ECHOES February 2012

Now featuring the org’smost important members

Madz Aloria Our Econ Scholar

Hitchhikers’ Guide to

Hitchhiking

February 2012

TrulyECOSOC

Love and

Consumerism

OPPRESSION BY ECHOES?

Email your entries to [email protected] on to Echoes.PH/litfolio for more details

CONTENTSOctober 2011

cover photograph by arsenio lukban 1

EditorsHORACE CIMAFRANCAEditor-in-Chief

BEATRIZ BAYUDANAssociate Editor

AYLA REYESManaging Editor

JESSICA BISCOCHONews Editor

DEREK PARRENASFeatures Editor

JUDITH PASCUALPhotos Editor

HAZEL SUMAMPONGCreative Editor

MATT DAILISANWebmaster

CHERIE QUIRANTELogistics Director

ContributorsArsenio LukbanJoby GuerreroNikki BondadAndee AguilaMik SingsonPaulo Bautista

Kelvin TagnipezAyla ReyesJessica BiscochoJohn GanHorace CimafrancaDerek Parreñas

Camille CruzGJ AgregadoBea BayudanPaolo TamaseJR NepomucenoReuel Realin

Ralph DantesGab SollanoIssay VillanuevaLia Lontoc

INSIDE ECOSOC

StaffBIANCA ALVARO

AVRIL BRIES

JOHN GAN

RALPH DANTES

FRANCHESKA JOSON

PATRICIA VILLANUEVA

FEATURES

CULTURE

NEWS

34 Featured StoryTambayan: A Photo Essay

50Film & Travel

54Entertainment

60Gossip G.

16Photo of the Month

18 News by Numbers

20Opinion

10Ecosoc over the lastmonth

02From the Editor

03Committee News

ABOVE: Madz during her interview / Photo: GJ Agregado

37 Featured ArticlesLast Hurrah from the Love Month

41 On the ElectionsAng Pagtutunggali

45 A Cost-Benefit Analysis of the USC Elections

FEATURES

22 Featured ArticleGuide to Hitchhiking

24 Cover StoryTruly Ecosoc

32 Featured ArticleA Culture of Oppression

47 Litnight HighThe Final Introduction

2

Previous Issue

Corrections

A more comprehensive list of corrections from the previous issues will be published in the March issue.

Echoes is the official publication of the UP Economics Society (UP Ecosoc), a non-stock, non-profit, student organization based in the

University of the Philippines Diliman School of Economics.

Since the 2nd semester of the academic year 2010-2011, Echoes is released four times in a sem and eight times in a year, on the months of January, February, March, July, August, September, October, and

December.

It draws its funding from a subsidy from UP Ecosoc, sponsorships, subscription revenue, and other small funraisers. For this semester, 60 subscription copies, 3 tambayan copies, 1 archive copy, and a

complimentary copy for each of our sponsors, featured members, and featured alumni are produced.

This publication is printed by Yza Copy Systems and Trading, located at Stall 22 at the Shopping Center, UP Diliman, Quezon City.

contact us

[email protected]@gmail.com

visit for more information

upecosoc.orgEchoes.PH

facebook.com/up.economics.society

No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission.

From the Editor

3

I feel increasingly alarmed over some readers’ sentiments on certain content published here in Echoes. It seems like we’re being accused of incubating a culture of prejudice by presenting it to the general membership as innocent

entertainment. I’d like to assure everyone that that is not the intention of Echoes. So far, no one has approached me, the editor, telling me that he or she has been unjustfiably portrayed in a bad light in any of the publication’s articles. If you feel offended by our articles, please don’t hesitate to approach us. We’re apologizing now if there had indeed been such instances. This is a free publication and we will take into account any criticisms and will gladly publish any letters of opinion regarding this publication or any other relevant topic that is worth sharing to the general membership.

Wow, that’s a start and at last, it’s something serious. On a lighter note, this is our second to the last issue for the semester. We had intended it to be the February issue and truthfully, it does have content related to the love month. I was supposed to write something about how awesome Litnight was, but then it occurred to me, that maybe I should write about a silent yet still pressing concern that may affect this organization.

Of course, you’re probably aware of an issue haunting the leadership of Ecosoc. No pressing me for details, please. I bet you already know. Personally, this should be a non-issue. There has to be no option to make two choices in the first place. Delicadeza dictates that more than

acknowledging one’s potential inability to perform multiple tedious functions of utmost priority all at the same time (pardon me for the excessive run-on), one must also learn to sacrifice. It is in doing this heroic act that one actually gains the trust of his constituents. It is in making a right choice, one right choice in favor of the people he serves, that will verify his full dedication and sincerity to serve the organization, especially if such a task has been given to him as a mandate by the majority. This is simply not a case of me against the world because in reality, it is impossible for the world to conspire against one thing it does not see as a threat. There has to be a profound reason for a consensus, even if it may just be for a mere sentiment. To set this straight, yes, I think the general membership feels a diminished dedication to one’s duties is a threat to the organization’s harmony and sustenance in the longer term. For me, it is a betrayal of our trust, that unspoken assurance of your commitment to the organization, especially that from someone in the top tier of the leadership, a great deal of this commitment is required. Remember, we cannot justify our decision solely with promises based on unproven presumptions. After all, they are just presumptions. Recognizing one’s limitations and shunning ridiculous inhibitions should have been the proper action.

However, I also choose to apply the benefit of the doubt in this situation. After all, it was still a decision for him alone to make and only he would know what he is truly capable of. It just saddens me that if it so happens that a fault had been made, it is the organization who will suffer.

COMMITTEE NEWS

COCOYPresident

It is finally the homestretch of the semester. Things are getting quite exciting since major events are popping up one after the other—there’s just really been so muchto look forward to lately!

On Friday, Ecosoc will embark on a new kind of service as it ties up with the UP School of Economics for Ang Drama Mo, the CWTS Culminating Activity. The next day, the Outbreak applicants will have their app project—a sporty CDC activity entitled Fiestalympics. Later that same day, we will have the fourth installment of Band in Demand, which is our major fundraiser for the Ecosoc Fund. On March 9, we’re going to have RAGER, the benefit party for the Economics Society Scholarship Fund, at the Tents at Alphaland Southgate Mall.

As the semester reaches its climax, the challenges that we as an organization face continue to come. UP Ecosoc has endured fifty-three years of existence, and it has reached such an age because it has been resilient despite all the tribulations it had undergone. And it will continue to do so in the next year and beyond because of its members who keep it strong.

Ecosocers, it is you who keeps UP Ecosoc alive despite everything. Problems are normal for any organization, yet what sets those who are good apart from those who are lackluster is the resilience of its members. Ecosocers, you are the key to this organization’s success. Though now may not be the best of times, Ecosoc will always continue to prosper until there are members who give a damn for the organization. An organization is only as good as its members, and I believe with a conviction that Ecosocers are some of the most amazing people in this world.

Ecosocers, never lose the faith.

4 Illustrations by Sol Cortes

JEREMAEVice President

Hi ECOSOC! :) First, thank you for supporting the Ecosoc events!Congratulations to: Echoes for the wonderful and special Lit Night! SPEV for the very memorable Tambay Week, Scavenger Hunt and Vice Night. Special thanks to JR for accommodating Ecosoc in your lovely home. Thank you to Seccom and Echoes for adopting me. Go Sechomae! Woohoo! Hindi tayo nawaley =)) Sports for the intense Battle Royale! Acad-Externals-Echoes for the successful UPFront! CDC for the fruitful Med Mission and Caravans! And to CDC-Seccom for the fun origami art workshop! Also to those who participated in the JPES Sportsfest (woohoo jackstones!) and to Sports, thank you for all the patience and the support! The battle is not yet over. Go UP ECOSOC! Of course, thank you also for supporting the best ever BINGO! We hope you all had fun! This event won’t be possible without the efforts of Lia (including your family. Haha.) and her super sexy sales team, and of course the entire TF Team Party! Congratulations! Shout out to the Ecosocers who won: Yasmin, Anj, Dhiren, Noreen, RYAN! Share your blessings!!! :) After bingo, you wouldn’t want to miss the best benefit party in town… RAGER! A Benefit Party for the scholars of the Economics Society Scholarship Fund. See you all on MARCH 9 at the Alphaland Tents, Makati! Follow the Sound of the Underground. And! Do not forget our Special Project… soon. I know you are all excited! Continue supporting the endeavors of Task Force! There’s more to come! For the mean time, continue supporting the remaining Ecosoc events!March 2 - Ang Drama MoMarch 3 - Fiestalympics, Band in Demand 4March 24 for something special!Please also support our games :) To the applicants, good luck on your app project! And your Final Interviews… soon :> The sem is about to end… KAYA! :)

7Echoes.PH 5

ANGELSecretariat

JESSTreasurer/Finance

Hi Ecosocers! Love is in the air this February, and I would like to thank the following people who have touched my heart this month:

Seccom, we’ve gone through a lot these past few months, and I am sure we’ll enjoy the remaining month we have together. Cocoy, Gab, Marian, Rehi, Reuel, Sel and Therese, we’ll surely miss you! We have a little less than a month to be together, so let’s make the most out of it! Good job to every Seccom member who have made their remarkable pubmats. I feel happy that you’re all growing in your own little ways. Also, to Sechomae, congrats to us! ‘Di tayo na-waley, hooray! Lastly, a big shout-out to Cocoy for winning Manhunt! We all knew you could do it. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Yasmin, Ars and Kyla, no words can really express my gratitude to you three. Seccom wouldn’t be as this great without you. Thank you for ALWAYS being there. I hope you’re all learning as much as I am learning from you.

Outbreak Apps, thank you for being bibbo all the time. Keep up the good work! Also, good luck on your App Project! Judging by your different publicity stunts, I’m sure we’ll enjoy what you’ve prepared for us. Janina, Lara and Shanica, I have high hopes for you three. Remember I’m always here for you!

Ecosoc, thank you for attending CDC Art Workshop! I hope you had as much fun as we did. Also, don’t forget to buy your own (automatic) Ecosoc umbrella! Get yours for only P375 (or P350 if you buy in 4’s)! Watch out for more Sparkle Club updates too!

To everyone, don’t stop loving just ‘cause the love month is over! See you next month!

Love, Angel

(Lifted from the Ecosoc bulletin)

1) Band in Demand this Saturday, March 3, 7pm, at Katips Bar and Grillery. Enjoy a night of alternative rock, free-flowing drinks and special performances from Ecosoc’s very own, Reg Reinoso, BID 3 Champion, and The Egg White Project. Tickets at 200. Visit Facebook.com/BandinDemand for more details.*This is this semester’s REQUIRED event for Ecosocers.*Special Ecosocer price is 180 pesos. If you pay before March 3, you can get it for 150 ONLY. Tickets will be distributed during genmeet. Payments will be collected starting tomorrow during commeet. 2) Moonleaf planners for 180 pesos! SPECIAL ECOSOCER PRICE (S.E.P.) IS 150! Grab one now! Approach any Fin member. 3) I’m sexy and I know it. Embrace the inner sexiness in you. 02.29.11 4) Last day of payment for A/R next week, March 9! Complete breakdown will be posted on the Fin board on Monday, next week. Failure to settle at least 75% of your A/R can be a ground for probation (or suspension). Seniors, please wait for further announcements.

6 Illustrations by Sol Cortes

CHILAPRO/External Affairs

VONAcademic Affairs

Hello Ecosoc! The past month has been the busiest for ACAD so let me tell you about what we’ve been up to!

1. UPFRONT 2012: the USC Elections Forum, the tie-up event with Externals and Echoes which commenced last February 22. I’d like to thank all the members and applicants who contributed to the success of this event especially to the beautiful people from my Logistics Team: Dhiren, Hannah, Alan, Joby, Vico and Jr N- we almost drowned from stress but we still managed to carry out such a great event. You guys are the best!!! To the applicants who signed up as volunteers, you may now approach me to get my signature.Special mention to Mhela and Janeen: who helped a lot in putting up the tarpaulins around the acad oval. Nakakatear kayo, I love you both!

2. Stock Up: Building Essential Knowledge on Financial Markets, the Academic Symposium on February 16 which shall give you a crash course on all about stocks and investing headed by Neil (Logistics), Monina (Publicty), Cam (ER), and Lars (Sales). Grab this chance to hear from the best speakers from PSE and professors from our own university.

3. Freedom Wall- I hope you’ve all seen this Stock Up Freedom Wall! It’s one of the publicity gimmicks we thought for the upcoming Acad Symposium. For your convenience, we put this board just outside the tambayan. Feel free to share your thoughts and answer the question: Y U NO INVEST?

4. Graham Balls, the delectable graham rocks made by Lars Alivio and her sales team sold for 5 pesos only! Buynow and get yourself a treat!

So there you go, I hope to see you all in the upcoming Acad Symposium! Shout out to my wonderful members, onemonth to go team!

PS. Belated Happy Birthday, Janeen! Love you! <3

Thank you from coming to UPFront!

Thank you to Externals as well as the rest of the UPFront team! We did an awesome job!

If you want to know the results of the UPFront poll, please approach me.

Please continue to support our projects and the projects of our organization partners.

We’ll keep you posted on events by Externals. Just listen during genmeet, okay?

Written in lieu of Chila’s committee news

Echoes.PH 7

MHELACommunityDevelopment

HORACEEchoes

Hello ECOSOC! Thank you for all your support to all CDC events. Thank you for those who really worked hard to make these possible.

To my very reliable and capable VCs, XP and Mariel. You don’t know how blessed and thankful I am for having you two. XP, thank you for having an organized and dedicated mind, pacifying my scattered thoughts. Mariel, thank you for your “cool” attitude, always ensuring me beyond constraints. You guys are the most generous people I know.:)

To the Med Mission team, your efforts really contributed to the betterment of the community.:) Never have we witnessed a more holistic and interactive Medical Mission in the organization’s history. Thank you to those who really got out of their way to help the team in organizing. To the interns, I hope that you were able to feel the cause of the organization embodied by CDC. I hope that you will continue in the organization with the same dedication. To the apps, thank you for sharing your time and effort for this outreach. I wish that you were able to appreciate the organization more than ever. To the members, I hope that we are reminded of what we signed-up for. We are here to make an impact to our community and beneficiaries.

For the Caravan team, I admire your creativity and flexibility in organizing two events on loaded weekends.:) You are proof that we are one in every CDC activity that you give your 101% to. Thank you. To the members and applicants, I hope that we were able to open your minds and hearts to the people who most need our love and friendship. Let us always think how blessed we are to have an able body, our family and friends around us who make our life complete and happy.

Let us all support the Applicants in their app project at Mother of Mercy, Novaliches. It’s on March 2, 10am-2pm. Also, the remaining CDCs are already posted! Please keep track.:)

Praise the Almighty for this leap year (thus, the ‘leap’ photos of the Execom)! If it weren’t for the 29th, this would’ve been released in March. What a sham.

