FIRst InK 

OFFICIAL UNIVERSITY STUDENT MAGAZINE OF THE

Three-dimensional
WEST VISAYAS STATE UNIVERSITY Akala mo tulong, yun pala kampanya.
LA PAZ, ILOILO CITY
Akala mo ambon, yun pala talsik ng laway.
Akala mo masarap, yun pala mahirap.
EDITORIAL BOARD
A.Y. 2009-2010 Akala mo totoo, yun pala reality show.
Erika C. Dimaguila The “akala mo...yun pala...” tagline, which has been popularized by a
Daryl Z. Lasafin
Editors in Chief
presidential candidate for his campaign, is often times sardonically used to
show a contrast between the what should’ve been and the what actually was.
Christopher M. Millora Here we draw the same comparison for reality shows being mostly well-
Managing Editor orchestrated depictions of what reality should be.
Jan Michael V. Arbolado
Mitz S. Serofia
Scripts are inevitable. In these shows, the cast are not mere subjects of
Associate Editors the camera, undergoing the normalcy of life, but are pseudo actors hiding
behind the mask of semi-pretention. The camera becomes so desperate to
Eddione S. Apusaga capture only the intriguing and the unconventional, that there is a need to
News and Special Reports Editor create them when they do not exist.
Maria Reylan M. Garcia
Features Editor Maybe this growth spurt of reality shows in the past decade is the
antidote of the gossiper, an excuse to satiate the craving for intrusion of
Rommel B. Paborada people’s supposedly private lives. But the whole notion of re-creating reality
Sports Editor loses the virginal essence of spontaneity and truthful art. This new concept
Ma. Ronida P. Veedor
of virtual reality, edited and re-touched, breaks a stereotype yet creates two
Literary Editor more.

Marianne Lin D. Pillado In REAL life though, there are no scripts, there are no cameras, and
Creative Director there are no lighting effects – just the actors. You cannot pause, rewind, and
Ayin Dream D. Aplasca
edit. The roll of film, once used, can never be re-played again.
Circulation and Exchange Manager
It is when we choose to take a second look, to see that what was two-
Churchille B. Montealto dimensional is actually three, to delve into misconception and strip to the
Sherles S. Sorianosos naked, unadulterated truth, that we are liberated from hypocrisy.
Senior Editorial Assistants

Raimer Gel G. Caspillo There’s more to reality shows. But there’s even more to real life. And
Mary Jade P. Gabanes we find that out in this issue.
Cyra P. Nerpiol
Katrina Mae O. Sencil Dimensions. Depth. Divulged.
Shiela Mae H. Toreno
Editorial Assistants
Kaya kaibigan, kung akala mo ganoon... akala mo lang iyon.
Prof. Bonna S. Palma
Publication Adviser
Prof. Ricky G. Abaleña III
Chair, University Publications Committee
Dr. Merna R. Lopez
Dean of Students, Office of Student Affairs Erika C. Dimaguila
Dr. Pablo E. Subong, Jr.
University President
Cover Photos: Erika C. Dimaguila

Letters/comments/suggestions/contributions are welcome

in the Forum-Dimensions. Contributions must be sent to
THE FORUM-DIMENSIONS Office, Rm. 108, Quezon Hall,
West Visayas State University, La Paz, Iloilo City.
E-mail: forumdimensions.wvsu@gmail.com
Tel. No. : (033) 320-0870 loc 162

JUNE - OCTOBER 2009|dimensions 1

  sOCIEty

Photo credit: www.google.com

n seek By Eddione S. Apusaga

life. Whichever
metaphor he compelled
to believe, he was
absolutely certain, the water
had succeeded to free him from that
impending darkness.
A quarter past twelve in the midnight,
25th of December on the calendar. It seemed bleak
for him. The world around him is full of ceaseless rapture, but

h
e gasped for more air—in
little intervals. But the nauseating
aroma of the coffee in front
suffocated him. Heaved for another
time, and realized that air wasn’t enough
to make him exist and live. His chest
tightened gripping his consciousness.
JC (not his real name) stood from his working table. Remained
standing for a while and noticed everything around him in slow motion, in
silhouettes, in shades of black and gray. He padded with sheer faith and a
facile reason to persist. Gregarious smiles of his co-workers greeted him.
He knew there was a celebration; however, he was oblivious of them for to
reach the lavatory was his goal at that moment. His sight now cloaked with
a sudden gush of pitch darkness—the overpowering presence of what light
can’t express, but it hadn’t permeated him yet. He rinsed his face and felt
the water seep through his senses as a cold spring eternally pours out the
rainforest with elation or the material effects of fire or how the salt nourishes
inside him, he is inch by inch dying.
“Merry Christmas,” he whispered his humble greetings to his mom
and dad in the idle air. It carries them to heaven, perhaps. Surely, it will, he
consoled himself.
Since both of his parents died, JC’s days turned short and life inclined
to become claustrophobic. The once tranquil security that lulled him to
sleep vanished and was replaced by a tortuous survival game in which he
who outwits, outplays, and outlasts wins it. The weak is at the mercy of
the powerful. The weak is left behind in the natural course of things, and
perishes by then.
The Scorching Sanhedrin’s Fire
“The plunging electrolyte levels were precipitated by his condition.
Renal failure is usually life-threatening and potentially fatal unless we
consider hemodialysis,” JC heard the gray-haired physician explained to
his mother regarding his dad’s health. She ruefully muttered a few lines
and the conversation ended with desolate faces, gnawing misery and
stark despair.
The terms, so foreign to his ten-year-old mind, were barely
understood. All he knew was that his father had gravely edematous legs
which would require him to undergo a slew of laboratory tests and take
sundry medications. Yet, not more than a year after, he succumbed to those

