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Everything under the sun -- by eleazar, floresta, soltes, sy, tempongko, yap (cover design and layout by Geraldine Marie Paulo)
Citation preview
It is terribly boring to be a driver especially
when you have to wait for their boss all day in
the terrible car park they now call home. Yes,
I do not believe that drivers live a life like
Frank Martin does in ―The Transporter.‖Yet
they do get by day-to-day finding
entertainment in either sleeping or socializing
with their colleagues. It is a rule in Ateneo
where cars that are driven by chauffeurs need
to be parked on the North Car Park which
means all the drivers who are waiting for their
employers are just sitting there killing the time
or at least that is what we think. The car park
is a community of bored drivers that gamble
or sleep.
Behind the cemented portion of the car park
that we regularly see passing by Leong hall to
the third gate of Ateneo is where the often
muddy/dusty (depending on the weather)
area where the chauffeurs call home. In the
middle of everything is a tiny waiting shed
beside a large acacia tree that provides shade
to many cars. Further ahead are the woods
where they congregate and play games. Many
of them know each other by name and share
an awful lot of gossip with each other. Well,
who can blame them? They have all day to
talk about just anything ranging from their
wives to their dogs.
Before my driver learned to distinguish JSEC
from Gonzaga, I had to walk to the car park
and it was extremely inconvenient. But
anyway when you reach the car park you do
not see drivers inside their cars. You see
lifeless bodies, often with their mouths still
open and positions vary from the dead man in
the driver seat to the ―murder in the trunk
scene‖. When I finally get to my car, I found
my own driver in the same ridiculous position.
I gently tap the semi-open window to awake
Snow White from her slumber. Sleeping
seems to be one of the more popular
activities; I would hardly call it recreation
though.
The effects of the poisoned apple vary of
course, some are strong and resist it‘s ill
effects. I remember one time my driver telling
me about someone who got a heart attack in
the car park. He tells me afterward of a
proposed transformation of habits by one of
his colleagues stating that the next day they
will start wearing shorts and start jogging
although I have heard no reports of this
actually coming into fruition. Some will sleep
all day and some will sleep half of the time
and stare blankly at the Ateneo buildings
about a kilometer away.
Drivers who park here are usually the ones
from the province some of them from as far
as Dumaguete in Visayas or in my driver‘s
case Davao. They say it is hard to be away
from their families and some having being
only able to go home during sem breaks or
holidays.
Most will agree however that life has gotten
better when they arrived in Manila one driver
that I was talking to said that he was a fire
Photos by Leonard
Floresta Sleeping Beauties
1
Parking areas in Ateneo
truck driver unable to even feed his family
three times a day living on only 180 pesos a
day. He said he wanted to give his three
children an education, an education that he
would never been able to give them if he had
stayed in the province.
There were interesting stories, that I would
never have imagined, tales that belong in ABS
-CBN‘s ―Maalaala Mo Kaya‖. The most
notable however is not a sad one. A thirty-
year-old driver says that he transports his
boss from; guess where, My Place in
Katipunan to Ateneo. I was quite surprised at
first; the words ―Ikaw na‖ immediately came
up. He also lived in Katipunan which made
me dread for his situation, his routine
included sleeping, eating, and more sleeping.
Although he revealed that his master‘s
situation was due to her heart problems,
which immediately knocked the ―Ikaw na‘
statement out of my mind. He also revealed
that he was a relative of his bosses and he
was given the job on a ―trust‖ basis.
The sleepers aside there are also the cheerful
social people. These are the opposite of the
sleeping drivers and congregate in the
northern part of the car park. Ateneo law
however prohibits the main activity of these
people.
Yes, they gamble and it is the most popular
pastime there is in the car park. There are
also make shift shops here where you can get
cigarettes to coke, like a specialized ―sari-
sari‖ store made to fit the needs of the kuya‘s.
Meeting the people in the parking lot I found
out that you do not need to be afraid of the
people wearing ―sandos‖ with tattoos on their
arms, well maybe a little bit. But personal
drivers are quite the opposite of the people
who would give you the classic Manila tour
that you did NOT ask for. Sad to say playing
the role of Sleeping beauty is their job. I guess
they have to sleep until that fateful moment
when the prince comes and gives them that
long awaited ―kiss‖. (Leonard Paul Floresta)
Photos by Leonard
Floresta
2
A driver waiting for his ward
As I buttoned up my polo, rolled up my
sleeves, zipped up my pants, and tied my
shoes, one thing was in mind: I was going to
have fun tonight. The long awaited party
organized by the UP JMA has finally come in a
very timely fashion. Everyone was glad to have
been done with school and start the
Christmas break. What better way to start off
the break than by partying with friends all
night? But this was not just any other
Christmas break party, or any night of the year
for that matter. Tonight was the much
anticipated Doomsday, or End of the World.
