Streets Of MNL

Street culture in manila and more

[mastarafaa]

Hello, Sem Break!

Yay! It is this time of the year again, the end of the first school semester. A lot of Tams are occupied in their own different ways; A lot are still busy with cramming and completing their finals requirements, some are completing their Community Service Hours before the approaching semester’s enrollment, while some are already chilling, planning for their out-of-town vacations with block mates and friends. To whom among these can you relate with at the moment? What is the first thing that you are planning to do once the school season ends? While a lot of fellow Tams are currently engaged with their own plans in maximizing the short break from school, some are sad because they aren’t sure yet if they will be able to return next semester due to the high tuition fee.

Regardless of your current situation, take time to recall all of the things you’ve learned inside the campus; may it be through academe, experiences or the people you’ve dealt with for the past four months. Ask yourself these questions: “What are the things I’ve learned this Sem?”, “Did I do my best in all my tasks?”, “Have I been better this sem than I was last year?”, “Have I grown to be a better student or as an individual now?” Then try to grab a little notebook to jot down the lessons you’ve learned the most that you believe could help you be a better person.

Then there goes the break from all the stress you’ve handled for months! Plan it out, soul-search, take a break! Go to the beach, hike on mountains, meet old friends, treat yourself a few shots of liquor or you could simply stay at home and have a moment on your couch and see that TV shows and movies you have always wanted to watch. It’s up to you!

[mastarafaa]

FEU law school slug it out in moot court competition

Fourteen law schools from across the country will vie for the top spot in the National Moot Court Competition on International Humanitarian Law starting today until October 24, 2014.

The participating law schools for 2014 are Adamson University, Ateneo de Manila University, CorJesu College, De La Salle University, Far Eastern University, Lyceum of the Philippines, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, San Beda College, Silliman University, Southwestern University, St. Louis University, University of Batangas, University of the Philippines, University of St. La Salle.

The annual competition, the largest of its kind in the country, this year jointly organized by the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and the Court of Appeals, as part of efforts to promote awareness of international humanitarian law in the academe, will be hosted for the first time by San Beda College of Law which won last year’s contest.

“It is of utmost importance that the largest possible number of our countrymen are aware of the significance of International Humanitarian Law, a body of law that seeks to limit, for humanitarian reasons, the effects of war,” explains Philippine Red Cross secretary general Gwendolyn Pang.“It is through engaging in competitions such as this that we sharpen the knowledge of future legal practitioners and may increase exponentially the interest in the field of IHL in the academe.”

[mastarafaa]

PH: 8th in ‘Best in Travel 2015’ list by Lonely Planet

The Philippines ranked eighth in the yearly "Best in Travel - Countries" list by travel magazine and website Lonely Planet.

  Describing the Philippines' placement as "well overdue," Lonely Planet praised the country's coral reefs, coastlines, and "sunbathe-ready white sand."

  It also noted the Philippines' love of street parades, food festivals, and live musical events, which gave the country a "cabaret atmosphere" almost every night.

  Lonely Planet cited the country's breakneck jeepney rides and love of fads and the supernatural as experiences tourists must have in the tropical country.

  Other countries in the "Best in Travel" list include:

  1. Singapore

2. Namibia

3. Lithuania

4. Nicaragua

5. Ireland

6. Republic of Congo

7. Serbia

9. St. Lucia

10. Morocco

[mastarafaa]

How do the corrupt sleep at night?

Very soundly, secure in the knowledge that they have way more than they need, and that their children never have to work a day in their lives - unless it is to continue the family business.

Or if they can't sleep, they can console themselves that in their antique sleigh beds, king-size mattresses, 1,200-thread count sheets and pillows stuffed with the feathers of virgin geese; their insomnia is more comfortable than most people's sleep.

And they can always take sleeping pills. Yes, research suggests that anti-anxiety medications prescribed to help people sleep cause Alzheimer's disease, but this might even be to their advantage. When they get hauled in front of a Senate panel to explain how they can buy entire towns on their declared incomes, they can reply that they don't remember.

