Looking back: 2012

Me and Pearl during her 18th Birthday Party

January: Beginning

The beginning of the year, kicked off by a special debut of a special person in my life - my Best friend Pearl. It was a month of beginnings and first. I was looking forward to a great 2012... and I did.

February: Defeat

Claiming by "Most Naning" Award

The infamous defeat and most painful failure in my life - losing to the position that I have aspired the most. I look up to this day as the most blessed one of 2012. Despite pain, I saw who really cared for me and believed in me. Among them were loved professors and Fine Arts friends.

March: Direct

The Trio and Prof. Ligaya Rabago- Visaya

Never in my wildest dreams did I intend to direct a video production, but I did. Twice, to be exact. I finished the second semester winning two best director awards for two films. One from UPelikula awarded the month before and from the zoom in, zoom out film festival.

April: Write

My first weekly column in The Freeman came out during the month of April. At first it was scary while I held my apprehensions but it turned out to be a good avenue for me to speak in behalf of the youth. Exciting!

The Casipong sisters, students for 2 years

May: Recital

One of the joys of being a teacher is when you are able to see the fruit of your labor onstage. The month of may was filled with performances and practices that made me very proud as a music teacher. 

June: Win

CAMS 2012 election

The sweetest downfall also yields the sweetest success. After a year of being in the Cebu Alliance of Mass Communication Students (CAMS), I was elected this year as the President. Being the leader of the entire organization was a big challenge but a challenge so sweet that every endeavor is a joy to me.

July: Believe

Goofing around with Kara David and fellow officers

Probably the most unforgettable CAMS event in my life is the I-witness Documentary Festival. The officers were privileged enough to spend time with the four hosts - Kara David, Sandra Aguinaldo, Jay Taruc and Howie Severino.

August: Celebrate

Feeling like a true reporter inside the ABS-CBN Cebu's TV Barn

In celebration of TV Patrol Central Visayas' 24th anniversary, we kicked the mechanics of the annual campus patrol live broadcasting competition. It was a milestone for CAMS to co-organize two big events in two months. Amazing! This here is also my most liked profile picture. 

3rd Best Director award for 2012

September: Grow 

One of my favorite Cebuano plays, Ang Mini, was bought to life by my very own classmates. We won Best Director (me), Best Actress (Rejzl Awit), Best Supporting Actress (Angela Naval), Best Set Design and BEST PLAY!

Scene from "Ang Mini"

October: Performance

Teacher's recital, Chu un Temple 

Even if I haven't been teaching that much anymore, I was still invited to perform during CMLC's teacher's recital. It felt s good to still be able to sing and play the violin in front of an audience. Well actually, I kind of miss it. I miss playing the music.

November: Heights

Flying high sitting on preferred seats

Out of 800+ students who applied to be part of the country's prestigious leadership training, Ayala Young Leader's Congress (AYLC), I was called to fly to Manila for the final panel interview. Little did I know that I will be on the high heights of Makati's skyscrapers being with fellow young leaders across the nation and talking to top executives of great companies. Another great privilege, indeed.

December: Family

The most meaningful month of the year is spent well with family, bonds that are beyond blood but bound by cherished moments and friendship. December may have been the last month but each day has been filled with wonder as I wake up realizing that 2012 hasn't been that bad at all.

My cousins in Manila, 6 years after

College family: B&B Productions!

Moving on: 2013

2012 was not that bad at all! So, 2013, what have you got for me?

Miss UP, AYLC 2013, ABS-CBN Cebu and The Freeman internship and more!

Thank you Lord for this gift of Life. What is your 2012 story? =)

Hugs and love,

Feanne

**PS: Watch out for Verbal Variety's new look on 2013!

Tragedies before merriment

Just a week to go before the celebration of Christ’s birth and the spirit of the merriment is dying by the second.

Last Friday, my female classmate was assailed by two men, one if which pretended to be her husband. One of the assailants publicly declared that people should leave them alone because he has a personal business to settle with my classmate. The man’s sidekick, meanwhile pulled my classmate’s bag with mighty effort. Good thing a female vendor of Christmas lights identified her as a student, causing the assailants to flee.

The following day, a shooting occurred in Connecticut killing 20 children and six adults. Unlike the stories of gunmen tearing down a high school building, this shooting spree happened in an elementary school posing threats to nearby towns and the rest of American nation. More than a hundred children in Sandy Hook Elementary School are traumatized and scared of what will happen to them as they go to school.

Is there still a safe place in this world? That I ask myself amid the traffic and Christmas parties happening left and right. With the increasing number of crimes and innocent victims day by day, the answer to the question seems vague. There is too much darkness and evil in the hearts of men. Even the most friendly-looking face could be the next thief as soon as you turn your back.

We live by the moment. And every moment we do, there is somebody out there who is robbed of, assaulted, abducted or raped. It is a sad reality that we submit ourselves to. In the first incident I mentioned, the men have been identified by the police as notorious, committing crimes for countless times. The sad thing is the police cannot arrest the men because no one is brave enough to file a case. So their happy tripping goes on and many are becoming victims as of this writing.

The Christmas season is not only about enjoying and spending time with friends and family. It is also about caring and extending a hand to those who have been aggrieved. There were many people who witnessed my classmate being attacked but no one helped, except for that female vendor and a friend. Her plea for help fell on deaf ears despite many onlookers.

