The recent pop issue of Janine Tugonon’s break-up has shaped the media. The twitter, a micro blogging hub, infused the issue into mainstream trends for a couple of days. This was the time that I was reading Gayatri Spivak’s “Can the subalterns speak?” while contemplating on definition approaches of the contemporary western philosophy.  As of yesterday, I have noticed a handful of memes depicting the sensational break-up in a comical burlesque manner. The memes takes a big share on the interest of the people for two things.

               

        First, they are idols of the pop culture - Janine Tugonon, Jaypee Santos and Danny O’Donoghue. Their actions, especially for fanatics, are often held newsworthy even if it doesn't concern the betterment of our nation. Their becoming ‘newsworthy’ is more of them ‘being’ sources of entertainment. 

                Second, the events leading to the break-up and the break-up itself are reflections of the reality of the common men. To better describe its emphatic reality, I have decided to divide the reflections in two, sounding more like fraternal twins. The initial reality is the lesser concern. In this, we relate the break up as an image of a past experience or even a present one. I pity you. Kidding. We are entertained to the fact that it happened to us. We have been left alone by our partners. Note that alienation due to break up, is a very serious concern especially when mutual feelings has been grounded concretely over time and experiences. The same goes to those loved ones have already departed or simply a friendship ending with parting ways. The issue therefore plays a cathartic role between and among the general audience.

                Now, the idea of the Tugonon-Santos break-up is established as an abstraction of reality and a cathartic event. Let us better delve into the deep seated psyche on the Filipino. It would be tautologous to recall that our nation has been colonized for a span of years by three various nations of different continents. Now, we are undergoing a period of post-coloniality for the fact that we have formerly been subsumed by Spain, America and Japan. In post colonial criticism there are two main characters the colonizers and the subalterns. These colonizers are imperial in nature; they impose their dominion over  small countries in various methods. Spain conquered us for the pseudo goal of evangelization. America seemingly extended their help, as politically renowned bastion of power, to their little brown brothers. Japan grappled Philippines for the establishment of the ‘Greater East Asia Co Prosperity Sphere.'

                The other characters are the sub-alterns. Technically, sub-alterns are the people of post colonial lands. Spivak noted that through the course of time the notion of sub-alterns has been vague. They have been the receivers of the western produced cultural hegemony basing on Gramsci’s perspective. She simply defined sub-alterns as people who don’t get the just portion of the pie. Therefore the oppressed but not necessarily impoverished. Men who rule the country’s corporate world are also oppressed in a sense that their corporate capacity needs a blessing from the western companies.        

                Janine Tugonon and Jaypee Santos are living a stable mutual love until Danny O’Donoghue came into the picture. Whether Danny lifted a finger or not to have at least a communication with Tugonon, his colonial dominion spurred as he is of Caucasian descent and a cultural idol on a borderless scale. O’Donoghue’s colonial influence breaks not even sub-altern’s relationship but the Filipino courting tradition or simply the male-female communication. In a traditionally acceptable sense, male should primary initiate communication with a female. But in the alleged stories, Tugonon was the one who went to O’Donoghue. The Script vocalist suggested to converse in Twitter. And the events went forth.

                                Inevitably, Jaypee will experience insecurity. He will probably have this inner question, “Who am I compared to a Script vocalist?” This insecurity will therefore give rise to a dilemma of trust versus mistrust. And this dilemma will destabilize the relationship. Janine Tugonon, by force of media, becomes a jargon for leaving behind a loved one and in a deeper sense leaving for a subjectively ‘better one’ due to a post colonial mentality. And the meme trend is propelled by our empathy as subalterns.

                In a parallel idea, Jaypee who worked for build a relationship with Tugonon is conceptually isolated. Danny who simply enjoys the perks of his colonizer descent and his world fame takes Tugonon. This is similar to the wealth distribution of our country - not only unequal but gravely scarce in the part of the workers and immensely overflowing in the part of the elite.

                Certainly, this question will appear to us, “Majajanine Tugonon kaya ako?” No one is an exemption especially to a post colonial nation. But if we defy neocolonial influence, we will obtain a stable relationship. At a larger scale the country will improve as well.

             

             During the past few weeks, I have devoted much of my on digging horror films. I was trapped in a pile of movies to a point where I can’t choose what to watch or what to watch first. Summer makes me a lot shallow indeed. During school days, I am accustomed to choose between having the Occasional Paper before reviewing for Structure of English. It was crap. You’re torn between two major pillars and the question is… where to be scourged first.

