TELASIS

You are a Filipino if you spend your Christmas like this Filipinos kind of have a unique way of spending Christmas and maybe if not all, we can all be one and similar in how we spend this season:

Night Mass [Simbang Gabi]

Either the anticipated or not, we, Filipinos, wait for this time of the year to come. We even countdown the numbers until the first night and we believed that our wishes come true if we completed the nine days of early masses. This is the only time that we sacrificed sleep so we could not skip a day.

Puto Bumbong and Bibingka

Like Simbang Gabi, these delicacies mostly come out during Christmas season. They are the made-up store by the side of the Church or Chapel you go during early masses [or night] As a kid, we are amazed at how these foods are cooked and even if the line of customers are long, you are willing to wait as if buying this after the Simbang Gabi is a must.

Christmas Carol

Most Filipino kids tried to sing a Christmas carol to their neighbors. With only recycled bottle cap or a used can will do as their instruments. If you haven’t tried it, maybe you heard kids singing carols to your house with their last line ‘Namamasko po’ same with the kids that go to you while you wait for your ride home to come. It’s their favorite time of the year, a five or twenty peso will do.

Christmas Party

It doesn’t happen in college anymore though we like to spend mini-Christmas party among our friends, we pick a person for our exchange gift and sometimes we even have that Secret Santa where we give an anonymous gift to person we are assigned to.

Aguinaldo

It’s not the Philippine hero anyway; this is about how we got to one house to another house of our relatives to greet them a Merry Christmas. The fun thing about this tiresome experience is we get to eat different types of foods [or not because we prepare the same food during Christmas] to different houses in one to three days. Not only that, we get to have our Aguinaldo from our Aunt and Uncle or cousins that are working or from our grandparents. The unwritten rule is the younger you are, the more money you receive.

There is a lot of other things and traditions that Filipinos celebrate their Christmas, whether alone or with family. The most important thing to remember is that this season is about thanksgiving, making other people happy and the birthday of Jesus Christ.

The Telasis staffs were invited to join the three-day campus journalism fellowship organized by the Varsitarian at University of Sto. Tomas, Manila last December 1 to 3, 2015.

This year, the 17th fellowship known as Inkblots were attended by campus journalists, school newspaper advisers and professionals. The main objective of the seminar is to upgrade the standard of the campus press through lectures from media practitioners.

On the first day, the keynote address came from Ms. Karen Davila, main news anchor of ABS-CBN News Channel Programs. She talked about the social media and its effects to how people get their sources for news. The next speaker is Mr. Christian Esguerra, a broadcast journalist for ABS-CBN News, who discussed news writing considering the wants and needs of the readers.

He said to always remember the question “Can you stand your story?” when writing for media.

For sports writing, Mr. Francis Ochoa, sportswriter from Inquirer, was invited to share how to write story in creative way. He said that “we don’t write good story, we looked for one” and to “know and remember your purpose”. As for his surprise guests, the former King Tigers Dylan Ababou, Jeric Teng and Jeric Fortuna came to answer a few questions regarding the season 78 UAAP and basketball in general.

Mr. Joe Torres, member of the Bangkok-based Union of Catholic Asian News, and Fr. Nick Lalog, who was a reporter for GMA News and Public Affairs before finding his vocation for priesthood, also came to discuss catholic journalism.

Torres told that “Journalism should be Catholic”, it should be loyal and tells the truth. He said that Journalism should have passion for accuracy and balance of opinions.

On the other hand, Fr. Lalog talked about the quality of catholic journalism in digital age and the good communication. He told that communication is more than expressions of ideas and indication of emotion.

On the next day of the fellowship, the first speaker Mr. Jairus Bondoc, writer for thrice-weekly investigative columns for Philippines Star, talked about good English. He advised the audience to use mono syllabic words and to practice writing and to seek help from professionals.

The next speaker is Mr. Felipe Salvosa II, researcher for FT Confidential Research, who discussed about Campus Paper Management and adapting to the new platform, social media.

He said that it’s important to remain relevant to the readers and have fun with what you do.

Mr. Nestor Cuartero, the last speaker of the day who is a veteran journalist that worked for both print and broadcast media since 1974, talked about how important that the journalists should keep the quality of their context in digital age.

