he would cry when his parents would fetch
him to go home.
“She was a beautiful woman,” he says. From him,
I learned that she belonged to one of Manila’s wealthiest families. But she chose to marry a man whose
family was not as rich as they were. She also had
to settle in a province in the north where my friend’s
grandfather lived.
“My grandfather was very handsome and very
charismatic,” my friend says, and that was the cause
of his Lolay’s heartbreak. The old man was very simpatico, as the Spaniards would say. A lot of women
liked him. In turn, he flirted a lot and went to bed
with them. Lolay somehow knew about this but did
not complain at all.
“One day, Lolo left her for another woman.” My
friend’s Lolo was the governor of the province. He had
many mistresses, yet he continued to live with Lolay.
But when he lost the election, he decided to live in
Manila with his mistress and Lolay’s life became more
miserable.
“Lolay had to take care of her children,” my friend
relates. There was not much money left because they
had spent a lot on the past elections. Although they
had eight children, they had to live in a smaller house.
Fortunately, three of them were married already.
“But then, one of my aunties died, causing more
grief to the family,” continues my friend. Because of
this, Lolay ended up caring for her own grandchildren.
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“Lolay found out too that Lolo’s relatives and the
people whom she considered as her friends wereere
in good terms with, and actually even like the mistress,” says my friend. Thus, life became even more
miserable for my friend’s grandmother. She was also
the talk of the town, behind her back, of course. She
was once a proud woman – the wife of a rich politician. But, the latter had turned his back on her.
“She couldn’t go back to Manila because the war
made her family poor. Their properties had been sold
during the war because their main source of income,
a printing press, was confiscated by the Japanese. To
make things worse, the Japs found out that Lolay’s
brothers were with the underground movement,
thus, they were executed,” narrates my friend.
“So, Lolay had to be resourceful. She converted
her home into a gambling place where people could
play mahjong,” my friend continues. Lolay too had
to take care of a little tobacco farm that yielded little
income because it provided for the family’s needs.
Life had been difficult for Lolay but amidst it all,
her children managed to graduate from college because of her perseverance. Meanwhile, her husband
came back when he was old and sick. She accepted
him back.
My friend’s grandfather died ahead of Lolay. In
front of everyone, she said, “I forgive you for all that
you have done to me.” Lolay died a year later, a frail
woman who saw a lot of difficulties in life. Yet, her
values prevailed and her children all became successful.
Today, their family is again one of the richest in
their province although Lolay did not live long enough
to see her children become millionaires.
Nevertheless, somewhere up there, Lolay must
be smiling. Her sacrifices had paid off. The tragic life
that her children had experienced with her has ended, all because Lolay gave her all. It might have been
a sad life, but heaven has rewarded her with children
who now enjoy the fruit of her labor
Lola indeed was a living saint and as far as her
family is concerned, she is a saint in heaven watching
over them.
Rudnie Manalo
A captured moment may initially be a mere scene enclosed inside the four corners of a photograph. However, there is much more that can be seen beyond that plain photo. It may be a story untold – unknown to a
person shallowly examining the composition of the picture.
Capturing moments all starts with determining the subject. With a trillion things that our bare eyes encounter everyday, pretty much everything can be considered a subject. The real challenge is to find a perspective unexplored by others and to look beyond what our eyes can see. And sometimes, the most unexpected
subject becomes the most beautiful photograph.
With a subject in mind, a few adjustments with the camera, a click of the button and sometimes a blinding
light of the flash, the subject can be captured. It will forever be confined in a four-cornered space. Capturing
that slice of time bring us to the happy memories that the photograph entails.
Sometimes however, the film is either over-exposed (the picture is overly illuminated) or under-exposed
(the picture has a dim register), thus bringing burden to the photographer instead of satisfaction and content.
In these cases, what he sees in the viewfinder is far different from the output that he expects to be printed
out.
The process is simple – a subject in mind, a peep through the viewfinder, adjustments with the camera, a
click of the button, the blinding flash light and a photographer’s instinct. What the photographer sees through
the viewfinder is not that different with what we see with a layman’s eyes.
With the subject signifying the goal, we look through the viewfinder and foresee the means to achieving
our goals. Along the way, we make adjustments (may it be the aperture or the shutter speed of life) to fully
achieve our goal. We follow the photographer’s instinct to solve problems that we may encounter and frame
them in a different and positive angle. At the end of the process, we find that a perfect picture of what we truly
w a n t lays in our very
own hands.
A captured moment is something that we enclose inside the four
corners of the photograph because we want to preserve its beauty.
All of us have an eye for this beauty because each of us possesses that photographer’s eye. All of us are our own photographers
in life. We capture and
seize the moments
for our
picture-perfect
future.
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67
Interlude
Janel Patricia Cuna
For some reason, I knew it was
already midnight. I could hear the
sound of silence and it was annoying. The city streets were clear, the
store lights were closed, yet there I
was standing in the middle of it all.
Why was I there? I could not
remember. I could not even remember how I have gotten in the middle
of the streets facing my… school.
Then all of a sudden, it all
flashed back – the memories, the
incidents. They passed like vehicles
in the road, speeding at 120 kph,
yet I could somehow clearly recognize them. Perhaps I was given the
privilege (plus the burden) to time
travel with thoughts.
I was dreaming. At least, I
wished I were. When I woke up, the
confusion would be over.
I blinked and for a moment, I
was standing in awe, overlooking a
favorite photographic scenery. Was I
in Tagaytay or in Baguio? Whichever,
I did not really care if it was either
of the two. All I knew was that I was
seeing a beautiful place that I have
not seen before. I was in nirvana.
