Tag: Vignette

Video games are the most interactive form of entertainment you can enjoy on the couch. You can play the hero with any superpowers you want, the villain with more guns than you can imagine and somewhere in between, you can find yourself going on quests helping random people while being just as likely to inflict harm all in your own digital world.

But if you’ve been playing games for some time, you might be already used to the medieval fantasy settings, relentless gunfights, and the company of alien beings. Needless to say, nothing can be truly original. While the lack of originality doesn’t necessarily ruin a game, a little variety doesn’t hurt.With everything that can be brought to life through a computer, there’s bound to be something that isn’t a rehash of what’s been done before. These just don’t get as much buzz and are likely to stay hidden until they are accidentally discovered.

Enter the world of indie games where game developers come together to bring their thoughts to life while creativity is prioritized over marketability.

 

Free to take risks

Developers can easily manipulate a game’s environment to have any rules that can be thought of. Practically playing god to their creations, developers work in an environment that involves a lot of creativity, making the game ideas that could be explored seemingly endless.

However, the video game industry is like any other business. Naturally, there are genres that more people will enjoy and are more likely to make money, and the businesses in charge of the hottest games can easily see this. For example, action-oriented games seem to be the most popular, with sales being topped by names like Call of Duty or Assassin’s Creed, and the industry’s giants like Activision and Ubisoft are more inclined to put out games based around similar concepts or just add sequels to what’s already been done. It’s already evident where the profits are when sales show no sign of going down after a franchise’s nth installment.

These companies have to play safe. Evan Livelo (III, BSCS-ST), who is a game developer himself, believes that although game developers can have an idea of what’s likely to succeed, they can never be sure, especially with something that’s relatively new. Trying something different could succeed, as Livelo cites Grounded, the documentary about the hit game, The Last Of Us. “Initially, Sony gave them a really low mock review and score but when it was released, luckily, it was critically-acclaimed,” he says, but also points out that if the idea doesn’t sell, it could lose enough money to kill a company. He uses the creators of Angry Birds as an example and says “Rovio almost went out of business until they were able to come up with the idea of shooting birds to kill pigs.” There’s just too much to risk for already established publishers to willingly throw the same amount of cash as they do with their popular titles, for the production, publicity, and distribution of something they don’t even know would sell well.

Independent developers, on the other hand, have a lot less to lose. Indie games are characterized by having a small development team with limited funding. They are usually more affordable and are priced considerably cheaper than many of the mainstream games out in the market. While the low priced indie games might not make a huge profit for developers, at least it did not cost its creators any extreme amounts. A game could even be backed by crowdfunding, like Planetary Annihilation, which used Kickstarter to gain funds for various features of the game and raised more than 2 million dollars for its development. Much like how reckless actions come at no consequence in a video game, indie games can afford to be a bit hit or miss.

 

Unexpected success

Staying away from well-known publishers doesn’t mean having a better game of course. John Benedict Javier (III, AB-PLS) says, “You can see that most low budget games that are backed by low quality publishers often have bad gameplay.” He gives the Battlefield series and Mass Effect as high quality franchises from major game developers. On the other hand, he gave Ride to Hell: Retribution and Rogue Warrior from lesser known studios as examples of games which, despite falling under the beloved action-adventure genre, ended up panned by every critic and received review scores averaging at around 1 out of 10.

Out of the thousands of attempts to connect with the right players, only a few click with the majority. With the trend in video games being more about pushing consoles’ hardware capabilities, how can indie games be worth playing? Cool effects and realistic graphics are just some standards in the mainstream that most indie games can’t compete with.

It would seem a good concept could really go a long way for indie games. The best example for this is Minecraft. Minecraft had simple beginnings as a project by just one developer, Markus “Notch” Persson. The game was very simple and had unusual graphics that seemed to go backwards and away from what current games are building towards, yet it attracted so many players that its developer managed to start his own video game company.