2 dimensions|JUNE - OCTOBER 2009


ing the light
afflictions, snatched from them like a juggler’s ball.
It was a catastrophic collapse as their world corrupted to dust.
However, the flame of life must keep burning as brilliant as ever.
Opportunities surged. The lingerie company where his mother was
employed as an account executive provided them aid and incentives and
hope.
Just when they thought that this blessing will not falter, the full,
pulpy feeling of beatitude altered flat. The company closed, their hopes
tracked the same wayward course.
The Strategies
“Bunsoy, indi ka na lang bi anay mag-eskwela college. Daw wala
na gid kita pangabuhi-an. Daw kabudlay na gid.” Those words’ first
acquaintance with him had the impression that nothing could destroy
the imminence of its meaning. It was firmly stamped and riveted on
JC’s brain.
It was long before he responded to what had appeared to him a
painful stimulus. Each word was cautious, each garbed with a hopeful
prospect of the future. He declined the proposal.
“Kung Sabado kag Domingo, naga ubra kami sa kilala namon sa
merkado. Ako, si Ate, kag si Mama. Kis-a makasweldo kami 100, kung
swertehon, 150. Sakto lang makabalik kami ni Ate sa city para may
pang-allowance,” JC recalled in a manner that was plain as the midday
sun’s radiance glinted on his misty eyes.
Another Test Under the Sanhedrin
JC persevered with unnecessary delay imbibing a portion of
either what we call ethereal fire or particles of divine air which
nothing can extinguish. But those were mere deceptions concealing
a more focal prelude that would dissipate this illusion.
“Si Mama daw halos nagniwang sang tatlo ka beses. Kag
ga-jaundice ang iya mga mata. Bal-an namon may ara gid siya
ginabatyag, wala ya lang ginahambal. Gindala siya sa doctor,
kag didto na confirm nga may ara siya toxic goiter, tubig sa iya
baga, kag enlargement sang heart,” he sighed, soft enough for
his whining heart could hear—the saddest sound his heart ever
produced. “Kag pareho kay Papa, wala man siya nagdugay.”
Tha Alliances, Reconstructing Strategies, Gaining
Immunity
The winding road before JC seemed as long as the journey of life,
and as full of events. His friends shared his sentiments all throughout
those times he deemed the dawn would be overcast by the plethora
of his tears, and the night of despotism would prolong a total eclipse
which would set him groping in solitude and scorn.
They sheltered him in their apartment without pay and he
reposed on them with a sort of a voluptuous indolence in full faith and
boundless confidence until he regained his will to carry on.
Just as a sudden solution to a problem, JC received a phone call
one balmy morning from the call center he previously worked. The
following week, he began a job with a higher salary—a long cycle that
trapped him into an asylum where rest is alien, a never new dimension
wherein his mind contrives for a long time to reject it with disdain; yet
in the end, he opted to bathe it with an element of love like a fine ether.
[sURvIvOR] 
From nine in the evening until six the next day, he assiduously
worked. After that, he would attend his classes, forcing his frail eyes
to maintain attention to what the teacher was discussing. It was by that
time he found perennial nobleness and sacredness to labor—a world
which was not ought to be for his age while his fellows would indulge
in frolicsome soirees and college mischief. He didn’t have the choice
but to make ends meet—enable his older sister to graduate, and provide
himself an allowance fair enough for his hardships.
His lifelong exposure to that sort of agony put his thresholds
for pain and exhaustion beyond reach; energy, determination and
hope were what he channels his being from. It is the fuel that feeds
the sacred lamp and spreads a golden cloud above his head. The cup
of life sometimes threatens to drain, but as he seizes the last quaff, it
overflows the more filling his soul with profound suffusion growing
more potent and potent in his continual advance.
JC is now in third year of his college degree as a mentor here
in West Visayas State University. He fathoms fully well that he finds
liberty in entrapment in that futile situation. He is nearing liberty
at last, without being conscious of the time between his breaths—
contemplating it with such intense yearning.
Chaotic Verdict:
Who Outwits, Outplays, & Outlasts?
Survival game. A maze with enthralling of twists and turns, a
race to the fire, the exultation, and the light. Be it taking a quiz, or
passing a job interview, or simply feeling life in varying degrees.
We see no end to the difficulties we have to encounter; perfection is
a slow attainment, and we must have time to accomplish it.
Vast prospects lie before us. We set no limits to our
inclinations nor do we restrict the opportunities to gratify them. And
it seems that we can go on forever—to be and to do all, and then in
a moment, be nothing.
We know we might tumble headlong into the street
bruised, skinned, crushed to atoms and suffer the
mockery of the multitude. That possibility
becomes an intrinsic motivation to bring the
stars near, to watch the return of the seasons,
of spring and autumn. To feel heat and cold,
pleasure and pain, right and wrong, truth
and falsehood, to worship fame and
dream of immortality or even just
to breathe peacefully.
We brace for that day that
we reach the summit, the passion,
and the moment. To fly above this
Photo credit: www.google.com
obscure world of anguish with
defiant, emboldened desire to
survive the darkness. Adore that
moment as the faith healer is
adored by the blind.
We want the extreme and feel no
disposition to flag. We reach for it in faith.
Everlasting faith.
JUNE - OCTOBER 2009|dimensions 3
  PROFILE
By Mary Jade P. Gabanes
A
t this time and age, depression is
way overrated. Who would have
thought that slashing wrists would
become a fad? Today we witness
the rise of “emos” (a slang term for the
highly-emotional individual). While most
people accept problems as a normal part
of life—something as frequent as the rain,
there are some who feel and act as if the
world was going to collapse. How do we
cope? Anti-depressants don’t seem to work.
Not that I’ve taken any. And the last time
I checked, LSD is illegal. How about a
doze of laughter? Perfect.
Did you ever experience getting
so mad at your little brother for
“accidentally” losing your homework
and just when you were about to
eat him whole, he farts out of fear?
(Yeah, I know. It’s disgusting.)
Believe me, if this happens to you,
there’s a bigger chance you’d die
of a heart attack from too much
laughter.
So, what if humor doesn’t come
out naturally? Causing an outburst of
laughter isn’t really as easy as chicken
afterall. Often, people would rather
laugh at you than with you. It’s a sad
fact we humans tend to be guilty of.
This reminds me of the Last
Comic Standing. This American reality
TV talent show was aired from 2003
up to last year and was produced by the
National Broadcasting Company, the
same company that first brought us the
game show Deal or No Deal, the famous
The Tonight Show in America and
NOT SO
of course, America’s Got Talent
which will soon be given a Pinoy
twist. The show’s objective is to
select a lucky comedian from a
FUNNY
group of hopefuls then make him
or her famous. Here, real people
–comedians–compete against
each other to lower blood pressure,
reduce stress hormones, improve
circulation and increase the body’s
natural pain killers, endorphins
AFTER ALL
– all of which are effects of a good
laugh. Is there anything a comic
can’t do?
Comedians are believed
to be people free from stress.
And of course, since laughter is
contagious, a comedian’s spray
4 dimensions|JUNE - OCTOBER 2009
[Last COMIC standIng]
of humor works like a
“stress-be-gone” liniment.
They take everything
lightly. Problems are but
an abstract idea. But what
most people do not know
is that behind every cheerful
façade is a heart already
numbed by pain.
For 26 year-old Chino, being
a stand-up comedian is as demanding
as any other profession. In fact, he says
it even takes extra effort to do the job. Apart
from what a lot of us think, Chino is actually
the total opposite of “stress-free”. “By
day, I work as a hairdresser in a
salon. My shift at the comedy
bar (The Backroom) begins on
Wednesdays to Fridays from
8pm to 2 in the morning,” he
claims.
Whoa! Talk about
the extent people would go
to just to earn a living. “I
never got to finish college,
so I couldn’t get a higher-
paying job,” answers Chino. “It
was hard to stay in school when I
had absolutely nothing: no books, no
supplies, no money. If you ask what
happened, well, my father got addicted
to drugs back then. My mom worked
away from us and so, I didn’t receive
much guidance and financial support. I
even became suicidal once.”
A suicidal comedian. Ironic? Oh,
the paradox of life – tickling us to the
core! If in the reality show the Last Comic
Standing, the contenders were placed in
an open stage, it isn’t any much different
Photo credit: *Chino
from Chino’s experiences. By “open” we
mean “Hit me with your soda can!” open.
Aside from rude feedback from drunkards
and harsh criticisms from an ungrateful
audience, he and his colleagues also
get their fair share of flying utensils or
equipment, perhaps. If other performers
would receive baskets of flowers, fan
letters and a billion friend requests on
Facebook, these comedians, on the other
hand, get this.
“There was a time when a guy got
offended with a joke we cracked so he
threw the microphone. It so happened
that the mic hit me,” recalls Chino.
Good thing microphones are blunt.
What if the guy had a spear instead? It
may be hard to figure out that inspite
of the “dangers” and strain of being a
comedian, they still choose to be one.
Aside from the money they get, what
else could be the reason?
“I didn’t actually choose to be a
comedian. It just so happened that the
opportunity came to me at a time when
I really needed it. I also went through an
audition since the Backroom isn’t just a
regular comedy bar. There’s also an open
mic videoke. My greatest passion is singing
and that alone can keep me going.”
And with that, my question was
answered. Obviously, for Chino, being
a comedian is more than just a source of
income. He treats it as his outlet for self-
expression and fulfillment.
And now we see that in the world of
comedy, humor is the primary weapon. If
you don’t have it, you might as well die.
What’s life without humor? Sad. Bland.
Boring to the 7th power. That’s what it is.
But then, let’s remember:
No crying. No cursing. And above
all, no flying utensils, please.
[aMERICan IdOL]
By Rommel B. Paborada “We
I can see it in the stars across the sky...
It was a rainy evening. The frosty
wind blew fervently from outside the
glass window and it touched my timid
soul, making me feel inconsolable. I
was in profound melancholy that I
myself could not elucidate. Every time
it drizzled, I tend to reminisce the things
of my past, especially about frustrations
on childhood dreams—dreams which
are associated with being famous in an
industry with cameras and spotlights. And
it has always been a coping mechanism to
divert my attention from this emotion, so
I grabbed a bunch of popcorn, slumped
my frail body in the couch and turned
the T.V. on. I tuned in to my favorite, the
American Idol—the hottest and trendiest
talent search-reality show in America.
Being a lover of music, I watched
every performance raptly. I absorbed
every critique of the jury, especially
those of Simon. “It takes bravery to
become extremely famous”, he said
to one of the finalists. “You must be
brave enough to show the real you,” he
added.
Dreamt a thousand dreams before,
now I finally realized...
The American Idol found its way
to the Philippine shores, in our very
own version of it, the Pinoy Idol. Sue
Ellen Cubing, former Ilongga finalist of
the show, shares her story of the Pinoy
Idol experience.
The process she went through
to be a finalist was no joke. From the
first audition until she had to perform
always think that being on the limelight guarantees
happiness, but we also fail to remember that millions of keen
critical eyes are focused on these people we ironically envy.
on stage, patience and hope were her
bludgeon and acceptance of the criticisms
was her shield. Getting there also meant
sacrifice, believing that being one of
the finalists of Pinoy Idol is a “once in a
lifetime experience”, so she chose to stop
schooling for a while. She endured oodles
of exhausting auditions and tattering
voice lessons until she had her first
performance as a Pinoy Idol finalist.
You see I’ve waited all my life for this
moment to arrive...
“It felt great being a finalist of the
Pinoy Idol, performing on stage with the
spotlight on you and fans cheering loudly
for you, but the pacifying sensation was
fleeting. The fun vanishes and pressure
takes over, plus you always have to
be liked by the people watching you
even if it means sacrificing your own
personality,” said Sue.
We always think that being on the
limelight guarantees happiness, but we
also fail to remember that millions of keen
critical eyes are focused on these people
we ironically envy. The famous have to act
with perfection at the expense of their true
identities.
There are those who bestow a good
deal of their sweat in exchange for their
private lives and yet go on with the
nuisances of fame, while others prefer
going back to their simple lives, realizing
that serenity is more pleasurable without
the cameras and the neon lights. Sue is one
of them. She loves music and performing,
JUNE - OCTOBER 2009|dimensions
PROFILE
Photo credit: Sue Ellen B. Cubing
“
but if that would become the grounds of
invading her private life she would rather
share her melody only with her loved ones.
“I realized that there are far better
careers than being a star. Like being
a fashion designer or a make up artist
are also what I’ve always dreamt of.
They just work behind the limelight,
so they get a chance to keep hush-hush
and maintain a quiet living,” she held.
“You always have to look beautiful and
maintain a smile on your face though you
carry with you big problems.” she added.
The reality show American Idol is
a mini picture of the harsh reality. The
one who can generate the best music,
who can meet the people’s standards,
who can surpass all the tests, and would
not attempt for a breakaway from life
with no boundaries from the paparazzi,
will be hailed the ultimate Idol.
And finally, I believe.
It was a rainy evening. The frosty
wind blew fervently from outside the
glass window and it touched my timid
soul, making me feel inconsolable. I was
in profound melancholy that I myself
could not elucidate. Everytime it drizzled,
I tend to think of my dreams—dreams
which are now associated with having
a serene and diplomatic life. No more
cameras. No more spotlight. Only
soothing music—music which fills
my senses and puts me into a world of
slumber every time I feel poignant, also
caused by the heavy rain outside.
5
  PROFILE
By Maria Reylan M. Garcia
and Christopher M. Millora
Housemates.
They were caught off guard and the house
fell silent.
Housemates.
The familiar voice resounded the second
time and the once muddled mob froze into
a stiffening fire squad. They knew the voice
demanded attention and time needs to stand still,
and so, it definitely did.
It was his house and he was in control, it
was his game and his rules are law. Challenging
the endurance of personality and values of the
transient boarders of his house, Big Brother
fondly called Kuya became a household name
and a Philippine Television icon overnight.
Kuya leaves his doors widely open to a number
of Filipinos, from the impeccably beautiful
to those who shine from the inside; from the
unbelievably high-tempered to the cool, calm
and collected; from the wise to the kings and
queens of vice; Pinoy Big Brother proves that
the brown race was brewed from the broth of
human ingenuity.
Mga boarder!
They were caught off guard and the house
fell apart.
Isa pa! Mga boarder!
The very familiar voice sounded like a
threat, threat that the Armageddon was near.
The hearts start to beat faster by the second.
They knew something was up, and it was big
time.
Kapira ku run guid ginhambal kaninyo
nga hindi kamo mamalantsa rigya. Kabalik-
awot guid kaninyo, abi pag-uruli na lang
kamu sa mga ginikanan ninyo.
It was her house and definitely she
was in control. It was her game and
her rules were second to the Ten
Commandments. Nay Pangging is
a landlady in one of the omnipresent
boarding houses
surrounding the
university. She lords
over the young
tenants who seek
for a place
Photo credit: www.freewallpapers.blogspot.com
 dimensions|JUNE - OCTOBER 2009
[pinoy big brother]
to stay while they baffle over the push and pull of
homesickness and their academic training.
Just like the Big Brother house, Nay
Pangging’s boarding house is home to five
varied personalities living together; they can
listen to each other’s opinions and refute
them immediately if these don’t fit their own.
Mimicking the life of the African savannah,
acceptance and adaptations are important so
that the group of wild, contrasting animals may
survive together as a pack. It’s funny how the
popular reality show be evident even in the most
familiar of places. As we turn 360 degrees into
their own Big Brother house, let us get to know
more our housemates.
The Brainy Bride of Bacolod
She lays down her stethoscope on her
comfy mattress. It had been a busy day at the
hospital and her fiancé’s text message brings her
so much joy, the blush on her face says it all. But
Geraldine’s day is just starting; as a medicine
student, and vying for the top of her class, she
drowns herself in coffee and cola just to keep
her eyes wide awake. She has yet to consume
several chapters of her five-inch thick textbook.
But despite of this, she still finds time to mingle
with her co-boarders, expanding her “business”
of cellphone load.
The Military’s Girlfriend
Dina can’t finish her day without watching
Audrey and the two Garcias since she herself
can relate having a military boyfriend who
is distant away from her. While Geraldine is
submerging herself with text books, Dina is busy
with her text messages going in and out of her
three cellular phones.
The Math Goddess of Passi
Just as how Dina’s father
cradled her, Elaine missed
the warm embrace of
Kapira ku run guid ginhambal kaninyo
nga hindi kamo mamalantsa rigya.
Kabalik-awot guid kaninyo, abi pag-uruli
na lang kamu sa mga ginikanan ninyo.
her Tatay. She was orphaned from the first man
she has loved just a year ago. Although it wasn’t
easy, she persisted and she has been trying to
cope. Being a silver medalist and a math wiz,
she knows she has made her tatay proud. The
empty space was filled by simple kilig moments
with her seaman boyfriend and she shares them
willingly with her co-boarders.
The Conservative Clean Queen
of Aklan
If the lives of our three previous boarders
are filled with colors of their love life, Emma is
a certified NBSB (no boyfriend since birth). She
condoles with Taylor Swift with her song You
Belong with Me as this would be reminiscent of
the only guy who courted her but she decided to
dump him and is now starting to re-evaluate the
decision. She cannot sleep unless her laundry
bags are empty and has an unlimited supply of
laundry soaps and softeners.
Housemates. Boardmates. In however
they are called, they remain as people lured
from different nooks of life converged into a
single house, thriving, surviving, and living
together. This simply proves that man, though
each exudes in disparities and differences, is
capable of discovering commonalities and
intersect in such union. We are all groups of
individuals with varied identities, opinions and
personalities; living in the same “house” we
call “the earth.” Everyday we face challenges
and tasks and together plan our strategy to
triumph over the game of life. Man is indeed
a social being. He needs companions and he
needs to be led.
And let us not forget our own Big
Brother, His voice might not be always heard,
but it is the voice that we should always
listen to, the only voice that truly
matters, Housemates.
 [IROn ChEF aMERICa]
By Sherles S. Sorianosos
I
t seemed just like yesterday when the
little girl with the limp licorice hair
and wrinkled apron poised her fingers
for her afternoon routine – shaving ice
and flooding it with milk. What was she so
fixated on? Judging by the knitted brow and
determined look on her face, one could say
she was brewing something.
“Ne, tagpila na halo-halo mo?” was
the inquisitive query. “Tag-lima lang, Nong.”
The scorching heat of summer beckoned her
thirsty neighbors to the tiangge underneath
the guava tree. Indeed, the cold treat proved
tempting to the panting tongue. With a dash
of sugar, a blend of pearls and nata de coco,
fused with the local jackfruit and young
buko, it was a carnival of flavors. The little
girl’s halo-halo was a feat to behold. She also
prepared some melon juice and seasonal fruits
like mangoes and santol to add variety to what
she was peddling.
Ever since she could squeeze her
eight-year-old feet into her shoe, Niña was
fascinated with food. If the gardener had
the green thumb for the bounties of the
earth, she had the diligent hand for food
tantalizing to the taste buds. With a ladle in
one hand and a saucepan in the other, she is
always on the go for invading the kitchen.
Like the reality show, Iron Chef
America where we see chefs battle it out
on the kitchen stadium, pouring their every
Photo credit: Sherles S. Sorianosos
ounce of passion for cooking, and the
patience and perseverance for the whole
process, Niña also fought. But she fought
against herself, to pursue her dreams and to
push for success.
FOOd 
Th
Ni
e
“Ang mb
target ko, maski
le I
– A longga’s Diet
gamay ginansya,
basta damu
gabakal kaysa dako
ginansya pero gamay
Spoo
nful
gabakal. Galagas ko
sa volume of sales.”
To Niña, cooking was not
merely a diversion. It was an art, a
craft – a craft where her forte lies. Divining
the secrets of gastronomy entailed patient
practice. With passion put to use, one is not far
from gleaning its metamorphosing alchemy.
This is what Niña did. This is what spaghetti in tow, you could unbutton your
she sautéed, garnished and laid on a heap in trousers to a full tummy.
orderly fashion in many of people’s plates “Ang capital ko diri sa akun mga
today – big and small eaters alike. kalan-an is P300,000. May ara ko na
“Si Mama, ara ko pirme sa tupad niya. dayon ROI (Return of Investment) within 6
Kung magkadto kami sa tinda, ginatudlu- months.” Today, Niña is owner of Granny’s
an niya ko kung paano mabal-an nga fresh Kitchen and Niña’s Boarding House and
ang nabaligya...mga kamatis, talong. Ang Eatery. A prime spot located at Jalandoni
pagpili sang quality, dapat i-register mo Street, and within a walking distance
na sa mind mo.” Aside from her father, her from the University of San Agustin, it is a
inspiration was rooted from her aunt. Since melting pot for yuppies, boarders, computer
the love for cooking also ran in the family, geeks, gym buffs and professors alike.
Niña was quick to grasp the influence. She “Ang budget ko sang food sa balay,
was a keen observer in anticipated family ma-shoulder na sang kalan-an ko. Ang 12
gatherings at how food was prepared, stored nga mga trabahador ko na di, malibre na sila
kaon...daw eat all you can. May isa ko di gani
for future consumption and served to the
satiety of house guests. ka scholar sang Granny’s nga si Angek. HRS
She did not just stop at cooking. She also (Hotel and Restaurant Services) ang nakuha
fancied mixing the butter and pouring it in niya.”
generous proportions into the baking sheet. She To the food lovers, she quipped: 1) Indi
had expanded her interests on cakes and pastries. pagtipidon ang panakot kay gala-in na ang
By enrolling in a summer class at West lasa. Kinanglan, “home cooking” guid; 2)
Visayas State University, she acquired Dapat tinlo. Taste what you serve halin sa
the stepping stones of the trade. puno sang imu pagluto asta sa punta, and 3)
When she was at a PR sa customer, para balik-balikan ka nila.
much younger age, she To Niña, food has always been
delivered lunch to a practical investment, a witty way of
offices, packed goodies generating income. While her husband is
for students on away for work, she shrouds herself in the
excursion and even aromatic smoke inhabiting the kitchen. If you
catered dishes at do happen to pick up that scent of sweet-
birthday parties. smelling viand wafting from her balmy nook,
Her specialty lay you get the hint. Niña is cooking. With snacks
in the traditional and combo meals ranging at affordable prices,
Filipino cuisine. it has become a haven for the food hunter on
Chicken/pork a budget.
adobo, Bicol Again, the little girl with the limp licorice
Express, sisig, hair and wrinkled apron poised her fingers for
you name it. She her afternoon routine—only this time, she was
has also come up balling a milky confection. Yemas.
with creations for the Judging by the knitted brow and
versatile. With creamy determined look on her face, one could say
lasagna and white she was brewing something.
JUNE - OCTOBER 2009|dimensions 7
Photo credit: www.reflex01.com  WEST V STORIES
By Churchille B. Montealto
L
ife is made up of diverse
zests pictured out in
different angles and cannot
be understood by just a single
perception nor can be perfected by a
single principle, choice and values.
Modeling can be identified into
two: ramp and photograph. The
one most highly indentified now is
ramp modeling, which started to be
more pronounced since Tyra Banks’
America’s Next Top Model, a highly-
rated reality show, crossed the threshold
of television that was sooner linked to
and popularized by the internet. But the
word reality here does not guarantee
absolute reality. Still, there is a need
to prepare literature scripts, if not the
stiff and concrete technical scripts,
sequence guide and storyboard. There
is still a great need for vast preparation
for the settings, and props; relatively
chosen music, video and sound effects
are still incorporated in every show to
 dimensions|JUNE - OCTOBER 2009
imply creative and more realistic
show, and most importantly,
to generate more emotional
impact to the audience.
Behind the camera, there
are still more angles
left uncaptured, more
stories left untold
and more sensible
things and events
trimmed and
censored.
In local
scenario,
there’s certainly
a significant
difference between
the life of Adrianne
Curry and Naima
Mora compared to
our local ramp models.
Understanding the stories of
the two of our local models might
somehow reveal to us the real culture
in the world of modeling.
The well-motivated
exemplar
Having a set of perfect alluring
eyes, thick lashes, pronounced cheek-
bones, porcelain-like skin, slim and
slender body---an over-all striking
features, Gladys June Pacete bagged
several awards in beauty contests,
modeled in several fashion events
and offers, and recently has been a
photograph model whose photograph
prevailed during the Villa Rosa Photo
Shoot 2009. Being a masscomm
student, Gladys have been struggling
to maintain a balance between her
priority (which is her studies) and her
passion—modeling. “It doesn’t pay
much here, more often; I even spend
more than the price and perks I got for
winning, not to mention the time and
efforts I sacrifice for rehearsals and
fittings. Occasionally, some managers
and organizers don’t even follow the
agreements being set the moment they
encourage me to join in their contest.
Yes, anomalies happen; and often
times, some people will give me pre-
judgments based on the way I made a
mistake or on any shortcomings in my
demeanor…” Despite of the drawbacks,
Gladys still persists in gradually
making her self known as a person
aspiring to live her passion, where she
can always give the best of herself in
every angle.
Modeling in different shade
The culture we have does not make
people good about themselves. And you
have to be strong enough to say if the
culture doesn’t work, don’t buy it…
It could have been easier for Belle
(not her real name) to just settle on
her dream of becoming a volleyball
varsity player when she was still in
high school, where she graduated as
class valedictorian. She dreamed of
entering a university where she will be
known as one of the most promising
and competent volleyball players ever
existed. But it still remained to be a
dream in pending, as unanticipated
modeling career and early pregnancy
unveiled imperceptibly…
Belle is relatively tall and
sylph-like, she stands about 5’ 7”
­—a height perfect for a ramp or a
catwalk model. Indeed, her exotic and
vicious slinky features primed her
to become undeniably stunning and
beautiful. Belle’s modeling career then
jumpstarted right after she dared to
join a local ramp model search known
as Campus Fashionista in 2007 at age

