Cover: “Waterspots” design by Mike Murray sh pond: images and thought s” is an underground magaZINE published by onne traya hortillo. writing and artwork is the author’s original unless specified. opyright (c) 1998. All rights reserved. Now is t he speech of Tomorrow, In cert ain mout hs. A cert ain Ghost is Et ernit y Who, as we walk herward, Walks usward, Speaks nowward.
Un-ears and un-eyes Stand in disbelief and sur- prise. The law of their clock is riven. The law of their orbit is bro- ken. This speech is misshapen! Wherefore, sharpen sharpen
Your claws O fellow cit izens: You have work to do You have crosses to rear You have history to smear. ---yup, those faddish little cartoon critters that have taken the world y storm. the first time i heard of them was when my youngest sis- ter told me about them. “but you won’t like them,” she laughed to me, “but they’re funny!” ---she was right, i didn’t like them the first time. in fact, i was silenced into shock the first time i saw them on Comedy Central. it was 11 p.m. on a wednesday night, and while my sisters were rolling er in laughter, i was still stuck trying to analyze where in the world the creators of the cartoons get their humor. ---“you can’t analyze it,” my other sister said, “it’s too different to be analyzed. you can’t find any justification for [their jokes]. it’s all just plain fun.” --so i didn’t. i ended up having one of the best first laughs i have had to a cartoon in a long while! --i tried to avoid watching the cartoon, because i had other things o do (yup, i DO!), but i ended up waiting for wednesday night ery week so that i could see SOUTHPARK again. i really initially ike it, and eventually i actually found them pretty harmless, so long as you know how to keep your distance (not make it a priority see) --but the fever is on-- my sisters talk about it incessantly; Cartman s their hero now. a friend remarked recently how “he sounds like a uperhero, CARTMAN!” one of my sisters has surfed the Web and ound numerous homepages dedicated to or link to SOUTHPARK.
“people never tire of doing things slightly off center and showing it to every one else.”
followed suit and i found a siteowner who will draw you for free according to the likeness of SOUTPARK’s residents. there is an offi- cial site constructed by Comedy Central that features info on the eators, series, and characters; and has downloadable artwork mong other things. that site is updated frequently. there are people who claim that they “LIVE FOR SOUTHPARK!” (but heir sites are all under construction). --a few more episodes of SOUTHPARK, lots of talk about it, people trading taped episodes and renting and buying them from tores, and soon i found myself slowly shaking off my like for the cartoon. for me, SOUTHPARK has become commonplace. just ike the grass, it’s everywhere. in my opinion, in places it was really funny. in others, it was actually saddening and a little scary even. --but people don’t ever tire of doing things slightly off center and showing it to everyone else. SOUTHPARK is clearly that. --i guess in order for a cartoon to entertain adults, it has to be a little wacky. i actually admire the creators of the cartoon. to me the writers featured a keen understanding of society and what makes people react (in this case, laugh) the best. all adults know that you don’t really vomit when you see someone you love, when you die you don’t come back to life every week, and when you state the painful truth about someone’s poverty or handicap you don’t rub it in. now that i think of it, sometimes the cartoon shows the oppo ite of society’s norms. when you only think of what the opposite of the norms are, they aren’t really funny, but when you see them ctually happening, everyone becomes nervous and starts laughing. then again sometimes, the cartoon just wants to have fun and hrows in a crazy gag or two. --currently, i’ve gotten over my SOUTHPARK fad. i still think that it’s a maddening, skewed show. but i also think it’s good humor e can’t stop the airing of it, but we can keep in mind that this is a show for adults. so when curious kids see all the baseball caps, bumper stickers, shirts, ads, and whatever else advertising SOUTHPARK and wonder why everyone else is watching it and why can’ our family see it too, it becomes an opportunity to tell them about what’s right and what’s wrong, and to show them that doing ight is what’s best for themselves and others. Untitled. Watercolor on Oslo paper. Miam Tan. LOVE STYLES
According to my textbook, “Social Psychology (2nd Edition)” by Elliot Aronson, Timothy Wilson, and Robin Akert, there are several definitions of love. One definition is called “Love Styles”:
Clyde Hendrick and Susan Hendrick (1992) have identified six love styles. Eros is a passionate, physical love, where the partner’s physical appearance is highly important. The Eros lover gets involved quickly; “Eros is like being hit by a bolt of lightning.” Ludus is love played as a game, never taken too seri- ously... “Ludus likes all aspects of a rainstorm... but doesn’t want to get get.” Storge is a slow-growing love, evolving out of affection and friendship. Storge lovers “would be likely to stay inside during the... thunder[storm] and go out when a... gentle rain began to fall. Pragma [love is] commonsensical, realistic, feet on the ground. In a rainstorm, “pragma will always have an umbrella.” Mania is the highly emotional, roller-coaster ride of love. Manic lovers... gen- erally fit our stereotype of “romantic love.” Manic lovers “stand outside get- ting wet, self-destructively waiting for the lightning” [to hit them]. Finally, Agape is a totally selfless, giving, and altruistic love, and quite rare... the agape lover “would give you his or her umbrella so that you won’t get wet.” (Akert, R.M.; Aronson, E.; Wilson, T.D. “Social Psychology, Second Edition. Longman, Inc. Chapter 10, 379. 1997. Used with permission.)
There is another, more open-ended way of describing love. The Apostle Paul called it “the most excellent way.”