The great thing about indie games seems to be how they can find success, not by being better than the mainstream’s standards, but by creating their own. Indie games are able to touch those genres that are less visited. A good example of this is the success of developers in the horror genre with games like Amnesia: The Dark Descent and Outlast. Mr. Livelo also gives Spelunky, a 2D platformer released in 2009, as an example of this. According to him, “A game like Spelunky would not have been accepted by a Triple-A publisher, but the success it gained was undeniable.” It’s in this freedom from attempting to appeal to every player where the beauty of unrestricted game development can be explored.

 

There’s a game for everyone

Still, most of the sales are going to the stronger publishers. What’s better than an indie game’s potential for success with a new idea is that whatever indie developers make is a contribution to the art of video games. They make it possible for even more games, hence more choices for players.

Mainstream or not, the most successful games are what appeal to more people. What independent developers provide is an experience for the individual. Almost anyone who has spent time with a controller has been a superhero, a sports icon, and of course, a soldier at some point. Fewer gamers have gotten to be a baby whose rampant imagination sees everything in a terrifying way like in Among the Sleep. There are even more experiences out there that someone wants to find. Gaming is still a form of art, like a movie or a painting, with a more visible interaction with the artists’ minds. It might not appeal to everyone, but you’ll never know what you could find until you go searching.

In modern culture, perhaps nothing represents the zenith of success more than a superstar band. The seemingly bottomless pit of wealth, universal popularity, and the lure of being paid to do what many consider as fun is the dream of many. But if it’s too much of a good thing, it’s probably not going to last. With the songs that made them famous and the reason they called it quits, recounted here are bands that have made a huge impact on the music scene (both locally and internationally) and the tragic stories behind their dissolution. After all, the show looks effortless to an audience who fails to catch a glimpse of what happens behind the scenes.

 

Led Zeppelin: Death by vodka

With their heavy riffs and blues background, the band skyrocketed to fame in the early 70’s. From their fourth album, Led Zeppelin IV, comes one of their most recognizable tunes, Stairway to Heaven. All was going well for the band as they were the living embodiment of the phrase, sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll. John Bonham, though, was a family man, and often brought home dolls from different countries to give to his children. And one day, the three other members awoke to horrifying news; John Bonham was dead. He had consumed approximately 40 shots of Vodka, too much for him to handle so much so that he vomited and died, drowning in his own vomit. That was the end of Led Zeppelin- the remaining band mates went their separate ways; Singer Robert Plant became a solo artist and collaborated with other musicians and bassist John Paul Jones becamse part of a group called ‘Them Crooked Vultures.’

 

Eagles: Checking out of the Hotel California

Controversial or not, the eerie guitar chords and haunting lyrics of Hotel California are arguably one of the Eagles’ most recognizable work. Rising to popularity in the late 70’s, the band was plagued by unfortunate irreconcilable differences between members. Don Henley and Glenn Frey were of strong personalities, Jon Walsh was a drunk, Timothy Schmidt simply went with the flow, and Don Felder, the guitarist, was fed up with everything. But the last straw came when in 1980, the wife of Senator Alan Cranston appeared at a show. Felder, who disliked the thought of the band being involved in politics, coldly told her, “Nice to meet you…I guess.” This sent Frey into a terrible rage, in which they argued, even while performing on stage. And for 14 years, the band never played again.

 

Nirvana: The end of teen spirit

Although the band had already been experiencing disagreements regarding the splitting of profits from their album Nevermind, the death of lead singer Kurt Cobain was the real reason for the break-up. It was on April 8, 1994 that Cobain’s body was found lying limp in his house with a gun on his chest. A suicide note was also discovered, in which the author of the note discloses the sad workings of a troubled mind. Although suicide is the most widely accepted explanation for his death, some of Cobain’s close friends believe that he was murdered. Whether it be murder or suicide, the band split, with Krist Novoselic playing in other bands before getting into politics, and Dave Grohl forming the Foo Fighters and eventually joining ‘Them Crooked Vultures’ with John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin.