Perhaps the investigations into corruption are going about it the wrong way. They assume that the corrupt know the difference between right and wrong.

The problem with moral standards based on religious belief is that they are enforced through fear. "If you sin, you will be punished." Instead of doing the right thing because it is our responsibility as human beings to be decent to each other, we do the right thing because we're afraid we will be punished if we don't.

Besides, the corrupt may argue, how can their actions be wrong when everyone is doing it? Selective justice is not justice. They can claim that they were "forced" to take the money; they could not say no, lest they incur the ire (which can be murderous) of their colleagues. If they don't take it, someone else would, so it might as well be them. In their minds, everyone is a good guy.

In many ways our culture is still in the tribal stages, so elected officials may see themselves as the big kahunas of their tribes. As big kahunas, they consider themselves entitled to dip into the public coffers. In fact they do not distinguish between private funds and public money. And their tribe agrees it is the big kahuna's right to take the money, as long as he or she  will "take care" of the tribe, i.e. give them handouts for their children's education, their medical expenses, weddings, birthdays and funerals. Thus the system perpetuates itself.

And let's not forget that in our culture, the highest value is Family. It overrides all questions of right or wrong. Any act, be it small-scale larceny or large-scale plunder, is justified if one does it "for my family." Family is so sacred, one is expected to sacrifice his soul for their benefit.

Besides, as they say in show business - one of the surest launching pads for political careers - "Good or bad publicity, it's still publicity." A politician could stink of stolen money and rotting corpses, but he or she will still appear in society columns, trendy events and fashionable occasions. No one will refuse to speak to them because "We're all friends here, smile everybody, and now, a wacky pose!" Everyone will still go to their parties. The greatest horror in these screwy times is to be a social outcast.

So do not wonder about the sleeping habits of the corrupt. They sleep soundly at night, because they think they will get away with it.

[mastarafaa]

UAAP season 77 semi-finals

De La Salle beat Far Eastern University for the first time this season to avoid elimination.

Jeron Teng redeemed himself from a low performance last Sunday with 25 points as the Green Archers came away with a 94-73 against the second-seeded Tamaraws in the UAAP Season 77 men’s basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Forward Mac Belo owned the bright spot for the Tamaraws as he scored a game-high 32 points in 29 minutes.

Mike Tolomia, who had 19 points the last time the two teams met, scored just seven points and shot only 2-of-14 from the field. The FEU guard played 32 minutes and failed to score the whole second half

Both do-or-die games will be on Wednesday with Ateneo taking on National University at 2 p.m. while La Salle and FEU clash at 6 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

[mastarafaa]

Bulldogs chews up the Brave Tamaraws

Taking a look, it is a given and a known fact that the finals of every UAAP season always end up with the rivalry of Ateneo and La Salle which had been appearing alternately since 1987. But the UAAP Season 77 Finals ended up with the Morayta based basketball team of Far Eastern University and the now heard National University. Onto the Finals, FEU knocks out Last year's champion La Salle, with the final score of 67-64, in favor of the Morayta-based cagers. While NU knocks out Ateneo with the score of 65-63. According to FEU coach Nash Racela, “No Ateneo or La Salle in finals is 'best thing to happen to UAAP’.” With the way the series has gone, as intriguing as the final outcome of the much-awaited title showdown is the battle for supremacy, not as the usual battle of shaded university name between Ateneo and La Salle. As people may say, FEU-NU tandem on finals has ended the “conyo” basketball, and made Season 77 as a battle of a real basketball match. Season 77 also made Record-breaking crowd larger than cheer dance competition. The victory ended NU’s 60-year championship drought. The Bulldogs bagged the championship only for the second time in their school’s history, beating the Tamaraws, 75-59, in Game 3 of their do-or-die match. They made history, they may not be our team, but they truly deserve the title. And to my dear FEU-MBT, you still made us proud this year. We know you'll be back, stronger. Wounded, hurt, bruised, disappointed and all but we will still continue the fight. That's what the Braves do anyway.

