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One glance at the cover can either TV SERIES induce feelings of terror, disgust, or e sympathy. Most would be terrorized at the r site of the corpse and the idea of murder. Season 1 With this comes disgust over the site of By ARIK AARON ABU blood and the incredible inhumanity of such an act. But there would also be the few who would sympathize for the murderer, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Name wondering what abuse he has gone through CAST America Ferrera, Erik that led him to grabbing the knife. Who Mabius, Christopher Gorham, would you be in such a violent situation? Alan Dale The victim lying on the ground? The lucky GENRE Drama/Comedy one who only got an injury? Or the one holding the knife, with someone else’s blood tainting your body? Greetings. I do not mean to usher in the school year with such morbidity. Please do not shy away from reading on further, because this June issue has much more to offer. First and foremost, we “entice” you with an exploration on campus violence as our cover story. Here, campus violence in the US and the Philippines is compared, with some highlights on how it has occurred in the Lasallian setting. In relation to campus violence, our 25 Cents’ Worth gly is the new beautiful. because she once dreamt of kissing subsection offers refreshingly intelligent It is about time for people to see him. Unfortunately, she is not able to insights on the Discipline’s Office infamous beyond what the naked eye can realize that there is already someone “scissors policy.” For a lighter but intelligent uperceive–this is simply what ABC’s else in her fantasy man’s heart. read, we have revived the subsection called Ugly Betty is trying to convey its growing The series is an excellent Round the Globe, which discusses the audience throughout the globe. The adaptation of its original Colombian popular “disease” that almost everyone has title “Ugly Betty” would seem familiar counterpart. Ugly Betty was able to fallen into: camwhoring. More cultured to the ear simply because it is indeed sustain the essence of its predecessors readers or those in search of more could a revision of the hit Colombian while managing to surprise its viewers find themselves reading the vignette on telenovela Yo soy Betty, la fea – which with unexpected twists and turns the various gods from the mythologies of translates into “I am Betty, the ugly.” along the way. Who could not at least The series is but one of the many grin the moment a thick-browed Ireland, Norway and India. Finally, our renditions to the show, following woman with braced teeth steps in the Lounge section features recent BPI Science versions hailing from countries like room? But though Ugly Betty seems to Awardee Mico Geronimo. Indonesia, Bulgaria, Malaysia, Czech be a certified hit to many, it still fails Read on and enjoy! Republic, Switzerland, and Japan, just to reach out across the boundaries to name a few. of audience groups. Humor is one Ugly Betty tracks the life and times thing, but wittiness is another. Behind of fresh college graduate and the many antics shown in the show, aspiring magazine editor only a few people will be able to Gela Velasco (America Ferrera). Initially rejected notice the values of fairness and Menagerie Editor in a job interview at the renowned equality that Ugly Betty is trying to tell Meade Publications because of her people. It might not be suitable for “unpleasant” appearance, CEO all viewers, but it should still wring a Bradford Meade (Alan Dale) sees few chuckles. After all, there is more Betty’s potential, and assigns her to come out of Betty’s sleeve–or immediately to (Erik braces, for that matter–episode after Mabius) as executive assistant. This episode. series of events ultimately leads COVER CREDITS: LAYOUT: her to whom she thinks is her “soul imaging by Carmela Prado mate” Henry Grubstick (Christopher Karla Peralta Abdul Onos Gorham), the accountant in the third rating Gene Carlo Magtoto floor of the publication office. Betty FUEL CREDITS: becomes fond of this man simply concept by 3.0 Brian Christian Uy Carmela Prado credits