 

Eraserheads: Graduated

Now, let’s talk about a band closer to home: Eraserheads. Considered as one of the most successful bands in the OPM scene, most 90s kids would recall their fun, free, and sometimes relatable songs. The quartet composed of Ely Buendia, Buddy Zabala, Raimund Marasigan, and Marcus Adoro became famous for their hits, “Pare Ko” and “Huling El Bimbo” among others.

After releasing seven studio albums, four EPs and demos, plus a few compilations, Ely Buendia decided to leave the band. In a magazine interview with his wife and manager, Diane Ventura, Eraserheads’ breakup was allegedly because of a miscommunication with a roadie, resulting to Buendia being late for a gig. The incident caused a stir among his bandmates as they brought the issue to their band manager, Butch Dans, who then took the side of the roadie. Buendia told his bandmates through SMS about his decision to leave. In another interview, Adoro tells the story of the cryptic text message, stating that Buendia said that he had already “graduated.”

The remaining three members decided to continue, recruiting a female vocalist named Kris Gorra-Dancel. However, after a few months, Adoro decided to leave the band as well. The rest still continued; Diego Mapa and Ebe Dancel were then added to the band and they renamed the group Cambio. Despite the dramatic breakup, Eraserheads got back together in reunion concerts held last 2008 and 2009.The band is currently working on new material together as they announced two new songs titled “1995” and “Sabado.”

 

Bamboo: All things change

Any OPM rock fan can definitely recall this band named after the strong and durable grass plant. Four years after separating from Rivermaya, former bandmates Bamboo Mañalac and Nathan Azarcon reunited and formed the indie-rock band Bamboo together with Ira Cruz and Vic Mercado. They are famous for their songs Hallelujah, Noypi, Tatsulok, and Masaya. Their breakup happened in 2011. Rumors of the disbanding started when KC Montero tweeted that the band “has officially called it quits.” This was confirmed when the band made an official statement on their website, including, “So here we go—IT’S OFFICIAL—THE BAND—IT’S OVER.” They didn’t disclose any reason for the breakup, but they ended the statement saying, “This is not goodbye.” Currently, frontman Mañalac is pursuing a solo career and is a judge on The Voice of the Philippines and The Voice Kids.

 

Orange and Lemons: Differences

Any kid who grew up in the 2000s can remember Pinoy Ako, the theme song of the most famous reality show in the Philippines, Pinoy Big Brother. The band behind it is composed of BulakeñosMcoy Fundales, Clementine Castro, JM Del Mundo, and Ace Del Mundo. Aside from Pinoy Ako, some of their other hit songs include Abot Kamay, Hanggang Kailan (Umuwi Ka Na Baby), and “Yakap Sa Dilim” (originally by APO Hiking Society). Last 2007, it was reported by Inquirer.net that the band had broken up. The reason stated for the disbanding were the differences between the members and the managers. Lead guitarist Castro, created his own band, The Camerawalls after being kicked out of Orange and Lemons. Meanwhile, the remaining band members formed a new band called Kenyo.

***

As the saying goes, even the best fall down sometimes. But in this case, most of these great bands called it quits for good. Even though some didn’t expect the “end,” while the others anticipated it, they all have one thing in common: they will always have a special place in their fans’ hearts, who still sing their hearts out and dance to the beat of their drums when they hear their songs. They may have gone their separate ways but their legacy will forever remain in music history.

 

 

 

 

For us Lasallians, there is no climate that we will ever love and hate more than the rainy days.

On one hand, we are given this season to snug up on our favorite hoodies, fill our stomach with steaming cups of caffeine, and venture our hearts (with caution) for that droplet chance for class suspension. But on the other hand, we are covered with endless dirt that is conveniently in liquid form, left to experience all stages of depression inside our cars—and let’s not get started on losing our Wi-Fi.

But no worries, TheLaSallian has you covered with these cozy tracks that should warm those freezing toes, accompany that cup of English Breakfast, and help lessen that insanity behind the wheels. Just be sure you remember to charge this time.

Rainy Day Playlist from maxpowersisboss on 8tracks Radio.

