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The Flame: Faces of Dapitan

“Ngayon ba nafi-feel mo na ‘yung ber months na ‘vibe,’ ‘yung parang festive na kasi magpapasko na?”

“Hindi ko pa masyadong nararamdaman ‘yung ‘ber months kasi masyado kaming focused sa thesis. You know, fourth year life, so medyo dini-desregard pa namin ‘yung thoughts about Christmas kasi kailangan namin mag-focus sa thesis namin.”

“Other than that, may iba pa bang factors kaya mo nasabing ‘di mo pa nafi-feel ‘yung usual festive na mood ng ber months?”

“Marami kasing social issues [ngayon e]. Like ‘yung recent lang, ‘yung namatay ‘yung Political Science graduate na si Horacio Castillo III, pati ‘yung [mga] kumakalat sa social media na baka daw mag-declare si Duterte ng martial law. So parang nawawala ‘yung essence ng Christmas which is happiness and peace.”

“Sa tingin mo ba may difference [‘yung] mga nae-experience mo tuwing ber months before compared sa mga nae-experience mo sa ber months this year?”

“Oo naman, syempre. Kasi alam naman natin talaga na maraming social issues kahit kailan. Pero siguro nare-realize mo lang din [na] as time goes by, [habang] tumatanda ka nga, nao-open ‘yung perspectives mo sa maraming bagay. Sa tingin ko nga mas masaya ‘yung ‘ber months ‘pag bata ka kaysa ngayon na marami ka nang alam at marami ka nang responsibilities in life.”

– Ryoma Tamayo, 19, AB English Language Studies

Interview by CRISTINA ELOISA A. BACLIG Photo by MARIANNE LORRAINE M. SAMILING

Link: https://abtheflame.net/ryoma/

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The Flame: Faces of Dapitan

“[Since what year pa] po kayo nagtuturo?”

“Since 1993.”

“Anong fulfillment po ‘yung narereceive mo [from teaching]?”

“Fulfillment is when I see what we call in the corporate world the ‘aha moments.’ Aha moment is when you’re able to help them understand something. [I] see that I’m directly helping them shape their behavior, shape their mindset, shape a lot of things about them. [I]t’s challenging, but that’s the fulfillment. It’s when they look back or come back and say ‘Ay teacher ko yan.’”

“Ano po yung pinaka-memorable moment sa pagtuturo mo po dito sa AB?”

“Every day.”

“If you will describe your experience in teaching using one word, anong word ‘yung gagamitin mo and why?”

“Fulfilling. [D]espite the opportunities I have in the corporate word, I never gave up teaching. I’ve gotten so many offers but if the offer will impinge on my teaching, I’ll give it up.”

– Chrisma Bangaoil, Instructor, Behavioral Science

Interview by CRISTINA ELOISA A. BACLIG Photo by MIKAELA CECILLE S. SILVERIO

This interview is part of Faces of Dapitan Special: Anecdotes from the Academics done by Flame staffers in line with the celebration of National Teachers’ Month.

Link: https://abtheflame.net/chrisma-bangaoil/

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The Flame: Faces of Dapitan

“Ilang years ka na po nagtuturo sa AB?”

“Six years.”

“Before ka po mag-decide na maging teacher, mayroon po bang profession na gusto mo po sana maging or kunin?”

“Originally, the plan was to become a lawyer. Then, I realized I was too high blood noong college. I always quarrel with my classmates and even bully them with my expertise of the law. Then I realized [that] whenever I prepare my reviewers, my classmates pass, so I’m going to teach.”

“Sa tingin mo po, tama naman po ‘yung naging desisyon mo na maging teacher?”

“Yes, definitely! I know I made the right decision. [I] realized, I’m doing what I love; I’m happy with what I love. I’m also achieving what I am achieving right now, and I’m happy with the love of my students. You can’t exchange that with the practice of law.”

“Ano po yung lesson na wala sa textbooks, sa readings at sa lectures na gusto mo pong tumatak sa isipan ng mga students mo?”

“[T]here is life outside the classroom. When we say life outside the classroom, interact with your peers in AB; interact with your peers in UST. Do not just interact with them in the way that happened recently with one of our brothers here in AB. [Y]ou need to find friends.”

– Ronald Castillo, Instructor, Department of Political Science

Interview by CRISTINA ELOISA A. BACLIG Photo by MIKAELA CECILLE S. SILVERIO

This interview is part of Faces of Dapitan Special: Anecdotes from the Academics done by Flame staffers in line with the celebration of National Teachers’ Month.

Link: https://abtheflame.net/ronald-castillo/

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The Flame: Faces of Dapitan

“Sine-celebrate mo po talaga ‘yung Pasko every year simula noong bata pa po kayo?”

“Simula bata pa ako, ang nanay ko [ang nagsasabing] ‘Maghanda tayo sa Pasko.’ Hindi naman ‘yung Paskong handang-handa. Tama na sa amin ‘yung mag-pansit kami, meron kaming fried chicken, o meron kaming spaghetti at tinapay.”

