UP PEP SQUAD GRABS 8TH CHEER DANCE TITLE WITH “FREEDOM” ROUTINE
The UP Pep Squad paid homage to UP’s iconic Oblation statue with this pose during the UAAP Cheerdance Competition at the SM Mall of Asia Arena Saturday. With its third consecutive win, UP is now tied with UST for having the most number of cheerdance trophies. (Photo by Michelle Angelica Soriano)
by Yski Rualo
The shaven-headed Pep Squad now ties with UST for having the most number of CDC championships. The championship trophy also marks UP’s fifth title in six years.
Despite a major fall during the finale, the routine’s creativity, technicality, and level of difficulty carried the UP Pep Squad all the way to the top spot.
“Siyempre nakaka-dishearten ‘yung fall pero I think we remained strong. Parang kumapit lang kami sa idea na kaya naming manalo [dahil sa] difficulty [ng] stunts,” said former co-captain Laurence Bautista.
For the first time in the history of the UAAP CDC, the judges ranked the squads from first to eighth instead of giving them numerical scores.
The Far Eastern University Cheering Squad attained its tenth consecutive top three finish as it placed second. Ranking third is the host team, the National University Pep Squad, surprising the audience with its first top three finish.
For the second consecutive year, eight-time champion University of Santo Tomas Salinggawi Dance Troupe failed to make it into the top three.
In front of a record crowd of 19,509, the UP Pep Squad went three-for-three in Cheer dance festivities for the second straight year – also retaining the Group Stunts crown and the Samsung UAAP Stunner award.
Going back-to-back since the category was introduced in the 2011 UAAP Cheer dance Competition, UP bested five other teams to bag the Group Stunts title. FEU and NU placed as the first runner-up and second runner-up, respectively.
Nicolette Erika Ambulo, meanwhile, bested two other finalists from UST and DLSU for the special UAAP Cheerdance Stunner Award.
Coach Lalaine Pereña of the UP Pep Squad dubbed this past year as their “most difficult year” and “most difficult time spent preparing for a competition”.
“In achieving honor and excellence, all of us are given freedom to be able to serve the University and sacrifice in any way we can para mapakita namin kung paano kami ka-proud at ka-privileged to be a UP student or a UP professor,” said Coach Pereña.
Contrary to initial reports, Coach Pereña clarified that although their original plan was to donate their hair to cancer patients, they were unable to do so because their hair was deemed too short to qualify for donating.
MAROONS STILL UNABLE TO CONVERT AT CRUNCHTIME, LOSES ANEW TO ARCHERS
UP’s Henry Asilum tries to drive past DLSU Guard Almond Vosotros in the UAAP Men’s Basketball Tournament at the MOA Arena, Sept. 6. He fueled a 14-4 run in the 3rd quarter but still suffered a 76-69 on Vosotros’ explosive fourth quarter. (Photo by Jon Benedik Bunquin)
by Edison Ubaldo
Vostros scored all but three markers in a decisive 14-4 run in the fourth quarter that turned a slim 55-54 edge into a comfortable 69-58 cushion with less than five minutes left. He was 3-of-6 from rainbow country and 4-of-5 from the stripe.
“It’s a tough win for us,” said DLSU Head Coach Gee Abanilla. “Their (UP) record really doesn’t show the way they’ve been playing.”
UP had an had an early 4-0 lead in the opening canto but the response was quick as DLSU center Norberto Torres scored six straight unanswered points en route to a 10-4 gap with still 5:17 to play.
The Archers managed to extend the lead to nine, 43-34, on rookie Jeron Teng’s onslaught but Maroons’ center, Raul Soyud, fired a jumper that sparked a 14-2 blast capped by forward Paolo Romero’s shot from down low to seize the lead at 48-45 going into the last four minutes of the first half.
But that would be as far as they go with the rampaging Archers triggering a 9-0 blitz on Vosotros and forward Jovet Mendoza’s heroics. Maroon guard Jett Manuel broke the dry spell via a lay-up with the clock winding but still trailed 50-54 entering the final canto.
It was then all Vosotros’ show negating UP skipper Mike Silungan’s 12-point fourth quarter explosion.
Teng and Torres supplemented Vosotros’ performance by contributing 19 and 13 points respectively.
