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contentswhere you can find what’s best for summer. Enjoy!

02SACSRpresident’s message

go forhelmet diving5

vogue in ukay2x8

12read a book by the beach

try the art of pottery in bari

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up,up & awayPOWERED PARAGLIDING 11

turonlegacy16send your old friends a letter17

18going south davao & gensan escapades

19 hike to the summits of mt. igmitaw & muntugawi

21greensummer

06save the wildlife

conqueringmalaysia 14

22the science behind pyrokinesis

ayon kay

bob ong

magdalena23

5 summer paradise worth visiting ,10

general santos city

colorful & loud, 20

bbq for sale. 16

paper arts & crafts, 17

ice scramble vs summer heat,9

march 2011the anthonian publication

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Hello, Anthonians! Here I am again.

Glory to God for He gave me courage and wisdom to do all those things.

They say in the quest for success, there’s no real winner but only a survivor. As the school year ends, SACSR stands up until the last day of the school calendar. I said so because of the feedback – good and bad- that serve as the blood for its contin-ued existence.

Positions are always accompanied with responsibilities that require sacrifices and vulnerability to criticisms. The prestige of being a front liner is just a shadow of what really has in the world of the so-called public service. To be defensive will mean low in self esteem but I am but just a hu-man being who responds to the stimulus. Besides, making obscure things clear to an innocent man is a noble act. Personally, I received lots of criticisms from some of the students who never see my worth as their President, but thanks for that because I am taking it positively. It made me strong enough to go on and to continue ser-ving YOU my fellow ANTHONIANS to the extent of my capabilities. Before I enter this school politics, I am already aware and I prepared myself for the criticisms of my colleagues in politics. Well, enough for that, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the students who heeded our supplication and even to those who did not. Thank you for the help and support you have extended to the SACSR.

To the SACSR Family “Salamat sa bulig kag sa pagpasesnsya,” for the untiring effort, even though you always told me “Alay ba Pres” but at the end of the day our pains and sacrifices are all paid off seeing your tired eyes and smile on your faces saying “Hay, salamat tapus run, anu paguid sunod nga activity Pres?” The true

attitude of leaders…NEVER QUIT. Thanks for keeping the office open during the time I was out. (You know who you are). We cannot realize those things without the proper guidance of our Nanay and Tatay, Ma’am Nona and Sir Ado for the laughter and jokes during the time when we have problems and for dropping at the office to check if there is any problem.

To my fellow Anthonians, classmates, friends, I am very lucky and proud that you have answered the challenges and become the inspiration for others. Thanks for the time that you never leave me. You strengthened me to continue and to hit the mark. Without you, nothing will be real-ized in the SACSR. I know my term as your President has come to an end, but the memories, experiences, hardships and inspiration will always be treasured here in my heart.

To the next set of SACSR Officers, help one another, help your President and encourage our fellow Anthonians to co-operate. Don’t be too passive. Instead, be active in being fountainheads of social change. Participate and be involved. We need leaders for change. It takes a lot of initiative and courage to be a leader of change but taking a first move, no matter how small or big it is, is the most important thing.

To my fellow graduates this school year, my warmest congratulations and best wishes. I am very sure that we are all ready to face the world and join the work force. It is now our time and our chance to continue nurture everything we’ve got from our Alma Matter. Let us not forget that we are Anthonians who are spiritually oriented, academically excellent and community ser-vice oriented. Let us live the mission and vision of our school, let us carry the torch of being an Anthonian.

STUDENT REPUBLICPresident’s Message

By Jazon D. MontillaThe paper is my battlefield, my words march like an army.

The Library: Store House of Books or Store House of Noise?

The avid readers of SAC often wonder whether or not the books in the library are printed in paper or are printed in sound. In other schools, libraries are treated as very sacred places for learning that everyone keeps quiet to absorb what they are reading. Here in our campus, it seems that the students’ eyes are inside their mouths and not in their proper locations.

It is an annoying situation even for me. I go to the library in my free time to read, write, draw, or do my assign-ments. But then I just can’t enjoy the moment in my favorite corner because many of the people around me are not reading or doing their school work. They are just there to gossip, talk about useless stuff, and even exchange dirty jokes. It is an irritation to those few students who make use of the library productively. It’s a big problem for the staff as well because as it is also their responsibility to keep that place in order, their job begins to turn even more stressful with the chaotic environment they are working in.

The noise is an inconvenience for some people, but I take pity more on those who do all the yakking inside the library. Not only do they disturb others, but they also waste valuable time in that place that could have been used for worthwhile pursuits. For one, they could have focused more in doing their assignments or schoolwork, especially that there are many references in the shelves that they can use for their les-sons. Or they could at least read all the other books and publications that may catch their interest. It is a shame that we have so many good books and rare volumes available in the library that only a few people take notice of because all the rest are busy with idle talk. A waste

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by Paulus Celso F. Corvera

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of personal potential it is if you don’t read for your intellectual growth. If ever any of you want to engage in smart discussions, could you at least do it in gentle whispers? You don’t need to shout to your friends if they are only inches from you in the table.

If only books could be eaten instead of being read, maybe the library will be more silent than it is now.

The Academic Propaganda Wars

You will notice this in every school zone you come close to: huge streamers and posters praising some student, groups of students, student organizations, etc. draped on the walls and main gate of the campus. Our school is no exception to that. But it is curious that whenever I look at those things, I’m sort of reminded of the time when political ideologies and dictators were an in-thing for people. They are like propaganda.

Oh yes, it is somewhat like a propaganda war. Schools around the country are trying to outdo one another in declaring the most plentiful number of achievers. Board exam passers/topnotchers, winners of this or that competition and contest, recipients of this or that award, citations and nominations and all those other fancy titles for students. Never mind even if it is just second or third runner-up as long as it can be showed off to others. It is as if the schools are saying to each other that they are better than the rest because they can produce so many achievers, and that the greatest form of ed-ucation can only be found in their campus because of those achievers. But just like any form of propaganda, those streamers can also be used for other hidden agenda.

For one, those streamers can be used for “campaigning” purposes. Any parent (or alumnus) who sees those outward signs of “excellence” will not hesitate to enroll their kids into the school in the hope of turning them also into achievers. Having many students can be good for any institution, you know. However, I feel there is a much larger reason for all this propaganda, and it is culture. Many cultural observers seem to agree on this one. It appears that in Fili-pino society, people tend to sensationalize or go crazy over the smallest victories and achievements and play them up as if they were the great acts that saved the world. We cannot tell which things are really worthy of praising and which are merely temporary successes. On the other hand, this cultural quirk can become a form of es-capism: people tend to focus on the trivial things to avoid the serious problems and issues that take a lot of work to resolve.

As I said before, propaganda is often done for a hidden agenda. In our case, it is more of a “hiding’ or “distracting” type of agenda. Somehow, in our drive to attract more enrollments, produce more achiev-

ers, and outdo all the others it appears we are forgetting the real work to be done. Think of quality : our schools are forgetting about the reason why they exist, and that is to make the weakest of our students into smarter people. What are we doing instead? We give more time to those who are already too good and waste more resources on loud advertising. What about school facilities and the quality of teach-ing? What about the subjects being taught in our classrooms? The greater majority of students that need more of our attention are almost neglected. Those who have problems with their subjects, who need guidance or counseling, and those with financial or family crises are not given the necessary attention. Only a few of our faculty ever try to reach out. The rest are just carried away by all the hoopla and showing off. Worse, it may just be that people in most of our schools are delib-erately using the streamers and bragging for cover-up. All that loud propaganda allows the people up there to escape the fact that they are not doing their real jobs well, which is to teach the weaker students to become better. The achievers are just used by our schools to hide the deficien-cies in our educational system, and how the ordinary students themselves are really being treated.

