Friday, April 25, 2008

Copied from JR.

Nakakatawa ang kwentong ito kahit hindi ako masyadong nakakarelate lalo na sa mga maka-ateneo stuff. pero, masaya na rin kasi andyan ang UP. kakampi ng ateneo. engks. haha.

read this one and you'll have fun.

This was written by Miguel Antonio Lizada and was taken from www.animoateneo.com

This started as three separate entries in my blog I must be honest and say that this was nothing but a mere product of boredom. I wrote this after re-reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and after asking myself "What would Ateneo be like if it was attacked by Voldemort and his dark creatures".

Friends who read my blog forwarded this to their friends who in turn forwarded it to their friends. At the request of my colleagues here in AnimoAteneo. com and people who have enjoyed this, I have edited and polished this story as well as added a few new elements to it.

Just a few pre-reading reminders:

This, in essence is a parody of Ateneo life. Yes, there are of course anti-school and UAAP-based jokes here and there but this mainly satirizes Ateneo life - the people, the language, the culture etc.

This is also a parody of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Its ending resembles the ending of the Harry Potter book. So if you have not yet read the book and you do not wish to be spoiled, I must warn you to read at your own risk.

My thanks to those who have enjoyed what-used-to- be-just-a- time-filler and to those who contributed several suggestions.

Chapter One: Before the Storm

Fr. Bienvenido Nebres SJ was just finishing the day's work when Harry Potter, a senior of the Ateneo de Manila, burst into his office.

"Fr Nebres!" Harry shouted

"Harry!" a surprised Nebres said. "I thought you were out of school destroying the horcruxes to kill Lord Voldemort."

"That's what I wanted to tell you. I discovered that there are two horcruxes here in Ateneo itself. Voldemort has enlisted the help of the De La Salle University and the University of Santo Tomas. They are coming."

"Don't worry, Harry." Nebres said "You know for a fact that Ateneo -- its teachers and students -- are more than capable of defending our Loyola campus. We will hold them off while you search for the horcruxes and destroy them. You will need this." He waved of his wand and out of the air appeared a sword. "The sword of St. Ignatius." Nebres said. "Powerful enough to destroy the two horcruxes."

"Thank you, Father" Harry said. And with that, he sped off to find the last two things which protect Lord Voldemort.

Nebres then waved his wand once more and this time, four people appeared in his office. "Marlu, Rudy, Toby and Joey. The school is in danger"

Nebres then explained the situation to the four Deans of the Ateneo de Manila University.

"I want you to assemble all remaining students in the college covered courts. We must evacuate the freshmen through Marikina. The sophomore, junior and senior students may stay and fight if they want to. Next, I need you to assemble all the teachers, both part time and full time."

Without a word, the four deans Disapparated and went on with their tasks. Nebres too Disapparated back to the Jesuit Residence and briefed the Society about the impending attack.

Fr. Adolfo Dacanay was the assigned to lead the Jesuits to battle "My team is ready to fight anytime anywhere. We will crush them!"

"Excellent." Nebres said

After a few minutes, Nebres, the four Deans and some members of the faculty and administration gathered in Xavier Hall to discuss the battle plan.

"The School of Humanities can summon mythical creatures to help defend us." Marlu Vilches said "The English Department professors are summoning creatures from Dante's Inferno and Greek Mythology as we speak. The Filipino Department is summoning all the manananggals and white ladies from the haunted trees on campus.

"The Philosophy Department" interjected Fr. Ferriols "is summoning creatures from Meron pond right now. Those rascals will soon feel the wrath of Meron! Magiging WALA silang lahat! Konsepto lamang yan sila!"

"Now is the time to test the newest chemicals and inventions from our SEC laboratories. " Toby Dayrit said, "The Department of Environmental Science professors are enchanting the trees to life right now. We will purge them with the help of Mother Nature."

"I have just received a call from MVP" Rudy Ang said "Reinforcements from Makati are coming soon."

"My apples and sunshine are ready to fight as well" Tim Gabuna said. "Go CERSA!"

"I have just finished briefing my school. The Department of History is ready to fight. The Western history professors led by Dave Lozada and JoEd Tirol are summoning the three hundred Spartans and soldiers from the World War II to fight. Fr Bulatao and the Department of Psychology are locked inside the SocSci Conference room right now. They will use their psychic powers to toy with our enemy's mind."

"I have roused the athletes also." Norman Black beside Ricky Palou said "They are ready to put up One Big Fight with their super strength."

A voice interrupted them. "I KNOW YOU ARE PREPARING TO FIGHT! You are no match for us! I have allied myself with the La Salle brothers and the Dominicans of UST. You cannot win against me, Jesuits. Push the limit! Animo Spirit! Give us Harry Potter and the sword of St. Ignatius and we will let you live! We will even let you win some of the games."

Chapter Two: More Help

The Ateneans ignored the warning and instead began to prepare for the impending battle. A few minutes later, the voice shouted for a second time:

"I can see you are not listening! It is such a pity. What happened to your Prayer for Generosity? Give me Harry Potter and the Sword of St Ignatius. Give without counting the cost, you always say! You have until midnight. I also call on all students of La Salle Greenhills and La Salle Zobel. It is not too late. Come and join us. Convert! Repent!"

Fr. Dacanay, interrupting his briefing with his exorcists turned and said "The idiot is taking the prayer out of context. Besides, St Ignatius also said to fight without fear of being wounded. And we will do just that."