“Ano po ‘yung wish mo ngayong Pasko?”

“Ang wish ko ngayong year para sa akin at para sa mga anak ko [ay] ‘yung humaba pa ‘yung buhay ko; ‘yung maganda ang palakad ng taon natin, at saka ‘yung mga anak ko, mabigyan ng malalakas na katawan para sa hanapbuhay.”

– Zenaida, 63, store owner

Interview by CRISTINA ELOISA A. BACLIG Photo by MIKAELA CECILLE S. SILVERIO

Link: https://abtheflame.net/zenaida/

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The Flame: Faces of Dapitan

“Ngayong year po, paano niyo ipagdiriwang ‘yung Christmas?”

“[H]indi lang ngayong year [pero] every year, nagsisimba kami ng mga anak ko kahit noong nasa probinsya kami. ‘Yung mga kapatid ko, nagsisimba kami tapos salu-salo sa bahay. […] Ganoon lang ‘yung paraan ng selebrasyon na meron kami—’yung magkakasama kaming buong pamilya.”

“Para sa’yo po ba, iba ‘yung Pasko mo ngayong taon kumpara sa mga nakaraang Pasko na naipagdiwang mo?”

“’Yung paraan ngayon ng pamumuhay medyo ‘di kagaya noon na talagang kumikita ka ng maayos [at] tuluy-tuloy ‘yung trabaho. Sa ngayon, kumbaga medyo bagsak ‘yung buhay, pero masaya pa rin kasi kasama mo pa rin ‘yung pamilya [mo], okay lang ‘yun. ‘Yun lang ang pagkakaiba para sa’kin.”

“Ano po para sa’yo ‘yung message ng Pasko?”

“Maging mapagbigay tayo; mahalin natin hindi lang ‘yung pamilya. Tigilan na ‘yung mga away. [K]apag meron kang masamang pakiramdam sa kapwa, mabigat pa rin ‘yun tapos ikaw din [ang] magdadala noon. […] Tapusin na ‘yung samaan ng loob; magkaroon ng magandang komunikasyon para hindi mabigat na magpatuloy sa buhay.”

– Carlo, 35

Interview by CRISTINA ELOISA A. BACLIG Photo by MIKAELA CECILLE S. SILVERIO

Link: https://abtheflame.net/carlo/

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The Flame: Faces of Dapitan

“Ano ‘yung pinaka-memorable na matagumpay na experience mo sa buhay?”

“Ako kasi, [ang] kino-consider kong success, something na [hindi] achievement. For me, success ‘yung sa family ko na tahimik kami. [M]as tahimik kami sa bahay compared before na nag-away ‘yung parents ko.”

“Ano sa tingin mo ‘yung pinaka-importanteng gawain ng isang tao para maging successful?”

“Ako natutunan ko sa journey ko [na] you need to open yourself. […] ‘Yung pagiging open ko [sa tao] about sa troubles ko, nakakatulong pala siya at nakakagaan pala siya ng loob kasi, in a way, na-e-evaluate mo ‘yung sitwasyon ng buhay mo. Nalalaman mo ‘yung mga bagay na dapat mong gawin kahit na that person is simply listening. Para kasing, in a way, nakikinig ka na rin sa sarili mo.”

– Cristine Jenica, 20, AB Literature

Interview by CRISTINA ELOISA A. BACLIG Photo by MIKAELA CECILLE S. SILVERIO

Link: https://abtheflame.net/cristine-jenica/

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The Flame: Faces of Dapitan

“Ilang years na po kayong nagtuturo po dito sa AB?”

“I have been teaching here in AB for approximately 20 years now.”

“Bukod po sa natuturo niyo sa classroom, ano po ‘yung lesson na gusto niyo pong tumatak talaga sa students ninyo?”

“[S]ana mag-push through lang sila sa pangarap nila. Huwag nilang hayaaan na ma-down sila, lalong-lalo na if they fail. Kasi with the coming of failures, it can also strengthen you. Pangit naman kung wala ding mga failures sa buhay. Ang maganda [ay] kung papaano mo hinaharap ‘yung mga kabiguan na ito at kung papaano mo naman din [ito] nalalampasan.”

“May simple actions po ba from your students na, in a way, nagpapasaya po sa inyo bilang isang professor?”

“[Kapag] nag-aaral ‘yung estudyante, sayang-saya talaga ako diyan. […] Nalulungkot lang ako kapag nakita ko ‘yung estudyante na nawawalan na ng pag-asa at hindi na lumalaban. […] Lumaban lang kayo and in the end, mananalo rin kayo. Makaka-graduate din kayo.”

“Para sa inyo po, ano po yung mission ng isang teacher?”

“Ang pinakamission is to inspire. Inspire the students to reach for their goal and, in the fulfillment of that goal.”