16. She was in her first few months in
college when she came to realize her
recognizable features and distinctive
outer shell—which made her decided
to adhere the call. Confident enough
that she can manage her time well with
both her studies, and the rehearsals and
fittings, she persisted in pursuing her
newly discovered craft.
thE daRK sIdE OF MOdELIng
The late evening rehearsals
and fittings cunningly disrupted her
studies through series of absences.
After the search, where she was able
to emerge to the top lists, more offers
and promo endorsements brazen out.
“But though there were many perks
and credits I got from being a local
model, it didn’t totally gave me such a
fulfillment, because in local scenario,
modeling is not that much valued
and recognized as compared to the
national, and more on the international
setting. One of the reasons I entered
ramp modeling was to earn money
as well. I need it to also support my
budding career, aside from the fact
that I enjoy what I do. Surviving the
demands of time and effort did not
give her much inconvenience, but
to resist the inducement around her
was rather more complicated and
distressing. “When I started modeling,
so many changes also came out in my
perception, lifestyle and admittedly, in
my attitude.” Belle began to be quite
carefree with the way she dress up
herself and the way she thought life
should be. By being quite secured of
the idea that she’s already a model
Behind the camera,
there are still more
angles left uncaptured,
more stories left untold
and more sensible
things and events
trimmed and censored.
[aMERICa's nExt tOP MOdEL]
(regardless of being a neophyte), old Tayshuan “Toonet” Prince as her
she also indulged herself with the greatest inspiration.
lifestyle of her contemporaries—casual “A man should never
partying, and yes, vices. “I started to love be ashamed to say
the modeling world might be because of he has been wrong,
the opulence that goes with your name as which is but saying
a model for the freebies and perks, plus in other words
the tips you get for doing a great job in that he is wiser
promo endorsements.” Gradually, Belle today than he was
started receiving several offers as promo yesterday.”
endorser and a product model for local -Alexander
deals. She has worked with different Pope
kinds of people, and she confessed, that
for several times, she also experienced
having been looked-down and maltreated
by disadvantageous photographers, staffs
and alike.
Soon after, Belle dropped out from
school before the second semester of
her first year ended. As she carried
with her the outgrowth of her 5-year
relationship with her boyfriend (whom
she had faithfully loved despite all the
changes existed). “I was hysterical,
and of course, the regret and guilt
didn’t depart from me, but then, I
never doubted the thought of pursuing
my pregnancy despite the huge
disappointment.”
It COULd havE bEEn…
“I’ve done such a huge mistake
in my life once, and I won’t let it
to put me down some more.” Belle
might surely missed to get hold of her
valued ideologies before, as it went
unconsciously with her changing
lifestyle, but despite all the misleading,
she finds comfort and consolation by
recognizing God’s Plan B for her life.
Some of her previous managers are still
extending their assistance and support
to Belle, assuring her that whenever
she’s ready, opportunities will again
come on her way as long as she will
never lose the sight of her passion
Photo credit: Paulo Benito Tugbang
and faith. Right now, Belle is still in
the process of regaining herself, and
getting ready for the next school year
of newly chosen course in mind—
which she found a more lucrative
ground to make herself enhanced and
a great point as well. For her, to make
a good start, making her 6-month-
JUNE - OCTOBER 2009|dimensions 9
 OUTREACH
By Ma. Ronida P. Veedor
C
oncluding their search for self-
fulfillment, human brains detected
that profound route that made them
hold hands for change. The urge to make
something out of themselves has controlled
the living of humanity. And being able to
touch others’ lives is one of those rising
trends that every ethical earthlings need to
go with.
Among the other comfort foods trailed
inside the supermarket, the brown container
freezes with the artificial cold from the
refrigerator. Lifted by the many hands that
wanted to savor the promised pleasure
written on its label, twisted, turned and
scrutinized by the buyer’s eyes, the ice cream
container revealed something foreign from
the economic world. On its back section, a
sticker on its lower right reads—
“THIS ICE CREAM SUPPORTS
GAWAD KALINGA.”
The show airs 24/7
If only everyone is fortunate enough
to experience the simple luxury of the
taste buds, life could have been better. But
“luck” is a rare word to some, especially the
poverty-stricken here in the Philippines.
If only Ty Pennington could help by
using his magic words, “I’m Ty Pennington
and the renovations start right now!”
However, Pennington is not a Filipino citizen
and he’s no wizard either. Rather, he is an
American host of the popular show, Extreme
10 dimensions|JUNE - OCTOBER 2009
[Extreme Make-over: Home edition]
of the GK area, volunteers are very much
Photo credit: Churchille D. Montealto
accepted to use their deltoid and hamstring
muscles in doing community work. I can
still remember when Edu Manzano related
how he, in his own way, have become a
volunteer for GK. But mind you, you don’t
have to be a MTRCB chairman just to
make an effort of helping.
A freshman of the College of
Nursing, Ma. Diosalyn Pachica joined
last year’s GK house building in
Saladmaster’s Village in Lumbo,
Pototan. Being a high school student
then, she was able to help in giving
shelter to the victims of the disastrous
Typhoon Frank by simply lifting blocks of
cement and putting them together.
Diosalyn proudly shared her experience,
Makeover: Home Edition (EM:HE), a reality “Sang una, siyempre daw obligado kami kay
television series providing home renovations CAT commandant namon naghambal nga
for families that have faced recent or ongoing mabulig, pero sang didto na, sadya man gali.
hardships such as natural disasters or family Mainit kag makapoy, pero worth it man kay
members with life-threatening diseases. kanami sang mga balay.”
EM:HE is like a helping hand to the
U.S. government in providing shelter. Preparing the set before the
And we need one, too, here in our country camera rolls
where numerous trampers pushing their “Kung beneficiary ka sang balay sang GK,
kariton homes or live in congested areas indi mo na pwede ibaligya. May kontrata na
need desperate help. It’s a fact that the kamo nga gina pirmahan. Pero kung gusto
Philippine government has a long way mo nga maghalin, pwede mo na ipasa sa
to go in offering decent housing for all. mga lapit mo nga paryente.” This is what
That’s why we have Gawad Kalinga (GK). Elsa Quiatchon said about the ownership of
a GK house.
The Production Staff on Their Elsa, 56 years old and her three other
Strategy Planning family members find comfort inside the four
Unlike EM:HE which features only walls of their 40-square-meters-wide home
one family every episode since 2003, GK, a in the GK Village in San Isidro, Jaro. Having
Philippine-based movement was launched two bedrooms and one CR, they live better
by the Couples for Christ (CC). Gawad compared now than during their stay in their
Kalinga (GK) has already built 40,000 1997 demolished house in the City Proper.
homes on its four-year venture. They Sweat Equity- this is the term used to
facilitate the building of homes through call the voluntary labor done by its residents.
GK’s Shelter and Site Development Program They put up the walls, the roofs and the
or TATAG (“to build” or “to establish” in flooring. After completing 450 hours of
Filipino). Ultimately, they dream of building work, they get a free home.
complete communities with all the necessary In the 16.2 hectares bought by the local
infrastructures such as pathwalks, well- government in San Isidro, almost 3,000 houses
established drainage systems, water and toilet were built. GK, with the help of Habitat
facilities, a school, a livelihood center, a Humanity and Iloilo City Urban Poor Affairs
multi-purpose hall and a clinic. Office’s (ICOPAO), an array of beautifully
painted houses have been constructed.
Cast and crew briefing before Picking an icecream for an afternoon
the shoot delight is a little luxury in life. But choosing
Aside from paying construction to buy it knowing a part of your happiness
companies to make the initial foundations reflects to lives of others is something else.
[queer eye for the straight guy] WEST V STORIES 

women and most especially gay men. Fine double the perseverance.
By Katrina Mae O. Sencil
male performers and dancers are of rare Ryan, when asked about how he views

T

breed. One of these straight male dancers his profession, said, “I am proud of my
here is an aphorism known
who are of rare species nowadays is Ryan profession. I love performing. If only I will
nowadays as “If you have a
Puljanan, a professor of the College of be given the chance to explain to people what
boyfriend, be sure he is gorgeous.
PESCAR (Physical Education, Sports, dancing means to me and how it makes me feel
When you see someone gorgeous, make sure
Culture, Arts and Recreation). His average when I perform maybe they will understand.
he is not gay.”
day job consists of instructing students to But for now this is my stand, I will accept
Today, straight guys just roll their eyes
carry out the correct dance steps or at times comments about my performance but ignore
as six-pack-muscled, impeccably dressed gay
he may be seen on a dance studio, practicing those personal ones.”
men cruise by. Straight men would stand by one
while hurting his feet and muscles just to Ryan already won several recognitions
corner cursing and joking insultingly, without
execute the pointe and plie for his upcoming for doing what he does best. After four
taking into contemplation their beer-bloated
performance as a member of the Irong-Irong years as a member of the Irong-Irong
overstuffed bellies and grimy nails. However, the
Dance Company. Dance Company, he won as Gold Medalist
reality show Queer Eye made a bit of a revolution
Battling the stereotypes that obscure for Membership. The Irong-Irong Dance
by bringing into TV a crack team of five style,
his dancing pursuits, Ryan insists that his Company won first place in the First Modern
fashion and food experts, all of them gay who dub
profession offers limitless possibilities. Dance Competition in Manila in 2004
themselves the Fab Five. Their peculiar interest
From the start he saw that the gay stereotype which was an on-the-spot competition.
in girly things are ready to rescue straight males
co-exists with his interests. One thing he SCAP hailed them as one of the top ten
(their tormentors), by nobly transforming him and
remembers that troubled him was the time dance troupes having performed in ANAK
saving him from a blatant style-deprivation and
when a friend of a co-teacher insisted that he is 2006. Ryan specializes in contemporary
taste and culture starvation.
gay having seen a photograph of Ryan posing and interpretative dancing especially about
One thing that made Queer Eye really
an artistic arch. Ryan added that his body built, religion and romance.
interesting is that it presents how gays and
posture and stance may have contributed to the Because society views male dancers
straights, among other conflicting characters,
misconception that he is gay. as far-off, many straight males acquired the
interact with each other; In society it is
“Deep inside I was insulted by the phobia, and as a result, withhold their pursuit in
stereotyped that only “the weak, the sissies,
comments of people about my sexuality dancing and in any other artistic disciplines.

Photo by: Katrina Mae O. Sencil

the fags and the queers” could be fashion
especially because it isn’t true. But there is “My advice to those straight males who love
designers, hairdressers and dancers, and
nothing I could do about their opinions. All the art of dancing but are afraid because he might
unsurprisingly those straight guys who do
I can do is to ignore them gracefully and do be considered gay is that they must, and actually
effeminate professions are often the subject
what makes me happy,” Ryan shared. every time, be true to themselves. Why live to
of taunting and insults.
Like some sort of incurable plague the please others? It’s your life. Always be yourself,
male-dancer stereotype has metastasized in pursue it, because life is too short to hide your
JOB DESCRIPTION
our culture codes. A whole new generation talent,” Ryan said.
His business attire is a pair of tights,
looks at male dancing with a skewed, often If “Queer Eye” taught us a
sometimes if needed, even pink tutus. On
biased perception. “Being a male dancer I lesson, it would be that society
stage, he wears make-up. He steps into some
am aware of the implication that in a way now accepts gay men especially
flawless syncopation in fragile motion, with
people sees us weak or effeminate, that in what they do best. However,
grace imposing on a sustained stance. His eyes
in a way we lack courage or the character Ryan’s story taught us that
flickered as the spotlight brightens. He twirls,
to do manly things. Of course, that is society is still plagued by the
spins, jumps, and glides into some ethereal
disappointing,” Ryan added. stereotypes when it comes to
manner. As he motioned to a gossamer swirl,
Male dancers, just like any other group straight males with effeminate
he gracefully outstretched his arms. The music
of dancers, undergo strenuous training. professions. Queer Eye
grinds and progresses then climaxes. He took a
However, we haven’t realized that they have maybe an interesting
bow and all of the sudden everyone stood for an
this special type of courage for standing reality TV show but
ovation. Everything may seem like a scene from
up for their passion and battling against then Ryan’s story is an
Saturday Dance Fever except that he, the dancer,
the existing conception of society for their even more interesting
is in no way gay, he is without doubt straight.
chosen paths. Ryan says that if a boy wants reality, this time,
to dance, he must first exchange blows with without the TV.
THE STEREOTYPE
the prejudices of people. That he
In the dance world, it is believed
must break the unwritten law in
that gay men are the masters of the trade
the Boy Code
being the directors, choreographers and
and
presenters. Even on dance stages, the
must
audience sees the predominance of

JUNE - OCTOBER 2009|dimensions 11

  wEst v stORIEs
concealed cunningly around a moving helicopter, the show had
successfully challenged man’s physical and mental capacities.
Well, the jubilant girl we are about to meet might not have
the strength to orbit a stirring helicopter or the gut to devour
a gazing eyeball but by being the first blind student of the
university, Sally surely had other fears conquered.

FEAR FACTOR CHALLENGE 1: DRIVING A SPEED CAR BLINDFOLDED

You can see Salvacion, or more fondly as Sally roaming
around campus. But you can never see her walking alone.
She always has a friend or peer by her side guiding her.
You might not notice but as Sally clutches the arm of her
Photo credit: Jessa Marie Silvederio

classmate and they both start to walk together, Sally, would

hum a tune, a very beautiful melody. Sally is blind and
she has been ever since she was born.
But being the optimistic girl that she is, she
continued schooling and is now a freshman
student, taking up Bachelor of Science in
Special Education in this university. After
graduating from Antique National School
where their family originally resides, Sally
and her family decided to try their luck in the
city. She underwent the same exams–written
and interview–as any other expectant student
of the university.
“Tatlo kami ka mag-utod. Ako pinakamgulang.
Ang isa 17 ang isa 15. Si Tatay patay na. Si nanay
ang nagabantay sa akon,” she punctuated with a crisp
laugh and continued “Kung kis-a nagapanguling akon
mga manghod para may gastuhon kami.”
Among the three children of Edna whom she cannot all
By Christopher M. Millora send to school together, Sally was chosen to continue to
purse her education. How the family came up with the “

B
lack. decision was simply heartwarming.
Sigurado ka? Days after graduating, Sally along with jubilant
I listened. I listened intently, very intently. her brothers and Manang Edna tried to
Still, black. make a decision. “Teh ginpamangkot we are
Sige na, o hinay lang mag step. ko sila kung sin-o sa ila maeskwela
I stepped. But pretty much ahead of time. So I slipped. kay dungan sila naggraduate sang meet might not
Teh! Hinay lang bala, diretso lang. Masaka kita. Hinay ha.
I approximated my every step. Allowing my footsteps to feel,
manghod ya nga lalaki,” Manang
Edna started her narration, her orbit a stirring
to sense. But still black. I took my time, I took a careful step.
Okay. Mapungko na ta. Diri. Diretso.
eyes full of emotions, her tone
of voice reminiscent. “Siling
devour a gazing
I followed.
Sige pungko. Nice One!
ni Sally,‘Ikaw lang to kay
lalaki ka, biskan diin ya
first blind student
I followed again and then, finally, I was seated. I have kaubra ka’.” Sally surely had
just conquered one of my fears. I sat there smiling, Fear was “Galing,

Saving
not any more a factor. nagsabat man
****** ang manghod
As the eyes of millions are glued to the TV screens ya, ‘ikaw lang
and witness how several unique individuals face their fears nang ah, kay
in National Television, Fear Factor, became a household hambal mo
name and a television phenomenon overnight; captivating man, kami
viewers from all over the world. From eating raw eyeballs ya biskan
of four-legged animals to playing hide and seek with flaglets diin malang