I cannot thank you enough for supporting Echoes in a lot ways last month. Thanks to you, we’ve earned more than P1,800 from It Might Be You. That was supposed to cover 30% of our printing cost for this issue, but all of it went to feed those who went to Litnight.

Ah, Litnight. Just when I thought everything we toiled for a whole semester (okay, just a week) was to crumble right before us, lo and behold, your mere presence and enthusiasm, the cheesy lights, the mellow songs, the sound system, and the singers, writers, readers and hosts saved the night! Again, I give you the most priceless and rarest commodity you will ever get: my sincerest and most heartfelt gratitude.

As for Echoes, we’re awesome right to the bones. If you know you’re worthy of a pat on the back...go on, pat yourself on the back.

Of course, Riri is worthy of a special mention. We really appreciate your short, albeit class act. See you more often!

My apologies to the subscribers who did not get their copy of the January issue. We’re arranging a second print to cover the deficiencies.

P.S. Thank you Patmen, Jomac and Derek for standing in.

8 Illustrations by Sol Cortes

It is now time for another round of thank-you-for-giving-up-two-minutes-of-your-life-to-read-my-commnews! First things first, I want to acknowledge the efforts of my members in the month of February. Thank you to my VC’sCamille, Carlo, and Ines for being there whenever I need help and for dedicating yourselves to Memcom. To my members, Mads, Aris, JM, Henry, Mabel, Bettina, Jade, Issa, and Lesley, thank you for trying your best to attend commeets even if it is such a hassle to listen to me haha. To my senior members, Janna, Paolo, Lia, Reg, and Gilbert, I hope you are spending your last days in the university wisely! Thank you for all the support and advice you have given me!

To SpoC Me, I did not get the chance to say thank you for participating in this year’s Scavhunt. It was a pleasure to be on your corner. I could not have asked for a better team. From stealing a grocery cart to keeping adult magazines toimpersonating a chemistry student in order to get a pustiso, I can say it is one of those moments worth remembering (except for the fact that I am living with one shaved armpit). Although we lost the fight, there is still much to be thankfulfor! We definitely felt infinite (Taskforce Pintas/Perks of Being a Wallflower Reference).

For all the people in Ecosoc, save the date March 24 as we celebrate the magnificent Outbreak semester in Ecosoc’s first ever Culminight!

That is all for now! Till the next you-just-wasted-two-minutes-of-your-life-reading-my-commnews! Oh and guess what, I just decided that you’re going to have the best month ever!

Hi Ecosoc!

I’d like to take this opportunity to give you a glimpse of what have we done in Liai so far.

The accomplishment of our nominations for the JPES Excellence Night 2012 and Gawad Tandang Sora 2012. Thank you to everyone who contributed for the write-ups for our nominated events! Good luck also to Paolo Tamase who is also nominated for the Ten Outstanding Economics Students! Pai, Cokie, and Car, it’s time to conquer SESC’s Econ Excellence Awards!

The completion of the first consolidated alumni database. All the alumni databases from different generations have been compiled into one database. It is currently being updated by the persistent database team ever! Briana and Pito, I credit this monumental feat to you!

The execution of the first alumni dinner, and its successions. We were able to meet the former SPEV Chairperson, Mr. Warren, the prime initiator of the first membership card in Ecosoc and in UP Diliman. His exceptional insights and stories did inspire and motivate us to become better leaders of the organization. Marte and CJ, get ready for the next!

Constant alumni birthday greetings in the continuously expanding alumni group. This may be a small undertaking but it actually received commendations especially from the old alumni. This is one strategy to build and strengthen our ties with our alumni. Kudos to the group admin and birthday girl, Cel H!

We may have ended the weekly career tweets, yet there will still be more substantial career opportunities to be announced! Stay tuned! Cheers to Niña, Sel DL, and Chiara B. for working on our auxiliary services!

Internal supplementary money to fund our services care of my own finance team, Bea and Simone! Way to go! Thank you also for being very supportive in all our endeavors, Jorell and Carrie! You never go on the blink!

I don’t want to sound defensive, but I made this commnews to tell everyone that Liai is still relevant in the Society. Give us again a chance to show our potentials as a committee and we will deliver. Well, Ican proudly say that WE DELIVER.

PS: Buy our Superman baseball shirts for only Php 280!

JRMemcom

MARKLiaison

Echoes.PH 9

JANEENSports

Heyow Ecosocers

I have a lot of things to say but first and foremost, I would like to thank everyone for attending Scavenger Hunt and Vice Night last February 11! Congratulations to Seccom, Echoes and Jeremae for bagging the gold and to Memcom, Sports and Cocoy for bringing home the new Ecosoc grocery carthaha just kidding! I know things turned out wilder than what we expected, but I hope you all had a wonderful and worthwhile experience with us (Spev). I’m sure most of you will remember the good times you had during Scav Hunt, and I can confidently say that your stories will be told until the next generations of Ecosocers.

For the next paragraph, I will be speaking in straight Filipino, as it is crucial to the content of what I am about to say.

Sa ika-2 ng Marso 2012, sama-sama tayong gumawa ng isang makabuluhang pagbabago! Sa ganap na alas-sais ng gabi (6:00 pm), sa School of Economics Auditorium, inaanyayahan ng UP School of Economics at ng UP Economics Society ang lahat na dumalo sa kauna-unahang tanghalang Econ mula sa kagawaran ng CWTS ng kolehiyo - Ang Drama Mo: isang makabuluhang tanghalan para sa bayan. Panoorin at pakinggan ang mga nakakaaliw na dulaan at tulaan mula sa mga mag-aaral ng Ekonomiya, at tayo’y mamulat sa kanilang mga pagtatanghal tungkol sa mga isyung panlipunan na bumabagabag saating bayan.

Nakuha niyo ba? Maraming salamat at inaasahan namin ang inyong pagdalo!

Thank you to all my members for making Scav Hunt a truly unforgettable event. Thank you Sam, Andre and Lia for making the pubmats for our recently-concluded events. Thank you Chrissa for spearheading the lights and sounds logistics for our CWTS event. Good job everyone!! AND THANK YOU RANDOM PERSON FOR READING MY COMMNEWS.

Peace!

MIGUELSpecial Events

Hello ECOSOC!

It’s the love month and single or not, I hope you all had a great Valentines. <3

Thank you for those who supported, cheered and played for Team ECOSOC last JPES Sportsfest. Everybody did a good job showing all the other organizations that we indeed are the best. To those who played for Basketball, Volleyball, Futsal, Patintero, Dodgeball, Jackstones, Chess, and Snakes & Ladders, thank you for doing the best that you can. Still it isn’t over yet because some games didn’t reach the finals and we still have to prove them who’s gonna be the champion this year! (UP E...conomics Society!)

Also support the EcoSoc Slo-Pitch Team on March 2 and 6 at the UP Oval Grounds (4:30 pm). I would like to invite everyone to come and play with the team. It is not about winning, what’s is the FUN moments that we share together as an organization and hearing our LOUDEST cheer for the team.

To the members, applicants and interns of the Sports Committee, thank you for helping me with the committee’s endeavours! You guys are awesome, great and definitely the BEST! Let’s show people that SPORTS is such a great and AWESOME COMMITTEE. Thank you to my members Anon, Cesca, Chello, CV, Dave, Hari, Jana D., Jed, Lance, Mik, PauBau, Raya, Rino, Tobie, Tracy, Trixie and Van. Also to my most bibbo applicants and interns, Ria, God, Joc and JR. You guys made me so proud! Keep up the good work and good luck with your (almost done) application process.

Let’s look forward for the remaining events that Sports prepared for you guys this semester.

To the EXECOM, we’re all in this together and we’re halfway done with the semester. I hope to still work with you guys next semester. I LOVE YOU ALL!

10 Echoes.PH

INSIDE ECOSOC

BY JOBY GUERRERO

“If it was your last chance to say how you really feel to someone special, would you take the chance?” Sounds romantic, isn’t it? This was the theme surrounding 2012’s litnight which the organizers titled as Never Ender. The home committee of this publication held a literary night last February 17, 2012 at SE 111. It was 2 hours filled with songs, poems and love.

SE 111 was decorated with white and red lights which added a romantic vibe for the room. The white board was converted into a freedom wall where one can write anything one feels writing. Love quotes, heartbreak quotes, marry me quotes and finish the sentences lines filled the board. The committee also gave copies of the literary folio which showcase the literary works of the members and applicants. Darell Magsambol and Gab Sollano hosted the program.

The event wouldn’t be complete without the performances and poem reading by the members and the applicants of the organization. It was started by a lovely duet by Dia Magsaysay and Miguel Andres. It was then followed by a poem reading by yours truly. Jomac Conty, a fellow applicant, also read his poem.

The next song performance was given to the audience by Nathan Legacion. It was then followed by a reading of the poem made by Avril Bries. JR Nepomuceno also gave a reading of his poems.

The next set who showcased their talents were Henry Tan and Shanica Sollegue. Henry Tan serenaded the crowd with his songs while Shanica awed us with her poem dedicated to her family.

Yasmin Sehob one of the organization’s graceful ladies honored the listeners with songs. She was followed by a Japanese song performance of Sol Cortes. The showcase of singers was then followed by a poem reading by Ramm Advincula.

The next person who had let the crowd hear his voice was Jason Tayawa, he was accompanied by Miguel Andres. The next striking performance was given to us by Andre Sarmiento. He was accompanied by two Miguels, Miguel Andres in guitars and Miguel Dela Cruz in beat box. The next poem reading was rendered by our own associate editor, Bea Bayudan.

After the poem reading, Andre gave another outstanding song performance. He was accompanied by Paolo Tamase in piano. Afterwards, Janina Raymundo delivered a reading of her poem. Cocoy Licaros also gave a great song performance. Miguel Andres also sang a song for the audience. The last poem reading was read by Paulo Bautista.

The second to the last song performance was presented by Hannah Manalili. She was accompanied by Reg Reinoso in guitars. The audience was also privileged to hear Reg sing with Paolo Tamase in piano.

Food was served all throughout the program. Echoes served chips at the start of the performances. Scrumptious pizza was also served to the crowd.

Before the night ended, the results of It Might be You, a voting contest with whom two persons with the highest votes will win a movie ticket and a dinner for two, was released. Everybody was excited to hear who the winners are. After almost a month of voting, Leus Punsalan and Kelvin Tagnipez won.

Litnight charms

11

BY VICO UBALDO

The Jologs Quiz Bee is a Tambay Week event organized by the Academic Affairs Committee applicants. This quiz bee is like any other ordinary quiz bee. There are questions for the contestants to answer in order to get points, and the committe with the highest points in the end will get a prize. This semester’s Jologs Quiz Bee is a game of Jeopardy and thus it has mechanics patterned after this popular TV game. When a question is presented, committees will have to call Von’s number, and whoever calls first will get to answer. The Jologs Quiz Bee is called that way because really jologs questions will be asked. The themes of the questions were Shet sino siya?, TV shows, Musikapella lovers, Mabuhay ka Jolina!, and More fun in the Philippines. Very random (and jologs) questions were asked such as “actor na bumida sa palabas na Home Along Da Riles” and “ang komedyanteng kumanta ng Butsekik.”

It was very noisy during the quiz bee! Lots of people were talking and, as a result of not being able to hear each other, start talking very loudly. This may have been because the questions brought back different memories from the past. Who could forget Gimik or April Boy? Finance even sung Di Ko Kayang Tanggapin as a requirement to answer one of the questions. At first, Finance and Spev were getting the most points. However, CDC finally won, simply because they answered the final jeopardy question correctly which was worth 1000 points, which was more than any single committee had at that point. This semester, there’s a trophy for the Jologs Quiz bee, which is a colorful letter “J” attached to some random objects. Of course, the winning committee, CDC, also won a box of yummy Yellow Cab Pizza. This semester’s quiz bee was organized by Alan Orquinanza, JR Nepomuceno, and Vico Ubaldo. It was held during the general assembly on Tambay Week.

A woman is tested for her blood pressure as her son watches in awe and Lia Pablo looking extra haggard

Residents of nearby urban poor communities flocked to the School of Economics last February 25 during CDC’s Medical Mission where free check-ups and medicine were given away

Photo: GJ Agregado

CDC is JologsCommittee wins biannual quiz bee

Member Jess Biscocho shares lunch with a retiree at the St. Camillus center in Marikina

Dozens of Ecosocers participated in a mini-caravan event organized by the Community Development Committee which visited a health center for the aged in Marikina last month. A similar caravan went to the Tahanang Walang Hagdan last February 27.

Photo: Horace Cimafranca

INSIDE ECOSOC

BY MIK SINGSON

During the ECOSOC Tambay Week, members and ap-plicants played the ECOSOC battle royale, in which the objective is to eliminate your target while avoiding your own target. It started on February 7, 2012 at about 8 am and formally ended at February 10, 2012 at about 6 pm.

The Sports Committee provided 10 water guns for use in this game. The games are stopped at 5 pm every day of the Tambay Week and resumed at 8 am on the next day. The Outbreak applicants also offered guns for rent during this game. However, members are also allowed to have their own water guns to be used. The water guns that are provided are not to be brought home af-ter the period of the games.thge

There are cease fire moments in the game itself, like the Genmeet and the Commeet periods. Even council meet-ings have a cease fire to the members of who are asso-ciated with the party. Of course battling is not allowed inside the Ecosoc Tambayan, inside the classrooms, and inside the libraries. This was to prevent unneces-sary spillage of water to the said areas, and it was also to make sure that the battle royale is just a game and not to be taken too seriously. There also was a 2 meter safe zone just in front of the Tambayan door, wherein the participants are not to be shot with the water gun, and were there can be no shooting by the participants. The participants are required to go to the tambayan for at least 1 hour in order for them not to be disqualified, because it would be unfair for others who did go to the tambayan and risk being shot just by going there.

In the first day itself, at least 5 people were already elim-inated within the first 2 hours, some of them not even in the premises of the School of Economics. People had their own tactics when playing the game, with some es-caping through the window just to make sure that they don’t get shot. People were allowed to bring their guns to other buildings in the University provided if they got the guns from the case provided by the Sports Com-mittee to return it after 5 pm. Of course they are not allowed to shoot inside the classrooms.

At the end of the first day there were 25 casualties, in the second day there were 46 casualties, and on the third day 64 casualties. There were just fewer than 150 participants. In order to make sure somebody won, the Sports Committee decided to add new rules on the third and on the fourth day, on the third day, there were partnerships in which when a partner is shot, regardless of where the other is, then both participants are con-sidered dead. In the fourth day, it became a free for all, where every remaining participant can shoot another participant, when that participant is outside the safe zone. To keep the unpredictability of the game because of the leaks, the targets are shuffled every day.

