by Earl Gio N. Manuel with reports from Monica B. Sunga

Almost three hundred runners participated in the Bañamos Fun Run 2013 organized by the Los Baños Municipal Government held on September 21.

The fun run was organized as part of the week-long Bañamos Festival.

“Nakita namin, usong-uso ang fun run and kaya nyang mag-produce ng certain amount of income na pwede naming magamit sa scholarship program,” said Councilor John “Jonjie” Emmanuel P. Oliva, the head organizer of the fun run.

The event started at exactly 5:30 in the morning and ended around 8 a.m. The first finishers were recognized immediately after the run. They were Michael Bacong from Bay, Laguna for the 3 km run, Jujet de Asis from Cabuyao City for the 5 km run, and Rene Desuyo from Taguig City for the 10 km run category. Each received Php 3,000 as cash prize.

10 km Run Winner Desuyo (center) with the fun run organizers headed by Councilor Oliva (rightmost) during the awarding ceremonies.

The 25-year-old Desuyo said “Maganda ang pag-organize dito. Ang nagustuhan ko kasi ay yung magandang ruta. Tsaka walang usok.”

Special awards were also given to six year-old Kyle Andrei Cheng who received the “Batang Runner Award” and Vicente Caurez, 76, as the “Oldest Contestant” awardee.

“Ika nga eh, ehersisyo tapos makatulong sa magandang adhikain ng munisipyo,” answered Caurez when asked why he joined the fun run.

Due to the success of the activity, the organizers of the fun run headed by Oliva are planning to hold a similar event later this year. Proceeds of the second fun run will likewise be for the benefit of the scholars of the Los Baños municipal government.

“Ang nakikita kong impact nito sa community natin, una awareness lalo na yung mga kababayan natin sa baybay-dagat na they’re still part of Bañamos Festival. At pangalawa, awareness din sa kabataan na makita nila na meron palang ganitong activity and pwede pala tayong sumali,” added Oliva.

Two lines changed Mina’s and Bryan’s lives. Two lines that showed on the pregnancy test kit that confirmed the presence of a baby.

Mina and Bryan came from broken families, struggled to get by, and longed for love. They found each other, and were four months into the relationship when they started having sexual intercourse. They thought condoms and pills would be enough for Mina not to get pregnant. Mina was 18 while Bryan was 17 when a baby came into their lives. She was a high school graduate while he was a high school dropout.

They are just one among many teenage couples who engaged in premarital sex that resulted in unwanted pregnancy. According to the National Statistics Office (NSO), there was a 65% increase on teenage pregnancy rate from 2000 to 2011 notably observed among girls aged 15 to 19. Only 38% of them reported delivering their baby.

Seeking ways to stop the growing rate of teenage pregnancy, Laguna 3rd District Representative Sol Aragones filed House Bill 341 or the Teen Pregnancy Prevention, Responsibility and Opportunity Act. The proposed law seeks to  stop the rapid increase in teenage pregnancy incidence through authorizing the Department of Health (DOH) to allow local educational agencies, local public health agencies, and non-profit private entities to provide education on preventing teen pregnancies.

Prevention is better

According to Aragones, a too-early childbearing “increases the likelihood that a young woman will drop out of high school and that she and her child will live in poverty.” She hopes to prevent similar situations because, “[s]tatistically, the sons of teen mothers are more likely to end up in prison. The daughters of teen mothers are more likely to end up teen mothers too,” she said.

The Philippine Constitution, under Article 2 Section 13, provides that “[t]he State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and shall promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social wel-being. It shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism, and encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs.” It is this clause that served as the foundation of HB 341.

The Bill addresses teenage pregnancy prevention by stressing the need to institute projects that provide education on preventing teenage pregnancies. This is possible through age-appropriate education on “factually and medically accurate, complete, and scientifically-based” information, with emphasis on encouraging teens to delay sexual activity.

In Bryan and Mina’s case, it was Bryan who urges or initiates sexual intercourse. He was confident that pregnancy would never happen because he asked Mina to take pills. But his knowledge on contraception was limited.

