LaSallian

The
LaSallian
menager e
“It’s so mainit in here”
The Philippines and
Climate Change
ROUND THE GLOBE:
Green Chic /4
LONG FEATURE:
Lust Legends /9
e
ditor’s
NOTE
It seems as if we can no longer keep
up with the vast changes our world is
undergoing. From extreme weather changes
to endless entertainment scandals, it’s
no surprise that people decide to simply
tolerate these changes with no clear picture
of what is really going on around them. The
perfect example of this situation is how
Filipinos are dealing with global warming.
That is, if we’re dealing with it at all.
Doomsday prophecies aside, the earth’s
climate change is an issue that should not
be dealt with extreme cynicism or apathy.
Don’t be deceived by the cuteness factor
of our cover. Global warming is no big
joke. But this month’s cover story dares to
challenge the reactions of apathy and doom
when it comes to dealing with our earth’s
crisis, while appealing to the everyday
person to help out in alleviating ourselves of
the situation. To emphasize the importance
of environmental awareness, Round the
Globe features the latest innovations used
to offset Mother Earth’s burdens. The 25
Cents’ Worth questions if the Philippine
educational system is enough to ensure the
holistic growth of students. To spice up the
mix, our long feature separates the myths
from the truths about doing the nasty on
campus.
Read on and enjoy!
Gela Velasco
MENAGERIE EDITOR
credits
COVER CREDITS:
John Vincent Uy
FUEL CREDITS:
John Ian Roman
PHOTO CREDITS:
Google Images
LAYOUT:
Carmela Prado
Beatrice Ong
John Vincent Uy
r
ant &
RE ALIT Y
RAVE
A
Charly Brown
BY JABIN LANDAYAN
rating
0.0
L
unch lines will never be the
same again. After several years
and branches in the country,
Charly Brown has hit Taft Avenue.
Choosing no better time to open
than the start of the new school
year, it made an immediate
impact as another food option
amongst diners. Unfortunately,
like previous fast food outlets
Chowking and Wendy’s, Charly
Brown will not be here to stay.
One glance on its storefront
would cer tainly confuse its
customers. Brown wood
trimmings and the Wild West
font would suggest an American
style eatery. Hung on the windows
however, are neon lights that
suggest Italian specialties on one
side, a Filipino favorite and coffee
on the other. Inside are booths,
tables, stools and a separate room
with dimmed lights set aside
to accommodate smokers give
diners a choice of where to enjoy
their food.
The food is at best comparable
to DLSU’s La Casita cafeterias,
with the same setting and process
of ordering food by pointing at
viands or items on the menu while
moving along a counter. Even the
menu, save pizza, beverages, and
dessert is similar to the in-campus
eatery. Quality to some extent is
inconsistent. Imagine ordering
three chicken barbeques and
getting three chickens that only
have presentation in common.
Want some rice with that? Try Eggy
Rice, their lame, failed attempt at
(insert international cuisine here)
fried rice. Their hot plate has a
tendency to burn the “sizzling”
meal and portions do not justify
their somewhat expensive prices,
ranging from P60 to over P100.
Food preparation is of low quality,
obvious in its marquee one-flavorper-day pizza and your choice of
spaghetti or carbonara for pasta.
Considering the appeal of
their detailed interior and affable
staff, it is disappointing that
Charly Brown does not have the
food to match. This is an eatery
with an identity crisis. It is a
confused cross of a restaurant, a
fast food outlet, and a cafeteria.
An international storefront that
sells food that can be found
cheaper, elsewhere. Too bad their
employee-of-the-month boxes will
not be filled before more people
get a taste of Eggy Rice.
t
rating
4.0
“t
DIRECTOR Joel C. Lamangan
GENRE Sexy/Drama/Horror
DURATION 1 hour 45minutes
1.0
JULY 2007
BY STEPHANIE CHUA
serves under Lord Wellington during the Napoleonic Wars
in a series of wonderful and sometimes hilarious magic
performed. Afterward, Strange finds himself unable to
accept Norrell’s conservative and selfish views of English
magic’s proper place, so he sets off alone to write his
own book and perform his own assignments from the
government.
Pay no heed to the monotonous beginning, for each
chapter of the book is individually entertaining and wellwritten. The characters are perky and amusing, with hints
of dry, thoroughly enjoyable English humor. Footnotes
found in the book should not be ignored, as they contain
some of the most imaginative narratives in connection with
the plot. The novel also immerses its readers with the social
comedy during the time of Jane Austen. Jonathan Strange
& Mr. Norrell is a wonderful, humorous, and thoroughly
captivating novel, and you will certainly fall for the author’s
enchantment.
MOVIE
rating
2 THE LASALLIAN MENAGERIE
It gets tiring to see secrets being disseminated to a total
stranger for the sake of scoring a date. Also, the so-called
intense competition and witticism between the contestants
seems scripted and forced. Mothers cry foul at anyone who
rejects their daughter as a dating partner, but they say it with
anger and disgust--not with a pretty smile tattooed on their
lips. Another disgusting factor is when sparks fly between the
bachelor and the mothers. In some instances, the twinkles
in the eyes of the mothers and the bachelor during their
respective dates amidst the intense flirting are hard to miss.