Schools should operate not primarily on how many “student achievers’ they have or on how many contests and awards they had won, but on how well they have helped our young people to grow from the lowest levels into better and wiser persons. All that propaganda and rivalry is a frivolous waste. Giving appreciation for them is good, but even that has its own place. Too much focus on it will keep our educa-tional institutions away from the hard jobs of teaching, guiding, and supporting our ordinary students who are struggling in the classrooms and in life.

Endings and Goodbyes are a bitter cup to drink

I drink coffee, which is bitter, but mixed with some sugar. However, life sometimes gives us bitter cups which can never be sweetened.

Yes, saying goodbyes and endings are bit-ter things to drink. Yet then they are offered before you, and it is only by taking them in can you be awakened to the realities of life. Things such as the death of a loved one or personal loss can leave a heavy feeling within. So, too, is the fact that the good days do not last for long, and that you have to go away and move on beyond.

I say these words with a heavy heart as I mourn the passing of our beloved ad-viser, Mrs. Audrey Fe Garcia. No kinder or more caring authority have we known and worked for in all our days as staffers of the

Anthonian Magazine. She has been a source of encouragement for us, both in the good times and the bad, and stood by as our staunch supporter no matter what problems the magazine faced back then. Ever being aware of the hid-den potential in every person, she was also instrumental in helping us staffers in discovering and developing our wri-ting talent, and I am indebted to her for that as well. Her untimely passing was a sad blow to those of us who knew her, and most especially her students in the Business Education Department who love her very much. Perhaps, it is only here in this page and in the funeral itself that I can express my final respects.

Another bitter cup that must be taken in is that this may well be the final column piece I will be writing for the Anthonian. I regret telling this to those devoted people who read my work, but then one has to move on. My four years in the staff had been good in many ways, and my writing has grown and been put to great use, but then reality comes in. With school subjects becoming even more demanding by the semester, and with the fact that one has to even-tually grow up, graduate, and get a job, it seems that I need more focus on the important stuff, and I just couldn’t allow myself to be distracted by too many responsibilities. Also, I have realized that if one get too attached to your wri-ting or to the publication’s affairs, one may just get carried away and the entire thing may well go in to your ego. If that happens, my writing becomes less and less of a fun hobby, and will probably just drive me and the others around me crazy. It was fun trying to spin your own public service columns, poems, and other write-ups, but then there is always more to life than writing. It is really true that I can’t remain a student or a staffer forever, so maybe its time to calm down and prepare for the future life of the ordinary person and employee.

I thank my readers and those devoted people who read my column and who are touched by my past write-ups. One may be very lonely without an audience to read your work. I also would like to thank my fellow staffers and former colleagues for being at my side and for giving me a chance to work alongside the publication (and also to apologize for any problems I may have caused in the past). Perhaps someone new will come along, and write a better column than what I have now.

Thus I said it all. The bitter cup has been emptied, now I am awakened. Farewell till another page shall have me.

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1 BEFRIEND A DOG

making yourSUMMER so animalistic!

CATCH A FISH

TRIVIA:PARROTFISHIt is an omnivorous fish that has an average life span of up to 7 years. If the dominant male dies, one of the females will change gender and color and become the dominant male.

DOGSThere are 701 types of pure breed dogs.

Rabies, the viral disease often associated with dogs, kills 600 Filipinos every year.

Brasca is the name of the dog who portrayed as Angel Locsin’s white wolf alter-ego in the Lobo, a primetime TV series of ABS-CBN. Brasca was bought all the way from France for P200,000.

Fishing is a good way to enjoy the summer. But if you do not have any idea to do this, chance a batch of boys fishing along the beach. Befriend them and they will surely lend their bamboo rods to you. And a free tutorial too!

It may seem so easy but it is actually hard. Yet, do not worry because as you keep on trying, you will get the rhythm

later on. When your string gets tangled, those boys could lend you a help on that.

Just a note, the boys will surely laugh at you when you get it wrong. So, this a test of patience. Actually, this could be a best therapy of easing down when you are so hot tempered! If you really cannot carry it on, treat the boys an ice cream and thank them for that worthwhile experience.

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Dogs are man’s ultimate best friends. They come in different sizes, shapes and breeds—from small to huge, short-haired to hairy, Labradors to Chihuahuas. Having a dog to care this summer is a good therapy especially when you are stressed after a year of studying.

Dogs are team players. They easily accept humans as part of their pack. They can be taught to take direction and perform tasks that man is sometimes unwilling or unable to perform. These innate traits make dogs easily adaptable to human society.

So try having one this summer and make it a goal to teach him simple tricks!

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making yourSUMMER so wet & wild!

GO FOR HELMET DIVING

ROCK A BOAT WITH FRIENDS

This is now considered as one of the hippiest craze you must not miss when you are already at the most famous tourist destination in the country, Bo-racay. Wearing a heavy metal helmet connected with a tube for the oxygen supply, you will descend into the fifteen feet deep water and get a chance to walk around the reef. For thirty minutes under the water, you will be feeding and playing with various species of fish. For more than a hundred of them, some would poke your helmet and some would even kiss every part of your body. It is indeed a different experience that you would surely enjoy the silence beneath with those fishes. Ama-zingly, the instructor is holding a stuff that would surely excite your underwater escapade—a camera! So, your every moment under the water is surely docu-mented. Just a reminder, always listen to what the instructor is saying before

hand.

This underwater experience could cost you P500 –P600 per head but you could negotiate for a lower price. It is best to go as group to bring easily the price lower! Tip: tell them that you are Filipino and that you deserve a good price.

TRIVIA:METAL HELMET This helmet from Saipan weighs 26 kilos. But do not worry, it will be lighter as you go down the water.

SCUBA DIVINGThis stands for Self Con-tained Underwater Breathing Apparatus.

ICHTHYOLOGISTThe person who studies fish.

7,107 ISLANDSCRUISE SHIPThe first cruise ship to sail under the Philippine Flag that has 137 bedroom cabins and able to hold up to 400 guests. It has amenities like gym, pool and spa. This ship tours in Boracay, Coron, Palawan and Puerto Galera and stops for 1 to 2 days on each island.

If you are dreaming to have an Asian cruise tour someday, simply start it by having a baby ride on a boat with your friends! Enjoy the surreal sight of the water world whether in a sailboat, powerboat, and paddle boat without making a hole in your pocket. If ever you get yourself so allured with the pristine water, then maybe you should give yourself a plunge and surely, you will avoid the lazy-hazy-crazy days of summer.

Just bear in mind that safety should be observed. Do not dare conquering big waves, unless you are already in your dream cruise!

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4 Check out their website for more details: www.7107islandscruise.net

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WILDLIFESaving the with World Wide Fund for Nature

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Every year from February to May,

the waters of Donsol are host to schools

of these huge but harmless whale sharks.

by Diane Joy D. Santillan

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Living in harmony with the environ-ment is one of the most violated rules of the humankind. A simple throwing of candy wrapper anywhere is just one of those things we always do that we might believe nothing would happen if we did. Sad to say, people in general tend to assume that living life only revolves within us humans. And we do not care about anything else that does not directly concern us. But let us con-sider the happenings that concern our environment nowadays, which mostly affected our very lives.

Stop. Pause for a while. Look. Be con-scious of your surroundings. Listen. Hear the nature’s sentiments. Think. There is something to be done.

World Wide Fund for Nature is one of the answers. World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is the world’s largest and most experienced conservation organization, operating in over 100 countries through the support of nearly five million people worldwide. The organization is designed to protect the environment for the people and the nature. In the Philippines, WWF has been active in life preservation since 1997. WWF-Philippines imple-ments conservation and development projects in all provinces and at least 28 towns, from the far north in the Babuyan Islands, to the southern tip, and the Turtle Islands in Tawi-Tawi. Its projects on species protection serve as catalytic platforms for a broader coastal management and conservation program in a number of areas.