“Naka-condom naman ako. Pero nung huli na di nako nag-condom… [kasi] umiinom na si Mina ng pills,” (I always wear condoms whenever we do it. But the last time we had sex, I no longer used a condom since Mina was already taking pills.) he said. They later found out it was not enough precaution.

In a study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2002, it was found out that boys and girls become sexually active at the age of 15; that more boys start having sex earlier than girls their age; and that contraceptive use was low. It is this very scenario that the proposed law seeks to address. According to WHO, the low level of contraceptive use was “influenced by social class and education levels.”

In the Philippines, based on information from the Family Health Survey, insufficient access to information about sexual health and reproductive health services is a reason for unwanted pregnancy.

Education about pressures of parenting

Aragones also proposes that the government provide “educational services and referrals for sexually active teens or teens at risk of becoming sexually active,” to tell these teens about the risk of their sexual behavior.

Mina, for example, planned to take up a two-year course at the National College of Science and Technology. Being the eldest child in the family, she was supposedly “pag-asa ng pamilya” (the hope of the family) to rise from poverty. When her family found that she was carrying a baby, “[i]tinakwil nila si Mina,” (They disowned Mina) according to Bryan. It was hard for the family to hear the words “buntis po ako” (I am pregnant).

Mina and Bryan were equally disappointed with themselves because they knew, even then, that they wouldn’t be able to provide their baby’s needs.That was when abortion became an option. But the pregnancy continued, and Bryan immediately took the responsibility of being a father. He worked as a bakery assistant, a market boy, and an illegal factory worker. Later, when he could no longer provide for his family, Mina left him to be with an older man who had a stable job and could provide for Samantha.

Parents communicating with teens about sexuality

In the book “Focusing On Kids,” Sonestein et al said it is not only girls who should be educated about responsible parenting; boys should be included for the following reasons: (1) It takes two to create a pregnancy; (2) Boys and men should be held responsible for their sexual behavior – just because they cannot get pregnant does not mean they should be irresponsible; and (3) Boys and men want to be more responsible about their sexual behavior.

Teens with absent parents seek advice from friends about sex, while those with strong attachment to their parents, Aragones said, “are more likely to become sexually active at a later age. Seven out of ten teens say that they are prepared to listen to things parents thought they were not ready to hear.”

A population officer interviewed at Sunday Punch on August 12 said that: “With the high number of teenage mothers or parents, we are creating a society dependent upon their parents instead of a society that is striving to succeed in their lives.” Mina easily fits into this category of teens depending on someone older in order to support her child.

While 36.7% of young Filipinos believe that  “early sexual encounter is acceptable in society,” as National Youth Commissioner Percival Cendaña said, Aragones hopes to make available services that can persuade teens to delay sexual activity, and teach them about responsible decision-making. (Andrea Joyce Arbues)

by  Alyssa Kaye S. Mojar

In light of the 150^th birth anniversary of Andres Bonifacio, known as the “Father of Philippine Revolution,” Musikaunlaran 2013: Bonifacio @ 150 was held last August 30, 2013 at the Baker Hall of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB).

As Andres Bonifacio celebrates his 150^th birth year this coming November 30, 2013, UPLB commemorates his heroism through music. Musikaunlaran 2013: Bonifacio @ 150 is a battle-of-the-bands/benefit concert spearheaded by the UP Alliance of Development Communication Students (UP ADS) and the Department of Social Sciences of the College of Arts and Sciences (DSS-CAS).

How it all started

Jeyneth Ann Mariano, one the supervisors of MusiKaunlaran 2013 said that the event was chosen to be a battle-of-the-bands and benefit concert to be able to reach a wider audience. “Trend. Kasi kung symposium, baka kakaunti  yung interesadong pumunta. Edi parang hindi mako-communicateyung message,” she shared.

According to UP ADS, the event originated from one of their annual activities, Stripped to the Extreme, which aims to give UPLB students an avenue to showcase their talents to the UPLB community. As they transformed it to MusiKaunlaran 2013, they focused on the talents of Iskolars who are musically inclined, particularly, those in bands. This made way for the concept of battle of the bands.