The world is, indeed no longer safe.  But I know a place where we can still be safe – our hearts. It is where we hide ourselves, our fears, struggles, and where we hold on to the belief that a baby boy born in a manger will save us from all the harm.

I pay my respects to those who were killed in the Connecticut shooting and I have to admit I am angry at those who harmed my classmate. But I rest in the truth that the miracle of the baby boy will make our hearts at peace.

An advance Merry Christmas to all the readers!

**Published in The Freeman newspaper on December 18, 2012

Of Cebu and storms

“You are in the eye of the storm,” my journalism teacher used to warn me whenever I encounter unfortunate events. I didn’t really understand what that meant every time she said it. Even so, she added that one could always get out of the storm.

Apparently, the word storm is a life metaphor for problem, conflict or a difficult undertaking. It could be very destructive but just like any phenomenon, it goes away and the challenge is to rise again.

storm clouds hovering over UP Cebu

As of this writing, super “Pablo” is somewhere between Visayas and Mindanao threatening the islands with its heavy rainfall and strong winds. Public storm signals were raised and residents were advised to evacuate coastal areas.

But despite the threat, I can say that Cebu is ready for any storm, literally or metaphorically.

Cebuanos have faced difficult challenges – killings, robberies, political rivalries, poverty, hunger. The rains kept on pouring hard but the Cebuanos showed strength, still standing up after every challenge.

What is it in a Cebuano? There is a long list of how we are as a people, of how, as part of the Philippine race, we managed to help keep the country afloat.

Cebu is a colorful place. According to marine biologist and notable host Jude Bacalso, Cebu is where the lines of business and leisure meet. It is home to the world-class guitars and sweet mangoes.

Cebuanos are incomparable. In times of storms, we stick together like a sturdy tree. We have kept our humility throughout the years being the birthplace of Catholicism in the country. The first war in the history of the Filipinos was done at the shores of Mactan, Cebu.

We have the best hotels and resorts that tourists from different parts of the globe frequent. In fact, Cebu was nominated as one of the best cities in the world. It is a place of intellect, culture and history.

The Bisaya was portrayed as “bakya” before. But it cannot be denied that the Cebuanos are world class. Just recently, we pulled of a national event, the National Thanksgiving Mass for the new Filipino saint, San Pedro Calungsod, who is Bisaya.

My professor believed in me when she said I could survive the storm and I managed to. The Cebuanos are a strong people who can survive any storm.

**First published in The Freeman Newspaper on December 5, 2012 

Minding manners in public

Long ago, cellular phones were not objects of necessity. Back when beepers were more convenient, mobile phones were bulky and a hassle to bring. Life was easier then. Everybody knew what privacy was.

The right to privacy is the inherent right on an individual to be let alone. However, with the advent of technology, this concept is constantly blurring by the moment. It is now easy for individuals to invade your privacy with a trusty gadget, which we all know by the name of cellphone. A majority of its models include a camera feature with optimized lenses bearing an adequate number of megapixels amounting to photos and videos with high resolution.

Its add-on may be music to the ears but it may be dangerous to one’s space.

We all know the story of Paula Salvosa, more popularly known as “Amalayer”. 

For days her infamous squabble with the lady guard at the Santolan LRT station flooded the news and the internet. Months back, we witnessed how a driver berated a traffic enforcer along Capitol Hills Drive in Quezon City. Both were bullied and harassed by netizens judging from the comments we read. The former testified how the humiliation destroyed her life. She chose not to go to school and is still afraid to go out alone.

photo from elysplanet.com

The public has eyes that can see very well. People watch you from a distance and talk about you in an instant. All these events fell into the hands of the public because of how fast technology runs.

But if we take a quick backtrack on the reason behind their public shame, we come to a common denominator - manners. Both did not manifest good manners in public 

places.

We all have our reasons for losing our temper especially when on the run. For all we know, the two came from a stressful turn out. Or maybe they could be running late for class or work. We do not really know what they went through before it all happened. Yet, this does not give them an excuse to echo their stress to other people.

Salvosa lost it, Carabuena did too. It was all because they were not patient. Their manners were all over the place.

People around you are just as worthy of respect as you do too. No matter how shabby, old, young, degrading or even below your status in life, they are people too so show respect.

Furthermore, English is not the basis of your wisdom and educational attainment. Language comes from the mouth but words do not. You cannot belittle someone and tell him or her off just because you went to school.

Lastly, when you are about to lose it, keep it to yourself. The eyes that could defame you do not know how to collect all the sides of the story. If you keep on invoking your rights to scream, shout and squeal in public, you have also stepped on the rights of others to stroll in public peacefully.

Remember, when you go out of any big door you share the same air and road with the other citizens of the Philippines.

**First published in The Freeman Newspaper on November 27, 2012

Indi-fferent

Film – a medium of expression recorded on film, or so it was in the old days.  It could also be termed as “movie,” which came from the shortened phrase “moving pictures” because a movie is literally a set of pictures played in fast motion.

The world of movies has come a long way. Way back, nobody knew how to integrate music into the movie, so a live orchestra was on stand-by in front. It played music whenever a scene from the movie needed emphasis. And just like any other form of medium, it evolved into what it is today.