Tonight was Day Zero: The End Of The World
Party.
Entering the Mega Tent in Libis, I first had to
pass the organizers, putting stamps on
people‘s wrists as they collect the tickets that
are worth 250Php, and giving out Axe
products as a major sponsor of the event.
Day Zero
forget everything and enjoy that night. They
told us to party like it was the end of the
world, and so I did.‖ said Paolo, a freshman
student of the Ateneo. When asked about the
big reveal after the countdown, he added
―There actually was this part of me that
wanted to celebrate how it wasn‘t really the
end of the world.‖ Paolo probably spoke for
most of the attendees of the event, as he was
part of the very crowd that rocked the venue.
When the party was over, people were left
with smiles on their faces. Jokes on the
famous movie ―2012‖ and all its false
prophecies were all I could hear as I exited
the venue. This was a night truly everyone will
remember. How can anyone forget the night
where people anticipated the end of the
world? How can anyone forget how he/she
spent this night partying and dancing and
drinking all night long with friends? How can
anyone forget how people took advantage of
this moment to do crazy things? People could
have spent that night worrying, or even
preparing for the end of days. Instead, we
took advantage and lived life to the fullest as
if it were our last. That night brought about
the thought of how awesome it was to be alive
and well, which also means that there is more
time to party! Heck, we survived Day Zero.
(Joseph Tempongko)
Approaching the main area, I feel the chill of
the air-conditioning as I approached the main
area. ―Day Zero‖ reads the first poster you see
upon entering. The place was huge! It was
about as wide as the Matteo field. Deafening
beats and mixes by the guest DJs on stage
filled the whole area through massive,
refrigerator-like speakers. Different kinds of
lights were simultaneously flashing to
complete the familiar party scene. On the
opposite side of the tent, free-flowing Manila
Beer and a mobile bar kept the people wild
and engaged throughout the night. Found
right in the middle of the venue was a
multipurpose stage accessible to anyone who
wanted a better view of the DJs and the LCDs
that were flashing right behind them. The
place was organized and the party was
smooth sailing.
Moving closer to the anticipated tomorrow,
people started dancing and partying like it
was their last. Guys hitting on girls, girls hitting
on guys, everyone was taking advantage of
their ―last few minutes.‖ The anticipation,
pressure, and maybe even fear of the turning
of the clock grew immensely thanks to the
constant ―time-check‖ and ―YOLO reminders‖
by the guest emcee. ―5 MINUTES ‗TILL THE
END OF THE WORLD!‖ screams the emcee,
and everyone starts rushing to the dance
floor, getting every bit of space that is left
open for anyone to squeeze in.
Finally, the countdown to December 21, 2012
began. Everyone in the venue managed count
along. When the huge digital stopwatch on
stage hit zero, the DJs filled the air with
Sebastian Ingrossio & Alesso‘s ―Calling.‖
Confetti popping on cue sent golden pieces of
paper flying everywhere as everyone literally
jumped to the beat of the song. Everyone felt
so ecstatic that they could care less of what
was happening around. Drinks splashing
everywhere, beer bottles rolling from one
corner of the room to another, drunk people
bumping whoever gets in the way of their
―dancing zone,‖ everyone just wanted to have
fun, regardless of anything. ―I just wanted to
Photo Credits:
UP JMA
3
4
Morning classes are over and it is time for
your break. You and your friends are famished
and decide to go to JSEC to feed your growling
tummies. Upon finding a seat, you visit your
favorite food stall and order a scrumptious
meal fit for a king. You take your hot plate and
your ice-cold drink with you to your table after
paying for the food and the deposit. Sitting
together with your friends, you converse and
laugh with them as you chow down your
mouth-watering dish. Every bite you take
sends tingles down your spine as you finish
your meal. Your tummy is now satisfied so you
decide to return your plate, utensils, and cup
in order to reclaim your deposit money. You
are already thinking about your next class
when all of a sudden, a seemingly
meddlesome guy wearing a red shirt asks you,
―Sir/Ma‘am, may twenty pesos po ba kayo?‖
There are those who are prepared for this
question and bring with them a P20 bill for a
smooth transaction. Others really do not have
change for the P50 bill the guy is holding; so
he gives the P30 he owes them in change.