Even if the criterion for choosing who to date relies greatly
on the acquaintance of the mother and the bachelor, it
is rather inappropriate and repulsive witnessing married
women with kids and careers toy with twenty-something
college frat boys.
Tired of laughing nonsensically to gullible college students
who are money-hungry? The show offers the same serving
of ludicrous primetime viewing with a more prosaic and
absurd plot. If you thought the Jackass series was funny, this
show’s funnier--even if it was not intended to be a joke in
the first place.
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell
he story of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell begins in the
early 1800s, where the author introduces us to a group of
theoretical magicians that convene every month to confer
about the remains of English magic. Susanna Clarke’s
debut novel is often referred to as an adult version of Harry
Potter or a lighter Lord of the Rings. However, its central
storyline is about the sudden fall of English magic under
the reign of the Raven King, and how this magic gradually
came back to life.
Enter Mr. Norrell who, with his faithful servant John
Childermass, moves to London and gains the favor of
influential politicians. It is Mr. Norrell’s wish to revive English
magic, and soon he finds himself in a number of missions,
such as raising a certain politician’s dead fiancée or creating
powerful illusions of English ships blocking French ports.
Clarke then introduces Strange, Norrell’s first pupil, who
is serving the British government with his magical skills to
deceive their French enemies. He then goes to Spain and
Zubiri, Francine Prieto
0.0
BY ALI CARONONGAN
BOOK
CAST Polo Ravales, Diana
rating
Date my Mom
n old saying dictates that “the only way of knowing your
girlfriends better, is by looking at their mothers.” Apparently,
brilliant geniuses have taken the blind date scenario a notch
higher and twisted this old maxim by using it as the premise
behind Date My Mom. The show opens with an eligible
bachelor looking for love and a date at an exotic location.
Three interested singles are up for clinching the prize of
winning the date and hopes of establishing a relationship.
The twist? Instead of the bachelor dating his “potential
partners,” he ends up dating the mothers of the contestants
who attempt to advertise their child by making all of them
appear as the “prize catch.” In the end, the love-seeking
Romeo chooses to date the daughter of the mother who has
amazed him the most.
The mothers come across as saleswomen attempting to
sell their daughters by any means necessary. During the
dates, the mother could go as far as completely selling her
“attractive” child by impressing the bachelor with juicy
information like her child’s measurements or the contents
of her CD collection. She could also disgust the potential
date with disturbing trivia that range from her child’s sadist
fascinations to number of one night stands.
RESTAURANT
T V
JULY 2007
Silip
BY NAZRIN CAMILLE CASTRO
itillating films,” as bold movies were called, have weakened
since SM branches banned showing R-18 films. Joel
Lamangan’s new film, however dares to move against the
current and once again challenge Philippine cinema with
toned-down sexy film Silip.
Like other Filipino movies shot outside Metro Manila,
the onset captures the life and beauty of nature that will
surround every character in the story. Rico (Polo Ravales)
portrays the typical makisig who marries Tess (Diana Zubiri).
Tess is an adopted daughter of a canteen owner where she
works as a waitress. After the civil wedding, Rico brings Tess
home in a remote area of Santa Catalina. Rico leaves Tess
in their small home while he works through his caravan
in the main town of the province. Tess in her despair for
a companion meets Celia (Francine Prieto) and brings
her home while her husband is away. The predictable plot
eventually leads to Celia’s lunacy.
Polo Ravales’ first attempt to change his image from
a matinee idol to a sexy star seems to be an abrupt move
that is revealed by his unripe performance. Diana, having
portrayed several sexy roles, should have mastered the craft
and exemplified a better performance. On the contrary, a
bland act has emerged from one of the well-known starlets
of the Philippine movie industry. Her performance is proof
that the story lacks life and credibility. Midway through the
denouement, Zubiri and Prieto’s scenes are somehow a
girl version of a Brokeback Mountain scenario that seemed
inappropriate to the story.
Deep down the human psyche, the movie does not only
dwell on physical reality, but also on those that cannot be
seen by the naked eye; even transcending those that can be
accepted as real. But like a voyeur that peeps through the
play of sexual desires, Silip is nothing more than a glance
over the actors’ naked bodies.
