Fatal Attraction

Isla Verde Boulevard, located in a corner in the city of Davao, is where our Moro brothers and sisters lived in abject poverty. Upon entering the area, voices coming from a row of “tri-sikad” drivers would call your attention. Some of them look just my age and I doubt if they’re doing these stuffs, straining their legs, just for a pastime. Along the way, me and a friend of mine who goes by the name of Mau, directly observed and evidently witnessed in the flesh how the poor have been consciously and unconsciously discriminated, oppressed, stereotyped, and marginalized. Critical to the picture are the poor Filipino children who are supposed to live in a home where their daily basic needs are well-provided and to be exposed in an environment that is beneficial for their personal growth and development. Giving me such pre-manifestations leads me to the purpose of our immersion to Isla Verde. Actually, I volunteered to be a part of the Monitoring Committee for the Fourth Year Theology students of the the Ateneo under the advisory of Mr. Nelson Manego, a soft-spoken dude yet a hardcore advocate of social injustice

With the guidance of Ate Ada, a Muslim woman of the locality, the approximately 160 Ateneans were able to visit the household who opened their doors for us (since some have refused to accept us upon knowing we’re “Ateneans”) and be able to listen to their stories in life, their opinions about anything and their grievances of sorts. Since it was a Moro community, everyone seemed to adorn halos over their heads. I don’t know. Maybe because everyone was aware of the news of a person who was shot-killed in the same place yesterday or maybe there’s an enduring stereotypical notion among Ateneans that Moros are terrorists. Absurd! A few took the immersion seriously, a lot don’t really care. “Grades lang kaya habol ko dito ok!” A few gathered the kids, a lot ditch them! “Eww! Ang babaho kaya!”

After we’ve taken our lunch, me and my co-volunteers (Mau, Sheena, Yami and Ikki) had a very serious synthesis as a wrapping-up mechanism for today’s activity. First,we talked about why there is poverty, what are its roots and how to put up a fight on it. Our discussion, which was intellectually rigid (epistaxis!), ranged from economic and political determinism to world history and to how the Marxist view on religion became a turning point to other underlying topics we later discussed. Second, we argued  about how charity would promote perpetual dependence of the people and how unsustainable it would be since it only caters for short-term satisfaction. So we came up with a detailed program for another Sunday at Isla Verde which was aimed at addressing the critical phases to face and to arouse the Ateneans and the community as well as to what is REALLY happening in our society in the light of all the political turmoils and controversies we are currently struggling in. What a fulfilling day for me. Peace out!

Cheerful applauses welcomed the opening of the Ateneo Street Parade ‘08 with the proud gay students of the Ateneo at the forefront. As always, gender was never an issue at the Ateneo. With Fr. Samson looking up to them, they waved confidently and smiled coyly to the well-entertained crowd. There were no signs of any homophobic disgust or even a single noise of cat-calls from the people watching. It only shows that Ateneans don’t really give a damn if you’re straight or gay. At the outset, as long you act like human, you’re worthy of that something most people fail to give, RESPECT.

Tailing after were excited and full-spirited Ateneans, clustering in their respective divisions. Each one has its own set of gimmicks and compositions of cheers and yells that are so unimaginable to hear in a fiesta. “Ibaba ang presyo sa pan!” Each one has its unique fashion statements and flamboyant display of props. But no one could ever beat the loudness, the imaginative creativity and the extravagance of the SBG Division cluster. Parading along the streets in long troops of yellow, propped up with their Japanese anime motif, the SBG Division has proclaimed to the world with pride that their “(My) Favorite Color is Yellow”. The yellow pack includes Super Saiyans-turned-F4, Sailor Moons with black hair, Tuxedo Masks who look like magicians, Pokemon balls with heads and legs, Pinoy version of Yamanbas (Japanese school girls), dark angels, B1 and B2 (kawaii!), Doraemon (super kawaii!), and a tri-sikad pimped with super sound-blasting amplifiers.

No it was not a death march for me since I took a ride with my friends. We watched some “paraders” parting away from the line and turned to the nearest snack bars to grab some bites and drinks. Or if not, took the jeepney, either head directly to the last stop (which was at the Ateneo Matina Campus) or just go home and rest ‘coz I swear to my great grandmother’s ghost!  The distance from Jacinto to Matina was unbelievable to travel using only a pair of legs. I would not go to the parade if not because of my friends’ ride. The seemingly endless walks will suck your breath out, tear up every veins of your body and puff your entire being with dirt and pollution. Some students don’t have any choice even when they prefer not to go. No attendance in the parade, no additional points sort of policy was imposed by most of the teachers. But of course, additional points matter to every students. “May nalang makahila sa akong grado”, said one student who was talking with her friend at my back.

                                                                                 A dance showdown at the Ateneo Matina Sports Complex, which I’m not really fond of watching, kept the spirit of every Ateneans (high school or college) alive. I wonder why there were no Filipino dances presented. I mean we’re Filipinos and we should be dancing Filipino dances not American dances. Whatever! It’s another story. As if we have what we call our own. There were also different sorts of rides in the open field until the sun came down to send me home and blog everything that had happened. Peace out!