2 THE LASALLIAN MENAGERIE January 2007 BOOK For One More Day by carmela sioco et me guess. You want to know why I killed myself.” Starting Chick his peace, as he gets to reconcile with her, and most off with a riveting prologue,For One More Day is Mitch Albom’s importantly, with himself. third novel following the successful Tuesdays with Morrie If you’re a Mitch Albom fan, then you’ll most likely know “land The Five People You Meet in Heaven. This novel revolves his writing style and trademark charm. His Chick Benetto around Chick Benetto, a hopeful baseball rookie, and his narrative is simplistic in style, yet touching and contemplative long tarnished relationship with his mother. in complexity. The problem is that it is too much like his Chick grows up in a broken home, with his childhood preceding novel, Five People You Meet in Heaven. It is almost memories often centering upon his having to choose sides entirely the same, with regretful characters and redemptive between his parents. His father left him and his mother; encounters with spirits. The plot is also eerily identical, as consequently, always felt the need to be loved and accepted characters describe dealing with death, and then meeting by him. Unfortunately, that need came with a hefty price— significant people with weighty secrets to reveal. The stories Chick taking his mother for granted. As he grows older and start to seem a bit formulaic at this point, and one can wonder has a family of his own, he becomes the reflection of a broken if Albom can bring something new to the table. It is not man. S educed by the promises of a budding baseball career questionable though, that this novel can definitely make its rating and with no time for his family until suddenly, his mother dies readers nostalgic and meditative with the morals divulged 2.5 from a heart attack. Consumed in his misery and remorse, throughout Chick’s day with his mother. The novel is still a everything goes downhill for Chick as his marriage falls good book to read, but it is not something that stands out apart, his daughter stops speaking to him, and he realizes from his past works, nor something altogether memorable. the futility of his baseball dreams. Its wise life lessons and wistful philosophies on life and death Chick then tries to commit suicide, but in an odd twist do account for a lot; although with its predictable storyline of events, his brush with death leads him to a supernatural and characters, this novel can turn out as a disappointment encounter with his mother. Their time together gives to its readers.

BOOK Shiva’s Fire By yasmin najib hiva’s Fire is another inspiring tale by Suzanne Fisher Staples, leaving her to wonder if destiny, as she believes, is really all the award winning author of Shabanu and its follow up, that cracked up to be. Haveli. In her new book, Staples is able to weave a touching The book is a great read for anyone who enjoys diving in sfantasy story about a young girl who is able to discover her to a world that is unlike the one we live in, where mystical passion for dancing despite the awful circumstances she has happenings occur and a tiny statue of a god can start to live with. The main character Parvati is born and raised dancing before your very eyes. It is also a great read for in a sleepy town in the south of India, where she becomes giving readers a peek into rural life in India where curses, known for strange things happening every time her feet folklores, kings, and princes exist and thrive. A winner pounds the ground to dance. Parvati’s childhood is filled of several awards such as Parents’ Choice Gold Award by with taunts from the other villagers, until a famous classical Parent’s Guide, a Best Book selection by Publishers’ Weekly, dance master visits her village looking for her. He whisks her and Children’s Book of the Year, Bank Street College, this off to dance school where she loses herself in dance, music, book deserves every bit of recognition it has received. rating study, and devotion. Parvati then meets a very special boy Indeed, a page turning read for all devotees of the 3.5 who turns everything she has come to know in shambles, unimaginable. EVENT Revicon Ion Summer Invasion By ROAN GUINTIVANO rating ummer is almost over, but the fun and games have just begun for Celebrities, students, and the media were all present in the event, the Revicon Ion Summer Invasion. From May 5-6, Revicon Ion making the Revicon Ion Summer Invasion in Boracay a huge 3.5 brought together lucky participants for a weekend to the white success. The free henna, free massage, and overflowingR evicon ssands of Boracay for some summer activities on the beachfront Ion energy drink didn’t hurt as well. The hosts, Amanda Griffin of Willy’s Resort in Station One. DLSU was the most represented and Will Devaughn did a great job in facilitating the games. The university, bagging the top position in three of the games held a few scorching sun reflected the clear waters of the ocean and white weeks before the Summer Invasion in Boracay. Teams competed powdery sand, making it impossible for anyone to resist staying in different games that involved kayaking, leg races, water balloon inside the hotel. dodgeball, and beach soccer. However, the event seemed to be disorganized at first, and no The White Sharks team emerged as the winner in most of the one seemed to be going to their respective teams due to the heat games, and were named overall champions for the whole event. and the early flights. But in the end, everything turned out well. DLSU Arrowheads, the University’s flag football team, made up Once the first game started, everybody was cheering for their teams. most of the winning team, composed of Charles Mesina, Jessica Only one team emerged as the winner, but everyone was a good Manalo, Roger Luza, and Aurora Siso. They were joined by sport and gave their best on the beach. It was indeed a fun and a celebrities such as John Joe Joseph and Borgy Manotoc. memorable way to end summer. .