“If I speak in human and angelic tongues of men and of angles, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but not love, I am nothing. If I give all I pos- sess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preseveres. “Love never fails. But where there are prophecies they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfec- tion comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” ~1 Corinthians 13 (New International Version) Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride. Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy. When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
When it’s in your best interest, practice obedience. Let others know when they’ve invaded your territory. Take naps and stretch before rising.
Run, romp and play daily. Eat with gusto and enthusiasm. Be loyal. Never pretend to be something you’re not.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it. When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit nearby and nuzzle him or her gently. Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do. When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body. No matter how often you’re scolded, don’t buy into the guilt thing and pout. Run right back and make friends.
Delight in the simple joys of a long walk.
Miam Tan’s Japanimation I am sure that almost everyone gives you free reign on a till in school has to some extent used the paper topic (and for those nternet as a source of information for one who know how English f their school projects. courses can be, choices It’s amazingly comprehensive in can vary very greatly). he amount of information available and From there you can look he speed of accessibility that’s right at at all the options provid- ne’s fingertips. Also it boasts the most up- ed and take your pick. o-date information on almost every imag- Other uses for nable topic. the Internet are e-mail, With the coming of the Web and which is almost like the s ease of accessibility, the Information telephone but in writing Age has come. Modern living cannot exist (so it can be as long or Rocketmail is where I recieve most of my inspirational e-mail sto without the aid of tools such as computers, short, as personal or ries which I forward under the screen name “YFCPraise@rocket nd without information distributors such impersonal as you wish) mail.com” (Source: rocketmail.com) s the Internet. and for free. advantage is that the tickets are consider- Since I often get many greetings, “The Internet is a ably cheaper when bought online than ’s so easy to letters and uplifting e-mails good place for pre - when purchased through an agency. se, I found from friends and relatives in Another safety concern is for your myself making liminary research my e-mail. computer system, as viruses keep on pop he Web my Free homepages and only, not your end- ping up. Viruses aren’t kinks from a “cen rst stop for greeting cards (the cards are tral computer,” they are made up by peo- ny research all, one-stop shop all virtual, of course) are also ple and distributed throughout the system oject I go to. available. Periodical sub- for projects and The Internet, with censorship still hat’s bad. Not scriptions and other sub- in the works, have allowed people to post nly is it lazi- papers.” scriptions can also be readily dishonorable stuff in there too, like ess, but much available over the Internet. pornography and profanity. However, if f the information heralded on the Web The Web to me is good to the you’re only into school research and e- might not be as complete as I would want extent that I get and distribute stuff for my reports to be. Often, each web page focuses nly on a certain angle of information. he information bits I need can’t be ound in any amount of surfing at all. So I found myself hitting the ooks still. The Web gave me 80% of the nformation I needed, but to complete my report, I still need to fill the holes in . I needed to find a map of Manila Bay Geocities (geocities.com) has given me my first homepage. It also once housed the homepage o nd its history dating back to the 1980’s. CFC-Youth for Christ Toronto. (Source: www.geocities.com) I found several maps of the city n the Web, but the history and the map of free, but when it comes to buying, it isn’t mail, and aren’t into chat rooms and “red- Manila Bay itself is nowhere to be found. as safe as I would like it to be. If I have to light districts,” as Jason D. Baker, author o he Internet is a good place for preliminary transmit my credit card numbers and Christian Cyberspace Companion calls them, esearch only, not your end-all, one-stop address over electronically to an organiza- these sites only sit and wait for you to find hop for projects and papers. tion’s source, I run. Just like the telephone, them. However, the Web is the fastest a third party might get overzealous and There are other uses for the lace to search for info. The Web is some- use my information Internet, most of mes the first place periodicals (newspa- for some things other which I am oblivi ers, magazines, journals, the TV and than what I original- ous to since I have adio) disseminate their stories. Some ly purchased or no use for them as ewspapers have tomorrow’s edition out requested for. of yet (like check- efore the print version hits the news- Some securi- Travelocity’s Shop Safe Guarantee seal. ing up on stock tands. ty measures have (Source: travelocity.com) quotes, sports So it is still an excellent place to been enforced and scores, the weath et the most up-to-date info on any current companies claim to be able to keep your er, etc.). So if you (yeah, you!) find any vents topic. infomation safe. Thus airline ticket agen- other uses for the Internet, just gimme a It is also a good place to look for a cies such as Travelocity and PreviewTravel holler and I’ll post it in Fish Pond’s next opic to write about if your English teacher can feasibly be bought on the Web. One issue. To Surf or to Search? To search for a topic on the Web, simply go to any search engine service such as Yahoo!, Lycos, or Webcrawler. I like Webcrawler best because it ranks in percent the closest possible sites it found Some computer terminals will open up with this prominent heading under to the topic you want. www.netscape.com. These fields (“select your favorite service” and the button For example, if you’re looking “search”) will help you start your search. for the “biography of Mark Twain,” you can type in all those words for a stream- lined search. For a more generalized worthy internet sites search, simply type in “Mark Twain.” If you’re but looking for fun stuff like here are some sites i’ve come across that interest me. hope you maybe a music band such as Jars of Clay, will have some use for them someday! f or space consider at ions, i’ v e included only 6 sit es. t r y t hem out and t hen build their homepage will simply be y our ow n bookmar k of sit es! “http://www.jarsofclay.com.” The thing with searching for what you need, is that you have to know what you’re looking for, else you’ll get a All the sites shown here are to be typed starting with thousand sites that you don’t really want “http://www.” and are sites that I’ve used. They are for FREE: and need. Also, you have to be very patient-- computers take time to load. The more graphics a site has, the longer it Mailcity (mailcity.com takes to load. and Yahoo! Ma The best search engine services (mail.yahoo.com) w that worked for me for school purposes also give you free e are Yahoo! and Lycos. Webcrawler mail. Other sites ar worked best when I was looking for real- the Microsoft-owne ly obscure topics (such as “Filipino Clip- Hotmail (hotmail.com Art”). I never go to Excite because friends not shown) and the th aforementione have told me that that’s where most of Rocketmail (rocke the red-light districts are. (Maybe it was mail.com). Yahoo all pure chance, but when I tried it once, Mail allows you to su they’re actually right!) Whatever engine and chat, among othe you use, they’re all good so long as you things. Hotmail allowe get what you’re looking for. you to scan a photo “Surfing” means you’re merely graph and send it ove browsing through the many sites found to a friend on the net. You may be looking up some sites that have something to do with your interest, such as what I did with SouthPark (see LIVING ROOM). You may also be simply moving about on the Net, looking for sites that seem interest- ing. The fun thing about the Internet (besides being able to get tons of stuff for free; most of the graphics for this feature come from the Web for free) is that you can interact with it. But just as in real life, be careful with where you go to-- cyber- space is just as real a world as the tangi- ble one.