THE LASALLIAN MENAGERIE
3
RGLOBE
ound the
green
D
ownthestreet,agirlwalks
withhersolar-paneled
backpackandheraunaturel
clothes.Herbanglesaremade
fromsodacansandherbagis
aneatlystrewnfabricoftetra
packs.Sheridesinherhybrid
withacopyofAnInconvenient
Truthinthepassengerseat.Meet
thenewenvironmentalist,orso
itseems.Gonearedaysofthe
“amish-like”activistwhoswear
offtechnology.Nowisthetime
ofconvergence;acompromise
betweentechnologyandloveof
Mother Nature.
chic
An Inconvenience Indeed
Since the early days of the industrial
revolution, the earth has experienced vast
changes that caused more harm than good
to different ecosystems. One of these changes
is the increase in carbon dioxide levels due
to the burning of fossil fuels, which has
resulted in global warming. According to
the United Nations’ Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), global
warming is already happening and that it
is the result of human activities and not
a natural occurrence. The picture global
warming paints is grim.
The World Health Organization (WHO)
says there will be an increase in the spread
of infectious diseases. An example would be
malaria, which has spread to higher altitudes
in places like the Colombian Andes, 7,000
feet above sea level.
The planet’s oceans are also warming,
which is causing dangerous consequences
such as stronger storms and tropical cyclones
not unlike those that flattened the southern
Bicol region late last year.
Rising temperatures bring about changes
in weather and vegetation patterns across
the globe, forcing animal species to migrate
to new, cooler areas in order to survive. But
the rapid nature of climate change is likely
to exceed the ability of many species to
migrate or adjust. David Bjerklie, in his article
Feeling the Heat (TIME Magazine, March 26,
2006), says a study estimates that more than
a million species worldwide could be driven
to extinction by 2050.
Besides global climate change, there is a
slew of other human-caused environmental
problems. These include wasteful energy
policies, resource overuse, water supply
shortages, and deforestation that need
to be addressed for humans to achieve
sustainable living on this planet. Our planet’s
prospects for environmental stability are
bleak, but there is hope yet. There are many
BY SAMANTHA MODINA AND ELVIN NGO
technologies and solutions emerging to
address these problems, and one particular
answer to these environmental problems is
gaining popularity. Enter “green” products;
and yes, green stands for eco-friendly and
not for kinky.
Trend-e for Earth
The stereotypical environment-friendly
products are being replaced by modern
and surprisingly trez chic goods. TIME
magazine, in a November 2005 article, For
The Environmentalist, featured the websites
ekologic.com and goodhumans.com that
sell a wide variety of green products such as
bangles, bags and even clothes. One of these
products are cashmere mittens made from
secondhand sweaters by designer Kathleen
Tesnakis, which are featured more in-depth
in the website, www.ekologic.com. The site
features clothes and accessories made from
recycled post-consumer clothing. These,aside
from their green undertones, are also unique
as the makers cannot be choosy with the
recyclable materials. Fashion and style
certainly are kept in mind as products like
sheared bubble tops and skirts, geometricprinted dresses, and colorful visors would
show. Of course, ecologically aware products
aren’t limited to recycled wares. Here come
the traditional and proverbial “hippie”
products. The image of boring organic
products is definitely passé. GoodHumans, an
online retailer of hemp clothing and organic
products, sell a wide variety of wares such as
hats, wallets, pants and even creams. On the
other hand, products on www.normalstuff.
net features quirky products like clocks made
from bamboo ply and trash bins made from
90 percent recycled automobile tires. Every
product is made through processes with “low
overall environmental impact.”
In an October 2005 TIME article, What
A Load Of Rubbish, UK brand, Remarkable
was featured. It was founded in 1996 by
Edward Douglas Miller, and it recycles
everyday rubbish and transforms them
into modern, stylish stationery products.
One of their products, The Remarkable
Pencil, became one of the first accredited
Millennium Products in 1998, and went on
to win the Recycled Product of the Year and
Environmental Product of the Year in 1999.
Their goods are known to have cutesy labels
such as “I was once a plastic cup” and “We
used to be plastic cups.”
Being nice to Mother Earth is not
limited to products. In a March 2006
article, The Big Green Apple, TIME featured
the 42-storey Hearst Building in New York,
the first office building in New York City to
garner a gold rating from the U.S. Green
Building Council’s Leadership in Energy
and Environmental Design scheme. It has
a roof that collects rainwater for recycling,
lights, and appliances that turn off by
themselves when not in use, and building
materials made from predominantly
recycled materials. It is a fine example of
architecture that’s pleasing both to the eyes
of man and nature itself.
Hearst Building
Green Bandwagon
Filipinos aren’t behind in this current
trend. Sun Star Manila in their June 13,
2007 issue reported a joint project of SM
Supermarket and Unilever in promoting
their Greenbag campaign. SM Cares, a
group under SM supermarket, encourages
the use of a reusable, green, non-woven bag
instead of non-decaying plastics. Similar
sentiments also back another project, Balik
Bayong, by the EcoWaste Coalition. The
locally popular bayong is also presented as
a suitable alternative to plastic bags.
Pinoy houses can also share the
architectural ingenuity and eco-savvy
characteristics of the Hearst Tower. The
Philippine Daily Inquirer featured last June
23, 2007 an article, How to create
a ‘green house’ even in city, which
lists suggested similar raincollecting mechanisms, like in
the said NY tower, among other things.