Three figures -- two women and a man -- suddenly appeared. "We are from the Department of Sociology and Anthropology" said the man.

"Ricky Abad!" Fr. Nebres exclaimed.

"I brought with me our Department Chair Bopeep Saloma-Akpedonu. And this is Czarina Medina, one of our newest lecturers. We apologize for being late. We were preparing our I-bombs."

"I-bombs? What are I-bombs?" Nebres asked.

"Ideology bombs. Once they detonate, they will spread false consciousness in the area -- the La Salle brothers and the Tomasians will think they are winning. It is all false really. We will use their pride against them."

"Excellent. Excellent." Nebres said. "And here comes Andrew Ty and Mark Escaler for the Department of Communication. "

"Yes!" Escaler said "we will infiltrate their communication processes by adding "noise" and ambiguity between the message relay of the sender and the receiver so orders can be reversed and thwarted!"

"The creatures from my horror films are coming!" Andrew Ty said. "We will use them to our advantage!"

"Father President! Some people are coming!" somebody shouted.

Some five hundred people then Apparated out of nowhere. Wearing either red or white shirts, they marched towards Nebres. A young man then stepped forward.

"We are from the University of the Philippines. " said the young man. "For years, our academic communities have built a strong relationship with each other. We have shared professors. We went to rallies together. We have had our differences. Yes. But in the end, our similarities and accomplishments outweigh our differences. .. We are here to help! We are honored to fight with Ateneo once more!"

Cheers and applause errupted from all sides.

"Let's make baka! Don't be takot! Let's make baka! Don't be takot! Let's make baka! Don't be takot! Let's make baba from the hill" the Ateneans cheered

Five minutes to midnight.

The School of Humanities stood with their mythical creatures summoned from the Classics, and the haunted trees and the gigantic swamp creatues from the Meron pond.

The John Gokongwei School of Management with their reinforcements from Makati, along with Venus Ibarra, Ricky Pilar and other professors.

The School of Science and Engineering with their mysterious inventions and weapons. The gigantic trees in the campus now walking sluggishly by their side.

The School of Social Sciences with their unique yet powerful defensive weapons; the Psychology Department ready for the psy-war.

The Ateneo Professional Schools ready to defend their Loyola-based counterparts; the two fraternities in the Law School forging a temporary alliance.

The Alumni, the D.A. (Dalandan's Army), led by Benjie Laza and Mon Cualoping.

The statues of Tomas More, Horacio dela Costa, the Blue Eagle come to life.

The students from U.P.

Two horcruxes left.

Now all is still, where Loyola's colors fly.

Chapter Three: One Big Fight

Midnight.

There was a burst of light emanating from the sky, brighter than the moon and the stars. What seemed like a horde of fireflies turned out to be arrows. Thousands of arrows. Tips on fire.

The arrows struck the Blue Eagle Gym. The oldest building in the University. The symbol of their athletic pride. Now aflame.

Toby Dayrit tossed a beaker of water to the burning building. He pointed his wand at the beaker now mid-air and shouted his spell "Magis." The water transformed into a surf huge enough to douse the fire. The Blue Eagle Gym was safe.

The archers outside roared their disappointment. But they shot again, this time targeting the Erenchun soccer field where some of the Ateneans were camped. Nebres pointed his wand at the arrows raining from the sky and shouted his incantation "Cura personalis" and the thousand arrows turned into bubbles.

The Ateneans cheered. The first two attacks of the LaSallians and the Tomasians have been thwarted.

"You have had your fun, Ateneans." a voice boomed. "Now it is time to get serious."

Darkness suddenly enveloped the University. The enemy had sabotaged their electricity. Immediately all the Ateneans took out and flickered their wands, "Lux in Domino" they chanted. Light emanated from all the wands.

The illumination came just in time as suddenly a stampede crushed the fences between Gate 2 and Gate 2.5. The Ateneans have realized the magnitude of their danger: it was not just the LaSallians or even just the Tomasians they were confronting; the other schools were there as well. A thousand green archers were riding the backs of the giant tigers of UST. Charging with them were the giant tamaraws and a hundred warriors whose bodies were painted red war paint. Above, falcons were soaring in the sky.

"YOU FOUL THINGS, noh?" somebody from the Ateneo crowd shouted, charging at the stampede; it was Tessa Rosana "How dare you attack us, noh? You don't know who you are dealing with, noh? TAKE THIS, noh?" She hit her gong with all her might. A powerful sound wave spread throughout the area knocking a hundred archers and animals out.

"HA! noh?" she triumphantly yelled.

And so the other Ateneans started counterattacking as well. David Lozada and his 300 Spartans. The ROTC cadets. The mythical creatures of the School of Humanities. Dalandan's Army.

Ricky Abad and the Department of Sociology soon deployed their Ideology Bombs prompting some of the LaSallians to cheer instead of fighting "Strawberry shortcake nananananana. " "Recticano! Recticano", allowing some of the Ateneans to easily knock the LaSallians out.

Somewhere near the Covered Courts, Norman Black was briefing his team, "Nonoy. I want you here. Chris, here. Jai, there. Alright? Any questions."

"Aaaaah! GOD DAMN IT!" a raspy voice screamed. It was Joe Lipa, former coach of the Blue Eagles, who arrived with the contingent from UP. "Just charge! Attack them! Now!" And so they did.

The LaSalle brothers and Francisco of UST were outside, watching the battle, waiting for their turn to strike.