Book Source: Baker, Jason D. Christian Cyberspace Companion: A Guide to the Internet and Christian Online Resources, Second Edition. Baker Book House Company. 1997. ^^^Free musical e-cards! www.bluemountainarts.com^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^Free Celtic clip-art! ^^^^^^^^^^ Free (virtual) flowers! (Can also order real ones here) http://www.bc1.com/users/alastair/main.htm VVVVVVV~~~www.virtualflowers.com~~~VVVVVV And there are hundreds of other clip-art sites out ther Two artists personify a generation of Filipino musicians out to advocate justice and equality in a post-Martial Law and First Quarter Storm society. IT WAS THE EARLY 1990’S and the Philippines was songs of musician-activists such as Susan Fernandez Magno xperiencing an invasion of what would later be known as alter- and Grace Nono. ative music. Now that the country was able to express freely its After brief media exposure, Magno and Nono are largel entiments, artist-activists came out and voiced their true senti- categorized as part of Pinoy Hardcore alternative today. New ments against complacency and continued government change. bands such as the Eraserheads, the Side A Band, Rivermaya, During Martial Law’s height and aftermath, activists Orient Pearl and others have started to sing songs that cater ought to make the protest movement more appealing and more to the lives of carefree youth. Hardcore alternative critics nspiring by incorporating the arts into its cause. These songs claim that these new bands have already “forgotten about” the ot only inspired the members but brought about more youth critical days and the hard-won freedom of speech forerunners nto the struggle for freedom of speech. They started singing and have paved the way in their own sweat and blood. writing songs that call to the powers that be to straighten their With the leave of the US Bases, the songs of war have orrupt acts and to the masses to realize their collective powers almost entirely died out. These songs are in danger of becoming o rise up in protest against the government to hasten change. reminders of a past era, ranked among history books and muse But it would not be until 20 years later that First Quarter um objects. However, while Filipinos claim to still be burdened Storm’s spirit of change for justice and equality was heard in the by hardship, their legacy lives on. Susan Fernandez Magno: Habi at Himig (Weaving and Song) SONGS OF PASSION AND RAGE against colonial imperial ism and personal apathy burst forth from this siren’s beautiful, flexible voice. It is clearly evident she uses her gifts to inform listeners and advocate change. Her instruments range from ethnic /tribal to orches trated voicing and instruments. She has performed in various venues in the Philippines, such as the Folk Arts Theatre in Manila and severa college campuses. One of her more uplifting songs from Habi at Himig (Weaving and Song) is Nais Ko:
Nais kong maging isang sulo / Sa mga nag-aabang sa bagong umaga / Maging isang bulong ng sariwang pangarap / Ng mga gabing walang kawalan. (I want to become a torch - light / to those who await the new morning / To become a whisperer of a fresh hope / amongst unending nights.)