January 2007 THE LASALLIAN MENAGERIE 3 ong Lfeature t h e o t h e r s i d e o f t h e Pantheon by marielle antonio, ali caronongan, yasmin najib

As a cross between history and the imagination, mythology has always been looked to for explanations regarding natural phenomena, and has emerged in modern times as a source of inspiration for literature and the arts. Popular culture has paid due homage to the mythologies of various cultures by borrowing names, ideas, and even actual events; and incorporaing them into modern day games and fairy tales. Many aspects of ordinary life such as names of the days of the week also have mythological references, while disciplines such as mysticism and philosophy also take root in it. Prepare to enter the distant lands of India, Norway, and Ireland through the rich folklore they have to offer.

Supreme among the Tuatha De Dannan, the most famous race of Irish gods, the Dagda is ruler over lands and men. He is a master of the arts of magic, war, and craftsmanship, and identified as the Ollathir, meaning “All-father.” The Dagda is said to possess a club and a cauldron --the former able to kill nine men with one end and resurrect them with the other; the latter said to be a bottomless pit that never runs out of food. Despite his might, The Dagda is not immortal. During the second battle of Magh Tuiredh, an epic battle of gods and men, the prophetess Cethlenn wounded the Dagda, and brought his eighty-year reign as High King over all the gods to an end. The Dagda (Irish)

Odin is the all powerful figure in Norse mythology, and has fathered offspring with different goddesses. He hung wounded for nine days on the world tree of Yggdrasil after having injured himself with his own spear in order to learn nine powerful songs and 18 tunes. Odin is capable of speaking to the dead, questioning their intellect and choosing the ones worthy of residing in Valhalla, his place of residence where the slain are brought. From his throne, he can observe events in the nine worlds that exist at Asgard. He is one-eyed, having traded the other for a drink at the Well of Wisdom in his thirst to acquire incalculable knowledge. Odin (Norse) fathers almighty fathers

Shiva is the last of the Hindu trinity (creation, preservation, destruction), being the god of destruction. His home and work companion is Parvati, goddess of disintegration. Shiva stays on a high, snowy mountain range where he prays and meditates to strengthen himself as the source of all knowledge--symbolized by the third eye on his forehead. Shiva carries the heaviest burden in the Hindu trinity, because after they have created and preserved the world, it is Shiva’s duty to destroy

Shiva (Hindu) parts of it in order to facilitate growth and creation.

4 THE LASALLIAN MENAGERIE January 2007 Usually depicted as a large and ferocious man with a scarlet beard and eyes of lightning, Thor surpassed the mighty reputation of his father, Odin, and built a status of his own by being one of the most feared and ferocious warriors ever born. Despite his unattractive appearance, Thor is married to Sif, a fertility goddess. Ironically, he has no offspring with her, and instead enjoys the company of a mistress, the giantess Jarsaxa. A protector of both gods and humans against evil, Thor fights with his trusty hammer, Mjollnir, from which lightning is said to strike whenever thrown by him. His biggest enemy is a serpent named Jormungand, which he kills in the final battle of Ragnarok minutes before he is poisoned by its venom. Thor (Norse)

Ganesha is a deity with an elephant head, and there are many theories how he acquired it. Ganesha was created as a guard for the goddess Parvati. One day, the Lord Shiva wanted to visit Parvati, but Ganesha would not let him so Shiva beheaded Ganesha. Later on Shiva decided to restore him to life by giving him a new head, but an elephant head was the only substitute available. Another legend recounts that Ganesh was born as a perfect baby boy whose head was turned to ashes by Parvati’s brother Sani, who had a cursed eye that disintegrated everything it saw. The gods Vishnu and Brahma then replaced Ganesha’s head with that of the very first creature they found: an elephant. grotesque guardians guardians grotesque

Ganesha Ganesh is also the lord of all existing beings, and all worship ceremonies in the Hindu religious tradition begin with an invocation to him.

Mannanan mac Lir is the Irish equivalent of Poseidon, the god of the sea. Translated to English, his name literally means “Son of the Sea.” The Isle of Mann is named after him, and on midsummer its inhabitants traditionally offer him “a bundle of reeds, meadow grass, and yellow flowers.” In return, he is said to protect its fishermen and make their catch plenty. Traditionally the sea god is a guide from the world of the living into the world of the dead. Historians use the term “psychopomp” to describe gods or creatures whose work is such. Manannan mac Lir is said to have possessed a magical cauldron of rebirth, a power associated with him because of his role as a ferryman

Mannanan mac Lir (Irish) into the netherworld, which was also known as the world of youth and regeneration.