For a while, I wished I could extend
the dream.
The next thing I knew, I was
lying in my bed. If I had really
dreamt, then this must be the time
when I should be conscious from
the deep sleep. However, with me
was the same old feeling that I had
when I was in the streets and in the
beautiful summit.
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I was mummified by confusion
and it annoyed me. Nevertheless,
I got off the bed just to convince
myself that I wasn’t in a dream.
I tried to look around and
found nobody. I went downstairs,
but there was still nobody around.
The clock signaled 2:45. Where
was everybody? I was beginning to
feel unsheltered in my own home.
I went to my sister’s room but
did not find her there so I immediately hustled to my father’s
bedroom. As what I would’ve
expected, he was not on his bed
either. Instead, I found a pearlwhite silk blouse with ruffles and
white buttons paired with a flowy
white skirt. It was embroidered
with flowers – something one
would not usually find in a man’s
bedroom. It was a beautiful dress
and the minute I touched it, I felt
like it belonged to me. Yet, it was
neither my sister’s birthday nor
mine so I didn’t have any idea
what the dress was for. My father
better have some explaining to do
if it was for something – or someone – else.
I was just beginning to imagine
the possibilities when I heard our
screen door opening. It was my
sister, Anne, coming in but it was
a different Anne that I saw. She
was not in her usual self because
she was gloomy. I tried to call her
but she surprisingly ignored me.
She seemed so pre-occupied with
a deep thought. I sat beside her
thinking that maybe she needed
some comfort.
I was about to speak but the
phone suddenly rang and Anne
answered it in just one ring. I was
certain that it was my dad on the
line. However, I had no idea what
she could be telling my sister because she stood there crying right
after she picked up the phone.I felt
sorry because it was the first time
I ever saw Anne cry that much.
Again, I just thought that maybe
she needed comfort so I stayed
beside her until shefinally uttered
the words “She’s gone.”
“Who, Anne? Who’s gone?”
Anne wailed, “Katie? Why? Of
all people, why?”
“Katie? Yes, what about me?
Why, what did I do?”
Anne went outside the house
to wait for Dad to arrive from the
hospital. The minute he got home,
he explained everything.
I was dead on arrival from
a car accident right on the spot
where I found myself standing in
the dream.
Little by little, 120 kph
thoughts slowed down and everything made sense. La Salle…Tagaytay…the 120 kph speed. It was
vague but it still made sense.
I was dead.
I could not feel anything. I
needed to see my body. I needed
to make sure that I was not, again,
in a bad dream.
I found myself in the state of
inexistence. I was distant and resilient no longer. Slowly and carefully,
Anne clothed my body with that
dress I saw on my father’s bed. I
was right. It did belong to me. I
could see Anne’s tears flowing onto
my face but my cheeks could not
even feel a single drop of it.
This time, I was sure was not
dreaming. Rather, I was leaving.
Daddy’s Little Girl
Lianne Kamille Manalo
Men fascinate me.
They have the power to make me smile yet
make me cry at the same time. Men can make me
feel loved yet they can also rupture my heart.
I am not only talking about male lovers, I am
also referring to my dad.
He captivates me.
I have been living in this world enough to
see my Dada yawn, cry, laugh, fart, get drunk,
and freak out. He was the kind of dad who would
give me rupiahs to stop me from crying when I
was a little girl. He was the one who would just
stare at me whenever I told him I had stained
his car seat.
Daddy is also weird. He is the kind of person
who loves to make nasty comments about other
people but who would hate it when the same
people would make negative remarks about
him.
One time, he did weirdest thing. During a
drinking session, he called me in the middle of
my class to say that my Uncle Alex’s 17 year old
daughter was pregnant. He warned me that if I
had any intention of getting pregnant, it should
be after college which is the time when he
wouldn’t be paying for my luxuries
anymore.
I can’t help but laugh about
Daddy’s crazy antics and also
feel warm all over because he
shows his care through that craziness. I missed all that when he
went abroad for years and he and
mom got separated.
I was broken-hearted. Amidst
the hurt, I never lost my respect
and love for him. I reminisced
memories of him even more.
I could never forget the
moments when he made me
sit on his lap whenever I
feel grumpy about petty
things. He had this unexplainable power of taming me and calming
me down. The day
when he taught
me to wash my
own
clothes
and to cook
the
best
adobo would also never be forgotten. I could
never overlook the way he treated me, not only
as a daughter, but also as a son. That is why
whenever I ask him money for make-up, clothes
or any other girly stuff, he just replies with a
weird look then gives his ever-famous moneyisn’t-just-picked-on-trees sermon.
With a dad like Mr. Greg Manalo, I can somewhat understand men.
• Men love beer.
• Men have the tendency (if not always!) to
forget anniversaries, birthdays, etc....
• Men love rubber shoes, gadgets and
watches. The more expensive they are, the better their mood gets.
• Men love their toys. The older they get,
the more expensive their toys would be.
• Men think the most when they are quiet.
• Men have no clue on what’s going on a
girl’s head.
These are the crazy reasons why I love men.
However, these reasons can’t fully explain why
I love my dad so much. I love him because he
was the first man who made me laugh, loved me
dearly, kept me safe, and also, broke my
heart.
Maybe someday, I’d be another
man’s sweetheart. But that man
can never replace my Daddy.
I promise that I would take
care of him forever, give him
everything I have and
love him unconditionally because I
was, am, and
will always
be, Dadd y ’ s
girl.
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Photo by
John Philip Malinao
Model
Maika Margaret Gonzales
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