La UnionUniting the Big Three of the North

In life, there’s always a FLIP side!

Issue 1Volume 1

March - April 2009

Summer Snacks in a Snap!A Summer Heaven

Passing by the PasserbyCrafting a Hobby with Paper

Sarsuwela, the comeback

3

March - April 2009

writers

KeishaHalili Nica

Tomines

AndreaBardos

KatAngco

NorlyBayona

Karende Guzman

KatherineBunyi

AnneApostol

AmaeSuarez

EstellaManiquis

Rae AnneDucut

JanetTan

KristineGalang

Jacklyn Belo

CakeEvangelista

4

5foodA Taste of the Baguio Life

>> Karen Anne de Guzman

Much like a favorite book you’ve read countless times, the one with the dog-eared pages and a cover that’s about to disintegrate, there’s an old, unassuming restaurant that true Baguio residents consider as much a part of the Baguio life as strawberries and leisurely strolls in Camp John Hay.

Hiding in plain sight among Session Road’s cramped shops and buildings is the 456 Restaurant. Named 456 by the previous Chinese owners because they consider 15, the sum of 4, 5 and 6, a lucky number, the restaurant is now part of the 456 Hotel and Restaurant Co. owned by Cherry Wong-Sia.

It’s a place where Baguio residents indulge in great Fili-pino and Chinese food at affordable prices. It is also a place where employees from Session Road’s numerous establish-ments take their breaks and meet after work. But more than just eating at any other restaurant, eating at 456 has become a daily ritual shared with close friends, relatives and col-leagues.

However, it is also a place tourists won’t normally ven-ture into because of its look—a somewhat chaotic carinderia housed in an old building with a small and cramped en-trance. Not inviting or appetizing at all. But like all unfor-tunate books misjudged because of their dilapidated covers, the real content of 456, its food, is something that’s really worth a try.

“People don’t go here for the place, they go here for the food,” said Mary Joy Chua, purchasing officer and opera-tions supervisor of 456 Restaurant for 3 years.

Part of 456’s appeal is that it has something for every-body. The restaurant has a catering service that can satisfy a group of 10 for only 1,300 pesos. There’s also a short or-der area for those who come in bigger groups and have no qualms about sharing viands. A fast food area is for the busy people who just fall in line and pick their meal from any of the available food on display. And the bakery section is there for those who want to snack on baked goodies.

There are also a lot of dishes that can satisfy the palettes of vegetarians and health-conscious people. The restaurant takes advantage of the abundance of fresh vegetables in Baguio by serving them up in a variety of dishes, includ-ing broccoli or pechay in oyster sauce, cauliflower in cream sauce and mixed vegetables. They also have ampalaya, la-ing, baguio beans, monggo and their best seller for veggie-lovers, a mouthwatering serving of kare-kareng gulay. All of their fast-food vegetable dishes sell for 34 pesos and just add 11 pesos for a cup of rice, a meal amounts to a wallet-friendly 45 pesos.

Their best sellers for their hungry short-order custom-ers include an extra large bowl of lomi made of thick egg noodles that can satisfy as many as five to six people for

only 210 pesos and a mouthwatering serving of lechon bits topped on rice for 60 pesos. For their bakery section, it’s their scrumptious cinnamon loaves that get the most attention at 34.50 each.

Because of the combination of great food for great prices, the restaurant continues to feed the hungry mouths of Ba-guio goers 24 hours a day and seven days a week. It’s been a part of the Baguio community for decades. It started out as a restaurant for short orders alone, but with a change in management back in 2003, it added the fast food and bakery area to widen its market and attract more customers from all walks of life. But the true origin of 456 is something that is shrouded in mystery.

Chua claims that because 456 has been in Baguio for so long, and has experienced several changes in management, that no one knows exactly when it was opened. Even loyal patrons could only speculate when the restaurant started.

“I’ve been coming here since probably before Martial Law. All I know is that when I came here (Baguio) in the 1960s, 456 was already here,” said Manuel Fernandez, a re-tired bank worker. He and his friend Delano Garcia have been going to 456 almost everyday since the 1980s, sitting around almost all afternoon chatting about old times, drink-ing a few beers, and munching on their favorite papaitan, lechon rice and beef mami. They said that the 456 Restaurant has been their own personal “watering hole” for all these years, where they meet up with their friends for drinks and a few laughs. The restaurant’s friendly staff is also the reason why they always go back to 456. “In other restaurants, the waiters and waitresses start sending us mean looks when we stay too long. Here, they never ask us to leave even if we stay here all afternoon,” Fernandez said.

Drinking buddies like Fernandez and Garcia are just one type of customers that frequent 456. Families of Baguio resi-dents are also regulars at the restaurant.

Now 456 may not be the most aesthetically pleasing res-taurant and it may not have the ambiance that some people look for, but it is a restaurant that provides families and friends with a place to just hang out and enjoy the food and each other’s company. The residents of Baguio consider 456 as a mainstay in their everyday lives, and the memories of their 456 experience stay with them even if they’re far away. Now if only tourists would get past the appearance of the place and just enjoy the food of 456, then maybe they can make their own memories there as well.

6 food

Getting ready to go somewhere this summer? Or just plan-ning to lay low and relax at home? Try these easy-to-do recipes and pack them up to bring with you on resorts or

just lay them on the table to be feasted on with friends!For most people, summer may not be the best time for cooking.

What with the extreme heat? The kitchen could easily be mistaken for Lucifer’s den! But, we say otherwise! Cooking and baking can be and should be fun even during the summer. It needn’t be such a hassle. With the endless adventure during the summer vacation, why not try these dishes that you can easily whip out and pack with you to the beach? Here are some recipes that are not only nutritious but also easy to prepare and quite affordable.

FISHING FOR NUTRIENTS?Instead of the usual outdoor grills that are traditional in the summer, why not try something new this summer? The sea

isn’t just for taking a dip in and seafood is known to be rich not only in protein but also in omega-3, a type of fatty-acid that is god for keeping heart attacks at bay. Here are some of Quickfire’s Chef Rosebud Benitez’s seafood recipes that you might want to try during the summer to keep your hearts healthy. These omega-3-rich dishes can be eaten with rice to make up a solid meal or as pulutan for that much-awaited summer inuman with the barkada.

Ingredients:1/2 cup rice wine 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 pound fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined 2 quarts oil for deep frying 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 1/3 cup ice water 1/4 cup cornstarch 1 egg yolk 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon white sugar 1 teaspoon shortening 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Procedure:

1. In a medium bowl, mix rice wine and salt. Add Ajinomoto Umami super Seasoning. Place shrimp into the mixture. Cover and marinate.

2. Heat oil in deep-fryer.

3. In a medium bowl, mix together all-purpose flour, ice water, cornstarch, egg yolk, salt, white sugar, shortening and baking powder.

4. One at a time, dip shrimp into the flour mixture to coat. Carefully place a few shrimp at a time in the hot oil. Deep fry until golden brown on all sides, about 1 1/2 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove from oil. Drain on paper towels. Serve warm.

Ingredients:1 kilo of Squid Ginger 2 Big Onions Chilli Peppers red or green Salt and Pepper 2 Tbsp corn oil Kalamansi juice Ajinomoto umami super seasoning

Procedure:

1. Grill the squids; remove the plastic of the squids after they are grilled.

2. Chop the squids and set aside.

3. Chop Onions, ginger and chillis.

4. In a pan put oil and saute onions and ginger then add the chopped squids with kalamansi juice, salt and pepper. Sprinkle with ajinomoto umami super seasoning.

5. Pour the cooked squid sisig on a sizzling plate and serve it while it sizzles.

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Summer Snacks in a Snap!

>> Katherine Bunyi

7foodIf you want to really save time, there are available tem-

pura mixtures in the market. However, we only recommend using them if you already have a brand you trust and which suits your taste.

PICKY? The summer heat can really boost some people’s ap-

petite. And despite a heavy lunch, some stomachs just can’t wait for dinner, especially after playing the whole afternoon in the pool. Try one of these recipes that are light but healthy and serve them for merienda as a temporary respite for those hungry nieces and nephews without ruining their appetite for dinner.