Technology has made everyone a potential filmmaker. One could record on a handy video cam, a digital camera, a web camera or on a cellular phone.  No wonder this year’s Metro Manila Film Fest took advantage of this technology and included a segment in this year’s fest entitled “CinePhone”.  Students from universities across the country made a public service announcement about road courtesy through video footage from the cellular phone.

Because of the emergence of such technology, there has also been a stream in the film industry called “indie”, short of independent. It is not part of the mainstream made by a big production house nor is it readily shown in the theaters.

I have always thought of indie as different to the point of being weird. It was gay, revealing and weird, or so I thought. Yet, sometimes as human beings we tend to judge even before we have seen the entire picture.

Last Saturday, in an event organized by a couple of UP students, called Full Length, I sat for roughly five hours watching two indie films come to life. At the end of each film, a open forum was held for questions or insights on the movie.

They don’t do this for the mainstream. Otherwise, it would look so bland. I couldn’t imagine bringing myself to the microphone infront of a film critique and an eager audience sharing how handsome Taylor Launtner looked in the last installment of the Twilight Saga. It’s either I get kicked out for giving wrong input or a Team Edward fan steals the microphone from  me.

Through the event, the indifference of Indi showed me that its importance to our society. This made me realize the need to make indie movies.

The intent of the movie is not to sell or to regain back the money spent in production. It is to expose the truth to a wide mass through a massive portrayal that no mainstream production outfit would ever dare to do.

Indi is daring because it wants the truth out. It shows what is reality and not some distorted perception of what reality is. Indi is gay because it speaks for the minority. It gives a voice to those who are unheard of, making the silver screen their avenue in telling the world their value and what they really are.

It is weird because it is a form of expression. Those who think that what is shown in the mainstream is the norm think that whatever seen not in accordance to the norm is weird. But weird as you might call it, Indi is deep and gives the viewer a wider understanding of society.

Films are not only because of a star actor playing the role or a New York Best Seller novel coming to life. The lessons, the portrayal and the values embedded in the grooves of the film sell to the human heart and mind that this form of medium should be supported.

**Published in The Freeman newspaper on November 20, 2012

Sa akong pinakasuod nga higala

Sa dili paka mo basa sa akong suwat dunay mga pipila ka lisod nga pulong niini:

Kolehiyo - college
Dalag - yellow
silabon - instead
mapagarbohon - proud
makalisang - awful
--
Sa akong pinakasuod nga higala.....

kaming duha ni Pearl sa among pagtapos sa sekondarya (March 2010)

Dear Pearl,

Layo na gyod ang na abtan sa atong paghinigalaay. Nakahinumdom ka sa unang adlaw sa pagtungha? Nahimo kitang higala tungod kita ra ang nagsul-ob sa kutub nga uniporme sa tunghaan. Diha-diha nagkasinabot tau g nahimong sugod nga managhigala.

Wala gayod ta nag-away sa secondary bisan og daghan kog ginabuhat ug kanunay ko ginapatawag aron mo tambong sa mga kalihokan sa tunghaan. Nakahunahuna ko nga tingali og naanad nalang ka. Nakahandom ko sa atong mga buluhaton nga dunganon gayod og buhat labi na og manglaag tai nig Biyernes tungod nga wala may klase.

Karon nga anaa na kita sa kolehiyo, di nato ikalimod nag daghan na ug kausaban. Dili nata mosul-ob og dalag nga uniporme ug itom nga sapatos silabon kanang mga panul-ubon nga makapadayag kung kinsa kita.

Sa tinud-anay, mapagarbohon ko sa unsa na ka. Wala ko magdahom nga malagpot ka sa kalibutan sa management. Dili nako mahanduraw ang imong mga kalihokan iniining kursoha. Nahimo sab kang aktibo sa mga organisasyon sa tunghaan, usa sab ka butang nga di nimo gusto apan imo gihapon gi dawat.

Bisan og daghan na kita og gipanbuhat, duna’y parte nako nga gimingaw kanimo. Gimingaw ako sa mga panahon nga mangaon tag dungan inig paniudto. Dili na kita mangadto sa kasilyas aron mamulbos sa dili pa mag ala una sa hapon ug magsimasima inig human sa klase. Lisod dawaton nga nanagko na kita. Nagpangandam nako sa akong kaugmaon ug mao sab ang imo.

Usahay dili ko ka tuo nga kaniadto, mga gagmayeng babaye ra kita sa sekondarya nga ang mga buhok gi pangko og ponytail samtang ang mga nawong galubong sa mga libro nga nakapahilak kanato sa pipila ka gabii. Lisod man ang sekondarya, apan mas lisod ang kolehiyo.

Nalipay ko nga nakakita ka og mga higala nga anaa diha para kanimo niining panahona. Dili ko makabati og sala tungod kay daghan nako og buhaton kon makakita ko nga lipay ka sa imong mga bag-ong higala. May nalang nga bisan og wala ko pirme, duna’y mga tawo nga mi amoma kanimo ug naa sa imong kiliran.