A handful of LaSallians were found trotting back to their base.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?" Francisco yelled.

"You told us to retreat!" the archer said.

"You idiot! That's just Escaler and Bulatao toying with your minds! Go back! That's it! I am joining the battle!"

She then stepped forward lifted her two arms and shouted "Tiger Power! Raar! Tiger Power! Raar!" The LaSalle brothers thought she had lost her mind. But then she suddenly transformed into a giant tigress, twice larger and fiercer than the ordinary tigers. Seeing their comrade ready and willing to fight, the LaSallians cheered.

"HOY!" Goldie the Tiger roared "NO CHEERING DURING BATTLE! NO CHEERING!" Then she advanced.

Her first target was Fr. Dacanay who was busy exorcising some of the archers and paralyzing them.

"FATHER! Behind you!"

Quickly, Dacanay whirled and performed his own counterattack "Expellus Inferius" blasting her into the middle of the Erenchun field, knocking her out.

"NOOOOOOOOOO! " The La Salle brothers shouted upon seeing their comrade down. "It is time we even the score."

The earth began to quake. And out of the night came a gigantic robot. It was DLRT; the LaSallians had transformed and brought the LRT-1 which passed Taft Avenue into a robot.

DLRT was making quick work of the Ateneans and their creatures, crushing the mythical creatures here and there, tossing the trees brought to life by the Department of Environmental Science.

"Let us not lose hope!" Nebres said. "We are after all committed to hope."

"Now is not the time to talk about GK, Father!" somebody said.

"I am not talking about GK. I am talking about SECtor."

He pointed his wand the Science Education Complex. The building shook and assembled itself into a robot. SEC A was the head and the torso. SEC B became the left arm and leg and SEC-C became the right.

"Mang Freddie!" Nebres called.

"I am ready, Father!" shouted Freddie the man in charge of Escaler Hall which has now become the control room SECtor.

"Attack, Freddie! One Big Fight."

DLRT was no match and quickly collapsed under the strength of SECtor.

"Fr Nebres!" Harry Potter appeared. "Two horcruxes have been destroyed and..."

"Animo La Salle!" "Animo La Salle!" "Animo La Salle!"

There were screams of terror. The LaSalle brothers had entered the battle. They were using their most dangerous spell: The Animo LaSalle -- the Killing Curse!

Finale: The Animo Wand

Ateneans were dropping dead left and right. The Animo La Salle curse was unblockable. Some of the more veteran teachers provided extra defense and protection to the students but most of their efforts were futile.

Dacanay and his Jesuit team however managed to stun a few archers.

Victory however seemed far-fetched. Francisco had been revived from the Stunning Spell by Dacanay. Back in human form, she was battling Jai Reyes, Kirk Long and Chris Tiu at the same time. While the players were certainly skillful, Francisco was able to block all spells launched by the Blue Eagles.

Francisco pointed her wand at Chris Tiu and shouted "Animo La Salle!" But the curse missed him by an inch.

"Not Chris Tiu you BIATCH!" somebody shouted; it was Achoot Cuyegkeng. "Out of my way! Out of my way! SHE's MINE!"

Francisco laughed. " You are no match for me! I am the greatest servant of the Dominicans! What's gonna happen to your Loyola Schools after I kill you?! What's gonna happen to your Blue Eagles after I kill Chrissy?"

"You will never touch any of our students again!!" Cuyegkeng said.

Francisco laughed. And with her unerring skill as jack-of-all- trades professor Cuygekeng sent a Stunning Curse at her opponent. The curse hit her squarely on the chest, knocking her out once more.

"Enough!" Harry shouted. "Voldemort! Where are you? You have been using the LaSallians and the other schools to come after me. Where are you?"

"I am here, Potter." a voice hissed. The voice came from Bro. Armin.

"Brother Armin?"

"No! I am Voldemort! Armind is my past, present and future. See?" he wrote the word Armind then with a flicker of his wand the word became Voldemort.

"I don't get it." Harry said

"Ako rin!" an Atenean said.

"Ha? Can you make ulit?" another one shouted.

"How did Armind became Voldemort?"

"Bai, nalibog na ko!" A Cebuano Atenean shouted.

"Bah! Never mind! Anyone knows the LaSallians can't spell. So anyway, I stunned Armind a few days ago and using his name and face I used the school and all the other schools to come and find you!"

"But you are too late. I destroyed all the horcruxes!"

"No, Potter. I win. You see, while I was Bro. Armind. I was able to find the long lost and most powerful wand in the entire world -- the Animo Wand! And you will be its first victim!"

"Are you kidding me, Tom?" Harry said "Don't you get it? The wand chooses the school. The Animo wand does not belong to La Salle! It belongs to the Ateneo."

"No! You are the fool! The LaSallians have been cheering Animo La Salle for such a long time. The LaSallians truly own the wand and since I am a LaSallian for now, I own it. Die Potter die!"

"But you see, Riddle, you did not review University histories. If you did, you would know that the Ateneans used Animo Ateneo first. And they still use it now. There is even a website right now named AnimoAteneo. com. The Ateneans have reclaimed Animo Ateneo!"

Silence.

"So. It comes down to this isn't it?" Harry whispered "Does your wand know that its original owner still values it? If it does, I AM THE TRUE MASTER OF THE ANIMO WAND!"

Voldemort points his wand at Harry who in turn has prepared for the final duel.

"ANIMO LA SALLE!" Voldemort shouted.