The ABS-CBN actor, Enchong Dee came which caused the crowd to go wild only to make them calm when a mock press conference started. He answered questions regarding his careers, future plans and life lessons. The attendants made the most of the fellowship on the last day. The first speaker of the day is Mr. Manix Abrera, the maker of ‘Kikomachine’ that can be found in Philippines Daily Inquirer, shared some of his previous works. He said to be observant as there are stories everywhere. Followed by Ms. Fernando Sepe, Jr., Deputy Editor for Multimedia of ABS-CBNNEWS.COM, came for photojournalism lecture. He told about how pictures can be used to tell stories.

The first speaker is Mr. Manix Abrera, the maker of ‘Kikomachine’ that can be found in Philippines Daily Inquirer everyday and ‘News Hardcore’ every Sunday in GMA News Online. He’s also the creator of silent and wordless comics ‘12’ and ‘14’.

During his time, he showed the audience some of his previous works. He told that it’s important to be observant as ‘there are stories everywhere’ he said. He shared that its fine to have someone to look up to just don’t end up to be like that person, its great if one develop his own style to avoid being number two to that someone you copied the style from.

Finally he said that one must love his works and to be happy with what you do. The next speaker for photojournalism lecture is Mr. Fernando Sepe, Jr. He is the Deputy Editor for Multimedia of ABS-CBNNEWS.COM and was the video journalist and producer for the Associated Press Television News.

It’s important for the photos to have mould, foundation and things that have meanings.

As for the last speaker Mr. Eros Atalia, an author to few books sch as Ligo na U, Lapit na Me, Wag lang di Makaraos and many more, he brought laughter to the audience as he told a few jokes and relatable lines within his lectures.

He shared that it’s not necessary to use complicated way of reporting, its better if its told in way that people finish reading it in one sitting and can be talked around.

The Varsitarian committee prepared a farewell party at the Quadri Pavillion of UST where they also announced the winners of the Inkblots writing contest and the UST National Campus Journalist Awards.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established in 1967 to promote political and economic cooperation and regional stability. In 2003 the ASEAN Member-states agreed to integrate their economies and establish a common market, and in 2007, it adopted the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint. The AEC Blueprint provides a roadmap and targets to be achieved for the establishment of the AEC by 2015 with the following agenda in mind:  1) create a single market and production base, 2) increase competitiveness, 3) promote equitable economic development, and 4) further integrate ASEAN with the global economy.

One of the main objectives of AEC is to create a single market and production base by ensuring a free flow of goods, services, investment, capital and skilled labor. Under the AEC Blueprint, The ASEAN Integration Strategic Framework and Work Plan (2009-15), the 10 Southeast countries are set to streamline transportation and communication infrastructures, educational system, security, and increase cooperation in environmental issues and disaster management among others. It is also expected to boost investments, job creation, and incomes in the region and will allow citizens of member-states to join in the free flow of capital, labor, services, goods and foreign investments. Through this scheme, ASEAN economy has the potential to be one of the largest economies and markets in the world, the reason why the member-states are intensifying efforts to realize and jumpstart this plan before 2015 ends.

The Philippines is one of the signatories in the AEC Blueprint, which means the country along with other ASEAN Members States (AMS), should be open to zero import duties for ASEAN products and services by 2015. This means less tax in traded goods, more streamlined customs policies and more flexible employment opportunities for those in the region. 

Maybe you were too afraid to leave, but you still went out anyway. Maybe you were too selfish to think of only yourself, but you remembered that you are building a future and he seems isn’t, and you thought that it was fine.

Maybe your love for him was only enough to feel grateful, but not to stay in his life.

“Christmas won’t be the same without you.”

Kendra read as her eyes ran across the written lines in a Christmas card. Her eyes stung with unshed tears and her heart was shattered into tiny million pieces that she knew can never be stitched. She slowly closed the card and took a deep breath, drawing in the scent of solitude and pain that is gradually embracing her.

She looked around her and there she saw that Christmas is inevitably coming and that she cannot do anything about it. The busy streets, the lightened houses and buildings, people hurriedly walking as they shop gifts for their loved ones- all of these struck her with undeniable force; Christmas is fast approaching.