12 dimensions|JUNE - OCTOBER 2009


kaubra kami, kaakwat sang mabug-at,”
Manang Edna took a deep breath, as if
trying to remember the exact words of
her son. Then finally she spoke once
again. “Siling ya dayon kay manang
ya. Teh? Maano ka na lang ka bay?
Mapungko sa binit kag mag duyo-
duyo? Amo na nga maeskwela ka guid
dapat para makadungan ka man sa
iban.”
The words of hes son are still as
fresh as new in the minds of Manang
Edna and it left a lingering effect. She
said that it was indeed Sally’s siblings
that gave her the drive to move on. She
might be driving the car blindfolded but
for Sally there are surely extra hands
and sets of eyes to help her maneuver
the stirring wheel toward the finish line.
FEAR FACTOR CHALLENGE 2: STANDING STILL
IN A CONTAINER OF PESTS
When we asked Sally what’s the first
thing that she wants to see if ever she would
be given a chance to get her eyesight back,
she answered immediately “Si Nanay.”
From brushing her teeth, eating
her meals and dressing herself, Manang
Edna was always there to guide her
even though Sally has already gained
independence of these
routines throughout
“The time. Manang
girl Edna
about to
have the strength to
helicopter or the gut to
eyeball but by being the
of the university,
other fears conquered.”
Salvacion
would even take time everyday reading
to Sally her lessons. “Amo na ya si
Sally magtuon,” says Manang Edna
“Ginabasahan ko na sa, kaisa ukon
kaduha, kwa ya na na.” Sally takes
all her examinations just like ordinary
students do, except those which are not
dictated by the teacher. She is given
special exams with the use of brails.
“Gapasalamat guid ko gani sa mga
classmate ko,” says Sally.
Despite the many challenges of
schooling, Sally stood firm, she didn’t mind
the festering rodents that might be detrimental
to her learning. “Ang manami kay Sally, bisan
diin, game siya. Wala guid siya gahambal
nga indi ya kaya,” mused Manang Edna and
continued on how Sally chose ROTC over
CWTS. “Gusto ya pa na gani mag-cadet
sang una, galing di ko pasugtan.”
But more than just the challenges
in schooling, the family is also faced
with the challenge of living life itself.
“Kabudlay guid ya, kabudlay-budlay
guid,” says Manang Edna as tears started
to accumulate around her eyes, pooling,
shouting of utmost sincerity. “Wala ko
nga daan ubra, teh kung kis-a ga-ekstra
ko sa [cooperative] canteen para may
mabakal man kami.”
Edna and Sally anchor their faith
in God. She said that with God all the
problems will be solved. She told us that
back in Antique, where life is not much
easier, they also spend days without eating
three times a day. “Nahambalan lang ko na
dayon ni Sally, ‘Nay, makanta ta bala parti
sa Ginoo kay masolbar guid ni.” And the
family will sing songs for God in chorus
and as if God had heard their heartfelt
melodies, a neighbor or two would
miraculously knock on their doors and
offer a can of sardines or two. “Wala
guid kami napabay-an sang Ginoo.”
Today, Sally is blessed with
a lot of people willing to help;
there are those who
sponsor the boarding
house where Edna
and Sally stay,
there are those who
sponsor her uniforms
and requirements,
and she is also
JUNE - OCTOBER 2009|dimensions
[FEaR FaCtOR] 
STFAP bracket 1—all these they consider
as blessings from God.
Sally’s life might be festered with
pests; she may or may not recognize
these, but at the end of the day, she has
God by her side, so she can very well
stand untouched.
FEAR FACTOR CHALLENGE 3: LOOKING FOR
GEMS IN A BOX FULL OF SNAKES
Sally could not see. She ate ice
cream without seeing one color on top
of another forming an icy rainbow;
she attended field trips without seeing
how trees and flowers and birds
look like; she celebrated new years
and Christmases without seeing the
spectacular bursts of colors of fireworks
and Christmas lights and lanterns.
Imagine the fear of falling, of
darkness, of making mistakes, of being
misunderstood, or being rejected all
clouding her mind, yet no single light
could pass by her eyesight and give her
just a slight glow of hope. Many people
would choose to stop. Many people
would give up. But Sally surely deserves
more that just the $500,000 grand prize
promised by a top rating show. She
never stopped living. She continued
eating ice cream, attending field trips and
celebrating Christmas, all with a smile
that shows unwavering optimism.
Surely, though Sally is blind, there
are things that she can see that many of
us could not even recognize.
Black.
******
Sige na, okay na muklat na. Teh,
kaya mo man gani.
Still Black. At one moment, I didn’t
want to open my eyes. I was blind for
twenty minutes. Not quite a remarkable
number. But it was enough. It was
enough for me to experience Salvacion. It
was enough for me to embody even just
a slice of Salvacion’s everyday life, to see
what she can see, to feel what she might
feel, to fear what she might have had
feared, to sense what she senses best. You
see, Salvacion has lived a full life. Her
eyes are closed but her heart is widely
opened.
13
  CULTURE
By Sheila Mae H. Toreno
ouses have their own way of dying, falling as
H variously as the generations of men, some with a
tragic roar, some quietly,...but for others, the spirit
slips before the body perishes.
MTV Cribs is the most galvanizing way to peep into celebrity
homes without getting slapped with a restraining order. Giant stars
from the world of entertainment, politics, sports, and business give
a “VIP-tour” of their homes, sharing intimate details about their
personally styled-spaces along the way. From the overly binged-out
mansions to crazy cool penthouse suites, this TV reality program
gives you the fly-on-the-wall view of where today’s personalities
work, play, sleep, and live.
New fangled houses in the Philippines are absolutely in
synchronization with the space-age designs of houses in the
West. But in the context of mainly having those true blue Pinoy
architectures, perhaps, you’ll be made to think about the old
houses of our great grandfathers in the past. These ancestral
homes, however, will rather become a vague concept unless you
embed your heart into its very foundations.
Iloilo is the country’s heritage of Panay. It is popularly
known for its steadfast signature because of its gentry livings as
displayed by legal and colonial mansions and churches scattered
throughout its exquisite landscape. Just like this old mansion
which I got to know more out of a personal tour, the notion
doesn’t cling beyond its beauty of concepts, cinder block and
stucco, rather the concept of prevailing legacy of woods, stones
and antique materials that have been part of this certain family.
Traveling back to the early 1880s
A lady Pison named Tita Norma introduced me to the house
of her ancestors- the Pison Ancestral Home which is located in
San Jose St., Molo, Iloilo City.
The Pison ancestral house was built in the year 1907 by Donato
Militante Pison Sr., a resident of Molo, and his loving wife, Pecencia
Tijam of Albay, Bicol. Donato was a merchant selling goods while
plying the Manila and Bicol route. He later built one of the first
muscovado factories in the province, with its chimney still standing
in Mandurriao. Also in Mandurriao, the couple built a salt farm and
became successful salt merchants. In 1981, Donato was given a
posthumous award for being one of the “Top Ten Outstanding Iloilo
Photo by: Katrina Mae O. Sencil
Pioneers” for developing salt industry in Iloilo City.
House’s features
The house is made of wood, and is built on planks, raised high
from the ground by large logs, and one must enter them by means
of a ladder. The roofs are made of nipa
that truly furnishes the placidity of the
place. The floor panels of the house are
14 dimensions|JUNE - OCTOBER 2009
[MTV CRIBS]
made from apitong purchased from ruined bridges and wooden
ships from the wharf and nearby La Paz and other districts in
Iloilo. Original posts were made from molave. And I find it more
interesting than those antique materials such as the baul, wooden
chairs, Rizal-styled ceiling and many more.
Daku Balay
Now, this house is often called “Daku Balay” by the living
Pison family members.
“We are used to call it that way because it is much bigger
compared to our own individual houses. It is where we yearly celebrate
our family reunion exactly every first day of May. That certain date
signifies the industry and progress made by the first generation of our
family,” Tita Norma said.
This house was maintained and
preserved as an architectural heritage and
the most significant facet of this colonial
mansion is that it continues its service as a
haven of the undying memory of the first
generation Pison. Tita Norma belonged
to the second generation and it was when
she was young that this ancestral house
witnessed the war during the Japanese
era. The graze of bullet in one of the
floor panels of the house marked that
disgraceful event in their life.
Final glimpses
My eyes wandered on the wooden
ceiling on top of me. Surprisingly, a glint of
light passed through that seemingly small
aperture from above, making me squint
at the sight. For a moment, I was assured
that it was the same light that brightened
the entire hall where once upon a time
happy families lived and loved.
In MTV cribs, we look back into
the modern feats of a celebrity home
where people brag about state-of-
the-art things that are in tune with the
definition of today’s generation. We
come to see that the value is placed
not on the history or the sentimentality
of an item; rather, it is in its being
technologically ahead and at the least,
its being flashy and multi-functional.
Though we develop a gradual
change in our description of beauty in
art, we are given this chance to look
back and rekindle our appreciation for
history. We realize that personality is
not always abstract and that people’s
memories don’t always fade through
time; instead, they become embedded
in the dusty floors, the cob-webbed
ceilings, the uneven stairs, the aged
paintings and sometimes, the cremated
remains inside bedazzled jars.
[OPRAH’S BIG GIVE]
By Maria Reylan M. Garcia
T
here are reality shows for everything:
fashion, business, unknown people
with big personalities living in the
same house and unfamiliar to some, and there
are those aimed at revealing America’s biggest
philanthropist, like the show, Oprah’s Big Give.
In every episode, contestants are tasked
to travel across the USA with a large amount
of money to try to help different people in
unique ways. They can either use the money
to directly improve the needs or to invest the
cash in a fundraising to double up the cause
of charity. Indeed, the show transforms to
reality the cliché, the more you give, the more
you receive since the biggest giver will be
awarded $1,000,000, half of which will go
to his bank account and half will be awarded
to their chosen beneficiaries. The show was
flooded with varying responses, both desirable
and not; some private organizations were
moved to give while some critics heave to the
conflict of the philanthropic theme with its
competitive reality genre.
Nevertheless, it is a competition that
lures ten contenders from various alleys
of society. On the other side of the planet
though, there exists another group whose
number far outnumbers ten. They are also
in it for charity, but unlike their Western
counterparts, they converge into one union,
into one fraternity, into one order.
Some of them in the order are as adept
in business as Stephen and Eric. Some are
those whom, like Sheg, dreams of becoming
physicians who cure debilitations. Some
are like Angelo, fathers and grandfathers
who cultivate families of peace. They are
men called Knights. Knights who do not
go to bloody battles, but who fight for the
crusade of service and faith. The Knights of
Columbus – Molo Chapter is not as popular
as Oprah but they give with the same hope,
with the same intention, and that is Charity.
The Knights of Columbus- Molo
Chapter belongs to a larger community of
about 57,000 members in the Philippines
and 1,700,000 members globally. It is a Catholic
organization that realizes service to the
Church and coming to the
aid of those most in need
in society as a part of its
vision. They are seen most
often as lay ministers of
the church but there’s
more to them than reading
Gospel passages and giving
communion. These Knights
are not in any reality show. What they do
is already reality.
“We want to elevate the situation of
the poor, their socioeconomic and spiritual
situation. We want the children to grow up
in a good place.” These were the words of
their 29th Grand Knight, Mr. Rogelio A.
Garcia. The K of C selects the poorest of
the poor as beneficiaries of their projects
such as the Free Clinic, Educational
Scholarships, Feeding Programs and the
“Christmas in October”.
The Free Clinic gathers 30-35 persons to
receive free consultation and free medicine.
Dr. Gregorio Sancho, the current Grand
Knight mans the Free Clinic every Wednesday
and Friday. About five years ago, the K of C
saw that the people living in the depressed
areas of Molo don’t have access to appropriate
medication due to financial woes. Most of
them depend on the quack doctors for health
supervision, thus the mortality rate of these
areas continue to rise.
Another program, focusing on nutrition,
is the Feeding program, which is a yearly
endeavor that chooses an elementary
school within the district of Molo as their
recipient of nutritious food for twice a
week. Before the feeding, a weigh-in of the
schoolchildren is done to determine those
who are undernourished. After four months
of continued feeding, these children are once
again assessed if they have indeed achieved
the desired weight.
The K of C also lends its hand
in furthering the education of the
disadvantaged as 81 elementary and 4 high
school level students are supported through
JUNE - OCTOBER 2009|dimensions
Religion 
their Educational Scholar Program.
They provide school supplies including the
uniforms to the selected children twice a
year, in June and December, and also fund
their miscellaneous fees. K of C believes
that all children deserve to sit in class and
taste the gift of education. These students
aren’t pressured with grade requirements
to retain the scholarship since K of C only
wishes to avoid the increasing population of
the out of school youth.
Christmas in October is a dole-out of
grocery goods for 300 recipients. The usual
supplies like rice, sugar, sardines, coffee are
packed in plastic bags ready to be given. It
would certainly save a family from at least a
week or two of expenses.
Though different in media and quantity,
the Knights exude the same compassion as
the contestants of Oprah’s Big Give. They
both extract the same smiles from people
these charity-workers have helped. They
both impart the same comfort and security
to console the once hopeless spirits these
humanitarians have touched. They both
share the same dreams reawakened, the same
hopes refuelled and the same faith reborn.
Generosity flies through any medium and
dives through any means.
These Big Givers, These Knights, they
opted to dwell on the route of charity.
Photo credit: Rogelio A. Garcia
To give and not to count the cost;
To fight and not to heed the wounds;
To toil and not to seek for rest;
To labor and not ask for any reward
Save that of knowing that we do Thy will.
(Prayer for Generosity; St. Ignatius of
Loyola)
15
 COVER STORY

Photo by: Erika C. Dimaguila

16 dimensions|JUNE - OCTOBER 2009

 [The aMAZING RACE] 

Indelible ink
By Erika C. Dimaguila

F
or the little girl with smudges of damp mucous hanging like a spider’s web from her nostrils
to her feather-like upper lips, who grew up thinking that her father’s collection of salt crystals
placed in tiny packets hidden under his pillow was a charm to ward off the manananggals, and
that her mother was always pretty in her make-up—the black-and-bluish marks placed on her face
by her father.
For the little boy who walks five km. to school in his old slippers, its rubber soles thinned by
the wear of everyday use, forming the outline of the sea with mild waves. His three books, which
were all donated during Christmas, have yellowish pages that are crinkly from getting wet in
the rain and the next day being laid out far from the chickens in the sun-lit backyard of his
family’s bahay kubo. Umbrellas are a luxury. When it rains, he just hugs his tiny backpack to his
chest in a desperate attempt to keep it dry and runs home.
Also, for the children affected by natural calamities.
For the idealistic student leader who believes that he can change the Philippines.
For the secretary of a high-profile politician who struggles to keep her principles intact.
For the OFW domestic helper who’s had to endure the pain of isolation and depression.
For the fresh graduate who earned a magna cum laude, yet works at a call center.
And for yourself.

VOTE.

A society drowned in the consequences of an abusive and ineffective government creates a people
numbed by misery and contented with indifference. This is what the advocacy of voters’ registration
and youth pro-activism wants to revolutionize. The battle may be great, but the warriors
are getting many.
This new wave of optimism and motivation for a political and social
transformation has enticed the youth to take part in it. The numbers grow
each day with positive campaigns by groups like Youth Vote Philippines,
Youth Alliance Philippines, Bayan Mo Ipatrol Mo of ABS-CBN, First Time
Voters Project, Ayala Young Leaders Alliance, and Ako Mismo.
Time is a significant element though. The COMELEC moved
the deadline of voters’ registration from December 15 to
October 31 of this year, making the battle become more
complicated. Not just a fight, it also becomes a race.
Like the popular reality show The Amazing
Race, where contestants have to travel from
one place to another, clad in nothing but their
backpacks, and have to overcome detours,
roadblocks and pit stops, all for a
chance to win a million dollars, there
is also a different kind of race where the
contestants run not for themselves and the prize is more
fulfilling than cold cash.

JUNE - OCTOBER 2009|dimensions 17

  COVER STORY
Pit stops
Ireneo “JR” Demecais Jr., 28, lead convenor
of Youth Alliance Philippines (YAP), has hopped
from one pit stop to another, reaching far-off
provinces in Zamboanga, Cotabato, and General
Santos because of his advocacy. “My dream is
that every Filipino child who would reach the
age of 18 would be very excited to register and
cast his vote—that this process becomes engaging
for him and empowering at the same time.”, said
JR. He has also visited areas in Manila that have
been stereotyped as “dangerous”. Unpopular to
Ilonggos, some of these areas are the communities
of Camarin in Novaliches and Payatas in Quezon
City, the relocation site in Montalban, Rizal
(known as Little Tondo) and Pandacan in Manila.
Road blocks
Running after time has also been one of the
constant road blocks of this campaign. “Time has
always been a challenge. Rushing, looking for
shortcuts, arguing with the driver, and in the case
of provincial trips, stop-overs are like concrete
barriers!”, exclaimed Bayani “Yani” Alonto, 22,
Youth Development Assistant of Education and
Livelihood Skills Alliance (ELSA).
Another challenge of this non-partisan
movement is the capturing of the sentiments of
the people, penetrating into their hearts, making
them want to vote, and having them realize the
grave responsibility of suffrage. Samuel “Sam”
Macagba III, 22, a facilitator of Youth
Vote Philippines (Yvote), says that
one of the biggest difficulties
you encounter on the road
is interacting with people
who have lost faith in the
country. “...Especially
18 dimensions|JUNE - OCTOBER 2009
[THE amazing race]
people na ayaw nang makialam sa mga nangyayari sa
bansa. Ang hirap makisalamuha sa mga taong ganoon. ”
Yani agrees with Sam, saying that apathetic
kids are difficult to deal with. “For me, they are like
dream stealers,” he said.
Joseph Guinto Navarro, 22, Development
Associate of Special Projects, Ayala Foundation, also
expressed the burdens of this kind of job. “Hindi
biro ang mga activity ng Yvote, sa totoo lang may mga
pagkakataong nasasakripisyo ‘yung personal na oras mo,
puyat sa paghahanda ng mga kakailanganin sa training at
pagod sa mahabang biyahe.”
Detours
One of Yvote’s convincing tag lines is “Kung ayaw
mong bumoto, huwag kang mag-reklamo.” And no matter
how fast these young leaders run, they know that
sadly, they cannot convince everybody. They have
but to hope for the best and believe in each other for a
successful outcome. Like a detour sign showing just
two options: to go left or right, or to proceed forward
or turn back, these warriors still have chosen to run the
mile and reach for the finish line.
The hard work and effort these young patriots
put into a cause greater than themselves shun most
of us to shame. A sprint across mountains, among
islands, aboard buses and planes—all in exchange
for a royal blue thumbmark. The firm stain of
indelible ink smeared on the thumbs of the youth
make the race worthwhile.
So do it for the little girl who grew up thinking her
father’s packets of shabu were magic crystals.
Do it for the little boy who
struggles to go to school,
awaiting for old
donated books every
Christmas.
And do it for
yourself.
VOTE.
Photo credit: Mildred Ople
[thE bIggEst LOsER] hEaLth 

“B
eing fat was okay for Kenneth (not his real name). But and just help his tito
he never escaped reality as he went down the cycle manage their hardware
and lost something to pull himself up again.” business.
Becoming a laughing object of people around you, appearing “Nadulaan na ko
like a stock with no more than a pinch of confidence to droop down gana. Daw wala na
and continue walking was never an ABC of life—especially when ko bala inspirasyon
you are as young as 11, and that it’s all because you are fat. It would magskwela. Te
be even worse when you do not leave such kind of a body structure pakuribong naman ko sa balay kag
when you grow up, and it would worsen into an approximately 370- hampang computer eh,” he said.
pound-weight. In his stay in their house, earning
nothing but a small percentage from
Screening the income of their business that goes
Now, imagine yourself in such a situation… along with your in his personal pocket, he realized
dark skin, kinky, black hair and Chinese eyes that make even your that he is giving himself no room for
relatives be skeptical if you are your mom’s child. Your classmates growth. He would be a bum forever if
would also wonder why, but would not talk about it until you’re he will not do something about it.
gone. You may have a cool set of brown eyes, but what can be “I told myself I must prove that I’m By Daryl Z. Lasafin
easily noticed in you is your bulging belly, arms and legs… and the not going to be a bum forever… that I can
five-layer sandwich you promised your dad to finish eating even do something with my situation.”