 

1. When it’s raining while the sun is out

Cue: Sunday Morning – Maroon 5

Okay, we have to admit that this is as cliché as it could get. That’s why we ask that you hear us out before you start skipping the track.

We know that you’ve probably played this a million times; heck you’re probably playing it right now. But when have you actually played this song the right way? C’mon, you didn’t think this song was on full-effect while you were blasting this during accounting practice or when you were smoking alone in Agno? The beauty of this song lies on moments of pure unexpected joy, those little times where imperfection seems perfect……or maybe it just fits cause rain is falling in the morning.

 

2. When the lights go out

Cue: Officially missing you – Tamia

A wise man once said that life is a constant struggle from the time we are born until our inevitable demise. But that dude had no idea of the far greater struggle that we experience during blackouts.

From the sudden strike of disbelief to the denial that we feel as we turn the switch on and off; until we accept the facts and start fumbling for those ten-year old candles as we sweat all our body’s fluids in the dark. Let this reminiscent track help us cope with the post-traumatic stress, and give us the time to remember that we never know what we’ve got until it stops giving us Wi-Fi. Literally, ain’t nobody can do it like you.

 

3. Looking outside the pouring rain

Cue: Too Much – Drake ft. Sempha

Just like clockwork, it’s inevitable to feel emotional during this gloomy weather. After all, there isn’t a better time to ponder on those thoughts that we lock inside when we ourselves are cooped in our bedrooms, watching everything get washed away.

It’s also inevitable to wish that all these problems somehow follow the rain down the drain. Allow this telling track to soothe your worrying minds and make you realize that you aren’t the only one with heavy burdens and emotional moments can be overrated. The key here is to not over think.

 

4. When food finally arrives

Cue: Latch (Acoustic) – Sam Smith

I think we can all agree that one of the worst parts of being stuck at home during tremendous downpours is opening the refrigerator door and discovering that you are left to suck on ice cubes until you figure out how to walk on water.

But lo and behold for those few brave men that weather the storm to provide us with our greatly needed rations. Is there any song more fitting as you open the door, grab that brown paper bag, and lift open a little two-piece of heaven. Allow Sammy Smith’s heavenly chops to give justice in that divine moment.

 

5. Being with someone you love during the rain

Cue: Covered in Rain – John Mayer

Granted that rain is a gloomy time for most of us, but it is also perfect for those lucky ones that get to spend such comfortable climate with their significant other.

No more feelings of solitude as you wrap both of you in a big blanket or aimlessly stare at wet windows because now you have someone that you can stare at in all directions. Let this mood-setting track accompany your rainy evening together, as you get covered in love with this extended live version. Psh, Couples.

 

6. Being alone during the rain

Cue: Lithium – Nirvana

Don’t worry, my single friend, we also got you covered. Everyone seems to think that just because it’s raining, we should get with the gloom by playing some Norah Jones or Hoobastank. We are done with this weather making us feel alone, and the standards of rainy music being all mellow.

Shut down popular conceptions and blast this electric track along the thunderclaps as you build a mosh pit in your bed or probably just in your mind. Why feel sad, when you can feel some nirvana, right?

 

7. When the lights go back on

Cue: Baby Be Mine – Quadron

Isn’t it just a wondrous feeling? Gone is the dark that envelops more than just the walls. Say goodbye to all those candles that are probably stuck on your floor by now. And, welcome yourself back to the modern age with this tender tune, as you immediately tweet about how you can tweet once again. Life is back to normal, and more importantly, you are back online. The light is back, and there’s nothing we will need ever again once it’s by our side. Please stay with us until the morning sun.

 

8. When you decide to take a drive during brownouts

Cue: Northern Downpour – Panic! At the Disco

Picking a song for this moment can be compared to choosing the right way to cook pork: every way has its own charm, but it’s nearly impossible to do it wrong. We could’ve went with Jack Joe or maybe some Frankie O, and you can even throw in some Double X when the clouds are pitch black. But seeing how the weather has been lately, you can’t go wrong with some throwback Folk. Let your mind wander alternatively about existentialism and embarrassing high school memories as you try to hit every single puddle on the road.

