Sinulog

Once again the malls are alive as the never-ending beat of the Sinulog is played over and over again. We see foreigners left and right scouting for the best buys in the city. And most of all, we notice the annoying traffic downtown. Because it is once again, time for Sinulog.

The history of Sinulog goes way back. It started when an expedition of Spanish fleets docked in the island of Cebu and introduced their faith to us. The Sto. Niño image is believed to have survived a fire making it miraculous.

In the 1980s, groups and the local government started to organize a grand parade in honor of the Holy Child. Thus began the festival that we keep on attending now. My Sinulog childhood memories have always been fun. I used to watch the street parade atop a corporate building along Jones Avenue while feasting on Cebu’s lechon together with family and friends. There are no vehicles, only have your feet to take you around the city.

I grew up not believing in saints and images of the Catholic faith but I totally respect that yet somehow the yearly event has become a mark for me to celebrate the blessings of Cebu.

Looking at a different perspective, the festival is not all about the image. For me, Sinulog is a time when we, as Cebuanos, remember our culture and tradition.

You see, it is a time where we once again nourish the basic areas of our identity.

Music for one is a good example. The Cebu Popular Music Festival shows that we have preserved our language and our gift of music. Year after year, Cebu’s homegrown composers and arrangers surprise us with their award winning songs which we wish to place on the mainstream radio.

Then there is art. We have been detailed artists ourselves before the coming of the Spaniards, hence the label “Pintados” by the invaders. Carefully painted tattoos, handcrafted jewelry and beautifully sewn costumes of the past still exist today as you wander through the streets of the city. Artists have all genres and styles come to the heart of Cebu to display their pieces all for the world to see.

Of course, we do not miss on celebrating beauty. The Miss Cebu pageant is an avenue for Cebuanas to empower themselves and show what an ordinary woman can do for her hometown.

 And lastly, we see our forefathers’ traits radiate within us as we welcome guests. Our being hospitable and loving to our visitors from other parts of the country and the world is unparalleled. In fact, it is something that we should be proud of.

The upcoming festival makes everyone excited. Some are excited to party, others say it is a time of thanksgiving and worship. I, too, have a different meaning for all this. We may differ in standpoints and views on religion but nothing can change the fact that we are Cebuanos, a people blessed by God with such a culture.

It was Jose Rizal who said that a person who does not remember his past is worse than a stinky fish. But we are very good in keeping our history intact. Our museums downtown are well-preserved and the media is doing very best to promote our local culture. The big festival is a culmination of it all. It is a mark of who we are as Cebuanos, as Filipinos.

**Published in the Freeman Newspaper on January 15, 2012

Maybe, just maybe

The first few days of the New Year saw students going back to school as mandated by the Department of Education. Attendance was, however, dismal. Only a few showed up and most were not eager to go back to school after the holidays.

For us students in the University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu, we also returned to class on the 3rd of January but the same feeling of emptiness filled the classrooms. Nobody was in the mood to set off the New Year right.

I wandered the dimly lit hallways of the university searching for somebody whom I could share my sentiment. The students were not just ready to face the reality that the holidays have ended and we had to go back to school. Two weeks with family and friends isn't just enough.

To prove that going back to normal did not sink in everybody's head, I overheard students who were still in holiday mode, giddy with stories from their hometowns. Even social media channels were flooded with pleas from both workers and students to extend the short vacation.

Well, reality is harsh that is why we do not really want to go back to it.

Among the many realities that people, even students like us, have to go back to after the holidays is the issue at the Cebu Provincial Capitol.

Since December 17 of last year, the same faces are on the news. We hear the same names mentioned and allegations that are oftentimes below the belt. The two iconic women of the province go as far as tackling the intrigue of guards, policemen, tents, unpaid accounts on food and the push for one's literal removal from office. The issue is too much to handle, too much to take in.

Since then there has been a tight watch on the doors of the Capitol. There is heightened security, suspicion on every intruder and a restless crowd. The norm is disrupted.

All these are happing at a time when Cebu will be celebrating its biggest festival in a few days. Yet somehow amid the chaos, we are hopeful. Deep in our hearts, we want peace in the province.

Maybe it is time to quit bashing on each other's principles. But maybe we should just let them be. Or maybe, just maybe, we have to be brave enough to face the harshness of reality.

**Published in the Freeman newspaper on January 12, 2013

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