So far, WWF has not yet reached An-tique. It is a great loss because WWF’s

environmental advocates are among the best alternatives in protecting and preserving Antique’s natural resources and wildlife. But we can be a key to cover up this loss. We can be a volunteer to the World Wide Fund. The prerequisites in entering this organization are our desire and will-ingness to help conserve our Mother Nature and undying commitment to these advocacies. If one is eager to be a volunteer, you can freely visit the site of WWF, wwf.org.ph.

Being a volunteer gives us the chance to do something for our Mo-ther Earth. True volunteerism in WWF may come from different acts. One is the Individual Donors Program (IDP). This program is especially intended for those who want to volunteer in financial sustainability of the organi-zation. It encourages people like us to take a direct part in the conservation and ecological sustainability initia-tives. The donations accumulated is used for (1) supporting conserva-tion projects in key sites across the Philippines, (2) promoting a clean, renewable energy through extensive climate campaigns such as Switch and Earth Hour which is now the larg-est and well-taken environment action in the human history, (3) for aware-ness programs for communities of the probable climate change impacts, (4) and educating and empowering the Filipino youths via vigorous environ-mental education drives.

If we cannot become official volun-teers, as students, we can be an instrument of WWF’s advocates through active participation in the

clean-up drives and community involvements where we do coastal clean-up, tree planting, and many others. As youths, we can spearhead lectures about environmental aware-ness in our place. We have the power and the reason to take part in this agenda. We can join hand in hand with our political leaders in designing environmental programs.

Doing environmental advocacies can now be linked with technology. WWF encourages us to be a WWF fan in the Facebook account and get to interact with like-minded people. With this, we can also share our thoughts and concerns about environmental issues.

In a world that is in a continuous process of transformative change, the task before us is to develop solu-tions to the unprecedented problems facing humanity and to do so quickly. Have a meaningful start NOW. The world awaits.

The answer is just within us. We don’t just have to stop, look, listen, and think. We have to act. We have to do somhing.

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making yourSUMMER so fashionista!

P40.00

P20.00

P40.00

It is now time for summer dresses, sleeveless tops, floral skirts, and beach shorts.

If you are budget conscious, you can try buying at the ukay-ukay. It offers a wide variety of dresses, tops, shorts, bags, and pants for all sizes and ages. This way of shop-ping is like treasure hunting. You are literally digging from the piles of clothes which are mostly vintage and of high value. You just have to be patient on looking for that perfect outfit, and good at asking for lower prices.

Prices range from Php10-150 de-pending on size, style, and quality.

For the men, there are also a lot of items for you. You can buy sport shoes or caps at reasonable prices.

Just a reminder, you are buying secondhand clothes. So, wash it well to avoid sickness. You can find great Ukays on Sa-turdays at Tradetown-Dalipe, San Jose and Tuesdays at Sibalom Public Market, Sibalom. There are also ukay-ukay stalls located at San Jose Business Park.

Who says being fashionable should be expensive? Check out what you can get for Php100.

5 VOGUE IN UKAY-UKAY

6 GOT A BIZ ON WIRED ACCESSORIES

Make your summer not only a season of fun but also a season of style. Complement your cool summer outfit with these affordable and elegant-looking jewelries. Amp up your summer look by making your own accessories made from Swarovski crystals, pearls, baubles and colorful beads! Sew them using a wire and embellish it with or-naments. Effortlessly, you’ll come up with exquisite and quirky necklaces, bracelets and earrings that will make you shimmer like the summer sun. You can also make money out of these accessories.

Prices:

Earrings - Php25-50Bracelet - Php150-300Ring - Php200-350

Swarovski (swor-OFF-skee) is the brand name for a range of precisely-cut crystal and related luxury products produced by Swarovski AG of Wattens, Austria.

Largest PearlIt was found in the Philippines in 1934 and is known as Pearl of Lao Tzu or sometimes called as Pearl of Allah. It weighs 6.4 kilograms!

Ukay-ukay or second hand clothings were suspected in 2009 as carriers of the mening-goccemia bacteria. But spe-cialists said that bacteria can not survive outside the body and cannot thrive in inanimate objects like clothes!

TRIVIA:

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making yourSUMMER so refreshing!

SAVOR A BUKO CHILL!

This is a lot healthier than to gulp a glass of beer! Gimmick is everywhere when summertime comes and your health is again put to risk. So, give this summer a good start by inviting your friends to have a buko chill. Bring them in your backyard and let them prepare their own drink. Then start a good talk that would surely interest everybody. This is a good bonding activity that you will surely end up happy and healthy!

Buko drink is good in relieving stomach ulcers caused by drinking too much liquor. Not only that but it also helps in building up your body muscles!

This is so easy to prepare and a lot cheaper than the hard drinks.

1. Save the juice and grate the meat of three coconuts. 2.Mix them in a container and add a can of evaporated milk (P25.00)

3.add an enough amount of sugar (P10.00).

4. Do not forget the ice to make it a perfect buko chill!

how to prepare:

ICE SCRAMBLE VSSUMMER HEAT

strawberry with mallows

chocolate with choco chips

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8Want another way to satisfy your summer thirst? Try a cup full of flavored snow!

Ice scramble is now a craze. Unlike the usual crushed ice and milk, there are already a lot of flavors to choose from. May it be strawberry or chocolate sprinkled with different toppings such as marshmallows, choco sprinkles, corn flakes, or rice candies.

Just outside the campus, there is an ice scramble cart that you could run to whenever your throat craves for something cool this

summer.

This is a good pasttime dessert when you are spending this sum-mer at school. You will enjoy a cup at P10 or P15 depending on serving size.

With a cup of this cool and flavorful summer treat, you would surely be refreshed and energized for a lot more summer adventures.

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WWhenever the summertime comes, I really look forward to spend my vacation in the most worthwhile way it could be. The best place to have it so amazingly is in a pre-cious beach with the perfect blue waters and the magnificent white sand.

Let me share to you the five different beaches I have visited in five different places across the archipelago. Indeed, their beauties could surely entice you to explore more different Philippine wonders and to spend your summer like I did.

GLAN, SARANGANI PROVINCE When you are looking for a very

tranquil place to enjoy with friends and family, Glan Beaches are the

best places to visit. Considered by the locals as the Boracay of the South, the

beaches in Glan could not be easily bested by other known beaches. It is

because southern people prefer to go there than to spend a lot of money in

bringing their summer to far-off places. It could also brag its underwater world

that has been frequently visited by foreign divers because of its marine

wonders. Also, the long white sand is adorned with different species of star-

fish all the time. But ooops, bringing them home is a violation!

BANTAYAN ISLAND, CEBU One of the ever unique places because quite near the sea is the Ogtong Cave where a freshwater lagoon is found in-side (Not even a taste of salt is savored here)! Bantayan is a pretty big island but not as commercialized as Boracay, even though, the white sand beaches are equally good to enjoy. Kayaking and snorkeling are also good options to take the pleasure high. Many resorts are offering such fun activities. But ooops, beware of the jellyfishes, that are varied in colors and sizes, lurking beneath the water. Not all of them are harmful though but it is better to keep off than be stung!

JOMABO ISLAND, NEGROS OCCIDENTAL

Just a couple of hour from Bacolod City and a twenty minute boat ride from Escalante City, it is one of the

prides of the province you must include in your summer itinerary.