 

9. …..and you get stuck in asdfghjk traffic.

Cue: Paranoid – Kanye West ft. Mr Hudson

Down to the thumping bass that coincides to your gradually bursting aortas, to the pulsating claps, which you can perfectly synchronize with each stirring wheel slap of frustration. Yes people, Yeezy has your insanity covered with this mad (pun intended) hit. We understand that you’re a nice person, and you don’t often go crazy, which is why it’s okay to indulge this momentary paranoia. But let the song remind you that there are far more important things to worry about before you start complaining how you have the worst life ever inside your warm Honda.

 

      10. That after the rain feeling

Cue: Strawberry Swing – Coldplay

Remember when we were kids and how we begged our parents to let us out of the house when it starts raining? How it didn’t matter if we would end up getting sick or accidentally slipping on the wet grounds, because we knew if it ever the rain got too heavy, shelter was just around the corner?

In college, everyday can definitely feel like a storm. From paper works to personal problems, we are constantly flooded with troubles that can leave us feeling frozen. But we have to try to remember that no matter how heavy the rain might be, sunshine is always next on the playlist.

One last rainy day tip: Always stay close to your shelter, you never know when the rain is going to fall.

 

 

 

 

Plato once said that “Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything,” and he was right. Music does bring that little bit of color to our everyday lives, in the form of art and expression. It serves as that passageway for us to escape our regular realities and explore a new side of ourselves – a side which we may or may not have known of before.

 

For some, their musicality emanates from their own voices while others seek it through various musical instruments. Whatever instrument you choose to use, may it be your own voice or the strings of a guitar, it will distinguish you as an artist.

 

Here, we would like to explore some unusual musical instruments that you may want to consider to express your own musical individuality.

 

The Oboe

 

Many of us have likely heard about the Oboe, but not all of us actually know what it is. Well, picture it this way – remember that beige recorder you were required to buy in grade school? Imagine it longer with a narrower mouth piece and silver keys instead of holes. Then, imagine those keys wrapped around the body of this instrument, and now you’ve got an Oboe.

 

Similar to other wind instruments like the flute or the recorder, the Oboe produces a smooth yet slightly high pitch sound. Typically, this instrument is used in Classical songs; though Youtube musician, Tom Abelis proves this to not-be-so true as he uses an Oboe in his covers of current songs. His renditions of Katy Perry’s Roar and Adele’s Skyfall did not only make him different but it also personalized his performance, thus making him stand out among other cover artists.

 

The Lap Steel Guitar

 

For those of you who were born in the 90s, you probably got a glimpse of an instrument similar to this, through Edd in the television show, Ed, Edd n Eddy. Although Edd’s instrument was a pedal steel guitar, it still possesses similar attributes and characteristics to the lap steel guitar.

 

Like Edd’s pedal steel guitar, the player holds a metal bar on his/her left hand and slides it to change the pitch and adjust the sound; while the right hand plucks the strings to create the music. The sound it produces is quite interesting – it’s similar to that of a normal electric guitar but with a more distinct, country-like sound to it. Australian solo artist, Andrew Winton uses this instrument to individualize himself from other independent musicians. His acoustic cover of Led Zeppelin’s Nobody’s Fault But Mine, using only his double-neck lap steel guitar, did not only allow listeners to enjoy the song in a more bluesy vibe, but it also featured his incredible artistry as both a singer and a musician.

 

The Jazz Bass

Physically, this instrument looks identical to a Cello, but is played through the strumming or the plucking of its strings. Unlike the first two mentioned, this instrument is played upright.

It has a Blues sound to it and would be perfect for any Jazz song, although it rarely goes well with other instruments.  De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde student and longtime musician, Veronica Villanueva, says it’s because an instrument like that calls for a “solo or lead sound” and has “its own sound apart from rhythm.”

The Harmonica

Perhaps you remember it’s portrayal in classic black-and-white Hollywood films. The shady criminal, looking remarkably like Dick Dastardly, brushes the elongated silver instrument across his lips from behind the prison bars. This aforementioned musical device is none other than the harmonica, of which there are two major kinds: the chromatic and diatonic. We shall deal with the latter.