Manuel, who played a key role in UP’s scoring runs, finished with 12 points on 5-of-5 free throw shooting while co-skipper Mark Lopez added 10 points.
The Fighting Maroons forced the Green Archers to 17 turnovers, against their 10, and scoring 24 points off those, versus DLSU’s seven points. But UP was outrebounded, 49-33, giving La Salle more looks on the scoreboard.
At the bottom of the standings with a 1-11 win-loss card, UP will face second-ranked University of Santo Tomas on Saturday, 2 pm at the MOA Arena.
“I think the first two losses really hurt their morale, because their players are not the type to go down easily,” said UST coach Noli Cajefe about UP.
The first singles match between UP’s freshman Miguel Leonardo and UST senior Salvador Capunan was a foreshadowing of UP’s play for the rest of the day.
Leonardo started out strong, winning the first five points with aggressive play.
At 5-0, Capunan then snagged his first point with a killer smash, along with the momentum of the game. Leonardo’s aggressive play started betraying him, as errors started to creep in, bringing them to 14 all.
The two of them traded faults until 20 all, when Leonardo hit a smash that Capunan dove for, but could not retrieve. A controversial call turned the point into a let, with Capunan complaining that he slid because of the wet court. Leonardo then netted the next two points to give the first set to Capunan, 20-22.
It all went downhill for UP from there as Leonardo’s attempts to hit winners brought out 19 faults, easily handing the match to Capunan, 20-22, 14-22.
Next up was Maroon Ethan Malelang against Tiger RJ Ormilla, another rookie versus veteran match up, that mirrored the first. Perhaps it was nerves, but Malelang, like Leonardo, put up a good fight but ended up giving the match away, 16-21, 16-21, committing 31 faults in two sets.
“I think it was experience that helped UST to win,” said UP Coach Vic Asuncion. “Most of their players are seniors while most our players are freshmen. UST really managed to pull through when it came to the big points.”
As the doubles went underway, the Maroons tried to regain some footing as the first doubles team consisting of Gian Manuel and John Masungsong traded winners with UST’s Paul John Pantig and Benjud Cajefe, who is the brother of the UST coach.
Unfortunately for UP, the steady stream of winners coming from the UST team overpowered theirs, which had turned into errors at the end of each set, losing 16-21, 17-21.
The second UP doubles team of Malelang and Roberto Pineda could not do much against the combined experience of Ormilla and Capunan. The UST team clearly showcased their experience as they won their last two points by hitting defensive clear shots to tire out the UP team into faulting, winning UST the match, 15-21, 15-21.
A final effort from UP’s senior Charlo Tengco was still not enough to assuage UST’s momentum as he succumbed into the hands of the lively Benjud Cajefe, who cartwheeled out of a dive and made faces as he almost hit the net during the game. DespiteTengco’s great effort, he lost the match 21-23, 18-21.
The Maroons bowed out of their bid for a final four spot with 2-5 win-loss card.
UP Guard Mike Gamboa drivies past the defense of UE’s Gene Belleza. UP lost the game to UE Sunday after a buzzer beater from UE’s Chris Javier.”(Photo by Michelle Angelica Soriano)
by JM Espiritu
Javier shot the first ever triple of his career off of the corner from an assist by Roi Sumang to inch the University of the East Red Warriors past the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, 79-76, ending their nail-biter UAAP second round match-up Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
“Ang thinking ko nun i-shoot e. Kasi dying seconds. So kumpyansa, kumpyansa lang sa shot,”said the San Beda high-school standout, who unleashed 20 points, along with nine rebounds and a block.
UE was first out of the gates, racing to eight points before UP could answer back three minutes into the first quarter. The Diliman-based squad shook off their slow start to gain a three point lead, 40-37, halfway through the game.
The Maroons however lost grip of the lead, as the Warriors forced a deadlock three minutes into the third quarter and slipped past the Maroons to enter the fourth quarter with a 58-68 cushion.
UP clawed their way back to tie the game at 76-all with three minutes remaining in the fourth canto.
With 36 seconds left and UP in possession of the ball, Mike Gamboa missed a crucial three-pointer. UE’s Guard Sumang grabbed the ball and let the clock wind down before taking a gamble on a pass to Javier, whose buzzer beater put the final nail in the coffin for UP.