Kon duna’y mga butang nga gusto nako isugyot kanimo, akong ilangkob sa tulo ka ponto:

Una: hinay-hinay lang sa imong kasing-kasing. Kahibalo ko nga dili pa kayo dugay ang inyong pagbuwag sa imong pinalangga kaniadto. Nalisang ko samtang nagtan-aw kanimo nga miagi sa kalisod. Apan, dili kini hinungdan nga kalimtan ang imong mga buluhaton ug ang mga panaghigala nga nagama sa susimang panahon sa relasyon. Sama sa gi ingon ni Ramon Bautista, “There’s more to life than love.”

Ikaduha: buhi sab usahay. Ayaw kaayo pahigot sa imong mga ginikanan. Kahibalo ko nga sila ang labing mahinungdanon nga mga tawo sa imong kinabuhi apan makaayo sab usahay kung mananghid ka kon mosugot sila nga mo laag uban imong mga higala kon dili nako ba. Ang pagkahadlok dili makatabang, makapasamot ra kini sa kahimtang.

Ikatulo: buhia ang imong kinabuhi. Mabuhi ra ka og kausa ug kon pirme raka mo sunod sa mga mando nga gihatag para nimo, samot ka nga mapakyas sa higayon nga makita ang kaanyag sa kinabuhi. Mao na, sulayi nga imong buhion imong kinabuhi nga mura og wala na’y kaugmaon nga mo abot. Dili man makadaot ang mo katawa og kusog ug higugmaon ang kaugalingon.

Ako ning gisugyot tanan tungod nga sa pito ka tuig nga na ilhan ko ikaw, mura ba og duna’y parte sa imo nga wala miusab. Ikaw gihapon ang inosenteng batang babaye nga nag apong sa iyang Papa ug Mama nga mo sugot sa mga gagmayng kalihokan nimo. Dako na ka nga babaye karon ug may kapangakohan sa tanang pabuot nga imong pagahimuon.

Hinaot unta nga sa dili madugay ang akong mga tambag imong mgadala sa imong kasingkasing ug kini mayo kanimo inig abot sa tukmang panahon.

Hibaloa nga gihugma tika sa kanunay bisan og dad-on ko sa kahanginan (ug karera) sa layong dapit.

Pag-amping!

Annie Fe                                                                                                          

Beauty of Papa Kit's

“Preservation before revenue” - This is what Papa Kit’s Marina and Fishing Lagoon’s advocacy.

Banked on the idea of preserving nature and then letting people see what nature offers, Papa Kit’s has been in the business for a good number of years. The foundation of the resort is linked on the idea of fun and environment preservation.

The place is adorned with recreational activities which give fun and adventure but at the same time benefit the environment as well. It is a vast 96 hectare area which is comprised of a lagoon teeming with mangroves, fishponds, seashore, mountains and a very picturesque view.

Papa Kit’s is the center of attraction in Liloan, Cebu. Found in the beautiful archipelago of the Philippines as it is also a tourist attraction to foreigners and locales who would love to explore the Northern part of Cebu.

Click on the video below to view the fun you could get at Papa Kit's!

(c) www.philfortune.com

There are also a lot of interesting places in the Philippines which you may view. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

Education Talk

Jose Rizal once said, “ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan” but how do you make them the hope when majority of the kabataan are not even in school?

Lucky for me, I go to school in one of the so-called premier universities in the country, the national university. We are dubbed as the best university but day after day we wish the school is given a higher state subsidy. We students are promised quality education but are given facilities that we have coined as coming from “pre-historic times.”

There are 110 state universities and colleges, 334 satellite campuses of the main campuses, 77 local universities and colleges and 10 other government schools but the student ratio to the number of universities is more than we can imagine. Universities are overpopulated. There is no proper screening process. Worse, there are no facilities for the students to learn the best they could.

Where does this all lead to? Well, unemployment or maybe if lucky, just underemployment. Companies nowadays do not accept employees with no strong educational background. Some graduates choose to be a bum for the rest of their life living off whatever mom or dad will be giving. Some choose to flee abroad thinking that going out of the country would solve their problems.

The Constitution states in article 16 that “the state shall promote the right of all citizens to quality and education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible.” This is a promise given to the youth so that they would work hard to lift this country up. But instead, a bulk of the country’s budget goes to the military and to the pockets of we know who. In turn, the youth suffers. Education now becomes a privilege than a right. Gone are the days when education is given to all, as with the American concept of education.

(c) Philstar News

Education is clearly a right rather than a privilege. The investment on the next generation would bring hope to our dire nation. I believe in what Jose Rizal said way back. But aside from a good educational system and funding to boot, we also need another important component – teachers.

We need teachers, competitive teachers who will pass on their knowledge to the students.

What happened with the faculty of Velez College last week was a clear example of the importance of teachers.  The teachers demanded that they be given just compensation for their work. Which was a puzzle for students who pay a huge tuition fees.

We need teachers. We need our teachers to be paid well so they can help us. We need teachers who are willing to sacrifice so that we will be the best, globally.

Going back to Rizal, he was a good student and he had great teachers. Rizal is the model of a well-educated man. It would have been better for the students of today to get the same quality education that he did before. Maybe then, the youth could really be the hope of the nation.