A prominent female god of Hindu mythology is Kali, also called Kali Ma (mother) by her followers. She is the goddess of time and death, and is the counterpart of the divine mother Shakti. Kali’s role is to detach a mortal being from these attachments. However, she chooses the mortals from which she removes this fear. She selects these mortals on a whim, yet they say that those in which she leaves fear behind are the ignorant --another reason why she is feared and worshipped. Her appearance is as daunting as her job: she has four eyes, a black tongue, menacing eyes, and dons a chain of decapitated human heads (representing her affinity

Kali (Hindu) with death). death and the psychopomp psychopomp the and death

Aengus, the god of love and youth, wears a crown of four flying birds around his head, believed to be the origin of the letters “xxxx” which are used to symbolize kisses in modern times. As the god of romance, his love story alone makes him worthy of his title. Legend has it that Aengus had, quite literally, fallen in love with a girl he met only in his dreams. After a one year quest, he found her among 150 girls chained in twos at the lake of Dragon’s Mouth. Her name was Caer Ibormeith. Every first of November, she and the other girls would turn into swans, and the only way Aengus could win her was if he could identify her in her animal state. He accomplished this by turning himself into a swan and having her join him in flight. Once they had Aengues (Irish) married, they flew away and sang a melody that enchanted all who listened to a three-day sleep.

The most attractive of all Norse goddesses, Freya is the goddess of love and beauty, the patron of crops, a sacrificial priestess, and the epitome of female sensuality. She resides in the kingdom of Folkvang, where nothing but enchanting tunes and melodious harp music are played. She is a lover of music and flowers, and has a fascination with elves. Freya’s prized possessions include the necklace of Brisings, which she received hopelessly devoted after she fornicated with dwarfs, and a wild boar named Hildesvini (rumored to be her human lover Ottar in disguise). Freya (Norse)

January 2007 THE LASALLIAN MENAGERIE 5 over CStory

Campus Violence BITING THE BULLET by ali caronongan, elvin ngo, carmela sioco

On August 1966, Charles Whitman made history b y l i v i n g h i s d r e a m of being a sniper and randomly shooting 16 of his schoolmates in the University of Texas. He was later shot and killed by the police. Whitman’s horrifying rampage came down as the very first campus shooting in America, and campus grounds were never deemed as secure havens since then.

Dead and Assaulted Men on classroom, society is posed with the question in studying campus violence, and they Campus of whether the existence of a safe haven for may not always be easy to grasp. For one Long before the University of Texas anybody is still possible. thing, bullying in school has sadly become incident, collegiate institutions were There have been numerous theories and a common practice. Studies by Television perceived as harmless environments where ideas on what actually causes these incidents, Ontario Parents online have concluded that healthy relationships were formed within and knee-jerk answers have always pointed adolescents do feel unsafe at school, and protected barriers. Colleges were places of fingers to media, alcohol, and drugs. People some 160,000 students in the USA stay at refuge where students could go about their are quick to judge these as the main culprits home because they fear being bullied. Luke lives while pursuing a higher education. of youth violence, but they have to question Woodham blamed bullying before he started An alarming number of incidents involving why they even had to feel the need to resort the shootout at Pearl High School, Mississippi hazing initiations for fraternities, bullets to these in the first place. Why did they have on October 1997. Woodham ranted, “…it was being fired during class hours, and stabbing to buy drugs or binge on alcohol? Why did not a cry for attention, it was not a cry for occurrences within the past years, however, they feel that the media held the answers help. It was a scream in sheer agony saying have certainly crumbled this vision of an for their problems, and not their families that if you can’t pry your eyes open, if I can’t academe-inspired utopia. And after the or friends? do it through pacifism, if I can’t show you recent massacre at the Virginia Technological through the displaying of intelligence, then Institute where a student slaughtered 32 When the Trigger Pulls the I will do it with a bullet.” people by opening fire at a dormitory and Finger Apart from school bullies, troubles at There are a lot of factors to consider home could also be seen as a huge and