College of St. Benilde’s (CSB) newlyopened School of Design and Arts building
was built to minimize water and electric
consumption.
It doesn’t hurt that bigwig celebrities
are promoting the green lifestyle. As being
green conscious becomes a deeply held
cause embraced by Hollywood celebrities,
many have made it an advocacy to champion
their favorite environmental causes. Stars
ranging from Brad Pitt to Alanis Morisette
advocate specific environmental issues and
solutions. There is also Harrison Ford, who
won the Global Environmental Citizen
Award (2002) and is vice chair of the
Board of Conservation International (CI),
a US-based, international organization that
applies innovations in science, economics,
policy, and community participation to
protect the environment.
Hitting closer to home, there is actress
and TIME Magazine Asian Heroine ChinChin Gutierrez. She is the vice-chairman
of Mother Ear th Foundation, which
organizes workshops, tree plantings and
litter cleanups to try to save the country’s
forests, beaches and waters.
There are a lot of things people can
do to help curb global warming and
protect the environment besides buying
eco-friendly products. Small things
like swapping three light
bulbs with
a fluorescent light, using
recycled paper, and turning
off unused elec tronics
have big impacts on the
environment. At this
moment, scientists
and politicians alike
congregate and
debate over possible
long term solutions
to global warming
and other pressing
environmental
issues. But caution
must be taken
in making
decisions
regarding
our planet,
for what seems to
be the best solution might
be detrimental in the long run.
“There’s a proverb: ‘The earth is not
given to you by your parents. It is loaned
to you by your children,’” Gutierrez says.
Herd mentality’s adverse effects are
already known, and it’s refreshing to hear
a good outcome with this phenomenon.
Although superficial, following the
green trend is similar to shooting
two birds with one stone; one
can be stylish and in vogue,
at the same time a
champion of
Mother Earth.
So go forth,
and color
yourselves
green.
GRAPHICS BY SHARON YU
4 THE LASALLIAN MENAGERIE
JULY 2007
JULY 2007
THE LASALLIAN MENAGERIE
5
over
C STORY
“its so mainit naman here”
the Philippines and climate change
BY JOSE FRANCISCO S. UNSON, MARIE BEATRICE ANGELES, STEPHANIE NICOLE CHUA
COMPREHENSION AND APATHY
I
t’s been said many times that climate change and
global warming stand to be the ruin of the Earth.
Truth be told, no matter what happens to the planet’s
climate, chances are it won’t be going anywhere. It’s the
human race that stands to be wiped off the face of the
planet should global warming make our world too hot
to live in and make sea levels rise until they swallow up
so much land that Atlantis becomes a legitimate option.
To hammer the point home, take the time to ponder the
current weather. While it’s still hot enough to ignore,
giving some attention can make people better
appreciate the phenomenon.
It’s one thing to see the overall effects of climate change
on the world and on the nation, but what about individuals?
Do people notice climate change at all, or is it just natural
that the world is getting hotter? The LaSallian surveyed 250
randomly selected students from different colleges to see how
they viewed the issue. Out of the 250 students, 94 percent
believe they know what global warming is, and 96 percent
know that it affects their everyday lives. These considerable
percentages demonstrate that there is a sense of awareness
among DLSU students.
Nonetheless, a greater concern is that only 34 percent
actively deal with the issue in their everyday lives. How can
it be that people recognize the problem and yet don’t do
anything about it? Almost seven out of ten people are passive
about it. But it’s not like they don’t appreciate the gravity
of the situation, because 83 percent of them actually worry
about the future because of global warming. Why this is so
could be seen in how 77 percent of those surveyed believe
that there is nothing they can do to stop global warming.
Maybe people are not as aware as the data first showed.
CHANGING FOR THE WORST
Let history paint a better picture. In the past, the earth’s
climate changed due to natural factors such as volcanic
eruptions, changes in the Earth’s orbit, and the amount of
energy from the Sun. Basically,
if the Earth were left alone, it
would have its own periods
of warming and cooling. No
big deal really, but mankind
thinks otherwise.
As s e e n b e s t i n t h e
progress of the Industrial Revolution,
machines, esteam locomotives, and factories
powered by coal and gas became man’s new
tools. The advent of technology and the
progress of civilizations have further led to
an endless demand of energy for the earth’s
rising population. As such, mankind must
burn more gas and coal and heavily cut down
forests to answer to its needs, increasing
greenhouse gases trapped in the atmosphere.
These greenhouse gases, therefore, become
essential on Earth as it keeps things warm and
toasty for people to live in.
In short, that’s why it feels like every year
is warmer than the last year. While we might
understand how climate change works, proof
is necessary. To address this question, Dr. Eric
Punzalan of the DLSU Chemistry Department
shed light on the facts that suggest global
warming. He explains that carbon dioxide
emissions in the atmosphere and satellite
images of ice continents do suggest that the
planet is getting warmer. With this increased
warmth also lies the possibility of a change in
climate patterns as seen in the out-of-season
arrivals of typhoons.
climate change: immediate extreme weather
events like droughts, raging typhoons, and
a rise of the Philippine sea level are not
impossibilities.