** First published in The Freeman newspaper on November 13, 2012

Names on the Pavements

Road trips are always the best trips when it comes to traveling. Aside from the cool breeze gently touching your cheek, you get a clearer view of nature’s beauty at its best. But the breeze may be so inviting to a sleep. You get an A-plus when you can stay awake through the trip despite the long distance.

I, travel the same route of hundreds of kilometers in reaching the city and back the forth. It is no doubt that my eyelids tend to shut off somewhere in between that hour and a half. But now that elections are coming to a close, the things that keep me awake are the names on the pavements.

These are not names with R.I.Ps and a cross above it. I believe the season for that has passed a week ago. Instead, these names are those who call credit for infrastructure done as if it was bailed out from their own pockets.

The law mandates every Filipino citizen to pay tax. There are types of taxes masked in a façade that even unemployed citizens get to pay. A classic example of this is the E-VAT where your every purchase contributes 12% from it to the country’s treasury. The national budget is taken from the country’s treasury so technically, everything we see belongs to the people.

But some misunderstand this mechanism. No wonder there has been a move from the senate to push for an anti-epal­ bill.

(c) sdumalay.blogspot.com

For many of us Cebuanos, epal is not on our dictionary or even in the context of slang but for the purpose of this piece we can contextualize epal to patagad.

According to those who believe, placing your names on the pavements is more than an advertising campaign put together by the best team even if the advert is painted with the best multimedia tools available.

The logic is simple: They grab people’s attention, are remembered, and is sure to have a vote come election period on May 2013.

The lines for the registration have closed a few days back. News reports say that there has been a surge of applicants who are interested to vote. They blame the offices for not giving an extension when in fact, registration have been on-going since last year.

The sudden rise of registered voters becomes a potential market for those who intend to stay in office noting that new voters believe by what they see. Hence the saying, “What you see, is what you get.”

However, no matter how hard we try to see the picture in a clear view, the ulterior motive is wrong.

This ill purpose is out to get your vote because those who wish to run do not simply believe in themselves. As complicated the world of politics may be, when confidence is lost the ways to regain this may resort to a tactic which is unworthy of.

COMELEC says that there is a proper time for campaign. But some fellows are uneasy, they want the sure ball even as early as now. Yet, we cannot shun away from these names and even faces as we go by the streets.

For some, seeing ironic faces and names on the pavements have become a nuisance.  Instead of directly benefiting from the project, we start to act like we owe whoever on the pavement.

They say that infrastructure speaks of the level of progress in a place. It is the marker in every society that development has taken place. The Philippines has a lot with abundance and probably of the best quality.

So I guess the ride home would leave me awake for a bit. Unless those who patagad remove themselves from pavements, then  my rides home and back and forth will always be on the lookout for those who take advantage.

**First published in The Freeman newspaper on November 6, 2012

Screams from the Ferris wheel

As I was on my way home aboard a trusty jeepney, I heard a group of children scream for their lives from a far good distance.

No, there weren’t any ghosts in town yet. In fact, the festivities were waving at the municipality of Consolacion in celebration of the fiesta. Banderitas, balloons, and lights were on parade. Talk about fiesta but the screams were disturbing.

Turns out, the screams were from the ferris wheel, the highlight of every fiesta’s amusement park or perya. I couldn’t really tell if they were screams of fright or screams of excitement. But from the look of the ferris wheel, I’d take the former.

The act of screaming is an exaggerated expression from both extremes. You may be too scared or too mad. You may also either be too depressed or too happy. Whatever serves the situation.

But when we teach the children to be afraid, and they scream well that’s a different story.

In a few days time, we are given days off from work to reunite with our families and reminisce the good old days of those who have departed from us in a holiday we call All Souls’ Day. For some it is still painful to accept but on the other side of the coin, there is joy because of the enjoining back with our creator.

All Souls’ Day is the time we remember the dead, and also the time we are bombarded with the image of fear. We associate this day with ghosts, the dead and wandering spirits in a theme we would most likely name as Halloween.

Unlike the western setting, we do not foster the trick or treat tradition to our children. We often get this idea’s picture from the movies where children dress up in their scariest attire with a basket or bag in hand as they wander around the neighborhood for goodies from the folks. It’s either you get tricked and scared or given a treat.

I cannot say if this is a positive connotation on Philippine society but one thing is common – the concept of fear during this season in our children.

We scare them of ghost stories and make them scream at the top of their lungs. Costumes on the racks portray the most hideous creatures on earth as they run to mama for refuge. There are even theme booths where you pay, go through the labyrinth and scare yourself. It may be fun for the older ones but it is scary for an innocent child. Why scare him/her?

When children are scared, they lose the confidence in their selves and cling on to a person for strength when they could have been standing on their own feet already.

A screaming scared child is an example of wrong upbringing because the trust in the self is lost. There is no confidence that the ‘I’ could stand alone because of the concept of fear.

I couldn’t quite get the point of making a festivity out of scary characters. It may be fun for adults to witness the little ones cry cutely. But in their small hearts of hearts, there is no sleeping when bedtime comes. So why scare them and hear their screams when they can be told of stories about their dear departed?

**First published in the Freeman newspaper on October 30, 2012

COMELEC registration youth friendly

CEBU, Philippines - The elections set on May 13 next year are fast approaching with less than eight months to go. However, not all qualified youth have registered to become voters.

There a lot of reasons they do not submit themselves to registration.