"OH! GET. THAT. WAND!" Harry shouted.

The curse rebounded and hit Voldemort instead of Harry who caught the Animo Wand with his other hand. Cheers from the Ateneans and even some La Sallians, who realized that they were duped were all around.

That morning both Ateneo and La Salle forged a cease fire -- temporary because they next day was the Ateneo-La Salle basketball championship. Francisco who was revived after hours of being stunned by Dacanay and Cuyegkeng decided to lift the "No Cheering!" rule during time out. However, she still flinches whenever Dacanay (or any Jesuit for that matter) would approach her.

There were however, a group of La Sallians who disagreed with having a cease fire. They believed that the death and defeat of Voldemort was unfair so they decided to file a protest. This was later junked due to lack of merit.

Epilogue. Nineteen Years Later.

It was the day of the ACET.

Harry Potter was accompanying his son Ben.

"Dad! What if I fail the ACET and end up in DLSU?"

Harry looked at his son and said "Bienvenido Adolfo! You were named after two of the most powerful Jesuits in the country. One of them is a good friend of ours. In fact he was the one who officiated our marriage."

"But... but... so what if I DO fail the ACET and end up in DLSU?"

Eh di bobo ka talaga! Harry thought. But he didn't say that. "But we will still love you as our son!" Harry said. "Alright. Your test starts in a few minutes. Make us proud. One Big Fight."

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

*tagged by faye

1. Each blogger starts with ten random facts/habits about themselves.
2. Bloggers that are tagged need to write on their own blog about their ten things and post these rules.
3. At the end of your blog, you need to choose ten people to get tagged and list their names.
4. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them they're tagged, and to read your blog.

-una, mahilig akong kumain ng taba ng baboy. pati na rin yung skin. masarap naman talaga diba? when i'm having lunch with my friends who dont want to eat pork fat or its skin, hinihingi ko yun. yum! or yuck? you decide. hehe

-pangalawa, i'm currently addicted in grey's anatomy. i tried to see the show because i thought it might help me in the pursuit of my med ambition. but it did the other way around. thanks to grey's anatomy, i had second thoughts on pursuing med school. yey!

-pangatlo, i hate math! who doesn't?

-pang-apat, i love organizing events like parties (surprise, inuman, lahat na)! i think it's really cool if i become a wedding planner. astig! hehe.

-pang-lima, i want to become a professional bartender. sideline lang! yess.

-pang-anim, frustrated streetdancer ako. huhu. dati, i thought that when i go to UP, i would find my place as a clubber in the UP streetdance club. asa pa ako! haha. pero, i'm over it na.

-pang-pito, wala pa akong cellphone hanggang ngayon. potek. nawala kasi eh. my parents are saying that i wont have a cellphone until i learn my valuable lesson. heck! :)

-pang-walo, naisip ko lang. marami na akong nawawalang bagay. cellphone, iPod ni dan, at marami pang iba. hehe.

-pang-siyam, i have a theory/law: the LAW OF CONSERVATION OF KARMA. It states that karma is neither created nor destroyed, it is just passed from one person to another. tama nman diba? i mean, example, di ka nagbayad sa ikot jeep.. sasabihin sayong makakarma ka kasi hindi ka nagbayad. what if karma din yun sa jeepney driver kasi may ginawa syang masama? diba? think about it. hmmm... you're agreeing with me. :)

-pang-sampu, i love to study popular culture o KULTURANG POPULAR. i find pleasure in it. true. i plan of having it as my minor. haha. BS BIOLOGY minor in POPULAR CULTURE. kung pede lang sana.. haha.

yun! sampu na yan! now, it's your turn people:
1. kat
2. dan
3. gandy
4. glenn
5. ronna
6. lester
7. marlon
8. ketty
9. kristina
10. joseph

Friday, April 18, 2008

Credits to: KAT (sorry sa pagkopya ko) :-)

i have to agree with this one.

THIS IS SO TRUE.

every new semester:after first week:after second week:before midterms:during midterms:after midterms:before finals:after knowing schedule of final exams:7 days before a final exam:6 days before a final exam:5 days before a final exam:4 days before a final exam:3 days before a final exam:2 days before a final exam:1 day before a final exam:night before a final exam:1 hour before a final exam:during a final exam:after walking out of the examination hall:after the final exams, during the holiday:

WOOHOO. KOMPLETO!

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

This is me. Seeing the vastness of the ocean.
No. I wasn't looking at the ocean, I was looking beyond the ocean.

When this picture was taken, I was very excited about getting back home. To see my family, get lots of sleep, food, money, internet, tv, and whole lot of luxuries one cannot afford to get while studying alone in UP.
Now, I'm back for almost a week. You see, being idle brings no good at all. As what I've heard: "An idle mind is the workshop of the devil". I can attest to that. Putting it straight, I am currently in an idle situation. I don't have anything to do but to eat, watch tv, surf the net, sleep. I have zero productivity and thus contributes nothing to the labor force of this country. I am as good as a dead person. I am wasted. NO. I am more than wasted.
I want to go back to UP. I want to ride an IKOT jeep. I want to line up for enlistment even though its a mile long. I want to break rules on curfew. I want to drink like there's no tomorrow even though there's an exam the very next day. I want to run late for the next class. I want to eat monay between AS and FC. I want to go to the SC without even having to do anything at all. I want to walk in the 'Freshie Walk' between classes and greet people from Kalai. Pootek. Gusto ko nang bumalik sa Diliman. The thing is, I love that godawful place.
This is what happens to me when I'm bored.
Well, I'm too bored now.
Surely no one dies a virgin...life fucks us all (I am currently being fucked by life)

Friday, April 4, 2008

WHAT NOW?