The potential rise of the sea level is no
laughing matter given the archipelagic nature
of the Philippines. In Greenpeace’s paper
entitled Philippines: A Climate Hotspot, the
organization warns that a one meter rise in
the level could result in the loss of possibly
700 million square meters of land. In a
country dotted with islands, hot spots such as
Boracay, Palawan, and Sulu are purportedly
in danger. Even areas like Navotas, Cavite,
Valenzuela, and Malabon stand to be the first
to feel the effects. This tropical country may
well boast less islands if nothing is done.
“A clean environment
is a gift, and we insult
the giver every time
we pollute it”
- Dr. Eric Punzalan
ISLANDS NO MORE
Ahh Yes, The Government
The tricky part of climate change though
is that its effects vary per country. An increase
in the temperature can have different effects
on different climates and geographies. So
what would happen to the Philippines, made
up of 7,107 islands? Is it possible that it would
end up with 7, 106 islands baking under the
scorching sun?
The gravity of risk the Philippines is
facing is something Greenpeace has taken the
time to study. The Philippines is reportedly
among the leading countries threatened
by the consequences of global warming.
Abigail Jabines, a campaigner on climate
change and energy, shares specific effects of
DROUGHT
To the government’s credit, there have
been initiatives supporting the reduction of
greenhouse gas emissions, even a Presidential
Task Force Against Climate Change. To
determine the areas that are most vulnerable
to problems of climate change, the country
is currently undergoing geo-hazard mapping.
The use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)
or autogas has also been pushed by the
government, with companies like Shell taking
part in the development of refilling stations.
By making fuel more efficient, autogas use
lessened exhaust emissions by about 20
percent.
MELTING ICE CAPS
Despite these efforts, it seems there
is plenty of talk but a lack of action. Dr.
Punzalan strongly believes in the importance
of addressing air pollution in order to make a
significant impact on the problem. “The laws
are there,” observes Dr. Punzalan, “we just do
not enforce them.” By laws, he refers to the
Clean Air Act and the Ecological Solid Waste
Management Act which regulate common
air pollutants produced by vehicles and the
open burning of garbage. True to Punzalan’s
word, these laws are poorly enforced, as seen
through passively conducted emission tests
on cars.
While some laws lack enforcement,
some bills need passing. For 11 years now,
Greenpeace has been advocating a Renewable
Energy Bill. This would shift energy reliance
from conventional and established coal, oil,
and natural gas sources to solar and wind
farm energy generation means. The shift
though is not only a difficult one, but a costly
one to pull the trigger on.
IDEALISM AGAINST HABITS
The Filipino pastime of bellyaching about
the government’s shortcomings may be
amusing, but utterly useless in this situation.
There surfaces an urgency for the 66 percent
of the Lasallians surveyed to do something.
“A clean environment is a gift, and we insult
the giver every time we pollute it,” states Dr.
Punzalan as he advocates a change of attitude
among faculty and students. On a national
scale, the country has enough resources to
respond to climate change, as he cites how
first world countries like the US and England
in the 30s and 40s were polluted countries.
He narrates the value of educating children
in activities contributing to nature’s condition
since adults, including college students, may
already have established habits.
There is some comfort in that at least
TYPHOONS
GRAPHICS BY JOHN VINCENT UY
6 THE LASALLIAN MENAGERIE
JULY 2007
JULY 2007
THE LASALLIAN MENAGERIE
7
ong
L FEATURE
34 percent see the urgency of the climate
change issue and respond with the right
idea and action. These students consciously
limit styrofoam use, rec ycle, properly
segregate trash, commit themselves to public
transportation, avoid the use of materials with
CFCs, and conserve water and electricity.
What the 34 percent do might sound like
the moral of an episode of Captain Planet,
but the truth is that these are good ways
of dealing with the problem. Greenpeace
recognizes the significant impact of every
person doing a small part. They stress this
point with their pledge campaign called
Simple Lang, which pushes for everyone to
conserve energy and engage in activities that
can help save energy.
AS GOOD AS IT GETS
According to Jabines, “We are part of the
problem, and we are also part of the solution.
The earlier we realize our responsibility, the
earlier we are able to avert the worst impact
of climate change.” This statement stresses
two things that people need to hammer into
their heads. First, everybody needs to realize
their role as part of the solution to climate
change because some Captain Planet messiah
is not going to come. Second, mankind can
no longer hope to stop climate change; all
that can be done is to stop the worst of it. Let
these settle on everyone’s sweaty head.
DISHWASHERS
“Hot fill” dishwashers directly
use gas to heat water, which reduces
electricity consumption by as big as 90
percent for new models.
EFFICIENT LIGHTING
For lighting, compact fluorescents
tubes use four times less energy
and last eight times longer than
incandescent light bulbs. Using
reflectors and directional lamps also
saves 50 percent of energy cost.