Jomabo is known for its tagline, One island, One resort. It’s true! When

you are standing on one side of the island, you can actually see the other side. The water here is crystal clear and cool all the time. Though as small as you could imagine, this resort offers different amenities like

rooms, souvenir shop, restaurant and aquasports. Also, the island’s

sandbar should not be missed when the water is low. Trailing the sandbar

is a lot of fun!

Summer worth visitingparadise5by Moncel Edrief M. Odango

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DAKAK BEACH RESORTNestled on the tip of Northern Zambo-anga, Dakak is most known for its beauti-fully shaped cove and fine white sand. It is situated in a place away from the typhoon belt, thus, making it a perfect all-season destination. This beach could not only boast its water and sand but also its 15-hectare wooded land that housed several amenities you could really enjoy such as swimming pools, horseback riding, restaurant, and a souvenir shop. Dakak is also tagged as the diving Mecca of Mindanao for its very impressive marine sanctuary that homes different kinds of fishes and corals.

BORACAY ISLAND, AKLAN This internationally acclaimed summer destination has a lot more to offer than you could expect. All year-round, this prestigious island does not run out with foreigners because of the tropical experience they ever wanted. It may be costly to spend a summer here, but if you are just persistent enough to look for something affordable or to negotiate the price, you could surely have a splendid time here! The powdery white sand and the pristine water are good enough to enjoy but you must try other activities to make your stay memorable. Be tattooed with henna or try parasailing and a banana boat ride with friends. If you are thrifty enough to spend for such activities, then divert your spending to food!

UP, UP AND AWAYPOWERED PARAGLIDING9

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Want to escape from the world’s haziness? Then let your wings spread and feel the reality of touring the sky with the wind. Open your eyes and see the amazing beauty of the of-ten seen wonders wherein green and blue collide with the rainbow hues. Powered paragliding will provide you the requisite thrills and nerve-rushing experience this summer.

Powered paragliding is considered as the world’s cheapest and safest form of aviation. This extreme sports originated in the United States. Unlikte the common paragliding, a paramotor is attached to the paraglide. The gaso-

line-fueled machine can sustain 80 kilometers of travel. Powered paraglid-ing can be used for cross-country flying. It is like cruising in an armchair.

You can have a 30-min-ute ride with Mr. Antonio delos Reyes, the country’s first and only paraglid-ing instructor, for a fee of P4000-4300. He also offers a 7-10 days training for those who want to learn and understand riding the powered paraglide for P55, 000. Being an Antiqueño, Mr. delos Reyes often bring his students, usually foreigners, to the shores of Antique for their one-of-a-kind powered paragliding experience.

Summer worth visitingparadise

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making yourSUMMER so relaxing!

Experience yourself seated comfort-ably on the sand reaching out to infinity, where you see nothing but the rise and fall of the conquering waves. Let them kiss your feet and wash your heart and soul. Then reach out for your meaning. Your mind is as wide as the lucid sky and your heart is as deep as the infinite sea. The serenity of horizon touches you. Open your senses to the breeze!

Venting out the stress you acquired from your academic struggles is a good way to relax yourself. So, the thing you will need above all else is peace and quiet-ness. Being alone is sometimes good. So, you’re better off to beach by yourself and try to leave your phone at home to avoid some distraction. But do not forget to leave your mom a note that you will be fine though you will not be reached.

Meditation is one of the few things you will enjoy for free this summer. So, give yourself a good time!

MEDITATE WITH THE WAVES

READ A BOOKBY THE BEACHtry reading

ABNKKBSNPLAKo?!mga kwentong chalk ni

bob ong

the perfect summer waves in Rumbo Juan Beach Resort!10

11Don’t let the summer heat spoil your trav-els to the magical and enthralling world of books. So, bring your reading in the beach and dream of another world across the horizon.

With the sound of the waves and the breeze of the cool wind, you would surely be relaxed and enticed to finish a novel. It’s just like having a yoga that refreshes you totally from head to toe. Bring snacks with you. Eating is a good rest after having a break from reading.

While having the vacation, it is good to sharpen your minds for a while. You could learn new things and ideas that you could use when the class resumes.

You can try doing it alone or in groups to make it more exciting.

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making yourSUMMER so exciting!

TRY THE ART OF POTTERY

IN BARI

If getting your hands and feet dirty excites you, then learn the wonderful yet relaxing art of pottery in the pottery capital of Siba-lom- Barangay Bari!

Having the courage to ask a potter to try his job, you would surely have the chance to play and learn tips and ways to make earthenwares like flowerpots, earthen jugs,

or banga and stoves or sig-ang.

Pottery is fun! It is actually like baking. Our potter expert, Manang Saling, let us do the first step. With our bare feet, we stamped and mashed the clay to keep it compact and tight. Then we rolled the clay into small rolls using our hands.

Using the potter’s wheel is where the real fun begins. The challenge is how to make the clay into a perfect shaped pot. You need to exert more effort in spinning the wheel so that the pot will have a regular shape. The other hand must steadily grip the clay to form the desired shape.

After many practices and failures, a perfect pot is made! But it is not finished yet! It must be air-dried and glazed by a red soil before it will be baked.

Manang Saling’s products are sold from P10 to 150 depending on size and type.

Going dirty this summer is indeed a superb experience!

most of the clay used in Bari is from Solong, Sibalom

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HOST AMOVIE NIGHT

Unfortunately, there are no movie houses here in Antique to run to when we are so bored.

But boredom must not be the theme of your summer. So, fire up the DVD, grab the snacks and popcorn and spend the night at home with friends and family. Make it a tradition on a Saturday night to feature different themes throughout the summer.

Bringing friends and family together is so

much fun. Your parents will be glad in having this chance to know your circle of friends. For sure, they will also appreciate you for giving a quality time with them while having fun with your friends.

It is a win-win activity. So, hit the web on what are the coolest movies to watch and run to the nearest video store.

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MALAYSIAconquering

SOLICIT

ED

stor

y

untold

By Jedara Docena, 19 Chess Woman National Master (WNM) Member of Philippine National Chess Team & Far Eastern University Chess Varsity Team

Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur

Lake GardensChinatown Central Market

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I am a member of the Philippine National Chess Team. For several times, I repre-sented our country in different interna-tional competitions. I’ve been to Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Qatar and Russia. Playing chess has been my passion ever since I was a kid and it later serves as my passport in traveling to different places around the globe.

Many people would say that the farther you go the better experience you would get. But of all my travels abroad, it was just in a neighboring country that I enjoyed most. And it was in Malaysia.

I’ve been to Malaysia for a couple of times. The most recent was just last December. From Subic International Airport, it took us two and a half long hours of travel before we arrived in Kuala Lumpur. We had ano-ther hour of travel from the airport going to University Malaya where we stayed for the 15th GACC Rakan Muda Interna-tional Inter-varsity Chess Championship. It is Malaysia’s oldest university and it is even bigger than our own University of the Philippines.

After five days of the tiring tournament, I fortunately ended up as fifth placer in women’s individual and my team landed on the third spot. Again, giving honor to the country was not an easy game and bri-nging home a bit of the bacon is something worthy to be proud of. The games were actually bit exhausting so we won’t be leaving this magnificent city without seeing its wonders.

Malaysia is known for its big bargains and big bootlegs. So the first stop is the Central Market. It is the leading crafts center in the city which was once the city’s wet market. It offers assorted arts and craft merchan-

dise, varying from antiques and paintings to souvenirs and clothing. I bought a lot of souvenirs here and the products are indeed cheaper compared to other places. Right in front of the Central Market is the Chinatown. This bargain hunter’s paradise is commonly known as Petaling Street where bustling shops, restaurants and hawker stalls are found.

Petronas Twin Towers should not be missed here. Beneath these towers is the Suria KLCC, one of Malaysia’s premier shopping destinations. Stores here are all of signature brands. We went there to see the real towers and not in pictures any-more.