Unfortunately, despite the last day being a free for all stipulation, only a few dared to go out of the safe zone and risk losing the game, and it is because of this that there were still as many as 6 participants at 6pm in February 10, with some people not even going near the tambayan because of the risk of losing.

Dozens die in Battle Royale

12 Echoes.PH

No winner emerges from four-day fight

Bingo players try their luck at winning at TF’s Gotta Covet bingo event at a pavilion in North Greenhills

Initial reports from a TF insider a.k.a. Kelvin Tagnipez reveals that the bingo event held last February 26 earned TF some amount of profit. Echoes cannot ver-ify the information, but with the crowd last Sunday, there had to be a lot of money!

Photo: Horace Cimafranca

13

Ecosoc hosts USC elections forumBY NIKKI BONDAD

The UP Economics Society, in partnership with over 40 student organizations, held its 2nd University Student Council (USC) elections forum at the UP Film Institute on February 22.

Entitled “Upfront”, the university-wide event encouraged the candidates of the upcoming USC elections to voice out their honest opinions on different academic and socioeconomic issues faced by the university.

Jointly headed by the External Affairs Committee, the Academic Affairs Committee and the Echoes Committee, Upfront is an annual event of the organization, striving to promote critical thinking and social awareness among the students of the university so that they will be able to cast educated votes for the future student leaders.

The organization’s USC elections forum was supported by nine major sponsors, six minor sponsors, 16 project partners and 10 supporting partners. Some of which were Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity, Alpha Sigma Fraternity, Upsilon Sigma Fraternity, Sigma Rho Fraternity, Delta Lambda Sigma Sorority, Fact Check, Up Aggregates, PSME-UPSU and Life Box.

Hosted by Cocoy Licaros and Dean Dulay, the event started with the singing of the National Anthem, fol-lowed by video presentations from the three political parties, namely, StandUp, Kaisa and Alyansa. A separate video was also showed for the only independent candidate for USC chairperson, Martin Loon.

The candidates for chairperson and vice chairperson, along with one USC councilor candidate from each party, were then asked to come up to the stage for an opportunity to speak to the audience regarding their various stances on the state of the university and their plans to take action as potential student leaders.

After a timed speech from the aforementioned candidates, the floor was open for questions from the incumbent USC officers, representatives from partner student organizations and the general audience. Immediately after the open forum began, questions kept on coming and countless issues were raised to the extent that some were not thoroughly addressed due to time constraint.

All questions that were left unasked were posted online to ensure that the candidates were still able to answer and tackle them.

Dozens die in Battle RoyaleNo winner emerges from four-day fight

TF Bingo a surprise hitBY KELVIN TAGNIPEZ

A first for the UP Economics Society, Team Taskforce Sales hosted an afternoon of bingo with family and friends at the North Greenhills Pavilion in San Juan last Sunday, February 26. With prizes like thirty thousand pesos cash, a Blackberry phone, a Store Specialists, Inc. Purple Card, an iPad 2, an iPhone 4S, and a MacBook Pro to be won, bingo cards sold like pancakes weeks ahead and even more on the day itself.

Aptly titled ‘Gotta Covet’, the pavilion filled up quickly with eager guests wanting to win no other way but big. Ecosoc’s resident broadcast communications major Patty Bucao, and former CDC Chair Faye Ferrer enter-tained the crowd as they emceed over 15 bingo games for a jam packed pavilion with milk tea, pizza,

pasta, and shawarma concessionaires set up by appli-cants of the UP Junior Marketers Association (UP JMA), a partner of Task Force for this event.

As the afternoon progressed, the major prizes one by one slowly disappeared with lucky bingo players claim-ing their most coveted gadgets. The crowd cheered and jeered at the same time at the slightest reaction close to a “BINGO!” but at the end of the day, our own Ryan Malit through his proxy player won the Macbook Pro.

The biggest Bingo game of the year was made possible by Taskforce Sales with all proceeds of ‘Gotta Covet’ going to the Economics Society Scholarship Fund.

INSIDE ECOSOC

BY PAULO BAUTISTA

The School of Economics fell short at defending its back-to-back-to-back BEAST championship last January 21, 2012 at the DAR sports complex.

BEAST, a sports tournament organized and participated by the colleges of Business Ad, Economics, Architecture and Statistics (made evident from the acronym BEAST) had each college competing in men’s basketball and table tennis, women’s basketball and table tennis and mixed footstall, badminton and volleyball.

This year, Econ finished only second place, behind BA, which won by a comfortable margin. The tournament scoring was based on all the sport events, each college receiving points for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th place finishes per event, along with points for attendance and a facebook “liking” contest.

Econ showed up strong in men’s Basketball, finishing second place after an intense finals showdown against a powerhouse BA team that ultimately escaped with a 1 point win after a seesaw battle. After shaky 1st and 2nd victories against Stat and Architecture, Team Econ came tantalizingly close to an upset victory over a BA team that nonchalantly blew-out the same teams by 30-point margins. The game went down to the wire, with BA coming back in the last minute by hitting 2 jumpers in its last 2 possessions, giving them the a 1-point and then a 3-point lead that they never relinquished.

There was some controversy though in the otherwise lighthearted women’s basketball, which saw Econ being curiously eliminated by Stat after beating them twice in two games. The margin of victory was not enough to merit advancement due to Econ’s earlier loss to BA and Stat’s default victory over Archi , rewarding them with technically a 10-0 win. The rules stated that Team Econ would have had to win by a margin of 10 points or more in the first game, which they won by 1 point. After lobbying for a change of rules the BEAST team decreased the margin from 10 to 5 points, and in a rematch Team Econ won again, but again, by a margin less than what was set by the officials.

In a decision even more shrouded in controversy, Econ Volleyball was disqualified of its 1st round win because

of a complaint that Myk Narciso, a graduate from the last semester, played for the Econ team. That dropped Econ from a 1-1 standing, having lost by default to Statistics to a 0-2 standing , and consequentially 4th place. Team Econ also had a strong showing in mixed futsal bagging 2nd place after a close finals loss to Archi. Team Econ, led by UAAP Footballer Jorell Garcia, defeated team BA in the first round, but then was not able to contain team Archi’s Alfonso Ancheta in the finals. In mixed Badminton Econ again finished 2nd place, after a finals loss to BA.

In Men’s table tennis, Econ’s Arsenio Lukban nabbed 2nd place after an intense finals matchup with Archi. The two players won one set a piece with the 3rd and deciding set finishing 17-15 after an 11 all tie meant resulted in a win-by-two tie break.

Lastly, in a show of college pride, Econ won 1st in both attendance and in the Facebook liking contest.

All in all it was a very successful and exciting BEAST. Though team Econ was not able to defend its crown, the competition this year was a good sign for the succeeding BEASTs, which may even see rivalries stem from this year’s competition. What is certain though is that next year’s BEAST will definitely be an event to look forward to!

SE retains BEAST crown

14 Echoes.PH

At least in our hearts

15

Vice Night caps Tambay Week

BY AYLA REYES

Last February 11, 2012, the Special Events Committee capped the Tambay Week activities with Vice Night at the Yambao Residence in Mandaluyong.

The night started off at around 9pm because of the dedication some teams had to Scavenger Hunt which delayed the arrival of all the members at the venue. Despite the delay, Special Events Chairperson, Miguel Andres, formally welcomed everyone to Vice Night and proceeded to announce the results of the Scavenger Hunt.

The winners, Echoes-Seccom-Jeremae, were then handed a celebratory champagne bottle which Cocoy Licaros uncorked and sprayed onto everyone surround-ing him.

After the celebration, all the members enjoyed a meat and pasta dinner. In true Vice Night fashion, various drinks were also served to the members. The night end-ed with the members getting together to share their experiences after a long day at the scavenger hunt and some friendly games of Taboo.

SE retains BEAST crownBY ANDEE AGUILA

Tambay Week is the most colorful week in Ecosoc as there are different activities happening each day for the applicants and members to enjoy.

This semester, the funhouse-themed Tambay Week lasted from February 6 to 11. The tambayan’s usual interior was draped in black, red and white, and adorned with clowns and cards to give the whole place a circus feel.

The Spartan Club Flash Workshop was the week’s first event. Prepared by the Secretariat Committee, this event helped the participants gain knowledge on the basic commands and features of Adobe Flash, and create simple animations on their own. The Externals Committee also had a film-showing at the tambayan. It was called CINEX: Cine Externals, featuring movies such as Zurich Chan’s Teoriya, Auraeus Solito’s Busong and Jeffrey Jeturian’s Bisperas, all of which are notable Cinamalaya entries.

On the 3rd day of Tambay Week, February 8, the Academics Committee facilitated the Jologs Quiz Bee

during Genmeet. There were questions like “Sino ang Pinoy counterpart ni Ariel, the Little Mermaid?” and “Saang teleserye unang sumikat si Judy Ann Santos?” and people actually knew the answers!

Battle RoyaleAnd who could forget Battle Royale II? This game, headed by the Sports Committee, got everyone in a state of paranoia, literally watching out for their backs, and climbing in and out of windows. The players carried their loaded water guns everywhere they went, and anticipated the game master’s texts about the latest casualties. On the last day, there was also a Tekken competition which really unleashed people’s hidden gaming skills.

From movies to assassins and targets, Tambay Week was a success. It wasn’t only about completing the required 10 hours of tambay (for apps), or eating popcorn or playing Tekken, or even winning the coveted Battle Royale pot money. It was about fostering a deeper sense of unity among the applicants and members while having fun at the same time.

Tambay Week lasts for 5 daysAt least in our hearts

Seccom-Echoes-Jeremae is Scav Hunt champion

NEWS

PHOTO OF THE MONTH

A still from ‘The Artist’ showing French actors Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo as silent film stars

George Valentin and Peppy Miller respectively finishing a dance

routine. Photo copyright of La Petite Reine

16 Echoes.PH

French film ‘The Artist’ earns five wins in the Oscars,

including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor for Jean

Dujardin. It is one of only two silent films to ever win the best

picture trophy from the Academy Awards, the other being ‘Wings’,

which bagged the award during the first ceremony 85 years ago.

17

News

UPFRONT 2012: A candidate for the University Student Council (USC) chairperson speaks before a full house

at the UP Film Institute during an elections forum organized by Ecosoc. Photo: GJ Agregado

NEWS

NEWS

18 Echoes.PH

NUMBERSBY

67,095hopefuls took the December 2011 Nurse Licensure Exam, but only 22,760 of them passed. Results were officially released by the Professional Regulation Commission last thursday

55,863,374the total worth, in pesos, of assests, properties and investments Chief Justice Renato Corona failed to declare in his 2010 statement of assets, liabilities and net worth or SALN. According to Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello,”There are now at least 55 million reasons for the Senate impeachment court to convict Corona on charges of doctoring his SALN and even without the court opening his dollar

5,000,000worth of grant given to 4,000 Amadeo farmers under the Sagip Saka program led by the Department of Agriculture and Sen. Francis Pangilinan. The money given will be used invest on a 10-kg roasting machine needed to increase the productivity in the coffee industry

4 Korean tourists kidnapped and extorted of their money last on Valentine’s Day. Four po-licemen from the Manila Police District were

identified to have been involved in the said crime

30,000classrooms are projected to be established under the Public-Private Partnership School Infrastructure Project, states the Public Works Secretary Rogelio L. Singson. The construction and realization of this 10.5 billion project is said to take at least 10 years

The Senate during the opening of a session on the Corona impeachment proceedings on Monday, February 27 / Photo: Philippine Daily Inquirer

19

2 countries, Germany and the Czech Republic, reprimanded by The Anti-torture Council of Europe for using castration as a punishment to sex offenders

8 the newest version of Windows (Windows 8) that will be released for a test run on February 29 at the Mobile World Congress to be held in Barcelona

60 civilians and two Western reporters, Marie Colvin and Remi Ochlik, killed from a government attack in Syria under the Damascus regime. Since last March, thousands

are recorded to have lost their lives due to this political unrest

20 bathers attacked by piranhas at a beach in Toropi, Brazil

51 people died while 600 were injured from the train crash in Buenos Aires last Febrauary 23. The incident is said to be the worst train crash in Argentina in 40 years

30 tourists struck by a skin irritation caused by a chlorine leak in the hotel swimming pool of Phuket Orchid Resort and Spa. Among

the 30 tourists is a Swedish national who remains to be in a serious condition

An image of the Windows 8 home screen released by its developers in September 2011.

The Syrian city of Homs suffer damages with hundreds probably dead as a result of continuous government shelling in this opposition stronghold. /Photo: AFP

OPINION

Some thoughts on the elections

Contributed

With all the sh*t that’s been going around about

every candidate in this year’s coming elections, I

couldn’t help but think of the extent a person would

go in order to secure for himself a position within

the council or actually, any position in that matter.

Instead of candidates focusing on themselves and how

they would be qualified for the position, they’ve now

resorted to focusing on others and how their opponent

isn’t qualified for it. This may be effective because they

give us, the voters, a choice of choosing the lesser of

two evils but is this actually what we want? Clearly,

this type of elections portrays how we have this ‘crab

mentality’. When we see someone else getting ahead

of us, we are not motivated to achieve more and better

ourselves so that we too may improve but rather we

envy their accomplishments and attack these people

by pulling them back down to where we are.

However, this ‘black propaganda’ does not always

stem from such negative intentions. Taking a closer

look into the candidates, most of them had started

with good intentions and actually no plans of bashing

their opponents, “it just came out because of the

circumstances during that time” says one of the former

councilors. There had also been accounts where it is

actually their friends and supporters who would start

this black propaganda against their opponents with

only the intention of helping their friend, not knowing

that this could actually be the worst thing to do.

Having the opportunity to have ran for the local

student council, I expected that the elections in the

organizations and even in the University Student

Council (USC) would be typically similar or maybe just

a little bit more stressful. This was not the case as I

had interviewed some of the candidates for this year’s

elections as well as others who have already gone

through the ordeal. During the interview, I had seen a

whole different side of the candidates. Right now, as

they go from room to room promoting their General

Plans of Action (GPoA’s) and what they can offer us,

we only see them as confident and strong people.

However, deep down, they’re also people, also students

going through the same problems we too are facing,

only multiplied by ten fold.

These same people would spend hours on end

practicing their speeches and coming up with publicity

materials and for what? More than the prestige and

having your name up there in the limelight, these

people run to serve. No one can do the things they do

for a whole year without this passion for service for

without it, they would simply ‘crash’. Some not even

reaching half the school year, would just stop attending

meetings and doing what they’re supposed to do

because they’ve realized that they were running for the

wrong reasons. I believe it is only this passion to serve

and to take delight in helping others that one may truly

be a good student leader. That is why I envy the people

who, after a year can still take it up upon them to go

through all of it again. Basically, the message I’m trying

to get across through this article is that before we

judge these candidates in front of us, before we start

bashing them about things we don’t really know first

hand, let us try to understand them and focus more on

the positive things they have done instead of always

looking for that thorn among roses.