“Actually, we were hoping to go for the drive but we were unable to do so because of the defense of UE, so we went with the three-pointer,” said UP assistant coach Jay Futalan when asked about UP’s endgame fluke.
Man of the game Javier and usual go-to guy Sumang finished the game with 20 points apiece for the Warriors, while Adrian Santos registered 10 markers of his own.
Maroon team captain Mike Silungan, Chris Ball and Alvin Padilla capped off the game with 16, 14 and 12 points respectively.
Meanwhile, UE forward Jai Flores was ejected from the game after punching UP’s Alvin Padilla in the third quarter.
Maroons’ team captain edges past Ateneo’s Nico Salva in Saturday’s UAAP main match. (Photo by Jon Benedik Bunquin)
by Yski Rualo
The University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons lost the Battle of Katipunan yet again as they were thwarted by the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles.
Despite the absence of their perimeter shooting, the Eagles leaned on their interior dominance over the Maroons to post a 73-66 victory in the second round of the UAAP Men’s Basketball tournament, Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
“We really struggled today with our outside shots. UP’s defense today was solid,” Ateneo coach Norman Black said.
Going 0-for-5 from three-point territory, Ateneo got a huge boost from the free throw stripe – making 21-out-of 32 charities. On the other hand, UP went 3-for-19 from behind the arc, to go along with their 13-for-19 performance from the line.
Combo guard Kiefer Ravena paced the Eagles with 21 points and five rebounds. Forward Nico Salva scored 10 markers and grabbed eight boards while center Greg Slaughter tallied just nine points to go with his 13 rebounds and four blocks.
Big man Raul Soyud led the Maroons with 14 markers and three rebounds. Team captain Mike Silungan contributed 13 points, nine off three-pointers. Guards Henry Asilum and Mark Lopez added a combined 18 points and nine rebounds.
By the halftime mark, the Maroons built a narrow lead, 34-32. UP owned the perimeter, scoring 22 against the Eagles’ two, while Ateneo dominated the paint, scoring 26 against the Maroons’ 10.
Ravena’s and-one play, at the 7:05 mark of the third quarter, allowed Ateneo to regain the lead, 37-36.
At the 1:11 mark of the third canto, Ateneo capitalized on UP’s technical foul to increase their advantage, 53-44. During the quarter, the Eagles edged out the Maroons by booking 21 pointsagainst UP’s 12.
The payoff period saw Silungan and Asilum missing treys, Lopez and Alvin Padilla missing crucial free throws, and Alinko Mbah fouling out. Ateneo held on to their lead and booked a final score of 73-66.
Chris Ball, the Maroons’ American big man, sat out the game due to a player eligibility paperwork issue.
UP, along with the University of the East and Adamson University, are now tied for the last place with similar 1-7 win-loss cards.
Sino ba ang tunay na Diablo?: A review of Mes De Guzman’s Diablo
by Keisha Mayuga
In a film that presents a blurry variety of elements in an uncanny setting, this might be the first question anyone would ask Mes De Guzman, the director of the multi-award-winning film Diablo, an entry to the Cinemalaya 2012:
Sino ba talaga ang tunay na Diablo?
And the question would first be met by laughter, a regard implying that De Guzman may have had encountered this question not just once or twice, but many times before.
However, it is still the best question to ask of the film. Oozing with negative vibe, “Diablo” revolves around the life of Nana Lusing (Ama Quiambao) and her children, who drop by their mother’s house sporadically for different reasons. The thrill of each visit from her sons becomes a part of her mundane routine – happy, but not surprised, by the unannounced visit.
What makes it more unusual is how Nana Lusing credits these spooky instances as a part of her daily routine, may it be the dark figure passing by her every now and then, to even the death of her son.
A creative writing graduate from UP Diliman, De Guzman opens the idea of “Diablo” for interpretation. However, what he thinks best represents the entity in his film is the anxiety felt by Nana Lusing – an interesting twist in the horror genre.
In an interview with Tinig ng Plaridel, he said: “Her quirks, her frustrations: those represent the Diablo. So (with that), her surroundings is really negative.”
Nana Lusing’s relationship with her sons gives the story something to bank on, and each son’s story provides depth on how her life has become cyclical. The physical manifestation of the Diablo can be found in one of her sons, Alberto (Roeder Camanag), and her faux caretaker Angela (Althea Vega).