Foods in Malaysia are not that appealing. Their cuisines are usually full of spices, sometimes with unpleasant smells and awful taste. It was good that I had brought a lot of canned goods and instant noodles. But there are also places that offer a lot of foods that suit our Filipino taste. You just have to find them.

Together with my teammate Ronna Reig- ner Señora, we bought a map and then decided to go to Titiwangsa Lake where a Filipino movie was once taken. It is a very nice place. You may go boating or horse-back riding. I really appreciated this place because the twin towers mirrored itself to the vast water of the lake. After figuring out where were the exact places featured in the movie, we decided to visit the towers again. The towers may seem so near from the lake but it took us three kilometers of walk before we realized it is far! So we ended up riding a cab. For the second at-tempt, we had not reached the sky bridge but going there was what mattered.

We went to their parliament building and

waited until the midnight clock rang. It was fully adorned with lights. We even went to the light city, where all the trees and plants were made of colorful light bulbs. It was said to be the biggest in Southeast Asia. The following day was my moment. I bravely took the map we bought the other day and decided to go alone. With only a map, and my money inside my bag I went in search for something. I rode a train and took a cab to the Kuala Lumpur Lake Gardens. My first stop was the National Monument. It is a big piece of sculpture that depicts Malaysia. Opposite the monument is the ASEAN Sculpture Garden, wherein replicas of buildings designed by Malaysian architects were proudly displayed. Then a few blocks away is the Lake Garden itself. Inside the garden is a large man-made lake that made me wondered how it lies peacefully amidst a progressive city. A manmade forest, a boathouse, hibiscus and orchid gardens, bird and butterfly parks, and the National Mu-seum and Planetarium were the attrac-tions inside the lake garden. I was really proud that I was able to experience this kind of natural beauty in this very busy city. I really appreciated these wonders and felt proud that I found them by my own. I hope that I could bring my loved ones in the future here and be able to experience Malaysia.

Malaysia is amazing. And I am lucky enough that my talent brought me in this very wonderful place. But at the end of my every travel abroad, I always look forward going back in the Philippines because I always believe that there’s no better place like home.

“

“

I am lucky enough that my talentbrought me in this very wonderful lace.

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making yourSUMMER so profitable!

While thinking of the things you want to do this summer, probably the very same thing you think of is where to get the money for your summer getaway. Why not start a small business? Besides, making money over the summer is a lot way worthwhile ex-perience. Although spending money is a lot easier than earning it, the satisfac-tion of making money by your own self is a much fulfillment.

You won’t have to take hard time to search for a summer job. You’ll have one.

Here’s something you can start up as your business with a low capital that we students can afford.

BBQ FOR SALE! Ingredients:

½ kilo chicken feet P40.001kilo chicken head 50.001kilo isaw 90.00¼ kilo pork 40.00¼ small hotdog 25.00charcoal 15.00bbq stick(50pcs.) 10.00total capital P270.00

Procedures: 1. wash and clean the meat.2. boil the parts separately, and marinate them.3. cue them on sticks.

Selling price per stick:

pork & chicken feet P6.00 isaw 4.00 chicken head 6.00 hotdog 6.00

Note: choosing the best location of your business, the taste and the sauce are important factors that would make your business a success.

TURON LEGACY

It may sound like the recent sci-fi movie but this is actually a delicious and healthy all time Filipino favo- rite merienda. This is so easy to prepare and a good business this summer. Many students will be staying at their homes this vacation. For sure, they will be seeking a good food to enjoy during afternoon. Certainly, your turon will become a business hit!

Cooking Procedures:

1. Roll the banana on the brown sugar and ensure that the banana is coated with enough sugar.2. Place the banana with sugar coating in the lumpia wrapper and add some ripe jackfruit.3. Fold and lock the lumpia wrap-per, use water to seal the edge. 4. In a pan, heat the oil and put in some brown sugar.Wait until the brown sugar floats.5. Put-in the wrapped banana and fry until the wrapper turns golden brown and the extra sugar sticks on wrapper.

Ingredients:Banana cut in half (lengthwise)jackfruit sliced into stripsbrown sugarlumpia wrappercooking oil

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making yourSUMMER so artistic!

SEND YOUR OLD FRIENDS A LETTER

PAPER ARTS & CRAFTS

TRIVIA:

LJ Ian Delgado, presently a 4th yr. Civil Engineering student here , made his painting printed on a postage stamp as he won first place in Rice is Life Stamp Design Contest in November 2004 to com-memorate the International Year of Rice (IYR) 2004.

Recycling a ton of paper would save about 17 trees.To help save our environ-ment, you may use old magazines for your artworks or plant a tree when you are guilty of wasting too much papers.

Have you missed your old friends you have not seen for a long while?

Though texting and Facebook are in to-

day, try writing letters and send them to your friends

thru snail mail. This would mean a lot to them because

friendly communication like this is barely used nowadays.

Tell them that you are thankful of the friend-ship they shared with you and for keeping it alive through the long time you both have

been apart. For sure, upon receiving your letters, they would be glad for hav-ing a thoughtful friend like you.

If you do not know where exactly they are living right now, just do this simple trick. Text them and ask for their ad-dress. If they will ask why, just answer them that you are making a directory of your friends.

Sending letters thru snail mail is cheap but it may take a long time before they will be received. So, what are you wait-ing for? Start writing letters now so that your friends could receive it in perfect summertime.

choosing good stationery papers would make a better appeal!

17

16Bring out the artistic side of you this summer. Get hold of your art materials and start making the season colorful and fun.

Invite your friends and create your own artworks. You can use the remaining art papers from your school projects or some old magazines at your home. Just cut, fold, and paste those papers to form

beautiful swan decora-tions, vases, pen holders and baskets. You can also turn old newspapers and magazines into paper bags.

You would not only exer-cise your skills in making art stuffs, you would also be helping the environ-ment by recycling.

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It has been almost two years since I left General Santos City in 2009. Last October, I got a chance to visit again and trail back the places I once lived at and grew with.

Together with Ma’am Nona, Sir Ado, Jazon, Andrei, AC, LJ, Rachel, King, Patriz and Danilo, we attended the Visayas-Mindanao Regional Rizal Youth Leadership Institute Convention held in Pinnacle Hotel, Davao City. Most of them are actually first timers in the biggest city of the country. Davao has a total land area of 2444 km2, making it 54 times wider than San Jose!

However, Davao is most known for its sweet durians. In fact, as we arrived in the Francisco Bangoy International Air-port, the durian aroma was the hint that we were already in Davao City. Davao is one of the most progressive cities in the country and even in the Asia-Pacific region. It cannot be denied because even the simplest ordinance is firmly implemented and observed. Even smoking in public areas is unlaw-ful. Otherwise, if you’re caught, you might be fined or have an overnight stay inside the jail. This city has won a lot of international citations for its effective governance.

Davao is also awarded as the most livable city in 2008. Its eight vast malls would vouch for it. There are also a lot of tourist destinations here like the People’s Park, Crocodile Park, Philip-pine Eagle Center Gap Farm and Eden Nature Park.

This sleepless city has a lot more to offer to make the stay exciting and momentous. There are a lot of places like bars, coffee shops, and gaming centers that would entertain you all day and night.

Of course, we didn’t leave the place without bringing home a lot of durian

South!goingDavao & GenSan Escapades

Davao City

General Santos City

Congratulations to L J Ian Delgado

for winning as champion in Poster Making &

Andrei Anthony Aganio as bronze medalist in

extemporaneous speaking!

by Moncel Edrief M. Odango

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delicacies.

On the day of our return to Antique, I opted to stay longer in the South. So , I alone, traveled long to visit my birthplace, General Santos City.