And then there are the guys in between; those
who really have P20 but tell the inquisitive
man otherwise. I, for one, am one of the ―in-
between‖ guys simply because I need change
since I go home using public transportation
every day. My friend Jo Tempongko also does
this because he thinks that using smaller bills
for buying goods saves time and effort for
computing your change. I am sure there are
other reasons why students prefer smaller
bills than the big ones, but I am more curious
about what the guy in red feels for being the
recipient of constant white lies each and every
day.
Kuya Jonald, one of the guys-in-red, has been
serving the students in JSEC for about nine
months now. He is a guy who is probably in
his late 20s, but still has an innocent looking
face. It looks as though he could not hurt a fly.
I asked him why the register is full of P50 bills
and he simply answered that that particular
bill is rarely used. I agree with his statement,
since most of the students in JSEC only
deposit around P10-P30 for the utensils. He
also said that they only ask for P20 bills if
they are running low on change or if the P50
bills are overflowing. Given that, the reason
behind why they prefer smaller bills is not
necessarily for them; it is in fact for the
benefit of the students. He said that having
smaller bills in the register makes the
transaction much easier and much faster for
succeeding people to get their deposit.
When asked about whether students ―hide‖
their P20 bill from them, he smiled and was
reluctant to answer. He simply said that
whenever students tell him they have no
change for the P50 bill, he just returns their
deposit money without wondering if ever they
are truly without change. He understands the
importance of having spare change in your
Hanggang Saan Aabot ang
Twenty Pesos Mo?
JSEC entrance
Photo by Kraig Yap
what is Torpe? I am a self-confessed torpe. I
also have been in the friendzone. But to give
this thing a little more hype, I have come to
seek the help of some of the most torpe guys
that I know. Dane Amador, a Legal
Management Freshman, is one of the self-
proclaimed persons who have all the
knowledge about being torpe. I wanted to find
a torpe girl, who in this case we will call
―torpettes‖, but they are rare beings. Torpe,
according to Dane Amador, is not just being
shy to approach a girl nor is it just being able
to make a move in front of the girl that one
wants. It is more than these things. To let you
readers grab what we want you to know, I,
together with Dane Amador, have come up
with the Torpe-Level Meter. J This meter we
would relate to Friendzonability Meter at the
end of this article.
What is Torpe? Urbandictionary.com defines it
as being too shy to pursue amorous desires.
Dane, my friend, defines it as being physically
and psychologically incapable of bursting out
that bubble of a feeling, a strong desire and
attraction, one has for the person he or she
likes. This in turn, brings about several
consequences and pains that one has to
endure that we will also talk about in this
piece of article. The Friendzone, on the other
There is a much sadder event than being
dumped by the boy or the girl you like. It is so
sad that even the manliest man alive will have
to cry. It is even harder than simply having a
broken heart. A broken heart can be healed
while this is something that no one wants to
get into. Almost every day, a thousand people,
or even a million experience this phenomenon
around the world. An event so sad, that a few
manage to go out to where they land once
they undergo this phenomenon. We cannot
give you statistics, but this is something that
is prominent in every nation; so prominent
that every lover dreads to hear of it.A simple
phrase can be the reason for this event to
happen, a phrase much harder to accept than
a ‗NO‘. ―Can we just be friends?‖ Ladies and
Gentlemen, WELCOME TO THE FRIENDZONE!
Where your heart breaks harder than when
you were dumped and where a ‗NO‘ is
sometimes better than a ‗YES‘; but how is the
chance of being in the friendzone, related to
how TORPE a guy or maybe even a girl is? This
one tough question many have tried to
answer. Let us see what I can give you to shed
some light into this hot issue.
Before anything else, one should learn the
basic meanings of the words we are tackling
in this article. What is the Friendzone and
pockets as a student so he does not mind if
ever they ―hide‖ their P20 bill. After the
interview, I thanked him for his time and
promised him that I would prepare a P20 bill
every time I return my plate to the counter. He
laughed quietly and gave me a nod goodbye.