Ingredients:2 cups grated cheddar cheese1 tablespoon chopped basil leaves1/4 cup chopped red bell peppers1/4 pack 6 grams AJI-SHIO PEPPER SEASONING MIX 10 pieces small lumpia wrappers, cut into half1 beaten eggcooking oil for frying

Dip:1/2 cup banana catsup1/2 cup mayonnaise1 teaspoon sugar1/4 pack 6 grams AJI-SHIO PEPPER SEASONING MIX

Procedure:

1. Combine cheese, basil and red bell peppers. Sprinkle half pack of AJI-SHIO PEPPER SEASONING MIX and mix well.

2. Place a tablespoonful of the mixture in the center of a lumpia wrapper. Roll tightly and fold sides. Seal ends using beaten egg to prevent cheese from seeping out.

3. Deep fry or pan fry until golden brown.

4. Serve hot with dip.

5. Prepare dip, combine catsup, mayonnaise and sugar. Sprinkle remaining AJI-SHIO PEPPER SEASONING MIX and mix well. Chill.

6. Combine cheese, basil and red bell peppers. Sprinkle half pack of and mix well.

Ingredients:1/2 kilo sliced ham2 tablespoons corn oil2 teaspoon chopped onions3/4 cup chopped Vienna sausage 3/4 cup chopped bacon 2 tablespoons pickle relish2 beaten eggs 3 tablespoons all purpose flour1/4 cup chopped raisins1 pack 2.8 grams AJI-SHIO Pepper Plus

1 cup brown sugar

Procedure:

1. In hot oil, saute onions until transparent. Add sausage and bacon.

2. Turn off the fire, add pickle relish and cook for few minutes.

3. Add egg, all purpose flour and raisins. Sprinkle AJI-SHIO Pepper Plus and mix well.

4. Fill the slice ham with cooked mixture. Roll and fasten with toothpick. Dredge with brown sugar.

5. Grill or fry until brown.

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PARCHED FOR MORE?You know when it’s summer when you see people selling

halo-halo everywhere you go. It’s the traditional beverage and the sure way to cool down. But, why not try something new? Here is Food Network’s Bobby Flay’s recipe for a refreshing drink this summer.

You may exchange the root beer for other soda to make it more kid-friendly. If it’s for adults, a whip of alcohol wouldn’t be a bad idea either.

But of course, the most important thing to remember while you’re sweating away this summer is to chug down lots of wa-ter or liquids and to eat fruits rich in water like watermelons and pineapples to keep from dehydrating and to fully enjoy the sun!

Ingredients:

1 pint vanilla ice cream

2 bottle(s) very cold old-fashioned root beer

(optional) Splash bourbon

(optional) Freshly whipped cream, for garnish

Procedure:

Spoon a few scoops of vanilla ice cream into 2 tall float glasses. Pour the root beer and bourbon, if using, slowly over the ice cream and top with a dollop of whipped cream.

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*Prawn Tempura recipe and Speedy Squid Sisig recipe are from Chef Rosebud Benitez’s recipes at http://quickfire.multi-ply.com

**Cheese Stick Pimiento recipe and Ham Rolls recipe are from Ajinomoto’s site: http://www.ajinomoto.com.ph

***Root Beer Float recipe is from FoodNetwork’s site: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bobby-flay/root-beer-floats-recipe/index.html

8 food

At first glance, it looks like your regular carinderia. Only a wooden frame holds its rusty iron roof while the cemented walls of its neighbors’ houses serve as its own walls as well. There are no tables; only ledges attached to the whole wooden structure and monobloc stools underneath them. Had it not been for the newly painted sign nailed between

two wooden beams, a newcomer would not have known that this is the famous Kalabawan of Pasig.

Kalabawan has been in business since 2005 but it has been using the name for only two years. The origin is as simple as the look of the place. Rodel and Bernie Santiago, the cou-ple who owns the eatery, decided to call the place Kalabawan, the Tagalog word for carabao, since their loyal cus-tomers kept on referring to it by that name. This is obviously because their dishes are all made from carabao meat or “carabeef” as they call it. Custom-ers come here for the bulalo, nilaga, and kaldereta, all made from carabeef.

I came in late in the afternoon so most of them were having merienda. Mr. Santiago was kind enough to ac-commodate me. The place is busiest in the morning for breakfast and lunch. Most of their customers are employees from Meralco, Manila Water, PLDT, police officers, tricycle drivers and the residents around the place. Since the place is right across the Karangalan Market and beside the government of-fices and buildings, it attracts a lot of crowd during meal breaks.

One thing I noticed when I came to visit was that most of their customers were male.

“Sa tingin ko puro lalaki ang ku-makain dito kasi pangalan pa lang, Kalabawan, machong macho na ang tunog (I think that most of the custom-ers are males because from the sound of the name alone, Kalabawan, it is very macho),” said Mr. Santiago. Tra-ditional farmers rely heavily on their carabaos to plow the field so this cre-ates the image that carabaos are strong and can withstand extreme heat and

pressure. Somehow, men are expected to possess those qualities. Ronny Da-vid, a frequent customer, also said that they come not only for the food which they consider as exotic, but because the price of the meals are very reasonable. “Sa P35 o P40 lang, may mabibili ka na. Ulam at kanin na yun (With your P35 or P40, you can already buy meal),” he said.

I soon found out why the crowd grew thinner in the afternoon. Mrs. Santiago uses that time to go to the market in Marikina to buy the carabeef. She boils the meat over night until it is tender for cooking in the morning. Carebeef is definitely tenderer than the meat from carabaos in the fields but it is still harder than cow’s meat. It’s darker than cow’s meat but it is easier to season, said Mr. Santiago.

Carabao meat, contrary to popular belief, does not come from the meat of the field carabaos, or the carabaos used by farmers to plow the land. Spe-cial carabaos are bred for human con-sumption. Carabeef is a component of sausages, luncheon meat, meat loaf and other meat products. Even canned corn beef has carabeef in it. Carabeef is popular among meat product man-ufacturers because of its capacity to hold high contents of water. They are also popular among consumers be-cause they maintain their original form even when cooked. However, since it is cheaper than beef, some meat vendors try to pass it as regular meat so that they can price it higher. This gets tricky when you someone new to the market and is not familiar with carabeef.

But Mr. Santiago has long been in business to know what carabeef smells, looks, feels and tastes like. They have their own suki at the wet market where they get their fresh supply of carabeef. I wanted to put his culinary skills to the test so I ordered what was left on the menu that day: litid and papaitan. Each costs P40. It was reasonable con-sidering that one serving was a little more for one person. The litid was soft and easy to grind while the papaitan was chewy. The litid was saltier and had more taste because according to the locals who were there, I had to sea-son the papaitan with salt, soy sauce, vinegar and spices myself. That’s how they do there. After I drank the hot soup, I went to Mr. Santiago to pay the bill but his assistant told me that it was for free. I felt thankful and humbled at the same time, because here was a man who did not have much, he barely knew me, and yet he offered my food for free even when I could afford it.

Mr. Santiago hopes to transfer to some commercial area in the future. They are currently in a residential area even if they have a permit to operate. He also hopes that someday, people will not treat carabeef as an exotic food but as any common meat. He has had experiences with customers who were skeptical about eating carabeef because they thought they were going to eat ca-rabaos from the fields. He had to ex-plain that such a thing was impossible because it was prohibited by the law.

So if you’re craving for a different kind of meat, Kalabawan is the place to be.

Kala Mo Kung Ano, Kalabaw Pala!

>> Keisha Therese Halili

9>> Jacklyn Belo

Long ago, a lovely beauty queen bumped to a young refined poli-tician. After an 11-day courtship,

the two fell in love and decided to get married. From there, she started to be recognized as one of the most influen-tial women in the world. She became Imelda Marcos, we now know, who had a large collection of shoes and a wife of a dictator-president.

Sheila Coronel, of Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism stated: “For a politician like Marcos-who had presidential ambitions and already had support from the Ilocano-speaking prov-inces of Northern Luzon- a Visayan bride, es-pecially a looker like Imelda who came from a political clan in part of country where he had little influence, was an invaluable asset. ”

Whatever power she used to have, it did bring some good to the region of Leyte. It brought history closer to Leyte. Without her, probably Leyte would only be known in his-tory for MacArthur landing. MacArthur Park was built in Palo, Leyte to remind the Filipinos how the American troops came and rescued the country from the hands of the Japanese.