– Archie Resos, Associate Professor, Department of History

Interview by CRISTINA ELOISA A. BACLIG Photo by MIKAELA CECILLE S. SILVERIO

This interview is part of Faces of Dapitan Special: Anecdotes from the Academics done by Flame staffers in line with the celebration of National Teachers’ Month.

Link: https://abtheflame.net/archie/

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The Flame: Faces of Dapitan

“Para sa’yo, mahalaga ba ‘yung failures sa buhay para maging successful ‘yung isang tao?”

“Sobra. Sa’kin, ‘yung failure hindi siya negative—strength siya. Kasi from that, marami kang lessons na matututuhan and alam mo na mga pagkakamali [mo] na ‘yung mga ‘yun, hindi mo na dapat uulitin sa susunod.”

“Ano ‘yung mensahe mo sa mga taong nakararanas ngayon ng failures sa buhay?”

“Walang masamang umiyak. Iiyak mo lang lahat. Sabi nila mahina ka kapag umiiyak, pero hindi. Mas malakas ka ‘pag umiiyak [ka]. Mag-focus ka sa mga bagay na makakapagpasaya sa’yo. Kung nag-fail ka sa isang bagay, ibaling mo ‘yung tuon mo sa isang bagay kung saan makikita mo kung ano pa ‘yung capabilities mo.”

– Joselle, 19, AB Journalism

Interview by CRISTINA ELOISA A. BACLIG Photo by MIKAELA CECILLE S. SILVERIO

Link: https://abtheflame.net/joselle/

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The Flame: Faces of Dapitan

“May lessons po ba kayong natutunan last year?”

“Siguro, everything happens for a reason.”

“Paano mo po siya pwedeng ma-aapply sa buhay mo this year?”

“Ngayon, parang go with the flow ka na lang, ‘yung ‘di mo na iisipin muna ‘yung bukas. [‘Y]ung ngayon [na] lang para makapag-focus and just be happy.”

– Honeylen, 19

Interview by CRISTINA ELOISA A. BACLIG Photo by MARIELLE FRANCHESCA L. SANTIAGO

Link: https://abtheflame.net/honeylen/

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The Flame: Faces of Dapitan

“Ano po ‘yung natutuhan mo sa mga pangyayari sa buhay mo na natapos na?”

“‘Pag nagkakaroon tayo ng mga problema sa buhay, hindi ibig sabihin susuko tayo [agad]. Laban lang tayo sa buhay. Kung ano man ‘yung mga dumating sa’ting mga problema o pagsubok, natural lang sa’tin ‘yun. Kailangan nating labanan [ang mga ito] at saka kailangan nating magtibay. Kailangan [din] maging influence ako sa anak ko, na kaya ko lahat ng bagay. […] Kaya hindi ako sumusuko sa ano mang hamon ng buhay.”

– Norylyn, 38

Interview by CRISTINA ELOISA A. BACLIG Photo by MIKAELA CECILLE S. SILVERIO

Link: https://abtheflame.net/norylyn/

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AB Guidance Counselors: Rendering service with a genuine heart

by Cristina Eloisa A. Baclig and Lorraine B. Lazaro

Carmen Quesada and Zyra Angeles. photo by KRISTELA DANIELLE S. BO 

“GUIDANCE COUNSELOR ‘yan. Hindi ‘yan maniniwala sa’yo. May [halong] judgement na nila ‘yan.”

This perception is what guidance counselors of the Faculty of Arts and Letters (AB) usually hear from students. Along with similar views, this refrain Artlets from visiting them, thinking that only the gravest problems are needed to be addressed by counselors.

Little do they know that counselors like Carmen “Chatt” Quesada and Zyra Angeles work to help solve students’ personal dilemmas and usher them to be the best they could be. The Faculty’s guidance counselors willingly offer Artlets their open arms and give them their brightest smiles.

“Ang role namin [ay i-]facilitate kayo to be on your own and to be able to become the person you want to be,” Quesada says.

Coming from the heart

In her 23 years of being a guidance counselor at the University of Santo Tomas, Quesada has heard every misconception students have towards her profession.

“I never wanted to be assigned in AB. I [used to] hate to be here. Anywhere except AB,” she shares, reminiscing her first few years as guidance counselor in the Faculty.

Her unpleasant idea about AB’s environment was greatly affected by how her daughter became “rebellious” during her stay in the Faculty. However, with the determination to understand the Artlet culture, Quesada’s perception was soon stood corrected.

Just as she learned to love Psychology more than Chemistry, her first program during college, she slowly learned to open her heart to the Artlet community. She explains that Artlets drastically proved to her that AB is different from what she thought it was.

“Now that I’m here, I won’t leave [AB] for anything. I want to be with [the Artlets] and help [them],” she proudly says. She believes the Artlets themselves keep her motivated to do her job of helping students.