Considering the numerous students eating at
JSEC, it really is hard to have enough change
for each and every one of them. So if you ever
have extra change in your pockets, do not
hesitate to exchange it for a bigger bill. Saving
a P20 bill in order to use it as a bribe for a
5
bouncer, as payment for a haircut, and as
payment for a jacket is not a good idea; as
shown in the Selecta Cornetto commercials.
Why not use it to help other people instead?
Imagine, if there are no more change in the
JSEC cashier and you give yours, it may save a
fellow student thirty seconds, and it may be all
he/she needs in order for him/her to not be
late for the next class. Maybe someone will
return the favor so that you‘ll also go to class
on time. Indeed, your twenty pesos may go a
long way in JSEC. (Kraig Yap)
The Pains of being a
“Torpe” and The Friendzone
staying in the friendzone forever; but our life
isn‘t a movie. In the real word, what will
matter and what will count would not be how
tall you are, how handsome you are or how
sexy you are; what will matter the most is how
sincere you are, how good you are in the
inside. Some, on the other hand, gets
insecure because the one they like are, let us
say, much intelligent or richer. Let us scrap
the insecurity off and why don‘t we use the
facts given as a challenge; a challenge for us
to study harder if we
think that they are
much intelligent or
maybe a challenge for
us to do well in class
and end up having a
high paying job so that
we will be rich if that is
what is needed to
scrap the insecurity off.
At the end of the day, it
is all a matter of
perspectives. It is a
matter of how we will
look at things; either
optimistically or in a
pessimist‘s eye; but in
the game of love and
working out of the
friendzone, the first
rule is not to be a
pessimist because of these reasons:
1. Nothing will happen if you don‘t make
something happen
This is one thing that the ―torpes‖ should
always bear in mind. The logic is very simple.
If you want something to happen, don‘t wait
for your girl or your guy to make the move. It is
an additional ―pogi-point‖ or ―ganda-point‖ if
you have the guts to initiate something to
happen, like asking your girl out. There is no
room for being shy and that will be explained
further in this article. Confidence is something
that is appreciated by girls or boys. If you like
someone, do something to show them that
you like them and;
hand is a mystical place where people, who
have admitted their desire to have a romantic
relationship with the person they like but have
failed and are demoted to the ―friend‖ level,
are exiled. These two meanings, I guess, will
already be helpful to generate a connection, a
certain feeling of mutual understanding of the
issue, between you, my reader, and me.
My dear readers, I think it is right and
appropriate to start the discussion by telling
you that the ―torpes‖ are the persons who
most of the time end
up broken-hearted.
These people who
don‘t have the guts to
speak out are the ones
who end up crying in
corners, regretting
what they have not
done. Why is this so?
Few of the simple
reasons that will be
given are based solely
either on common
sense or Dane‘s or my
personal experience.
But first, let us see
some of the reasons
why people become
―torpe.‖ (The reasons
are from interviewees
whose names are to be kept confidential)
The most prominent reason why a guy
becomes ―torpe‖ is because he is extremely
shy; but when I say shy, it is not the shallow
type of being shy. It is the type of being shy
fuelled by many other aspects. Insecurity is
one of these aspects. Guys, especially those
who do not look that good are the ones who
have this. But isn‘t it better if we scrap this
insecurity off? Wouldn‘t it be better if we think
that it is not what you look outside that
matters but what you are inside that count?
People get too blinded by the fact that in
televisions, in movies, in radio programs,
those that are described ugly, small, nerdy are
the ones always bullied, dumped and end up
Photo credits:
Google Images
6
A facebook post showing someone friendzoning her
“suitor”
2. Be the first to make a move or others will
do it.
While the ―torpe‖ should always bear in mind
that nothing will happen if s/he does not
make something, it is also important that the
―torpe‖ does the first move. In this world,
where people seem to be always on a race, it
is important that you step on the gas pedal
first and gain a significant lead against your
opponent. This is especially important if a
―torpe‖ likes someone who is liked by almost
everybody. DO THE FIRST MOVE AND BE ON
THE LEAD! Remember;
3. Don‘t be shy or you will cry!
Yes, you will cry. I am speaking in behalf of all
the girls and guys who have cried countless
nights because they didn‘t make something
happen, because they didn‘t do the first
move. As Dane has said in an interview, ―Be
trapped forever in the valley of broken hearts
if you stay shy. I am not generalizing that
being shy is bad but in the battle for having a
girls or guys heart, confidence is one asset
that can save you from having shattered
dreams and litters of tears.‖ And just like in a
wedding, speak now or forever hold your
peace.