The scenes were all shot in a provincial setting, adding defamiliarization to those who grew up in the urban landscape. Diablo is shot in the director’s hometown in Nueva Vizcaya, where he was born and raised.
This makes some, if not all, of the scenes much closer to his home and own experiences, such as the chasing of a headless chicken.
“Actually, in the province, it’s normal,” De Guzman said. “Even if the chicken is headless, it will run. Of course, for an urban person, it’s different (and) quite eerie.” As he shares this connection to his film, De Guzman finds his characters relatable and even based twenty percent of them from his family members.
The film is dark all throughout, aesthetically and story-wise. Dark figures that shuffle within the screen take the audience by surprise, without inducing the usual build up from background music.
Hearing the title itself, anyone might assume there will be supernatural beings popping out. In the way it was portrayed, the usual horror was not the main theme, but there was a sense of eeriness that was waiting to jump at the audience unexpectedly.
In between the bouts of darkness, De Guzman injected humor in unlikely scenes, bending on slapstick and black comedy, acting as breathers.
A combination of eerie drama with a hint of slapstick enshrouded by the mystery of the true devil, Diablo becomes a challenging genre to sort out. It is a mix of various emotions, but De Guzman classifies his film under “family drama,” with a little bit of eeriness.
The difficulty of combining dark drama with mystery and humor, all while building up to the climax of the story, made Diablo a cause for applause for pulling it off. As anxiety continues to develop in the story, it is passed onto the intrigued audience which is then left to ask:
So, who really is this Diablo?
“Diablo” won New Breed for full-length feature category in the independent film festival. It also won Best Director, Best Actress (for Quiambao), and Best Cinematography awards.
If this space would be used to paint a picture of you as a hero, it would be very easy to fill this blank sheet with the basic information supplied by Google, a search engine in the World Wide Web (It’s a totally different world, far from the scene created by the Spaniards). But to describe you as a leader and a writer is a task beyond the freedom of speech, which you yourself championed, shall allow.
Now here comes the challenge of re-introducing you in this age without sounding like a blinded biographer, where history's best place seems only in a book; and great men and women rest on coins and statues. One-hundred and sixty-two years is too wide a gap of our generations. You were born during the time of Spanish colonialism, and died before the Revolution. Yet being the man who lived in-between was never a hindrance for you to stand up and make a difference.
Weren't you one of those intelligent and courageous propagandists who symbolized the ideal Filipino? You must have surely captured a lot of girls with your magnificently curled and stiffened moustache. Weren't you part of the upper crust of the Philippine colony, well-educated and a lawyer in profession? Mr. del Pilar, you surely had enough to live in comfort. Reforms could be the last thing on your mind, but you chose to side with the masses. With your “pen,” you defended the poor against the abuses of the authorities.
It is fascinating to know that you being a journalist won over you being a lawyer. Because being a journalist, you said, is a better opportunity to be of service to your oppressed country. Maybe you thought that there could be no justice even when there's a presence of law, and justice sought could be achieved outside the confines of hollow courts.
When you founded the first native daily newspaper in the Philippines, Diarong Tagalog, in 1882, you desired to propagate democratic liberal ideas among the farmers and peasants. To champion liberalism in a powerless land meant possessing extraordinary courage and determination, yet you were brave as you were. If only you are alive today, you would probably say that too little has changed.
While you were in Spain, miles away from your Motherland and family, you never forgot your duties. Heading the political section of Hispanic Filipino Association of Madrid, you agitated reforms from Spain to your beloved country. Under your editorship, La Solidaridad strongly promoted active participation for Filipinos in the affairs of government; wider social and political freedoms; equality before the law; representation; and freedom of speech, of the press and of assembly. Even after the Soli, as we call it now, ceased to publish in 1895, you did not give up in your patriotism as your political works circulated in Manila and neighboring provinces.
There was no other choice left, you thought, as you vigorously affirmed your conviction: "Insurrection is the last remedy, especially when the people have acquired the belief that peaceful means to secure the remedies for evils prove futile." And your words inspired the great revolutionary organization.
Will you still suggest the same thing today? What has changed 116 years after you rejected the assimilationist stand?
Philippine journalism hails you, Mr. del Pilar, as its forerunner. Today, most journalists operate with a “tell it as it is” style of reporting, with limited news analysis, and as a gatekeeper of information supplied from outside. You were, in contrast, a statesman-journalist. You supplied the information and expected nothing from outsiders; rights, liberty, and happiness, you said, are conquered. You were a leader.