Last December, Tacloban, capital of Leyte, was declared highly urbanized city. New malls and chain restaurants begin to open. But in spite of its fast growth, remnants of Marcos regime and shadows of the glorious days of Imelda are still visible.

Still visited by tourists, Santo Niño Shrine, also called Imelda’s shrine, was the presidential rest house of the late Ferdinand Marcos. Now, it is a heritage museum, a property owned by the government. An image of Sto. Nino is placed at the end of the entrance. Bedrooms were slept only once in the lifetime of the presidential family. Each room has a motif, Muslim, Ifugao. Many paintings and art collection surround the shrine, such as the huge painting of her family tree which shows her Romualdez roots.

Another place to show the accumulated wealth of Imelda Marcos is her ancestral home in the silent town of Tolosa, a 30-minute ride from Tacloban city. Tolosa was founded by her pater-nal ancestors. Town dwellers call Imelda’s ances-tral home Olot. Now, her ancestral home is open to the public. Covered by high walls stretching for miles, her ancestral home remains mystic. The long driveway, starting form the gates of her ancestral home, resembles the entrance path of Jurassic park. The summer sky shines the hill tops and coconut trees grow everywhere. The sound of rise and fall of the waves have trav-eled from Pacific Ocean. The compound has an 18-hole golf course, an Olympic size pool, bas-ketball court, and tennis court. .

To show Imelda’s religiosity and devotion to her patron saint, a wooden altar of Sto. Nino was built underneath the rocky hill of Olot, just near the seashore. Stations of the Cross are

carefully planned and placed on the compound. By the end of a tour, a tourist has passed all Stations of the Cross.

Olot can reflect another time and place. Passing by the beach side, Hindu statues appear like an-cient treasures from a distant coun-try. Ironically, Imelda, a religious Catholic, import a stone image of an Elephant god and other stone imag-es that would fit to the imagination of characters found in Ramayana.

One of the tourist attractions in Leyte is the San Juanico Bridge, another remnant of Marcos regime. The longest bridge in the Philippines connects two big islands Leyte and Samar. There are many interesting facts about this bridge taken from Antonio Diaz Travel Photography. It measures 2.162 kilometers in length. It was constructed in August 1969 and completed in December 1972.The bridge is shaped like the letters L S which stands for Leyte and Samar. And lastly, it was also called the Bridge of Love because it was said to be a gift of Ferdinand Marcos to Imelda Romualdez and to the city of Tacloban.

Anybody from Visayas and Mindanao, who travels by bus to Manila, passes by San Juanico bridge. Before the setting of the sun, ships sailing from Tacloban to

Cebu, Manila and other parts of the region can be seen down the bridge. When a person looks down to the sea, his soul seems to be captivated by the depths of the sea.

Imelda and the Romualdez clan continue to be remembered in the region of Leyte. From the mo-ment a tourist steps on the ground, he identifies Tacloban by the name of the airport, Daniel Z. Romal-dez, uncle of former first lady, and former speaker of the Philippine House of Representatives. When a tourist looks for a place to stay, his first choice is Leyte Park Ho-tel. Located on a hill, Leyte Park Hotel faces San Pedro Bay. And it was built by Imelda Marcos in 1979. When a tourist strolls downtown, he sure crosses the street of Imelda. And he would be noticing students wearing their white gowns in town. Most of them are nursing students from RTR (Remedios T. Romual-dez Medical Foundation). It was founded in 1980 by the initiative of Leyte Governor Benjamin Romual-dez, cousin of former first lady. And the clearest manifestation of her clan's influence to this day is the present city officials of Tacloban, Alfred Romualdez, city mayor, and his wife Cristina G. Romualdez city councilor. ■

The Imeldific side of Leyte

places&travel

10

Shopping malls these days are packed with all kinds of people. Most are eating cool-me-down foods and drinks like ice cream, ice shakes and the pinoy all-time-favorite halo-halo. Others are just stroll-ing and enjoying the cool air of the mall’s air condition. Noticeable are those who are also heading

off to the beauty parlors and barber shops to have their hair cut.Outside, the heat of the sun is piercing. Barely would you see people donning the color black. A lot

are wearing whites and anything bright. These and other more scenarios signal us that the summer sea-son is about to set in.

One thing good about summer is that, we could trade off our glamorous, sophisticated yet toe-killing stilettos for a pair of comfy and laidback flip-flops. The better thing about summer is that we can wear casual,unpretentious and laid black clothes. The best thing about summer is the beach.

But before you go and buy plane and ferry tickets to Caticlan to enjoy the shores of the much-talked about Boracay. Why not try going north while everyone else is going south.

The province of La Union has been a known for its religious associations. Its oldest town, Agoo had long been a haven for pilgrims during Lent Season. It is famed for the believed Virgin Mary apparitions. Aside from Agoo, the parish of the Ladyof Namakmakan in Luna is also believed to be miraculous, with the healing water from the well inside the parish.

Aside from its religious associations, the province is also gaining its popularity as a water sports paradise with its beaches that provide the perfect conditions for water sports such as surfing, skinboard-ing as well as scuba diving.

The rhythmic and temperate waves of its beaches spell the perfect starting point for beginners in surfing and for those who, literally, are just testing the waters. Locals and tourists are enjoying the annual Surf Break organized every month of October. This event targets mostly college students who are on their semestral break.

Aside from surfing, La Union is also famous for some dive spots where you could literally swim with fishes and realize that there is really life outside of the metro.

For those whose adventure is not their cup of tea, the usual swimming and feet-dipping in the prov-

La UnionUniting the Big Three of the North

>> Nica Margarette Tomines

places&travel

11ince’s unexplored and virgin beaches is a must-try. Night swimming and plain swaddling would remove the stress you’ve accumulated courtesy of your work or of the subjects you’ve enrolled in.

The beaches are not the only thing this province can offer. Like any other new place to visit, their native delicacies and specialties are also worth a try. With its strategic location in between the three prov-inces, namely Pangasinan, Benguet and Ilocos Sur, the delicacies of this province is also a cross of the three and the variety is close to endless.

It boasts the northern version of bibingka or rice cake and puto, some of its town like Naguilan is also famed for their basi or rice wine and lambanog , another local alcoholic drink which is a lot sweeter than basi. Aside from the delicacies, the Ilocano way of cooking is something to die for. Most of their recipes live by the principle of the fresher, the better. The Ilocanos are used to eating a lot of vegetables, most of which are eaten fresh or boiled and are dipped in different concoctions of sauces or sawsawan, as how it is fondly called.

As a province surrounded by beaches and different bodies of water, it is also logical to have a lot of seafoods as part of their usual viands. Speaking of viands, the famous pinakbet of the Ilocanos and the Filipino adobo is a staple in every families’ weekly meal plan.

To cap off the dining experience in La Union, it very much recommended to visit the recently opened Halo-Halo de Iloko restaurant. This quaint restaurant, situated in the center of the hustling and bustling city, has slowly been gaining a following from both the locals and the tourists for their version of the all-time-pinoy- favorite halo-halo. There had been acouple of celebrities who had tried it and had been coming back just to have a taste of it again.

If Baguio is famous for their Botanical Garden, La Union also have their version of the Botanical Garden. Aside from being in touch with nature, a lot of interesting places have also been included for tourists to enjoy. There is a Butterfly Sancutuary Park, a Bamboo Park and the Monkey Park. A hanging bridge had been put up where visitors could experience the thrill of crossing it.

La Union, will not be named as such for nothing. The province literally unites the three provinces mentioned. For tourists, the place is a very strategic place to visit and to stay, with its cheap accommo-dation choices compared to the prices of accommodation in Pangasinan, Benguet and Ilocos Sur. It only takes two hours each by land to reach the three provinces from La Union.

So, the next time you want to have taste of the North, head off to La Union. As its name suggests, it unites and gives you a glimpse of the big three of the North.

places&travel

12

Nowadays, a supposed serene and peaceful getaway to the beach can turn the other way

around as you encounter familiar faces and personalities along the shores of Boracay, Palawan, Cebu or even Bo-hol. There is one province in the North that could compete to the beauty and grandeur of the these famous summer spots plus the security of the serenity and enjoyment of your summer va-cation. Zambales has many things to offer to make your summer the best season ever.