Her album Habi at Himig is a reflection of what she thinks is true Filipino life, showing its great diversity. To her, Filipinos every- where long for one thing only: Freedom from Western influence. To her, the Filipinos have lost their true identities has a Malayan race, as sung in her song Kalapating Lansangan (Street Dove). Her sounds range from fiery outbursts to soft, concerned lyrics, and alternate between songs. She ends this album with the song Kamanyang (roughly tran slated to Community), a pledge to commit one’s life to the freedom of the oppressed, to the enlightening of oneself to become a bringer of hope. To her, the future’s betterment depends not on the government to be the catalyst for change but on us, on the millions of able individ uals willing to move that ideal and theory of change to become reality
Palalaganapin namin ang diwa ng Kamanyang / Ipupunla namin binhi nitong pagmamahal / walang pipigiling bayan, kulay o pagkatao/ hangga’t sila ay mga anak ng katarungan at kapayapaan. (We will spread the ideals of Community / we shall plant its seeds of love / There will be no boundaries between countries, colors, or races / as long as they remain children of justice and freedom.) Grace Nono: Tao Music THE FIRST TIME I ENCOUNTERED GRACE Nono was in the University of the Philippines Abelardo Hall, where she and two others were practicing her irst single off Tao Music, “Follow the River.” “Your hythms,” she scolded, “they’re off!” I was waiting for my piano lesson and hearing a strong, ephemeral voice behind the commanding rhythms of guitar and ethnic instruments. She was an ordinary-looking brownskin, almond long straight hair. She sounded no different rom my own piano teacher-- disciplined, but consider- ate, a perfectionist artist just like the rest of the musi- cians at the UP College of Music. Her instruments range from tribal/ethnic to modern guitars and drum programming. On Tao Music, besides singing in Filipino and English, she sings the tribal/ethnic and folk languages of indige- nous people such as the T’boli and the Manobo. Though very Filipino in her lyrics and ideal- sm, her sound to me seems the most Americanized of all the Pinoy new music I’ve heard. This might be because she started playing in the 1970’s and 80’s, when Western music rules the air waves. During a major music jamboree in Manila where close to 100 bands played onstage, journalists ecorded how she seemed “possessed” while singing Salidumay” and “Follow the River.” Among all the per- ormances in that jamboree, hers was among the most memorable. Eric Gamalinda, commentator in her “Tao Music” album, says “At a time when the world is glut- ed with pseudo art, when mass media exalts the mediocre and ignores what is important... one can only feel relief that artists like Grace continue to work, o search, to find their center in a world gone way off rack.” Because she is most strange and different at he time of her media exposure, many audiences eas- ly related to her. They, like her, were also looking for heir own “centers” amongst an Americanized Philippines. She was among the more publicized and cel- ebrated activist singer-songwriters in Manila. Though amous in the capital, Baguio, she once said, was her soul home.” She sympathizes so with her country hat she shows a special kinship with all indigenous Kalayaan. (Rich lands... waters... trees... winds... peoples... wid - peoples all over the Philippines, most evident in the som... consciousness... soul... salidumay wisdom... Use of yrics of Tao Music. resources / History / Advance, country / Freedom) Like Magno, she advocates change and mprovement in her songs, but unlike her, she uses She couples change in people with awareness of poverty and music as her “therapy” and writes songs that are both the irreplaceablity of the country’s ethnic and natural resources. To her, i artwork for herself and message bearers for others. is a very personal battle. She once told a Manila newspaper that she In “Salidumay,” she celebrates the Philippine’s feels strongly for the fight for change for her daughter. She was fighting iches in terms of people and natural resources. It is so that her daughter might have a better future. She goes to Baguio City also the title of a lullaby from northern Luzon’s in northern Luzon to recharge and refocus on the ideals and aspirations Cordillera mountains. behind her work. She remains one of the Philippine’s strongest voices in activism Yamang lupa... tubig... puno... hangin... tao... and the call for change. diwa... malay... kaluluwa... salidumay diway... Kalinangan / Kasaysayan / Sulong, bayan / r his nat ionalism; T he Daw n, now disbanded, known for their striking lyrics and sophisticated instrumentation mimicking the U.S. ano , once disbanded but rumored to be starting off again, a duo known for their fearless criticism of Philippine society, govern- ent, and UP; and Tropical Depression, also known for their unique sound and nationalism. If you are lucky, you can still pur-
and is more creative.” True, among artists in the Philippines. To it’s still a vague concept, but then omething in the likes of the masses having finally discovered a Metallica ew confidence in expressing themselves in the way the see fits and them he true Filipino identity. It is a good thing-- we’ve been looking still held the same prestige as the new music. The E-heads or that ID for decades now, since the Marcos regime. I reckon it quickly became rich with their newfound popularity. as something to do with the newfound freedom of expression Other “underground” or independent bands quickly hread released in recent years. found the break to go mainstream and have their music heard. When alternative music came about, I was a freshman Some of these bands were the nationalists, who sang great n high school. I don’t remember what came first, but I remem- songs on the nation’s plight. The ultranationalists