Thursday, April 3, 2008

DISCLAIMER: Ito yung incentive paper na pinasa ko sa panpil. whatever talaga ito. pero, for the first time in my life... i really enjoyed writng a paper. haha. magshishift na daw ako sa CAL. joke lang. pero, pramis. passion ko ang kulturang popular.

tandandan..
ayan.
enjoy!



Mga kritikal sanaysay ng isang mapanuring mga mata…

Naglalaman ng mga sariling pagtingin at pagkilatis sa lipunan…

Ang pagkakakilala at pagkaranas ng kulturang popular…

Ang Central Dogma ng Lipunan:

Isang Kritikal na Pagtingin at Pagsuri sa Kultrang Popular

Ayon sa siyensiya, ang buhay ay may central dogma. Ito ang nagdidikta sa lahat ng biyolohikal na proseso- mula sa chrosmosomes, tungo sa cells, sa tissues, organs, systems, at kung anu-ano pa. Sa aking pagtanda, unti-unting umuunlad ang aking pag-iisip at naging mas kritikal ang pagtingin ko sa aking lipunan. Mula sa maliliit at karaniwang bagay na ginagawa ko, hanggang sa pinakakomplikadong bagay na aking ding gingawa, iisa ang aking nagpagtanto: ang lahat ng ito ay mga central dogma. Kung sa biyolihiko ay may central dogma na namamatnugot sa bawat kaganapan ng mga buhay na bagay sa mundo, sa lipunan din ay mga central dogma na nagpapaikot sa bawat nangyayari sa buhay ng tao. Ito ay naka-ukit sa lipunan at patuloy na umaagos sa ating mundo; at ang central dogma na ito ay lubos na makikita sa pagtangkilik ng tao sa kulturang popular. Sa bawat paggalaw ng tao, sa bawat kantang tinutugtog sa radyo, sa bawat palabas na pinapalabas sa TV, sa mga damit sa bench o pagkain sa Jolibee, iisa lang ang pinapakita rito: lahat ay kontrolado ng central dogma.

Mahirap bigyan ng depinisyon ang central dogma na aking tinutukoy. Ito rin ay mahirap lagyan ng limitasyon sapagkat sinasaklaw nito ang napakaraming bagay, kaisipan, maging ang kasaysayan. Ngunit, maaring masabing ito ay nakapaloob sa kulturang popular. Kaya naman, mainam na aking isisiwalat ko ang aking mga karansan sa lipunang aking kinagagalawan at tingnan ang proseso at pagtanghal ng central dogma na ito sa kanyang pag-eksibit sa kaganapan ng kulturang popular.

Isang Makabagong Bayani:

Si Manny Pacquiao at ang Kanyang Kamaong Panlipunan

Ako ay pinanganak sa bayan ng Heneral Santos. Dito na rin ako lumaki. Naaalala ko pa noong bata ako, tuwing linggo pagkatapos ng pagsimba, hinding hindi maiiwasan ang pagdaan sa plaza ng aking pamilya upang bumili ng koton kendi, lobo at sorbetes. At sa isang dako ng plaza ay makikita ang isang boxing ring. Dito ay may mga nag-eensayo at lingguhang labanan sa boksing. Naging isang sikat na isports ang boksing sa Heneral Santos, lalo pa nang ito ay kilala sa pagkalinga ng mga sikat na boksingero. Ang dalawang pinaksaikat sa mga ito ay sina Navarette at siyempre, si Pacquiao.

Pagdating ko sa Maynila, di ko aakalaing magiging interesado ang tao sa akin dahil sa aking pagiging taga-Heneral Santos. Kung ako ay tinatanong kung taga-saan ako, at sinasagot ko naman, ang unang reaksyon nila ay “Manny Pacquiao!”. Sino ba naman ang Pilipinong hindi nakakakilala kay Pacquiao? Pagkatapos ng reaksyon nila ay kung anu-ano pang bagay ang tinatanong ukol sa kanyang pinagagawa sa Gensan. Halimbawa ay ang pamimigay niya ng pera, ang paglakad niya sa malls, ang kanyang pagtakbo sa kongreso, at iba pa.