With its rich culture and heritage, blooming tourism industry and innate hospitality of Zambaleños, it is not sur-prising how this little province is now slowly making big waves and splashes in the tourism industry. It has already becoming a favorite travel destina-tion among local and foreign tourists mainly because, mainly of its accessi-bility from Metro Manila. A three-six hour drive to Zambales can already give you a glimpse of what is in store for you in the beach capital of Central Luzon. The sights along the way will not tire you (and your tires, as well!), because the drive to the province itself is already jam packed with adven-tures, from North Luzon Expressway to Subic Freeport and on to your des-

tination. Just don't be overwhelmed by slight curves and high slopes along the way, there's more....

Zambales boasts of many islands comparable to Boracay and Puerto Galera, maybe even better because the allure and beauty of these islands are untouched and uncommercialized, waiting to be discovered and visited. Of course, added factor is that you will spend a little less compared to visiting Boracay or Pagudpod or wherever far.

The real fun can be found in.... is-land-hopping! These virgin islands are scattered along the different towns of the province particularly in San Anto-nio, Palauig, Candelaria and Sta. Cruz.

Anawangin (literally means “full of carabaos) Cove in San Antonio Zambales is quite gaining a reputation and a number of fans. This crescent-shaped island, which emerged from lahar mudflows after the 1991 Mt. Pi-natubo Eruption, is a mystery and a beauty with its shores sprouting with pine trees- just a revelation of how nature heal itself. From Pundaquit, you will have to brave a 20-minute boat ride which will cost you 700-800 pesos (5-6 pax). The splashy ride will be worthwhile once you set your eyes in this majestic island. The beach is a long strip of white beach and mud

flow from Mt. Pinatubo, it will. The la-har from the aftermath of the eruption totally created a playground fro beach and summer lovers. Never mind the hike and ride going the island -- it is truly deserving. You can opt to camp for the night, or go back to a resort in Pundaquit, perhaps Punta De Uian, where the remake of GMA-7’s Mari-mar was shot.

Just another 20-minute boat ride from Anawangin Cove is yet another unexplored island that would surely beat those famous summer getaways- Capones Island. During the Spanish period, Filipinos used a lighthouse lo-cated in the island as a vasectomy cen-ter. This white beach is filled with cor-als and rock formations (the famous one would be that of the face of a man of one side of the island). Capones Island has one secret -- it is a moving island, shifting from north to south depending on the prevailing sea and wind. Sometimes, a sandbar can just appear, connecting Capones Island to another island, Camara.

Magalawa Island is Palauig's very own version of a white-beach island. It is surrounded by cream-white is-lands with a splash of leaves and trees around, mostly cultivated by the resi-dents. It will take a 15-minute boat ride A

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13fashion

The shoes Joyce consider as favorites are purple and white-striped Vans originals, which she got from an ukay ukay. “The mo-ment I saw them, I knew I just had to have them- no matter how much,” she recalls. When she saw the price tag, she was more than overjoyed.

A self-confessed non-mall fanatic, the 19-year-old has been frequenting the ukay ukay since high school. “I don’t like the thought of running into someone wearing the same thing as I am so I avoid mass-produced and mall-bought items,” she ex-plains. Undeniably, she and the uniqueness of ukay finds are a perfect match.

When she was way younger, Joyce only considered ukays when she was in need of costumes for school plays. But now, she drops by her fave ukay haunts every chance she gets. The UP Diliman Broadcast Com-munication major likens the ukay shopping experience to a treasure hunt. “Though you have to be really patient in scouring racks and racks of clothes, you will certainly be rewarded with fashionable finds,” she ex-plains.

When she goes home to Cavite, she al-ways stops by the ukay ukay in FRC Imus, which, she describes, is four times the size of UP’s Palma Hall lobby. “Filled to the brim with lots and lots of clothes, shoes, bags, and accessories, of course,” she exclaims.

For the anime enthusiast, fashion is an extension of oneself. She describes her per-sonal style as moody. “I don’t like sticking to a particular look because I wouldn’t want to be boxed into that style alone,” she says.

On her “I-don’t-care-how-I-look” days, she just puts on whatever she finds first in her closet. “It’s kind of hard to be fasyon all the time when you’re a dormer because you have a limited supply of clothes,” she ex-plains. She is partial to the Ganji style a.k.a

Korean androgynous dressing and feels ever comfortable in jeans.

The only child enjoys shopping at ukay ukays with her parents. She boasts that they give her good fashion advice. “My energy runs out faster than my dad’s when we go shopping,” she shares. “He has even ex-plored the vintage shops in Thailand!”

Though she already has a wardrobe full of chic ukay pieces, Joyce admits that there are also some down sides to ukay shopping. “You can’t be picky with sizes and stocks,” she says. “But for me, that’s a small price to pay for all the good stuff ukays have to of-fer.”

How much does she spend on average when she does ukay shopping? “P300 goes a long way,” she proudly says. “It gets me three tops, a skirt, and a pair of shorts.” One of her new finds, a black military-inspired button-down dress only cost her P20. She bought it from the wagwagan at UP Dil-man’s shopping center.

One of her most prized ukay finds is a pair of “ninja-ish” gladiator sandals. She got it a year before the gladiator trend crossed over to Philippine shores. “They’re special because they never fail to make me feel fashion-forward,” she muses.

Joyce admits that there are some things you wouldn’t find in ukays, such as graphic t-shirts, which she also loves. “So I get them from malls, but I still prefer inexpensive ones,” she adds with a laugh.

Recently, she ventured into the ukay ukay in Anonas, and she thinks she’ll be back there again. “Imagine, several large floors of stuff,” she exclaims. Joyce is cur-rently in search for a pair of yellow footwear that would be the perfect companion to all her summer shindigs. “Where do I intend to get them? From the ukay, no less,” she enthuses.

Stretching Her MoolahOne hundred pesos wouldn’t get you a Starbucks Frappuccino. It wouldn’t buy you a ticket to the

latest romantic flick. It barely suffices for a one-week registration to a telecom company’s unlimited texting service. But despite the diminishing value of the violet bill, it bagged a pair of designer

sneakers for fashion lover Joyce Reyes.

>> Ma. Katrina Angco

Joyce Reyes

Her favorite purple Vans

Joyce’s favorite Ukay buys (L-R):Pink hoodie shirt

Black leatherette bagBlack long-sleeved top

14 fashion

Life today is life on the fast lane. Almost everything in this world must keep up with the speedy lifestyle people have been accustomed to. There are fast food, quick-buck jobs, and even instant relationships. And it seems time has begun to take over people’s lives, and has considerably lowered their standard of

livingAnd clothing is no different.

True, online shopping and going to the malls have their advantages. They are quick, easy, and very con-venient. In the end, however, convenience must never surpass quality.

The fashion industry in the Philippines does not revolve around shopping malls, tiangges, ukay-ukays, designer stores, and the social-networking site Multi-ply. Amid the busy streets of Metro Manila are small dressmaking shops that cater to the quality-meticu-lous (yet budget-conscious) fashionistas.

Doris Navarro can honestly say that she has been in the clothing business since she was 12 years old. “I was already helping my mother in the workshop and in delivering clothes,” says the 45-year-old mother of four.

Doris Designs, her dressmaking shop, started out as a small one-woman venture in the 1970s in the crowded alleys of Roxas District in Quezon City. It was Doris’ late mother, Pastora “Toying” Banares who started the business.

Toying never had any formal training in sewing and designing. “Because she grew up poor, my moth-er taught herself to make clothes. She would decon-struct her own clothes and pattern them on blankets and katsa to make new clothes,” Doris says.

In 1969, Toying and her family decided to try their luck in Manila. Even then, Manila represented the ultimate hope for a good life for every Filipino. In

Manila, Toying worked in a clothing factory in Pasig. “She worked there for two to three years. It was in there in the factory that my mother met Dr. Josefina Cruz – who was then putting up a dressmaking shop – who offered her a job. My mother was in charge of everything – from managing the shop to making the clothes,” Doris says.

Toying worked for Dr. Cruz in Atok Street in Que-zon City which was, at that time, home, of the nouve riche. After 3 years, Dr. Cruz began to have problems regarding the shop. At that time Toying decided to put up her own shop right in her own home in Roxas District. She brought with her not only her newfound confidence, experience, and knowledge, but also a ros-ter of well-to-do clients.

And at 12 years old, Doris and her sisters, even if they were still in school, began helping in their moth-er’s shop.