More than just a profession, the counseling they do is fueled by their love for helping the lives of the students. “Imagine being paid for something you enjoy doing and being of service, of helping. ‘Pag tumutulong ka sa kapwa mo, nakakataba ng puso ‘yun,” she says.

Following the path

It all started with fate and sheer interest. Angeles was studying nursing for a year and a half until she began to realize it was not the profession meant for her.

As someone who values time, work environment, and salary, she thought nursing was her best option. Contrary to her expectations, it turned out to be more than just giving injections and wearing white uniform. To make things more complicated, she found out that she has a fear of blood.

After taking a series of tests and consultations from her school’s guidance office, she began to realize her calling. “[I] found out na mas in line ako sa helping profession,” she recalls. “[I] could clearly visualize myself helping other students [and] parents sa academe or sa school setting.”

With a clear decision, she turned to psychology and pursued guidance counselling. Despite seeing the profession as a challenge, it became a motivating factor for her to improve the skills needed in her role of providing support for students facing different issues.

However, just like their counselees, she believes guidance counselors also need people by their side, especially when their profession affects their private life.

“Kami kina-counsel niyo [pero] kayo, sino po counselor niyo?” Angeles recalls a student asking her. It is inevitable for guidance counselors to get carried away with their profession, so whenever she thinks that she needs to vent out her emotions, she talks to her family and friends.

“Kasi normal din ‘yung mga nararamdaman namin. We also feel sad, we also get disappointed [and] frustrated,” she explains.

Devoted and committed

Despite continuously working on addressing misconceptions about their work, being able to attend to the concerns of students and help them recover throughout the process remains as Quesada and Angeles’ priority.

Making every student smile after a counseling session, in turn, remains a challenge yet a great reward for Quesada.

“A smile from my counselee is worth more than my salary. ‘Pag nakita ko na napapangiti ko sila, kahit pilit lang ‘yun, ngiti pa rin ‘yun. Ramdam na ramdam mo ang sakit sa loob niya pero napangiti mo siya. Ibig sabihin my words and my time [were] not wasted. It landed on a good land, on a good soil,” she says.

People are fragile but when held together by a strong foundation and a stable support system, their resiliency surfaces. Guidance counselors cannot read minds and fly but they can lift away troubles and save lives. F 

Link: http://abtheflame.net/ab-guidance-counselors-rendering-service-with-a-genuine-heart/

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SubSelfie: Of and For the Millennials

by Cristina Eloisa A. Baclig and Lorraine B. Lazaro

Apple Gamboa and Lian Nami Buan. photo by KATHLEEN MAE I. GUERRERO

THE NOISY and distracting environment was silenced by their voices of love and dedication for stories. Journalism alumnae Lian Nami Buan and Apple Gamboa never felt short for words; they both share a love for their craft not even the pressure and restraint of the newsroom can take away from them.

As part of the journalism field, Buan and Gamboa’s drive to change how things are viewed in the world continues on and off-duty through their stories. However, these were limited by the airing time of the media outlet they used to work for 

Soon, they also ventured in the online world to air their voices out. Their blog SubSelfie became their tool of release.

“By telling the story, mabibigyan natin ng pagkakataon ‘yung talagang may direct capability to help [people] better,” Buan shares. “[Katulad ng] pagsingil ng accountability sa gobyerno, we didn’t directly help the community but we help pave the way for the government to help them.”

Stories for millennials, by millennials

For Buan and Gamboa, working for a media company and writing stories for news programs can be very time-consuming and demanding. Although adventures beyond the newsroom allowed them to encounter many people with different compelling stories, both of them knew some of these stories will never be able to make the cut due to the strict formats their news programs follow.

“Two days akong nag-immerse sa isang community tapos two minutes lang ‘yung ibibigay sakin. Ang dami kong kinausap doon; ang dami kong gustong ikwento,” Buan says.

Their passion for writing, backed by their unfading Artlet spirit, soon inspired them to pursue an avenue share their narratives without hindrances and setbacks. Through the suggestion of their colleague Bam Alegre, they, along with other colleagues, materialized SubSelfie.com.

SubSelfie.com became more than just a blog for them—it serves as their passion project. Digging deeper into their own experiences and taking selfies in the form of articles instead of pictures are what Buan and Gamboa incorporate in their stories. Their works recount adventures beyond the newsroom. Each is written with an effort to transform into a relatable and significant narrative.

“We value SubSelfie because it gives us a platform to write what we actually want without restrictions, na minsan mapapagalitan din kami sa opisina kasi dala pa rin namin ‘yung pangalan nila,” Buan says.

Making “me” into “we”

Buan narrates how their blog’s name SubSelfie is a word created by Alegre. Sub means “to go deeper” while the word selfie represents the millennial generation.

“We like to think na parang we make a fair job at representing a millennial voice […], ‘yung ugali ngmillennials na makuda and may sense, nabibigyan namin ng platform. [I]t’s millennials ranting with value.