"I can't register in Cebu," says Michael James Quidilla, a 22-year-old graduating civil engineering student. Quidilla originally comes from Zamboanga City but has been residing in Cebu City for almost five years.

"Where I'm going is undetermined. So I do not know where to register," adds Quidilla who is choosing between both cities for career opportunities.

Quidilla is just one of the few youths aged 18 to 27 who can vote for the 2013 election but has refused to register.

"The process to register is very easy," says Juluis Nahuman, a registration officer at the Municipality of Consolacion Commission on Elections (Comelec) office.

According to Nahuman, one must just be 18 years of age on or before election day, a resident in the barangay for six months and must have a valid identification (ID) card. If an ID is not present, one may present a police clearance, social security system ID, National Bureau of Investigaion ID or driver's license.

Comelec has even made it easier for those who do not have an ID. They only need to bring a registered voter in the municipality who would vouch for the identity of the applicant as a resident of the said barangay.

Three are only three steps to take when registering. Just present any valid ID and Comelec will give you a white form to fill out. Have your picture taken and wait for the acknowledgement receipt that you have registered.

Nahuman said that voting is easy since we will still be using the automated system for the election.

However, there will be a delay in receiving the voter's ID card.

"Ang COMELEC sa Intramuros, Manila ang mo print ana (The Comelec in Intramuros, Manila will print it), says Nahuman. Due to the millions of applicants and limited resources, the voter's IDs might be released the following year after the election.

But new applicants should not worry because any local Comelec office can print a voter's certification.

"This is to certify that he/she is registered in the municipality," says Nahuman who added that the certification can suffice for a voter's ID. Yet this is not needed to vote. One must just make sure that his/her name is on the precinct list of registered voters on election day.

John Destacamento, 21 and a registered voter at Medellin town, commended the new process for registration.

"The registration process itself kay dali pero it could mean a long wait pod especially if daghan ang magparegister kanang toward the end sa registration period (The registration process itself is fast but it could mean a long too especially if there a lot of applicants towards the end of the registration period.)," he said.

Nahuman says to make things easier, do not lose the acknowledgement receipt after registering at any local Comelec office.

"Relax, automated man ang election ron. Ayos ang imong experience, ma-thrill ka pero mapuno pod ka og singot ana (Relax, the elections are automated. You're experience will be okay, you will be thrilled but you will be filled with sweat)," Nahuman said.

Because I am a girl

The 5-year old version of me isn’t exactly alike as the 19-year-old you see today. I used to be a little stout girl with hair held up in pony tails.

Well, I wasn’t just stout. I was fat and round, round as a ball. To put this description into context, I once bumped into one of my classmates and his front teeth fell off!

 My childhood was a living hell as bullies teased me left and right. I was labeled as “baboy” or “baboy ramo nga naka buhi sa tangkal” for every waking day of my preschool life. Things got out of hand when they ruined my project just because I was that. Being the little girl I was, I looked at my fists and realized that they weren’t intended to fight so I simply cried, just like daddy’s little girl, waiting for my hero to save me.

To cut the story short, I was forced to go on a diet after that dreadful instance just to spare myself from another round of humiliation.

Looking back at my life as a little girl, my womanhood today whispers the word fight if I could only talk to her.

No, I wouldn’t want her to start a brawl in preparatory school. What would be left of her? I meant the fight for the right to be who I was supposed to be. Not some Barbie doll.

What we should be fighting for are girls’ rights, a call for gender equality even amongst children aged 17 and below.

There are gender stereotypes in the different cultures of the world. One very common is long hair for girls and a clean cut for boys. If one crosses over the other, then say goodbye to your school or prepare for a reprimand from the principal. It even gets worse in other countries where girls are only to stay at home while boys are sent to school. 

There are cultures that do not issue birth certificates for girls. With no supporting documents of their identity, they are at high risk of trafficking. These girls are usually limited to helping mom at home while their brother goes out to play with other boys.

I was once deprived of the hit gaming console back then, which was coincidentally named as gameboy. The rationale was it was a game for boys.

In a recent immersion with an international organization advocating girls’ rights, I come to realize the significance of gender equality. What more to make its impact more strong than to start with young girls. Even a simple bullying story could not be forgotten until the adolescence, it can even traumatize.

Children may be the hope of tomorrow but how do we make this hope a living spark if they are not even at par with each other? Boys too, should learn the rights that girls have and how society has ordained the norms for boys and girls.

They say that this generation has been topsy-turvy because of the call for equality? But I daresay that this is the way to straighten things out and end oppression. It may be too deep but it is true.

So to the 5-year-old me, I’d tell those bullies that I have rights too because I am a girl.

 ** Published in the Freeman newspaper on October 23, 2012

Dancesports, what is it?

Eli Maricuelo and partner

CEBU, Philippines - When talking about sports, there is no denying that one would only think about physical strength and endurance, such as basketball, volleyball, badminton, etc. There may be some that require mental abilities like chess and scrabble. Dancesports, however, stands out from the rest. Aside from the physical, it requires the mind to be conscious of the beat.

Dancesports is a form of competitive ballroom dancing by the ability of a person to dance. It has two categories: Modern Standard and Latin. Modern Standard consists of foxtrot, waltz and quickstep. For the later, it is comprised of chachacha, rhumba and jive. It is judged according to the steps, smoothness of movements and projection.