 

Smaller than their chromatic counterparts (used in classical), the diatonic harmonica is famous for being the poster boy of blues instruments. As for its sound, it would be futile to attempt to describe sound perfectly; after all, music begins where words ends. But in order for the reader to appreciate its distinct voice, it is imperative that a little background regarding the instruments usage in American history be understood.

 

Brought to America from Europe in the 19th century, the harmonica took no sides in the Civil war. Instead, it chose to provide solace for both Union and Confederate soldiers alike. It has been the instrument used to express the sorrows and horrors of war that each soldier, regardless of allegiance, have had to endure. But it was not to these soldiers alone that the Harmonica gave voice too.  African Americans protested slavery, the abolition of man’s dignity to nothing more than a beast, in the Harmonica’s wails.

 

And the pneuma of the instrument lives on in the works of great musicians such as Stevie Wonder and Billy Joel, their playing doing justice to the Harmonica’s story of human failings

 

Your voice (Or rather your voice in a helium accident)

 

There is nothing more poignant than the intricately beautiful music of a window breaking, said no one. Maybe it is this association between Opera music and shattering glass that discourages many a person from engaging in the last instrument in this lively list… Your voice.

 

The common notion of Opera singing is of an overweight woman in Viking braids trilling notes so high that it is almost as if she had endured a helium accident. This misconception has done its job of deterring potential Opera singers. But if these potentials were informed of the fact that Opera is more than that, and that it is composed of different types of Opera voices, interest could spark. Some of the types are as follows: for the female, soprano (highest voice), mezzo-soprano (middle), contralto (lowest). For the males, there exists the countertenor (alto), tenor (highest), baritone (the most common), bass (lowest). Each type is unique, and each one has its own charm that lends to the beauty of the song.

 

For it must be remembered that Opera singing is not just music; it is acting. Each kind of voice is the soul of a different character. Thus does Lauretta beg, “Oh my beloved father, I love him!” in one of the most stirring Opera pieces, O Mio Babbino Caro (taken from Giacomo Puccini’s  Gianni Schicchi). And let us not forget that the jazz standard ‘Summertime’ was taken from Porgy and Bess, Gershwin’s opera. For au contraire to popular belief, opera singing is not droll, but alive with diversity, vivacity, and emotion.

 

But in the end, even with the best of instruments, it is the player who brings out the music.

 

Eating is obviously a very important part of Philippine life (or any life for that matter) and it is no different within the confines of the University. The start of a new school year come new places to eat.

Every so often, the student-run Animo Business and Innovation Zone, popularly known as Animo Biz, changes food concessionaires in order to bring variety to the food offered around campus, and to give other students, who may want to experiment with their own ideas, a chance as well.

So what exactly does Animo Biz have in store for students this term?

This school year, there are two kinds of tenants: long-term tenants and short-term tenants. Long-term tenants are those that will take an entire space for a term. On the other hand, short-term tenants will only take up a space for around two weeks, before being taken over by another concessionaire.

 

Long-term tenants

Feel Cool

Feel Cool specializes in authentic Chinese delicacies and desserts. From their name, one can guess that they serve food and drink that cool people off in the sweltering Manila heat. Supposedly, they use various organic ingredients in the preparation of their food, so look out for some of their specialties like the Bing Fen.

 

Shawarma Street

Shawarma Street prides itself in delivering a unique shawarma experience to the University. It serves the classic shawarma mainstays like lamb or beef shawarma, but they also have some of the more crazy combinations like shawarma cheese melt roles. Bringing the taste of the Middle East to the University and making it more accessible to students is something that Shawarma Street seeks to do by providing a cheap outlet for students to get acquainted with Middle Eastern food, particularly shawarma and its various experimentations.

 

The Fresh Pick

The Fresh Pick is geared to a more health conscious style of eating, which is a welcome change with all the fast food that surrounds school. The multitude of healthy options offered by Fresh Pick should be able to bring out the inner health nut of even the most vicious fast food addict.