Kung iisipin, naging isang icon na nga si Manny Pacquiao sa kasalukyan. Pinupuri siya ng marami at tinitingala bilang isang kampeon sa larangan ng boksing. Tunay ngang masasabi nating si Manny Pacquiao ay isa produkto na ng kulturang popular. Liban sa dahilang marami ang tumatangkilik sa kanya, kaya ito ay nagbibigay ng saklaw sa popular na aspeto, maari nating makita na si Pacquiao ay isang nang “packaged” na produkto na kinukumsumo nating mga Pilipino. Sa mga advertisements mula sa ice cream, fastfoods, gamot, damit, at kung anu-ano pa, binihisan na si Pacquiao at ginawang isang bagay para sa konsumerismo. Maari ring nating masabi na si Pacquiao ay tinatangkilik ng kahit na sinong Pilipino. Mayaman man o mahirap, si Pacquiao ay naging bayani na nila. Mapa-Pilipino man o hindi, kinikilala si Pacquiao sa mundo ng boksing. Bata man o matanda, hinihiyaw ang pangalan ni Pacquiao sa bawat nitong laban. Binibigyan tayo ng isang pansamantalang kaisipan ng pagiging mapagmataas sa ating lahing Pilipino. Sabi nga ng iba, si Pacquiao lang ang nagkapagpa-isa sa ating bayan. Maaring masabi na isang gahum ang sinisumbuyo ng pag-unlad ni Pacquiao. Ang “pagbenta” kay Pacquiao ang nagpapakita ng kunsumerismo at kapitalismong ideyolohiya. Ang pagdidiktang nagaganap sa pagiging isang icon ni Pacquiao ay isa mismong proseso ng gahum. Ang namamayani at nasa “taas” ay ginagamit si Pacquiao bilang isang instrumento sa pagsuksok ng mentalidad ng namamayaning kaayusan. Patriarkal ang pagiging icon ni Pacquiao. Siyempre, si Pacquiao ang laging bida sa knayang mga laban, subalit pinapakita sa backgroung si Jinkee, ang kanyang asawa na andyan lang upang sumuporta, magdasal, humalik at yumakap kay Pacquiao pagkatapos ng laban. Kung ang mga komersyal ads ni Pacquiao sa Alaxan, Nike, etc. ay nagpapakita ng kanyang pagiging malakas, si Jinkee naman ay pinapakita bilang isang mahinhin na babae sa pag-endorse niya sa diaper, food and beauty products, etc.

Tumakbo si Pacquiao sa pagiging kongresista ng Distrito ng Heneral Santos. Sa una, inakalang magiging maganda ang laban ni Pacquiao at maari siyang manalo laban sa kasalukuyang kongresista, marami ang dumadalo at sumasali sa kanyang mga kampanyang pampolitikal, marami ang nangampanya sa kanya, siya ay nabilang sa isang partido- subalit, natalo pa rin siya. Sa pagiging isang icon na ni Pacquiao ng kulturang popular at sa kanyang pagsaklaw sa popularidad, hindi siya nagwagi sa eleksyon. Ano ang implikasyon nito sa kulturang popular? Ano ang pinapakita rito sa pag-iisip ng mga tao?

Una, maaring sabihin na ang mga tao ang sumasali at nangangampanya para kay Pacquiao dahil pangunahin sa pera. Pera ang nagdikta ng kanilang pagsuporta kay Pacquiao. Birit nga ni Pacquiao sa kanyang panayam sa lokal na radyo na nalaman daw niya ang kanyang mga tunay na kaibigan pagkatapos na ng eleksyon. Pumipila ang mga tao sa labas ng bahay ni Pacquiao para humingi ng pera. Nilalapitan siya kung hihingi ng tulong ang mga tao. Namimigay siya ng mga bigas at pagkain. Lahat ay may koneksyon sa pera.

Pangalawa, ang pagkatalo ni Pacquiao ay nagpapakita na namamayani at nanatili pa rin sa mentalidad ng tao na upang mamuno sa pamahalaan ay kailangan ng pinag-aralan at maayos na pagsasalita. Maraming kritisismo kay Pacquiao ang dumating ukol sa kanyang kakayahan sa pamumuno at kakayahang intelektwal. Sa isang panayam umano kay Pacquiao sa isang lokal na radyo, tinanong siya kung bakit siya tumakbo bilang isang representative sa distrito, ay sinagot niya ito na hindi daw siya tumatakbo bilang isang representative, tumatakbo raw siya bilang isang kongresista. Nakakatuwa mang isipin, dahil sa mga tagpong ito, marami ang natakot kung siya nga ay magiging isang representative o kongresista nga raw. Ito marahil ang pinakamalaking dahilan kung bakit natalo si Pacquiao- ang kawalan niya ng tama at pormal na edukasyon. Pagkatapos ng eleksyon ay kumuha siya ng pagsusulit para masabing maari na niyang ipasa ang High School. Sa kasalukuyan ay kumukuha siya ng kursong political science sa isang unibersidad sa Gensan. Tunay nga na malaki ang pagtingin nating mga Pilipino sa pormal na edukasyon. Nanatili ito sa ating mga isipan na upang magtagumpay sa buhay, kailangan ng pormal na pag-aaral. Ito’y isang namamayaning kaisipan na mahirap buwagin. Maari itong bakasin mula sa ating kasaysayan. Maari nating masabing isang kolonyal na mentalidad ang edukasyon. Ang pagdala nito sa atin ng mga Kastila at Amerikano ay naghatid din ng mentalidad ng pangangailangan sa edukasyon. Maari itong maikonsiderang isang gahum- ang pagdikta ng namamayaning kaayusan at ang pagtanggap ng tao sa upang gawing makabuluhan ito sa kanyang pamumuhay.

Pangatlo, pinapakita din ang pagsukat nating mga Pilipino sa katalinuhan ay ang maayos na pagsasalita ng Ingles (Ito ay konektado din sa pangalawang punto). Para sa ating mga Pilipino, ikaw ay matalino kung magaling kang mag-Ingles. Ikaw ay mayaman kung magaling kang mag-Ingles. Ikaw ay ‘elite’ kung magaling kang mag-Ingles. Isa itong kaisipang pumapatay sa ating wika at maging sa pambansang identidad. Kinokonsidera nating tayo ay mga mabababang uri dahil sa pagiging ‘angat’ o ‘elite’ ng wiakng Ingles. Gahum din ito kung maituturing- muli, ang pagdikta ng isang kaisipan na tinataguyod ng namamayaning kaayusan at ang pagtanggap ng tao dito. Nagmula din ito sa konsepto ng ‘Americanization’. Ang pagtangkilik ng ‘mass culture’ at ang pinaggalingan nito- ang sentro, at sa kasong ito- ang Amerika.