After finishing college, Doris had no actual plans of making her work in her mother’s shop permanent. But because of the circumstance of that time, she had to make do with what she had. “I graduated with a degree in Management in the Far Eastern University in 1984. It was still Martial Law then. Aside from that, there were a lot of people who were looking for jobs. I was 22 years old then,” Doris says.

Toying, then, found a great opportunity to con-vince Doris to take a permanent position in the shop. Since Doris had already been working there part-time, the mother and daughter had a perfectly working tan-

Rediscovering the Patahian

>> Cora Ana Karenina B. Evangelista

15fashion

dem already.“We worked great together. We agreed on a lot

of thing – designs, color combination, and types of cloth. My mother said that I need not look for a job when there’s a job for me here wherein I myself would be the boss. But, I wasn’t convinced outright,” Doris explains. Apparently, Doris’ reluctance to join her mother’s business was because she believed she lack the necessary designing skills. “I didn’t know how to draw,” she says.

Toying, understanding her daughter’s dilem-ma, suggested that she enroll in designing school. “From1987 to 1988, I studied in Soledad Lim Fashion School in Makati. It was there where I learned how to draw – the human body and form, clothes, and designs. It went on for about six months. By the time I was learning fashion design, I was developing my confidence too,” Doris says.

She, however, says that it was still her mother who taught her most of what she knows in customer rela-tions, designing clothes, and the actual dressmaking. “If you knew the particulars of dressmaking, fash-ion design would be much easier. Because the whole point of designing clothes is knowing how to execute them,” Doris explains.

In 1993, Toying moved her family and her busi-ness to Fairview, Quezon City. Five years after, Toying passed away. She was 68. Doris decided to continue on her mother’s legacy.

“In this business, it is important to have dedica-tion, acceptance, and patience. You really have to work hard,” she says. Most of her designs are catered for the corporate employees. But what Doris enjoys the most is designing gowns and dresses for special occasions. “It is where I can express my creativity and myself.

Whenever I see the execution of my designs… it’s just like ‘Wow!’” she says happily.

Doris believes that quality especially in the fit-ting of the clothes is the ultimate advantage of hav-ing your clothes made over buying them in malls. “Of course, it’s easier to buy clothes in malls, in having your clothes made, there’s a little waiting time. But what if you have a unique body-shape? You can’t find clothes in stands that will fit you. What if you want to be unique?” she reasons.

Another great thing about these small dressmak-ing shops is that people can get beautiful clothes in a much lower price. Simple gowns with beadwork go for as low as 1,200 pesos. If the client is really on a tight budget, Doris can even work around that and still ensure the best quality clothes.

“The only thing, a customer must remember is that they should know what they want. They should also know what fits them the best, and that they should go to the dressmaking shops where they trust the design-ers,” Doris explains.

In Doris Designs, quality and perfect fitting are the two things that every client is assured to. These principles are what guide Doris in her designs and in her business practices. After all, these are the same principles that her mother and mentor, the late Toying Banares taught her.

Contact Doris Navarro at (02) 4272558 Or visit Doris Designs at Block 3, Lot 5-H Pall-mall St., East Fairview Park, Quezon City.

16 fashion

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, so the saying goes. But what is a treasure if you don’t know exactly where to find it? The clue is, this treasure is found in a

place wherein “sifting through” or “digging up” is approximately a requirement.

So there it is—the ukay-ukay shop where secondhand clothes, bags, shoes and other dry goods are being sold. Ukay-ukay is a Visayan term for “sift through” or “dig up.” The most popular location where ukay culture resides is in Baguio City. But, because Filipinos are so much enthralled with branded and stylish yet very affordable garbs, ukay-ukay shops started to proliferate anywhere else in the country. Thus, with its ubiquity, many have acquired designer clothes, bags, and shoes at prices which are, most of the time, very unbelievable.

In Quezon City, one of the most visited ukay-ukay shops is the Passerby Ukay-Ukay located across the street beside Farmers’ Pla-za. With its numerous varieties of fashion commodities, the shop has been the commonly stopover of fashionistas, from ordinary college students, professionals, to Filipino celebrities like Rosa Ro-sal and Gina Alajar.

The shop is owned by Angela Tumaan and is regularly super-vised by Pilar, as what she wanted to be called. Pilar said the shop started six years ago and the garments came from Hong Kong. Passerby Ukay-Ukay often goes on sale which runs from 20 to 60 percent discounts on apparels. These prices range from P50 up to P400. Unlike other ukay-ukay stores, the shop hangs and displays all of the products it sells. Apparently, ukay mounds are non-exis-tent in Passerby, the reason why customers don’t have to literally “dig up” the clothes. Convenience is something what a shopper finds in the store. At least, customers would not worry much about back pains and gasping dust from the secondhand apparels.

Pilar said the store gets their new stocks of merchandise every after two weeks and the shop is open seven days a week from eight thirty in the morning till ten at night.

1 Look simple. If you can look poor, better. Dress com-fortably.

2 Try not speak Englis. You will soon realize that things cost more if you speak English or speak Tagalog with

a twang. Pretend to be mute if you belong to the latter category.

3 Bring lots of change. Do not pay using large bills. It would be to your disadvantage if you appear to have

lots of money. This will also make you less “hot” in the eyes of some bad elements in society.

4 Have lots and lots of patience. Browse through all racks. You might miss out on a great item if you

don’t.

5 Bring a large plastic or shopping bag. You can stash your paid items here so both your hands are free to

browse through the racks or grab items.

6 Buy items on the spot. Chances are they might not be there the next time you come back.

7 Do not make the mistake of asking if they have siz-es.

8 Grab items you want and do not let go till you get to the cashier even if you are unsure about them. The

moment you let go of an item, somebody might just be waiting in the wings to grab it and when that happens…sigh…let go.

9 Never get into a fight with somebody over an item that you let go of earlier. In the ukay-ukay world just

like in normal retail, once you let go its up for grabs. It is an integral part of shopping etiquette.

10 Bargain, bargain, bargain! P10 is still P10 - good enough for a lot of things.

Ukay tips from shopingera.net

Passing by the Passerby>> Cres Andrea Bardos

17

>>>Estella Maniquis

Do you now feel the need to apply a sun-block with SPF 30 or

higher? Do you know keep an eye for that sexy and skimpy swimsuit for you to wear in the beach ? Summer is fast approaching and people can now feel the scorching heat of the sun. Do you wonder what other activity you can do this summer aside from the usual swimming and get-ting a tan? Enjoy the sun and what the nature can offer without spending thousands of bucks! Load your bags and prepare for an exciting and extraordinary summer getaway like no other! Put your cellphone, rigid sched-ule, school works and prob-lems out of your mind and get pleasure from spending the sunny season in an is-land, mountain or secluded but marvelous area, for less.

Imagine yourself riding on a banca and travelling for 30 minutes in the peace-ful water. You then see an is-land where pristine blue wa-ter and immaculately white sand welcomes you. Pine trees surround the area and there is not a single structure present in this exceptional is-land. These trees, laden with coconuts bow to the waves

gently lapping on the shore. Explore this island called Anawangin found in the heart of Zambales. Going to Anawangin from Manila will just cost someone a thousand bucks, back and forth.

Why don’t you put down your bag and set your tent up. This is a new experi-ence for numerous people because camping is not a popular outdoor choice for many. If you are tired of go-ing to places congested with people that you can’t move freely because of inadequate space, then be ready for an exciting summer escapade doing camping with your friends or family!

After setting up your tent, prepare the food that you bring. Be sure you bring a cook set so you can start cooking. Sitting on the pure, white sand under the pine trees will not let you feel much that summer is on the way for the heat of the sun. Prepare your banig so you can take a nap under the pine trees and be lullabyed by the sweet-smelling, unpolluted air. What else can you do when you’re having a camp-ing in an island? A lot! You can explore the island and appreciate the gift of nature.

Let Nature Change YOU

You can go trekking in the nearby small mountain or do picnic with your friends in the white sand. However, be sure to give less impact of damage to nature. When-ever you’re trekking, just follow a single trail so you won’t kill plants along the way. Maintain a single trail so it won’t get wide. This will also lessen the soil ero-sion. How about taking a dip in the clear water next? What else can you do at night than starting a bonfire and doing socials. You can play card games or the ev-er-reliable ‘spin-the-bottle’ game. What’s more exciting is sleeping under the stars in this remote area with the bonfire nearby!