20 Echoes.PH

Features

A Hitchhiker’s Guide | A Culture of Oppression

BATTLE FOR ECON REP:Darrell vs. Miko

Featured Member

A Tambayan Photo Essay

FEATURES

It is pertinent in the natural scheme of things that

we will always fall prey in a parasitic relationship in

one or some of our everyday interactions. It could be

that one guy who always grabs a bite from your baon,

that classmate or that acquaintance who happens to

catch you with a car on your way home. However, to

be fair with everyone, I do acknowledge that It is but

human nature that we seek, at least in some points of

our lives, an opportunity to accomplish a task without

much of an effort. During these points, we usually take

advantage of others who are nonchalant or simply too

tired or afraid to say no to us.

In Ecosoc, a particular burden befalls upon one who

drives and brings a car to school. Chances are, you

would have had a circle of followers who follow you to

your car. They are called the hitchhikers and they will

choose to be with you no matter what just to avoid

that long, hot and hazy ride in that sham we call public

transport.

Nevertheless, I’m not here to rant on behalf of car

owners, I’m here to educate you, hitchhiker. It is you

who should bear the burden of hitchhiking. To get you

acquainted, here are some things you should consider,

and most importantly remember, when you nab a free

ride. After all, you’re not a freerider, you’re a hitchhiker

and you are bound by unspoken rules that must be

followed.

Rule #1Out of the way? No way!Never ever ever expect anyone to bring you home if

home means driving kilometers off course! Here’s a tip,

asked to be dropped off at a place where you can get

more convenient transport options provided that this

place is along the driver’s route. Unless you’re a good

friend to whom everybody owes a favor, it’s high time

to cap your insensitive expectations and be grateful

for that free ride somewhere even if somewhere isn’t

exactly where home is.

Rule #2Be a companionThe first thing you should always remember to do if

you’re alone hitchhiking with a driver is that you must

offer to sit in front. Hey, you can’t afford a regular

chaffeur so don’t go acting like you have one! Now

that you’re beside him, you now have the obligation to

engage the driver in a conversation and make him feel

that he is with good company. If you’re with a group,

make sure the driver or the car’s owner can relate to

your conversation. After all, a bored driver is a sleepy

driver and drivers shouldn’t be sleepy.

22 Echoes.PH

A Hitchhiker’s Proper Guide to

HitchhikingBY HORACE CIMAFRANCA

23

Rule #3Everything in, everything outSimple. Don’t leave anything in the car. Don’t leave

your trash, don’t leave stains on the seat covers, don’t

leave tracks on the car mats and most importantly,

don’t leave your things. What a driver can best do is

lock his car and leave your things untouched. It’s your

responsibility to come and get them back.

Rule #4Don’t stuff the carCan’t fly with the rest of the pack? Leave them behind.

A heavy load causes unnecessary strain to the car.

Also, it adds up to the cost of gas as it takes more

power to move. So if you are a group of fat, clingy

friends or simply a heavy packer, don’t expect to be

together while in transit in a car you don’t own.

Rule #5Hey, drivers are no GPSThe burden of pointing where to drop you off falls on

you. Drivers and car owners shouldn’t worry anything

but to get to where they want to go. Make sure you

make it clear that you have to be dropped off at this

specific place. That’s a no brainer, but bad hitchhikers

tend to say it when they’re just a mere few meters

away. That brings us to Rule #5.5: Drivers don’t like

swerving.

Rule #6Share the burden!Toll fees and parking fees are not gratis for you,

hitchhikers. Since the driver is already paying for his

own gas, isn’t it only proper that you at least insist your

share in paying for the additional incidental costs of

bringing a car? Righteous.

Rule #7Be gratefulFinally, don’t forget to say thanks. If the driver didn’t

take you in, you could’ve died along the streets. You

owe him big time.

There you have it, hitchhikers! Remember these and

you will be one of a student driver’s staple car buddy!

These are little things that we should never forget to

do. After all, it still is much more convenient being

driven in a car, whether it’s yours or not.

ENX FOR THE RIDE, KYAH!

ANYTIME, BITCH!

FEATURES

Photos by GJ Agregado

TrulyEcosoc

BY HORACE CIMAFRANCA

FEATURES

The other night, Rager was all over my

Facebook feed, and so was Pintas and

Band in Demand, This hard sell method

of viral marketing is gripping its hold on

the organization and the whole routine has been

affectionately noted by some as Ecosoc love.

Ecosoc love? That’s simply too much. I’d imagine most

of us just nonchalantly reposting the content, unaware

of its repercussions, just passively dismissing another

affair with an Ecosoc endeavor with a few clicks. That

doesn’t really require much effort. And yet, that’s how

we profess love nowadays, or at least that’s how some

Ecosocers see it.

Who remembers that moment of Facebook jubilation

when guardian Hannah Manalili posted the graduation

photos of Anjanette Ronquillo? It was that rare

moment of pride that sparked a greater, more

profound realization that hey, all what we’d been doing

for Ecosoc was not a waste after all. Who would’ve

thought that all the marketing, crafting of publicity

materials and yes, sharing on Facebook will get this

kid to graduate high school? I don’t know how other

orgs work, but that is how we roll here in Ecosoc. That

is Ecosoc love.

Or, perhaps you’re asking now, who’s Anjanette?

Come to me and I’ll smack your head with the big

Acad pencil, which I should’ve done to myself as well.

The thing is with most of us, I included, we tend to

forget the nature of our jobs in Ecosoc. In fact, we

forget the nature of Ecosoc altogether. Why do we

want to have the biggest parties? Why do we want to

earn when we’re a non-profit organization? Yes, there

is always that guaranteed pride attached to every

success, but more than that, we are, or at least should

be, consciously moved by the true aspirations of this

organization.

Service. Excellence. Tradition. How many times has

this mantra been repeated over and over in a lot of the

organization’s videos? Sickening, really, especially that

it’s so common and repetitive, it has been relegated

to a mere formula. It’s easy to quip that trifecta of

words when asked what Ecosoc is all about. Maybe

once upon a time, when everyone was sold to the

idea of Ecosoc’s socio-civic nature, we used to say it

with vigor. Those three words, in all their vagueness,

gave us a false promise that we will all fall into that

utopic Ecosoc culture of having a strong and genuine

concern for the community. However, over time,

we get engrossed in the organization’s politics, and

preoccupied with marketing, doing publicity materials,

surviving Battle Royale and winning Scavenger Hunt

that we forget the very rationale behind all this.

Why? It’s because we’re too busy working for it,

that we forget its very essence. It’s because Service,

Excellence and Tradition became a motivation for self-

gratification, if not an obligation. It has ceased to be a

way of reminding us that Ecosoc, stripped of all things

superficial, is a venue to serve the community.

26 Echoes.PH

The following pages feature the fruits of your

hard labor, Ecosocer. If there is any indication

that your toil was very well worth it and that the

organization isn’t merely taking credit for your

work, they are our scholars and CDC kids.

Every story is unique, but what encompasses

them all is the humbling fact that Ecosoc has

made a huge difference in their lives. These are

stories we tend to overlook since they never get

to our consciousness in the first place. That’s why

I’m telling them here, perhaps to strike a chord.

How we act in this organization is, as I see it,

slowly deviating from its ideals. We’re focusing

too much on the material rewards that we either

think Ecosoc is merely exploiting our talents to

its collective gain or we see Ecosoc as a mere

training ground to pursue our ambitions.

That is if you’re even active.

Well, behold, ladies and gentlemen! This is what

Ecosoc is really all about.

Photograph by Arsenio Lukban 27

SEANN

Seann recounts that day during his first year

in high school when he was pulled out from

class by one of his teachers to take a test.

He didn’t know what it was for but being one

of the brightest in school, he was used to it anyway.

Little did he know that it was the start of his now two-

year affair with the UP Economics Society through our

Scholarship Fund.

Seann gives brief answers, so short that each response

seems like it’s just a yes or no. He’s also soft-spoken but

he doesn’t consdier himself shy. He describes himself

an average guy. He isn’t sporty but he loves reading

books. Mythologies are his favorite and he said he

could go on all day just reading them. Also, he likes

Science and biology is his favorite topic. He admits

he’s struggling in chemistry, but was quick enough

to reassure me that he was still doing well in school.

He now attends New Era High School, where he has

recently earned a distinction. To the keen observer, I

guess you know that a copy of his certificare is posted

on the CDC board. After high school, he says he

intends to study philosophy and eventually law.

That day he met Ate Gel, the former CDC chair, for the

test in Balara, was one moment in life that he won’t

forget. Although it is hard to measure the gravity of

how much Ecosoc has done in his life, it is easy to say

that the scholarship has brought him to a better place

in which he is more likely to reach his ambitions. He

said, he never had the faintest idea of the organization

before, that’s why he is still amazed at how a simple

encounter would bring so much change to his life.

“Thank you at natutulungan mo kami,” he said.

Hopefully, this simple gesture of gratitude will come a

long way in making us realize how much is at stake in

every endeavor we do in Ecosoc.

FEATURES

28 Echoes.PH

KHIMK

him belongs to a brood of five, all of whom

are familiar with Ecosocers. At four years old,

she takes that regular short walk from her

house to Econ on most Saturdays to see her

kuyas and ates. Indeed she is delighted at the sight of

Ecosocers greeting her as she arrives.

It’s not really surprising that we take these CDC

sessions for granted. After all, it’s the kids who come

to us. I guess many of us think that it’s a regular,

but passing encounter and that mindset is mutual

between us and the kids. This whole Saturday affair, as

I said, is merely obligatory for many Ecosocers. On the

contrary, these kids, or at least Khim and her army of

cute toddlers, sincerely look forward to it.

Since Khim is still too young for an interiew, we talk to

Karl. Among Khim’s siblings, Karl is the oldest and has

spent the most years in the CDC program. He tells me

that he sincerely enjoys the CDC daycare programs

even if he’s already 11 years old. In fact, he had just

attended the art workshop held by the Secretariat

committee and was looking forward to the medical

mission later that afternoon.

Karl, Khim and all these other kids and beneficiaries

are all integral members of Ecosoc. Without them, we

serve no purpose as it is enshrined in our letter of goals

and aspirations that we must work for the betterment

of the community. What is there to work for if we lack

a community? That is why we must give our extra

effort not only for CDC or Task Force, but also for all

things we do in Ecosoc. During our induction, we make

a promise to not only serve our functions, but also to

put into heart the ideals of Ecosoc. Our organization

isn’t simply a tambayan or a petty social affair, it is a

game changer in the lives of the people we work for:

these kids, the scholars and the greater community.

Photo by Arsenio Lukban

Photograph by Arsenio Lukban 29

Photo by Arsenio Lukban

Photos by GJ Agregado

Madz AloriaM

adz Aloria, petite and perky, is a familiar

face in Econ. She is a student in the college,

a member of ETC and now running for a

position in the local student council. To

Ecosoc, she is our college scholar.

Madz was born to a humble family from Mindoro.

Her father, a farmer based in the province, used to

commute between Mindoro and Metro Manila a few

times a year to be with his wife and three daughters

who all lived in Marikina. The set up didn’t quite work

out and her father had to leave their farm in Mindoro.

It was at that time when Madz learned to acknowledge

that she never lived a privileged life, but she knew she

had to make the most of what she already had.

I’m sure the Ateneans in Ecosoc will be delighted to

find out that Madz was a Tulong Dunong scholar. If

you’re not aware, Tulong Dunong is an immersion

program for Ateneo’s senior high school students.

Once a week for one whole school year, Ateneo brings

its seniors to the public schools of Marikina to conduct

free tutorial sessions in Math and English for Grade 6

students. Madz was fortunate enough to have taken

part in the program for two years. She was one of the

few outstanding Grade 5 students who were admitted

to the program and was eventually chosen for a high

school scholarship.

At St. Scholastica’s Marikina, she furthered her quest

for excellence, driven by the blessings she had

received out of her sheer dedication to her studies.

She graduated from high school with the 12th highest

marks in her batch and was eventually admitted here,

into the premier state university of the country.

Why Econ? She was bashful at first, afraid that her

answer was unprofound. She later admitted though

that she initially applied for Biology and Accountancy,

only to get DPWS-ed. She eventually chose Business

Economics, a course, she said, is not far from her

second choice. Although she longed to shift at first,

she eventually learned to love Econ. Having found a

home in ETC (Economics Towards Consciousness),

she has set her feet permanently in the college.

“Okay ako sa Econ. Okay yung community. Mayroong

mga first impressions tulad ng stereotype na sinasabi

tungkol sa mga taga-Econ pero na-appreciate ko yung

differences dito. Magiging dull kasi kung wala ‘yon.”

Madz initially applied for the scholarship grant of

Marikina Representative Miro Quimbo, husband of our

very own Prof. Stella Quimbo, but she had to defer

knowing that the grant can end up with somebody

else who’s just as worthy.

“Nakuha ko kasi yung sa Ecosoc Scholarship Fund and

thankful ako doon.”

When asked about how she sees herself five years

from now, she said she’ll still be studying Economics.

She credits the many opportunities she has garnered

over the years saying that she wouldn’t be the Madz

now without them.

“Ang masasabi ko, huwag natin sayangin ang

scholarship. ‘Yun yung dahilan kung bakit ako naging

hopeful. Kung may tutulong, ay dahil ‘yun sa gusto nila

mag-invest sa’yo. Hindi naman sila magsasayang ng

tulong.”

Truly an Iskolar ng Bayan, Madz is more than what

she says she is - a good investment. She serves as an

inspiration to many of us especially since her life was

also touched by Ecosoc in one helpful way. She is a

living, breathing example of our ideals, a testament to

our commitment to others.

Photograph by GJ Agregado 27

They say when you don’t have anything nice

to say don’t say anything. Apparently people

in ecosoc ignore this rule especially when

it comes to writing. It is evident in what we

write in the logbook and our Echoes issues throughout

the years. This time however the jokes and insults have

even made its way to more than just the members’

logbook. If we’ve been labeled as having a rape culture

in Ecosoc then we have a bullying problem as well.

Sure we don’t hear news of deaths from bullying as

much in Ecosoc but because it doesn’t happen doesn’t

mean no one is getting hurt.

What makes it worse is we’re using the things that

should be bringing us together to separate us more.

From the way we make jokes of each other when we

talk, or the way we write in the logbooks and even how

we write articles in echoes. We comment on how they

look, act, seem and have every possible flaw they could

have when most of the time we hardly know those who

we talk about. Being the economists we are, we go on

assumptions and observations that spread like wildfire

without thinking of the repercussions of these actions.