6 THE LASALLIAN MENAGERIE January 2007 Campus Violence BITING THE BULLET by ali caronongan, elvin ngo, carmela sioco

telling factor. Grayson Holmbeck, winner cadet at the University of Sto. Tomas (UST), strict security measures. of the Hershel Thornburg Dissertation was kidnapped on the university campus on Award from the Society for Research on the evening of March 15, 2001. Three days Bang! You’re Dead - The Adolescence, affirmed that a sound and later, his bloated and decomposing body was Aftermath healthy relationship with parents during found floating on the Pasig River, his face The repercussions of campus violence the adolescent years are tantamount to a and head wrapped tight in silver packing have questioned the morale, or lack thereof, lot of positive effects. These include well- tape, his hands and legs hogtied. His death of our society today. The media has tried to formed identities, strong self-esteem, and the is widely believed to be linked to his exposé counteract the rise of violence and campus development of socially acceptable behavior. of alleged irregularities in the ROTC Unit of shootings: There has been an array of movies When parent-adolescent relationships falter, the university; and became the catalyst for the that deal with social cliques and bullies like it is a lot harder for the adolescents to handle passage of Republic Act 9163 or the “National Mean Girls, Breakfast Club, and Carrie; other school pressures of having to fit in and Service Training Program (NSTP)” Law, movies have dealt with campus shootings making an identity for oneself. Other studies which removed the completion of mandatory directly. The television show One Tree Hill conducted say that teens’ behavior at home ROTC as a precondition for graduation of has even dedicated one episode to campus

determines their behavior outside of it, and shootings, with the actors giving a public can also shape how they view and deal with message on fighting campus violence.

their peers. it was not a cry for Films like Bowling for Columbine and Bang Another factor is the distribution of guns. Bang! You’re Dead have both tackled campus A lecture in North Carolina Wesleyan College attention, it “ was shootouts in a plea to stop violence. In the (NCWC) hypothesized that no adolescent Philippines, RA 8049 – The Anti Hazing Law could resist the priceless seduction of a “not a cry for help. – was ratified in 1995 during the presidency shiny and powerful handgun. The American It was a scream in of Fidel Ramos, to help curb the rampant Center of Disease Control stated that in 1992 fraternity related violence. alone, 20 percent of students came to school sheer agony The question now, according to the armed, while a startling 5 percent carried NCWC lecture, is “Did the finger pull the guns. The number has doubled from 1970 male college students. trigger, or did the trigger pull the finger?” to 1999, and is even more today. DLSU has had its own share of campus Is it simple fascination with guns and overt Clearly, with legislators, school violence as well. In the 1970s, fraternity influences of violent media that makes administrators, and parents all able to related violence was rampant, with frequent students end other people’s lives, or is it influence violent tendencies, the lines of brawls plaguing campus. This prompted something that runs deeper in society, with accountability involve many parties. then DLSU President Br. Andrew Gonzalez not one clear-cut cause? to provide written codes of conduct in the The conditions that lead people to choose student handbook to halt the mayhem. violence will remain . There is no such thing The Fraternity Mentality (Today, all students are required to sign as a person born innately peaceful , but on The Philippines, despite not being a contract forbidding membership in a the side of hope, neither are people born known for campus shoot-outs, has seen a fraternity upon entering the University.) innately violent. It all boils down to choice good number of fraternity hazing incidents- In 1995, Seth Lopez died due to and society. Society can choose to take part -the most recent hazing case involving injuries sustained when he went through in the solution. Marlon Villanueva, an agriculture economics his fraternity’s hazing rites. There was also student at the University of the Philippines- the stabbing of Starrie Sun, a Computer Los Baños (UPLB). Villanueva underwent Engineering student, at Room 408 of the serious beating at a beach resort as a result of Gokongwei Building on November 19, 2002. initiation rites by members of the Alpha Phi The Lasallian community was shocked by Omega fraternity chapter of UPLB. the stabbing incident, which was the first But what if membership in a fraternity is reported frustrated murder incident inside mandatory? Mark Welson Chua, a second-year the University. This goes to show that violence mechanical engineering student and ROTC can still happen in DLSU, despite its relatively

January 2007 THE LASALLIAN MENAGERIE 7 ound the Rglobe

You turn on the power and plop down on your by Samantcaha Modina, Jensen Bryan Chingra, Teresita Velez computer. Once you’re ME connected to the internet,