As a responsible camp-er, be sure to bring every-thing you need. Camping is a survival activity, thus, you need to bring first aid kit, insect repellent, enough or more than enough food for your group, jacket for the cold night, among others. Bonding with nature is one activity you can experience when you camp. Paying na-ture a visit will clear your mind of all your worries and will give you time to reflect on your life. Stress levels can

significantly decrease in na-ture, without all the worries and complications of every-day life.

However, doing camp-ing is not just pure joy and relaxing. You still need to be a responsible citizen. “Al-ways remember the golden rule: The Leave No Trace policy. What you have bring, you need to bring it back all the way down,” shares War-ren Cristobal, a mountaineer and experienced camper for three years now. As people enjoy the beauty of nature, they sometimes tend to for-get to take care of nature. Al-ways pack it in, pack it out. Never ever litter. In fact, always pack a small plastic garbage bag to use for trash that may be around the campsite. As what the Uni-versity of the Philippines’ Mountaineers Club (UPM) always say, “Kill nothing but time, take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, keep nothing but memories.” Always dispose your garbage properly. If you enjoyed the beauty of nature, be sure to also be of help to nature by properly disposing your garbage. Bet-ter to preserve nature than to ruin it. ■

hobby

18

Jenna’s hobby: Paper arts and craftsPetite, short hair and pink-rimmed glass-

es, 19-year old Jenna Crystalene Rostigue is a Spanish major who worries about every-thing but thinks of nothing else whenever she starts her ‘project’.

“[Paper crafting] is really therapeutic. I get absorbed with what I do and I forget all the other things,” she said.

She started her hobby at a young age. Her second grade best friend was the one who received her very first ‘artwork’.

“It was just a simple card made from coupon bond. I used to watch “Art Attack” to get some inspiration.”

She has a box full of beads, metal rings and other materials from Divisoria, National Bookstore and Papemelrotti and gifts from friends.

...with Paper

You dragged your feet into your room, carried your backpack with a bulk of readings in it and tossed it on your bed.

You have tons of work to do but you felt tremendous-ly exhausted, you needed to unwind first. You thought of doing your hobby but realized you don’t have any.

Thinking that starting a hobby now is never too late, you pondered.

Yoga can help you unwind but that will require pain-ful stretching. Watching TV can help but that’s too ordi-nary and you want something different.

Surely there are other choices and so you looked around your room and all you see are scraps of paper and candy wrappers.

If you’re like Jenna, even your crisp and old readings can be in your meditation arsenal and your material for your new hobby: paper crafting.

Crafting a Hobby...

>> Norlegen Bayona

hobby

19

But most of her supplies don’t cost a centavo. She keeps every scrap of paper, candy wrappers, food canisters and everything else that one might consider junk and arrange it into a collage in a cork board she hang in her wall.

“Sometimes, I even rummage trash cans for stuffs that I might be able to use,” she joked.For Jenna diamond is not the girl’s best friend, it is paper.She does all sorts of things with scrap papers - from ‘girly’ and colorful greeting cards for birthdays to large

human-size Christmas tree costume for her acquaintance party.Her works gain approval not only from friends but from other people who sees them. Best ‘sigsheet’ design

and best in costume were among the recognition she got for her ‘projects’. But not all people understand her works.

“Once I was doing a well out of crushed stones but my mother thought it was just junk lying around my room so she threw it,” she mused fondly.

She can be considered genetically gifted. Creativity runs in her family’s blood as her aunt was a graduate of Fine Arts while her sister enjoys drawing.

But her skills were honed only by constant practice and not with formal education.“I tried applying for Fine Arts, but I didn’t pass. They said I need to draw and take other major subjects but all

I wanted were those related to papers.”What she lacked from formal education, she makes up with research. Whenever she’s in a library, she looks

for books and magazines on scrapbooking, scan through them and memorize the details.Spending precious time creatively and productively

Handmade greeting cards, boxes and other three-dimensional paper arts and crafts are products of Jenna’s free time. Aside from giving these as gifts to friends, she hopes to do business out of these.

But since people seem to prefer doing their own crafts, she considers making supplies or “raw” materials instead.

“It would be a bonus for my hobby to be financially productive,” she grinned. ■

hobby

20

Break away from your Paulo Coelho, Haruki Murakami

and Nobel laureates reading list.

Try reading Tagalog pocketbooks for once.

Hold on - don't flinch, don't smirk, don't raise your eyebrows.

Malee Matignas, 17, used to flinch, smirk and raise her eyebrows whenever she saw peo-ple reading, or simply clutching, those Taga-log pocketbooks whose titles resemble those of our own local telenove-las.

"I really hated them," she says. "The books and the people who read them used to annoy me."

But Malee gave it a try when she was in third year high school. Her classmates, who were already making a fad of the books, lent her some. They were all bored during the last days of school, waiting for their clearances to be signed by their teach-ers. She hated the books, still. There was nothing to be loved about them.

She continued read-ing J.K. Rowling, Dan Brown, Bob Ong and Benjamin Pascual. But when she entered the Uni-versity of the Philippines as a freshman, became occasion-ally insomniac, and needed to read before dozing off, she, again, started reading Tagalog pocketbooks.

"I started reading them again for the sake of read-ing them. I'm more obsessed with reading than the story of what I read," she reveals.

Malee says she just needs something to feed her brain. Since reading seems to be the easiest, cheapest and most practicable way to exhaust the mind, she grabs

whatever reading material she lays her hands on.

And the easiest, cheapest and most practicable alterna-tive to Malee's usually classy choice of literary works is Tagalog pocketbooks she borrows from her friends.

She does not buy them; she claims they are a waste of money.

"I invest in other books. Besides, I can borrow them, so to buy them is a waste of money," she says, smiling.

Malee currently follows the Stallion series, a run fea-turing a usually good-look-ing and eccentric male per

book. The characters' lives (or love lives) in the series are connected from book to book, so readers would want to meet the next character, know his story, and so pur-chase a copy.

The series has Sonia Francesca and Sophia as authors and can be bought at P37/copy. Each book pro-vides a 128-page story to build up a character's life.

"But, before, I would read them because I had nothing to do. Now, I'm starting to like and get hooked on the plot. I now read the books intentionally," she confesses.

Wait, there's another reason Malee finds inter-est - and constant annoy-ance - in this cheap litera-ture treat.

"There are lots of grammatical errors! Es-pecially when the char-acters speak in English," she says. "I always react to the book and think 'It should be this, it should be that.' and instead of enjoying the story, it all the more annoys me. But it's ironic, I read the books anyway."

Malee's reading hab-its have not made her want to become a writer, but she claims reading Tagalog pocketbooks has driven her to veer away, even for a while, from the virtual world the authors have created for her. She finds herself mentally ed-iting the plot, language, style, tone - everything - in a story, that she claims she reads the books from a writer’s perspective, not from a reader’s.

"The stories are all about love - shallow, light, easy. So you don't really have to analyze or interpret the elements you usually find in clas-sic literature," Malee re-marks.

See, if your IQ com-mands you to hate Ta-

galog pocketbooks, don't. It may work for you in a dif-ferent way. The pocketbooks may be offering you a single, tiresome, but always fash-ionable theme which is love, but it might stimulate a dor-mant portion of yourself -

Grab a Tagalog pocket-book, read it, get annoyed at it, and curse its writer. But soon get interested or intrigued by it, and later concede that you can't get enough of the curiously fun-ny sensation you feel when you ask yourself why on earth you are reading it. ■

FlippingThrough Tagalog Pocketbooks:

Giving Them a Chance

>> Rae Anne Ducut

hobby

21

>> Kristine Joy Galang

Peace may seem trivial as it is already a quintessen-tial joke on dumb beauty pageant contestants who have nothing else to say. But for UP students who

are considered the scholars of the people and for the people, an answer more than a formulated beauty pag-eant response is expected as there is a greater challenge to speak much more.

For a university which is still in search of two of its precious students, Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeno, who were abducted by the military; which is still grieving for the death of Cris Mendez the latest victim of hazing; which are still in the middle of unresolved and uncom-promised wars between fraternities, amongst organiza-tions and even amid it faculty, the students are expected to speak of peace no matter how cliché it is. Much more, articulate it in tangi-ble call for actions.