Technological advancements and the needs of the times may alter the way journalists work today, but as long as the standards of truth, fairness and impartiality are anchored on our democratic principles, the world isn't too bad at all, right?
You were the most prolific, indefatigable writer. No other Filipino writer could equal your body of work as far as richness in information and fearlessness in journalism are concerned.
But were you just the journalist gone astray, as the Spanish friars once claimed? Were you too occupied with your ideals? Was your pen too sharp and your goals too far-fetched? Most of the time it appears, you knew what you stand for.
Plaridel was your nom-de-plume, a simple anagram of your surname. But the simple pen name was signed countless times in works against social injustice, bigotry, hypocrisy, and racial discrimination. Beyond the militant and progressive themes you chose to progress, you aroused the consciousness of the masses through your mastery of our native language. You were gifted with the common touch, with ready audiences for your lucid and forceful Tagalog works in the cockpits, the plazas, and the most common places. You were, in effect, the spokesperson of the masses.
Plaridel has given birth to a lot of legacies today – a journal, a college in the University of the Philippines, a college publication, and even a town in Bulacan, all called under your pen name.
The pen still holds its power. We hope we can still use it the way you did.
One-hundred and sixty-two years is certainly not the end, Plaridel.
Marcelo H. del Pilar, also known by his nom-de-plume Plaridel, will celebrate his 162nd birthday on August 30. The UP College of Mass Communication is also named as Plaridel Hall, as a remembrance to his work and dedication as a journalist.
Maroon rookie Henry Asilum drives past Gene Belleza in the last game of the first round of UAAP Men’s Basketball Tournament. He scored 14 points in UP’s 63-48 thrashing of UE, snapping the Diliman squad’s 15-game losing skid. (Photo by Jon Benedik Bunquin)
by Edison Ubaldo
Asilum, a former mainstay of the country’s youth basketball team, delivered his best game yet to propel the Fighting Maroons to their first win since the Far Eastern University Tamaraws upset last season.
“I have a lot of clichés for you but really this win is like sunshine in the dark days of torrential rains,” said UP head coach Ricky Dandan. “And also, losing hope is not an option for us. Our record doesn’t reflect who we are. Fortitude is a big word for us. I’m sure this will propel us for a stronger second round.”
Red Warrior Roi Sumang exploded for eight points in the second quarter but failed to help his team seize the lead as the Maroons’ team captain Mark Lopez, followed by forwards Alvin Padilla and Diony Hipolito, countered by scoring four points each en route to a 30-26 lead at the half.
Asilum, who was scoreless in the first half, came off the bench and single-handedly gunned a 9-3 blitz to turn a threatening 32-29 lead to a 41-32 cushion with 6:02 left in the third quarter.
“Ito talaga yung hinihintay namin at sana magtuloy-tuloy na kami,” said Asilum, who also contributed four rebounds and three assists.
UE pounced on UP’s foul penalty and scored six free throws in a three-minute span to cut the lead, inching closer at 40-45 with two minutes left in the third frame.
Skipper Mike Silungan complemented forward Paulo Romero’s jumper by scoring a trey, his only field goal of the game, to give the Maroons their first double digit lead at 50-40.
The Warriors would then miss six straight charities and go scoreless in the first six minutes of the pay-off period to bury themselves to a 54-41 hole.
Forward Chris Ball had his share of limelight as his three-point play capped a 7-0 onslaught and gave UP their biggest lead of the game at 61-46 with 64 ticks left.
Lopez had another all around finish with 10 points, eight rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block. Sumang’s 18 point rampage was not enough to neutralize the scoreboard, with all players from the UP Squad registering baskets.
The Maroons outscored the Warriors in fastbreak points, 22-3, and converted 22 points off UE’s 22 turnovers.
UP, UE and Adamson now have identical 1-6 records and are tied for sixth in the standings after the first round. The league’s second round will start on Thursday, August 23.
Guard Jelo Montecastro takes the ball strong against the defense of forwards Melo Afuang and Kim Lo. The Growling Tigers emerged victorious, 69-58. (photo by Michelle Angelica Soriano)
by Yski Rualo
With no Mike Gamboa in tow, the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons succumbed to the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers’ fierce charge.