These are often delivered in the form of jokes and

that’s why it continues to go on. We tolerate it because

as long as its not us being made fun of or insulted we

think it’s okay. For a while now, the targets of those

jokes have been the same and from the initial playful

banter it has evolved into insults that are no longer

funny. For the most of it, we’re very lucky that the

targets of the jokes don’t take it personally and they

A CULTURE OF OPPRESSION

BY AYLA REYES

FEATURES

32 Echoes.PH

make an even bigger joke about it but not everyone

is like that. Not everyone is as resilient and able to

deflect these comments about themselves that they

take it personally.

Is it because no one will ever know who wrote what?

The lack of accountability makes it easier to say

whatever you want without having the blame on you.

Yet who are we to judge? We’re not free of flaws but

we call people out for theirs may it be true or not.

It’s not fair to do this to anyone especially when the

person isn’t close to the one that they’re judging.

Yes freedom of speech is in our bill of rights but the

things being expressed in the tambayan and our official

publication can be interpreted as a representation of

our whole organization. If non ecosocers overhear

what we are saying in the tambayan and hear those

kinds of statements, they might think that’s how

we treat each other in Ecosoc. Especially what we

write in echoes, these are published online and are

available for anyone to see. For an outsider to read a

copy of echoes like that what kind of character are we

showing to them. As an organization Ecosoc is trying

to be revolutionary and change its image from being

a party org to something more socially relevant and

socio civic yet we tend to forget that our members

are what represent our organization. We’re tearing

each other down and discourage people from being

active in our organization if they feel ashamed of

showing up at Ecosoc.

We start to lose our sense of belonging in Ecosoc to

the point that they find it elsewhere and ultimately

lose that feeling for Ecosoc. As an organization, we’re

supposed to be one and support each other in all

aspects. We have to show everyone how much we

love Ecosoc through how we treat each other. We’ve

already had a few casualties through the years lets

start now and work together to show everyone what

it truly means to be Ecosoc.

Photograph by GJ Agregado 27

FEATURES

34 Echoes.PH

BY GJ AGREGADO

TAMBAYAN:

A Photo Essay

Unconventional 1 x 1 shots with your best angle!

Left: Pito poutsRight: Migs doing...what the hell is that?!

Ah, seniors on their last year. Chill.

In the tambayan, bags rule!

Everyday we enter the tambayan, we talk

to our friends, we watch TV we play some

cards and we even do some homework,

but many a times do we take for granted

the little things and the candid moments

that happen all around us. We put so much

effort into our prodwork but poeple fail

to realize the effort behind it. We talk to a

lot of people and we share a lot of stories

but people are too fast paced to stop and

enjoy these little moments.

Through photos, we have a chance to

capture a split second in time, immortalized

it and appreciate it for what a moment can

really offer. From the naps we take in the

sofas, to the meetings we hold around the

tambayan, and even to the laughs that

we make over some corny joke, we tried

to capture those moments and we put it

together in this one collage

Be it the cards, the chess, the log books,

the last minute home works, the tv shows,

the Tekken, the laughs, the cries, the hugs,

and yes, maybe even the people; almost

always do we tend to take them for

granted. As you’re reading this, I suggest

that you take a break, sit down, and take

some time to look through the photos

and realize the many moments we can

sometimes miss. With that, here is a photo

collage entirely devoted to the little things

and the neglected emotions that make our

tambayan the special place that it is. Enjoy!

CAPTIONS BY HORACE CIMAFRANCA

31

Er... yes. People make noise. More people = more noise.

WORKING

PRESIDENT

THE

Neil’s next movelife is like a game of cards

you’ll never know what the other thinks unless he tells you

36 Echoes.PH

BAKITBALIKTADMAGBASANG LIBROANG MGAPILIPINO?

Subscribe to Echoes for the sequel

OrgasmicNoodles

Shiver me timbers!

FEATURES

February is ending. This month of love, also

special because of how, in every four years,

there is an extra day added to it (just like this

year). Hopefully that article I wrote was of

good use to you. If it was, then good for you! Really!

Well, it wasn’t to me. This is awkward… But it doesn’t

matter to me one bit. And why shouldn’t

it matter to you?

Of course you’ve heard of that almost hackneyed

post-modernist and quasi-Marxist phrase that

says “Valentine’s Day is a capitalist construct.” If

you haven’t, well now you know, as the Pacquiao

commercial goes. And thinking about it, it really is a

capitalist construct. This whole gift-giving, romantic

dinner venture ultimately benefits them. Although

maybe you cut down that tree in your backyard and

carved it into a life-sized statue of your lover. (Then

maybe that statement doesn’t apply to you. Still,

read on.) Jesus, you could argue with me that the

money that was used to purchase those gifts and

dinners were products of love. However, think about

it. Almost everything you enjoy is bought, especially

since, y’know, you live in the city, the metro, as they

say.

So let’s see, buying is commonplace now in this…

hmmm… capitalist society. Cause it’s a capitalist

society. If we lived in a socialist or communist society,

I’d be singing a different tune. Sure, love is becoming

a commodity nowadays. Like when advertisements

feature love or sex or whatnot. I don’t like it, but it sells,

as they say. It’s not our fault that it’s an emotion that

is easily relatable. Writing about love is alright, and I

do it too, just like last month. What really degrades

it though has to be the fact that it’s sometimes used

brainlessly as a tactic to sell things. There is a tasteful

way to use it, but what’s taste nowadays? That’s a

different discussion. Sad to say, I’m not siding with

those who use that statement, of it being a capitalist

construct. Buy gifts, everyone, it’s fine.

Well, what was the last gift you got for any Valentine’s?

Nothing? Don’t worry, you’re not alone, me too. (Well,

I’m a guy and I don’t think guys are given gifts?) Yet,

what was the last gift you ever got? It doesn’t matter

what it is, a gift is a gift. A free lunch, a doughnut, a

pair of socks, a bra. All those count, even the small

things. And why should they take any less value

compared to a gift given on Valentine’s or Christmas

or Hanukah-if you’re into that sort of thing? A gift is

a gift and love is love, any day of the year. and love is

love, any day of the year.

BY DEREK PARRENAS

February, Romanceand E.E. Cummings

LAST HURRAH FROM THE LOVE MONTH

37

38

WERE YOUINFORMED?Survey reveals Ecosoc to be least informed org in EconBY BENEDICT BISMARK

I like my body when it is with yourbody. It is so quite a new thing.

Now, you’re probably thinking, what is that horribly

written line doing in the middle of the article (It’s by

E.E. Cummings). Don’t worry, Raphael Dantes didn’t

come here and massacre the thing (He’s back, ladies

and gentlemen). I put that there on purpose to prove

a point. It’s reminiscent of adolescent infatuation, you

know, the neurotic kind that can’t seem to keep you

from thinking about that person. The very first time

you ever have fallen in love. Now, this might just be

me, but I remember from my early adolescent days

those powerful afternoons of the summer that kinda

have their own smell. I can’t quite put a name on it. It’s

like you’ve finally woken up, finding yourself in a

strange body with alien feelings. The setting sun

seemed so much kinder back then. And that’s when

you actually experience that thing, love.

Maybe you remember whom you had a crush on

for the first time. I do. But I’m not selfish enough

to dedicate a whole article to whoever that was-

probably too boring for you anyway. Did that happen

on Valentine’s Day? Did you suddenly like someone

on Valentine’s Day? I don’t think so, although the

probability that it happened on Valentine’s is there.

It probably has the same probability of happening on

any, other day. So tell me, why on Earth is Valentine’s

special to you? You don’t have to conform to it, it’s

not a special day for you. Remember all holidays are

in commemoration of something important in history,

so why not have your own personal holidays? I have

my own. Hell, I’m writing this a day before one of

them. It’s no different really from how the University

commemorates its founding. Or how fans of Star

Wars mark a certain date for the anniversary of the

release of the first movie.

Seriously, if you want to celebrate a day just to

remember the day when your dog started to actually

act toilet-trained, then go ahead. If it makes you feel

better about yourself, I have no qualms about it. Just,

if your neighbors start looking at you weirdly when

you start singing with your dog, that’s your problem.

If you’re happy then I’m happy. I guess. Who are you

anyway? Nevermind. Pablo Neruda wrote “Tonight I

can write the saddest lines. Write, for example, ‘the

night is shattered and the blue stars shiver in the

distance.’” Well, do you know what date is that tonight

he’s talking about? You don’t know. He’s probably the

only one who can recall that night. All I’m trying to

say is, if it means that much to you, celebrate it like

you celebrate your birthday. Remember it. Cherish

it. Nothing should take away the happiness of

remembering a certain date special to you. I’m not

trying to sound like a quotable quote or something,

it’s just that, that’s the only way I can put it.

And what of romance? We’ve all been lonely, one way

or another. No use thinking about it.

Everybody goes through it.

Photo by GJ Agregado

“Romantic love is socially constructed.”

Those were the five words my high school

music professor uttered one day in class, and

I can honestly say that it got me thinking.

What if the Hallmark company (with their

colorful selection of romantic cards) has been ripping

people off with this false idea of love all along? What

if romantic love is merely the creation of Hollywood

soap opera writers to generate profit? And what if

those heart shaped chocolate boxes, love songs and

flowers are really just created by merchants for the

sole purpose of earning money? The idea of romantic

love, according to that professor, is just a product of

consumerism; and as a result, we have continuously

been falling for something that really does not

scientifically or biologically exist.

In spite of this, you see couples around the school

hallways showing the world how “deeply in love” they

are. Instead of insisting that Valentine’s Day is strictly

a commercial celebration, they tell you that they do

it because they deeply care for their partners and

they would do anything to make their day special.

The purchasing of all those heart-shaped red or pink

merchandise, according to these people, is because

of romantic love (contrary to the completely opposite

idea my music professor suggested). These people

strongly believe that romantic love is real, and perhaps

their companionship and public displays of affection

are evidences of its existence. I guess this is why

when two people are “meant to be with each other,”

people say they have good “chemistry”, an otherwise

scientific term. The visible signs of happiness make it

seem as though this type of situation is what is ideal

and most desirable for everyone else. It makes some

people believe that perhaps the beautiful endings

in romantic comedies are not merely created by a

bunch of scriptwriters, but are actually inspired by

people who have gone through the beautiful and

idealistic concept of “romantic love”.

Because of the joys of those who are in this type

of relationship, it makes a large number of people

(mostly adolescent girls) crave to be in one as well.

The quest to find an ideal mate stems from the hope

to create an idyllic relationship. Perhaps the existence

of unnecessarily high expectations or standards can

be attributed to the hope of some people to be part

of a dreamy, beautiful “romance”. The hope that one

day a “soul mate” or a Prince Charming will come into

their lives is a frequent topic among girl barkadas

Hallmark LoveBY CAMILLE CRUZ

FEATURES

ON A SIMILAR NOTE...

39

Photo by GJ Agregado

(admittedly this type of topic is something I talk about

with my friends on a day to day basis). It is almost

laughable when I remember how my friends and I

admired the Jonas Brothers and how we genuinely

thought we had legitimate chances of ending up with

them.

I guess this is why some people become awkward

around the people whom they fancy. People who

are normally confident stutter and break a sweat

when faced with the so-called “boy or girl of his or

her dreams,” because the idea of “not being good

enough” for the person desired is a fear that is inside

the minds of many single people. The nervousness

that comes with seeing one’s supposed “crush” can

be linked not just to insecurity of oneself, but the fear

of destroying one’s chances of being with the person

of his or her dreams.

Somehow wishing so much to be in a relationship

creates fear of being alone as well. The idea of being

single forever is something that most would never

see as something good. Being an “old maid” is usually

seen as more dreadful than anything else concerning

the future. Single people are pressured into finding

their future partners, and they are usually observed

to show disappointment with themselves and other

people when they are not able to. You hear tons of

females showing their bitterness in social networking

sites (of course, most especially Tumblr) about

February 14 actually being S.A.D or Single Awareness

Day. I hear one of my close friends very frequently

complain about how she has no boyfriend and how

she will end up single and alone with nine cats.

Amusing as those may have sounded; it just goes

to show how important romantic love is to single

people as well. The desperation of some to be in a

relationship can be funny, but sometimes it is also sad

and quite pitiful.

With the different situations taken into consideration,

it is obvious that each person, regardless of his or

her relationship status, is involved in the growth

and evolution of romantic love. The so-called “taken

people” and those as well who hope to be taken look

at love and believe that it exists within them and in

society. Seeing the actions of people, it again raises

the question: Is romantic love merely a product of

the Hallmark corporation and other merchants? Are

people simply being fools believing a concept that

they themselves might have created? I guess the

answer is, whether or not love is socially constructed,

it may not be totally, but the social construct surely

does matter. For better or for worse, romantic love is

something that will be with us for a very long time.

The sweaty palms, the rapid heartbeats and irrational

actions of people can attest to that.

Photo: Horace Cimafranca

40 Echoes.PH

41

Tila pati ang panahon ngayong nakaraang araw ay naayon sa init ng halalang USC ng kasalukuyang taon –

matindi. Panahon na naman kung kailan naglipana ang mga kartel at paskil na nagdedetalye ng iba’t-ibang

plano para sa unibersidad at kolehiyo. Panahon na naman kung kailan kahit isang simpleng bagay tulad ng

kulay ang nagpapahiwatig ng iyong katapatan at ideyolohiya.

Sa ating unibersidad ang mga partidong asul at pula ang kilalang oposisyon, asul bilang Alyansa at pula bilang

Stand UP. Sa ating sariling kolehiyo, ang School of Economics, ay may napagka-ugalian nang ihalal ang mga

miyembro ng Alyansa, kaya’t isang sorpresa ang natanggap ng Econ nang tumakbo ang isa nitong estudyante

sa ilalim ng partidong Stand UP – isang makasaysayang bagay sapagkat ito ang unang tunggalian ng Alyansa

at Stand UP na direktang nauukol kolehiyo. Inihahandog ngayon ng Echoes ang isang panayam sa dalawang

naglalabang kandidato para sa posisyong Econ rep to the USC, dalawang partido, dalawang lider, dalawang

Ecosocer.

Ang mga kandidato:

Darrell Magsambol, 2nd Year – BS Economics

Enrico “Miko” Gloria, 3rd Year – BS Economics

Bakit mo napagpasyahang tumakbo bilang Econ

rep to the USC? Planado na ba ito noon pa, o isa ba

itong bagay na kamakailan mo lang napag-isipan?

Sino ang mga taong naging impluwensiya sa iyong

desisyon?

Darrell: Noong una, gusto ko lang talaga mapabilang

sa student council uli. Ngunit habang tumatagal mas

nakita ko yung pangangailangan na mabigyan ng

boses ang mag-aaral sa Econ. At dahil interesado rin

naman talaga ako sa mga isyu ng bayan tulad

ng conditional cash transfer program at isyu ng

unibersidad tulad ng pagpapatibay ng STFAP,

napagpasyahan kong tumakbo bilang econ rep.

nabigyan ako ng inspirasyon ng mga nakasama ko

sa kasalukuyang student council, sinadya man nila

o hindi, na mas palawakin yung responsibilidad ko

at ipakita na kaya ng isang normal na estudyante na

mamuno at magsilbi.