 

BoGo

BoGo, or Bulgogi on the Go, is an attempt to combine various eastern and western flavors, including various combinations of Korean-Italian and Korean-American dishes that truly aim to keep the palate wanting more. There is an obvious Korean influence which should be exciting as it offers a unique dynamic to the dining landscape in the University.

 

Greek Eats

Bringing Greek cuisine to the university, Greek Eats aims to make the flavors of Greece more accessible to college students by making something a little simpler and a little easier on the wallet. Their specialty are their kebabs drizzled in their original garlic sauce. They also offer rice bowls for quick meals on the go, and pita wedges and fruit cups for quick snacks in between classes.

 

Marley’s Meals

Marley’s Meals is a chicken place that takes inspiration from various styles of cuisine to influence the way they cook their chicken. The original recipe is called Marley’s choice, which is noted for its sweet and salty notes as well as its use of various herbs, spices, and a secret ingredient. Then there is their Asian Marley, which is chicken in teriyaki sauce infused with various Asian herbs and spices. Backyard Marley is their barbeque inspired dish that uses a secret ingredient for added flavor and punch, while Flamin’ Marley is a hotter and spicier variation of their original recipe.

 

Short-term tenants

Nacho Box

Nacho Box specializes in quick and easy Mexican-style snacks. Their specialty is the Nachobox, which is literally nachos in a box filled with tortilla chips, classic Mexican salsa, melted cheese, lettuce, and beef. Another dish to look out for is the Pizzadilla, which is a delicious and cheesy marriage between a pizza and a quesadilla.

 

Wally’s Meals

Wally’s Meals signature offering is their fried chicken. Each of their dishes centers heavily around their fried chicken, which they have worked on tirelessly in order to hone and perfect the flavor. Their fried chicken comes in different flavors and can be paired up with unique rice alternatives.

 

Cookie Bomb

The Cookie Bomb serves unique and imaginative variations on the favorite snack/dessert staple. Combining their ever chewy cookies with various sweet infusions such as Toblerone, Oreos, and Reese peanut-butter cups, the Cookie Bomb will surely satisfy anyone’s sweet tooth. Watch out for their famous and highly addictive cookie shots that will surely have everyone wanting more.

 

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These concessionaires serve as a great litmus test for student entrepreneurs in the sense that they can get some experience and feeling when running a business, while at the same time helping the student body by providing a relatively cheap alternative to most other food options around the school. These various concessionaires are great as they are run by students, for students. There is a hope that the practice of student run enterprises proliferates even more in the coming years.

Amidst the heavy traffic and anticipation of crowded pilgrimage sites are people that have come to involve themselves in the busiest period of Lent – Semana Santa.

Holy week is a time commonly known for devotion and prayer but underneath these are various traditions that have been around for as long as anyone can remember and have also changed from time to time. The Paschal Triduum, which ranges from the evening of Maundy Thursday to Easter Sunday, represents the build-up of events for the week wherein prayer devotions have evolved into one of many treasured traditions passed down by Filipinos since the Spanish era.

However, the trouble which this generation faces is found in the preservation of these traditions. Is it an issue of succession or simply the refusal of acceptance?

Processions, Plays, and Prayers

From Maundy Thursday to Easter Sunday, there are many prayers and customs that Filipinos have come to observe every year. The Stations of the Cross, which is particularly observed during Visita Iglesia, is done while visiting at least seven churches to meditate on the Way of the Cross on Maundy Thursday. On Good Friday, the Seven Last Words and the Senakulo are done. The Seven Last Words of Jesus Christ are commemorated through sincere street processions and in some towns, the Senakulo or the traditional passion play is done to portray the trial, suffering, and death of Jesus Christ. In continuing the solemnity of Good Friday, Black Saturday is spent in preparation for the Easter Vigil wherein there is the depiction of Judas’ betrayal of Jesus Christ. Easter Sunday marks the joyous celebration of Christ’s Resurrection and thus the Salubong or dawn ceremony occurs to show the reunion of Christ and his mother after His Resurrection.