Photo credit: www.google.com

before recess starts.
Cute. But not anymore when you grow older. The second chance
That was Kenneth three years ago. A
Introduction second chance is not that hard to have, and
This was Kenneth’s life several years ago. When he matured, and to give, so he is very much enjoying his own
no one wondered that he maintained such a “huge” figure. “second chance” that he granted himself now.
“I have always loved eating when I was young. I eat potato chips “Somehow, nalipay naman ko kay daw
when I watch cartoons. I eat multi-layered sandwich for snacks, and nagmayo naman pangabuhi ko subong. I already
cheese with mashed pineapple is my favorite filling. I eat burger when finished an associate degree, and I have a job of
I play CounterStrike before I sleep. Basta gakaon lang ko ya ah,” said my own. I realized that it is not the world that is
Kenneth, with a crisp laugh as if air barely goes in his lungs. bad to you, but it is you not granting that chance
He said he does not have that much complain with what food to improve yourself,” he said, his cool, brown
they are going to eat, unlike his youngest sister, who is their only eyes full of inspiration.
slim sibling.
“Wala na ‘ko ya arte sa pagkaon. Kon ano ara da, amo na The Biggest Loser
kaunon ko. Some people, especially my classmates and siblings Kenneth said he can consider
would tease me, ‘Baboy, baboy!’ but I would not care. I just leave himself as a Big Loser.
them alone,” he said, sounding like he recalled an unforgettable “Aside from the fact that I am still
“teasing” memory. big bisan daw nabuhinan naman ang
Kenneth is the second of the four siblings of three boys and a weight,” he chuckles, “I am a Big
girl. The two other boys are also fat like him, but he is comparably Loser because I once lost hope for
bigger, with a weight of more or less 380 lbs. He says he eats more, myself. But when I tried to give
sleeps more and plays more video games. He stays most of the time it one more try, I think it was
in his room in front of the computer table and enjoying his life with one of the best decisions
the armed guys on monitor. that I made for myself.”
But has ever felt down because of his weight? Tracing back, But he said he
he’s got “a life” when he was young. just did not lose.
“I also gained
Tests something—
“Ginasinunlog gid ko na nila kon kis-a. Te kon indi ko na maghibi, confidence, a higher
gapanapungol ko na. But most of the time, gapanapungol gid ko,” He self-esteem, respect
giggled, as if punching someone was the most relieving thing he has done from others, and a better
in his 26 years f existing. “I am being laughed at by my classmates, my health. Wala na ko nasaw-ahan
friends sometimes, even my relatives. Kis-a lain man buot ko eh.” maghulag-hulag subong. I’m
Surprisingly, he never really took the teasing seriously, all because of his losing weight and I want to lose
mom. “Wala ko ya ni Mama ginaakigan sang una kon naga-sige lang ko kaon. more. It is not to change the image
She thought it was something that I need to be healthy,” Kenneth said. that I project to others, but the one
His mom’s consolations that counteract the teases were just enough
to get him through high school. When he was supposed to go to college,
that I once projected to myself,” he
said gladly.
I told myself
Kenneth realized it is more painful when you know and understand the
reasons why people look at you in a certain way than you just take what
Kenneth was one contender in
life eager to get his second chance at
I must prove
they can give you. This time, it is why people think being fat is something
that affects beauty, even credibility and reliability.
a new lease in life. For the Season N
of his life, he composed himself for
that I’m not
“I was being told to get slim for it looks bad. That’s when I thought
that I looked really bad,” he said.
the chance to transform his body and
health, much more his disposition,
going to
Struggle
Kenneth kept on transferring, and if not being admitted,
mindset and perception about
himself gaining nothing less than
be a bum
failing to enter, school—from STI to St. Anne College to ACSI.
Eventually, he got tired and told his mom that he’d like to stop
a better life. He is… The (Biggest)
Gaining Loser.
forever…
JUNE - OCTOBER 2009|dimensions 19
  SOCIETY
By Jan Michael V. Arbolado
H
e breathed and realized that he
was still alive.
The air was fragrant of thick smoke
and dried alcohol that seemed to have
been consumed by his shirt. The taste of
mixed tequila and beer still on the tip of
his tongue with a hint of a sweet flavour
he recognized as lipstick out of nowhere.
Another normal night he thought. The
bed felt soft and familiar but it was rather
drenched with who knows what and
without opening his eyes, he knew no one
was around. Thank God, he thought. The
aircon was buzzing hard but it seemed
his body can’t feel the comfort of cold as
he felt numbed and paralyzed. At least he
made it back to his condo room by means
still unclear to him. He lay there motionless
knowing the moment he moves he’ll feel
the piercing pain of a terrible hangover.
He never wanted to move again
if heaven permitted him but he was
anticipating his alarms to go off any minute
now. One from his alarm clock, one from
his cellphone and yet another from his
second cellphone. And just as he
was attempting to prepare
his ears for an
20 dimensions|JUNE - OCTOBER 2009
orchestra
of alarms, he felt
something still sticking in.
When? How? Earphones on his ears
gave him a feeling of sudden itchiness
but he was hearing nothing. He opened his
left eye gradually and expectedly saw his
iPod that was stupidly turned off or just out
of batteries. The latter would definitely add
to his feeling of sanity which he believed to
be losing pretty fast these days.
He felt his hand still clenched to a
cellphone and slowly held it properly and
opened his inbox. His mind was blank
from all the happenings last night. Menu.
Messages. Inbox. he memorized the keys
by hand. His left eye read the light still
very painful to the eyes . Research group
meeting@ 8. He was obviously still drunk
because he thought he read they had a
meeting at 8. He opened his right eye at half
point and reread the LCD screen. Research
group meeting @ 8. Not sure of what he’s
seeing, he read it a third time then a fourth
and realizing the sun was already shining so
horribly bright, he was late!
He could be you. He could be me. He
could be anyone of us.
It was one of those days when you
wonder how a perfectly fun night could be
ruined the next day by the same things that
made the night so damn good.
It was as though the world had turned
upside down when all the fine things in
life are the ones that are complex,
expensive and flashy.
You wonder with all
this technology, What is
life without them?
Have you asked yourself
if indeed you can live without
life’s complexities?
Well, a question like this
is better answered by means of
experience, rather than verbal
words if you really want to get a
more accurate answer.
To give us just a hint of it, here comes
the reality show “The Simple Life”, a popular
reality television series which features two
extravagant, loaded and posh women namely
Paris Hilton and her best friend Nicole Richie,
going into the rural areas of the USA as well
as places where they were to do low-paying
manual labor such as cleaning farms, serving
in fast food restaurants and working as camp
counselors.
They practically bring their stilettos to step
on cow dung all season and this achieves an
increasingly high viewer’s rating from season
to season because people just love how Paris
and Nicole comment on brute realities, which
may be somehow degrading and obscene but
nevertheless truthful.
Yes, they partake in the daily activities of
rural life and every time they do something,
they would look at each other with a “why-
am-I-here-in-the-first-place” look and laugh
and laugh and laugh and we too laugh with
them, some for reasons unknown to us.
Paris and Nicole may be blessed with
technology and almost every experience is in
their grasp, but there is ONE thing that they
may never have. Can you guess what it is?
Fifty kilometres away from the city,
Christian just woke up after hearing the loud
roosters singing like his father said. He lay in
his magic carpet while

taking
the sleeping
dust off his eyes. He realized
that his brothers were gone and that he
was alone in his own magical room. He stood
up abruptly and looked out the castle’s window
to see the smile of the sun and the grass wave.
As he looked out to the far horizon, he saw his
father on his golden chariot with his black horse
dragging his golden plow. He looked to the far
left and saw his oldest brother carrying the all-
healing water from the bottomless well on top of
the hill and another brother helping him. Perfect
day he thought.
As he headed down on the three-step
gold plated stairs, he heard the radio which
was turned on usually by his father who
loves to hear the news every morning even
if he was at the uma, quarter of a kilometre
away where only the slightest buzzing could
be heard.
Chris, as he was called by his
relatives, was ten years old and he lived
in a small shack just under the shadows
of the Kanlaon volcano. His family relied
on the dense tubo that his father sold in
the market for an amount just enough for
their daily needs.
He belonged to a family of five and a
happy one at that. His father, Robel, was
a farmer; his mother, a housewife; and his
older brothers Carlos and Miguel, helped
out in the farming activities.
Chris would sit down by the radio and
listen to the morning news. He would often
hear the debates of warring officials and
people in politics, economic downfalls and
business bankruptcies. Chris could never
perfectly imagine a city except what his
father said to be full of buildings, cars and
smoke. As news after news of problems
were heard, he could only conclude in his
young mind of his that the city was a place
where people could never live in.
“To Chris! Tawga na to tatay mo kag
mga utod mo kay makaon na!” his mother
Isabel shouted from the kitchen just
two steps away from the
bedroom. She
[THE SIMPLE LIFE] 
shouted
so loud that his father on the far end of the uma
and his brothers on the other end could hear
it. Chris was thankful for that and he headed
right straight into the kitchen.
Rice and dried fish plus a sliced okra
were on the table. Wow uga, thought Chris,
with a big smile on his face. Isabel knew
Chris loved dried fish maybe because a
moment before Chris was born, she was still
cooking uga in the kitchen .
”Panghugas to anay, Chris.” said Isabel,
and Chris would happily go to the back of the
house where he washed his hands with the
flowing water of a small creek.
His father would come and join him in
washing his hands. Attempting to carry him up,
Robel would usually try to throw Chris unto the
creek, but this time, he could not anymore budge
the weight of his youngest son who grew up so
fast. Chris laughed hard and went inside riding
on his father’s back.
His two older brothers would also
come in, and bringing along the drinking
water from the well, they would all eat
together. Chris loved to eat with his bare
hands but his mother tells him otherwise.
Later afternoon, he would not have
the pleasure of having to sit down and
play with his Playstation II or PSP or
Gameboy, he would rather go to the uma
with his father and slide down his favorite
papaya tree that was strangely growing
sideways. Chris has never seen a real
slide, made of concrete and paint, even in
his local school. He had been playing on
that tree since he was five years old which
explained the smooth texture of the trunk
and the numerous scars on his thighs.
He had no playmate since they lived to
be without neighbors, instead he would play
by himself and ride his father’s carabao.
He had never seen any of the modern
technologies of today’s world like cellphones
and iPods. The closest he was to technology
and the closest that he
JUNE - OCTOBER 2009|dimensions
might ever be is being
near the national highway where he would
be amazed by the speeding cars which he
would count until he could no longer keep
track in his mind.
At night, he’d like to watch fireflies dance
around the kingki and he would catch some of
them. Bringing himself to sleep, he would tire
himself of endless stories by his father and as he
closed his eyes and stopped the smallest twinkle
of light from entering his fascinated soul, he’d
never wished for a better life.
Fifty kilometres was all there is to change
Chris into something than what he is now. But
he is content to be the same. Maybe because of
the place he lived in or the people around him
that he sees the depth in things. And we come to
realize that he has a different way of perceiving
life. Yes, he thinks like a child but he knows
what reality is and he knows how to see it in a
better way. That is what simplicity is all about.
Let us just remember that simplicity
is not about living without the money, the
fame and the grandeur
lifestyle. It’s about
appreciating life
in the smallest
of ways thus
you derive
happiness and
thus you truly do
live your life.
It’s about
thinking simply
and all you need
is a simple mind
and that may be
what Paris may
never have.
Photo by: Jan Michael V. Arbolado
21
  bUsInEss
By Raimer Gel G. Caspillo
W
hat would you do with your
forgotten yellow Dodge
’69 that takes up precious
space on your front yard? In most
dilapidated neighborhoods, a battered red
Volkswagen standing on cement blocks
instead of legitimate wheels is one of
the causes of eyesore. You could never
expect to score with the ladies with heaps
of metal like these. What was once a
good investment is now parked on your
driveway—a piece of ancient history.
However, if Cinderella had her
pumpkin turned into a sweet carriage,
there is no reason why your tin can on
wheels could not be de-rusted, put into
working order and totally pimped out.
“Pimp My Ride” is a TV show
produced by MTV. Since its prime
telecast in 2004, it has already grabbed
the enthusiasm of its worldwide viewers
especially in the U.S., where it spotted
second highest in popularity. The show’s
concept is simple—taking one car in poor
condition and restoring it with over-the-
top customizations. This program picks
young car owners living in Los Angeles
or elsewhere in Southern California and
pimps their ride for absolutely no cost.
An episode of “Pimp My Ride”
generally begins with the participant
showing his old and deteriorating car
and convincing MTV why it needs to
be “pimped”. After this segment, Xzibit
(host) shows up at the participant’s
house, takes a look at the car himself,
makes wisecrack jokes about the
particular things that are wrong with it,
and promises the owner of a complete
22 dimensions|JUNE - OCTOBER 2009
makeover of the vehicle. After examining
the car, the host takes it to a custom body
shop where the shop team generally
replaces most of the components and
rebuilds the interior and exterior from
scratch. Work usually includes a loud
and crazy paint job, exaggeratingly huge
speakers, integrated DVD players, a large
TFT screen, and extra shiny bling- all
tailored to the personalities and interests
of the owner.
At the end of the show, the car is
revealed to its owner, as well as all the
details of the renovation. In addition,
the participant is usually given a gift
somehow related to the car or the owner’s
hobby.
“We cannot simply neglect old
things like cars. Technology evolves and
new brands or latest models cannot crop
up without reference to the old ones,”
uttered the owner of Lenard Car Care
Center, a mechanic shop proficient in
restoring old and damaged cars.
Ignited by that passion for
automobiles, this shop was established in
Mandurriao, Iloilo City and offers general
body repair, overhauling, and auto
detailing. It is even involved in buying
second-hand cars and selling them after
being restored.
Accepting almost all kinds of cars:
Japanese, American, and locally
manufactured cars, a legacy of
reviving and somehow
innovating these
models cannot crop up
[PIMP My RIdE]
Photo credit: www.freewallpapers2.blogspot.com
automobiles’ façade enable them to
compete with those newly manufactured
ones in the market scene.
This unassuming mechanic shop,
though backward in facilities when
compared to those abroad, proves the
ingenuity and industriousness of the
Filipino. Our clever resourcefulness gives
us the ability to take in pieces of leftover
cloth and give it back as a sturdy rug of
export-quality, like what the women of
Payatas do.
It would be absurd to say that
“Pimp My Ride”, a reality show, was not
patterned to the notion conveyed by car
restoration centers like Lenard’s. Between
the two, there is a great resemblance
and likeness. But though between the
two there is also a difference in the
abundance of resources, the product of
a good and efficient automobile is never
Photo by: Katrina Mae O. Sencil
compromised.
This business venture becomes not
only a profitable endeavor, but as an
outlet for creativity and skill. With talent,
our local mechanics strip a forgotten
piece of ancient history and ingeniously
transform it into a piece of modern art.
We cannot simply
neglect old things
like cars. Technology
evolves and new
brands or latest
without reference to
the old ones.
[PROJECT RUNWAY]
By Ayin Dream D. Aplasca
W
ith the season’s latest tee featuring a
custom design across the chest, you
can expect plenty of compliments
and attention. How could you not love
flaunting a bright color graphic with classic
tee design that offers a pre-shrunk, custom
contoured fit?
In the world of fashion, are you dying
to know what is “in”? Don’t Irina’s heavenly
high-end silk, Carol Hannah’s pleated
charmeuse or Christopher Straub’s winning
four-leaf textured silhouette that steal your
heart?
Do you think you can rock those posh
pieces just as well (if not better) than the
fashion designers of Project Runway?
Can’t get enough of Project
Runway?
Project Runway is an American reality
television series which focuses on fashion
design. The contestants compete with
each other to create the best clothes with
restrictions to time, materials, and theme.
Often, the designers work independently,
although in some challenges, contestants must
work in teams or as a single collective group.
Once the deadline is reached, the designers
must dress their models and select their hair,
make-up, and accessories.
Project Runway uses progressive
elimination through weekly fashion shows
to cut the initial field of 12 or more fashion
designers down to three before the final
challenge. After 12 rough weeks, the designer
who makes it on top wins fame, fortune and a
spread on top fashion magazines.
Project Runway’s Local
Counterpart
Ilonggo designers needed a platform to
launch their collections to be able to become
key players in the national fashion business.
And with this, the Young Designers Guild of
Iloilo will undoubtedly stand out. competitors will always clash with one
This creativity-charged group aims
to discover, equip, train and uplift young
fashion designers so that they will be more
competitive in their design innovations in
order that these will be acceptable in the
national market.
It also helps to develop in them the
professionalism needed to be able to make
it as a far as the national fashion scene is
concerned. It also opens wider doors of
opportunities to enable young aspiring
designers step up and further explore the
fashion world.
Confessions of an “Established
Designer”
Elegance, glamour and romance without
going over the top are the trademarks of the
effortless yet ingenious and fabrics from Paolo
Tugbang’s imagination. Paolo is a former
WVSU student who took up Bachelor of
Science in Nursing. He joined the fashion
world around early 2007. After seeing a
poster about the Robinson’s Design Lab while
strolling in the mall, he decided to jump in
headfirst into the cut throat competition.
During his first competition last February
2007 at the Robinson’s fountain area, he
was the one who paid for his expenses for
materials and labor. Since he was one of
the younger ones, and the one in the batch
who has a disadvantage of being a full time
student, he had to learn the basics of the craft
through practice: choosing the right fabric,
haggling for discounts, measuring, cutting,
JUNE - OCTOBER 2009|dimensions
CAREER 
and even
running the
machine. The
detailing came
in later; styling,
accessorizing,
and dressing up
models.
A
Photo credit: Paolo Tugbang
competition
will always be a competition;
another, artistically and personally. Paolo,
however, made real friends in the competition,
whom he still collaborates with, or ask
opinions about designs and the craft. They are
his professional trampoline.
The Iloilo fashion scene is very dramatic
and fast growing. It is restless. One of the
challenges a fashion designer faces during the
competition is carrying a place for oneself in
this competitive industry. A serious designer
should always have a style that stands out
and is easily recognized; a style which would
be attributed only to the designer. Another
challenge is building a following, a solid
costumer base. It’s hard to promote using
words of mouth. Slowly yet surely, you can
build your following brick by brick.
Hit the Runway!
Showcasing a design in a show is an
immense opportunity and privilege. As Paolo
says, “I like to consider myself more than a
merchandizing designer, I value designing
Photo credit: www.gettyimages.com; Erika C. Dimaguila
more as an art rather than a trade. So for my
clothes to be showcased in shows, big or
small, is the best feeling an artist could ever
have.”
As a young designer, one would never
be able to generate enough publicity and
exposure unless afforded by another spin on
the runway. “But a spontaneous person that I
am with no definition of what my designs can
be, everything depends on my state of mind.
So I can say that, it’s still an on-going process,
a struggle I have to face,” Paolo said.
23
  CAREER
By Mitz S. Serofia
T
welve weeks on a hunting job. Sixteen savage
jaguars hungrily eyeing for a six-figure worth of
meat in a den of countless prey. And now, someone’s
got them. And they’re all ready for the kill.
But then, it was never as easy as what they thought it would
be. It wasn’t as simple as ripping apart a live chicken for it was a
matter of survival. Crucial and daunting, the challenge of going
ahead of the pack becomes the ultimate objective. Once you lag,
the master’s revolver activates, then bang!
You’re fired!
Perhaps, that’s the worst thing Joseph could think of even if
he’s not properly employed yet. But for the 16 aspirants admitted
in the money-maker TV reality show, The Apprentice, getting
fired even in just a week of “tenure” is a poignant reality they
have to face.
In search for the next business kingpin, the show sought
every corporate junctions of America. Eventually, of the 16,000
applicants, 16 people of illustrious backgrounds made it to Sir
Donald’s list. One was a barrister, a global pricing leader, an
international car trader, a scientist, a regional sales manager, a
telesales executive, and people with MBA’s. Surprisingly, there
was even a cookie vendor who later on proved to everyone that
good businessmen can’t all be brain surgeons and that most of her
peers were simply a bunch of knuckers1 and schmoozers2. These
candidates will vie with each other by taking on various tasks
each week to win favor the boss’s decision on which of them
shall be his next apprentice. And that would mean having to work
with one of America’s most influential men. With multi-billion
dollars of tag associated with his name coming from his immense
business empire, Donald Trump is their golden key towards
fame, reputation, and the greenest of all
pastures.
24 dimensions|JUNE - OCTOBER 2009
Apparently, these
apprentices wanted more;
they left their promising jobs in order
to get a chance at an easy ticket towards gold and
glory. In a way, Filipinos should be miffed, not by the show
itself but by the ironic rift of status between theirs and ours.
Joseph, the Dreamer
Joseph Alminaza was a graduate of Nursing last year in
this university. Fruitfully, his toils paid off as he successfully
etched his name on the roll of licensure passers this year. That
feat caused him to bask in happiness and fulfillment, but days
after, that feeling transcended into skepticism and growing
apprehension. What’s next? he thought wryly. With big bold
letters, he kept on repeating the fact that he is now a registered
nurse. Well, actually, one of the thousands of registered nurses
who currently practice their careers at home or bear the title in a
setting utterly different from the exact place that it should fit in.
The atypical pitch
His freshly filled-up resumé and adorned portfolio signify his
humility of submitting into the hubbub of work, even if the skills
required for the job are a bit mismatched.
“Gusto ko gid tani i-practice ang akon profession but ang
opening sang mga hospital tapos na, so I decided to find jobs
while I wait. Actually it started while I was waiting for the NLE
results,” confessed Joseph.
Having worked in the call center for three months and
serving as private guitar tutor for Koreans until now, Joseph
didn’t feel undermined or intimidated by the disparity of the kind
of work he has; instead, he felt thrilled with the challenge of
going independent.
“As a nurse, we are diverse. So, bisan
diin mo lang ko ibutang. And someone told
me nga indi ka magpili sang ubra; once
may opportunity, grab it. This experience of
mine also gives me the fulfillment of having
to stand on my own feet. Aside from being
financially independent somehow, the most
important thing in my experience is that you
gain professional growth.”
A conquest for more
Just like the apprentices, Joseph
envisions himself at the top of his life. His
journey, according to him, does not end on
graduation nor in the recognition of being a
full-fledged practicing nurse. Choices and
possibilities come along the way that one’s
dreams and aspirations become indefinite
in the long-term because one may actually
drop the other, achieve another, and then