Miko: Una sa lahat kasi, ang plano ko naman talaga

na ngayong taon, pagbalik na pagbalik from our

Christmas break, magfocus sa research at palawakin

at paunlarin ang pag-aaral kasi gusto rin nating

maging cum laude sana. Gusto ko talagang magturo

dito sa University, magturo ng political science at

makukuha lang natin yung will na iyon kung maganda

ang track record mo as a student. Pero napagisip-isip

ko na lumapit din sa akin yung mga miyembro ng

Stand UP at inaanyayahan akong tumakbo for Econ

Rep. Talagang ayoko, nung una, kasi nakaplano na

diba? Siguro, napag-isip-isip ko na panahon na may

Ang

PagtutunggaliNI BEA BAYUDAN

mamuno dito sa School of Economics, yung isang

Econ Rep na talagang irerepresent yung stand ng

ekonomista ng bayan, at talagang magso-show

ng potential ng Econ students. Gusto ko talagang

magsilbi dito sa School of Economics at sa lipunan

na rin, dahil part ng society ang School of Economics.

I think na yung pagtakbo natin sa konseho – kasi

diba yung konseho naman yung pinakamalaking

bargaining unit ng mga estudyante at ng iba’t ibang

sector ng lipunan dito sa UP community. Gusto nating

makuha yung posisyong iyon dahil yun yung pinaka-

efficient na paraan para makapag-serve ka di lang sa

Econ students, ngunit sa mas malawak na tao dito sa

ating lipunan. [sa mga taong naging impluwensiya]

Ang bayan! Char. Siguro yung mga kaibigan natin sa

higher batches kasi kinonsulta ko naman talaga sila,

kasi firstly I was planning to run for batch rep. Mas

local yung focus, siguro, mas kaunti yung trabaho,

pero yun nga, nung ikinonsulta natin sa kanila, sinabi

rin nila na sundin ko raw talaga yung gusto ko. Ano ba

yung gusto natin? Yung makapagsilbi nga hindi lang

sa Econ students pero sa buong university na rin.

Ano ang iyong mga kalakasan at kahinaan bilang

isang lider?

Darrell: Hangga’t maari, gusto kong marinig ang

komento at suhestyon ng mga pinamumunan ko.

Minsan dahil dito tumatagal ang mga pag-uusap;

maaring isa ito sa mga kahinaan ko. Isa sa mga

kalakasan ko bilang loder ay meron akong abilidad na

ilagay yung pag-iisip ko sa kinalalagyan ko ng mga

kasama ko. Kaya ko kumilatis ng mga oportunidad,

lumaban para sa tama, at manindigan ayon sa hinaing

ng mga nirerepresenta ko.

Miko: I am an Econ student, but I am also a member

of Stand UP. Since history alam naman ng lahat na

yung dalawa ay hindi masyadong mapag-ugnay, at

wala talagang koneksyon. Siguro I am now the living

example of that connection, na kung papayagan

akong ma-elect, magkakaroon talaga ng koneksyon

yung mga principles. Siguro yun yung pinaka-

strength natin na kaya nating mag-accept ng iba’t

ibang principles labas pa sa natutunan natin dito sa

School of Economics. Alam natin yung mga theories

natin, for efficiency siya, for economic efficiency,

pero yung Stand UP naniniwala na you have to

combine efficiency with equality. At doon lalabas

yung pagkalawak ng mga prinsipyo natin at pagiging

open-minded natin sa lahat ng bagay. So basically,

being a Stand UP member and and an Econ student

at the same time, and being open-minded sa mga

bagay. Iyan din siguro yung weakness natin. Bilang

miyembro ka ng Stand UP, may mga students dito

sa School of Economics na di masyado, kasi yung

pagiging Stand UP di masyadong popular dito sa

School of Economics. Baka maging hindrance iyon sa

pagrelay ng information sa mga estudyante ng Econ,

pero susubukan nating malagpasan yung ganoong

pagsubok. Ang pagiging Econ student ko at Stand

UP, both a strength and a weakness.

Ano sa tingin mo ang kailangang baguhin ng SE,

kung mayroon man, bilang isang kolehiyo? Sa

palagay mo ba ay may pagkakakilanlan talaga ang

42 Echoes.PH

SE na may kaugnayan sa USC? Bilang Econ Rep to

the USC, sakaling maihalal, tutugunan mo ba ito at

paano?

Darrell: Hmm, wala naman. okay naman yung econ

eh. ang maganda sa ‘tin kritikal tayo mag-isip at

marunong talaga tayo sumuri, mapa-tao man ‘yan,

o usapin. ‘Yung mga puntong sinasabi natin may

pinanggagalingan talaga, may laman, makatotohanan.

mas realistic imbis na idealistic. Bilang Econ

Rep, tungkulin ko na maayos na maipaghayag at

maisabuhay na rin yung mga katangian na ‘to. higit

pa, tunay na magkokonsulta tayo ng mga estudyante

at yun talaga yung ipaparating natin sa USC. Gusto

ko na pagkatapos ng termino ko, gamay na gamay

na mg mga taga-Econ ang mga kaganapan at

mga kaugalian sa USC at mas lalo na, malaman ng

unibersidad na may ibubuga talaga tayong mga

ekonomista pagdating sa mga isyu ng lipunan.

Miko: Oo naman, yun naman talaga yung main goal

natin kaya tayo tumatakbo bilang Econ Rep to the USC

kasi gusto nating baguhin hindi lang yung pagtingin

sa atin ng estudyante sa labas, pero kung ano yung

kasalukuyang nagiging role natin sa university. Yun

talaga yung main goal ko kung ba’t ako tumakbo,

kasi nakikita natin na masyado tayong nagfo-focus

sa organizational and academic excellence. Sana ma-

complement pa natin ang org and acad excellence sa

pamamagitan ng pagiging socially relevant sa labas

ng ating kolehiyo. Ang pagbabagong ito magsisimula

sa taong ito kung papalaring maging Econ rep to

the USC kasi nais natin makilala naman tayo sa labas

ng ating kolehiyo sa pamamagitan ng ating pagsuri

at pagsali sa malawak na hanay ng estudyante na

nakikipaglaban din sa karapatang iyon.

Pinili ninyong dalawa na tumakbo sa ilalim ng

partidong kilalang-kilala na magkalaban. Kung

titingnan, nasa Alyansa ang boto ng Econ. Malaking

bagay ba ito sa iyong pangangampanya? Darrell,

sa tingin mo ba, bilang isang shiftee, sapat na ang

nakaraang taon sa iyo para makilala kang Econ?

Miko, bilang miyembro ng Stand UP, hadlang ba ito?

Paano?

Darrell: Make-or-break talaga yung pagpanig ko sa

alyansa. Oo, nananalo nga dati yung mga kandidato

nila sa Econ pero seryosong usapan na rin kasi kung

panahon na ba para sa pagbabago. isa itong hamon

na pinili kong tahakin. gusto kong patunayan na tama

ang pagpili sa alyansa at sa mga pinaniniwalaan nito

noong nagdaang ngunit anuman ang mangyayari,

ang mahalaga sa ‘kin, pinaglaban ko yung prinsipyo

ko; na oo, di ko mo ko makikitang magmamartsa sa

mendiola, pero aktibista ako. pinaglalaban ko yung

mga sa tingin kong tama. inaalam ko yung mga

nangyayari sa bansa. aktibo ako sa pagsasaliksik.

matindi yung pagnanais ko na mapasa yung RH

bill, halimbawa, kasi higit sa pagsusulong ng family

planning, isang porma ito sa mga kababaihan. noong

sophie batchrep ako, pinatunayan ko na alam ko kung

paano magrepresenta. sa bawat council meeting, ang

ipinaparating naming opinyon ay hango sa opinyon ng

aming batchmates. higit sa pagrepresenta napakita

ko na may kakayahan akong magsulong ng mga

konkretong proyekto. bukod sa mga batch bondings

at pagbebenta ng batch shirts, nagkaroon ng mas

magandang electives 101 at naisagawa ang unang

econ career talk. at sa halip na isiping kahinaan, sa

tingin ko mas makakabuti pa sa pamumuno bilang

econ rep ang katotohanang nanggaling ako sa cssp, na

oo, mabuting gamitin ang econ lessons and principles,

pero di ako nakukulong diyan, meron akong political

science background na maaring sandalan at gamitin

sa oras na kailangan.

Miko: Siguro kung hindi ako kilala bilang Miko Gloria,

yung Miko Gloria na ayun, feel ko magiging factor

talaga na nagru-run ako under Stand UP. Nakikita

naman ako dito sa Econ, so hindi naman masyadong

nagiging factor yung pagiging Stand UP, pero malaki

pa rin ito. Hindi natin maipagkakaila na sa hinaba-

haba ng panahon, isa itong blue country, at siguro

naninibago yung mga estudyante ng School of

Economics sa tuwing nakakita sila ng naka-pulang

43

kandidato. So oo, sa isang banda, isa siyang hindrance,

kasi mahirap na maipaabot sa mga estudyante yung

mensahe na gusto nating maglingkod ng tunay just

because you are running under an unpopular or

underdog party. Sa kabilang banda din, isa itong

advantage kasi may ibang estudyante diyan na

gusto ring makaranas ng ibang uri ng pamumuno at

makikita nila iyon sa isang Econ Rep na tumatakbo

sa ilalim ng Stand UP, at sana, doon sila sa latter

pumanig, na gusto nila ng bago, na Stand UP naman,

at iluklok tayo sa USC. Parang stalemate din eh, both

a disadvantage and advantage.

Ano ang iyong mensahe o payo sa kapwa kandidato

mo?

Darrell: Tayo ang USC.

Miko: Galingan niya lang sa remaining days ng

campaign, at sana, kahit sino man ang manalo

sa amin, kasi isa lang rin naman talaga. Kung sa

palabok na sinasabi namin sa inyo, sa mga GPOA

at SPOA na inilalatag namin sa inyo, isa lang naman

ang patutungahan niyan at yun yung mag-serve sa

estudyante ng School of Economics at sa university.

Sana ganoon nga talaga yung gawin niya sakaling

siya nga yung manalo. Ang mapapayo ko sa kanya

ay maging tapat sana siya sa panata ng isang Econ

rep na tunay na marepresent yung mga estudyante

ng School of Economics sa USC. Sana maging tapat

din siya sa mga panawagan ng bawat estudyante na

tunay na makapagsilbi sa bayan, kasi sa bayan naman

talaga dapat tayo magsilbi bilang mga Iskolar ng

Bayan. At sana, kung matalo man ang isa sa amin, sana

maging active pa rin siya dito sa School of Economics,

dahil active naman nga talaga si Darrell, di lang sa

SESC. Kapag natalo siya, huwag sanang mag-give

up na hindi na tumakbo next year, dahil bata pa nga

siya, marami pa siyang opportunities na daratnan. In

a nutshell yung maipapayo ko kay Darrell ay maging

tapat sa panata sa estudyante na paglingkuran hindi

lang yung mga estudyante ng School of Economics at

UP Diliman, kundi yung sambayanan.

*Ang dalawang kandidato ay hindi nakapanayam nang sabay. Mayroon ring mga bahagi ng panayam na hindi

na isinama dahil sa limitado ang espasyong nakalaan para sa artikulong ito.

44 Echoes.PH

The University Student Council (USC) election is an

annual spectacle that captures the attention of the

entire community. At the beginning of every calendar

year, students take a break from the monotony of

academic life to listen to room-to-room campaigns,

pour over flyers, attend forums (such as our very own

UPfront), and on a single, fateful day, cast their votes.

But is all of this necessary?

What separates economists from other social

scientists is our obsession with efficiency; this involves

cutting-off any practice whose costs exceed the value

derived. And so, at least in this article, we put our

own USC elections up the pedestal and assess it as

if we were deciding on its fate, using an important

economic tool.

In a nutshell, a Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) is a process

where the present value of a project’s total benefits is

matched against the present value of its total costs.

Benefits and costs refer not only to financial figures,

but to total economic value, including externalities.

Also, in evaluating the project, we include all future

economic returns and outlays that are required by

the project. Furthermore, if the project is a societal

activity, such as our USC elections, the benefits and

costs to society must be considered.

If the project in question has no alternatives, it can

be undertaken if the resulting difference between

benefits and costs—the Net Present Value (NPV)—is

positive, i.e. it will net a return on the funds invested.

A real CBA would involve an estimation of the financial

equivalents of economic benefits and costs in order to

arrive at the most informative NPV possible; however,

we do not have the luxury of time and space to

conduct a rigorous analysis, and so we proceed with

a very crude version of a CBA, where we simply list

the most relevant economic costs and benefits of the

USC elections, and use a qualitative understanding to

net the two factors.

The explicit economic costs of the elections are

numerous. On the part of the university, there are

the (taxpayer-provided) funds spent for election-

day expenses and university personnel man-hours

BY PAOLO TAMASE

What’s at stake?A short cost-benefit analysis of the USC elections

45

46 Echoes.PH

spent on setting-up common poster areas, computer

laboratories, and electoral boards; for the candidates,

thousands of pesos are spent on campaign materials

and rentals for the different party headquarters.

Implicit costs include the environmental impact

of flyers, the reduction in lecture times, and the

loss of productivity of students who cut classes

to campaign, or who reallocate their study time to

listen to candidates, read platforms, and even join

endless discussions over Facebook and peyups.com.

It goes without saying that the USC elections carry

huge economic costs—financial or otherwise—for the

Diliman community and its members.

On the benefits side, the main theoretical output of

this democratic exercise is a functional USC that will

be able to represent the views and concerns of the

student body, as well as sponsor projects that forward

student welfare. The benefits also include several

positive spillovers or unintended consequences. For

the voters, it includes an education on the vitality of

the democratic process, the exposure to social and

national issues, and even the improvement of critical-

thinking and decision-making skills; for society at-

large, the elected USC also often brings to light several

social problems to the media and concerned bodies

such as Congress. More importantly, many of these

aforementioned benefits accrue in the future, and

over a long period of time, may even result to more

positive externalities (such as active citizenship). On

a lighter note, the campaign spending also helps the

photocopiers in the shopping center and three lucky

apartments along Maginhawa St., which the major

parties rent for their headquarters.

Based on the above listing alone, the benefits of the

USC elections, in theory, outweigh its costs.

The reality, of course, is not all benefits are realized.

The incredible partisanship often results to a

dysfunctional USC that gets very little work done

outside of the UP Fair and the University Job Fair

(both of which are actually heavily-supported by

student organizations). Moreover, the prevailing

interests of special interest groups, including but not

limited to organizations and fraternities, often results

to a scenario where their welfare is prioritized ahead

of the general electorate—in the past, the elevation

of these special interests have allegedly given way to

USC funds being siphoned to extra-campus militant

organizations, or to the rise of fraternities who lord

over the university community.