were heard er Nirvana, with their “Smells Like Teen Spirit” sound rollicking but people also appreciated songs of simpler life; clearly music hrough the airwaves as if hungry for something to devour. in the Philippines was but a manifestation of something more Angst was the happening to its people. wave. Everybody had “Rap, believe it or not, was We learned that the nationalistic bands have been at it o be critical about hot... [it was appreciated for decades already. No doubt they were suppressed by the verything in their lives, but] clearly music in the Marcos regime. But the alternative bands in general, gave lse you didn’t belong the airwaves the unique sound it was looking for-- more n Earth where every- Philippines was but a man- Filipino lyrics, indigenous instruments, and role model-like ody else was. isfestation of something earnestness that quickly won them a following. (Of course, My friends and some artists let the fame into their heads, driving away sev- listened to Western heavy metal or rock, Filipino lovesongs or eral fans.) op and dance music, and rap. Rap, believe it or not, was hot. This is where I take my bow. I left the Philippines just Everybody worshiped the likes of Michael V. and Lady D., who when a new creative consciousness challenge was posed to me uipped to a newspaper, “Rap is here to stay.” and my peers at UP Los Banos. A phenomenon called the “New And so it seemed. Grunge rapper Francis Magalona Alternative” must have been the result of those early days. From eleased the powerful “Mga Kababayan Ko” (My Countrymen). my distant vantage view here in Chicago, artists (and those that ilipino hearts and minds rejoiced with this new nationalism. could, meaning those that are educated and have the money) ith that song, Filipino pride birthed amongst the youth in are becoming more creative and fearless in experimenting with Manila. various mediums, including film, photography, and literature. Yet even with Andrew E.’s string of rap/R&B hits, the They are successful in imparting their new discoveries and movement was short-lived. Magalona’s nationalism planted a experiences. It seems as though Filipino artists are finally daring eed in every young Filipino’s heart and mind, and Western- to define what being Filipino is. The E-heads are now known in nfluence rap quietly dwindled. The air needed something raw, Asia and have won Best omething fresh, something distinctly Filipino to break the Video for their single monotonous follow-the-Westerners bandwagon, and follow up “Fruitcake”, awarded by nstead on Mga Kababayan Ko’s intense nationalism. MTV-Asia. Other Filipino Enter the Eraserheads with their first single off musicians continue to per Ultraelectromagneticpop, “Pare Ko.” Suddenly, there was a form and win awards from ilipino band worth the likes of Guns N Roses, Skid Row, and coveted contests around Metallica. Suddenly, everyone wanted to know who in the world the world. Hopefully soon, re these four young men from UP Diliman, and what the heck the other mediums will be re they doing outside of the classroom, and didn’t their parents appreciated as much. orbid those raw, loud sounds, and how the heck did they bal- However vague, the nce school, their band, and their lovelife? Philippines is slowly mov- Suddenly, with the added fuel of new rock from the ing toward that kind of free States, most young people didn’t want to listen to an other kind dom philosophers and f music anymore. Generation Xers, as they were to be known dreams dream about. ater, didn’t want to follow any other types of role models any- Music and the arts are more. Young people everywhere wanted to learn and play gui- paving the way. Soon new , be in a band or at least, know someone who’s in a band. ideals will surface.Change rom somewhere, (I reckon the U.S.) came the term “alterna- will happen. Dreams will ve,” and the term stuck. come true. Identities will Some of my guitar-playing friends didn’t buy into the solidify. ew merchandise. “Alternative music can only have a maximum f four chords per song,” argued one. “Metal music has more ROM THE 1896 REVOLUTION to the first Philippine Republic, the Commonwealth period, the EDSA Revolution, and the Tige ub economy, history marches on. Thankfully, some things never change. Like the classics, things irresistibly Pinoy mark us for ife. They’re the indelible stamp of our identity, the undeniable affinity that binds us like twins. They celebrate the good in us, th est of our culture and the infinite possibilities we are all capable of. Some are so self-explanatory you only need mention them or fellow Pinoys to swoon or drool. Here, from all over this Centennial-crazed country and in no particular order, are a hundred f the best things that make us unmistakably PINOY (Thanks to Roselle J. Velasquez ([email protected]) for this great list!): . Merienda. Wher e else is Speech suf f ix es t hat def ine Pot ev er y t ime w e head home r ect ness kicked in. St ill, nor mal t o eat f iv e t ime a cour t esy , def er ence, f ilial f r om any w her e in t he globe. t heir r ich adv ent ur es peppe ay ? r espect - - a balm t o t he spir - The most w onder f ul par t is our st or y t elling. it in t hese aggr essiv e t imes. t hat , mor e of t en t han not , . Sawsawan. Assor t ed t he cont ent ar e car t ed home 17. Jeepneys. Color f ul, auces t hat guar ant ee f r ee- 8. Pasalubong. Our w ay of t o be dist r ibut ed. f ast , r eckless, a v ehicle of om of choice, enough r oom shar ing t he v icar ious t hr ills post w ar Pinoy ingenuit y , t h r ex per iment at ion and and delight s of a t r ip, and a 13. Pilipino komiks. Not Ever y man’ s communal cadil ax imum t oler ance f or w onder f ul ex cuse t o shop t o ment ion “ Hiw aga, ” lac makes f or a cheap, int er v er se t ast es. Fav or it es: w it hout t he cust omar y guilt . “ Aliw an, ” “ Tagalog est ing r ide. If t he dr iv er ’ s a y o’ t calamansi, suka at 9. Beaches! Wit h 7000+ Classics, ” Liw ay w ay ” and dar edev il (as t hey usually li, pat is. islands, w e hav e miles and “ Bulaklak” magazines. Pulpy ar e), hang on t o y our seat . miles of shor eline piled high publicat ions t hat gav e us . Kuwan, ano. At a loss w it h f ine w hit e sand, lapped Dar na, Facif ica Falay f ay , 18. Dinuguan. Blood st ew r w or ds? Tr y t hese and by w ar m w at er s, and nibbled Lagalag, Kulaf u, Kenkoy , a bloodcur dling idea, unt il ar v el at how Pinoy s under - by ex ot ic t r opical f ish. Fr om Dy esebel, Char act er s of a y ou t r y it w it h put o. Best and ex act ly w hat y ou t he st or my seas of Bat anes t ime bot h innocent and w hen mined w it h j alapeno ant . t o t he emer ald isles of w or ldly . pepper s. Messy but deliciou Palaw an- - ov er her e, lif e is . Pinoy humor and t r uly a beach. 