Of all the prayer devotions, plays, and processions, there is one to be considered sacred and cherished, especially by the older generations. Composed of stanzas of five lines with eight syllables each, the Pasyon is a Philippine epic narrative of the passion, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. More often than not, the chanters of the Pasyon are those of the older generation. Heavy devotion towards this prayer is usually taken as a vow or panata in which the elder generations take part of.

Issues on Succession

Currently, most of the prayer devotions are still led and consistently encouraged by the older generations and only few have really been passed down. The Pasyon, among all other Holy Week prayers, remains to be predominantly led by the elderly. Like many of the cherished traditions in Philippine history and culture, the Pasyon struggles to make it through the next generation. This struggle can possibly be explained by layers of issues over succession, conservatism and maybe even authority over age.

The elderly have constantly felt the need to impose authority in presiding over the pabasa or the recitation of the Pasyon, because the requirements include knowledge over the reading and the fortitude to finish until the end as it is a continuous prayer devotion recited for a long span of time. This type of responsibility and wisdom is not easily passed down because of its delicate nature. This can probably explain why the older generations feel the need to hold on to these traditions for so long until the next generations have developed the proper interest and respect for them.

Another reason for the trouble of succession may be the conservative view of the older generation wherein most of them feel rigid towards practices. Any alterations or innovations applied to these traditions are strictly prohibited to preserve their sanctity and authenticity. Preservation to the elderly could possibly entail that the original state should stay the same throughout history and that integrating any type of change is deemed as a threat to its form.

The simplest of reasons may be of letting go. Age has given the elderly the right amount of authority to say whether its time to let go or if the youth is ready to take over. However saddening the implications of aging may bring, the matter of how ready the successor is may come into question.
In due time, the Pasyon and other prayer devotions considered as traditions will have to be trusted to the next generation and if so, the next perspective to speculate on is whether this fresher generation is either ready or capable of such as responsibility.

They’re just not into this

The other half of the struggle to preserve these Holy Week traditions lie within the hands of the younger generation wherein appreciation, acceptance and interest are brought to questioning. Reasons such as the lack of appreciation for both history and traditions or the idea that it could be too time consuming and difficult to learn are as common to any succession story that exists. A percentage of the youth find difficulty in learning and taking the time to comprehend the depth of knowledge and language embedded in the Pasyon. A number of these prayers have exsited since the Spanish era and the language used has become far of from the language spoken and written today and the difficulty can stem from this gap or simply the lack of determination in learning such.

The lack of appreciation and interest may be a result of some other reasons that surface in line with technology and the presence of other belief systems. Divided attention over the advancement of technology continues to provide the younger generation with almost an unlimited availability of other recreational and interesting activities that strongly compete with the aging existence of the Pasyon and other prayers. The current fame of social media and the joyous benefits that the Internet has provided unceasingly win over the attention of the youth as it offers much more common interest. Not to mention of course the known advantage of communication and social connection are deemed increasingly significant over what the devotion towards prayers and the Pasyon could possibly offer.

Nevertheless, a part of the youth has found a way to preserve traditions such as these through taking the opportunity brought by change and innovating for the sake of gaining attention and interest. Recent innovations in the Pasyon include incorporation of contemporary popular ballads, pop music, and hymns during the pabasa. In this way, the youth has come to participate in a way that they can relate and contribute a part of their own and still be able to carry the tradition in the hope of its survival for the generations to come.

Devotion over imposition

It is now a matter of perspective, acceptance and evolution. As inevitable change may be, traditions during the Holy Week are faced with the struggle of survival and both generations are now confronted by choices and responsibilities that may either preserve or damage a part of the Philippines’ history and culture.

Although these speculations and observations continue to exist, many should bear in mind that some traditions such as these prayer devotions, specifically the Pasyon are meant to be a voluntary venture and not an imposition to be forced upon the succeeding generation for the purpose of preserving a part of history.