As she slowly stared across the streets, she drifted into the past Christmas days she had spent with her family. She had to admit, even those days were not the best times of her life, but then, at least, she is not one of those kids who celebrate the day with a gaping hole in their chests, aching for their family to be complete. Now, she is starting to feel like them. Shattered, broken, lonely and aching for a complete family on Christmas Day.

She opened up the card and read it again.

“CHRISTMAS WON’T BE THE SAME WITHOUT YOU.”

Kendra is still thinking if she will give the card or keep it to herself. Yes, the card was not for her, it was for her to give to someone else, somebody who has been a part of her whole life but is no longer with her.

She felt her heart hammering inside her chest; the course of her blood running through her veins. She felt the pain clutch her entire being and her eyes weep with tears that can no longer fall.

When someone has been a part of your life since you learn how to walk on your own, it’s hard to find your way through life without that person. The moments you have spent with that someone might not have been the best of times, but you know that you wouldn’t be the person you are right now without that somebody. Pain might be a part of your every waking second when you were still together but still you felt a sense of abandonment when that person was gone.

That is exactly how Kendra feels as she read the other Christmas card.

KENDRA,

“MAYBE YOU WERE TOO AFRAID TO LEAVE, BUT YOU STILL WENT OUT ANYWAY. MAYBE YOU THOUGHT THAT YOU WERE TOO SELFISH TO THINK OF ONLY YOURSELF, BUT YOU REMEMBERED THAT YOU ARE BUILDING A FUTURE AND IT SEEMS LIKE I WASN’T, AND YOU THOUGHT THAT IT WAS FINE.

MAYBE YOUR LOVE FOR ME WAS ONLY ENOUGH TO FEEL GRATEFUL, BUT NOT TO STAY WITH ME.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, MY DAUGHTER. I WANT YOU TO KNOW, THAT I MISS YOU SO MUCH AND THAT I WILL ALWAYS BE WAITING FOR YOU TO COME HOME.”

LOVE, PAPA

Kendra closed her eyes. The pain was too much for her, as every second at the clock ticks, she feels her heart being ripped into two. She has decided to leave home, to go on with her future without her father, because she knew they had to be apart. The feud between them might have been unspoken, but she cannot live with a person whose world is entirely different from hers. It is more painful when you cannot even express the hurt, because deep down inside you, the feelings grew stronger each day until it was ready to eat you alive.

She knew that this year’s Christmas wouldn’t be the same without him, but as what one quotation says, ‘When you cannot go back, the only thing you should do is to find the best way to move forward’, so even though this Christmas would be different, Kendra hopes that it can be better in some ways. She might be unsure of where the future will lead her, but she is willing to take the risks to get to where she wants to be. The only thing she is sure of is that she has been shattered, broken and lonely, and she will feel that way for some time.

Beneath the twinkling lights, and the glowing stars Santa arrives with pieces of candies on his jars But then, he was scowling, and almost angry. And I realized, all Christmas songs lied to me

It was in the middle of the night When he stood there with all his might. He was in black, instead of green and yellow, Which made him different from all the fellows.

His seriousness drove all the kids scared “I am your evil Santa!” that’s what he yelled. He was not smiling, not even cracking a joke, But I mentally laughed, almost making me choke.

We rarely talk, and I don’t know why Probably because he’s introvert while I am shy. And during that night, we finally conversed. I was keeping it cool, while he’s doing the reverse

We argued about him yelling at a Christmas party, And he reasoned out that the kids were noisy! I almost cursed, enough for me to look blunt. But he did it worse, making me hate him for a month.

Our first conversation wasn’t good But it helped in strengthening our relationship mood. We suddenly became close, for no reason. But that, I could say, was really the best season.

Just then, I started to feel something. Something different for Santa Scowling Until I realized I develop a feeling that’s inevitable A feeling that’s sweet, and uncontrollable.

I then struggled to find the words in front of him And then everything became a blur in just a glimpse, I confessed my love as brave as he is, But after that, he disappeared and everything ceased

Beneath the twinkling lights, and the glowing stars, With all the pain and with all these scars, My Santa Scowling has never arrived And I realized, all Christmas songs have lied…

Whether you’re in the twitterverse or not, you surely have heard the name of Clara Quiambao.