Photo credits:
Google Images
7
Failure to apply these three simple things
ends up sending the ―torpe‖ in the dreaded
Friendzone. Actually, we all start in the
Friendzone. Lovers start as friends; until one
starts to like the other. This is where the one
who has a crush on the other feel like there is
something else behind the bars of the
Friendzone, the bars are one‘s ―torpeness.‖
The torpe‘s happiness actually has a
parabolic trend. It starts as an infatuation or
simple admiration, and then it becomes a
crush. A simple ―hi‖ from the ―torpe‘s‖ crush
can already complete his or her day. A smile
from that person that the ―torpe‖ likes can
already lighten up his or her day. Then it
evolves into something more than just a
crush. It evolves into a super-crush. This is
where the ―torpe‖ gets closer and closer out
of the friendzone boundary; but this is also
where the torpeness level of some guys (like
Dane and me) comes to its highest point. This
is where the true challenge begins. The
question now here is that, will you step up to
the challenge or will you just be happy
keeping your crush on her to yourself? I,
ladies and gentlemen, have step up to the
challenge but Dane did not. It is in this part, I
think, that I need to end this article. I wouldn‘t
want to spoil you of what will happen if you
step up to this challenge but there are only
two possibilities. The parabola that represents
the ―torpes‖ happiness level is not
continuous, meaning; there is a hole in it- a
hole which leads out of the boundaries of the
Friendzone. Only those who step up to the
challenge gets the chance of working their
way out of this hole and into the girl‘s heart or
what we should call the ―MTF zone‖ the
MoreThanJustFriend Zone. The two
possibilities are 1.) You end up in the MTF
Zone and 2.) You get exiled forever in the
Friendzone. You, my friend, will decide where
you want to go.
Will you take the challenge or not? To all the
torpe and torpettes reading this article, ―May
the odds be ever in your favor.‖ (Francis Dan
Soltes)
Try to escape the Friendzone
Tigers, elephants and octopi on campus?
Animals glowing at night?If you have not seen
them yet, just go to Ateneo de Manila Loyola
Schools‘ De la Costa field and explore the
wonders of PletBolipata‘s ―imagiNATION‖.
There you can see five pairs of beautifully
crafted metal animals-the tigers, kangaroos,
elephants, giraffes and octopi- carrying people
on colorful bathtubs. These animals are made
from bended wires which allow you to literally
see through them. On every bathtub you can
see different designs and quotations. Each
pair‘s head contains colored cans, color blue
for one of the pair and pink for the other. At
night, the light on these creatures‘ feet light
up the place. Surrounded by grass and trees
with the addition of the metal animals, this
looks like a place where people can feel like
they‘re in the wild.
Ever since ―imagiNATION‖ was built on the De
la Costa field, I have always seen, as I pass by
there, Ateneans hanging out at the place,
sitting on the bathtubs and even going inside
the animals-specifically inside the elephants. I
wondered what makes students stay at the
place. Sure, the animals holding the bathtubs
are interesting, unique and fun to look at but I
cannot grasp the reason why people preferred
to stay at the open space, where it is hot and
exposed to the sun, when the air-conditioned
and computer-filled Rizal library is just a few
steps away. To find the answer to my
question, I interviewed some Ateneans on
their opinions about the place.
The first things that got my attention are the
two people inside the blue elephant. I
wondered how they got inside the elephants
when there is no visible entrance. But as I
came closer to the large creatures, I saw that
at the bottom of the elephants‘ bellies were
holes large enough for a person to enter. I
interviewed John, one of the Ateneans
hanging out inside the elephant, about the
place. He told me that he likes the place
because it is ―chill‖ (relaxing). Just like me,
the first things that catch his attention are the
people in the elephant whenever he passes
by De la Costa field. He usually hangs out
inside the elephant when he stays at the field.
He also said that the place is beautiful and
thinks that it symbolizes nature. It seems that
going inside the elephants is one of the main
attractions there. Apparently, the elephants
are the only animals there that the people can
go inside to but they can still stay at the
bathtubs carried by the animals.
One interesting thing that my friend told me
about the place is that it looks like an optical
illusion. If you look at a certain angle, the
person sitting on the bathtub would look like
he is inside the animal. Accordingly, I found
out that the originality of the exhibit is another
factor that makes Ateneans like the place.