                This intense dilemma is to be taken with full consideration and mediation, as if I am in a Conclave voting for the right Shepherd. Mediation is a time termite that tends to consume my working hour for both the Occasional Paper and Structure of English.  But in summer, dilemmas are off to the usual weight of school days yet it still takes an entire span of attention. Questions meddle from going to bath what time which ends to showering at midnight. Sometimes I vow to read one book on inspiration for a tougher spirituality. The feeling becomes elevated, I begin perspiring. I stop in the fear of an emotional breakdown. As my eyes scroll deeper and deeper into the bottom of the page, the fear exacerbates. My grip on the book was like a snapping alligator. I force myself to stop reading the book. Then I arrive at an internal monologue, “Stop, Ian… stop it!” I induce the idea that my mind, emotion and the whole of my being cannot handle the ideas or scenes in the book. As I close the book and leave the chapters that almost changed the course of my life, I suddenly realize I am reading a novel with a handful of murder scenes not quite inspirational. 

                As the summer approaches, I have with me this distinct grin. The grin that promises that I can do what I want – Writing. I picture summer as the ultimate liberation as if I were an Israelite freed from making Egyptian pyramids and other queer statues. Liberation from the school related works on the risk of burning brow and even money. This imagery of a writing spree vacation becomes fantasy staying on mind. The fantasy becomes too beneficial instead of being a waste of time. It serves as my daily motivation to work at the last drop of my blood for the school year. When you’re at this age the highest award you want is not an academic distinction or money. It’s the vacation that matters (at least for me). It’s the carrot that the dumb donkey is wandering for.

                When summer shocks you, it overwhelms! Too overwhelming I stick against the fantasy. I resort to sleeping. As a result I change my body clock’s landscape. I become nocturnal. Then, I question the existence of a body clock. Personally, the summer shock ruins every plan I have in mind, the longed fantasy. Instead of writing, I shut myself to darkness. And the bad thing of sleeping for a lengthy duration is waking up catatonic. I’m like the Walking Dead extra. I don’t care of the people around me. My brain seems to be shaken… it has a different weight. I assert for an earth of myself. My mood is like expired juice (taste one!) My mind bulb enlightens me. The light leads me to Facebook and Twitter. My day is wasted, to a point of refreshing twitter for interactions or Facebook for notifications. When there’s nothing, I refresh the computer hoping there’s one new feed. Zero! I start to blame the sluggish net.

                School days deprives us of the fitness and the shape we owe to the beauty of nature. It hurts but yes we owe it to nature. My body is too stuck to paper works and studying so begins to bulge. Do I have cancer? I don’t know. One thing in mind, I need to exercise. I take the mindset of waking up early for a jog the following day. This tomorrow turns to be stationary till the school days break its silence. The fitness summer fails and I gain more weight.  

                I have also this agitation that I want to meet my classmates urgently to share my shameful summer shocks. Tell them I saw a long list of horror films and I wasn’t able to watch even one. I really miss  all classmates of different levels of profundity: stupid, more stupid and most stupid. You just want to talk with them, hoping they have silly stories too.  

                Summer is not still consumed by time. I hope to get more fun with it. Have a life. 

I still don’t know why I arrived at this eleven people. I don’t even know how this will appear to them. Surely, this could be the cheapest graduation gift to these awesome people. For two years of knowing them, I believe this is too late to express how I picture them and too early to serve as a eulogy or any other necrological memento. Kidding. Before I ruin or deify their reputation, thanks for everything and good luck. Be the Teachers the country needs!

Eman Barrameda

                He’s not stupid, he just looks like one. Let’s start with his name. ‘Emmanuel’ which means God is with us. Too ironic because when you talk with him, there’s no slight godly with his words – purely sarcasm. Kuya Emman is sarcastic enough that you can’t distinguish his truth and lies. I was shocked to arrange the names alphabetically; I found out that his biblical name came first. This shouldn’t have happened; I intended to make him last.

                Kuya Emman is the most creative person I’ve ever met - too creative that his teacher axed him in math. He draws very well than a fifth grader, I mean a fifth year architecture student. Of course this is a joke. Writing is his passion; prove me wrong and look at his penmanship. He dreams that paragraphs may be toggle cased and centered.  Kidding aside, he is an awarded creative writer. He blogs his works at emanumulat.blogspot.com.  

Associated Word: Balikwas/Escjuly

Donat S.G Belza

                I would have a handful of praises for her, but I have little adjectives in the chart so I’d better ridicule her. Ate Donat (Not doughnut as if asking for one) is the woman that Woolf, Bronte and Stowe would dream for – fierce, audacious, intellectual and critical. She spearheads work with a combo of optimism and hard work. She joggles time efficiently that nothing is missed. She is a complete opposite of Kuya Emman, Ate Donat has an enduring sense of structure, formality and conformity. Her creativity would meddle in conventions- sentence cased and justified.

                But aloof from this formal savvy character is a diehard fan. In my whole life, I have seen such fanaticism (not including my Sharonian mom). Ate Donat would unfailingly strengthen her linkages to other popsters (Sarah Geronimo’s followers) and collaborate to catapult Sarah G to the twitter trends.  She was lately fantasized Niki Minaj for a reason which I still don’t know. Beware she might influence you. The next thing you know you may be a poster or a stupid hoe.