WASHING MACHINES AND
DRYERS
A power consumption of less than
0.9 kWh per washing cycle would be
best. An energy label of EU A+/A/A
label will guarantee you the best
energy efficiency and results. Statistics
show that the most efficient washing
machines save some 1,500 liters of
water per year. Better yet, consider
drying the natural way as the best
alternative. If not, the gas-fired dryer
is the best way to go. Drying through
spinning is said to use 20 times less
energy than drying with heat, so make
sure the washing machine can spin at
1600 or even 1800 rpm.
COMPUTERS
Laptops consume five times less
electricity, and are more practical
than desktop computers. Enabling
the power management function
on the computer saves energy, not
the screensaver. More practically,
switching off the computer not only
lessens electric consumption, but
also extends its useful life, contrary
to misconceptions. Use a large
power strip for all components of the
computer and switch off when not in
use to cut electricity big time. In this
day and age, minimizing printing may
be hard to do, so better use inkjet
printers instead of laser ones.
8 THE LASALLIAN MENAGERIE
BY DARCY REBURIANO
“Y
Making the change
SOURCE: http://www.greenpeace.org/seasia/en/campaigns/
climate-change/clean-energy/12-steps
LEGENDS
ou know, I heard from a friend that some girl gave this guy
oral sex in the library!” When sex enters any conversation,
people listen—the more outlandish, the better. That being
said, few scenarios could beat stories about sex in campus in
terms of shock value. Upon hearing these tales, we find ourselves
giggling in guilty pleasure. The audacity of someone to do it within
the great De La Salle University! However, one has to realize that
a lot of these stories are just gossip.
Sidebar:
Saving electricity is perhaps the simplest and most addressable issue for most. A little
awareness can be no excuse to ignore the growing dilemma in the environment. In light of
this, Greenpeace proposes a few tips in their website that can go a long way if taken into
consideration. Usually, those labeled as A++ or A+, or those posted with the Energy Star label
are good appliances to consider. Though electricity consumption varies per country, there are
appliances that can generally cut back electricity without sacrificing functionality.
LUST
STANDBY LOSSES
Even when turned off, most
modern appliances still consume
electricity. Thus, it is best to buy those
with low standby energy consumption,
which are listed in product manuals
and websites. Again, a power strip for
multiple appliances can help cut off
standby losses all at once.
REFRIGERATORS AND
FREEZERS
High efficienc y refrigerators
consume around 100 kWh a year.
Since having a separate freezer
would make built-in frozen food
compartments in refrigerators useless,
a better option would be a two-door
combination of a refrigerator and a
freezer with separate compartments.
Consumption ratings and energy
efficiency labels of such should also
be taken into account.
ELECTRIC HEATERS
Producing the electricity to heat
water wastes roughly two-thirds of
the energy it takes to transmit it
to one’s home. Using gas or oil is
more practical. A solar boiler saves
about five times of what the electric
heater uses.
JULY 2007
As any pass-the-message game will
demonstrate, gossip passed from a friend of
a friend of a friend will earn or lose details,
and while the story will certainly be more
entertaining, it would be several steps away
from the truth. The question to ask then is:
How true are the details behind the sex stories
circulating on campus?
LASALLIANS SPEAK SEX
In order to answer this question, a
University-wide survey of 150 respondents
was conducted. While not exactly scientific,
the casual nature of the survey allows the
respondents to answer without shying away
from the topic. Interestingly, around 78
percent said that they believe that sex occurs
within the campus grounds, but only 61
percent said they heard these stories from a
source. The number of those who actually
witnessed couples engaging in “lewd acts”
was abysmal: only 2 out of 150 respondents
said they saw acts of sexual nature within the
campus. From this, we can already glean that
the stories circulating are based on only a few
incidents.
Next, the respondents who shared such
stories were asked to give an example. One of
those who shared stories was a male College of
Engineering student: “A lot of things happen
in the rooftop of the Velasco Building, and any
COE student will affirm this. They say a couple
was caught there: the girl was performing oral
sex on the guy.”
Oral sex seems to be the popular sexual
act performed within campus. A female
student from the College of Science relates
JULY 2007
“the Library Incident” and “the Conservatory
Incident,” both of which involve oral sex. The
Conservatory Incident is a well known sex-incampus story, especially since it was rumored
to have been the “confession” being pertained
to in a leading men’s magazine. Interestingly,
the respondents were contradictory regarding
several details of the conservatory incident.
Some said it was in the morning; others in
the afternoon. Just who exactly caught the
couple doing it is also in contention: discipline
officers, the janitors, and some exemplary
students who watched for 15 minutes before
telling the authorities, are all suspected in the
circulating stories.
Another student, this time from the College
of Liberal Arts proudly tells of an incident he
heard about regarding a couple caught by the
janitor. Rocky Conejos, a Literature major, tells
the story with amusement: “The couple was
really into it when the janitor spotted them.
