SPRINKLES

ILOILO

L E A V E N O S T O R Y U N T O L D SEPTEMBER-DECEMBER 2012

HIDDEN GEMS OF

A charming group of islands in the northern part of Panay

Island in Visayas is set to carve its name in tourism

3random

3 gastronomics

Contents

3reviews

6 trips

SPRINKLESSEPTEMBER-DECEMBER 2012

13INSIDE THE HALLS OF THE

NATIONAL MUSEUM

TheEditor’sLetter

The best is yet to come

2ISSUE

Democracy’s famous home once again left the world in awe in its recently-concluded presidential election that saw the close battle between two candidates who went head-to-head in their ambitious plan to clinch the most powerful job in the entire world. That night saw the reelection of America’s first black president whose historic first term in office was carried through a platform of hope and change. Rising through a fresh mandate for a second term, Barack Hussein Obama, the name of whom doesn’t even sound like an American at all, confidently faced a cheering crowd in his hometown Chicago and the world in particular on that election night complete with soaring rhetorics and as expected, an exceptional oratorical skills. On that night, this line stroked a chord in me as it did the same for the many embattled Americans in the world’s superpower: Tonight, in this election, you, the American people, reminded us that while our road has been hard, while our journey has been long, we have picked ourselves up, we have fought our way back, and we know in our hearts that for the United States of America, the best is yet to come. These words got the crowd stood into their feets, made a sound through their hands. For a problematic nation, whose grappling with the worst economic dillema

in a century that left many of his citizens unemployed and struggling to meet both ends, a reassuring leader maintained composure--ever hopeful and never faltering that this can be solved, given more time. Obama, who have become a witness to how greatly divided his country was when one would see the electoral map, rallied his countrymen to unite, saying that they are not as divided as their politics suggest. They, as their president proudly said, are greater than the sum of their ndividual ambitions and they remain more than a collection of red states and blue states. “We are, and forever will be, the United States of America” One would wonder why many of us Filipinos, including me, are fascinated with the grandeur of American politics. It could very well be explained by how the people in general see the elections as a venue for their voices to be heard. To vote is a sacred thing and to choose their country’s next leader, they cling to it as if it’s the last hope in their pursuit for transformation and change. That certain level of maturity among the electors and their candidates is definitely the kind we lack here at home. We certainly hope America’s success because their success is also our success. This can be better understood if we put it into the context of a tough man acquiring a severe virus for the very first time. When it coughs, each of one us is affected in ways we could barely imagine.

While in its soil the Americans rejoiced over the outcome of the election, many people across the globe, from the streets of Tokyo to the forgotten corners of the Arab world and even in our little office here in Tagum, posed a seemingly difficult question to answer: Can we do just the same? I came with this article in light of the upcoming 2013 midterm elections on the first quarter next year. An eclectic mix of people signified intention to hold public office who will be defending their paltforms of governance

SPRINKLESL E A V E N O S T O R Y U N T O L D

EDITOR IN CHIEF

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

MANAGING EDITOR

FEATURES EDITOR

ART DIRECTOR

PHOTOGRAPHER

GRAPHIC ARTISTS

CONTRIBUTINGWRITERS

LOUIE BRYAN LAPAT

LEO TIMOGAN

RIC KEVIN CONDE

RICHARD ARELLANO

JIVE GUMELA

JIO JOHN MANAGBANAG

LOUIE JAY LOSARIA

HAROLD LUPOGANAPRIL SALINAS

ANDIE BRAGAHARLEY AGLOSOLOSMIGS HIPOLITOMONET FEDERISOEDWIN LASQUITECROMWELL BONGHANOY

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