At least for this year, most of the costs—explicit and

implicit—have already been expensed. The next USC,

therefore, must do its best to ensure that all potential

benefits of the elections are realized.

Photo by GJ Agregado

FEATURES

The end.

Call me morbid for starting with the end in mind, but

isn’t that what’s always been taught to us since we

were young? Of course it was worded differently, with

phrases like “ follow your dreams” or “reach for your

goals” or whatever similar transformation of the same

concept, that which is the end.

Blame the contemporary 2012 vibes for my bluntness,

for I have been stricken with the atmosphere of

fatalism rampant in our world today, with various ads

and memes around us bearing the message of an

upcoming end.

But to what end? Are we being warned of an ultimate

apocalypse that will rain unspeakable horrors of

destruction upon the universe? I mean, we were

already introduced to this concept even when we

were too young to understand it!

I’m here, not to preach about such beliefs, that sort of

thing is reserved for another composition. It matters

not really, whether or not this so-called armageddon

is coming...I mean one way or another our story, each

of the lives we narrate from the moment we open our

eyes, will reach an inevitable end, or some form of it ( I

can sense some pilosopos who will counter-argue me,

so yeah, “SOME FORM OF IT.”)

I used to think, back in 2006 that High School would

end slowly, contrary to what I had been incessantly

told, and here I am, writing this article for Echoes as

a sophomore in UPSE. Someone go back in time and

troll-face my kid version. In a few more sentences,

this very article will be but another file in your stock-

knowledge of the non-economics part of your cranium.

But should knowledge of the coming end, stop us?

Despair has never been the path to take people. If our

heroes chose to wallow in grief and give in to their

weaknesses, I’ll bet we’d be joining the Arabs in their

spring from dictatorships.

Albeit they died for their actions, heroes are

remembered with zeal and honor in mind. They may

have had their own little issues in the past, but they

are remembered with honor and pride for what great

deeds they had done. Call to mind Rizal; he may

have had misgivings with his romances, but he IS our

THE FINAL INTRODUCTION

ON A HIGH FROM LITNIGHT

47

BY JR NEPOMUCENO

FEATURES

48 Echoes.PH

Now, I’m not saying you have to die for your country to

be remembered, nor am I saying that you should party

hard because the end of all things is coming close.

I would just like you to introduce yourself to me.

Yes, simple isn’t it? Well not really, considering that

maybe, just maybe, you put the PRO in Procrastination

in finishing your responsibilities...I really hope that you

finished all your homework by now.

Which brings me to what I really want you to

understand given all the stuff I’ve written until this

point. (cue inspirational music)

Ask yourself: “How do I want to be remembered, such

that if were introduced, I’ll be someone affiliated with

honor and excellence?” I mean, we ARE introduced as

students of THE University of the Philippines, who put

honor and excellence in what they do.

The arrival of the end, is not an excuse for us to WASTE

our lives on choices that we know would yield ends we

would come to regret. If people have been branding

you a failure in life, it’s finally time to prove them

wrong. Certainly you might think that your efforts in

pursuing an uno may be futile with such a biased-

against-males professor, or that lifting a 10 lb weight

would not cancel out the effect of eating that 10 lb.

pizza you ate last week. Maybe you’ll get what you’re

dreaming of, or maybe not. What matters however, is

that you tried reaching for it, and that even if you’ve

tried to be humble, people will remember you for it,

and in the longshot would get inspired to do the same

or better than you. Let’s face it, there really is a lot of

uncertainty we can only muse about.

Next time you’re asked to introduce yourself, I do hope

that, after reading this explicit musing of mine, you’ll

do so with a ring of honor and excellence somewhere

in your choice of words.

Photo by GJ Agregado

Culture

Film | Travel | Fashion | Entertainment | Gossip

Photo by GJ Agregado

Photo by GJ Agregado

CULTURE

50 Echoes.PH

Itchy Feet in Chinatown

Travel

BY REUEL REALIN

It is usually in the streets of Ongpin that people,

both locals and tourists, venture into to celebrate

the Chinese New Year. After all, the whole length of

Ongpin is lined with red Chinese lanterns, vendors

barking their wares of tikoy and hopia, and children

clad in the traditional qipao and changpao running

through the streets. Tour groups are a common sight

around this time; bundled crowds of 5 or more people

with a tour guide, usually someone with a Chinese

descent who has lived in Binondo. A tour of the Chinese

district leaves any day tripper an understanding of

Binondo’s historical and cultural heritage; from the

granite façade and baroque architecture of the Minor

Basilica of St. Lorenzo Ruiz to the infusion of catholic

and chinese cultures as can be seen in a street shrine

which has a crucifix adorned by leis of white flowers

laced with red ribbons and the striking aroma of newly

lit incense sticks, a whiff of which may be enough to

cause a brief bout of dizziness. The streets themselves

have a story to tell, adjusting to the times, the names

reflecting changes in ownership of the buildings it

encapsulates, and even to a certain extent, the reach

of political strengths and struggles of certain factions.

While tour guides are able to provide an encompassing

and sufficient view of the district, a city tour may

prove to be second best and quite dragging for the

quick footed traveler. After all, there will be as much

tour guides as there are tourists, but most of the

time, it only takes oneself to fully grasp and bask in

the experience of discovering any place. Binondo, at

the time of the Lunar New Year, makes all the jostling

and drowning into the crowd worth it even if it means

getting lost in one way or another.

Diverging from Ongpin and into the

zigzagging side streets of Chinatown, the lost traveler

finds unique shops and experiences festivities that

are not usually done in heavily crowded places. In the

distance, the sound of firecrackers breaks the silence

of a silent street in Binondo. The side walk vendors

do not seem to mind the commonplace sounds

of exploding fire crackers; after all, as the Chinese

New Year arrives at every businessman’s doorstep,

each welcomes it with a barrage of noise and vividly

colored dragons. Heavily lined with hardware shops

and home accessories, the street of Soler has shops

that have yet to open for the day. Chancing upon

a hardware store where a small crowd has begun

to gather, the unwary traveler may find himself in

the middle of the crowd, innocently snapping away

photos of performers waiting for the signal to start.

At that point, a man clad in a red shirt with white

Chinese markings sounds the cymbals. A dragon

dance begins.

A steady beating of the drum leaves a

pounding in one’s chest as the dragons come into

view, dancing as the drummer strikes a heavy but

well-placed beat. A pair of gold-yellow dragons

with red and white tassels moves fluidly through the

crowd, jumping over the string of unlit firecrackers

which lay on road in front of the general merchandise

store. Seemingly they bow towards the open

establishment, advancing and retreating to the beat

of the drum, inspiring luck to bid well and reside in the

tore throughout the rest of the year. After circling the

store, the gold-yellow pair retreats as another pair, red-

white and black lined with golden tassels, advances,

taking over the façade of the store. Movement is

noticed in the crowd as the drums hastened pace,

the people sensing something is about to happen. A

flurry of children suddenly clamors on the sidewalk

the source of the commotion being the red dragons

flashing their golden streaks and tossing a generous

41

amount of sweets on the sidewalk as they retreated.

As the four dragons merge on the street, everything

is at a standstill; vehicles caught in the middle of the

street performance stop, the crowd backs away, and a

foreigner raises his camera preparing for the climax of

the dance. The dragons “rest” on the street, preparing

for their “final descent”.

First, the dragons engage in a playful

squabble, pouncing upon each other and circling as

their mouth flaps closed and open, eyes blinking with

ferocity. Then without a warning, sparks begin to fly.

The firecrackers which peacefully lay on the street

awakened with a burst of fury. Gray smoke and debris

scatter around as the dragons, impervious to the

explosions, dance closer and closer to the fireworks,

dancing and prancing without care. For the bystander,

failing to fall back means temporary deafness and

ringing in the ear, constant wheezing and coughing

as you inhale the overpowering smoke and smell

from the fireworks. The explosions ended with a split-

second of silence then a loud bang, the four dragons

creating a formation in front of the store, the red ones

behind the yellow, and with a final movement, the

performers end with a dragon head nod and a bow.

As the dragon dance ended and the crowd

gradually dispersing, the aftermath of this tradition,

and probably reflective of the aftermath of the whole

New Year celebration, can be seen. Debris from the

previous evening’s New Year celebration lined up the

side streets in piles; bits and bobs of firecrackers and

shredded paper cluttering street canals, fruit and

candy wrappers adding up to the heap.

Pursing to explore further the streets of

Binondo, the unsuspecting traveler might chance upon

another group of street performers. Fire breathers

are spread all throughout the district, complete with

their costumes and torches of fire. Their costumes

reflected their creativity, and while scantily-clad, their

faces are adorned with make-up. Under the heat, they

performed their fire-breathing acts, some of which

proved quite dangerous to crowded places such as

that of the formation of a ball of fire which lasted for

a short moment. Bystanders feel the heat emitted

from the fire, a sudden rush of thrill and droplets of

perspiration fall down their foreheads. The street

performers did not perform without a price though, a

red ampao envelope was passed as they performed,

the crowd pitching in spare change as contribution.

In the nooks and crannies of Binondo stumbling upon

a quaint Chinese shop is fascinating, but learning

that the quaint Chinese Shop has been considered

as one of the oldest restaurants in the district is just

pure amazing and can leave you awestruck. Sun Wah

Restaurant and its counterpart, Ambos Mundos, have

been noted to have big black boars lying in front of

their respective restaurants. One can initially assume

that there can be a rivalry between the two restaurants,

but upon a brief conversation with the waiters in the

restaurant, it is found that both merged as a result of

the marriage between its owning families. The boars

were somehow a sign of prosperity and good luck for

the family, thus adorns the façade of both restaurants.

In the end a trip to the Chinese district leaves

the misplaced traveler a lesson or two. Taking

the opportunity to explore the unfrequented and

seemingly uninteresting places may actually put a

spice or two to the travelling experience. It’s not every

day that you find yourself in the middle of a crowd

and wondering where you are and eventually ending

up swept to the side streets of an unfamiliar district;

to have the audacity to walk down an unknown alley

which are lined up by towering buildings, locals

looking at you with questioning stares, you asking

yourself if you’ve overstepped a sort of boundary as

you bite down the fried siopao you just purchased.

As the journey closes, the misplaced traveler finds

that losing sight of the road most traveled might have

been the experience that he was exactly looking for,

with the sound of firecrackers breaking the lonely

silence and the aromatic scent of incense burning at

the corner of the street.

CULTURE

52 Echoes.PH

The Artist and the silencethat was lost in time

Film

BY RALPH DANTES

I approached The Artist with the same fervor the

silent film era had for flappers and philosophers.

After watching Michel Hazanavicius’s lighthearted

and exuberant French silent movie The Artist, I found

myself thinking of Clara Bow’s luminous presence in

the runaway silent era hits, Wings, the Oscar’s first

and until The Artist’s win, only silent film best picture

winner and It, a supremely entertaining—the way

Mean Girls is to our generation—pop culture classic. In

It, the cheeky and sexy appropriation of the Cinderella

archetype, Clara Bow was the flame that coursed

through the rebellious spirit of the roaring twenties.

This was the film that would ingrain the phrase “it girl”

permanently into English lexicon. I thought as well of

Charlie Chaplin’s well-loved satirical shenanigans, of

Greta Garbo’s heavy-lidded sullenness, and of Louise

Brook’s lethal erotic charm. In The Artist, there is

nothing quite close to the intensity of the work of

those actors. The movie’s principals—Jean Dujardin,

as George Valentin, a swaggering silent-movie idol

who is ruined by the advent of sound, and Bérénice

Bejo, as Peppy Miller, the girl from nowhere who loves

him and becomes a star herself—are eager, likable

performers. But both characters, and both actors,

move in a straight line in each scene; they stay, for all

intents and purposes, within a single mood. The great

silent actors did so much more.

The silent film era stormed the world like a hurricane.

As a filmmaking art form, it lasted less than twenty

years, from 1912 to 1929, yet more than ten thousand

films were produced in that period in the United States

alone. From the beginning, the silent cinema was an

art devoted to physical risk and to primitive passions,

to rage, lust, ambition, and obsession—silence made

emotions more extreme in many ways—and it yielded

obsession in its huge audience. The Artist, a likable

tribute, doesn’t completely immerse itself in that world

of ambition and madness—it’s sexless and admittedly

simple. For all its genuine charm, it’s certainly not the

vision of wild and grand that many of those other

great movies of the time represented.

Film enthusiasts should be happy that The Artist

exists at all, of course. Even after being nominated for

ten Oscars and winning numerous awards from critics’

groups and the guilds, the film still seems arbitrary—

one of those strange windfalls of idealism which

sometimes occur in art. The Artist at least has a distinct

advantage over the other Weinstein nostalgia fest of

2011, My Week with Marilyn, and that’s Hazanavicius’s

cinematographic sensibilities. Whereas Simon Curtis’s

flailing piece makes the wrong impression almost

immediately, with an opening “film within a film”

that’s supposed to be a 1950s movie musical—but

looks more like a music video that Madonna would

have rejected in the 1980s— Hazanavicius and his

competent cinematographer Schiffman, at least have

enough sense to craft his “old movie” scenes to look

like old movies.

In the routine circuit of contemporary movies—

thrillers, action flicks, teen horror films, sensitive adult

dramas—“The Artist” stands out as a fresh piece of

41

work. Hazanavicius plays with our sense of how odd

silence is; he encroaches on sound like a stealthy

predator into the bizarre world of noiselessness. In

the movie’s most striking sequence, Valentin has a

nightmare: he dreams of a sounding world, but he

cannot speak—his screams come out as dry heaves.

Apart from a few such brilliant bursts of invention,

“The Artist” is an amiably accomplished stunt that

puts silent film out for display for a bit and then

returns it back into the archive. The silent movies we

see in “The Artist” all look like jovial, if not slightly

trivial, romps—like how “Singin’ in the Rain” teased

us about the silent era nearly sixty years ago. What

charms audiences about this genteel film may be the

kind of gracious, caring, and well-groomed behavior

that Hazanavicius has put on the screen. As far as we

can tell, Valentin and Peppy are not lovers. The movie

is a sweet, chaste dream of good will, but admittedly,

silent movies were rarely about good will and restraint.

Silent film is another country. They speak another

language—a language of gestures, stares, flapping

mouths, halting or skittering walks, and sometimes

movements and expressions of infinite intricacy

and beauty. The language is all the more difficult to

understand because most of us haven’t seen silent

movies as they were meant to be seen. The stories

of silent drama may often have been elemental, yet

artists among the actors could bring out nuances

that had no exact substitute in spoken language.

Here’s hoping that even while silence will remain dead

in contemporary cinema, the ineffable would be re-

introduced into filmmaking.