In our local setting, dancesports has been trending not just in a mere school intramural competition but even in the Cebu City Olympics and bigger competitions out of the area. Eli John Maricuelo, a member of the Dancesports Cebu team, and Louise Maree Velasquez, a dancesporter at heart, believe in the sport so much.

Velasquez during the city olympics unit meet

Some say that dancesports isn't a "sport" per se because of the elements of dance and music which are unusual. However, Eli said, "Of course it is considered a sport because everything in our body is working. It requires self discipline and an attitude to maintain just like any other sport." Louise added, "The amount of practice and hard work is equal to the other forms of sport."

True enough, dance sports requires physical skills such as body coordination, speed and flexibility. It isn't a joke practicing night after night with dancing shoes, they both narrated, not forgetting the use of the mind. There are so many things to consider such as song choice, music timing, steps, costume and make-up.

When asked what pushed them to pursue this sport, Eli answered "My mother was the one who introduced me to dancesport even if dancing was never on my mind. You rarely come across guys who dance in this field." As for Louise, "It was my family from Cebu Normal University - Integrated Laboratory School (CNU-ILS) who pushed me to join. No one was there to represent the unit for the City Olympics so, after much convincing, I did it but I had no regrets afterwards."

By no regrets she meant it was her door to dancing and dancesport. After representing the 5th unit in the Cebu City Olympics last 2007, she continued until her last year in high school and up to the university now. Same goes with Eli who started out the Mandaue School for the Arts (MCSFA) who has now gone a long way from school-based competitions to national ones.

Eli competes for the modern standard category while Louise is more inclined to Latin. Yet, because of their love for dancing and the sport, both are flexible to dance other categories.

One does not only gain trophies and medals in dancesports. "I gained self-discipline and the right attitude during my years of training," says Eli. "It helped me to set my priorities straight," added Louise. Just like any other sport, it has its own benefit not just for oneself. It builds a partnership between the couple who will be performing.

"The amount of practice and hard work is equal to any other sport"

Dancesport isn't like any ordinary sport. It is a combination of a dance and a sport, as the name implies. No, it does not take a ball or a field to define dance as a sport. It is more than recognitions and routines. Just like Yayee and Eli, who believe in the truth that no matter how people would want to deny it, dancesport will always be a sport. (FREEMAN)

Waffle Memories

               What is the typical Filipino breakfast? A fried dish and a sunny side egg on the side. Add coffee and it’s the perfect combination.

Somehow, waffles and coffee go well together too. Well maybe for people on-the-go when there is no time to hit the brakes for a breakfast.

When I was in high school, I had an on-the-go lifestyle. When the clock strikes six, students race to the university to get a first hand at submitting assignments or else you are at risk of losing precious points.

This, however, led me to the most heavenly waffle on earth. It had no brand name. It was on a simple aluminum cart with the price pasted on the glass lining. It was at twelve bucks a piece. Seems like a fair good deal.

When students were rushing to get their good fates, manang was busy making waffles for those who wish to catch a quick breakfast. She would pour the batter on the special molder. Manong, on the other hand, waits for customers as he reads the everyday paper.

Every day I drop by and make sure I hand them my twelve pesos in exchange for a brown paper bag filled with goodness. I wasn’t the only one. Teachers and school workers also had the same routine. The waffles were selling like pancakes.

I breathe the familiar scent of the batter as the smoke rises from the molder. The almost inaudible sound of the brush as butter is painted on the waffle completes the masterpiece. I inhale in for the last time before sealing the bag. Then I bid my thank you to manang and manong before entering the university.

Sometime in my four years, they were featured by the university’s school paper. It said that their marriage made them stronger as their main source of income was the waffles. In fact, it has sent their children to finish degrees in premier universities in Cebu. They narrated that they used to push their waffle cart around downtown, in strategic areas where schools are near. But because of their old age, they wanted to station in a university so dear to them – Cebu Normal University (CNU).

But after our 2010 graduation, I never saw manang and manong again. I never took the time to say goodbye.

Now that I have come a long way since those childish years, I wanted to pay both of them a visit. This time, with twenty four pesos in my hands. I was ready to give the other piece to my colleagues in UP, to brag of their blissful waffle.

I approached the cart and saw another person brushing the waffles. I questioned.

 He said months after we said goodbye to CNU’s walls, manong passed away because of a long time disease. This left manang alone in their waffle business. But manang didn’t want to risk her arthritis. It would be hard for her especially that her partner is not with her anymore.

Tears fell. I never said goodbye and my final thank you.

I could have said, “Thank you manang, you make the best waffle in town.” I never even had the chance to get their names. All this time I call them manang and manong.

It was a friendship left, a hanging marriage.

They could have spent the last moments together at the newly opened senior citizen’s park. They could have enjoyed the company of fellow elderly without having to think about the business that kept them running. It was a beautiful project they could have made the most of.

It could have been a bit better.

Sooner or later, we’ll age and evolve from waffles to scrambled eggs in the luxury of my own home.

But for now, I’d gladly take a waffle bite and say, “Thank you manang and manong for making the best waffles in town”.