General Santos City (GenSan) is 11 times bigger than San Jose in terms of land area. This is best known as the Tuna Cap-ital of the Philippines. Also, GenSan is the home of the boxing champs, Cong. Manny Pacquiao (now a resident of Sarangani Province) and Nonito Donaire, Pinoy Big Brother Stars Gerald Anderson and Melai Cantiveros and a lot more. Even the key-note speaker of the convention we had at-tended is the city’s incumbent Mayor, Hon. Darlene Magnolia Antonino-Custodio. The city has gained higher prominence because of them.

GenSan is one of the cleanest cities in the country. In fact, it has been awarded twice for its cleanliness. You might hesitate to throw a candy wrapper anywhere because of its cleanliness. Besides, improper dis-posing of your rubbish would force you to shell out P200- P2000 if you are caught.

Recently, the city added another feather to its cap as it was awarded as the Most Business-Friendly City of the country. Davao City landed on the second post.

Indeed it is true because for the short time I left GenSan, it had bloomed faster than everyone might expect. A lot of establish-ments sprouted anywhere but are planned strategically to boost the economic development of the city. Like Davao, it started to live all day and night. There are a lot of places to go to that would meet your mood. One of the best places to visit here is the Plaza Heneral located at the very heart of the city. Or try the rush at Kalaja, the city’s eco-tourism destination and the zipline adventure at 5th Mountain, B’lakayo, Olympog.

Together with my old friends, we also went to have a sumptuous lunch at Sarangani Highlands where everything is so good— the ambiance, the view, the food, and the people. There are also business centers and entertainment hubs like malls, shops, bars, and gaming centers that would meet your budget. Of course, I did not forget to savor the pride of the city, its tuna delica-cies!

Trailing back to the places where I once belong was so rewarding. I met old friends. I visited familiar places. Indeed, my trip to the south was so amazing and fulfilling.

WITNESS THE CRUCIFIXION IN GUINSANG-AN, HAMTIC

HOLY WEEK SPECIAL

HIKE TO THE SUMMITS OFMT. IGMITAW & MUNTUGAWI

One of the most humble but inspiring experience you would probably wish to have this summer is to watch the “taltal” (a Visayan term for cruci-fixion). It is a well-known Christian tradition of com-memorating the death of our savior Jesus Christ as it is widely being done in the Philippines. With this tradition being performed every good Friday of the holy week, Philippines has also become a summer hotspot for tourists and travelers who love to watch this tradition.

The reenactment of the Passion of the Christ is also observed in some

places here in Antique like in Guin-sang-an, Hamtic. Many devotees watched this significant event every year despite the heat of the sum-mer sun.

The Holy Week Celebration is one of the significant events in a Christian Life. Though many opt to go some-where to have a vacation, many Fili-pinos still grab this chance to enrich their faith.

Every Good Friday, many Antiqueños hike to the mountains of Igmitaw and Muntugawi in Sibalom, professing their Christian faith and oneness with Christ’s suffering and pain.

The way going up is improved every year for the better access of the crowding devotees. Upon reach-ing the peak, you will see the bird’s eye view of the vast town. Built on the top is a huge statue of the Risen Christ and a tall cross that have been considered as the main attraction to the hikers.

Ascending to such height is indeed fulfilling. So, you must give this a try!

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COLORFUL & LOUD20

celebrate the summer festivals in AntiqueMake your summer vibrant and loud by witnessing and experiencing Antique’s rich culture and traditions through the various festivals celebrated throughout the province.

Go town-hopping and indulge your-selves on the unique and exciting festivities that you would be experien-cing. You would marvel at how the town people can be artistic in designing their costumes and at how they can still gracefully and briskly dance to the beat

of the drums despite the hot weather.

The festivals’ themes varies from thanks-giving for the bounty blessings of nature, celebration of another good year, feast for the town’s patron saint, or just another event to come together and showcase the people’s talents.

From the mainland to the islands compo- sing the province, Antique wouldn’t run out of reasons to celebrate and make this season exciting.

Schedule of upcoming Festivals this summer:

Tatusan Festival – Caluya - April 10-12Tugbong Festival – Pandan – April 21-25Tiringbanay Festival – San Jose de Buenavista – April 30 - May 1Hantikan Festival – Hamtic – May 2- 4Batang sa Balud (Biray) – Brgy. Balud, Tobias Fornier – End of MayLangcayan Festival- Brgy. Barasanan, Tobias Fornier – End of May

making yourSUMMER so festive!

Bugas sa Lusong FestivalMunicipality of Bugasong

Photo by: S

aru

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Summer is here again and so are the usual beach escapades, cool refreshments, water sports, and a whole lot of activities under the summer sun. One of the best ways to enjoy your summer is of course, a plunge in the relax-ing and cool water, may it be on a beach, a waterfall, a lake, or a river. Others enjoy being idle un-der the verdant trees and the feel of the sweet summer wind. We cannot deny that these activities get the most of us but how about doing something different, per-haps, doing something for Mother Nature? Why not plant a tree or clean a river, for a change?

It might sound charitable or noble to do these things but that’s what makes it different. It is because many of us spend our sum-mer vacation to enjoy ourselves with what Earth can offer. Have you ever thought of your bare front yard or any denuded place because no plants or trees flour-ish? Have you ever swum the river or the sea together with the garbage? Don’t you think it is time that Earth needs a vacation too?

Planting a tree or plant right in your backyard and cultivating a garden is a great way to spend your summer. Not only is it refreshing yourself but the Earth as well.

Certainly, you have to choose plants that are suited for the sea-son. For flowering plants, you can have tropical plants like euphorbia, sunflowers, hibiscus (gumamela), orchids, and bougainvillea. Consid-ering that fruit trees like santol, avocado, mango, star apple, pomelo, or guava are harvested during summer, they can also be planted in the same season since seeds are readily available. If you are interested in miniature plants, you can try planting bonsai trees. These dwarven floras can either be grown from seeds or by cut-tings. Keep in mind that most trees used for bonsai are taken from cuttings albeit it takes some time to mature. If you are not into trees or flowers, then go herbal! Plant Aloe Vera, touch-me-nots (kamantigui), “herba”, “oregano”, or “lampunaya” and the likes in your garden, as these plants will add spice to your lifeless yard for aside from their

medical properties. Or better yet, create your own cactus garden, since cacti are the most adaptive among other the plants against the summer heat as they require less water.

Another best way to make your summer unique is by doing clean-up drives in rivers or coastal shorelines. As I’ve said earlier, it’s an act of charity yet it is ultimately aimed at rejuvenating and restor-ing the places where we mostly spend our summer. All you need are: sacks, broomsticks, and yourself, together with your good ole friends and presto! Not only will you make your summer one-of-a-kind and thoughtful, but you also advocate our role as caretakers of our planet.

So, that’s how you make your siz-zling red hot summer into a cool and clean green one once in a while!

Enjoy your summer! Enjoy saving the planet!

greensummer

making yourSUMMER green!

by John Vincent M. Manzan

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MagdalenaPYROKINESIS the science behind

Fire is a very important element in our lives. It is the source of heat, light and power. Likewise, it is one main cause for the civilization of humankind. From rubbing two stones to lighting up a match, producing fire has evolved through time.

The idea of a human having the abil-ity to control fire grew from Stephen King’s novel, Firestarter. Pyrokinesis, as coined by King, is the capac-ity of a person to control, ignite, or extinguish fire using his mind. This happens when a person is capable of changing the temperature, increasing the internal temperature as well as the external or of the surroundings.