[mastarafaa]

FEU’s Senior men basketball team lose to NU

After so long of waiting for a shot at the championship. National University Bulldogs succeeded as the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 77 Men’s Basketball Champions after dismantling Far Eastern University Tamaraws, 75-59, in Game 3 of the Finals Wednesday afternoon at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

  The Bulldogs gain some confidence and momentum after also winning the second game of the finals to pound the Tamaraws in the second half and never looked back. After three quarters, the bulldogs have a commanding 55-43 over the Tamaraws.

  Alfred Aroga opened the last quarter with an and-1 extending the lead to 14, 58-44. FEU tried to fight back and in the 4:13 they were both exchanging buckets with NU. But with consecutive missed field goals, a bunch of cheap fouls and time is getting a factor plus the tenacious performance of the Bulldogs, FEU’s vision of winning a championship started to fade away as Bulldogs forward Glenn Khobuntin nailed the dagger jump shot, 70-54, giving the NU their first taste of championship after almost sex decades.

   Aroga was the Finals’ Most Valuable Player getting a double-double performance, scoring 24 points and grabbing down 18 rebounds. Gelo Alolino adds 12 points while Glenn Khobuntin and Rodolfo Alejandro chipped in 10. Mike Tolomia scored 23 points while Mac Belo added 17 points and 13 boards for the Tamaraws in a losing effort.

  It was a bad shooting night for the Tamaraws, hitting 24 out of 78 shots or 30.77 field goal percentage compared to a better offensive output of the Bulldogs 28 out of 63 or 44.44 percent from the field. The Tams also have 24 fouls, including three unsportsmanlike fouls that gave up 15 made free throws to NU.

[mastarafaa]

Through each camera

All you student filmmakers still have time to shine again. Sinepiyu x Video Open submission of entries is extended until October 8!

The FEU Video Open Competition is open to all duly-enrolled college students in Metro Manila. Participation in the festival is open to digital short-feature narratives only. One entry per person only. A group member of one production team cannot join another group. To be eligible for participation, films must be produced 2014 onwards and must fulfil the following conditions:

Has not been exhibited commercially, locally or internationally. Any screening that involves ticket selling shall be considered a public exhibition.

Running time including credits:

- Narrative (not more than 20 minutes of length)

Must not have been exhibited as an entry in prior local festivals.

Entries must be submitted in a short brown envelope labelled outside with the TITLE, PRODUCTION STAFF NAMES and TOTAL RUNNING TIME.

And must include the following:

A one-page synopsis of the film

2 pieces of 5”x7” film stills (printed AND soft copy, in .jpeg format, may be in color or black & white)

Official trailer in DVD or CD format (less than 1 minute)

Publicity materials (posters)

One registration form per entry.

Duly accomplished films may be submitted at our drop box at the Department of Communication, 2nd Floor, Arts Building, Far Eastern University-Manila. Violations of the rules of eligibility for participants will constitute a valid ground for disqualification.

          There will be a screening of all entries at the FEU Mini Auditorium at the Tech Building and at the University Conference Center of FEU at the Arts Building as a part of Sinepiyu x Video Open on October 16 -17, 2014 from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. The awarding ceremony will be on October 18 at 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (subject to change).

          The Department of Communication and the FEU Film Society will retain ownership of all copies of submitted entries. The FEU Film Society will also have the right to exhibit the entry in subsequent FEU Video Opens and other related events. Set your cameras ready and keep on making malikhaing pelikulang Pilipino mga filmmakers!

[mastarafaa]

Dilemmas of Being a Young Adult

Life as a young adult is full of pressures - first, you aim to finish your studies and gain your college degree. Some people might easily say how easy that is, as you'll only need to attend school and be a student but truth is, it is not as simple as it seems to be. What really hardens the air you breathe is life's contemplations itself about the path you are heading to - Like "Where am I going to be after school?"," Am I going to be on the field I have studied for a couple of years?" Then there's "Will I have a reasonable paycheck afterwards?"  Those are some of the questions a student usually bumps into during his/her college life.