His freshly filled-up resumé and adorned
portfolio signify his humility of submitting
into the hubbub of work...
commence a new one.
“I love being a nurse, no doubt about that. But if given the
chance, I would like to pursue this other great dream of mine— to undone. Joseph’s leverage, however, is his robust determination
be a recording artist. I’m just waiting for the right time and
opportunity,” Joseph admitted.
The idea may actually come out of nowhere but music has
been and is Joseph’s most-valued inclination which actually
sprung not so many years ago. In fact, it even exceeds his passion
for health care.
The manifold truth
According to the Department of Labor and Employment
(DOLE), there are approximately three million Filipinos who are
currently unemployed, 232, 000 of which come from Region VI
which places us fourth in the list of the most number of people
not part of the labor force. The good news, however, is that there
had been an increase of 4.33 percent in the number of people that
were employed this year compared to that of 2008. Yet despite
this improvement in employment, skeptical perceptions are still
evident. distinguish a certain flavor once you’ve known
“Daw kabudlay guid subong makakita sang stable nga ubra;
kung may ara man, it is not enough to support our everyday needs,”
commented a couple of fresh graduates lining up in front the PRC.
On the other hand, Amalia Judicpa, DOLE Region VI
Information Officer, refuted the claim. “We have so many job
opportunities in the country but the problem is the lack of skills
available required for those jobs.”
“If that’s the case, tani manumdom sila sang mga ubra nga
maka-fit sa tawo so that many will benefit from it,” Joseph
contradicted.
“We have this National Skills Registry System, a five-year
project of the department that is projected to get the skills profile of possibilities come along the way that one’s
people in the grassroots; this then will be the basis of the investors
for putting up investments or projects in the desired areas but the
problem is there are only few who submit their profile. And it is just
not enough.”
It only proves that the government heralds remarkable
improvements to mitigate the increasing rate of unemployment. But
these, the people do not see. It is not much appreciated and is likely to jaguars have successfully gotten hold of that
get undue criticisms or blame once it fails to meet their demands.
From the imperialists
Donald Trump and Robert Kiyosaki, two of the wealthiest persons
alive across the globe, enumerate the key points of one of the greatest
1
a popularized expression from the show which means someone who is a big shot, know-it-all who is quick to
criticize, but is in fact, a non-achiever.; 2 someone who is only good at conversation
[THE APPRENTICE] 
Photo credit: Mitz S. Serofia
formulas for attaining
wealth in their book Why
You Want To Be Rich?.
Leverage. This is all
about brainpower. With aptitude and
perseverance as the prime moving force in
one’s work, feats will pour copiously. Educational
degrees will just serve as ornaments in an already fruitful
mulberry bush. Actually, it may not even be enough, as with the
case of some big shot apprentices who were too conscious of their
scholarly eloquence that simple selling becomes disappointingly
towards productivity.
Control. Amidst uncertainties and enticements from the lure
of promising exploits, setting limitations within oneself is the
safest option one may consider. Getting impulsive may at times
have a corrosive effect in the iron curtain that protects us from
unexpected misfortunes.
Creativity. That certain sense of ingenuity is truly a valuable
characteristic. In times of turmoil, it becomes relatively easy
to rise above, formulate practical solutions, and devise necessary
changes. As Joseph puts it, “stagnation is not the key; you should
learn to work your way out.”
Expansion. This only becomes feasible once the
Photo credit: Veer
preceding points have been keenly embodied. Your
feathers are now powerful, tough and agile. Therein,
you are now ready to begin conquering horizons.
Predictability. It is said that you can distinctly
what that is. Otherwise, you won’t be able to
appreciate it. Likewise, in order to taste success,
you must know where you are headed towards
and have a clear picture of it. Once you deem
it’s not worth it, take a step back and redirect
your course into something more feasible and
worth pursuing.
Intimate revenues
Joseph was right when he said that
dreams aren’t just that. Choices and
dreams and aspirations become indefinite in
the long-term. Contentment, in other words,
may become an elusive reality either because
satisfaction is hard to reach or there is more to it
than you want.
The hunting job is done. The savage
meat, now stuck between their canines. They
become full and satisfied like subdued, lazy
pigs. But only for a while. Because for now,
a new prey has come and they are all
preparing for the kill.
JUNE - OCTOBER 2009|dimensions 25
  EDUCATION
By Cyra P. Nerpiol
Pop quiz
Aside from the most coveted shoe collection of Imelda Marcos, my personal
statistics says that Philippines is also known as a country with mindless jokes, really.
O
ne time, there was
this gag show host
who asked an adult
bystander what the capital of the
Philippines is and she proudly
answered “P!”
Wow!
I would’ve been awed if she
Photo by: Tajen Sui
tried to say, “Dahlin’, it was meant to
be a pun,” however, with her toothless
grin, she flinched from the camera and
Manila as the capital of the Philippines
was positively out of her context. Funny, yet
think of the underlying impression it presents.
Are Filipinos really that dense?
Does this reflect the defective
educational system of our country?
I was then reminded of a TV program
that somehow sarcastically depicts this.
Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? is
a popular game show that unmasks the potent
learning of grade school pupils and tests the
stored knowledge of adults.
It has default elements such as a host,
game player, an unbelievable amount of jackpot
cash and canned applauses. One has to correctly
answer 11 questions so as to get a million
dollars. If the first five questions are answered
correctly, he can go home with 25,000 dollars.
Each player is given five classmates to help
him (and maybe laugh behind his back) and
three kinds of help options, peek, copy and save.
He can use these options through picking a
classmate and if the player flunks out, he must
face the camera, state his name and say, “I am
not smarter than a fifth grader,” and if he wins,
then it goes the other way around.
There’s our local version “Kakasa ka
ba sa Grade 5?” hosted by Janno Gibbs. And
so far, Karylle Marquez and Chris Tiu are
victims of a sorry outcome of the show.
For the sake of fun and experimentation,
26 dimensions|JUNE - OCTOBER 2009
[ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A 5TH GRADER]
I set out to look for professionals to answer
questions drawn from grade school books.
Q: What is the skin ailment that appears
as white spots on the skin especially on the
face and arms? (Grade 3 Science & Health)
A: Alap-ap? –nurse
Q: Ano ang maikling guhit na inilalagay
sa pagitan ng dalawang pantig na pinaghahati
sa pagitan ng tambalang salita o sa dalawang
salitang pinagkakabit? (Grade 6 Filipino)
A: “I don’t know what you are talking
about.” –college teacher
Q: What is the union of two rays with
a common endpoint called the vertex?
(Grade 5 Mathematics)
A: “Err- (scratching his head…) circle?”
–administrative assistant
A: “Anu man? Radius!”–nurse
Bursting the bubble
Our country seems to have everything
in extremes. If we have mentally slow folks,
there are those who are supra-exceptional. We
can all stand as witnesses to this statement.
Think of all the Filipinos making a name and
some who unfortunately also create shame.
It’s a universal truth that education is an
integral part of human development. We know
its value yet it is dimly grasped through. The
problem is, we remain stuck from “knowing”
rather than “doing”.
Shouldn’t we be intimidated by the
fact that the country that gave birth to Jose
Rizal, Dr. Josette Biyo (Phil. Science HS
teacher whom meteor Biyo was named after),
Brillante Mendoza (Best Director in Cannes
Film Festival) and many other Filipinos who
also made a turning point in history is rapidly
vacuumed into the stigma of mediocrity? It’s
not even comforting to know that those who
are more ‘educationally-blessed’ fly away
from the country to look for cash colder than
the Philippine peso.
Rex Navarette, a Fil-Am stand-up
comedian even coined the term ‘silly brown
monkeys’ to depict us Filipinos, again, for
fun. However, he emphasized that we were
not dull! History tells us we kicked out Spain
all by ourselves and somehow redeemed our
glory. But now, it’s a different story.
After grabbing lunch from McDonald’s,
I am overwhelmed by kids begging for food
when supposedly at that time, they are in school
discussing arithmetic and sentence construction.
As I walked home from school, I hear rude
whistles and remarks from tambays when
supposedly at that time, they’re doing something
worthwhile to build society. I see young mothers
and probably come across a number of snatchers
who, with proper education, could’ve made
something better out of their lives.
Among these people who are bombarded
with ruthless consequences, they cradle
themselves inside a twisted philosophy that they
are better off that way than pursuing something
bigger. Might be because of rejection, or most
likely, laziness...who knows?
That philosophy is likened to a bubble,
with the slightest of a prick, it bursts.
There is no security.
They were left with nothing but their
miserable lives.
So what do we do
Those of you who are able to read this,
congratulations! You already know one of the
two most basic foundations of learning. With
an added heart for schooling, you are most
likely in your way to success.
At times when you feel like being on
the verge of quitting school, think of people
sleeping on Lucky Me boxes as their mattress
and eating leftovers three times a day. You might
also wonder how trigonometry, calculus and
quantum physics can be applied in our daily
lives; it teach us patience and hard work from the
sleepless nights we spend on the equations.
Education is not only limited to
providing us information about the world.
Education builds character.
Most importantly, it makes us
SMARTER THAN A FIFTH GRADER!
Answers: (1) Tinea flava (2) Gitling (3) Angle