Many have argued about the truth of pyrokinesis. Heat and fire ignited the fascination of many scientists to investigate the possibility of the human mind’s power over fire. As of now, modern scientists do not re-cognize pyrokinesis for there are no known method for the human brain

to trigger fire from a distance, unless a device near it could start up a fire. Yet, the mystical secret of the human mind and body brings another influence on this issue. Some nontraditional scien-tists explain that pyrokinesis is merely control over the atoms of an object. Once those atoms are heated, its thermal energy would increase, forcing them to ignite.

There are also arguments about how one can obtain pyrokinetic ability. Some believe that pyrokinesis is a special gift that needs to be nourished through practice. While others think that it is something you can learn and have through proper meditations and practice.

Fire can make or destroy. It can cause lives and property to vanish into ashes, or it can save people from freezing into ice. With fire as a very powerful element, having the ability to control it should not be wasted or used exces-sively and in wrongdoings.

A three-year-old girl in Antique province in Wes-tern Visayas is attracting attention for her sup-posed ability to foresee fires.

The girl’s supposed powers prompted local offi-cials in San Jose town, Antique to cordon off their house for security reasons, a news site reported on Thursday.

In an interview published in “The Daily Guardian” (TDG), San Jose Mayor Rony Molina said, “One of a kind. A new experience for us. Beyond expla-nation. I am at a loss.”

According to TDG, the girl’s 25-year-old father, a tricycle driver, he learned of his daughter’s power only last month.

The father recalled an incident when he took his wife and daughter into the town proper to buy soda last month.

As he was alighting from his tricycle, his daugh-ter reportedly said, “may sunog alas nuebe (there will be fire at nine o’clock).”

He ignored his daughter’s comment at first but was surprised to see the spare tire of his tricycle on fire shortly after 9:00 a.m. that day, the report said.

The father pointed out his daughter still does not know how to tell time and that he and his wife do not have a wristwatch.

The TDG said the mother also recounted inci-dents when the girl would talk about fire and fires would allegedly happen.

Molina then visited the residence of the girl and confirmed that fires indeed happened after the girl spoke about them.

When he personally visited the girl’s family, Moli-na recalled that the girl suddenly remarked, “may masunog (something will burn).”

Within seconds, he saw a shirt hanging in the house suddenly on fire.

“Nobody touched it. It was just there. Nobody was even close to it. It just started in seconds. The shirt was on fire,” the mayor said.

The mayor then ordered that the town’s firetruck be on standby in the village.

On the mayor’s orders, the family’s hut has also been secured by a yellow police line.

“That is just to secure the area from people who come over,” the mayor said.

The Daily Guardian report said that as of Wednes-day, the girl was visited by an Iloilo City-based psychic, an “exorcist,” and a charismatic move-ment leader. – VVP, GMA News 03/11/11

the news about the three-year-old girl

with pyrokinetic abilities spreads even

on the web! mystery filesrevealed

by Kristy Joy V. Basañes

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MagdalenaSa bawat pagkagat ng dilim ay siya na-mang pagkagat ko sa patalim. Patalim na siyang pumapatay sa aking kalu-luwa, dignidad at buong pagkatao. Wala akong magawa kundi ang magpatangay sa mapanlinlang na mundong ito. Noon, habang ako’y sakay ng RORO upang makipagsapalaran sa Maynila, dama ko ang kasabikan. Kasabikan na maiahon ang pamilya ko sa kahirapan at siyang naging inspirasyon ko upang magbakasakali sa lugar na ibang-iba sa kinagisnan ko. Pero iba ang nadatnan ko. Hindi langit kundi impiyerno na pumapaso sa aking pagkatao sa bawat perang natatanggap ko. Desi nwebe anyos pa lamang ako ngunit kabisado ko na ang mundong ito. Mundo ng paghihirap, pagdurusa at pasakit. Kailan ko pa kaya makakamtan ang kaluwalhatian, katiwasayan at karang-yaan ng buhay? Kailan pa..? “ Oh Lena, puntahan mo na si Mr. Si doon sa table number 6,” utos ni Manang Minda, ang manager at may-ari ng club kung saan ako nagtatrabaho. “ Aliwin mo nang husto ha.” Dagdag pa nito. Walang imik na pumunta ako doon sa mesa kung saan naghihintay ang matandang intsik na iyon. Papalapit pa lamang ako sa kanya ngunit halos lu-muwa na ang mga mata nitong nakatitig sa akin. Nakakatuwa nga eh, kulubot na pero uhaw pa rin sa laman. Siyempre pagkatapos ng konting kwen-tuhan ay diretso agad sa motel. Ano ba naman ang kwenta ng pagtawag sa akin na bayaran kung hindi rin naman ako makikipaglaro ng apoy sa customer ko.

Pera na ‘to! Ngayon, alam niyo kung gaano ako karumi. Kung gaano kawalang-kwenta ang buhay ko. Ngunit sa kabilang banda, mukhang may kaunting swerte pang natira sa akin. At iyon ay noong nakilala ko si Cris, ang tanging lalaking nagturo sa akin na ibahin ang pananaw sa buhay. Ika-3 ng Mayo nang una kong nakilala si Cris. Habang ako’y sumasayaw sa entablado sa harap ng naglalasingang mga kalalakihan, isang lalaki lamang ang umagaw sa aking atensyon. Nag-iisa siya at tila ba’y galit na galit na nakatitig sa akin. Pakiwari ko nga ay ayaw niya sa sayaw ko. Pagkatapos kong sumayaw ay nilapitan ko siya’t tinanong. “O, ba’t nag-iisa ka?” Ngunit isang nakakabinging katahimikan ang naging tugon niya. “Hay naku, pipi yata ‘tong katabi ko,” ani ko kung kaya’t iniwan ko siya. Pagkalipas ng ilang araw, nariyan na na-man siya’t nag-iisa. Nilapitan ko uli siya. “Siguro ngayon kakausapin mo na ako.” “Bakit ka ba ganyan?” Galit na tanong niya. “Ano bang problema mo’t ako ang pinag-bubuntunan mo ng galit mo?”Naiirita kong balik tanong sa kanya. “Hindi ka ba naaawa sa sarili mo? Bakit mo ba ‘yan ginagawa?” “Pakialam mo ba sa buhay ko? Hindi mo ako kilala kaya huwag kang ganyan.” Galit na ako sa pagkakataong ito. “Sayang ka, napakabata mo pa para sa ganyang napakaruming trabaho.” sabi nito.

Nasaktan ako sa sinabi niyang iyon kaya’t hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko at unti-unti nang pumatak ang mga luha sa aking mga mata.

“Alam mo ba kung bakit ko ‘to ginagawa, ha? Dahil naghihirap ang pamilya ko doon sa probinsiya. Ang mga kapatid ko ay hindi na nag-aaral dahil ultimong lapis ay hindi namin mabili. Ngayon… Ngayon mo ipamukha sa akin ang pagiging marumi ko.” Umiiyak kong sabi. Sa hindi ko malamang dahilan ay nakita ko rin siyang umiiyak. “Hindi mo alam ang buhay ko kaya wala kang karapatang husgahan ako.” Umiiyak ko pa ring wika. Pagkatapos kong bitawan ang mga katagang iyon ay bigla na lamang siyang tumayo at lumabas sa club. Pagkalipas uli ng ilang araw, nariyan na naman siya. Ngunit sa pagkakataong ito ay hindi ko na siya nilapitan. Nagulat na lamang ako nang bigla akong pinapunta ni Manang Minda sa table niya. “Pasensiya na sa mga naging asal ko noong huli nating pagkikita,” wika nito. “Bakit ba galit ka sa akin?” Tanong ko sa kanya. “Actually, hindi sa’yo kundi sa uri ng traba-hong meron ka.” Sagot nito. “Sa totoo lang, hindi ko ginusto na pu-masok sa trabahong ito dahil pagiging kasambahay ang inalok sa akin rito kung kaya’t pumayag ako. Iyon pala’y ibang klase ng pagiging katulong ang binigay sa akin. Katulong sa ligaya. “ Sabi ko sabay pahid ng mga namumuong luha sa gilid ng aking mga mata. Pagkatapos ng pag-uusap na iyon ay