The UP Junior Marketing Associa-tion has heard this call and decided to speak of the elusive peace as they staged UNDIVIDED: A Unit-ed Stand on Campus Peace, a peace concert held last February 6 at Abelardo Hall, College of Music, UP Diliman.

In an effort to strengthen and for-ward the cause for campus peace, UP JMA Week University Wide Event directors Cheffy Camaya and Rog Uy got the idea for the project by being reminded of what has long been hounding the university. “When we are conceptualizing for university wide event, we wanted something that is inspired by a timely cause, something that is close to UP, what has been happening and then the bank robbery just happened then and that gave us an idea”, Camaya said in an interview.

Undivided, as part of the UP JMA Week 2009: Count-down to Zero, The Future is Now, is the fifth installment of its series of celebration of JMA’s 51st year celebration. It featured the finalists for the UP wide song writing com-petition for peace participated by bands from across the different colleges in the universiity. Special performances from Taken By Cars, Blue Boy Bites Back, Dalandan Soda,

Roots of Nature, and the legendary beat box artist Picoy. Different student alliances, organizations, frater-

nities and sororities, gathered together to forge a stand on fostering campus peace. Featuring the fast rising doodle artists of the group WeWillDoodle, students, faculty and guests wrote on the big pledge wall their messages of hope for a better, nonviolent university. With the short mus-ings and doodles that filled the white wall, a meaningful, strong and united stand for campus peace is made.

Sheela Bautista, a third year Speech Com major and a member of the Sigma Alpha Nu Sorority and UP JMA as well is one of the supporters of the event. “I be-lieve that this kind of events is what we need so that we can get our message of our desire for a peaceful campus across. “

“If we want peace, we definitely need to speak more of it and get ev-ery Iskolar ng Bayan involved”, said Marga Enriquez, a second year Broadcast Com-munication student who went to sup-port the event. “I am one with the people who wanted a better and safer campus for all Iskolars ng bayan that’s why I never hes-itated to be here.

Abelardo Hall has turned white as attendees came in re-sponding to the call to make that Friday a white outfit day. In the simplest movement,

students are able to express their support on the call that Undivided is pushing for. “Of course, we can not do this alone, we need our fellow Iskolars to be with us and we’re happy that a number responded. We appreciate those who are one with us,” Camaya added.

In times when clashes of egos and principles are in the frontline, when there is a great divide of beliefs between great minds and leaders of a leading academic institution, and when the future leaders of the country are being vic-tims of robbery, sexual harassment, and hold ups inside the very institution that hones them, steps for the solution of this problem should definitely be at work; and it all starts with an undivided stand for peace. ■

Iskolars stand Undividedevents

22

The sarsuwela: it is where people ought to sing when they argue, and where they dance their joy

to their heart’s contentment on stage. Here you can see gifted persons who are required to know how to sing, dance, and act. It is a healthy combina-tion of drama and comedy we Filipinos enjoyed since the 1990s. It is travelling to different places, in different time pe-riods.

Today it seemed that sarsuwela performances are less popular, espe-cially in the Metro. But have urban people been left out since most towns in provinces may have had these per-formances almost every year? Are you missing something you do not even know of? Let us learn from the last Sarsuwela festival. What have you missed?

Last February, the University of the

Philippines celebrated Diliman Month where they had Sarsuwela Festival—organized by the College of Arts and Letters lead by Dean Virgilio Almario. The CAL bridged the gap between the old form of sarsuwela and the young generation with a month long celebra-tion filled with on-stage presentations, conference, lecture series and exhibit with the participation of sarsuwelistas and audiences not only from within Metro Manila but also from the prov-inces.

Sarsuwela is an old art form that started during the Spanish period. It had its glory days from 1920s to 1940s where it portrayed familiar characters, conditions, and concerns, according to Nicanor Tiongson in CCP Encyclo-pedia of Philippine Art (1994). It is the product of a creative fusion of li-bretto, music, and direction on stage.

It is usually written in prose, with its libretto, or the words of the piece, in-cluding the spoken and the sung parts. Since these usually are very long per-formances, it has its muchacho and muchacha—usually in the character of a maid or helper that is working in the family of the main charcters— that rouse the audience with comedic acts and lines. The College of Arts and Let-ters in their presentation of the sarsu-wela had a comprehensive approach, and in the performances utilized mod-ern approaches to liven up the classic pieces. Dexter Santos and Pat Valera of Dulaang UP said it best: “Kung ang sarsuwela noon ay ginamit upang mapag-usapan ang mga temang pa-tungkol sa sarili, lipunan, at puso, na-rarapat lamang na ang makabagong sarsuwela ay pag-usapan ang mga te-mang naaayon sa ngayon.”

Sarsuwela,the comeback

What have you missed?The long lines for five classic sarsuwelas in one month•

Long lines outside the UP theater at around 6 p.m. are most probably for the five classic on-stage sarsuwelas to be performed there. Paglipas ng Dilim, Walang Sugat, Sa Bun-ganga ng Pating, Iloilo Sarsuwela: Padayon ang Istorya, and Ang Kiri had its share of au-diences from UP, Far Eastern University, University of the East, University of Makati, St. Joseph College of Bulacan, Pamantasan ng Marikina and Philippine National Univer-sity to name a few. Elementary and high school students from New Era University, Krus na Ligas Elementary School, Waldorf School-Manila, Mangatarem National High School (Pangasinan) also went there, along with other schools from around Metro Manila. Theater groups were also there to watch, including Tanghalang Pilipino and perform-ing groups from the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Sarsuwelistas, as those who perform sarsuwelas are called, came together from all over the Philippines to see the performances. Loen M.Vitto, project coordinator for the Sarsuwela Festival, shared that the festival gave the opportunity for the sarsuwelistas to be recognized. “they were de-lighted…because most of the time, only the Tagalog Sarsuwela is well exposed to the people.”

Getting the film buff out of you: Sarsuwela films• If you like movies, mainstream and alternative may it be, then sarsuwela films will sure-ly be something to watch out for! Very rare films of Giliw Ko (1939), Tunay na Ina (1939), Maalaala Mo Kaya (1954), and Stardoom (1971) do not had its chance to be shown today in moviehouses in malls and even if it did, it most probably have gotten special attention and blockbuster treatment from the older generation. These are pieces of sarsuwelas documented and kept.

>> Janet Tan

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Now, these films are gathered from the CCP and Sam-paguita Films, to name a few sources. They were shown in the Film Institute for a limited period and the films are now returned to their respective sources. So the next time you were given the rare opportunity to do this, there is no reason to say no!

Live music: Classic songs mingling with modern rhythms • Mappy who works in UP revealed an experience in a jeepney, where she was riding along with an elementary student. The young student was humming a song from Walang Sugat, one of the on-stage sarsuwelas which pre-sented the abuse of power of friars during the Spanish pe-riod and how a katipunero named Tenyong and his dear Julia, fought against all odds for their love for each other. “Sa hirap at ginhawa, ikaw at ako…walang sugat, walang sugat…”Erika, 24, who said that the sarsuwela themes songs and music accompaniment give her the last song syndrome. Aurea B. Lopez, Project Manager of the Sarsuwela Festi-val, shared that she and her team was surprised but nev-ertheless quite expecting about this. “This type of music resonates in the youth. We should not underestimate their capability to appreciate those stuff. Just give them the op-portunity,” she said in Filipino.

Sarsuwela groups from different provinces ilocos, Pangasi-• nan, Pampanga, and Iloilo

They came together to speak lines using the art of “speak-ing sarsuwela” and also sung a few notes in the opening of the exhibit entitled “Ang Mundo ng Sarsuwela” in UP Vargas Museum. It will be open to the public until March 31 2009. Go there and personally see how life is in a 1920s setting.

Mind refueling • With the theme “Amor, Vida, Patria: Re(dis)covery of the Nation in the Sarsuwela,” a conference had drawn closer performers and people from the academe and also from the fields of research. It is the perfect way of feeding the mind along with indulging the senses in on-stage perfor-mances and exhibits.

The opportunity to experience a broad coverage of the world of sarsuwela is indeed a rare chance. But you need not be sad about what you missed. This old art form once thought to only belong to the interests of our elders is an art for the youth also.

And if you are planning to go to the province this summer, why not try to ask around for sarsuwelas troupes going from town to town and see for yourself if sarsuwelas are really worth your time. Spend the time with your relatives, especially your grand-parents (if they are still here) and make it a great bonding time for the whole family by embracing Philippine culture in this great way of doing it.