I think our blog stands for [its name] kasi lahat naman ng [blog posts] namin ay first person. So ‘me, me, me’ pa rin pero we strive to tell something that is of value to everyone else,” Buan explains.

SubSelfie’s associate editor believes that using the first-person narrative in their stories creates a closer and personal touch to their readers. Their stories such as We are the Yayas of the World and My Father’s Promise leave a heartfelt material that captures the audience’s emotions.

“I think may power [kapag] first person ka magsusulat. Kunwari depression, as in sinasabi ko sa inyo na ‘Guys, ito ‘yung pinagdadaanan ko.’ It speaks more to the person na parang ‘Uy, it’s her story,” Buan explains.

Writing stories that leave an impact to their readers is what they value most. Knowing how their readers can relate to their stories encourages and gives them purpose to continue writing.

“Ganun talaga ‘pag maraming nagme-message na helpful ‘yung article. It’s a big thing that we get to touch people’s lives. Parang may purpose ka na mabuhay. [T]hey might think that we’re trying to change their lives pero ‘di nila alam [na] nabago din nila ‘yung buhay namin,” Gamboa says.

“[P]ag may nag-message sa’yo, [you begin to think] ‘This is why I’m doing my job.’ It’s for this and not for anyone else,” Buan adds.

A fresh sound

In line with the issues transpiring in the country, being critical and aware are something both of them do. “You have to respond to time so parang nakakahiya namang magpa-cute in this volatile times. [Y]ou have to step up bilang journalist,” Buan says.

More than writing about events that leave an impact to the country, they also promote inclusivity for the millennials.

“We advocate for always listening to young people kasi they have fresh ideas and they’re living in this very interesting time,” Buan says. “Marami kang matututunan mula sa mga bata and I think that’s a very important thing to protect—[t]he voice of the critical youth. F 

Link: http://abtheflame.net/subselfie-of-and-for-the-millennials/

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Analiza Yanga: Living a life of service

by Cristina Eloisa A. Baclig and Julia Mari T. Ornedo

photo by  KOBE ADAM JOSHUA S. LAURENA

STUDENTS FROM the Faculty of Arts and Letters (AB)  slowly occupied the hallways of the St. Raymund de Peñafort building as some of the afternoon classes came to end. Asst. Prof. Analiza Yanga left a classroom and calmly walked through the busy hallways toward a different room—not for another lecture—but to do her work for the AB Community Development (ABCD).

Yanga admits that switching between her work as an educator and as the coordinator for the ABCD can be difficult to handle. Nevertheless, she sees both teaching and community service as things that are very close to her heart. For her, it is “just a matter of managing time” and most importantly, loving and enjoying her work.

Her passion for community service, which started early after adopting teachings from her elementary catechism class, has inspired and encouraged many Artlets through the years.

“[W]e are all strangers here. Whether we like it or not, lalabas at lalabas tayo [sa community]. So while [we’re] here on earth,  gawin natin ‘yung mga bagay na makakatulong sa kapwa,” Yanga says.

 Overcoming obstacles

As she settles into a chair, she cannot help but smile as she reminisces how she was able to overcome her challenging first year as the coordinator of the ABCD in 2013. With AB’s poor performance in community service at that time, her leadership was tested.

“‘[Y]un ang isa sa mga nakita kong hindi maganda ang impression sa’kin. Sabi ko, ‘Ang daming student [organizations] ng AB, ang daming magagaling [at] matatalino. Bakit hindi magawang i-train ang mga tao na ‘to?’ Lagi nasa isip ko [is] to educate them,” Yanga says.

Encouraging Artlets to become more aware and involved in community development work became her priority. The coordinator carried out seminars on community service and required organizations in the Faculty to conduct community development projects every school year.

Although it was hard at first, through her resiliency, constant discipline, and support from Artlets, she was able to develop the quality of AB’s community development projects. In her second year as the coordinator—which she describes as an unforgettable year—the ABCD became more recognized.

It was last academic year when the ABCD received a recognition from the UST Simbahayan Community Development Office for the first time.

“‘[Y]ung award, bonus na lang ‘yan. Kung ang intensyon niyo talaga is [makatulong], ang sarap ng pakiramdam na nag-e-engage ka sa mga community,” she says. “Kung tatanungin mo naman ako kung ano ‘yung achievement and fulfillment ko, ‘yung makita ko lahat ng organizations [na] may kanya-kanya kayong ginagawa.”

 A ripple of kindness

While it may take years for the changes brought by AB’s community development projects to fully manifest, Yanga shares that the growth of the University’s partner communities also boosted her own. Helping others led her to develop empathy, a trait that set her up for a life dedicated to service.

“I always attach myself to other people, kasi kapag ganun ang ginagawa natin, mararamdaman mo kung ano ‘yung nararamdaman [nila]. Kaya we should not just sympathize with people, but we empathize. Kasi ‘pag naawa ka, naawa ka lang. Pero ‘yung empathize naman, with action.”