Maraming mga kagyat na unawa ang mapapansin sa kultura ng Pilipino at sa kulturang popular sa pagkilatis sa icon na si Manny Pacquiao. Ang mga nabanggit na rason ay ilan lamang sa mga katangiang minamalas ng kulturang popular sa kabuohan ng lipunan. Maaring masabi na ang kulturang ito ay kulturang naipakita ng pagkakaroon ng isang central dogma sa lipunan. Kaya naman, sa pagkakataong ito, maari nating masabi na isang implikasyon at manipestasyon ng central dogma ang kulturang popular (partikular ang icon na si Pacquiao). Sa bawat proseso at pag-iisip nating mga Pilipino, lahat ng ito ay dikta ng central dogma sa dahilang tayo ay nakapa-ilalim dito. Mahirap mang ipakita ang pinaka-ugat nito, ang kulturang popular ang nagpapakita sa kaganapang ito.

Wacky Day ng Kalayaan:

Ang Implikasyon sa Psikolohiya at Kultura ng Lipunan

Kilala ang Kalai bilang isang coed na dormitoryo para mga mag-aaral sa unang taon sa UP. Isa sa pinakahihintay na kaganapan dito ay ang Wacky Day. Dito ay nagsusuot ng “kakaiba”, “kakatwa”, at “kagilagilalas” na ‘costume’ ang mga residente sa isang buong araw sa loob ng kanyang mga klase. Isang buong linggo ako naghanap ng aking susuotin para sa Wacky Day. Nahirapan akong maghanap ng isang bagay dahil kinonsidera ko ang isang kasuotang magpapa-angat at magpapakilala sa akin. Isa nang tradisyon ang Wacky Day, ito ay nagsisilbing hudyat sa Open House ng Kalayaan. Subalit, kung susuriin nang maigi, hindi lamang ito isang hudyat ng Open House, ito rin ay sumisimbolo sa psikolohikal at kultural na pag-iisip hindi lamang ng mga residente ng Kalayaan, kundi pati na rin ng lipunan. Iba’t-iba ang sinuot na ‘costume’ ng mga residente. May mga nagpanggap bilang mga Anime characters, movie characters, aswang, bakla, at kung anu-ano pa. Maaring masabi na may implikasyon ang mga pananamit na ito sa pag-iisip ng lipunan at sa kulturang ating niraranas.

Ang karamihan ng mga ‘costume’ na isinuot ay nagpapakita ng kulturang popular sa kasalukuyang panahon. Kung papansinin, makikita ang pagtangkilik ng kabataan sa Anime. Nagsuot ang iba ng mga karakter mula sa Naruto, Avatar, Ghost Fighter, etc. Makikita din ang pagsuot ng mga karakter sa cartoons at pampelikula. Halimbawa ay ang pagsuot ng Jedi Warrior na nagmula sa pelikulang Starwars, si Tinkerbell ng Peter Pan, si Ursula ng The Little Mermaid, at kung anu-ano pa. Sa mga nabanggit na ilustrasyon, hindi maipagkakaila ang pagpasok ng mga dayuhang bagay sa tinatangkilik na kulturang popular ng mga Pilipino. Kaya naman, maari nating masabing sa kulturang popular na ating tinatangkilik, wala gaano itong ‘maka-Pilipinong’ aspeto. Karamihan ay nagmula sa ibang bansa. Ang pag-usbong ng mga ganitong mga kaganapan ay nagpapakita lamang ng kulturang idinidikta ng mas “nakaka-angat” na puwersa laban sa mababa o “lokal” na bagay. Ito marahil ay nag-ugat sa kolonyalismong mentalidad ng mga Pilipinong hanggang sa ngayon ay mahirap buwagin. Tayo ay nag-iisip na hindi maganda ang kalidad kapag lokal. Tunay na may mababa tayong pagkilala sa mga gawang lokal. Ang sitwasyong ito din ay nagpapahiwatig ng paglaganap ng globalisasyon. Ito raw ay isang makabagong kolonyal na mekanismo upang ipalaganap ang kapitalismong tunguhin. Nang dahil sa globalisasyon, nawawala ang mga boundary ng kultura at unti-unti itong nagiging isa. Subalit, pinapatay din nito ang identidad at kultura ng isang bansa. Hindi ito malayo sa konsepto ng gahum, ipinapakita ito sa mga tao bilang kanyang realidad. Ito na ang nagiging kultura at karanasan ng bawat isa sa atin. Tayo ay nagiging alipin sa ganitong mentalidad. Dahil sa globalisasyon, mas nagiging malawak ang sakop ng mga malalaking korporasyon. Kaya naman, nagiging magandang opurtunidad ito upang magkamit ng maraming pera. Dahil din marahil sa globalisyon, nagkakaroon ng isang pangkalahatang kultura ang tinatangkilik- ang paglaganap ng kulturang popular.