The concert will be “rocked” by three guest artists who are Original Pilipino Music (OPM) singers and are recognized advocates of modern heroism. They are Gary Granda, Lolita Carbon of the band Asin, and Ebe Dancel, who is also a performer in the Rock Supremo Concert. The Rock Supremo Concert unites some of the country’s best artists and bands in one stage to celebrate the heroism of Bonifacio. The concert will also be featuring UPLB graduates and new breed recording bands Pathway and Segatron.

Proceeds of the concert will go to the “Off the Street, On the School” campaign of Kairos band, the UPLB Counseling and Testing Division, and the UPLB Gabay Volunteer Corps. The campaign, now on its 9^th year, aims to send street children to school by providing school supplies for them and shouldering expenses needed for their schooling. Moreover, the program Is now sending six students to school on full scholarship with the aim of helping them have a degree. The program particularly helps the sampaguita vendors in UPLB.

The campaign (Off the Street, On the School) was chosen as a beneficiary because its promoters are the members of the Kairos band which is also a UPLB-based band who are also advocates of OPM. The band uses their talents and skills in music not for personal benefit, but for a worthy cause. Instead of keeping money earned from performing in events, competitions, fundraising concerts, etc., the band uses the money to promote the Off the School, On to School project.

Also, UP ADS, the co-organizer of the event, holds activities focusing on the use of various media in addressing development and development communication concerns, promotion of different advocacies geared toward social change, promotion of nationalism and modern heroism, youth empowerment, and ultimately, service to the marginalized sector.

Off to Battle

UPLB based bands will be competing in the battle of the bands. They are tasked to compose their original song revolving around the life and works of Andres Bonifacio as a hero, writer, leader of the revolution, brother to his siblings, husband, and a lot more.

The DSS-CAS gave the participants a “handout” which served as a guide to the participants in writing their songs. This handout was reviewed by the professors in the DSS-CAS in which according to them, will help the participants know who Andres Bonifaciois and his works. It equipped them with necessary information to write the heroism of Bonifacio.

After reading the handout and having their own researches about Bonifacio, the six participants namely: Arete, Balance, Coupé, Hard Tension, Lottie, and Paragos, came up with their competing original compositions which are: Sigaw ng Anak, Get up and Give it All you Got, Supremo, Boni-facio, Bayan niBonifacio, and Agapito Bagumbayan, respectively.

Lottie, a five-members band is composed of musicians from different bands and duos. According to Martin Alfred Cedeño, the band’s guitarist and vocalist, their song, “Bayan ni Bonifacio, is inspired by Andres Bonifacio’s famous poem, “Pag-ibig sa tinubuang lupa”. The song also describes Bonifacio’s courage, heroism, and his passion for our country.”

For the four-man band Balance, lead guitarist Carlos Catalan wrote their competition piece entitled Get up and Give it All you Got. He said that the focus of their song is Bonifacio’s outlook towards what was happening around him during his time. Moreover, he believes that Bonifacio’s attitude triggered him to start a revolution. The song revolved around how Bonifacio lived his life before realizing that he needs to step up and fight.

Sigaw ng Anak is Arete’s entry song. The band is composed of five members including Jan Erwin Bulang, the vocals man of the group. According to him, they focused on Andres Bonifacio’s act of starting the uprising when crafting their song. “The event is famously remembered as Cry of Pugadlawin,” he said after explaining how the Katipuneros got up withtheir bolos in hand to fight for freedom of the country.

According to Arneil Sarzeulo, vocalist of the band Hard Tension, their song Boni-facio is a product of their view of Bonifacio’s braveness and strength to lead the Filipinos and fight against the Spaniards. He also said that their song depicts how they see Bonifacio as an “example to the people of the nation today to be brave and fight against the odds that we might face.”

Although each band has their own way of interpreting Bonifacio and his works, each was able to come up with their own compositions. With this, one of the objectives of the event was fulfilled. It is to let people know the life and heroism of Andres Bonifacio.

According to Catalan, what he learned from writing the song is that Bonifacio gave everything. “Absolutely no fear,” he said.

Burang shared that what they learned from writing their songs is that they have come to realize “the greatness and the martyr he had become” to give freedom to the Philippines. He also said that Bonifacio’s life and legacy makes him one of our “unheralded heroes”.