Yanga’s passion for community development work was a fire that spread out and encompassed the hearts of those who witnessed her in action. During an activity at the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area, one of the volunteers from the community stopped mid-lecture to acknowledge the assistant professor.

“Ay, si Ma’am Yanga! Diyan ko nakuha ‘yung aking inspiration kung bakit ako nag-volunteer,” he said, recounting the time when Yanga was the one standing in his place, conducting a talk about the 2016 presidential election while he listened intently among the crowd.

“’Yung simpleng experience na ‘yun na binanggit sa’kin, napakalaki ng impact noon kasi alam mo, simpleng‘Thank you,’ simpleng smile na sincere, sobra-sobra na ‘yun na reward,” the ABCD head recalls.

 Finding fulfillment in service

Although Yanga was born into an average-income family, some of her fondest childhood memories were the days she and her loved ones spent helping out their community. The simple activities she took part in as a child brought her with a life realization she would not discover until adulthood: helping others does not require money.

“Pwede kang tumulong kahit wala kang ganun kalaking pera. Hindi naman pera ang laging kinakailangan; ‘yun lang mere physical presence mo, ‘yung time mo [na] ibibigay mo sa kanila, nakatutulong nang malaki ‘yun, both doon sa giver at saka sa receiver,” she says.

As she continues her term as the ABCD head, Yanga hopes for more of her plans, one of which is a scholarship program for members of partner communities, to come to fruition. She believes that sustainable and continuous programs related to education are what will truly make an impact in the society in the long run.

“Kasi tayo sa AB, talagang we educate people,” she says. “Teach them how to fish, not just [give] them one fish to live for one day […] para may kakainin sila habambuhay.”

However, Yanga adds that more than just furnishing project proposals, she hopes for all Artlets to take an active role in community development.

“’Yung ibang gustong tumulong, ang laging iniisip, ‘Wala akong pera e.’ [Pero] ‘yun lang skills, ‘yun lang talent na meron kayo, ‘yun ang pinakamahalagang maitutulong niyo— ‘yung time ninyo,” she believes. “[Kung]‘yung mga magnanakaw nga ngayon hindi natatakot gumawa [ng masama], tayo pa bang gustong gumawa ng mabuti?” F 

Link: http://abtheflame.net/analiza-yanga-living-a-life-of-service/

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J. Neil Garcia: Textualizing Realistic Portrayals

by Cristina Eloisa A. Baclig

photo by KOBE ADAM JOSHUA S. LAURENA

BITTERSWEET. This is how J. Neil Garcia describes the life of homosexuals in the Philippines.

As a creative writer, to write well is always the primary concern for his works. But as an author of LGBT literature, works about homosexuality are important in challenging the stigma of being non-normative on gender and sexuality. The Journalism alumnus asserts that challenging and eventually destroying the stigma is possible by confronting homophobia and prejudice head-on.

Inspiration drawn from self-estrangement

Before he knew of his homosexual identity and wrote pieces on homosexuality, he always wrote about his feelings. “I remember being different, not necessarily in a sexual sense, back when I was very young. I believe I’ve always written out of this ‘estrangement,’ this sense and/or sentiment of being different,” Garcia says.

At an early age, Garcia‘s profound grief of being separated from his best friend Hazel inspired him to write his first poem.

To continue writing truthfully, he made himself aware that he is different from other individuals. He started to embrace his uniqueness and, along with gender and sexuality, incorporate it as a theme for his works.

Oscar Wilde, Andre Gide, Edmund White, and Allen Ginsberg initially inspired the multi-awarded writer to start writing about homosexuality. However, it was in his sophomore year at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) when he solidified his interest.

After an invitation from his Humanities professor, he attended the lecture of local filmmaker Nick Deocampo, who showcased an exhibit of homoerotic images and poems at the Goethe-Institut. Garcia saw the acclaimed Deocampo read his “gay and sexually frank” poems on stage—a moment that moved him to write about homosexuality.

“Literature is one of the most effective ways of creating empathy because it allows us to become all kinds of people. [W]hen we read a story or a poem, we are incarnated, as it were, reborn into the perspectives of characters we are not and literally cannot be,” he explains.

LGBT literature, for Garcia, is the most efficient way to represent the LGBT community and explain its difference, which the prevailing bigotry, hatred, and ignorance overshadow, to the larger world.

The continuous struggle of LGBTs caused by the intolerance of society against them and the backlashes against their human rights are just few of the issues that Garcia is facing not only as a homosexual but also as a writer. However, with the inspiration and unconditional love that he receives from the people he knows, Garcia was able to find courage in writing about homosexuality, which inspired many young Filipino LGBTs to discover and embrace their identities.