The Tigers capped off the game with a solid second half performance to edge out the Maroons, 69-58, in the UAAP Men’s Basketball Tournament Wednesday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Gamboa, the Maroons’ veteran point guard, missed the game due to flu. Rookie guard Henry Asilum was given the nod to his first start of the season.
Center Karim Abdul led the Tigers with a double-double, finishing with 20 markers and 12 boards. Guard Clark Bautista and forward Kim Lo contributed 12 and 11 points, respectively.
For the Maroons, team captains Mike Silungan and Mark Lopez combined for 20 points and nine rebounds. Asilum added nine markers, all off three-pointers.
UP was able to keep the game close until halftime at 33 apiece, but UST outscored the team in the second half, 36-25, and sealed their fifth victory of the season.
In the fourth quarter, Silungan scored back-to-back treys to cut the Tigers’ lead down to two, 53-51, with 6:06 remaining.
From the 5:39 mark onwards, UST blew the game wide open leading off a 16-7 run to close out UP, 69-58.
Asilum said that despite losing all its previous games, the Maroons are psyching themselves to win against the University of the East Red Warriors in their showdown on Sunday.
“Iniisip talaga naming dapat manalo na kami kasi sawa na kami sa talo (We’re really thinking we should win already because we’re tired of losing),” he said.
While the Maroons fell to solo eighth place with a 0-6 record, the UE Red Warriors booked their first win of the season against Adamson University Soaring Falcons to improve to 1-5.
Environmentalists: Intense Habagat "Not A Surprise"
Children play in the flooded waters in this submerged part of Metro Manila. Last week’s “habagat” brought intense rainfall to the metropolis and nearby provinces.
by Jon Lindley Agustin
Climate change is redefining what monsoon rains– locally known as “hanging habagat” – are to Filipinos.
For almost three days last week, the southwest monsoon submerged various parts of Metro Manila and provinces such as Cavite and Bataan. Its prolonged stay in the Philippine Area of Responsibility has resulted, according to government agencies, in the displacement of almost two million people and wreaked P1-billion worth of damage to agriculture in one region alone.
Despite it not being categorized as a tropical depression or a typhoon, the amount of rain brought by the monsoon was higher than that of the infamous Typhoon Ondoy back in 2009. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration’s (PAGASA) Project NOAH has recorded an accumulated rainfall of 472 mm in 22 hours, more than the 455 mm brought by the storm three years ago.
But for Jose Maria Tan, president and CEO of World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Philippines, the monsoon rains should not be a surprise given the change in climate patterns.
“I think this is not a surprise because of global warming,” Tan told Tinig ng Plaridel in an interview.
”Although this was not true ten or twenty years ago, the West Philippine Sea is now warm enough to be a spawning area for a phenomenon called tropical cyclo-genesis, that is, the birth of storms,” she said.
So why was the rain so heavy over Metro Manila? Tan said it is because of the so-called “Heat Island Effect.”
Urbanized regions such as Metro Manila that extensively convert water-absorbent land to expanses of concrete generate a “tremendous amount of heat” much more than before, Tan explained.
“As a result, they act as ‘magnets’, drawing in and possibly enhancing the weather systems such as cyclones and the monsoon,” he added.
The new normal
For many environmental advocates, the rains are the new normal and people must learn to adapt.
“This is the ‘new normal’. We are facing a phenomenon we never experienced before and this is happening very rapidly,” said Rodne Galicha, Philippine district manager of The Climate Reality Project (TCRP), a project founded by former US vice-president and environmental advocate Al Gore.
According to the group’s press release, extreme drought and high temperatures are felt in the other side of the world such as the United States, as opposed to the prolonged rains resulting in extreme flooding in the eastern hemisphere.
“Extreme weather conditions are becoming more evident as more heat is trapped by the thickening of the atmosphere due to high concentration of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases,” the statement said. “As temperatures increase, more water is evaporated from the oceans into the sky.”
Galicha explained the phenomenon in a way easier to understand, comparing the situation to a person covered with a thick blanket.
“Your body stands for the earth. While it is covered with a blanket, heat will be trapped. Your blanket resembles the atmosphere,” he said. “The body’s water ‘evaporates’, and the body dehydrates, resulting in extreme drought. Because it is too hot, perspiration occurs which translate to extreme precipitation and flooding.