The funny thing was, the janitor had to play
cop and say ‘Huli kayo!’”
Finally, the respondents were asked to
list down three places in the DLSU campus
where they believed a lot of sexual activity is
taking place (see accompanying infographic).
The Yuchengco building, which is already
infamous as the toilet seat of De La Salle, stands
atop the naughty heap. With fire exits, empty
classrooms, and quiet comfort rooms, a lot of
students think it is ripe for indulging in carnal
pleasures. One of the two people in the survey
who actually witnessed couples having sex said
that they witnessed it in the halls of the iconic
Yuchengco building.
SEXINOTHERCAMPUSES
Campus sex stories are also prevalent--sometimes even more so--in other
universities. The infamous Sunken Garden
in the University of the Philippines-Diliman is legendary when it comes to sex
acts. Stories abound of condoms littered
its walkways, loud moans heard in the
middle of the night, and couples doing
it in broad daylight. Not all is fun and
liberated in the shadows of the Sunken
Garden though. UP officials admit to
serious crimes being committed in the
area, ranging from frat wars to rape
and murder. UP Los Baños has the famed
Fertility Tree, where cars shake all night
during the summer break.
Ateneo De Manila University went
through quite a ruckus last year when
rumors spread of an Atenean girl having sex with a tricycle driver—inside the
tricycle. The girl was said to be suspended
after the incident. Like DLSU, the Eagle’s
Nest has plenty of naughty spots: laboratories, the library, and under the Big
Mango Tree.
Welcoming you to the UST campus
is the four centennial old arch that leads
to the UST walkway—the same walkway
known as a popular make-out and sex
spot in the España campus. Besides the
sexy walkway, the Dominicans won’t be
very thrilled when they discover that the
main building, which was once a Church,
is now a place of dark, dead-end stairs
where couples engage in sexual activity.
There are plenty of rumors concerning
seminarians luring freshmen girls to
give them one last chance at disavowing
celibacy.
Wherever one goes, it is clear that
campus life is also an enrichment of
sexual life. Likewise, sex stories in other
campuses provide the same entertaining
and learning experience as it does in De
La Salle University.
THE LASALLIAN MENAGERIE
9
cents’
CATCHING THE ACT
So how do the stories compare with the facts? The Conservatory
Incident is known to be true, as there have been reports that a couple has
been expelled due to engaging in intercourse—true to the confession
made in the magazine. The respondents also mentioned prominently
the Yuchengco Incident, where three students were caught masturbating,
and the incident having been featured in Ang Pahayagang Plaridel. The
Velasco Building’s notoriety is also somewhat confirmed, since three
out of the past five years had COE students being caught engaging in
sexual activity. Other than these, the stories can neither be confirmed
nor denied, given that the Discipline Office understandably refuses to
divulge specifics in the major offense “acts of lewdness,” respecting the
parties involved. However, we can safely say that a majority of these stories
were fabricated and are merely tall tales to delight the college crowd.
That said, the Discipline Office keeps good track of the number of
offenses committed in the campus. For the past five years, there really
haven’t been many “acts of lewdness” done in DLSU, with only eight cases
reported--confirming the large gap between the acts and the stories.
THE ROLE OF THE SEX MYTHOLOGIES
Establishing that the sex stories heard inside the campus are barely
based on fact, another question surfaces: is this proliferation of sex stories
good or bad? It is difficult to answer this question, but as contemporary
sociologist Gargi Bhattacharyya mentions in his book Sexuality and
Society, such stories serve a purpose. “Representation of sex is an
essential component of learning to be a citizen,” he says. Stories such as
the Conservatory Incident may or may not be true, but the stories are
mirrors for a society’s values system.
How exactly? The mythologizing of these stories transforms them
into templates for proper behavior. Unlike other, more familiar mythic
forms, like fables or parables, sex stories operate differently. They do
not dictate as much as suggest behavior. The fable of the greedy dog
who kept all the meat for himself inside a hollow tree and couldn’t get
out clearly portrays greed as a “bad” that must not be emulated. The
discovery of somebody having sex in the Yuchengco fire exit, however,
provokes reactions rather than passes judgment: Whether one feels guilt,
shame, pleasure or even the combination of all three tells what values
one has. To an extent, sex stories are deeper than most myths, since they
are reflective rather than judgmental.
So the next time somebody tells you about a couple doing it, say, in
the football field, go beyond the shock. Without being sarcastic or ironic,
these stories are learning experiences, because in the end, aren’t learning
experiences the very reason why people enter school in the first place?
PHOTO BY KIMBERLY GO
Sex stories, while seemingly “just entertaining,” serve a purpose.
DLSU’SHOTSPOTS
6
3
10
8
1
25WORTH
College, So High School
BY JABIN LANDAYAN
GRAPHICS BY BEATRICE ONG PHOTO BY ANGELINE PEREZ
A
t age 11, Mikaela Irene Fudolig entered
the University of the Philippines. She
graduated summa cum laude with a
1.009 General Weighted Average—1.00 being
the highest in the UP Grading System, along
with numerous awards at the age of 16.