            I remember when I first stepped my foot on this university as a Mass Communication student, I thought everything would be easy. I thought that I’d just need to stay in the university for four years then everything else would go as smooth as silk – like it’d really be just four years, the job would find its way to me after graduation and that this would be easy. “This is fun!” I uttered to myself. It was easy to cut classes, go to the mall anytime and what else could go wrong? But no, college introduced itself to me from the very first semester of my stay. I have tasted failing marks and had to be on probation for the next semester and really made my parents down. That is when it struck me, college is no high school.

            Just when I thought that that’d be it, more troubles piled up against me: economy’s unstableness hit us and that is when I’ve learned that I needed to stop my studies and face the real world with my very own eyes. I’ve got myself a job in a call center as I wouldn’t be able to continue my studies yet. At first, I thought that “This is really great! I get to own money I wasn’t able to spend before!” and yes, I’ve spent all the money I’ve worked for to this and that. No savings. I’ve had nothing left with me except from the experience and lessons learned.

            I’ve returned to school and the feeling wasn’t the same anymore. Sea of unfamiliar faces, their age is not the same as yours and there are things they do that annoy you because you see your old self on them. Some unexplainable pain from the inside eats you up, as you see your old batch mates started out dealing with the real world – some entered the corporate world, a few planned to build their own families already and they are happy. I got confusion all over me; I wasn’t sure if I still like the course I am pursuing, or the school I am attending. Maybe I don’t like to continue my studies anymore and be practical so I might just continue working again even without a degree. It is a tough one, I tell you.

But, does it really matter? Clocks tic-toc and calendars flip so fast. Time is running and we are not getting any younger. Being a kid is over, it only happens once. We have to pattern our decisions with our age. And this is where life introduced its real meaning to me: whatever step I’d make, wherever my feet wander, it is all up to me. In the end, we should live our own lives. We encounter mistakes, problems and we regret afterwards but we move forward and be happy that life teaches us. A meaningful life is one that you’ve lived with courage and enjoy. Nobody can tell you the right way how to live it correctly but yourself. 

[mastarafaa]

Is Competitive E-sport Gaming affects your kid?

June 24, 2014 a $10milion competitive gaming was held in Key Arena Seattle Washington D.C, this event includes social and wide spread gaming around the world. And this game is Dota 2(Defense of the ancients), it shaped the world gaming by its unique type of gameplay. The game will be a 5 vs. 5 gameplay one team will play the RADIANT side while the other is the DIRE side. Each team has one specific objective to destroy their Tree of Life (Radiant Side) as well the Dire Stone (Dire). And for the next 15 to 60 minutes of gameplay, you’ll need to outwit and out farm your enemy lane. You will see it as a childish game. But in many countries such as Europe, North America, Asia and specially here in the Philippines. This game is seriously  played mostly by 10-35 years old. But incidents happen last September 12, 2013. A 13 year old boy from Q.C carelessly stabbed his Grandmother to death for interrupting his dota2 match. And another incident happens in Manila a 16 year old boy killed his friend for hacking his dota2 account. Because of the popularity of dota2, kids these days look at dota2 not just a past time gaming but a professional sport. No matter what you think about the game but for the eyes of the people who play dota2. They think that it is the game that can’t be played by not just a simple gamer, But a professional gamer.

[mastarafaa]

Streets Of MNL

             What do we see on the streets of manila? The frequent traffic jams caused by smoke velching jeepneys trying to get one passenger to ride the PUV, students smoking cigarettes that look like they have all the time in the world to suck on a tobacco stick, Street foods that looks and smells so good you want to eat everything you see although on the back of your mind you know it’s not just dirty due to pollution but also been hand made by the vendors who sell it and is shared by every patron of each store, suspicious men lurking on the side streets looking for their latest victim, street children that would grab you for money or food then curse you when you refuse to give them anything and lastly garbage, everywhere.