**Published in The Freeman Newspaper on October 16, 2012

Zombie-fying hellweek

A student’s life is centered on quizzes, assignments, projects and exams. Yes, exams. Say hello, to finals week, second day.

For many of us students, every hour counts to study.

I have always been a study freak even since grade school.  I preferred to study alone in my room. Now that college requirements require a lot of group work and eventually group discussion, I have been exposed to various styles of studying.

For one, there are those who are home buddies. They prefer to stay within the comforts of one’s home where everything is within reach. There are also coffee maniacs who would want to study out in cafés and coffee shops. They say it spares them from the temptation of falling asleep in one’s bed. The last style is to study at the university library.

I used to be this one when our one and only library was still open. It was such a wonder being in one room filled with books. On a seat near the big windows, overlooking a side of the city.

Now it just too difficult especially that we have been zombie-fied.

A common jargon circulating around in the University of the Philippines (UP) community since time immemorial is “Hell week.”

It is a noun pertaining to the “bloodiest week” of the semester. It is full of requirements to pass, reports to do and exams if any. This is usually the week before the scheduled finals week. Finals week in UP is not that hellish since some professors prefer to finish their course early.

If I were to compare the week to a movie, I cannot.  It is worse than Saw III but comforting and enjoyable as the 3 Idiots’ “Aal iz well” mantra. You cannot take a long pause. If you do, you’d suffer. A quick break is acceptable though. But anything more than that would throw you out of the game.

The term is also applicable to the finals week itself where the exams are sometimes bloodier.

I first heard of hell week when I was in my freshman year. I thought it was only some kind of expression. The conservatives even condoned me for using the word hell. They say it’s inappropriate, negative and for some reason, unlucky.

Luckily though, I was able to survive the most grueling battle in college for four semesters. I accepted the challenge of no sleeping and at times no eating just to get the work done. Every hell week was a game on.

Because of social media’s pervasiveness, the jargon has spread to other universities as well. They use the term Hell Week for their own versions as well.

There may be major differences because of UP’s culture but the common denominator really is school work.

However zombie-fied we may be, we students do not forget the concept of fun.

We have fun on social media as the world went dark in support of the anti cybercrime law. The feeds were flooded with shares and retweets of possible incidents when the law would be truly enforced.

When it would be serious, I wonder where the fun would go. Maybe there would still be fun in the company of our own comrades. The real world is full of mates that you cannot choose.

May be we would go back to being zombies. No sleep, no eating, and add to that no speaking as well or posting online, for that matter.

Yet, the end is sweet for all of us students who burn our eyebrows for the future.

I just hope when I wear my ecru dress topped with a maroon alibata sash, I am zombie-fied no more.

**Published in the Freeman Newspaper on October 9, 2012

Easy as one, two and three

Before I reached legal age, I told my friends that I would waive my right to vote.

The controversies faced by the politicians made it easy for me to gloat. I thought there was no point in voting. Anyway, the same dynasty would still sit on the throne.

But now that I am truly qualified to enjoy suffrage, I wave hysterically at the thought of saying no.

The women's fight for suffrage in our country was not an easy battle. It required marching and shouting on the streets demanding the exact privilege as that of men. The 20s was a time of gender discrimination. I couldn't see any difference between a male and a female intellectually. They are both citizens of the country. Why deny them the right to choose people who would equally represent them in governance?

The fight was victorious as we can see today. But this does not mean that we would take for granted the blood and sweat poured by the women heroes at that time just to fight for suffrage. 

Yes, the amendment pushed through and the wrong notion of not having women in politics has been changed. It was a success indeed. That is why it does not give me enough reason to withdraw from the privilege of choosing the next set of leaders.

Declining would only make things worse. Instead of giving one count to a deserving person, the vote would only go to waste. The fostering of apathy would only make other Filipinos follow. Now the waste is not just mine.

Election time would also be a good step to show the wiser ones that the young cannot be persuaded by their mischievous tricks. At 15, I declined an envelope from a Sagguniang Kabataan party during the October 2010 elections. I know the candidates weren't to blame, those behind them were. Again, a sad reality of how the young are taught by the older generation.

A couple of bucks can be so tempting especially to one who relies on a meager allowance. But dignity could not be replaced by any amount. It is said that those who pay to win do not trust themselves because he or she has to buy votes in order to win.

And so with all these reflections, I recently volunteered to submit myself for registration at the COMELEC office at our municipal hall. I was ready to stand up for hours and fight grumbling office staff who would not understand what I want.

Lo and behold, the process was easy.

It only took my identification card to do wonders. A form was given and I religiously filled it out. Once done, I sat to have my picture taken. To seal the deal, I imprinted both of my thumb marks on the same form and accepted my acknowledgement receipt. I only spent 20 minutes for the entire historical benchmark of my life.

This improvement would entice new applicants and inactive voters who have changed status or residences. There is no problem with the registration. The big challenge is on the election itself. Who will garner the largest votes? Will there be flying voters again? Will the dead still be listed on the official list of voters? Lastly, will automation make things easier?

We cannot answer those questions now. But, as for the voter registration stage, I'd have to say that yes, the claims are true. Signing up to be a registered voter is easy as one, two, and three.

**Published in The Freeman Newspaper on October 2, 2012