14. Folk songs. They 19. Santacruzan. Mor e rreverence. If y ou’ r e api come unbidden and spr ing, t han j ust a beaut y cont est , nd y ou know it , cr ack a 10. Bagoong. Dar kly my s- f ull blow n, like a second lan- t his one has r eligious ov er - ke. Not hing per sonal, r eal- t er ious, t his smelly f ish or guage, at t he slight est nudge t ones, a t ableau of St . . shr imp past e t y pif ies t he f r om t he t oo- loud st er eo of a Helena’ s and Const ant ine’ s under ly ing t heme of most passing j eepney or t r icy cle. sear ch f or t he Cr oss t he . T i ngi . Thank goodness et hnic f oods: disgust ingly Seamlessly blends piet y , r small ent r epr eneur s. unhy genic, unbear ably st inky 15. Fiesta. Eat, dr ink and pageant r y and r it ual. Plus, her e else can w e buy ciga- and simply ir r esist ible. be mer r y , f or t omor r ow is it ’ s t he per f ect ex cuse t o et t es, soap, condiment s and j ust anot her day , shr ugs t he show of f t he pr et t iest f e’ s essent ials in small 11. Bayanihan. Yes, t he poor man, w ho, once a y ear , ladies- - and t he most beaut f or dable amount s? int er nat ionally - r enow ned honor s a pat r on saint w it h f ul gow ns. dance company , but also t his t his sumpt uous, no- hold- . Spirituality. Even habit of pit ching in is st ill bar r ed spr ead. It ’ s a Pinoy 20. Balut. Unhat ched ef or e t he Spaniar ds came, common in small communi- celebr at ion at it s pious and duck’ s embr y o, anot her hnic t r ibes had t heir ow n t ies. J ust hav e t hat cold beer r iot ous best . unspeakable et hnic f ood t o nit os, bat halas and assor t ed and some pulut an r eady f or out sider s, but oh, t o indulge eit ies, point ing t o a st r ong t he t r oops. 16. Aswang, mananang- in guilt y pleasur es! Spr inkle elat ionship w it h t he gal, kapre. The w hole some salt and suck out t hat r eat or , w ho or w hat ev er it 12. The Balikbayan box. under w or lds of Filipino low er soup, w it h gust o. ay be. Anot her w ay of shar ing my t hology r ecalls our lif e’ s bount y , no mat t er if it uniquely bizzar e childhood, 21. Pakidala. A per sonal- . Po, opo, mano po. seems like w e’ r e f leeing Pol t hat is, bef or e polit ical cor - ized door - t o- door r emit t anc
“I, that am not shap’d for sportive tricks... I, that am rudely stamp’d, and want love’s majesty... Cheated of feature by dissembling nature, Deform’d, unfinish’d, sent before my time... Scarce made up, Have no delight to pass away the time, Unless to see my shadow in the sun And descant upon my deformity. ... Therefore, since I cannot prove a lover ... I am determined to prove a villain And hate the idle pleasures of these days.” (I.i.14, 16, 19-31) Like the rest of us, we always see a reason for every deformity we have, and sometimes even suc- cumb to becoming bitter with it, since it seems as though nothing can be done with it. This is Richard’s tragic flaw. His humanity is further evident in Act V, Scene III, when he awakes from a nightmare of the ghosts he has killed. “Alas! I rather hate myself For hateful deeds committed by myself. ... Fool, do not flatter: My conscience hath a thousand several tongues, And every tongue brings in a several tale, And every tale condemns me for a villain. Perjury, perjury, in the highest degree; Muther, stern murther, in the direst degree; All several sins, all us’d in each degree; Throng to the bar, crying all, “Guilty! guilty!” I shall despair; there is no creature loves me, And if I die, no soul will pity me. And wherefore should they, since that I myself Find in myself no pity to myself?” (V.iii.189-203) I think this is the climax of the story. I think Richard is appealing because despite his evil nature, he actually hates playing that role, because he still values friendship, loyalty, love. “Will our friends prov all true?... Ratcliffe, I fear, I fear!” (V.iii.213, 215) Richard’s humanity further convinces me that the play is not only a history but also a traged Not only does Richard actually die, but the good nature in him didn’t have the chance to develop an come to surface. If he had chosen to be good, then England’s throne wouldn’t be so assailed. Richard was so attractive and repulsive at the same time was while he was deformed, he made up for it by having a brilliant mind and eloquent, persuasive words. Like Iago in Othello, he knew who to strike next so that he could gain access to the crown, how to appease his mother (or rather, escape her scathing words), how to convince Lade Anne to marry him. Richard was charismatic enough to keep his friends by him. This wouldn’t last, for in the end with all his deceptions known, all his hard work failed when Queen Elizabeth sides with Richmond and gives away her daughter Elizabeth to be married with him. By this time Lady Anne is dead and Richard’s hope for an heir is thwarted. Yet even so, he refuses to surrender to Richmond and died fighting. This sense of honor makes one consider him to be no ordinary tyrant and therefore worthy of the utmost respect.