One Atenean told me that he likes the place
because he thinks that the place is both
creative and unique. He also believes that the
purpose of the place is to uplift the Christmas
spirit. Another Atenean told me that he thinks
that the purpose of the exhibit is for design so
Imagination Gone Wild Photo by Tyrone Sy
8
Imagination by Plet Bolipata
that the place would not feel empty. I can see
that the exhibit really livens up the place.
Indeed, there are more people staying at the
De la Costa field these days compared to the
start of the school year.
Let us also not forget that the De la Costa
field is surrounded by grass and trees. The
fresh and cool air from the trees is something
that I would not trade for the cold air from the
air-con. Some Ateneans seem to agree with
me. Simon Guballa, an Atenean student who
passes by there every day told me that he
likes the place because the trees and grass
makes him feel clean. He believes that the
place symbolizes nature. Another Atenean,
Cedric Ng, told me that he usually goes there
to interact with nature and to relax. Relaxation
and connection with nature is something that
the De la Costa field offers the people staying
there.
In these interviews I found that the reasons
why students stay there is to appreciate the
artworks, to interact with nature and to relax
on the bathtubs. Some think that the place
symbolizes nature. However, I noticed how
most students failed to realize the deeper
meaning behind the artworks. Did you know
that there is something more to it than meets
the eye?
Aside from imagiNATION being a hangout
place and a cool exhibit, another interesting
fact I found out about the exhibit is that it is
actually an interpretation of Noah‘s Ark. Plet
Bolipata stated that ―instead of an ark, I used
bathtubs which are also vessels…Instead of
keeping people and animals afloat on water,
they do the opposite and carry water‖.
According to her, she would like her
installation to be a reminder that, even
though we suffer yearly from floods, we do not
need to be afraid for God will keep us safe
just like in the conclusion of the Noah‘s story.
So the next time you stay on one of the
bathtubs, do not just think of nature and
relaxation. Do not just think about how cool it
is to be sitting inside the elephant. Take some
time to think and reflect about the message
that comes with this exhibit. The creator
wanted us to use our creative juices
combined with our hearts-she wanted us to
interpret and imagine. One example would be
how we should imagine ourselves in a tough
situation. Although things seem hopeless, God
and people will always help you carry that
problem and help you find situations to solve
the problem. God and the people around us
will always be there to help us carry our
problems; just like how each pair of animals
help each other carry the tub. There are many
interpretations that this exhibit can show.
Think about it yourself and let your
imagination run wild. (Tyrone Humphrey Sy)
9
recognized as official school grounds such as
the ISO or remote parking lots. In fact, the
said meeting place is not a place one would
want to go to due to its seemingly lifeless aura
and inconvenient location. Notwithstanding
this fact, its members still continue to do what
they do best even if it disgusts others. This so-
called organization also takes advantage of
the limited freedom given to them by the
Ateneo administration by practicing these
rights everyday. The smocket is their holy land
There is an existing underground organization
on campus which has members who meet
almost everyday. According to the Ateneo de
Manila University Undergraduate Student
Handbook, their forte "is not permitted on any
Loyola Schools premises or grounds at any
time, by any person regardless of their status
or business in the University" (86).
Considerably, there are only a small number
of permitted areas which are near
establishments or spots that are not
Undiscovered Sub Society
and the crowd that goes there is not just any
other group of people.
However, there is a catch to this. According to
an article from the Guidon, "In what was once
a university that allowed college students to
smoke cigarettes inside its classrooms, the
current policies of the Ateneo now enforce
strict control over those who wish to have
their nicotine fix. Technically speaking,
smoking is banned in the premises of the
Loyola Schools (LS). Republic Act 9211
forbids the smoking of cigarettes in
educational institutions." Subsequently, a
number of you are probably wondering as to
why the Ateneo still opted to institute a
smoking area despite this Republic Act.
According to Mr. Michael Mallillin of the ADSA
office, "Technically speaking, the smoking
area is not part of the Loyola Schools, to begin
with. It was really meant for the employees of
the other buildings found within its area which
is the Social Developing Complex. Since this
new rule came out, Ateneo saw this as a
window to provide a smoking are for
Ateneans. The administration saw this as a
good compromise instead of making students
go out of campus just to smoke." The Ateneo
is, in fact, an open-minded institution and is
aware of the fact that there are students who
Photos by Elach
Eleazar and Dan
Soltes
10
are addicted to nicotine. The school is not
ignorant when it comes to this and this is the
grounds for the ADSA to cooperate with the
Social Developing Complex to permit student
and faculty smokers to have their nicotine fix
in this area. "The school understands that
college students are already old enough to
discern their own paths and lifestyle," Mr.