youbegin your usual online Cam-what? myriad social media in the internet that have routine. You open your The “camwhoring” phenomenon begins placed their money in this phenomenon. with the person, a “camwhore.” The term Websites such as MySpace, Friendster, and instant messenger and itself is quite new and, like a lot of slang terms Multiply have become venues for posting coined from the internet, has yet to be in images of latest trips to exotic islands, group begin chatting; you open the pages of Merriam-Webster. “Camwhore” outings, and outrageous facial expressions. It is a portmanteau of the words camera and isn’t improbable to imagine that after some your browser and start whore. It was first printed in The Courier- time, acquaintances and even strangers surfing the web, updating Mail on November 2001 in an article entitled would be very familiar with every aspect Virtual Lolitas, but was reportedly coined of people who post pictures or videos of yourself on the latest news much earlier in Australia back in 1999. themselves on the internet for everyone The context in which the word appears to see. and current happenings, has the world’s oldest profession as the background and the web cam as the primary Paparazzi-ing the Self and browse through the tool. Camwhores are people who expose Just what is it that makes people want to latestseries of photos posted themselves online and earn from it. Other make like Narcissus and reveal themselves people who aren’t necessarily in the flesh to the world? A December 2006 CNN article by your friends. industry but have exhibitionist streaks are entitled Welcome to Hiltonworld introduced the also labeled as such. The last few years have term “Hiltonworld,” coined for the celebrity- That’s right. The seen the situation so aggravated that in 2005, obsessed and voyeur-friendly universe where the New York Times published In Through paparazzi-attracting Paris Hilton and her everyday routine of a ‘net His Webcam, a Boy Joins a Sordid Online World, cohorts reside. As a conclusion, the writer denizen typically includes a feature about Justin Berry, a teenager who conjectures the possibility of anyone easily strips and does sexual acts in front of the getting into this world for “15 minutes of the most up-to-date photo computer for money. fame” through a video on social medium In the present day the term “camwhore” YouTube or any other form of exposure on albums of everyone of has come into widespread use as part of web the net through creating an account on any lingo. Although its initial usage was shady, social networking website. interest. A daily e-mail, a “camwhore” as a derogatory depiction Take 2007 American Idol reject of a person has evolved into a funny and Antonella Barba, for example. In a March manualcheck of Friendster, edgy description of people possessed by 2007 article, TIME magazine described how Multiply, or MySpace- narcissism. private pictures of Barba eclipsed major and pressing events at that time, such as the -whatever the method, drop in the stock market and the Iran crisis. Me, Myself, and Everyone in the The photos were taken way before Barba anyone interested enough ‘Net set foot on the Idol stage. Hers is a classic The user-centric dictionary www. illustration of how an unknown can get can see what’s up with urbandictionary.com, defines camwhore in into “Hiltonworld” and get the proverbial his or her buddies, or, to a host of ways. One definition of a camwhore 15 minutes of fame. is someone who “posts endless pictures of YouTube has also helped gather be exact, what’s up with themselves on the internet for people to exposure for amateur actors and actresses see. The most severe cases keep posting new like lonelygirl15, whose videos about her their faces. Welcome to pictures just like the ones they posted the day fictional life and troubles have spawned before, and the day before that, and so on.” countless imitators; lonelygirl115’s account a world defined by the Although a bit informal, the description is is the most subscribed on the site, and has “camwhoring” culture! definitely not unfounded. Proof of this is the helped the featured actress with her dreams

8 THE LASALLIAN MENAGERIE January 2007 of making it in Hollywood. Click Happy Kodak-an The camera was invented to capture images Filipinos, of course, aren’t spared from this that cannot be fully justified by a canvas. Far phenomenon. With camera in hand wherever from a mere tool for chroniclers, the they go, Pinoys are far from being camera-shy. camera is most often employed as While MySpace is the premier social networking a way to document the existential, site in the United States, Friendster and Multiply’s even trivial, events in one’s life. Be it user base is predominantly Asian, with the to record a baby’s first walk, a child’s Philippines taking up a large chunk of the online first play production or even one’s population. It’s not uncommon to see bars, places latest haircut, pictures are ubiquitous filled with people with their arms outstretched in everyday life. And since today’s and their weapon of choice, a cell phone or technologies have made taking and digital camera, clicking and smiling like there’s sharing pictures that much easier, no tomorrow. the camwhore culture will continue to flourish. Hopefully, camwhoring Freeze Thyself and the camwhore culture wouldn’t Although no one would like their intimate degrade the discipline it has evolved pictures splattered all over the internet, from, photography. Until then, click the promise of celebrity might be lurking and be merry. in the subconscious of camwhores or not. Ali Caronongan, II-AB-LIM, a self-confessed camwhore, admits vanity plays a big factor in being a camwhore. “Nowadays, looking at the mirror isn’t good enough,” she says, “We want real and tangible evidence that tells us that we do look good.” Former The LaSallian Managing and Photo Editor, Eric Siy, also reiterates the idea of camwhores looking for other ways to look at themselves. “It has the same effect as looking into a mirror,” he explains, “but here you get to freeze yourself, study your face and your angles. You can’t do that with a mirror.” Looking at the mirror, one sees oneself at the eye-level, with a camera, virtually every angle of vision is possible with just a click. One can see which position or lighting is suited for a picture and can do himself or herself in public photo opportunities and gatherings. The apparent limitless film brings out the inner Narcissus in anyone, after all, how can one shoot one’s self with one of those Jurassic models way back? Aside from its utility for vanity, Siy mentions how camwhoring is similar to what photographers call a self-portrait in the sense that the one who shoots the camera uses his or herself as the model. But, it must never be considered as an actual self-portrait. “Owning a camera and using it doesn’t make one a photographer,” he says, “And a self portrait uses the photographer as a model to communicate an idea or an emotion which is very different from camwhores who just take pictures of themselves aimlessly.” The increase in the number of people claiming to be photographers seems to be correlated with the number of camwhores which sadly degrades photography as an art.