A new representation

Aside from his poetry collections, one of which includes his most compelling poem titled The Conversion, and his literary and cultural criticism works, Garcia edited the widely known Ladlad, anthologies of Filipino gay writing.

His works made an impact in the Filipino culture by opening the doors for LGBT books, films, plays and other forms of media.

Just like what he wrote in the second Ladlad, perhaps his works portraying the homosexual life exists to remind his readers that there is nothing wrong with homosexuals and just like everybody else, they are also capable of love. Moreover, Garcia wrote how the first edition published in 1994 made the teaching of gay literature classes possible in at least two major universities, and how it became a required reading for Philippine literature courses in the United States.

“Homosexuality is still not mainstreamed or ‘normalized’ enough in the popular spaces of our culture,” Garcia says. He explains that very few images of the bakla in television and films have respectful representations which portray humanized LGBT characters.

For Garcia, his own interactions with and experiences and inspirations from different members of the LGBT community enabled him to portray the diverse and complex face of Filipino LGBT in his works.

Ample room for improvement

Garcia describes his experience in writing LGBT works as “wonderful and exhilarating” and acknowledges his literary pieces as life-altering for Filipino LGBTs. Still, he insists on having more work to be done.

As a professor of English, Creative Writing, and Comparative Literature at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman and an associate for poetry in the UP Institute of Creative Writing, he suggests to incorporate a “gender-sensitive perspective” in teaching literature and integrate LGBT works into the primary readings of literature courses in higher education.

“[W]e need to complement this ‘Canon-building’ project with the promotion of feminist and anti-homophobic critical and pedagogical approaches. This way, whatever text our students may end up encountering both inside and outside the classroom, they will be properly equipped to critique them.”

For young writers who are interested in writing about homosexuality, Garcia advises: “Go ahead, follow your creative and literary bliss. Remember, the question of being an LGBT artist or writer isn’t about preferring certain subjects or themes over others. Ultimately, it’s about the adoption of a simultaneously artistic and critical subject-position that willfully calls out, interrogates, and challenges gender and sexual inequality wherever it may be found.” F

 Link: http://abtheflame.net/j-neil-garcia-textualizing-realistic-portrayals/

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UST Hiraya: Advocating for Gender Equality and Equity

by Cristina Eloisa A. Baclig

Misconceptions and doubts did not stop a group of Artlets to start an intersectional feminist organization in the University of Santo Tomas. With their organization’s tagline: “It starts with us,” these Artlets are embodying intersectional feminism in the Artlet identity and bringing it closer to the Thomasian community.

For a good cause

It was from personal experiences that made Legal Management seniors Stephanie de Guzman and Aleana Bantolo cognizant of the lack of feminist advocacies in the University.

De Guzman came from an abusive relationship. With no one to talk to, she began believing that she was the one to blame for that toxic bond. She, then, met Bantolo, who experienced being catcalled.

Like de Guzman, what Bantolo needed the most back then was a companion who would listen to her. “[W]hat I clearly needed then was [...] a person who would just validate the feelings of suffering that I have had,” says Bantolo, the organization’s internal vice president. 

De Guzman, after seeing Bantolo’s Facebook post about the catcalling incident, felt genuinely concerned and reached out by sending her a message. Since then, the two became closer, allowing them to know more about each other personally. Both of them attend labor class, in which they find themselves discussing issues on gender.

One day, when their professor was not able to show up in class, the pair sat and talked about the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act. Their discussion made them realize the need for UST to have an organization that aims to help individuals who experience gender equity issues and harassment. Consequently, this inspired de Guzman to form a group that focuses on intersectional feminism. 

With her growing passion for forming an organization, de Guzman, a graduating student, thought of leaving something that could make a difference in UST. After doing intensive research and sharing of ideas with Bantolo, she finally established UST Hiraya (formerly known as Tomasina). Although the organization addresses a sensitive issue, as UST Hiraya’s president, de Guzman believes that the Artlet community should not be afraid to speak up “as long as you know [that] what you are fighting for is for a good cause.”

Changing the mentality

Growing up in a conservative family, Journalism senior Keara Eugenio adopted a mindset that women should stay at home while men work and provide for the family. Eugenio, UST Hiraya’s executive secretary, says she carried this kind of thinking throughout high school until she entered UST. It caused her to struggle in giving support to people who experienced harassment.

Instead of reassuring people who came to her after being harassed, she suggested that they should try to dress neatly. “[L]ittle had I known I was so wrong. That was a mentality that shouldn’t have existed in the first place,” Eugenio says. Now that people are tired of adjusting to society's standards, she admits that what she did was a mistake: "I’ve been giving such biased and narrow-minded advices until I discovered the strands of feminism."

With the recent prevalence of posts in social media regarding stories of people getting harassed, Eugenio became aware of the alarming growth of sexual harassment cases in the Philippines. It made her realize that rather than teaching people to avoid harassment, people must understand that doing it in the first place is wrong. Seeing the issue in a new light, Eugenio thought that UST Hiraya would help her educate and empower unfairly treated individuals. “[I] thought it would be a perfect avenue for me to release my advocacies,” she says.