Year-long Celebration

As early as last year, the celebration of the sesquicentennial anniversary of Bonifacio’s birth was being prepared for. President Aquino directed the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) to spearhead activities and programs for the celebration.

In partnership with different government and non-government organizations, NHCP released the list of 11 activities and programs in line with the 150^th birth of Andres Bonifacio.

The list includes:

1. the reprinting of the influential works on Andres Bonifacio’s life which includes Isabelodelos Reyes’ Bonifacio the Revolutionist, TeodoroKalaw’sAngHimagsikang Filipino, and El Commercio;
2. “Bonifacio Para saKabataan” which is a multi-arts learning tour for students from grade 5 to 7;
3. lecture series for high school and college students in Metro Manila about “BakitMaypagasaang secret name ni Andres Bonifacio?” and “Andres Bonifacio- Sino kasaamingbuhayngayon?”;
4. commemorative stamp design contest with the them Bonifacio@150;
5. program tribute to the 117^th anniversary of the Cry of Pugadlawin;
6. opening of the MuseongKatipunanngPinaglabanan Memorial Shrine in San Juan City;
7. Rock Supremmo, a musical in celebration of the life and works of Bonifacio;
8. “San Andres B” which is a modern opera showcasing the life and story of Bonifacio;
9. Rock Supremo Concert;
10. raising of the Philippine flag and resting of wreaths; and
11. the Great Boni Fiesta, a day-long celebration full of games and other surprises.

November 29, 2012, the 149^th birth year anniversary of Bonifacio, marked the start of the year-long celebration of his 150^th year which will be culminated on the exact date of the hero’s birth- November 30, 2013.

During Ebe Dancel’s performance, he sang one of his original compositions for the album which he, together with other artists, recorded as a promotion to the celebration of Bonifacio’s 150^th birthday. As the event closed, he personally thanked the organizers of the event, for it did not only allowed him to go back to his first love, Elbi, but he was also able to perform as an advocate of Bonifacio, which he really is.

Battle of the bands winner Paragos as they received their award. Photo courtesy of the UP Alliance of Development Communication Students (UP ADS).

As MusiKaunalaran 2013: Bonifacio  @ 150 ended, Paragos band was announced as the first place in the battle of the bands. They were followed by Hard Tension, and Lottie for the second and third prize, respectively.

_________________________________________________________________________

Agapito Bagumbayan (Winning Entry)

by Paragos

Sumibol na ang bagong umaga
Akay-akay ang pag-asa
Nag-iisa at lagi nang
Nagtatanong, naghihintay
Tapos na ba ang paglalakbay?
Pinapasan ang mga bituin na
Nag-sasabing tapos na ang delubyo

Dito sa silangan nakilala ang isang pangalan
Pinaglaban, kalayaan na ating naranasan
Isa sa mga nagtatag at naging supremo ng
Kataas-taasang , kagalang-galangang katipunan

Kumapit ka, ‘wag kang bibitaw
Pag-ibig ang tanging sandata
Lumaya ka , lumaya ka
Harapin ang ikot ng mundong
Tuloy, tuloy, tuloy,tuloy

Libo-libong tao sya ay sinamahan
Isang gabing nagtipon-tipon sa Caloocan
Upang mag-aklas laban sa mga Kastila
Tunay na pagkakaisa ng bawat Pilipino
Sabay-sabay pinunit ang sedula
Kanilang sigaw ay “KALAYAAN”

Nakapikit, nagdarasal
Tapos na nga’ng paglalakbay
Nakatingin sa mga bituin
At sinasabing tapos na ang delubyo

Dito sa silangan nakilala ang isang bayani
Binansagang Supremo, ngalan nya ay Bonifacio.

By Christian T. Rieza

Nagtunggali ang mga paaralan ng CALABARZON sa sabayang pagbigkas at tradisyunal na sayawang Pilipino noong nakaraang ika-8 ng Septyembre sa DL Umali Auditorium, UPLB. Ang ginanap na kumpetisyon ng sabayang pagbigkas ay ginamit ang kathang piyesa ni Atty. Maria Joy Karen Adraneda-Filio na pinamagatang “Baluktot, Matuwid”. 