Ms. Quiambao is the girl behind the famous twitter account @ohteenquotes. The account has over a million of followers and still counting, and is followed by famous celebrities, like Justin Bieber, Tyra Banks, and Jason Derulo. Ms. Quiambao was even part of Vultute’s ’30 people the Internet Needs You to Know’ list alongside famous Viners.

But behind the famous twitter account is a simple and humble girl. Clara Mae Quiambao is an alumna of Centro Escolar University. She recently graduated last April 2015 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communication major in Broadcasting. Currently, Ms. Quiambao is an Online Writer at Star Cinema, ABS-CBN.

But before she became the girl behind @ohteenquotes, she was just a little kid who loved writing, “(My) love for writing started when I was in elementary. I remember writing down anything under the sun in my little notebook,” Clara says.

From writing down her thoughts in her notebook, to sharing her thoughts to the world.

Clara reveals that @ohteenquotes was actually created ‘out of the blue’, “I just really want to reach out a lot of people and let them feel that they are not alone in this world. Through my tweets in the account, I’m able to touch their minds and hearts.”

Indeed, Ms. Quiambao was able to touch the minds and hearts of people around the world with her quotes, she has inspired a lot of teens going through hard times and heartbreaks. But of course she wouldn’t be able to write down these amazing quotes without inspiration, “What inspires me to write are the people who believe in my talent, those who continue to read and appreciate every single thing. Most importantly, the passion and love in what I do.”

At a very young age, Clara has achieved so much. She already has two books under her name, It’s A Love Thing and PS. I Love You Na, which were both bestsellers.

“I feel so blessed and really grateful for being able to publish two books already. It really feels great to be able to touch other’s lives and leave an impact on them through my stories,” Clara said when asked about how it feels to have two books under her name. She also shared that the compliments she gets from her readers are the greatest, “A reader once told me that my book has helped her to realize many things in life, and whenever she feels down or sad, my book is the perfect read for her to be able to find the right answers in whatever she is going through.”

Besides being an author and social media influencer, she is also one of GLOBE Telecommunication’s Digital Ambassadors. She has also been invited to speak in several forums in different universities. But with all that success in her hands, Clara still has her feet on the ground

Indeed, she is an exemplar Escolarina and a pride of the university. Ms. Quiambao proves that you’re never too young to achieve great things.

And for those who wants to be a writer one day, Clara has two tips for you, “First, read read, and read. Second, write, write, and write. Reading will help you widen your imagination and vocabulary. Try to write every day that may be about anything under the sun. Don’t be afraid to give it a try.” 

Are we ready for change? That is the question that we often ask ourselves, and I tell you, Yes. Yes, we are ready for change. But, are we ready to change? The 2016 Elections are almost here and for the past months we have been debating, arguing, and assessing whose names we are going to put on that ballot. I am not writing this to influence you on who you should vote, I am writing this to tell you, that there is an issue, a problem that we should address before the Elections arrive.

That is we. We are the problem. We ask for so much from our Candidates. We look for so much in them but we fail to see, to realize, and to understand, that we have problems too. Jay-walking. Littering. Illegal parking. We bend and break so many rules everyday so why ask our leaders to do otherwise?

I am not self-righteous. I have done so many things, broken so many rules justified by the age-old excuse, “Bakit sila pwede?”

I was riding this Fx last week when we were stopped by a Traffic Enforcer; he wanted to give the driver a ticket but the driver argued, “Bakit sila hindi mo hinuhuli? Palakasan lang ba dito?”

I am not defending the Traffic Enforcer. What the driver said was true. There were others doing the same thing but, unfortunately, there was only one Traffic Enforcer and every driver on that road was making a traffic violation, which was unloading in the “no unloading zone”.

Why do we keep trying to push the boundaries and why do we keep bending the rules? I am still young, and there are a lot of things I do not understand but I see that there is something wrong with us. We keep being our own leaders. We keep deciding which rules to follow and which one we shouldn’t. Leaders cannot lead other leaders. There wouldn’t be a direction; we will just stay in one place, stuck.

The 2016 Elections are coming, are we ready to change? 

One day everything will be fine in God’s perfect timing. In one moment, we will realize that things do come because it needs to happen. It may be the best or the worst, make us laugh or cry, happy or hurt or any opposite words that is appropriate for what we experience but at the end of the day, we’ll end up learning and become a better person.