              Manila – the capital of the Philippines looks like this, maybe even worse, but through all this negative comments and observations, manila is still one of the most accurate representation of life. Let’s try to look at things differently; most universities are located in manila, wherein students get a taste of what it will be after graduating and becoming a professional. FEU(far eastern university) in particular is in the heart of manila, wherein every walk of life meets and walk  side by side. This becomes a major factor that affects the students’ perception towards life, being frequently exposed in the negative part of life; one can easily appreciate even the slightest “good” in anything he or she interacts with. Students become more versatile, more intuitive and critical, they evolve.

              Manila, a dirty and polluted place is still the best training ground for Filipinos, where they can test themselves, learn and understand others, and appreciate life even in the most undesirable place in our country, And also, wherever in manila you are, you will always see someone smiling, making us remember the joy of being part manileno.

[mastarafaa]

Cinematic Views of Mass Communication students

October 16. 2014, another great event happened in Feu Arts Building. And all of them screaming for “ MANOOD KAYO NG FILM NAMIN AH!” Sinepiyu Video open. An event that caters Feu Mass communication Students creating seven to fifteen minutes of film that will showcase their work of art in a room that consists of students in every school. it is a fun day especially in mass comm society. All film makers and lovers are invited to watch the art of Feu Mass Comm students. And despite of all challenges they encountered, still they made films, a work of art. Films that are family oriented and are a good contribution to the society. Stories that can be told not only today but for the other Mass Comm generations as well. It is very hard to create art, students appreciates the hardship of creating a film. From getting the locations through casting the characters and right production sets until the nightmare of every film makers that can happen to their lives. Re shoot of the film, but everything is worth it until they watched it on the big screen and looked at their faces smiling.  we can see the faces of our fellow students while watching every other film. Always getting questions on how they done it.

[mastarafaa]

YEY! BOMB THREAT!

July 31, 2014-One of the most memorable holiday in FEU, around 11:30 am, students, professors and staff were forced to leave the premises of FEU Manila and FEU Tech due to a suspected bomb threat. 

It is natural for the students to celebrate whenever there has no classes or suspensions of classes are announced. Experiencing this kind of situations, most of the students do not feel fear or panic; instead in a situation that can harm their lives they focus more on the suspension of classes. Many celebrated and start shouting “BOMB THREAT! WALANG PASOK!!!” like they won or pass the exams. If the Bomb Threat is real or not, students in FEU don’t give a shit.  Even if it will kill them, as long as they don’t have a class or they will not be meeting their terror professor or their pabida classmates. They don’t even think that it may harm them mentally. Every time that the school is announcing the suspension of classes. We are experiencing the lack of Education; it is bad for the students especially when they will work in field next year. That is why the school is conducting make- up classes for the students to catch up on the lessons they missed. Naturally, instead of going home and study so that the day will not be wasted in a failed Bomb threat, Students go in places like malls to have fun and chill rather than saving their allowances for the next day. For now Bomb threats are like blessings in disguise for the students and they see it as an excuse for them to escape the world of education.

[mastarafaa]

Another Expensive Term has ended.

The first semester of this year nearly ends for Far Eastern University and the students are beginning to settle their unpaid and unsettled tuition fees, community services and offenses to be able to enroll for the next term.

College education has a great impact in our lives. But to gain that opportunity you must have the requirements and resources to attain that kind of opportunity. In a university like FEU, a Non Sectarian School, You must have money of at least 100,000 pesos per semester to support your needs for studying in this kind of school. But some students of FEU does not have the enough resources thus, they experience  financial difficulties.