Mallillin added. In truth, the Loyola Schools
does not want to prohibit and intervene with
the choices its students make, thus allowing
them to use the said smoking area as well.
This new ruling and compromise gave way to
establishing a designated smoking area for
those who wish to smoke on campus.
The smocket or the smoker's pocket, located
near the north parking lot, is home to every
Atenean smoker. Once you stand near or
enter its vicinity, you will immediately sense
the distinct smell of cigarette smoke. For
some, it may appear to be dull because of the
prominence of the color gray due to the
abundance of gravel and sand from the
parking lot. The lack of greens and shade
from trees and grass also contributes to this
impression (You can imagine how hot it is in
the smocket when the sun is out). If you walk
a little more, you will notice that cigarette
butts and ashes are evidently scattered
around the area as if the only tree in the area
produces such material. Moreover, the
smocket also has an, approximately, 8x8 foot
cemented platform with four cemented
benches which stands as the "center" of the
place. Probably, this is the only normal looking
site which can be seen in the smocket in the
eyes of a passerby. If you come to think of it,
there is really nothing special about the place
because it is merely an empty parcel of land
poised between an Ateneo parking lot and a
government owned building which is also
known as the ISO. As a matter of fact, if the
smocket did not have any people in it, it would
just be a useless, barren wasteland. In effect,
the Ateneans who go there highly contributes
into making the smocket an extraordinary
corner in Ateneo filled with life, people, and
stories.
A lot of people probably wonder what Atenean
“Designated Smoking Area” sign
smokers mean when they say that the
smocket is a really special place and how this
notion of "specialness" has the capacity to
transcend such awful and revolting aura. Well,
aside from being an area filled with smoke, it
actually houses a lot of conversations,
memories, and experiences. In addition, the
kind of people or the Atenean smokers also
contributes to the
place's reputation.
These imprints are
enough reasons to say
that the smocket is
more than just a
smoking area. I
recently asked a friend
about his thoughts on
the smocket and he
told me, "'The smocket
is the only place in the
Ateneo where you get
to mingle with true and
generous people," says
Gab Flores, a Legal
M a n a g e m e n t
freshman. "You can just
ask for a stick or ask
for a light from anyone
and they would not
b o t h e r , t h e y
understand your needs and they know it
themselves. *Laughs*" Furthermore,
according to one of the interviews conducted
by The Guidon, "'Even if [the smocket is] not
really desirable, people still go there and they
do talk, [as Jayeel Cornelio, PhD of the
Sociology and Anthropology Department,
confesses].'" I have tried hanging out there a
few times with some colleagues and students
and it was interesting to see how cliques are
formed—a ‗smocket cliques‘ if you will,' he
says. 'Think about it: ‗Got a lighter?‘ is a good
pick-up line.'" I can personally attest to this
fact since I have experienced so many
instances wherein I forgot to bring my lighter
with me and I just approach random people in
the smocket to borrow one. I would even get a
"sure" or a "you're welcome" in response to my
"thanks." This is how the smocket operates;
it's more like a family in there. To add to what
my friend said, sharing a stick with others is
usually the tipping point of something new. I
have had numerous encounters of friends
asking for cigarettes for their own friends and
these instances open the possibilities of
meeting new people. The simple gesture of
lending a lighter or letting them bum a smoke
serves as good ice-breakers for future
relationships and to
spark connections.
These are the building
blocks of the smocket
and probably the main
reason why it is a
place filled with
i n t e r r e la t e d a n d
connected people.
To further emphasize
this notion, I also
interviewed a non-
smoker who goes to
the smocket regularly
to accompany his
friends who smoke. He
said, "Every time I go
[to the smocket], I
can't help but smile at
people whenever I
o v e r h e a r t h e i r
conversations or see how happy and
contented they look like even if they're just on
break," says Bren Mendiola who associates
his experience with an utmost euphoria. "It's
like they have their own parties in [the
smocket]." In my perspective as a regular
smocket-goer, this is evident. Every time I visit
the smocket, I often observe groups of people
enjoying their own tête-à-tête over some
cigarettes. It is quite riveting to hear these
conversations because these are usually the
fruits of boredom after minutes of time-killing
before the next class or probably caused by
the sheer need to discuss something serious
with the help of nicotine. I mentioned about
the "center" of the smocket earlier which is
composed of the cemented platform with
benches and this area is usually the spot of
the artistic and articulate people – usually
people from the School of Humanities. This is
Photos by Elach
Eleazar and Dan
Soltes
11
The Smocket
the experience to travelling. 'It would be the
same as, [when] you‘re in a different country,
and people are speaking all sorts of
languages. Suddenly you hear a familiar
language that is your own. It is a group of
people talking, a group of people from your
country," according to Pascual. It also cannot
be the nicotine in our system because I have
in t e r v ie w ed n o n -
smokers on this and
they agree with this
notion. It is probably
just because of the
kind of people in there
and their intentions.