Coraline
By Marianne lin D. Pillado
Be careful what you wish for...
This is a reminder that adults usually tell the children. It means that
one should be careful with what they are asking for. And that not every
wish will be granted as how or what you want it to. For Coraline Jones,
remembering this will come from a magical yet spooky experience.
Coraline and her parents move to Pink Palace for the completion
of her parents’ Garden Manual. The once grand place is now an old and
dilapidated house. After visiting Miss April Spink and Miss Meriam
Forcible, retired entertainers, and Mr. Sergei Alexander Bobinsky, a
man who trains mice for entertainment, her thoughts of the place being
boring and plain were confirmed.
As her parents became busy with their work, they had lesser and
lesser time for Coraline. And with her yet to meet new friends, aside
from the owner’s grandson, Wybie Lovat, in their new place, she began
to explore the Pink Palace. She found a small door wallpapered over.
When she asked her mom’s help to get the wallpaper off the wall, she
discovered that it was just a wall covered with bricks. One night, a
mouse woke her up and led her to the small door. She opened the door
and went through the tunnel where she found an alternate world that
was far better and more perfect than where she came from.
Everything was perfect that it just can’t be real.
And it wasn’t. Everything and everyone from her real world had
an other version. But there’s just one, big difference—everyone in the
other world had black buttons for eyes. And for Coraline to stay in the
alternate world for good, she has to trade her own eyes for those black
buttons.
Darkest Power Series:
The Summoning, The Awakening and The Reckoning
By Cyra P. Nerpiol
A
nother trilogy is up and is going to pave its way to the limelight.
If you’re still looking for a paperback that can keep you up all
night and check for monsters inside your closet, then here’s one
for you.
Here is the story of Chloe Saunders, a fifteen-year-old film
student who had been admitted to Lyle House, which she most
likely describes as a ‘house for crazy kids’. Despite being tormented
by her supernatural power, she chose to live a normal life. However,
her so-called power was triggered by an accident a long time ago.
Yes, like the common cliché, “she sees dead people...” Not only
that, she raises them without even trying.
From then on starts her adventures in the Lyle House where
she meets three friends who have supernatural powers as well. One
of them can cast spells. The second has incredible strength and can
turn into a werewolf and the third can burn people with her bare
hands. But the story does not end there for that is only from the first
book of Kelley Armstrong’s series, the “Darkest Powers” entitled
“The Summoning”. Two books are yet to be marvelled and the
latest release of this year is the second, “The Awakening”.
The latter continues to narrate Chloe’s adventures and
misadventures as she and her supernatural friends escape from
the Lyle House. Therein, her necromancy was further amplified
and raising the dead was quite uncontrollable.
In this trilogy, the materials aren’t fresh anymore. It
may even seem like it’s a hodgepodge of every imaginable
CInE/PaPERbaCK 
When she realized that she was better off in
the real world, her other mother whom they call
Beldam, transformed into a giant spider. With
the help of the other Wybie and a talking cat,
she escapes to the real world only to find that her
parents were abducted by Beldam.
Coraline returns to the other world to
rescue her parents and find a way to escape
from Beldam’s grasp.
This stop motion and 3-D animation
ensemble is the first of its kind. The team-up
may seem awkward but, in truth, they mix
perfectly together and formed a very good
animated movie. The animation is reminiscent
of Selick’s “Nightmare Before Christmas” and
also has the same wondrous yet creepy feeling
to it. The art and set designs of Tadahiro Uesugi
added to the beauty of the movie animation.
When you watch Coraline, you wouldn’t
think about how much effort the makers of
this film had gone through but instead be
captivated with every scene. Two years of
pre-production and 83 weeks of shooting all
paid off with the beautiful photography of
Coraline. The images seem almost real that
you can even walk around it.
This movie is one of the best animated
movies of 2009. It will go a long way and will
be loved by those who watch it. The trailer
alone will give you the creeps, enough to
pique you to watching it.
supernatural and paranormal creature
found in any fictional piece. In “The
Summoning”, the first few chapters
were a bit draggy, but later on author
Kelley Armstrong arrives with a story
that can give you a sudden surge of
blood, occasional spine-tingling moments
and mostly hair-rising twists and turns. It’s
not necessarily a page-turner but just oblige
yourselves turning the pages with patience
for the breathtaking parts will just unfold in
front of you and before you know it. Guess for
some suspicious elements.
Surely, this can be a treat for teenagers
and young adults alike. Whether you’re a
fan of Superman, Harry Potter, Twilight or
even the classic Frankenstein, you would
never regret the moment you took this from
the shelf and paid for it. It has the unique
mixture of classic horror and science fiction in
Photo credit: www.google.com
a teenybopper kind of way, but, whether you
are in your late twenties forward, you might
forget to do your chores after you have picked
up this book.
Watch out for the last series of the trilogy,
The Reckoning, and join Chloe Saunders as
she unravels the world of the supernatural.
JUNE - OCTOBER 2009|dimensions 27
  EnvIROnMEnt

Coping with the

WARMING
change
For sure, we have all had enough. As we see how Mother Nature rages, we should all be
asking ourselves what we can do to mitigate the situation… and the time is now.
By Daryl Z. Lasafin prepared? What can you do?
The country is having so much of natural inconsistencies:

N
o one can really tell until when things are going to
last. You cannot say that your house is safe enough,
for if the strong wind cannot destroy it, the flood
water can seep through and damage it. Mud coming
from somewhere can be flushed into the city streets—your
properties may be swept in minutes, your crops may be stolen
away from you. Your 8-year-old daughter may drown, your
grandma maybe left crying on the rooftop.
This may leave you hungry, seeking and
desperate. Or worse, this may
leave you dead.
Two questions:
Are you
We
are now
experiencing
the consequences
extreme heat of the sun during midday that makes one
want for rain; unusually cool dawn in an untimely season;
and “Frank,” “Ondoy” and “Pepeng” as extreme weather
disturbances hitting and creating deadly impact in the most
unexpected places.
We are now experiencing the consequences of careless
human activities that severely damaged the environment.
With these, knowledge is not enough. It must be coupled with
measures that need to be observed to adapt to the changing
climate.
These days, the world is significantly warmer than it has
been thousands of years ago, and the world’s temperature
will most likely increase in the coming years. The so-called
“warming” is global. According to the Third Assessment
Report in the international scientific consensus of the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the
evidence that global warming is indeed increasing “comes
from direct measurements of rising surface air
temperatures and subsurface ocean temperatures
and from phenomena such as increases
in average global sea levels, retreating
glaciers, and changes to many physical and
biological systems.”
Human activities are the ones to
which climate change, or the global
warming, is most attributed to. Basing
on this statement coming from the IPCC
report and also from Greenpeace, what
have humans did in the recent decades
have resulted to what
is happening in the
present. This also
Photo credit: www.google.com

gives an implication
of careless human that what humans
activities that severely do today will define the
climate of tomorrow.
damaged the environment. Fossil fuels such as oil, coal
and gas are the most abundant,
accessible and cheap
source energy. The

2 dimensions|JUNE - OCTOBER 2009 Sources:Third Assessment Report. International Scientific Consensus of the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC 2001); Joint Science Academies’
Statement: Global Response to Climate Change

use of these types of fuels, however, through combustion,
releases carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. Carbon
dioxide is one of the greenhouse gases that are claimed to be
causing the warming of the Earth’s surface through the slowly
becoming abnormal “greenhouse effect”.
The “greenhouse effect” secures the warmth as heat is
trapped to support life on Earth, but the consistent use and
burning of these fossil fuels releases more carbon dioxide and
other greenhouse gases, leaving less space for heat to go back
to space, making the Earth warmer.
Climate change is not a new issue at all, for it was
observed by scientists during the early 80s, but was given more
emphasis during the 1990s, tagging the decade as the warmest
decade and 1998 as the warmest year. The IPCC projected
that the average global surface temperatures will continue to
increase to between 1.4 centigrade degrees and 5.8 centigrade
degrees above 1990 levels, by 2100.
Getting through it
Typhoons during the past year never caused this much
panic. The question repeats: Are you prepared?
There could be no immediate remedy for the rising global
temperature for solutions can be applied gradually just as how
gradual the warming goes, but only remains unnoticed.
In search for solutions to prevent the further worsening
of this environmental condition, environmental activists are
on the move to fight against those who are still abusing nature
without minding about the long term effects.
One example is the Greenpeace activists including some
Iloilo residents who urged the local government to impede
the pursuance of the operations of the coal-fired power plant
in the city, calling it “stupid” as there are other alternative
sources of energy like wind, geothermal and biomass—which
are readily available and renewable.
The possible operations of the coal-fired power plant impose
threats to the people near the community where it is put up.
According to Amalie Obusan, climate and energy campaigner
of Greenpeace Southeast Asia, operating the coal plant will
contribute to the global climate crisis and local pollution, as
well as being a threat to the health of local residents. She added
that “The people know what they want and they want clean,
renewable energy. Coal should not be shoved down their throats
just because of the vested interests of a few.”
Perhaps, nothing can be more valuable than having the
knowledge about something in order to prepare one’s self.
Considering today’s global condition, there can be no match
with enough knowledge if it is coupled with additional ideas and
necessary and practicable measures to help the people cope.
This idea was acknowledged and given emphasis during
the forum entitled “Climate Change Adaptation through
Agro-forestry” held October 9 this year at Hotel del Rio,
with Senator Loren Legarda as the resource speaker.
Legarda, chair of the Congressional oversight committee
on climate change adaptation, stressed that community
planning and preparedness are very important measures as
long-term solution to mitigate the harsh impacts of natural
disasters such as typhoons and earthquakes. It was also
implied during her lecture that rescue and relief assistance
are essential, but only after the event happened, making it
a short-term solution.
http://www.greenpeace.org/seasia; http://www.greenpeace.org/india; www.thenewstoday.info; Jelly F. JUNE - OCTOBER 2009|dimensions
Musico, “Legarda sees community planning as long-term solution to effect of climate change”
EnvIROnMEnt 
Legarda also said that there is a need to relocate the
people out of danger zone or areas vulnerable to natural
calamities to avoid the repeat of the heavy flooding made by
tropical storm “Ondoy”. She also proposed the formation of a
volunteer group which shall be trained to vigilanty during the
first signs of calamities.
The forum was attended by 120 local government
leaders and representatives, giving them the idea on how
agro-forestry can help prepare the people for climate
change. Legarda said that agro-forestry has a high carbon
sequestration capacity, averaging at 50 tons per hectare
for humid zones like the Philippines, making it a good
example of adaption action to climate change with positive
mitigation effect.
Making the move
The time for reform is now. The question repeats: What
can you do?
The effects of the changing climate are adverse,
especially on water resources, agriculture, natural
ecosystems and human health. The domination of these
adverse effects will be yielded by the larger and faster
changes in climate. It can be recalled that during the
typhoon “Frank”, there were a lot of properties and lives
damaged, and the strength of the typhoon was unexpected.
Then this year, the gap between the occurrences of the
Greenpeace suggests six simple things that people can do to
contribute in preventing the further proliferation of global
warming due to the increase of greenhouse gases such as CO2.
1. Replacing one regular incandescent light bulb with a
Compact Florescent Lamp will save 70 kgs of CO2 a year.
2. Walk, cycle, car-pool or take public transport more
often. You’ll save one kg of CO2 for every 3.5 km you
don’t drive!
3. You can save 1,080 kgs of CO2 every year by recycling
just half of your household waste.
4. Keeping your tires inflated properly can improve mileage
by more than 3 percent. Every liter of petroleum saved
keeps 3 kgs of CO2 out of the atmosphere!
5. You can save 540 kgs of CO2 if you cut down your garbage
by 10 percent.
6. Simply turning off your TV, DVD player, stereo and
computer when you’re not using them will save you
thousands of kgs of CO2 a year.
typhoons is only of short time span. This is already one
manifestation of increasing frequency and severity of
weather events such as heat waves and heavy rainfall—all
attributed to the increasing temperatures.
Effective information dissemination to create public
awareness is the most effective way of starting the steps
towards the bigger goal of securing one’s self despite the
warming world. With practical long-term solutions and
cooperation of the citizens, we are all close to seeing light of
hope for a better climate condition and a better environment.
Mother Nature, despite her rage, is never out of our
control—she is actually here with us, kept in our hands, close to
our hearts—and she is the only one we have. She needs us. We
need her. And her serenity for the benefit of all lies in us.
29
  HILIGAYNON
Ginahulid niya ang Santo Intiero. Ang santos nga iya pinakapalangga kag ginapakaali. Makatilingala ang
ila relasyon nga duha. Nagbugtaw sia nga nagasiliyak ang mga maya sa mga sanga sang bayabas sa sagwa sang
bintana sa iya hulot. Nahamtang ini sa ikaduha nga panalgan sang iya balay. Gilayon nga ginhapulas niya ang
ulo sang santos nga daw iya ini isa ka bana. Iya ini ginsugilanon. Daw isa ka buhi nga tawo lang ini para sa iya.
“Santo nakabugtaw ka na? Magahod nga nagasiliyak abi ang mga
maya sa mga sanga sang bayabas ta!”
Iya ginpulot ang tsinelas sa idalom sang iya katre kag ginhaboy
ang mga maya sa sanga sang bayabas! Para sa iya isa ka pagtublag sa
nagakatulog niya nga santos ang pagsiliyak sang ini.
“Ato naglulupad na ang mga buwisit, gani matulog ka liwat kay
basi natuyo ka pa?” hambal ni Marianita sa iya santos kag dala himas
sang ulo sini.
Daw iya lang bana ang pagkabig sini. Iya ini ginasugilanon
subong nga daw isa ini ka tawo. Hinali na lang nga nakibot sia sang
may nagapanawag sa sagwa sang ila pader.
“Nita! Nita! Ara ka da? Bugtaw ka na kay adlawon na! Sobra na
ina nga tulog!”
Ang nagapanawag amo ang iya abyan nga si Lucy. Si Lucy
madugay na niya nga abyan kag amo lang ini ang iya abyan sa bug-os
nga banwa sang Mantawe. Si Lucy lamang ang makahangop kay Nita.
Madugay na ang ila pag-abyanay kag ini tuman ka himpit. Halin pa
sang elementarya, hayskul kag kolehiyo sa Mantawe sa mga tinuig
kag nagpabilin nga suod sila nga mag-abyan. Pareho ang ginkuha nila
nga kurso nga komersiyo, apang si Lucy lang ang nakatapos, si Nita
wala. Sa mag-untat si Nita sa pag-eskwela sa kolehiyo, daw ma-untat
man tani eskwela ang iya abyan, ugaling ginkigan ini sang iya mga
ginikanan, gani nagpadayon sia sa pag-eskwela. Tuman kasuod ang
ila pag-abyanay kag wala na sila sing may tinago sa isa kag isa. Halos
adlaw-adlaw ginabisitahan ni Lucy ang iya abyan. Daw isa na lang
si Lucy ka utod para sa iya abyan kag daw halos didto na nagapuyo.
Kon kaisa didto sia nagatulog kag wala na nagapauli sa ila balay. Kon
kaisa nagakabalaka na ang ginikanan ni Lucy kon diin sia, apang ila
nahangpan nga ato sia sa iya suod nga abyan nga si Nita.
Si Lucy isa ka laon kag si Nita isa ka balo. Ang pagkapatay
sang bana ni Nita indi niya luyag nga sugilanonan. Mapait sa iya nga
madulaan sang isa ka bana. Ang ginkamatay sang iya bana amo ang
pagkasunog sini sa sulod sang kamalig sa likod sang balay nila.
Pagkatapos nga napatay ang iya bana ginbalhin niya ang iya
panghunanhuna sa pag-atipan sang iya Santo Intiero. Iya pa ini sang
nanay sang iya lola. Iya ini ginpanubli bilang nagaisahanon nga anak
sang iya iloy. Ginsumpa niya sa iya iloy bag-o napatay, nga iya gid ini
paga-atipanon. Ginaprosesyon ini kon semana santa apang sugod sang
natabo ang pagkasunog sang kamalig, sa diin nga nga nasunog man
ang iya bana, wala na niya ini ginaprosesyon. Iya na lang ini ginatagu
sa iya balay kag makalalatom subong ang ila kaangtanan sa isa kag
isa. Ginasagod gid niya ini. Iya ini ginalimpyohan, ginasugilanon,
ginahalukhalukan nga daw isa lang niya ka bana. Malaka na sia nga
nagagwa sa iya balay. Kon Domingo na lang nga adlaw sia nagagwa
30 dimensions|JUNE - OCTOBER 2009
Third Prize, Hiligaynon
Short Story, 59th Don Carlos Palanca
Memorial Awards for Literature
Ang Santo
Intiero
By Joselito Vladimir D. Perez
Photo credit: www.google.com
para magsimba. Indi na niya mahangpan ang iya pagpangabuhi. Indi
na mahangpan sang bug-os nga Mantawe ang iya pagginawi luwas
lamang sa iya mahimpit nga abyan nga si Lucy.
“Uy, Lucy temprano pa ni ha, aga pa ari ka na?”
“Huo Marianita, Huwebes subong nga adlaw, tienda subong, gani
nanindahan na lang ako sang aton mga kinahanglanon sa sulod sang isa
ka semana.”
“Uy, salamat gid, ti pila akon utang sa imo?” pamangkot ni
Marianita
“Ambot Lucy a, pamatyagan ko bala daw sang kahapon lang ta
nagkilal-anay. Daw balay ko na ang pagkabig sining balay mo.”
“O sulod ka kag pasensyahe na lang kay ang mga buwisit nga
mga maya, aga pa nagsiliyak na sa sagwa sang bintana sa kwarto ko ti,
kondi natublag ang tulog namon ni Santo.”
Ang una nga panalgan buhat sa tisa ang dingding kag ang pundasyon
kag kahoy ang ikaduha nga panalgan. Isa ini ka dumaan ang balay. Iya pa
ini sang nanay sang iya lola. Daku ang ganhaan sini nga may ginlukit nga
mga bulak nga mga rosas ang mga disenyo kag ini buhat sa molave. Ang
salog sa una nga panalgan mga piedra tsina, mga bato nga halin sa tsina.
Pagsulod mo sa daku nga ganhaan imo dayon makita ang grandeza nga
hagdanan pasaka sa ikaduha nga panalgan. Buhat sa kamagong ang hagdan
kag ang iya barandilya ginlukit sing mauti sa disenyo sang mga bulak nga
rosas kag dahon. Madamu sing lawa sa una pa lang nga panalgan. Imo
makita nga daw wala masilhigan ang salog nga piedra tsina. Madulom kag
mabugnaw ang idalom sang balay. Imo makita ang madamu nga tadyaw
kag mga dama juana, kay sadto ang iya iloy naganegosyo sang langgaw.
Wala na ginpadayon ni Marianita ang negosyo sugod sang napatay ang iya
bana kag ang ila nga humayan kag katubohan iya na lang ginapaarkelahan.
Diri man sa idalom sang balay ginatago ang humay nga iya ginakunsomo
nga iya parte sa mga arkila kag ini nasulod sa isa ka dako nga tabungos.
Ang idalom nagasirbe nga isa ka bodega. Diri man sang una ginatago ang
Santo Intiero ugaling iya gid ginpahimuan sang isa ka kamalig sa likod
sang iya balay kay ang iya bana wala nagatuo sa mga santos.
Isa ka pastor ang iya bana kag nagapati nga sala ang magtuo sa mga
idolo. Gani ginpahimuan na lang niya ini sang kamalig sa likod sang ila
balay kay nagpaandam ang iya bana nga sunogon niya ang Santo Intiero
kon iya pa ini makita sa sulod sang ila panimalay. Apang subong, kay patay
na ang iya bana kag iya na nga ginatatap sing maayo ang Santo Intiero.
Masami sila nga naga-away sang iya nga bana sang buhi pa ini, bangod
sang Santo Intiero. Isa sia ka katoliko kag isa ka debuto sang Santo Intiero
apang ang iya bana nagadumili sa iya pagtuo sa amo nga santos ukon
sa mga santos gani nga iya na lang ginpahimuan ang Santo Intiero sang
kamalig sa likod sang balay niya para malikawan ang gamo.
Sa ikaduha nga panalgan kon magsaka ka sa hagdan ikaw