Associated Word: Noteworthy

Conrad Besana

                This long time swimming team member goes with every batch’s craze. He trains depending on his mood. Obviously, I follow this leader. I also train depending on zodiac signs. Kuya Conrad is a good freestyler who accommodates speed and grace since he is a former member of Kislap.   

                He promised to give us doughnuts next SCUAA. Thanks in advance.

Associated Word: Efficascent Oil

Emma Bolasco

                She has a lot of money. I don’t know why. When I see her, she seems to own affluence. Maybe because of her trendy skirts, I still cannot reckon. I got to know Ate Emma when we had our presentation in Prof. Tugbo’s Mythology and Folklore. She willingly arranged our whole play which turned out to be promising. This was pro bono. When Elaine Quinto and I were in a press overnight, she called to ensure that we must rest for tomorrow’s practice. Seldom do I meet people with such care.

                Ate Emma helped us because she was saddened their batch’s parting ways. She takes affection to time ripened closeness.

P.S She is the long lost daughter of James Joyce.   

Associated Word: Thespian

Chris Charlon Buzon

                I have little memories and thoughts of Kuya Chris but most of them are great. Needless to say, he was the ‘Kuya’ of 1-7 (my freshmen block). He trained the class for the Cheer dance competition. Our group was a bundle of good dancers with some estranged synchrony. But he would find a way to concretize order. There were times when the class was in drought of finance, he would still teach us pro bono. But the pro bono has conditions – practice whole heartedly and be on time. When he sets a 7 AM call time, he will arrive at 6AM. Then, I realized on time is before the time. Thank God, we ranked second.

                The second quarter was a lot different. Kuya Chris who used to be our dancing mentor became my teammate in Swimming. Despite being an active member of the PNU PEP Squad, he still commits to this successive water activity. He literally sprints in land, water and air. Kuya Chris without doubt is a kinesthetic genius.

Associated Word: Mushroom      

Geraldine Grace Garcia

                Miss Grace appreciates both the beauty of words and numbers. As a math major she has a strict sense for thrift that utilizes the very cent of every PNUAN. I, for one, would witness her frugal efforts at the littlest detail even if the difference may cost her ten pesos.

                She taught us not to be purely attentive to the academic life and take time to serve others while enjoying of limited stay in the University. Despite her thrift, she owns a long list of stories that cannot be drained. And it’s as if she’s a talking diary of herself.

Associated Word: FR   

April Hermoso

                The girl on fire.  Ate April was the president of the most (so far) promising Circulus Literati batch. I regularly see her as an adamant critic of everything smelly and fishy. I commend her leadership.

Associated Word: CL/U-Shirt

Ethel Jordan

                Dedicated. A friend noted her undying love for service without expecting any benefit or consolation. She’s randomly organized and engaged in fruitful discussions 24/7. Her thought is located beyond, sometimes I think of her as a mystic. She is a mystic who can reconcile both logic and theory. Her vigilance is astounding, a true embodiment of journalism – big nose for big news. Without the luxury of time, she snatches some to speak with us individually. She carries out reason in every advice she offers to a lost soul.

                I could never fathom how she arrives to this level of service. Her work lingers to the benefit of many but doesn’t build a reputation from it. I hope to have (even a bit) her profound humility and dedication.

Associated Word: Triangle                                                                                                    

Cherry Magundayao

                Ate Cherry, the ever brilliant writer who catches the heart of a handful of Literature majors. Her manner of writing possesses clarity and content. I would always, even in my coffin, view her as good mentor. She has a very passionate way of connecting and reaching others. Ms. Palawan has a lot of stories especially on good read books.

                Sometimes she’s like a supermodel. Elegantly gaudy clothes. Somehow sexy body. Changing eye color (cat’s eyes). Cool. She survived a Palawan adventure.

Associated Word: Flambeaux

Merrose Leynes

                She was the class’ (1-7) partner-in-crime during our 2:30-4:00 Humanities period. Her announcement could make or break our day. She makes our day by saying that the teacher is out and we can evacuate the school early.  She ruins our day when she announces another pile of work. I remember when Ate Mae would encourage our class to thrive over the obstacles. She would share her happy life with her energized classmates.

                Aside from this, she also rules the theatre in many ways – acting, singing and even selling tickets. Her humor is never tarnished. Ate Mae would always make everyone smile.

Associated Word: STA/Humanities/Tickets

Jezelle Joy Pineda

                The Female dancer of the Year. She was the ever radiant swimming teammate. While swimming, she still seems to be dancing. Ate Joy-joy is very petit woman who houses a lot of talents. I don’t even know where she takes her energy needed to sustain every activity she has. Sadly, our bond was cut short when I she focused on her leadership in Kislap Sining Dance Troupe.

Associated Word: Dancer

I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore, that I can do or any kindness I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it for I shall not pass this way again.

–Stephen Grellet