January 2007 THE LASALLIAN MENAGERIE 9 he TLounge

Not your ordinary geek by samantha d. modina When one first meets Mikhail Francisco Geronimo, one would immediately notice this laid back aura surrounding his friendly face. Once he starts talking though, some of those first impressions seemingly fly off the window.A verage isn’t what you may describe this self-confessed geek.“If I just stopped at being a normal student, it’s something that I know is not me,” he admits. Yet behind the busy and geeky exterior is a person who wants to share with other people his passion – computers.

Overachieving Techie science or technology,” he states. The said thesis aids Reading Mikhail Francisco Geronimo’s list of small-scale entrepreneurs through a web site, “It’s your credentials is like reading a fantasy checklist of feats regular e-commerce website with a lot of additional one must accomplish before graduating. Mikhail, more functionalities,” he explains. Their research’s simplicity popularly known as Mico, became twice the Legislative belies its pivotal function in changing entrepreneurs’ Assembly Representative of his batch under Santugon. minds about the role of information technology in He then became the party’s Computer Science College business. “It does contribute to the knowledge, not on President. He was also Vice President-Externals of paper but somehow it changes mindsets of people,” Moomedia and, just recently, a 2007 BPI-DOST science he imparts. awardee. Despite the research’s beauty on paper, Mico’s Formerly a student council president in high group is after its application to small and medium school, he joined Santugon despite promising himself enterprises in the Philippines. “The challenge less extra-curricular involvements in college. Yet that really here is implementation for these companies wasn’t exactly what enticed him to go back to leading to accept it, for the government to actually use it,” his fellow students. “I was inspired how the SC works he affirms. in [De] La Salle,” he muses. Mico was impressed with As for the prestige of winning the Science how the system, specifically the policy making works. Award, Mico admits that it gave him the chance “Having the students doing policy making themselves to give something back to the university, “This was was really appealing for me.” my chance to at least give something back and for In 2005, he pushed the envelope further, running people to be able to see that there’s promise in for the Student Council presidency under Santugon’s terms of computer science students. He even muses, ticket, but lost to eventual winner Simoun Ferrer. He “I was happy that at least I was given validation that admits that the College of Computer Science factored I have the potential to be one of the good people in his decision to run. “One of the reasons I said ‘yes’ in this industry.” to run for SC president [was that] people have been waiting for a second CCS SC president,” he says. Striking Out So what’s next for this hardworking techie? Giving Back Come June, Mico will be joining the men in suits Serving as icing to his cake in De La Salle is the 2007 in Procter & Gamble, officially bidding goodbye BPI-DOST Science Award. Given to outstanding student to student life. “It’s not a problem, going into work research papers, BPI and DOST recognized Mico’s and quite early,” he says. As for the organizations he would his groupmates’ (Solace Arevalo, Paolo Alcera and be leaving behind, he reveals that he’s confident with Sanam Mirpuri) thesis entitled e-SME: A Viable Tool for the batch next in line. On the other hand, a company National Development. The business-oriented research already said yes to applying their thesis. And finally for aims to help small and medium enterprises utilize his life, he reaffirms, “We’re not just computer geeks.” technology for improvement. Ironically, Mico almost As his achievements have shown, the world knows they failed to show up for the award’s panel interview if are, or he at least, is more than just a computer geek. not for thesismate Sanam Mirpuri’s reminder. “I went to the interview, [but] I wasn’t expecting anything,” he sheepishly admits. Mico, however, made it to the top six. He is proud that his research is in line with the government’s goal of strengthening the information technology sector. “We use information technology, computer science to bring changes for development, not just to contribute something to