In a statement, Sen. Loren Legarda, a staunch environmental advocate, said that Filipinos “must realize that heavy and excessive rainfall is part of the ‘new norm.’”
Weather prediction for 2020
In February 2011, PAGASA released a study titled “Climate Change in the Philippines” which predicted possible weather conditions come 2020 and 2050.
According to the study, daily rainfall would increase in frequency and intensity in areas such as Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, Region IV-A, Metro Manila, Occidental Mindoro, and Bukidnon among others.
“Rainfall increase is likely during the southwest monsoon (June, July, August) season until the transition (September, October, November) season in most areas of Luzon and Visayas,” the study said.
Metro Manila rainfall is expected to increase by 20 percent and 30 percent in 2020 and 2050 respectively, the study added.
With Metro Manila’s baseline rainfall of 1170.2 mm from June to August, the study computed an increase in rainfall of 1178.7 mm by 2020 and 1191.5 mm by 2050.
Close to the figures, the amount of rainfall brought by the recent southwest monsoon is 40 percent of the predicted amount of rainfall by 2020.
The mean annual rainfall of the Philippines varies from 965 to 4064 mm yearly.
According to Nature Climate Change journal, a monthly journal on the impacts of climate change, the Philippines is the 10th most vulnerable country when it comes to experiencing the effects of climate change.
In ascending order from rank one, the other countries listed were Haiti, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone, Madagascar, Cambodia, Mozambique, Congo, and Malawi.
TCRP Climate Leader and Marinduque Council for Environmental Concerns Executive Director Miguel Magalang said disasters serve as a wake-up call for all sectors of the society to actively involve in disaster risk reduction planning and budgeting processes.
“Ultimately, the solution to this crisis is climate justice – going beyond monetizing Mother Earth – giving back what is due to nature,” said Galicha.
“Climate change changes everything. Humankind created it,” Tan said. “We started it, we can stop it. But, let’s stop pointing fingers at the monsoon. We have to start moving on workable solutions.”
For many, it was like reliving an old nightmare. When Typhoon Ondoy struck in 2009, a lot of people thought that it would not happen again – at least not that soon. But it only took three years for the same tragedy to strike again, albeit this time, in the form of a monsoon.
During the past week, it is worth mentioning that flooding was not just out in the streets – it was also in the Internet. The Filipino community online was abuzz with posts, tweets, hashtags and even memes, flooding everyone’s Facebook newsfeed and Twitter dashboard during the past nights.
May it be related to suspension of classes or to rescue and relief operations, it can be observed that netizens were still able to inject humor, creativity and resourcefulness despite the dismal situation. Evidences of our resiliency as a nation were all over the Internet, making people feel that they are not alone in this battle.
However, the posts related to the calamity were not all positive and for a good cause. As the rain poured harder on August 7, some netizens also spread posts and pictures of the supposed connection of the current situation to the biblical passage Genesis 8:7-12 that pertains to Noah and The Great Flood. Though the similarity of the date and the passage is a mere coincidence, many began to interpret this as a “sign” from God.
Others also attributed the coincidence to the passage of the Reproductive Health bill in Congress. Some tweets and posts from those against the bill stated that the calamity must be God’s punishment to the Filipino people. These posts propagated unnecessary fear and false thought to many netizens who then jumped into their own conclusions.
These might be the biggest differences from our experiences from Ondoy; this time, we are more prepared, more alert and more equipped to help out even in our own little ways. The immense power of the Internet could just not be neglected any longer.
However, because of posts that meant to mislead or cause unnecessary debate, many Filipinos had been obviously sidetracked. Many have seemed to lose focus on the pressing issues in connection with the calamity, such as the causes behind the flooding and the action that the government was supposed to be doing. When there should have been so much to do to help out our countrymen, we were bogged down by seemingly conspiracy posts that try to prove the trivial.
It is not new to Filipinos, or generally to human beings, to always try to find connections and patterns out of everything. After all, it is a necessity to our existence: to always try to put the pieces of the puzzle together to form the solid and bigger picture. However, there is always a right time for everything. On calamities such as this, there is no time to be sidetracked by the trivial for lives are now at stake.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources stated that because of climate change, the heavy rain that we have just experienced is now the new normal. Needless to say, it brings fear to all of us. However, in the long run, we do not have to be victims of calamities, but we need to know what needs our attention and action right here, right now.