 New experiences

UST Hiraya’s Internal Public Relations Officer Michelle Mislang had firsthand experience of how women are being harassed and mistreated in the Philippines. Her current observations and experiences in the country are very different from what she had experienced while growing up in Qatar where women are highly respected. During her first few months in the Philippines, Mislang had already experienced being catcalled. Unfortunately, she experienced it again upon entering UST, this time, from one of her fellow students. “[N]atakot ako. Bakit ganoon tingin nila sa mga babae?” Mislang shares. “[I] didn’t expect na educated people would do such a thing.”

Because of the initial discomfort caused by the events she experienced in the country, Mislang admits she did not know how to console victims of harassment. The Journalism junior finds herself unable to tell other people to face their problem valiantly since she admits that she would also be afraid if it happens to her. All she could do was to empathize.

Eventually, Mislang was able to gather the courage and confidence to defend herself and offer help to others. “I can extend support to other people [for them to be unafraid of] what is happening because, in the first place, it should never happen,” she says.

Artlet conviction

UST Hiraya aims to inform and educate the Thomasian community on intersectional feminism, correcting the common misconception that feminism is only for women. Mislang notes, “[W]e are not just for women; we’re here to help everyone.”

Intersectional feminism, for the organization, is a more inclusive type of feminism—it acknowledges the different facets of life. UST Hiraya takes into consideration the race, gender, religion, and situation of the individual in extending its support to people who seek their help. It also has a specific advocacy called University Gender Equity Council, which is responsible for advising on gender issues and harassment cases in the University.

For UST Hiraya, it is important that Artlets should have a say in feminism and gender equity issues given that they are part of a liberal arts college. “It is part of their moral obligation and consistency in the kind of program they entered into.” Bantolo says. F

 UST Hiraya was formerly known as "Tomasina." The decision of renaming Tomasina to UST Hiraya was made to secure the organization's recognition in UST and to avoid confusion between the organization's name with the Thomasian identity “Tomasino.”

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Joanna Estorque: Working Beyond Self-Limitations

by Cristina Eloisa A. Baclig

photo by KATHLEEN MAE I. GUERRERO

“YOU DON’T have to limit yourself.”

This is what Joanna Estorque, a proud student assistant at UST, firmly believes as she strives to do more things beneficial not only to her, but to other people.

Despite the demanding subjects and deadlines in her hectic life as a Journalism student in the Faculty of Arts and Letters, Joanna decided to apply for a scholarship program—the San Lorenzo Ruiz scholarship, a student assistance scholarship granted to students who need financial support and are willing to spend 20 to 30 assistantship hours per week in the University.

Although it took a year for her scholarship application to be processed, it was all worthwhile for Estorque when she finally got accepted as a student assistant at the UST Museum.

“Ang pinaka gusto ko is every time na may mga events [‘yung UST Museum] kasi nakakapag participate kami and […] ang sarap sa feeling every time [n]agiging successful ‘yung event kasi alam namin na we did our part to make it successful,” she shares.

Her work allows her to meet and interact with many people, particularly students from UST and other universities, as well as foreign visitors and officials.

Made of boundless capabilities

Even before assisting to the needs of the UST Museum, Joanna already gained few working experiences online as a freelance writer and an English language teacher. There, she writes essays and teaches basic English to foreign students, respectively.

Most, if not all, of her earnings from these jobs were previously used for school expenses.

“[K]ailangan maging passionate ka sa work mo,” she says. “Kapag ginagawa ko ‘yun (mga trabaho), parang hindi ko ramdam na nagtatrabaho ako. Hindi ko ramdam na tumatakbo ‘yung oras. Basta ginagawa ko lang siya at ine-enjoy ko.”

Joanna deems her jobs helpful in enhancing the skills she needs as a Journalism major.

“Tingin ko naging […] training ground [siya] (being a student assistant). Na-eenhance [kasi] ‘yungcommunication skills [mo] since ang ginagawa mo ay makipag-usap sa ibang tao,” she believes.

Time management is perhaps one of the common problems every college student experiences. Keeping in touch with your family and friends while making sure you’re doing all your tasks as a student can be wearisome and some may find it difficult to have free time.

However, Joanna Estorque proved that these are possible to accomplish by not limiting yourself to the things you can do.

Unbounded is defined as having or appearing to have no limits. Making yourself unbounded can surely be doubtful at times.

When in doubt, Estorque simply says, “If you think na kaya mo and madami ka pang mabibigay for yourself and for other people na nasa paligid mo, bakit hindi? Yung mga ginagawa ko kasi is not just helping myself but it’s also helping people na nasa paligid ko.” F

Link: http://abtheflame.net/joanna-estorque-working-beyond-self-limitations/