(Note: Richard III is about a nobleman who killed his way to the throne. As mentioned, the essay is about his humanity and what might have been has he chosen goodness. This essay was part of my final paper on my Shakespeare literature class. PLEASE DON’T COPY IT! I beg of you. You’ll be missing out on some pretty cool stuff about the Bard’s plays, and you won’t learn how to understand him on your own. This essay is but an example, and something I thought was worthy and relevant enough to share. Don’t be intimidated by it-- Shakespeare is easy, you just have to keep your mind open and your imagination let run loose. Paying attention in class, reading the plays, and seeing the versions on video also helps. Hamlet, Kenneth Branaugh’s newest, is a good start.) Marami, sa mga oras na ito, ang sumasagabal sa pagkatao ng mga nais magtanda
Ang mga nanggugulo’y Quietly rolling on top of the glaze parami nang parami like a waterskitter who makes no ripples, ang mga may galit sa it envelopes a train rolling in the distance, kung ano’y di malaman- a clump of trees, sila’y di mapigilan a swallow in the air, blanketing a fisherman, Maaari ba na dividing the earth and water into three. ang mga bukas ay The sun strokes the tops of the trees behind you, saglit na bumagal, a you lengthen the shades somewhat, mangyari na or am I dreaming: You’re coming towards me, ito’y bumagal, ang towards me, disappearing, mga nanggugulo’y matanggal? showing me the pathway home. O dili kaya’y ang sigla ng buhay ang sigla ng panahon na (C) Yvonne Traya Hortillo January 29, 1997 kinananabikan ay manatili lamang? Huwag mawala ang sigla ng panahon para sa natatahimik lamang
Sa bukas na mawawala ang saya ng buhay, ang kung anong gulong Nothing to ponder about, sumapit sa atin almost faded. ay lilipas din, sa sultry dry. pagaakalang bubuti, o When before the spotlights were on you, sa pagtatakang now you’re all alone. baki But you have no regrets, ang buahy ay may gali and no where to turn to. sa kung sino’ng This is your signal, anino’y this is your starting point di malaman to wherever it is you want to go marahil, madalas this time. na ang buhay at landas ay isang magulong bukas, na di maunawaan (C) Yvonne Traya Hortillo di matandaan First Script: January 28, 1997 madaling kaligtaan Final Script: June 26, 1998 at magulong pag-isipan (C) Yvonne Traya Hortillo Unang lagda: Oktubre 17, 1994 Pangulihang lagda: Hunyo 25, 1998 nless some unfortunate circumstance happens to either one of us, I keep all of my friends. No ke. Most of my friends have been with me for as long as ten years. I am everlastingly grateful o those individuals. I pray we have more years of friendship to come. Here are more friends I’d ke to thank, who are no less than those posted in the previous page. (I’m sure to have forgot- en a handful, but thank you anyway!!):
he Traya Clan he Hortillo Clan eia Inocencio ang Imbang P Diliman-- EVERYTHING about t hat place. Even the stray animals, stalkers, and homeless peo- e. he groups and individuals I met in UP Los Banos, both as acquaintances and lasting friends: UPLB Development Communication Block 10 Batch 1994 (CONGRATULATIONS sa mga agong graduwyet!!! :-) WRITE ME!!!! Buhay pa ba yung logbook???) Kim Chat terjee, Maridol Yambot The Indian girl I sat next to at DevComm 10 (hehehe, sorry about that! I’ve become really orgetful with names....) The members of UPLB Leadership Training Seminar-Freshman Block Assembly (LTS-FBA) at ch 1994 Kuya V Dy Kuya Bill St a. Clara Kuya Jonas Carandang Diego Kuya Vince CE My LB Roommates (Donna and Rochelle) Olive Ranido (you go, Gabriela girl! :-)) Jem Mara and Marah :-) UPLB Perspect ive Editors, Reporters, Photographers, Cartoonists, and Apprentices Batch 994 UPLB Umalohokan UPLB Six Sigma UPLB DevComm Society UPLB New Student Orient at ion Program-Volunteer Corps (NSOP-VC-- o, nat atandaan ko pa )) UPLB Kabalikat At e Ellen Richie and UPLB Buklod (nyehh... why not?) Pia Masakayan LL THE MEMBERS OF CFC-YOUTH FOR CHRIST AND THE COUPLES FOR CHRIST FAMI Y I’V E MET ALL OV ER THE WORLD PIS Batch 1994 and beyond GALS ‘94 C (c?) Roselle J. Velasquez Kahimawari 1994 Lyen, Noel, Gio, Messenger (UPIS Batch 1992) Eugene, Ivy, and everyone at UPIS Batch 1993 Tony Castle
They tell the story about an elderly Irish lade who was so upset because she had lost her sense of the presence of God. She told this problem to her lady friend who was visiting one day. The visitor advised, ÒPray to God, Brigid, ask Himto touch you, and He will put His hand on you.Ó
Old Brigid began to pray right then there when suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulder. She cried out in joy, ÒHe has touched me!Ó Then she added, ÒBut, do you know, it felt just like your hand.Ó
Her friend said, ÒSure, it was my hand. What did you think God would do? Did you think HeÕd stick a long arm out of heaven to touch you? He just took the hand which was nearest and He used that.Ó
Opps, wrong font! :-)
They tell the story about an elderly Irish lady who was so upset because she had lost her sense of the presence of God. She told this problem to her lady friend who was visiting one day. The visitor advised, “Pray to God, Brigid, ask Him to touch you, and He will put His hand on you.”
Old Brigid began to pray right then there when suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulder. She cried out in joy, “He has touched me!” Then she added, “But, do you know, it felt just like your hand.”