10 THE LASALLIAN MENAGERIE January 2007 cents’ 25worth ScissorshipCut It Out, by darcy reburiano

Do you believe in clairvoyance? I don’t. That’s somebody, why don’t we also require a permit Scissors, Safety and why I was quite pissed off when I discovered for everything? That would make a lot of us Stewardship that in De La Salle University, student feel safer, I’m sure. Finally, there’s the issue of good policy organizations and offices need to present We regulate something because it has making. The policy of regulating scissors and sharp objects (ie scissors) to the Discipline been proven to be dangerous on a consistent other sharp objects such as cutters and Swiss office “not later than the first month of the basis. Like guns, which were meant to inflict knives was brought about by the stabbing school year.” For those not in the know, injuries both to animals and humans. Or incident that occurred at the Gokongwei buying from the university those little drugs, which besides their addictive nature, Building in 2002. In short, it was a response “snippity-snips” are regulated, and possession poses plenty of health risks. Thus far, there to an isolated incident, and not as a method without a DO sticker can be grounds for an have been no outbreaks of widespread of addressing a general concern. They were offense. Tampering with the DO sticker and people-stabbing events in the world brought merely trying to show that some action was transferring it to another object is grounds for about by scissors. In fact, even grade school done to play down the consequences of the a major discipline offense. Based on common students are allowed to bring and use scissors incident. Good policy making, however, sense, efficiency, and good policy making, I without regulation. I guess it implies that the does not to respond to a singular event. don’t think this policy should have been made university believes an eight year old kid taking While a catastrophe may be a wake up call in the first place. up art classes is more responsible than an 18 for lawmakers, there should be a careful, year old Computer Science major. Where’s objective, and thorough study of the issues Lethal or Illegal? the common sense in that? intended policies would affect. In the case of Common sense isn’t just uncommon these the “scissors policy,” it seems that no careful days—it’s an endangered virtue. To make Bureaucratic Buffoonery study took place, as the arguments of common things worse, the creation of a policy which In terms of efficiency, the policy on sense and bureaucracy were not taken into regulates scissors as a lethal weapon has dealt regulating scissors just imposes more consideration. God knows that short-sighted common sense a fatal blow. Anything can be bureaucracy. The bureaucratic effects of and unfinished policies are proposed often in a lethal weapon. A mineral water bottle can such a policy enforce mindless following government, like shortly after the Guimaras be shoved down a person’s throat, choking of orders, which any institution of higher oil spill, when there was suddenly a clamor for him to death. Forks, which are present in education should disapprove. Even in stricter and clearer environmental laws, or the abundant quantities in any of the schools the corporate world, there is a shift from legislative oversight of not having laws against canteens, can be used to stab someone in the hierarchical structures to systems that employ digital property destruction until the “I Love heart. So why not ban t h e m , more critical thinking. Employees in these You” virus incident. Should we condone such or regulate them? I f new systems are given more responsibility an attitude in a university that tries to produce scissors, which so that they become experienced in making excellent future leaders? The answer should are mundane good decisions. How then does a university be fairly obvious. tools available claiming to be globally-competitive contribute everywhere, to this change if it dictates the proper use of Cutting It Out are banned scissors by regulating it? Doesn’t DLSU trust You may say that, “Hey, it’s just a policy b e c a u s e its students enough to be able to decide by about scissors. We don’t even use that often in t h e s e c a n themselves that stabbing people with scissors the university.” True, but its implications are b e u s e d t o k ill is wrong? much more important than what it’s trying to The inefficiency extends to the time accomplish at the surface level. By creating and manpower wasted in maintaining the an illogical, inefficient, and short-sighted policy. The scissor has to be presented to policy, we are in effect promoting intellectual the DO and lost stickers must be reported suicide. While the policy is largely the product for replacement. Employees who could be of administrative bodies, we are also to blame; processing more important documents after all the ruling against scissors has been instead have to contend with someone’s effect for more than four years, and no one application for a permit to bring or has tried to seriously challenge it. We are buy scissors. Instead of catering to a in the university to exercise our greatest bureaucratic policy, why don’t these assets as human beings: our rationality. Not employees and guards patrol the clairvoyance. premises more frequently?

January 2007 THE LASALLIAN MENAGERIE 11