Short Story

(continued)

by Mark E. Necor

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nabuo ang isang pagkakaibigan. Hang-gang sa naramdaman ko ang kakaibang damdaming hindi ko maipaliwanag. Ngunit bawal ito! Langit siya at lupa ako. Ma-linis siya at marumi ako. Hindi ako ang babaeng nararapat sa kanya at isa pa masisira lang ang buhay niya sa akin. Ngunit isang gabi sa club, hindi ko na napigilan pa ang nararamdaman ko. Pag-katapos ng ilang bote ng beer, nagkaroon ako ng lakas ng loob na magtapat sa kanya. Hinalikan ko siya’t niyakap. Handa akong ibigay ang sarili ko para mapatuna-yang mahal ko siya. “Hindi, hindi ko kaya Lena. Kahit ganyan ka ay nirerespeto kita.”Pagtanggi nito. “Bakla ka ba?” nagbibiro kong tanong sa kanya. “Lena, naipangako ko na ang sarili ko. Isa akong alagad ng Diyos, isang seminarista.” Nagulat ako sa sinabi nito. Bakit nga hindi ko man lang siya natanong minsan kung ano ang buhay niya. Ang tanga ko! Tumakbo ako palayo sa kanya. Ano nga bang laban ko sa Diyos? Isa lamang akong tukso sa kanya. Isang pagsubok na nakay-anan niyang labanan. Patapos na ang bakasyon nun kaya’t alam kong hindi na babalik pang muli si Cris sa club. Siguro ay kakalimutan niyang nakilala niya ako. Ngunit ako, hinding-hindi mawawala ang mga alaala niya sa puso’t isipan ko. Ilang taon na rin ang nakakalipas, ngunit tuwing summer ay naaalala ko ang mga sandaling kasama ko si Cris. Si Cris na siyang naging dahilan upang magkaroon ng bagong pag-asa at liwanag ang madilim kong buhay. Kung dati ay naiuugnay ko ang aking sarili sa kantang Magdalena, ngayon ay hindi na, dahil hindi na ako ang dating Lena na kaladkarin. Ako na ngayon si Bb. Magdalena Reyes, isang guro sa pampublikong paaralan. Araw ng Linggo. Dumaan ako sa simbahan upang mag-alay ng panalangin at pasa-salamat. Habang naglalakad ako papasok, nabaling ang aking atensyon sa mga batang naghahabulan patungo sa isang pari upang magmano. At sa pagharap ng paring ito’y bigla na lamang akong napako sa aking kinatatayuan. Napangiti ako. Si Cris. Naglilingkod na siya sa kanyang pinakamamahal - ang Diyos.

from page 24, Magdalena ayon kay

1. “Lahat naman ng tao sumeseryoso pag-tinamaan ng pagmamahal. Yun nga lang,hindi lahat matibay para sa temptasyon.”

2. “Gamitin ang puso para alagaan ang taong malapit sayo. Gamitin ang utak para alagaan ang sarili mo.”

3. “Huwag mong bitawan ang bagay na hindi mo kayang makitang hawakan ng iba.”

4. “Huwag mong hawakan kung alam mong bibitawan mo lang.”

5. “Huwag na huwag ka hahawak kapag alam mong may hawak ka na.”

6. “Parang elevator lang yan eh, bakit mo pagsisiksikan ung sarili mo kung walang pwesto para sayo. Eh meron naman hag-dan, ayaw mo lang pansinin.”

7. “Kung maghihintay ka nang ng lalandi sayo, walang mangyayari sa buhay mo.. Dapat lumandi ka din.”

8. “Pag may mahal ka at ayaw sayo, hayaan mo. Malay mo sa mga susunod na araw ayaw mo na din sa kanya, naunahan ka lang.”

9. “Hiwalayan na kung di ka na masaya. Walang gamot sa tanga kundi pagkukusa.”

10. “Pag hindi ka mahal ng mahal mo wag ka magreklamo. Kasi may mga tao rin na di mo mahal pero mahal ka. Kaya quits lang.”

11. “Bakit ba ayaw matulog ng mga bata sa tanghali? alam ba nilang ‘pag natuto silang umibig e hindi na sila makakatulog kahit gusto nila?

12. “Hindi lungkot o takot ang mahirap sa pag-iisa kundi ang pagtanggap na sa bilyon-bilyong tao sa mundo, wala man lang naki-paglaban upang makasama ka.”

13. “Kung nagmahal ka ng taong di dapat at nasaktan ka, wag mong sisihin ang puso mo. Tumitibok lng yan para mag-supply ng dugo sa katawan mo. Ngayon, kung magal-ing ka sa anatomy at ang sisisihin mo na-man ay ang hypothalamus mo na kumokon-trol ng emotions mo, mali ka pa rin! Bakit? Utang na loob! Wagmong isisi sa body organs mo ang mga sama ng loob mo sa buhay! Tandaan mo:magiging masaya ka lang kung matututo kang tanggapin na hindi ang puso, utak, atay o bituka mo ang may kasalanan sa la-

hat ng nangyari sayo, kundi IKAW mismo!”

14. “Nalaman kong hindi final exam ang passing rate ng buhay. hindi ito multiple choice, identification, true or false, enu-meration or fill-in-the-blanks na sinasa-gutan kundi essay na isinusulat araw-araw. Huhusgahan ito hindi base sa kung tama o mali ang sagot, kundi base sa kung may kabuluhanang mga isinulat o wala. Allowed ang erasures.”

15. “Wag magmadali sa pag-aasawa. Tatlo, lima, sampung taon sa hinaharap, mag-iiba pa ang pamantayan mo at maiisip mong di pala tamang pumili ng kapareha dahil lang sa kaboses niya si Debbie Gib-son o magalingmag-breakdance. Totoong mas importante ang kalooban ng tao higit anuman. Sa pa-glipas ng panahon, maging ang mga crush ng bayan sa eskwelahan e nagmumukha ring pandesal. Maniwala ka.”

16. “Ayokong nasasanay sa mga bagay na pwede namang wala sa buhay ko “

17. “Hinahanap mo nga ba ako o ang kawalan ko?”

18. “Hindi dahil sa hindi mo naiintindihan ang isang bagay ay kasinungalingan na ito. At hindi lahat ng kaya mong intindihin ay katotohanan. “

19. “Kumain ka na ng siopao na may palamang pusa o maglakad sa bubog nang nakayapak, pero wag na wag kang susubok mag-drugs. Kung hindi mo ka-yang umiwas, humingi ka ng tulong sa mga magulang mo dahil alam nila kung saan ang mga murang supplier at hindi ka nila iisahan.”

20. “Mag-aral maigi. Kung titigil ka sa pag-aaral, manghihinayang ka pagtanda mo dahil hindi mo naranasan ang kakaibang liga- yang dulot ng mga araw na walang pasok o suspendido ang klase o absent ang teacher. (Haaay, sarap!).”

21. “Mangarap ka at abutin mo. Wag mong sisihin ang sira mong pamilya, palpak mong syota, pilay mong tuta, o mga lumili-pad na ipis. Kung may pagkukulang sa’yo mga magulang mo, pwde kang manisi at maging rebelde. Tumigil ka sa pag-aaral, mag-asawa ka, mag-drugs ka, magpakulay ka ng buhok sa kili-kili. Sa bandang huli, ikaw din ang biktima. Rebeldeng walangnapatunayan at bait sa sarili.”

Bob Ong...

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