Sixteen was the age of some of my
blockmates when I started in DLSU; some
even a year younger. This is common in the
Philippines, where students in their early
teen years qualify for and enter college.
But qualifying for tertiary studies does not
guarantee that a student is ready for it. Are
the primary and secondary education systems
in the Philippines sufficient in preparing
students for a college education? Being one of
the “older” freshmen in my batch as a result of
having been educated in a different country, I
believe the answer is a resounding “No!”
The college student of today can be
seen poring over video games more than
books; lacking patience and consideration in
relating with others; and contributing ideas
devoid of logical reasoning in discussions.
These seem to be the characteristics of
young modern Filipinos—freshmen, older
or otherwise. Suddenly, the cliché “The
youth is the future of the country” is hardly
believable anymore.
The Grade 7 factor
Middle School is supposed to address
the academic and socio-emotional instability
of children aged 10 to 15 years. In the
Philippines, there is no middle school.
Grade 7 was first introduced in
the Philippines as a part of
the Elementary Education
Curriculum in
1978. It was
implemented
a s
a n
attempt
t
o
9
5
7
establish
a
transition phase between elementary and
secondary education. However, the lack
of a pedagogy and teachers prepared to
handle Grade 7, coupled with the lack of
infrastructure resulted in its unsuccessful
implementation, save for some schools.
However, had this system been successfully
employed countrywide, it would still not fully
attend to the growing pains of an immature
nation—a year is insufficient for students in
becoming academically and socially adept
for high school.
Other countries, Australia, Singapore,
and the United States for example, have an
education system that incorporates two years
of Middle School or Junior High School.
Although criticized for lengthening the
years a student spends in school, this system
fosters independence and provides students
practical skills that make them employable
despite foregoing a college education.
Students in Australia, for instance, are
eligible for employment upon leaving Basic
Education (8th Grade) at the age of 15.
If one year of Grade 7 was negatively
“
Suddenly, the cliché
“The youth is the future
of the country” is hardly
believable anymore.
“
welcomed by Filipino parents and students
alike, what more if two years were to be
added to the current education system?
But Middle School is not only supposed
to lay the foundation for higher order
learning, it is also supposed to synchronize
the cognitive, physical, and socio-emotional
growth of students. It is no wonder then
that the transformative learning paradigm is
difficult to implement: Not only are teachers
unfamiliar with the contemporary pedagogy,
but students lack the capacity to learn in a
scheme that demands independence.
The 106 experiment
“Most popular” places for sex
1ST
2ND
3RD
4TH
5TH
Yuchengco (Staircases, Museum, and fire exit)
Comfort Rooms
Sports Complex
Classrooms
Andrew - Beside ITEO, Andrew Rooftop
10 THE LASALLIAN MENAGERIE
6TH
7TH
8TH
9TH
10TH
The Br. Andrew Gonzalez Hall was
established to centralize General Education
courses in one location. Since class schedules
for first-year students are mostly composed
of these courses, the Andrew Building
consequently became a concentration of
freshmen on campus, hence the colloquial
Library
LS/Conservatory
STRC
Velasco (Rooftop, 5th floor)
MM building
JULY 2007
JULY 2007
Frosh Building.
Elsewhere, another university in
Manila adopted a slightly similar plan. The
Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila required
that all freshmen take only General Education
subjects for their entire first year in college.
This was done to give the freshmen time to
adapt to the new environment and for the
students to decide which degree programs
they would like to pursue.
In both cases, college adversely became
an extension of high school. Centralizing
courses and making services available in one
building deprives freshmen interaction with
upperclassmen and experiencing the diversity
and culture of college campus life. Moreover,
studying just an expanded variation of high
school subjects does not challenge students to
think critically and creatively as demanded of
college students. Aren’t students supposed to
have already thought of the degree program
and career they would like to pursue before
entering college? If universities offer such
provisions for their first-year students, it
implies that they accept their new students’
lack of responsibility and preparedness in
entering college.
Problem is…
In suppor ting the development of
students into more mature individuals, the
Philippines should extend its education
system such that the holistic development
of students is ensured. Overhauling the
education system of the Philippines in spite
of a lack of infrastructure, budget allocation,
and capable teachers along with an everincreasing population may seem too daunting
an undertaking. But if the Philippines is to
progress as a nation, it should take necessary
action in better educating its foundation and
most valuable resource: its people.
Eligibility for college may be heavily based
on academic capability, but elementary and
high school curricula should not focus on this
aspect alone. I do not ask that there be more
hours of guidance or religious instruction,
but my point is to not overload students with
knowledge that could instead be taught over
an extension of a few years.
Education should not only emphasize
how much a student knows, but should also
take into account how ready a person is for
professional life. As a graduate of high school
in the Philippines, how educated are you?
THE LASALLIAN MENAGERIE
11
Fuel by John Ian Roman