magadiretso sa antesala. Punu sang lawa ang kisame, mga pusod kag
idalom sang pulongkuan nga narra nga masibud ang pag-ukit sang mga
bulak nga rosas kag dahon sini kay ang pag-atipan lang sa Santo Intiero
ang ginakabalakhan ni Anita. Napabay-an na niya ang paglimpyo kag pag-
atipan sang iya panimalay. Ang tupad sang antesala may ganhaan pasulod
sa kadak-an kag sa kalan-an nga hulot. Mga narra ang mga gamit nga
katulad sa antesala masibod ang pag-ukit sini sa mga pulungkuan sa kadak-
an kag sa kalan-an. Sa kilid sang kadak-an amo ang hulot ni Anita kag ang
lawa imo man makita sa kisame kag sa mga pusoran sini. Sa idalom sang
mga siya kag lamesa , madamol na ang yab-ok sa mga muebles.
Ginbuksan ni Anita ang ganhaan pasulod sa kadak-an para kay
Lucy. May dala si Lucy nga alat kag puno sang iya pinaninda. Mga
ulutanon, preska nga bangrus, itlog nga isa ka dosena, isa ka dosena
nga chorizo, balingon, kag duha ka kilo nga baboy.
“Baw! Daw kadamu gid sang pinaninda mo nga ina haw?”
pamangkot ni Anita
“Kadiutay sini. Para man lang ini sa isa ka semana kay para man
lang ni sa aton nga duha.” sabat ni Lucy.
“Haay! Abi mo Lucy daw indi na ‘ko kabalo sang himuon ko kon
wala ka,” sabat ni Anita nga may simbog nga kabalaka. “Ma-ano na
lang kami ni Santo kon wala ka?”
“Ara ka na naman. Mahimo ko bala nga pabay-an ikaw?
Syempre indi gid lang e!” May pag-ulikid nga hambal ni Lucy.“Wala
ka pa siguro ka pamahaw ay?”
“Wala pa gani, kag daw gutom na ako kag waay gid sulod ang ref
sa kusina bisan itlog na lang para akon pritohon.”
Nagdiretoso sila sa kusina sa tupad sang hulot kalan-an. Didto
ginhaw-as ni Lucy ang iya pinaninda. Nagdabok sia sang kahoy sa
dapog para magluto sang ila pamahaw.
Ginprito ni Lucy ang ginbati niya nga itlog kag ginsugba niya
ang talong kag iya lang ini ginkamatisan kag ginbutangan sang sibuyas.
Si Anita naman amo ang nagtig-ang.
“Lucy, sobra gid kabudlay kon nagakaisahanon ka! Wala ka na
sing ginikanan kag balo ka pa. Wala man ako sing bata, haay!” hambal
ni Anita nga nagalibog ang iya pamensaron. “ Ano na lang ‘ni kon
magtigulang ‘ko. Si Santo Intiero na lang ang akon upod!”
“Ano man ina Anita. Kaaga pa sang kalibutan amo na ina ang sa
sulod sang imo pamensaron. Indi ka magkabalaka ari ‘ko di pirme sa
imo tupad kag updan ta ikaw pirme,” pasalig ni Lucy. “Nita, ngaa indi
ka magnobyo liwat kag magpakasal?” malulo nga pamangkot ni Lucy.
Wala nagsabat si Anita kag sige lang ang iya kilis sang bugas.
Makita mo sa iya nawong ang kasubo kag daw indi niya luyag nga
pagsugilanonan pa ang amo nga bagay.
“Pasensya ka na Anita ha? Bal-an tuman ka personal ang akon
nga pamangkot.”
“Indi Lucy. Siguro tion na para imo mahibaloan ang tanan. Suod
kita nga mag-abyan, kag nagasalig man ako nga makatago ka sang isa
ka sekreto bahin sa imo abyan.”
“Ha! Sekreto! Abi ko wala na ta sing sekreto nga duha kay bisan
alom mo sa buli, kabalu na ako kon pila kabilog, tapos may sekreto ka
pa gali nga wala ko nahibaloan?” ang linabutaw nga nasambit ni Lucy.
“Paano mo nabal-an ang mga alom ko sa buli?”
“Nalipat ka na nga sang gamay kita? Upod kita pirme nagapaligo
sa suba sa ilawod?”
“Ay huo.. kag hublas kita nga nagapaligu nga duha apang daw
wala man lang sa aton kay magagmay pa kita sadto!”
Nagkinadlaw sila sang ila madumdoman ang ila ginpanghimu
sang sila bata pa. Daw naham-ot sila nga duha sa ila inagihan.
Nahidlaw man sila nga makatkat ang ila pagkabata.
“ Kag dumduman mo nga dalidali kita nag-ilis sang makita naton
si Mario kag ang iya mga barkada nga nagapadulong sa suba agud
maligo man?” pamangkot ni Lucy.
“Huo kag nanagu kita sa puno sang kamunsil, kag aton sila nakita nga
HILIGAYNON 
naghulublas kag naligo sa suba,” hambal ni Marianita nga naham-ot.
“Greyd five kita sadto kag natukiban ta nga puro pa sila putyong
ha! ha! ha!”
Ang ila kadlaw kag kalipay sang ila madumdoman ang ila mga
masadya nga inagihan sang sila magagmay pa lang. Masadya ang
ila pag-updanay sa kusina kag dali na lang mahubsan ang tinig-ang
ni Anita. Naluto na ang estrelyado nga itlog kag chrorizo. Samtang
ginapaalangayan ni Marianta ang tinig-ang, ginahimos naman ni Lucy
ang lamesa sa kusina para sa ila pamahaw. Ginbalik liwat ni Lucy ang
topiko bahin sa pagpamana ni Anita.
“Anita, kondi wala pa tubtob subong sing asawa si Mario kag
nagapangluyag sia sa imo?” yamuhat naman ni Lucy.
“Haay, Lucy daw wala na ako sing gana sa mga lalaki, puro lang
ini sila traidor,”agaw ni Marianita.
“Ngaa nakahambal ka sina. Ang imo una nga bana isa ka pastor
kag grabe gid ang pagpalangga niya sa imo!”
“Wala ka lang kabalo sang tanan Lucy kag kon isugid ko sa imo,
basi indi ka siguro magpati.”
“Ay, abi pabay-an ta na lang ina kay mga tatlo na ka tuig nga
patay sia,”sabat ni Lucy.
Nagapaninghamot ang chorizo. Ginsukad na ni Marianita
ang kan-on sa kaldero kag nakahanda na ang mga pinggan kag
ang estrelyado nga itlog. Masadya sila nga nagapamahaw kag
nadumduman ni Marianita ang iya Santo Intiero.
“Ay, dali lang Lucy si Santo Intiero gali basi nakabugtaw na sia,
kuhaon ko lang para makaupod sia pamahaw sa aton.”
Naghipos lang si Lucy sang iya ini ginhambal ni Marianita. Si Lucy
lang ang makahangop sini sa iya. Masakit para sa iya abyan ang madulaan
sang bana kag sa isa ka katanhagaan ang pagkasunog sang iya bana sa
sulod sang kamalig. Para kay Lucy indi gihapon mabaton sang iya abyan
ang pagkamatay sang iya bana gani iya na lang ini ginahangop ang guba
nga pamensaron sini bilang isa niya ka mahimpit nga abyan. Naggwa sa
iya hulot si Marianita kag iya ginapas-an ang Santo Intiero.
Human sa santol ang santos gani indi man gid mabug-at para iya ini
pas-anon. Mga lima ka tapak ang kataason sini kag kon imo himutaran isa
ini ka obra maestra. Sa iya pa lang nawong imo na makita ang kasakit kag
ang kasubo sini. Isa ka bantog nga iskultor ang nag-obra sini, kag iya gid
napakita paagi sa pag-ukit ang halos matuod nga pag-antos kag kamatayon
ni Hesus. Ginpahigda niya ini sa duha ka pulungkoan sa kalan an sa kusina.
Photo credit: www.google.com
Iya ginhapulas ang ulo sini kag iya ginsugilanon.
“ Santo luyag mo nga magkaon, pero bal-an ko nga indi ka
magkaon kay wala ka man nagakaon kay
puro na lang pag-antos ang ginahimo
mo,” nakatilingala nga pamangkot
ni Marianita sa santos.
JUNE - OCTOBER 2009|dimensions 31
  HILIGAYNON
Nagkaon na lang si Lucy sang ginluto nila nga pamahaw kag
iya na lang ginpabay-an ang ginahimo sang iya abyan. Iya na ini
namutikan sugod sa pagkamatay sang bana sang iya nga abyan nga
daw nagalain na ang panghunahuna sini. Iya na lang ini ginhagad nga
magkaon.
“Marianita tama na ina. Kaon na kita. Daw gutom ka man bala?”
“Una ka lang ‘da kay asikasohon ko pa si Santo.”
“Sige, mamangkot ‘ko sa imo liwat bahin kay Mario nga
nagapangluyag sa imo subong. May gana ka sa iya?” pamangkot liwat
ni Lucy.
“Mga traidor na sila tanan Lucy, kag wala na ako salig sa mga lalaki.”
“Nga-a man, palangga ka gid lang sang una mo nga bana a!”
“Huh! Wala ka lang kabalo Lucy, isa ato ka yawa ang pastor nga
ato, ginagamit ‘ya lang ang pagkapastor ‘ya para sa iya pagpanonto.”
“Di bala grabe gid ato ang luyag niya sa imo nga bisan indi pa
luyag sang iya ginikanan sa imo kay isa ka katoliko kag ang ila bata
pastor pero ginpakasalan niya ikaw?” pamangkot ni Lucy
“Indi man gani kauyon ang akon ginikanan sa iya kay isa sia ka
pastor. Kag kami katoliko pero ‘ti sobra gid ang pagpalangga ko sa iya,
gani akon sia ginpakaslan.”
“Bal-an ko na Anita, kag amo pa gani ina ang rason kon ngaa nag-
untat ka sa imo pag-eskwela sa kolehiyo apang wala ko kabalo kon nga-a
ginatawag mo sia nga isa ka yawa kay daw kabuot man sadto sa iya!”
Nakibot si Lucy sang sabat ni Marianita. Daw indi sia magpati
sang ginhambal sa iya sang iya abyan. Nag-untat sia sing kaon kag
gintulok si Anita nga nagakatingala. Si Marianita naman sige ang
hapulas sa iya Santo Intiero nga daw isa niya ini ka bana kag ini
nagayuhomyuhom nga daw indi maintindihan. Pinamangkot ni Lucy
kon may likom nga ginatagu si Anita sa iya. Wala nagsabat si Anita kag
sige ang iya himas sa iya Santo Intiero.
“Anita may sekreto ka gid nga ginatago mo lang sa akon? Ngaa
indi mo pag-isugid? Abyan mo ako.”
Wala nagsabat si Anita. Iya na lang gintulok si Lucy nga may
kasubo. Nagginhawa sia sing madalom kag iya ginhalin ang panulok sa
Santo Intiero.
“Kon akon isugid sa imo isumpa mo bala sa akon nga imo taguon
ang akon sekreto Lucy?” pamangkot ni Anita
“Anita isa kita ka mahirup nga abyan kag kon ano man ang imo
sekreto aton ‘na lang ina nga duha,” pasalig ni Lucy.
“Basta isumpa mo ha?”
“Huo kag sa atubang pa sang Santo Intiero, ginasumpa ko nga
indi ko pag-ipanugid.”
Naglain ang dagway sang nawong ni Anita sang iya na isugid
ang sekreto niya sa kay Lucy nga iya nagaisahanon nga abyan sa
bug-os nga Mantawe kag iya ginasaligan sang tanan niya nga sekreto.
Nagasalamu ang kasubo kag kaakig nga makita sa iya nawong.
Nagasampok ang iya mga kilay nga nagatulok sa Iya Santo Intiero kag
padayon ang iya himas sang ulo sini. Nagginhawa sia sing madalom.
“Lucy, ang matuod indi disgrasya ang pagkamatay sang akon
bana nga pastor. Ang iya pagkasunog sa sulod sang kamalig indi
disgrasya.”
“Ha! Ti kon indi disgrasya, paano nasunog ang kamalig?”
nagakatingala nga pamangkot ni Lucy.
“Isa ka gab-i pagkatapos ko pangadi sang rosaryo akon
ginpangita ang yabi sang kamalig para usisaon ang Santo
Intiero kay igaprosesyon na sia sa sunod na nga
semana, kay semana
32 dimensions|JUNE - OCTOBER 2009
santa na, gani akon na nga ginhanda ang tanan.” Ang masubo nga hambal
ni Anita nga padayon ang hapulas sang ulo sang santos. “Wala ko nakita
ang yabi apang akon gihapon ginkadtoan ang kamalig nga nakatagu ang
Santo Intiero. Nakibot ako nga abri na ang kandado. Akon na lang ginsid-
ing kon may tawo sa sulod ukon basi may isa ka kawatan.”
“Ti ano ang imo nakita.?” pamangkot ni Lucy.
“Nakita ko ang bana ko sa sulod sang kamalig nga may upod nga
babaye, kag bal-an mo na kon ano ang ila ginahimo?” siling ni Anita nga
imo makita ang kaakig sa iya nawong.
Gani daw natapungawan si Lucy. Wala makalihok.
“Nagbalik ako sa balay kag daw indi ako magpati nga mahimo
ato sang akon bana nga isa pa naman ka pastor. Kag sugod sadto akon
na ginpamensar nga magbalos sa akon yawa nga bana.”
Nagasampok ang kilay ni Anita nga padayon nga nagahapulas sa santos
kag nagatulok sa malayu.
“Sang masunod nga gab-i, nadula naman ang yabi gani ako
nagaduhadoha na ako nga didto naman sila sang iya babaye sa kamalig,
apang akon na nga nakuha ang Santo Intiero kag ginhalin sa idalom sang
balay para sa akon plano nga magbalos sa tion nga makita ko sila liwat.
Photo credit: www.google.com
Ginkuha ko ang isa ka galon nga gasolina sa idalom sang balay nga akon
na nga daan ginhanda kag gindala sa kamalig. Wala nila nabatyagan
ang pagbubo ko sang gasolina sa palibot sang kamalig kay hubog sila
sa ginatawag nga kawat nga pagkighilawas. Akon ginkandadohan ang
kamalig kag ginsindihan ang gasolina.”
Nagyuhomyuhom naman si Marianita nga indi mahangpan ang iya
panghunahuna kag balatyagon.
“Nasunog sila nga duha kag indi sila makagwa,” puno sang akig nga
hambal ni Marianita. “Bisan ano katunog ang singgit nila sang tabang,
wala sing nakabati kag akon mismo nakita kon paano sila ginkaon
sing kalayo.”
Ginhalin ni Anita ang panulok sa Santo Intiero kag padayon
ang paghimashimas sang nawong sini.
“Gani dako ang pagpasalamat ko sa imo Santo bisan nga
ginsikway ta ikaw sa kamalig sa likod sang balay , kay kon wala ka,
baw, waay ko gid natukiban ang pagkatraidor sang akon bana, kag
dugay na ang paumod naton nga duha .” nagayuhomyuhom nga
ginasugilanon ni Marianita ang Santo Intiero. “Nagakadapat lang
sa ila nga masunog kay sa impierno gid lang ang ila pagakadtoan
nga duha.”
Nagaduko lamang si Lucy nga padayon
ang iya kaon. Pagkatapos niya kaon ginhimos
niya ang iya pinggan kag gintapangtabunan
ang nabilin nga mga pagkaon sa ibabaw sang
lamesa. Iya na lang ginpamangkot ang iya
abyan kon makaon ini.
“Marianita gintabunan ko lang ang imo
palamahawom sa ibabaw sang lamesa.
Buksi na lang kon gutom ka na.”
panugyan ni Lucy sa mahinay kag
malulo nga tingog.
Apang ginpadayon
ni Marianita ang
paghimashimas sang iya
Santo Intiero kag iya
ini ginasugilanon nga
nagayuhomyuhom.