Her friend said, “Sure, it was my hand. What did you think God would do? Did you think He’d stick a long arm out of heaven to touch you? He just took the hand which was nearest and He used that.” THERE WAS ONCE A Dad the refrigerator. says, “What are you going who had a three-year-old to do to me?” son named Brandon. One Pulling violently on the day, Brandon sees his dad refrigerator door, Brandon His dad only smiles. He eating chocolate chip cook- flings it wide open and it doesn’t see a kid that just ies in the living room and stays open, of course. destroyed his house. says to himself, “Daddy Brandon puts the glass on Instead he sees a beautiful loves chocolate chip cook- the floor-- out of harm’s way little boy whom he loves ies with milk. So I’m going supposedly-- and grabs, not very much. It doesn’t matter to give Daddy a glass of the little half gallon of milk, what he’s done. Brandon’s milk.” but the big gallon container dad stretches his arms out that is full of milk. He rips to hold his little boy tight With that thought “Brandon reaches for a glass, acci- and says, Brandon goes into the “This is my dining room and drags dentally knocking two others off the son!” a chair from the dining shelf. Crash! Tinkle, tinkle!.... room into the kitchen, Brandon’s dad is watching all this, When we talk leaving a trail of wondering if he should step in and about God as scratch marks on the our Father, floor. Brandon climbs up on open the top, pours it in the the find of father we’re talk the chair and hitches him- vicinity of the glass, and ing about is Brandon’s self onto the counter to pull even managers to get some father. God is a father who at the cabinet door. Wham! milk on the glass. The rest loves us unconditionally, It smashes against the adja- goes all over the floor. even though we make a cent cabinet door, leaving a real mess of things. Jesus gash where the handle hit Finally done, Brandon puts told a similar story about it. Brandon reaches for a the milk carton on the floor another son who messed glass, accidentally knocking and picks up the glass up. We call the story “The two others off the shelf. yelling, “Daddy, I got some- Prodigal Son.” It also could Crash! Tinkle, tinkle! But thing for you!” He runs into be called “The Parable of Brandon doesn’t care. He’s the living room, trips, and the Loving Father” because thinking, “I’m going to get spills milk all over the place- just like Brandon’s dad, the Daddy some milk!” - the floor, the sofa, his dad. father in the story threw his Meanwhile, Brandon’s dad Brandon stands up and arms around his son and is watching all this, wonder- looks around. He sees the said, “This is my son!” ing if he should step in and broken glass, milk every- save the rest of his kitchen. where, cabinets open, his Luke 15:11-32 He decides, for the moment dad with milk from his eye- to watch a little more as brows to his toes, and starts ~~ Author Unknown Brandon scrambles off the to cry. Through his tears, he Thanks to Roselle J. chair, dodging the pieces of looks up at his dad with that Velasquez ([email protected]) broken glass, and heads for pained expression that for this story!
you have but to ask. E-mail these people and they will give you their devot ionals for FREE! Tito Sonny Aguiling
A parish priest in a town named Austerity climbed way up into the church’s steeple to be nearer to the Lord. He wanted to hand down God’s Word to his parishioners, like Moses of old. Then one day he thought he really heard God say something. So he cried aloud from the steeple, “Where are You, Lord? I can’t seem to hear Your voice clearly.” And the Lord replied, “I’m down here among my people. Where are you?”
~~ Author Unknown Thanks to Tito Nic Ledesma (CFC-Philippines) for this story! BUT PEOPLE MIGHT THINK SO what work personnel we can possibly can. with all my letters on nationalism. I Be the best we can be in whatever field only just really enjoy the stuff we choose to be in. If not for Asian Filipino musicians remind me of: good Pride, then maybe for our family, or i sound, good food, good company. Since all else fails, for ourselves at least. first hearing “Pare Ko,” my musical tastes have been added to. Pinoy alter- THE CONTENTS OF THIS FIRST issue native is only one of many musical might puzzle many people, but I’ve genres I like. avoided trying to explain myself. This GIMMIK (to use a famous Pinoy slang) I AM PROUD OF WHAT Pinoy alterna- won’t last for a long time. I DO have tive bands such as the Eraserheads other things to do. But I did have a lot have accomplished in recent years. of fun constructing this first issue, Besides winning many awards in the sharing what I know and finding out Asian circuit, the E-heads and other more about myself and the world bands have managed to win many around me. Sounds cheesy, but that’s Filipino-American listeners here in what you get if you try this. :-) At a the States, especially in the West certain point, we realize that the Coast. To me, Filipino music is now on world isn’t our small pond anymore. a par with other Asian bands. Pinoy alternative still has a long way to go, THE NEXT ISSUE WILL COME out in tw but it’s getting closer to finding its parts, and so will be considerably unique niche in the music world. shorter. Part 2A will focus on my experiences while still in the THE PINOY ALTERNATIVE PAGES ARE Philippines. Part 2B will focus on my my tribute to the Centennial celebra- experiences with CFC-Youth for tions bandwagon. And it ain’t over yet. Christ’s first-ever Great Adventure Tour, a mission trip to the I HAVEN’T ANY ARTICLES recording Philippines. the Centennial celebrations here in Chicago. I found that I wasn’t really SO WITH THIS I TAKE MY LEAVE. I interested in “Filipino-American would really love to hear from you. issues” or the “Asian American expe- Tell me what other stories or features rience” at the present time. Pure you’d like for me to cover. You’re also Filipino culture, complete with tribes welcome to submit stuff for publica- and abaca/hemp clothing and jewelry tion. I can’t pay, though, sorry. :-) and weaponry still interest me more Your reward will be publication. You than any urban myths on immigration can show it to all your friends, like and change. However, I do agree with me! :-) So! Hope to hear from you all theorists that claim that the Asian soon! Till next, take care always and American experience ain’t over chang- God bless! ing yet. I also agree with a young Asian college politician who said that Yvonne Traya Hortillo Asian Pride will best be served by [email protected] being the best writers, painters, nov- 4147 N. Bernard Ave. elists, musicians, artists, medical Chicago, IL 60618-2205 personnel, computer geniuses and