We go to the smocket
to smoke, and the
partner of smoking is
deep-thinking and
discussion, and the
thing is, this discussion
has no limits at all.
Unlike going to the
library, it is tainted with
school work. You do
not go to the library to
make noise in the first
place; it is a setting
meant for studying and
research. Going to
cafeterias and food establishments on the
other hand, does not create a suitable
environment for hearty talks; it is noisy,
confined, and it is where EVERYONE goes to.
But the smoket then again is a unique place
because it is one of the few places meant for
something not everyone does. The point of
smoking is to release stress, think, or analyze
about something and if you are confined in a
place filled with people who do and think the
same then you have a place filled with life.
What you can do and think of is not limited on
this terrain. It is not like the cafeteria or the
library where there is already a given notion of
what should be done there because of what
the norms of regular society dictates (For
instance: Library=study; Cafeteria=eat,
Church=pray, etc.). The smocket is, in fact,
that isolated corner in school where a
different world can be found. These are all the
where most of the "action" in the smocket
takes place. You will hear people debating
over absurd, superficial, or intriguing topics
such as the best Harry Potter movie, or the
importance of knowing how or when to let go
in a relationship or when in pursuit to courting
someone special. Sometimes, you will even
hear random diary or planner-worthy quotes
f r o m t h e s e
conversations and it
really feels ecstatic to
create or join in one of
these banters. Once
you enter the center of
the smocket or even
just stay beside it,
you'll immediately get
immersed in this world,
literally and figuratively
(no joke). On the other
hand, the smocket is
not always full of
happy stories (Sorry to
pop you bubble). There
are times when I see
people cursing or
crying after failing an
exam or being dumped
by somebody and
whatnot. We all have
our own ups and downs wherever we go but
what really matters is how we deal with it and
who never leaves our side when it gets tough.
It is very heartwarming whenever I see fellow
smocket people comforting these troubled
souls. This place has truly become a dream
world where people seem to be all on the
same page, understanding each other.
I have said it already, and I do not care if I
sound like a broken record but the smocket is
truly a family. Hanging out in the smocket is
an experience incomparable to any other
place on campus, really. I have tried hanging
out in the library, cafeteria, JSEC, etc. But the
smocket has this different vibe; the people in
there are just different. ―'[The act of smoking
is actually] a social lubricant. It makes people
open up,' says Jake Jereza, a Communications
Technology Management student, who likens
Photos by Elach
Eleazar and Dan
Soltes
12
Way going to the smocket
traits of the smocket and its people which
make it home to us Atenean smokers. Despite
the fact that the plain setting and the
a t m o s p h e r e o f t h e p l a c e i s
unaccommodating, Atenean smokers still take
refuge on this ground and I think it is quite
obvious why.
The smocket, being what it is made to serve,
is literally just a smoking area for Ateneans.
Ideally, it is a place where smokers can de-
stress and satisfy their cravings for nicotine.
But more than this, it is also a sanctuary, a
place where they can create their own worlds
or dimensions and even share it with friends
and other people. It is where they formulate
ideas, probably make arguments for the next
class' graded recitation. It is where they go
13
when the day gets tough and the need to puff
becomes a necessity. It is also one of the few
places on campus where people who have
just met start to converse comfortably with
each other over a cigarette. These people and
these simple gestures and notions turn down
the initial impressions on the smocket and
even on the smokers themselves. These help
accentuate and reveal the true identity of the
smocket and how it serves as a special group
or "org" meeting place and not just some
neglected corner inside Ateneo. So, the next
time you cross from Bellarmine Hall to Xavier
Hall, try walking extremely slowly and fire your
senses up as you get yourself ready to
experience a burst of thought and emotion.
(Ernest Elach Eleazar)