#aplaya

Maalwang Mutya: Pagudpud

Sabi nila, ang paglalakbay ay kaakibat ng paglago at pagtatagpo. At kung ibig mong suyudin ang rahuyo ng kapuluan sa Pilipinas, bakit ‘di natin simulan sa kahila-hilagaan ng lupalop ng Luzon? sa Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte. Itinuturing na “Boracay ng Hilaga” ang Pagudpud, subalit sa natatanging rikit at hinahon na dala sa pakiramdam ng kapaligiran, hindi sasapat na ikumpara ito sa Boracay. Kapansin-pansin ang purong puting buhangin sa dalampasigan ng karagatan. Ang maalwan at banayad na simoy na hangin ay tamang-tama sa busog kong mga mata mula sa maririlag na pagkakaporma ng mga bato, at simpleng buhay na mapapansin sa mamamayan ng Pagudpud. Sampung oras na biyahe ito mula Maynila kung sasakay ng bus, o may pribadong kotse na magagamit; samantalang apat na oras lamang kung sasakay ng eroplano. Higit sa oras ng pagbiyahe ang ginhawa at aliw na hatid sa’kin ng Pagudpud, lalo na nu’ng marating ko ang aplaya, at mapuntahan ang tinaguriang kauna-unahang “windmill farm” ng Timog-Silangang Asya, ang Bangui Windmills. 

Tunay na isa rin sa nagbibigay kulay ng paglalakbay ay ang mga taong nakasalamuha. Kasama ko ang aking pamilya sa biyaheng ito, at iba talaga ang pakiramdam ‘pag labis na ngiti ang nasisilayan mula sa mga taong malalapit sa’kin, at sama-samang nagtatawanan sa mga simpleng banat habang nagpapalipas-oras buhat ng mahabang biyahe. Sabayan na rin ng mabubuting residente ng Pagudpud, na walang humpay ang pagtanggap at pagturing sa’ming pamilya bilang kanila. Walang kapantay ang pagsasalo-salo sapagkat masisilayan talaga rito ang kultura ng bawat Pilipino, na nanunuot sa ating dugo, ang kultura ng pagbibigayan at pagdadamayan.

Kung may lugar man akong babalik-balikan, ito ay ang Pagudpud. Hinding-hindi ko malilimutan ‘yung pakiramdam na payapa at masaya; simple at makulay. Subukan mo ring tanawin ang banaag ng lumulubog na araw sa baybay-dagat ng Pagudpud. Bigyan mo rin ng pagkakataon na pukawin ang iyong puso, at katagpuin ang destinasyong ito. Sabi ko nga nu’ng umpisa, hindi mo matatagpuan kung ‘di mo lalakbayin.

Magpies discusses alternative publishing in Aplaya 2017

Magpies, represented by Mac Arboleda (known in the twitterverse as Asshulz), discussed Alternative Publishing and zine making in the recently concluded UP Congress by UPLB Writer’s Club last February 25.

The event, Aplaya 2017: Agham at Panitikang Mapagpalaya Mula Kulturang Popular Patungong Pulitika, featured discussions on a broad spectrum of topics delivered and facilitated by professors and UPLB organizations’ representatives during its two-day run.

Aplaya 2017 opened last February 24 with the lectures of Prof. Romeo dela Cruz of the Department of Humanities (DHUM) and Prof. Girlie Nora Abrigo of the Department of Social Sciences (DSS) about their examination of the state of the art in the Humanities and the Social Sciences, respectively.

Prof. dela Cruz, in his lecture, problematized the collapse of the traditional disciplines of the Social Sciences and the Humanities. He opined that the reintegration of the Arts into the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) would open up new ecologies in the creative practice as a result of interdisciplinarity. Meanwhile, Prof. Abrigo focused on the achievements of the DSS, and the limitations and contradictions of the state of Social Sciences as a field of study and practice in the Philippines.

The second day of the event commenced with keynote speeches from Mr. Mark Juluis Eusebio of the DSS and Ms. Amrie Cruz of KULAYAN about Culture and Counterculture, and the State of the Student Movement, respectively.

The afternoon sessions featured simultaneous classroom discussions on topics including Argumentation, Film, Photojournalism, Globalization, Populism & Patriarchy, Feminism as a Philosophy, Feminism in Flash Fiction, Mythology in Contemporary Literature, and Alternative Publishing among others. Members of Magpies participated in some these discussions.

The discussion on Alternative Publishing facilitated by Mr. Arboleda centers on the relevance and the necessity for alternative publishing as method to enrich the local art scene and to provide alternative perspectives in the local dialogues about relevant and timely issues. As an example, UP Los Baños which is commonly branded as a science-centered institution also foster a vibrant art scene evidenced by the successes of the local arts fairs and markets, such as Zine Orgy. In its third run, Zine Orgy was cited in the official UPLB website as one of UPLB’s major arts fair and that this event, as a venue for the convergence of LB artists, is a proof of the thriving arts inside and around the campus.