What isn’t there?: A Review on Marie Jamora’s Ang Nawawala
by Sara Jamel S. Bangayan and James Relativo
In an industry that is utterly “lost,” even within the confines of what seems to be the arena of the “alternative,” Marie Jamora’s Ang Nawawala seems to make a bold statement on what is sorely lacking in today’s scene, even flashing a middle finger while at it.
The plot revolves around Gibson (Dominic Roco), a mute man “by choice” who just came back to the Philippines from Waltham, Massachusetts. Seizing to speak after witnessing his own twin brother Jamie (Felix Roco) plunging unto his death ten years ago, he meets Enid (Annicka Dolonius), a “conyo” hipster he met in an art exhibit and gig. Enid puts color back to his rather drab and troubled portrait of life back home: an older sister with a half-witted boyfriend; an academically-programmed sister robbed of childhood; a jolly yet uptight dad withstanding his wife’s lost intimacy; and a cold, stern mother (Dawn Zulueta) who gave up her life of photography.
A refreshing take from the stereotypical indie, renowned music video director Jamora experiments with lush visual elements and different narrative techniques to storytelling on her first full-length feature. The masterful utilization and repetition of montage and images, combined with the element of silence makes for a well-balanced eye candy.
Music played a major role in the overall aesthetics of the film. Armed with an arsenal of original scores, the movie treaded with Philippine local independent acts such as Ang Bandang Shirley, Pedicab, Ciudad, Hannah + Gabi, etc. Interestingly, the film also pays tribute to songs long forgotten by the current generation, such as O, Ilaw, a Tagalong folk song, used repeatedly in the film together with the Eraserheads anthem Minsan. No doubt the film won the Best Original Film Score for the New Breed category of Cinemalaya.
To top it all off, Jamora’s conscious use of indie rock, 80’s-90’s music and vintage vinyl records provide a tasteful and appropriate atmosphere for the scenes. It spreads the word about the great talent the country has lurking from the obscure routes of the underground scene.
Meanwhile, a story of personal conflicts, Ang Nawawala views the world through the lens of the urban upper-middle class, reflective of the lifestyle within the hipster sub-culture and the things they concern themselves most with.
Though effective, one thing appeared somewhat unsuitable – that it might have dealt too much on the personal and within the comfortable circle of their sub-culture, while obscuring the plot in connection to the larger Philippine society. The tendency for escapism is an ever pressing challenge to film makers in general.
A number of critics have also pointed this out, but according to Jamora, in a press-conference following the screening of the movie at the UP Cine Adarna last August 4, she “would rather prefer to write something that she knows first-hand, rather than pretend to know well the struggles [of the oppressed.]” Though admirable and valid to an extent, a touch of reality from here and there would not hurt.
A feel good and unique plot nonetheless, it is bold enough to use as key elements techniques conservative writing wouldn’t even touch, such as the casual use of cannabis and its figurative instrumentation of communicating with the dead. It also mixed with a healthy dose of conversational fluidity, from spewing conyo-speak bullets, to the “lutong” of “salitang-kalye” curses, and the dead silence of Gibson make for a dynamic communicative feel.
Chuck-filled with great lighting and emotive choice of settings, the movie could be likened to a deep, grainy, reblog-worthy Tumblr photo come to life (one which came with an awesome downloadable mixtape). The film finds itself somewhere along the lines of “500 Days of Summer” and “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist” combined – similar, but not really alike.
The visuals provided a cool, refreshing feel to the eyes, especially the grand blue Christmas lights focused in various parts of the film. It was indeed a break from the exploited scene of the slums. In a further reading of the visual literature, it is interesting to note that all of whom the characters had something lost or taken away from them.
What started from home ends at home. The conflict was there, and it was neither in the heartbreak nor in the drugs.
In an industry that is utterly “lost”, Jamora finds her way to the list of promising film makers. A must-watch, Ang Nawalala is a film no self-respecting fan of both the visual and musical arts could afford to miss.
Marie Jamora also invites people to Ang Nagwawala: Marie Jamora’s Ang Nawawala Afterparty which will showcase all the bands featured in the film. It will be on Saturday, August 18 at B Side, Makati. Admission is free.
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