Sometimes things come along because we are challenge on how we are able to face reality. The reality that lies in our own path in life. There are struggles, hatred, despair and loneliness on our way, and sometimes we are stuck on certain things and make us see how mess up we are and how awful this life could be. Thoughts of giving up and letting things happen without trying to do something about to come up and the bottomline, one day, we are miserable.

We stop in the path that we must keep going. We delay the possible better opportunities ahead of us because we are eaten by the monster of reality. We allow these monsters to enter us and eat as whole instead of fighting over it. We are so drown by it and we forget to fight.

Remember that better things do come to people who are willing to take risk and wait patiently. There’s no a easy way process when facing the reality. It must be done and face with all your capacity, be brave and have the courage that you’ll get through it and pass the unwanted circumstances. Be the light to your own self because it’s your own path by the way.

And one day, you’ll see yourself driven in the kaleidoscope of life and smiling, thanking every single moment because you become brave and strong despite all the about-to-give-up moments. Remember that you are the hero and savior of your day and you’ll have it for the rest of your life. 

APEC is the largest regional economic group in the world. It is constituted by countries circling the Pacific Rim composed of 21 member-economies. With the theme “Building inclusive economies, building a better world”, the 10 Billion Peso APEC 2015 summit was considered a success. Security was tightened for the summit in the Philippine capital following attacks in Paris that left at least 128 dead. The country’s 120,000-strong national police was put on “full alert”, more than a thousand flights cancelled, APEC lanes were created, roads were closed and a week-long public holiday was declared in Manila to ensure a safe and efficient summit.

After all the glitz and glam, the traffic and all the inconvenience afforded to the inhabitants of Metro Manila, the question is: What is in return for Juan De la Cruz?

For starters, Philippine economy’s biggest partners are the member economies of APEC making up 80% percent of the entire country’s total trade. World leaders also discuss the concerns of small and medium enterprises and how to increase regional economic cooperation to overcome trade difficulties. President Aquino and the other world leaders signed agreements regarding disaster risk reduction and management, avoidance of double taxation, cooperation on tourism, fight against transnational crimes, drug and human trafficking and the reassurance and the “Ironclad” commitment of the US to defend the Philippines. President Obama even announced the transfer of two more US navy ship to the Philippine navy to further bolster the country’s capability In protecting its sovereignty.

Although the APEC Summit’s focus for this year was more on enhancing trade and investment in the Asia Pacific region. The organization’s 21 member economies began their annual joint declaration post-Economic Leaders’ meeting with a strong condemnation of terrorism. The declaration addressed the alleged terror attacks conducted by the Daesh or ISIS. It mentioned the Paris and Beirut terrorist attacks and the downing of a Russian aircraft over the Sinai Peninsula. World leaders point out that the factor increasing radicalization among the youth was marginalization, lack of economic opportunity and economic instability. They pointed out that economic growth and human security are not mutually exclusive.

The Philippines did not only welcome world leaders. 7,000 delegates came to Manila and most of them were businessmen with the likes of Jack Ma, the richest man in China also the founder of Alibaba. The success of the summit highlighted the fact that our country is capable of having such a prestigious event peacefully. Although the gains that the Philippines will get from the summit cannot be quantified instantly, the promise of more investments and jobs for the Filipinos is what the country really needs to continue its robust growth. The APEC summit allowed the Philippines to put itself on the global highlight and to be recognized in the world stage, hopefully the gains from the all promises and the agreements during the APEC will materialize to sustain growth that will affect our nation from the highest and the richest, down to the grassroots of the society. 

I have once fallen in love with a pretty girl.

I heard her voice, and it sounded like love.

It felt like a sin to touch her divine heart.

I was a leaf.

And she was a cloud.

I was not meant for her.

But love transformed into wind and brought me to her.

Our love was beautiful until sadness came.

I thought her love would save me, but it hurt me.

It felt like I was hit by an ambulance that was supposed to save my life.

It was easier to remove the nicotine in a smoker’s body than forget the words she told me.

I have loved her soul more than her pretty face.

Kindness was written in her bones.

She was more beautiful than poetry.

-JCF Pielago