54

CULTURE

Before you read my article, I would like to apologize in advance for my plentiful use of a certain word, but

there really is no other word! I’m sure once you’ve gone through the entire thing, your usage of this word will

take over your life!

F LIA LONTOC’S

ashownashownan

Ferowsh is in the air.

Can you feel it? No? I suggest you take a ride with Ecosoc’s very own belles de jour (TF sales is selling

planners, by the way).

I was fortunate enough to be granted a sit down with the three fiercest Ecosocers whom I’d like to call the

Ferowsh Council. They are Cyril “Caesar” Tablante, Alvar “Bruno” Santos, and Ralph “RiRi” Dantes. I asked

them what makes them so FF (fenomenally ferowsh). Kids, you might wanna take down some notes.

Hi! Thank you so much for taking the time to let me

interview you! So, how’s everyone doing?

Caesar: Yeah, you’re a lucky betch! Duh! I’m still still

ferowsh!

Bruno: I’m happy to be here on this fine day. I’m still

ferowsh as well teehee!

RiRi: Hey guuurrl! And to answer you question, I’m

ferowsh. Now and forever. Can I get an Amen?

OK. Glad to know, girlashes. First of all, I wanna know

what makes a person feeyurs.

Caesar: That’s such a hard queschen nemen! Well,

I’m fierce so I guess you’d have to become me.

Bruno: Bitch, please! Mas fierce ako sa’yo! Tabi nga

dyan!

RiRi: Such savages! How dare you put me in a room

with these two! I’m obviously above and beyond

these childish imbeciles! I AM THE VERY DEFINITION

OF FEROWSH. Can I get a hell yeah?

Woah woah woah! Kalm you tits, people! Echoes

believes that you are all equally ferowsh! You are all

beeyoutifull!

Anyway, what’s your beauty secret? Why are you so

ferowsh?

Caesar: I love boat shoes and bright red shirts! But

most importantly, it’s all in the attitude, hunneh!

Bruno: ‘Cos I know the difference between pumps

and stilettos! HAH! I ain’t your ordinary hipster

mhmmm.

43

RiRi: I may be black, but I am a clazzy one. Can I

get a whut whut?

Who, for you comes close to being ferowsh as you

are?

Caesar: Only one person comes to mind and that’s

DARRELL MAGSAMBOL. Pa-kiss ng luscious lips,

babe! Let’s make ferowsh babies!

Bruno: I’d say Famamfa. That bitch is classy as fuq!

RiRi: Gurl, NO ONE comes even remotely close to

my ferowshness. But if I really have to answer that

question, I’d say Rihanna! She’s black and proud!

Can I get a hallelloo?

One last question: what is one accessory you can

never be caught dead without?

Caesar: You know, you really have a problem with

paying attention! Like I said, my ferowsh attitude!

Bruno: My suppah ferwosh bonnet teehee!

RiRi: Nice bonnet, Bruno! What’s it made of?

Bruno: Yo mama’s chest hair!

RiRi: NICE!

Caesar: That is so fetch! (secretly whispers that it’s

the ugliest bonnet I’ve ever seen)

RiRi: I, for one, LOVE JUICE BOXES! Can I get a

snap snap?

That’s awesome! Thank you for answering all of my

questions. It’s been very uninformative and useless

to my readers.

Caesar: No problem, betch!

Bruno: Glad to be of no help!

RiRi: Anytime sistah! Can I get an AWWYEAAAAH?

And there you have it. Phew. I thought we weren’t gonna make it through the entire thing! Apparently, there’s a

thing as too much ferowshness. That’s probably the last time you’ll ever see those three in one room! Otherwise

they might explode of ferocity!

Well, that’s about it. Sorry for wasting your time.

À bientôt!

FEROWSH! FEROWSH! FEROWSH!

56

CULTURE

BY GAB SOLLANO

On a late Friday afternoon, our Echoes EIC, Horace

Cimafranca, approached me and asked me to write an

article for the next issue. I was hesitant at first because

articles don’t write themselves; they need to be written

by hand or by a computer. But our EIC was persistent

to make me, an ordinary man, become a writer and

write an article for this issue so here goes nothing.

THE JED

I had to have a topic, and fast. With the little time I had

left before departing the tambayan, I walked around

the room, searching for anything that would inspire

me. Then, it hit me, Jed Daval-Santos I mean. I stopped

and gazed at this majestic creature, and wondered

why no one had the decency of writing about him. But

my time was running out. I couldn’t observe him much

longer for my departure from the tambayan was immi-

nent. Yet much more research about him was required

so a plan of action quickly came into mind. Right then

and there, I decided that the only way I would learn

his craft was to spend a day of following him around

without him noticing me. The perfect stalk!

The following day, at 6 in the morning, I waited outside

his house in Kalookan to see what activities he does for

his daily routine. I longed to ring his doorbell but the

fear of being noticed would only compromise my posi-

tion, so I did not see any action upon arriving – only

after 8 hours of waiting outside did I see any action.

He stepped into his car and drove to a near mall. There,

he roamed around the mall. Like a hungry lion search-

ing for prey, he went store to store flirting with salesla-

dies. I did not know why he was doing this but being

the researcher that I am, I knew that I had to take down

notes about this phenomenon. Finally, he got one; he

got a discount from flirting with a saleslady. With this

power, he was able to buy a vintage t-shirt for only a

quarter of a thousand pesos. I was in awe of him. So

this was the secret of The Jed. He was able to attain

something unimaginable using only his charm.

Later, it was dinner time. He wanted to eat dinner but

he forgot to bring a date, so he called this one girl to

meet him in a certain exclusive restaurant. They ate

THE JEDASIANS

VS.

HOW RANDOM

45

They ate while I ate behind them. The girl kept laughing

at his jokes and she never removed the smile from her

face, even when chewing her food. I couldn’t believe it;

The Jed’s powers were far from what was told to me

by legend.

Soon, it ended and they went home. I followed the

girl going home but she denied from giving me an

interview since I lacked the proper ID to conduct any

interview. I wasn’t ready to give up just yet so I held her

hand but she pushed me and cursed me while going

inside her house and locking the door, and that ended

my night and my exploration of The Jed.

Still, it felt that it was lacking something. The Jed

was great but without a competitor, how would his

awesomeness show?

There was only one way to remedy this. I had to pin

him against two worthy rivals, and their names were

Louie Wee and Shinichi Ito.

I set up a one-on-one interview with both of them to

give me insights about what are the mythical powers

that the Chinese and the Japanese

have that would rival the powers

possessed by The Jed himself.

I had to cut their parts

short

since the space provided to me was insufficient but

here are the good parts of their interview.

Q: What is good about being Chinese/Japanese?

Louie: Well, everywhere you go, there is always a

Chinatown. I guess that’s because women always want

to stuff their mouths with a Chinese chorizo in the

middle of the night.

Shinichi: It is said that Japanese men are very

passionate about our work. When one asks Geisha if

they are more entertained with foreigners or locals and

all of them would answer that no one satisfies them

more than Japanese men.

Q: What’s your secret?

Louie: When I was young, I was a bit by a butterfly

on both eyes and it gave me the power of charm. I

could sweet talk my way through anything and there’s

nothing anyone can do about it. Of course, it came

with a price. Look at me, my eyes have become chinky

because of the bites but I’m not complaining.

Shinichi: Ancient folklore tells of a child descending

from the heavens to give happiness to a couple wanting

a child they could call their own. Today, Shinichi is

telling you that Shinichi is that child.

Q: What makes you better than The Jed?

Louie: The better question is ‘why is The Jed better

than me’? You know, it is still one of the greatest

mysteries of mankind ‘til today, and no one has dared

to answer it because it legend has it that it has the

ability to give you a stroke.

Shinichi: Physically, Shinichi is bigger, stronger and

more handsome than The Jed. You have dishonored

me by comparing me with him. (He walked out after.)

Now, if you feel a sudden urge to date one or all of

these men after reading this article, it is perfectly

normal. I cannot blame you for being persuaded

by how legendary Louie, Shinichi or Jed are or how

magnificent my writing style is, you decide but I think

the latter bears a greater weight on this matter.

Note: No one was harmed in the production of this

article. All facts mentioned may or may not be true.

Reader discretion is advised.JED WITH THE SALESLADIES

58

CULTURE

Where Are You (Natalie)

I’m staring out at the sky (I see you baby)

Praying that he will walk in my life

Where is the man of my dreams (right here) yea-yeah

I’ll wait forever, how silly it seems

Aww. single pa din, teh? Dumaan na naman ang

Valentine’s pero wala ka pa ring date. Ilang taon ka

na ding naghihintay na magkaroon ng tatawagin na

“Baby” or “Sweetheart”. Nag-college ka na at lahat

pero wala pa din. Okay lang ‘yan. Ikanta mo lang ‘yan.

Sa ngayon, mag daydreaming ka muna. Pag-isipan

ang mga katangian ng boyfriend na gusto mo. Yun

lang naman magagawa mo eh. Pero dapar umaksyon

ka na, dahil sa susunod, malamang Tanging Yaman na

kinakanta mo for life!

We Found Love in a Hopeless Place (Rihanna)

Yellow diamonds in the light

And we’re standing side by side

As your shadow crosses mine

What it takes to come alive.

It’s the way I’m feeling I just can’t deny

But I’ve gotta let it go

Landi mo teh! Habang pumaparty ka eh biglang may

nakatabi kang lalake. Gwapo. Matangkad. Mukhang

harmless. Lumapit ka sa kanya at naamoy mo na

ang bango bango nya. Perfect. Siya na nga. Siya ang

matagal mo ng hinihintay. Pumikit ka at nagpasalamat

sa Diyos na natagpuan mo na siya. Lumapit ka ulit, pilit

na nagpacute at nagpapansin hanggang sa kausapin

ka na niya. Pero kahit hindi, gora lang! Basta malakas

ang imagination!

STANDARD DEFINITIONA LIBERAL VIEW ON LIFE BY WOMEN, FOR WOMEN

A love songfor every girl lover BY ISSAY VILLANUEVA

47

Lovers and Friends (Usher)

Tell me again (Tell me again, my baby),

That we’ll be Lovers and Friends (Ohh, I gotta know,

baby, aw yeah)

“So kayo na ba?” yan ang palaging tanong sa’yo ng

mga kaibigan mo. “Hindi ah, friends lang kami”. Yan

naman ang parati mong sagot. Napaka showbiz mo

teh! Pero di nga, sa totoo lang naman talaga eh hindi

naman talaga kayo. Kung ako sayo teh, i-enjoy mo

lang ang moment na yan. Iyan ang pinakakilig sa lahat.

Palagi kayong magkatext. Sa bawat “good morning

:)” niya na text sayo ay napapatalon ka sa kilig. Pag

lumalabas kayo, palagi mong hinahantay na hawakan

na niya ang kamay mo. Haay. Trust us, ang stage na

yan ang pinakakilig.

Bonnie and Clyde (Beyoncé, Jay-Z)

[Jay] All I need in this life of sin, is me and my girlfriend.

[Beyoncé] Down to ride ‘til the very end, it’s me and

my boyfriend.

It’s official. Kayo na talaga. “Me and you against the

world” Aww. Finally may tatawagin ka ng “baby”.

May nagtetext na sayo araw araw, every minute,

every second. At sa wala na kayong mapagusapan,

nagtatanungan nalang kayo ng useless questions like

“Babe, ‘pag ang langaw pumatong sa kalabaw langaw

pa rin?” every 10 minutes. Aww. Kilig. I’m happy for you.

Bump N’ Grind (R.Kelly)

My mind is tellin me no but my body my body’s tellin’

me yes

I don’t see nothing wrong with a little bump and grind

See I know just what you want and I know just what

you need girl

So baby bring your body to me

Ito na naman tayo sa rape culture eh! Alam kong

may mga araw na pareho ninyong ‘di matiis, pero

mas lalo siyang ‘di makatiis! Parehas kayong nag-iinit

ang katawan, pero mas umiinit ang kanya! At hindi

‘to lagnat teh! Hindi ‘to kaya ng Tempra! Pero dito

sa Echoes ay hindi namin ineencourage ‘yan, at least

yung hindi safe, informed at consensual. Paki-basa ang

previous release para di ka madáli gurl! But if you’re a

tigress, go lang! But don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Goodbye To You (Michelle Branch)

Goodbye to everything I thought I knew

You were the one I loved

The one thing that I tried to hold on to

At biglang break. Ilang months din kayo. Pero ganoon

talaga. Sabi sayo magpakasaya ka na nung lovers and

friends pa kayo eh. Talagang mag aaway din kayo at

mag-be-break. Sino ba naman hindi, eh palagi kayong

magkasama at magkausap. Okay lang yan. The pain

will pass. Pero sayang, sana nagpabili ka man lang ng

baong bag bago kayo nagbreak.

I Will Survive (Gloria Gaynor)

Go on now go walk out the door

just turn around now

‘cause you’re not welcome anymore

Bitter ka teh? Ganyan talaga pag unang heartbreak.

Pero tama yan. Magpaka strong ka. Pakalasing ka,

ikain mo, manood ka ng pang-hapong drama kung

saan nag-rereminisce lang ang bida for 30 minutes o

kahit ano para lang makamove on lang. Kung kailangan

magpaka-bitter eh keri lang din. Balikan mo nalang

yung unang kanta at hintayin ang prince charming mo.

Most importantly, always be happy.

Photo by GJ Agregado

60 Echoes.PH

Gossip G.CULTURE

Spotted!Just when everybody thought that the members’ logbook couldn’t get any more boring this semester, we find a long piece of literature oozing with controversy! Ooh, no clues now, honey. We don’t want to be blamed for treason. How about we just talk about who wrote it? It was anonymously written anyway. Hmm, you think those in the zone would know?

EavesdroppedIt’s a pity that one committee seem to be in shambles! Well, at least that’s what we’re hearing straight from its directors! From an inactive publicity team to a hullabaloo of dilemmas, they just seem to be out of luck! Don’t worry, people! Just put your best feet forward and hold on. We know you’re trying to do your best. Well, at least some of you.

Spotted!Dirty politics is indeed dirty. Rumor has it that the SE council is abuzz with confrontations and apprehensions all because of a certain candidate mudslinging his election foe! Yes, he and his opponent are both Ecosocers. Allegedly, a member of the electoral board even had to resign to support the poor foe who was backbit, also allegedly, during every campaign opportunity by this mudslinger! I even heard that this mudslinger left early from the council meeting only to be found in the atrium doing his campaign! Tsk tsk tsk. Better clean up your act if that is true!

Eavesdropped

Spotted!Did you miss Minerva? Well, it seems like she’s off to a long journey away from the tambayan! Her kids were thrown out a few months ago and now she’s on a search rampage. Isn’t it a bit too late, honey? I’m sure your kitties are just around. But that doesn’t stop there. I heard she’s coming back for vengeance so you better watch out for those little pellets of fury! You might just be sitting on one of them.

49

Echoes.PH