Sa isang namang perspektibo, nagpapakta ng spectacle ang Wacky Day. Kinakatuwa ng marami ang pagbabagong-bihis at ang kakaibang pagsuot. Ipinapakita ang exaggerated na pananamit. Tayo ay nakakakuha ng kakaibang aliw sa mismong pagsuot nito at sa mismong pagtingin sa ibang taong sumusuot nito. Kaya naman, nagtatalbugan ang mga tao sa larangan ng pananamit tuwing Wacky Day dahil gusto nilang mapansin at mangiba sa panahong ito. Lahat tayo ay nagnanais na maging ganito- ang mapansin at umibabaw sa madla. Isang psikolohiyang bagay ito na hindi maitatago. Kaya nga marami sa atin ang gusto maging artista. Marami sa atin ang gusto magpapayat para makita ng ibang tao na tao ang seksi. Marami sa atin ang gustong maging maganda. Subalit sino ba ang nagdidikta kung ano ang pagiging maganda? Napag isip-isip kong ako mismo ay may sariling batayan ng kagandahan na tulad din sa karamihan. Kahit ano pa man ang sabi ng iba na “ang tunay na kagandahan ay nasa kalooban”, hindi pa rin nawawala na tayo ay may pisikal na batayan ng pagiging maganda. Mula noong bata pa ako, alam ko na ang pagkakaiba ng pangit sa maganda. Marahil ang konsepto natin ng pagiging maganda ay matagal nang dumadaloy sa ating lipunan. Ito ang naging target ng mga kapitalista. Ang ekonomiya ng kagandahan ay isa sa mga larangang kumikita ng napakamaraming salapi.

Maraming binuwag na mainstream na kaisipan sa Wacky Day. Mapapansing marami sa mga kalalakihan ay nagsuot ng damit pambabae, at marami din sa kababaihan ay nagsuot ng damit-panlalaki. Binubuwag nito ang tradisyunal at sterotype na pag-iisip. Tayo ay nasa panahon ng post-modernism. Tila wala nang mga kategoryang kinikilala at wala na ring mga klasipikasyon. Nagiging parang tubig ang isang pag-iisip. Nagiging tila fluid ang konsepto ng kasarian at sekswalidad.

Tunay nga na nagpakita ng kasalukuyang kultura at psikolohika ang Wacky ng Kalai. Dahil dito, naisiwalat ang mga kaisipang umiikot sa lipunan. Ito ay isa namang implikasyon sa kulturang popular na hatid ng central dogma sa ating lipunan.

Mga Kantang Revival:

Kulturang Popular sa Musikang Pilipino

Sa larangan ng musika ng ating bansa, partikular sa panahon ngayon, binuhay muli ang mga kantang dati ay sumikat. Binihisan ito ng bagong anyo upang pumatok sa panlasa ng kabataan sa ngayon. Ito ay tinatawag na mga revivals. Ilan sa mga dito ay ang mga kantang pinasikat ng APO Hiking Society na binuhay muli ng mga bandang Parokya ni Edgar, Kamikazee, Barbie Almabis, Moonstart 88, at iba pa. Ang mga kanta ng Eraserheads ay binuhay din ng mga kontemporaryong banda. Sa proseso ng revival, masasabing binuhay muli ang isang kanta dahil sa dalawang dahilan: (1) una, dahil sa sobrang pagiging patok at pagkasikat nito noong unang panahon. (2) Pangalawa, dahil iniisip ng mga kontemporaryong artista at banda ay naglalayong maging sikat at ibalik ang pagkasikat ng kanta. Sa mga dahilang ito, ano ang pinapahiwatig nito sa katangian ng kulturang popular ng mga Pilipino noon at kasalukuyan?

Masasabing sumikat ang mga kanta dati dahil ito pumatok at umayon sa kultural na aspeto ng nasabing panahon. Sa proseso ng pag-revive ng mga kantang ito, ilan sa mga kanta ay sumikat muli ngunit ang ilan naman ay hindi pumatok. Kaya naman, masasabing pabago-bago ang anyo ng kultura at panlasa ng Pilipino sa mga kanta. Ang pag-ayon ng kanta sa isang cultural continuum ay nagpapakita ng pagiging porous ng kulturang popular. Ang kulturang popular ay maaring magbagong anyo upang pumatok at bumagay sa isang kultura o panahon. Nagpapakita din ang pagiging selective ng tao sa pagtangkilik ng kulturang popular. Hindi nito itinatanggap nang basta-basta lang man ang kung anong bagay at gawin itong isang aspeto ng kulturang popular. Pumipili ang tao ng tatangkilikin. Subalit, maari ring masabi na bago pa man pumili ang tao ay pinili na ito para sa kanya.

Ang mga kontemporaryong kanta ay mga cultural forms. Ito ay ginamit ng mga nasa itaas o sentro upang maging isang mekanismo ng pagdikta, at sa siyempre, para sa pera. Muli, ito ay packaged na- hinubog at binihisan upang ipresenta sa mamimili.Ang mga kanta ding ito ay nagpapakita ng cosmopolitan na kultura. Nagmula ito sa sentro, at ito ay nagiging isa rin kulturang tinatangkilik ng mga rehiyong nakapalibot sa sentro. Kung ano ang patok sa sentro ay siya ring nagiging patok sa rehiyon. Kaya naman, lalong dadami ang kita sa pagkakataong ito.

Ang pabago-bagoon pagtangkilik natin sa mga kanta ay dikta na naman muli ng central dogma na nakapaloob sa ating lipunan. Ito ay pinagtitibay sa mga implikasyon na makikita sa kulturang popular. Ang bawat mekanismo at proseso ay bumubuo sa isang komplikadong sistema ng kulturang popular.

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

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Building up from the pavement...
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others:
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