University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila and De Lasalle University – who are still unfamiliar with these names?
Every year, hunting for a good college is but a common craze for every student in the Philippines. Young people have filled their minds of idealistic college lives, and so they want to spend it in a prestigious university. Apparently, these universities always come to their minds first, probably followed by the University of Sto. Tomas (UST), Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), Far Eastern University (FEU), and the like.
But why is it?
The area of Metro Manila is almost crammed with different universities and colleges, which have mushroomed from different spots in the place. Most of them are named after a certain saint or some heroes a long time ago. Interestingly, some of these universities near Intramuros, such as the Lyceum of the Philippines and the Colegio de San Juan de Letran, have maintained their nostalgic environment. They always refresh the people’s memories of our country’s history.
However, schools, a lot like people, also have their own “personalities”. Aside from their individual “missions and visions”, they also have their styles and their own designs. These schools also come with different sizes!
Also near the Intramuros area is a school that is not so known to many. Some are familiar with the paper it publishes, but oftentimes they still ask, “Does it really have a school?”
The school is The Manila Times School of Journalism. Take out the “School of Journalism”, and that is the only name familiar to most of the people.
Established on October 11, 1898, the Manila Times has since been a witness to, and a part of the Philippine history. The Manila Times School of Journalism was instituted sometime in 2003. It is located at the fourth floor of the Manila Times building at 371 A.Bonifacio Drive, Port Area, Manila.
Its aged façade shows how long this building has been at service. People may see it as a small and old building. It may not look as something very competitive against other colleges because of its population of less than a hundred, but this has gained some advantages. With all its facilities, such as the television studio, video cameras and radio booth, the students have their hands-on training.
Of all the existing schools in our country, few are only offering a specialized course, and this could be a plus factor for a student’s training. A person’s prestige and success do not depend on what school he graduates from, but on how he is trained and on how he used his training after he gets out of school.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Love beyond the Golden Years
by: Rachel C. Barawid
From across a packed room, I noticed a woman silently crying in a corner as couples huddled close to each other and gamely danced to the music.
I approached her and asked what the problem was. Guillerma Kabache pointed to a couple in front of her and confided that he was her boyfriend. He broke up with her and was now dancing with another woman. Guillerma is 80 years old. Alberto Garcia, her 60-year-old ex-beau replaced her for someone four years younger than her.
Another love triangle almost came to a violent end. 72-year-old Querubin Apolion nearly engaged in a fight with Siony Ramirez over one man, 87-year-old Victor Fernades. Her jealousy could have caused some chaos had she not been taken home by her family.
True tales of love, jealousy and controversies such as these still abound at the Luwalhati ng Maynila, a home for the aged at the Manila Boys’ Town Complex in Parang, Marikina.
Never too old for love
Lonely and bereft of love, these elderly people who have mostly been abandoned by their families, find more than a home in this institution. They find love, happiness and fulfillment in the arms of strangers who share the same fate. Many of them, widowed or separated from their spouses, discover love the second time around. Despite being in their twilight years and confined in this institution, these people prove that it’s never too late or too old to fall in love again.
Of the 222 residents living here, eight are couples, according to Cita Riomalos, officer-in-charge of the Home for the Aged. She believes there may be more but may have chosen to keep their relationships a secret from them.
She said they are not prohibiting their elderly residents from getting into an intimate relationship with each other because it is still part of their basic needs despite their age. However, she disclosed that they were forced to prohibit too much intimacy due to concerns about the health of the residents, which may be endangered by overly strenuous physical contact.
The joys of loving
Nevertheless, Victor and 48-year-old Siony still manage to spend quality time with each other. After finishing their daily tasks at the institution, the couple finds time to chat, do things together, and reaffirm their love for each other. Despite being wrinkled and toothless, the tall and mestizo-looking Victor still has that suave character that has swept women --- one wife and five mistresses --- off their feet. But when asked about his wife, Victor said he has chosen to forget her and his children after their separation eight years ago. Victor would rather talk animatedly about his former jobs as a dance instructor and businessman from Davao selling various merchandise including pirated DVDs.