Ang mga nasabing paligsahan ay kasunod lamang ng unang parte ng Pintig ng Lahi bilang pagdiriwang sa Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa na may temang “Wika Natin Ang Daang Matuwid”

Para sa kumpetisyon ng sabayang pagbigkas, 10 na paaralan ang nagtunggali. Ito ay ang mga sumusunod: Pagsanjan National High School; Los Baños National High School; Canossa Colleges – San Pablo; Morning Star Montessori School Inc; Mater Dei Academy – Tagaytay City; Calamba Bayside National High School; Alaminos National High School; Our Lady of Peace School – Antipolo, Rizal; University of Rizal System – Morong; at Mater Ecclesiae.

Sa tagisan ng galing sa Sabayang Pagbigkas, nanalo ng unang gantimpala ang Calamba Bayside National High School. Sinundan sila ng University of Rizal System-Morong (Pangalawang Gantimpala) at Our Lady of Peace School-Antipolo, Rizal (Ikatlong Gantimpala). Pinarangalan ng tropeyo, katumbas na pera bilang pa-premyo, at sertipiko ang mga paaralang nanalo sa paligsahang ito.

Ang mga mag-aaral Calamba Bayside National High School, ang itinangghal na kampeon sa sabayang pagbikas.

Ang mga hurado para sa Sabayang Pagbigkas ay sina G. Joey Ting, G. Kristofer Abe Pojas at Atty. Maria Joy Karen Adraneda-Filio

Sa panayam sa isa sa mga punong abala sa Pintig ng Lahi na si Maria Regina Regalado, binanggit niya na sa sabayang pagbigkas at tradisyunal na sayawang Pilipino, maipapakita ng mga estudyante ang pagkamalikhain nila at ang pagmamahal nila sa sariling kultura. Natutuwa siya na maraming estudyante parin ang sumusuporta sa sayaw Pilipino at ipinahayag na hindi natin dapat hayaang maging parte na lamang libro at kasaysayan ito.“Habang pinapanood sila alam mong hindi lang nila basta kinabisa ang piyesang ibinigay sa kanila, sa bawat pagtatanghal nila mararamdaman mo ang oras na kanilang ginugol para makapagtanggal ng maganda. Lahat ng mga kalahok ay magagagling at nabigyan nila ito ng magandang interpretasyon,” idinagdag niya.

Sa Tradisyunal na Sayawang Pilipino naman, 8 na paaralan ang naglaban-laban. Ito ay ang: Pagsanjan National High School; Los Baños National High School; Mater Dei Academy – Tagaytay City; Calamba Bayside National High School; Alaminos National High School; Our Lady of Peace School – Antipolo, Rizal; University of Rizal System – Morong; at Mater Ecclesiae.

Ang mga mag-aaral ng University of Rizal System sa kanilang pagtatanghal ng Igorot Cordillera.

Nakamit ng University of Rizal System-Morong ang unang gantimpala, sinunandan sila ng Calamba Bayside National High School na nakakuha ng ikalawang parangal at Mater Ecclesiae na napalanunan ang ikatlong gantimpala. Ang nakakuha ng gantimpala ay pinarangalan ng P10,000, tropeyo, at sertipiko; ang ikalawang gantimpala ay binigyan ng P5,000, tropeyo, at sertipiko; samantalang ang ikatlong gantimpala ay hinandugan ng P3,000, tropeyo, at sertipiko.

Nagsilbing hurado sa paligsahang ito sina Bb. Denise Anne Mallari, Bb. Joanne Cerille Calapine, and G. Joelino Lapitan.

Ang Pintig ng Lahi ay nagbibigay daan para maipakita ng kabataan ang importansya at pagmamahal para sa sariling wika at kultura. Layunin din nitong tipunin ang mga mag-aaral ng CALABARZON upang maipakita ang kanilang natatagong galing at talento sa pagsusulat ng tula, paggawa ng poster, sabayang pagbigkas, at sa tradisyunal na sayawang Pilipino.