You may not always have the chance to watch five sarsuwelas in one month, but one sarsuwela may be enough to make you love the art form as well. ■

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>> Larissa Mae Suarez

Sunday afternoon. The humid

air caused our clothes, sticky

with sweat, to become plas-

tered to our skin, even as the swel-

tering sun beat down mercilessly. I

wished I hadn’t brought my jacket

with me — it had been raining when

we first set out on the trip, but the

rain stopped when we reached Erap

City, Montalban, and the jacket was

now merely a burden in the heat.

I was focused on taking notes

and photographs, so it caught me

by surprise when a young girl sud-

denly took the jacket slung over my

shoulder. I turned to look at her.

“Bakit? (Why?)” I asked.Her answer caught me complete-

ly by surprise. “Baka umitim po kayo

(You might grow dark-skinned),”

she said, with genuine concern, as

she reached up to spread my jacket

around my shoulders. I stood there,

dumbfounded, while my compan-

ions raised their eyebrows and the

young girl busied herself arranging

the garment so it covered as much

skin as possible.Her name was Joanna Marie.

I had interviewed her older sister

only a moment before; they lived

in a one-room house with a card-

board sheet for a door, no windows,

and no electricity. Their water came

from a pump located around five

houses down the street; they had

to cart it daily in a pail back to their

house. They did, however, have a

mattress, a couple of chairs, and a

gas-lit lamp.Joanna Marie didn’t know me.

She was used to seeing students

come and go to her town, visiting

once to see the conditions, and never

coming back again. (She still remem-

bered some of the students she had

befriended.) So it was a revelation,

indeed, to find that this ten-year old

girl was concerned with others, and

with helping them.As it turned out, she associated

white skin with good fortune in life.

She and her siblings often watched

television on a neighbor’s TV set,

and she saw the light skin of actors

and actresses, and how wealthy and

famous they were. She explained

earnestly to me that her favorites

were Marian Rivera and Kim Chiu,

and again told me to be careful

about getting dark skin, or else I

could never end up like them.

Mixed originsI was, along with about two

dozen other UP students, on a trip

organized for a Communications

class on media and society. We went

to Erap City, Montalban, a relocation

site which first sprung up over eight

years ago, during the term of then-

President Joseph Ejercito Estrada.

From Diliman, we took two jeep-

ney rides, and had to walk the rest of

the way. The walk took around ten

to fifteen minutes, and the “street”

from the city proper to the relocation

site was at best a dusty dirt road.

There are over 10,000 families in

Erap City. Most of them come from

squatter areas in Metro Manila. They

lived in the danger zones — along

train tracks, beside dumpsites, be-

side polluted bodies of water — un-

til the government forced them to

relocate, after they demolished their

shanties.Yet the roots of these people in

Erap City trace back even further

than that. Before these families be-

came informal settlers in the city,

they were peasants living in the

countryside. Their grueling way

of life, however, and the fact that

they were often saddled with debt

by landowners, sent them towards

Metro Manila in search of a better

life.They would find, however,

that the government does not have

enough resources to accommodate

social services for all the poor who

descend upon the city from the

provinces.

Troubled prospectStories of insufficient social

services abound in Erap City. One

young boy came down with fever

and vomiting, so his anxious father

rushed him to the district infirmary.

The infirmary personnel said that

they did not have the facilities to

treat the boy, and advised the father

to take him to the nearest hospital,

over an hour away. They said they

would provide the ambulance, but

the father had to pay for the gas.

In another case, students were

crammed by the dozens into tiny

classrooms, because the construc-

tion of the school was substandard.

Heavy storms destroyed some parts

of the roofs and windows, render-

ing some classrooms unusable.

Furthermore, residents of Erap

City have to pay for the houses they

live in, over a thirty-year period. Ev-

ery monthly deposit, then, counts as

partial payment for the house — yet

if they are late in paying rent one

month, even after a decade of pay-

ing regularly, they could find them-

selves evicted without notice.

Indeed, Joanna Marie’s sister

claims that if this is “relocation,” she

would much rather be considered a

squatter. “Walang trabaho dito, e di

nagko-commute pa kami para kumita.

Dagdag gastos. At tsaka sa Maynila,

wala nang binabayaran buwan-buwan

para sa bahay, dito mayroon. (There

are no jobs here, so we have to com-

mute in order to earn. It’s an addi-

tional expense. And in Manila, we

don’t have to pay every month for

our house; here, we do.)”

My schoolmates and I arrived

before lunch; when we left at around

five o’clock in the afternoon, we

found ourselves subdued, thinking

over what we had just seen.

Such basic mass exposure ac-

tivities (BME) are truly eye-opening

experiences. Lest we become en-

sconced in our ivory towers, forget-

ting the conditions in which the vast

majority of poor Filipinos live, we

must make an effort to engage in ac-

tivities such as these. It’s definitely

not a walk in the park, or an outing

in a mall — but the insights waiting

to be gained are ones that will stay

with you, long after the BME is over.

■

*with apologies to Jose Dalisay, Jr.,

who wrote a Palanca award-winning

short story of the same title. It was

about a relatively well-off man who

visits his poor driver, seeing “the other

side” for the first time.

The Other Side*events

How to Spend P1000 around Zambales

Have fun strolling around the province without stretching your budget way too much.

Jump start your day with a hearty • breakfast at Bon’s Restaurant in the town of Iba. For not less than P130 pe-sos, you can have a taste of the best pancit bihon in town or the usual jam packed breakfast. Fly kites around the beaches of Zam-• bales, you may opt to create your own for more creativity or buy at Iba’s Town Market for only P20 pesos.Hit Crystal Beach Resort, the newest • surfing destination in the country, to challenge yourself and the waves. Try surfing and rent a surf board for only P100 for half an hour.For lunch, you can choose to grill • something in the shore with your com-panions. You can unleash the inner sur-vivor in you and try catching fish in the abundant waters of Zambales or buy fresh fish from the local folks for only P80 pesos/kilo (depending on the kind of fish).Love animals? Visit Kitsie’s Crocodile’s, • a crocodile and nature park in the town of Botolan for only P75 pesos. Mingle with the crocodiles (hahaha) or with their small aviary, civet cats and rep-tiles. Try aqua-biking in Subic for P175/half • an hour. Not only will you enjoy the beach but it will also exercise your leg muscles as you stroll in every direction of the water.Visiting during the summer? Watch • and participate in the province’s grand-est festival, Dinamulag Festival. If you get tired, there are many food stands around where you can choose to have isaw, fishball, chicken skin, gulaman, sago, halo-halo, etc. Just prepare P50 pesos for an intense street food eating experience.For dinner, you can buy fresh squid from • the locals and gril or make adobong pu-sit for only P65 pesos for half a kilo.If you want to stay up for the night, have • a bonfire with a group of friends near the beach. Buy a bunch of wood for P10pe-sos and share stories and drinks under the starry sky.Before going home, don’t forget your • pasalubong! Bring home to your loved ones. The sweetest mango on earth for only P60 pesos/per kilo and sweet pas-tilles made from pure carabao milk for P100 pesos for a pack of 3 (each pack contains 12-16 pieces). Sweet maca-puno is also sold for P60 pesos for a pack of 3.

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from barangay Garreta to Magalawa Island. What's nice about the boat ride is that you will encounter a school of fish in rainbow colors along the way.

Yet another unexplored but slowly starting a boom among island lovers is Po-tipot sland located about 1 km from Uacon, Candelaria. It will just take a 5-minute boat ride from the mainland shore to get to this island which boasts a lush vegeta-tion, serene waters and of course, white-sand beaches to complete one's very own Boracay experience- Zambales version worth only 50 pesos.

And lastly, we have the Hermana Mayor Island, located at the far-south end of Sta. Cruz Zambales. This island is a celebrity island, popularly known as the Miss Universe Island because the candidates of the said pageant in 1970 held their swim-suit photo shoot in the Island.

There are still many thngs to explore and discover in this province. Zambales is also the site of the much-celebrated and flamboyant Dinamulag Festival during the summer (in April).

Experience street dancing the Zambales way, have a taste of the sweetest man-go on earth as you frolick your tanned body in azure blue waters... Now, this surely spells summer heaven. ■

A Summer Heaven from p.12

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