His partner Siony, on the other hand, is the youngest resident in the institution. She is still reeling from the painful experience of being separated from her children. Her in-laws took them away from her one day and she never saw them since then. She said that she misses her children very much and would like to return to their home in Tacloban, Leyte if she had the chance. Victor tries to ease that longing and sadness Siony feels by being more affectionate and amusing her with his incredible dancing stunts.
Stealing time
Alberto Garcia, meanwhile, tried to convince me that he did not have any relationship with the woman crying in the corner. "She is just a friend," he said mischievously.
Alberto has 14 children, four from his wife and the remaining 10 from 10 other women.
He gestured to 76-year-old Estrella Advincula who he said is his one true love. Both separated from their spouses, the two met and fell in love inside the institution and have been inseparable ever since. But since that rule on too much public display of affection was imposed, the couple had to make do with short chats and less time together. But when there are visitors, he reveals that he steals a few kisses and hugs while their caretakers are not looking.
"I like it when there are visitors because that is the only time I can hug and kiss my love," says this former male gigolo who worked as a macho dancer for 10 years.
From across a packed room, I noticed a woman silently crying in a corner as couples huddled close to each other and gamely danced to the music.
I approached her and asked what the problem was. Guillerma Kabache pointed to a couple in front of her and confided that he was her boyfriend. He broke up with her and was now dancing with another woman. Guillerma is 80 years old. Alberto Garcia, her 60-year-old ex-beau replaced her for someone four years younger than her.
Another love triangle almost came to a violent end. 72-year-old Querubin Apolion nearly engaged in a fight with Siony Ramirez over one man, 87-year-old Victor Fernades. Her jealousy could have caused some chaos had she not been taken home by her family.
True tales of love, jealousy and controversies such as these still abound at the Luwalhati ng Maynila, a home for the aged at the Manila Boys’ Town Complex in Parang, Marikina.
Never too old for love
Lonely and bereft of love, these elderly people who have mostly been abandoned by their families, find more than a home in this institution. They find love, happiness and fulfillment in the arms of strangers who share the same fate. Many of them, widowed or separated from their spouses, discover love the second time around. Despite being in their twilight years and confined in this institution, these people prove that it’s never too late or too old to fall in love again.
Of the 222 residents living here, eight are couples, according to Cita Riomalos, officer-in-charge of the Home for the Aged. She believes there may be more but may have chosen to keep their relationships a secret from them.
She said they are not prohibiting their elderly residents from getting into an intimate relationship with each other because it is still part of their basic needs despite their age. However, she disclosed that they were forced to prohibit too much intimacy due to concerns about the health of the residents, which may be endangered by overly strenuous physical contact.
The joys of loving
Nevertheless, Victor and 48-year-old Siony still manage to spend quality time with each other. After finishing their daily tasks at the institution, the couple finds time to chat, do things together, and reaffirm their love for each other. Despite being wrinkled and toothless, the tall and mestizo-looking Victor still has that suave character that has swept women --- one wife and five mistresses --- off their feet. But when asked about his wife, Victor said he has chosen to forget her and his children after their separation eight years ago. Victor would rather talk animatedly about his former jobs as a dance instructor and businessman from Davao selling various merchandise including pirated DVDs.
His partner Siony, on the other hand, is the youngest resident in the institution. She is still reeling from the painful experience of being separated from her children. Her in-laws took them away from her one day and she never saw them since then. She said that she misses her children very much and would like to return to their home in Tacloban, Leyte if she had the chance. Victor tries to ease that longing and sadness Siony feels by being more affectionate and amusing her with his incredible dancing stunts.
Stealing time
Alberto Garcia, meanwhile, tried to convince me that he did not have any relationship with the woman crying in the corner. "She is just a friend," he said mischievously.
Alberto has 14 children, four from his wife and the remaining 10 from 10 other women.
He gestured to 76-year-old Estrella Advincula who he said is his one true love. Both separated from their spouses, the two met and fell in love inside the institution and have been inseparable ever since. But since that rule on too much public display of affection was imposed, the couple had to make do with short chats and less time together. But when there are visitors, he reveals that he steals a few kisses and hugs while their caretakers are not looking.
"I like it when there are visitors because that is the only time I can hug and kiss my love," says this former male gigolo who worked as a macho dancer for 10 years.
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