We heard some problems that each student is typically crying out. “ SOBRANG MAHAL MAG ARAL” “ WALA PANG PERA SILA PAPA MAMA” “PAANO AKO SA NEXT SEM?” “ TITIGIL NALANG  MUNA SIGURO AKO” . To the other students, they don’t give enough attention to their fellow Tams. But for us it is very alarming matter especially when another Student will be forced to stop his/her College education because of financial shortage and instead they start working in a fast food establishment or call center companies to gain money to continue their academic degree. Nowadays, students who work for their college education has been experiencing lack of interest in going to school. Others are lucky for not having this kind of problem, so we better study hard and make every time worth spending in education.

[mastarafaa]

DISCRIMINATION HURTS.

[mastarafaa]

FEU theater guild: “Makikitawag lang ako”

Last October 5, The FEU tamaraws faced the NU bulldogs for the second game of the season 77 UAAP men’s basketball finals. FEU lost the game that night, but some of the students who stayed in the campus witnessed something to be proud of despite losing against NU bulldogs.

                The stage play “makikitawag lang ako” directed by Eduard “Dudz” teraña despite being scheduled the same day as game 2 of the UAAP men’s basketball finals received attention not only to the FEU students but also to students of other universities, in fact that night, the auditorium is full of students who came from other schools and some of our own. The play which is about the sanity of the main characters “saturno” and “Maria” and their struggles to reach each other to convey their feelings was a success and well applauded. Many tamaraws was disappointed to have missed the play due to the finals game and is was wondering if there would be a reschedule for the stage play.

                The FEU theater guild have always produced plays that captured the interest of the university students due to their deep yet realistic portrayals of different circumstances in life.

[mastarafaa]

UAAP season 77 finals game 3: who will take it all?

When I look at the UAAP Season 77 Finals, I think the match-up between FEU and NU is one of the best things to happen to the league. Breaking the chain of championships by La Salle and Ateneo in winning the tournament. And this finals is also one of the most sought after finals in the leagues history.

National University, After losing in the last season despite their twice-to-beat advantage towards the UST growling tigers, some students from the school felt that coach Eric Altamirano should be replaced as head coach after their team was pushed around easily by the tigers.

After being purchased by Henry Sy, the National University drastically changed. The facilities were replaced and the new curriculum brought in a newer student circle. The strides made in facilities, the education and athletics have given the students something they can be proud of.

The immediate surrounding areas have all been cleaned up. The front of the school is now home to sandwich and coffee shops.

 Not too far from NU is Morayta, which means Far eastern University in U-belt. Our school has the benefit of having sound educators improve the quality of their education like the former Department of Education’s Culture and Sports Secretary Edilberto De Jesus and the likes. Our campus has also grown drastically and is still being developed to provide a better university for the students.

 The tamaraws have always been very good at sports. But more so since they let Mark Molina head a program which in turn brought smart managers like Vince Santos who is best at the country at the moment developed the tamaraws football program. The Tamaraws looked imperious after the first round of play of Season 76. But this being FEU, everyone waited for them to collapse and they did no one favors by doing so. When some players physically fought among each other leading up to the Final Four everyone already knew that even before the game was played they had come undone. The Tamaraws began to play as a team during last season's Champions League, where the ball was whipping around like crazy and players were getting their touches and buckets. The no-star system clearly worked for them. Sure, head coach Nash Racela had to get it out of Mike Tolomia to be the ultimate playmaker - one capable of creating for teammates and scoring huge buckets - instead of looking to shoot first and shoot again later. The team of role players, from Carl Cruz to Roger Pogoy to Achi Iñigo, have all come up huge. Anthony Hargrove, when he is talking and closing that lane, has been very effective. Plus his passing is so underrated.

It was always either Ateneo and La Salle or both appearing in the finals since 1987. In that time too, another little known fact is for another team to win the title, they had to beat one of those two schools in convincing fashion to wrap up the crown for themselves.

FEU took down La Salle while NU reversed last season's miscues by edging Ateneo in two games. So where does that leave us? Game Three.

One team will go home a winner after Tommorow. But in reality, the entire league wins.