Guilder 2013 Year Ender Issue

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 3 B R O U G H T T O Y O U B Y K P M G

the

YEAR ENDER issue

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COVE

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“THIS IS US”As an apt conclusion for this year’s BA Week, the SBSC and its associates created a replica of the Spirit of Business as a symbol of the college’s identity for the annual Lantern Parade

P H O T O B Y D E N I S E S . D . S A N T O S

by Arvin Lim

by Maica Fernandez

by Iya Brucal

TABLE OF CONTENTSN EWSOther units open for UP Tacloban cross-registrants

UP Christmas is for Yolanda victims

STFAP code revisions approved for SY 2014-2015

4

PUBLICATIONSKyle Abella, Maki Bajit, Erika Buenaventura, Iya Brucal, Camille Calma, Angelica Calso, Janelle Carrillo, Debbie Dizon, Maica Fernandez, Jose

Isaguirre II, Raphael Layosa, Mikhael Magana, Kenji Muramatsu, Carmille Romero, Aiko Sagusay, Isaac

Tambunting, Alyssa Uy, Patrick Vicente, Mithi Zamora

ADMINAlvin Amil, Patricia Anatalio, Josel Rivera, Hector

Salatan, John Soriano, Renzo Tiangco

CREATIVESDaniella Adriano, Frances Lee, Carmela Mira,

Jadiene Teng, Shei Ruiz

CONTRIBUTORSIsabela Cruz, Denise S.D. Santos, Telle Lao

Editor-in-Chief

Associate Editors

Managing Editor

Business Manager

Creatives Director

JASON VIRTUCIO

CARLO PIO RODAARVIN LIM

JAPHET LUISTRO

SAMANTHA ANDALES

THERESE ASEOCHE

A . Y . 2 0 1 3 - 2 0 1 4

BAC BACA N I I : U N D I V E R S I F I E D6by Mikhael Magana

MY FAVO R I T E T H I N G Sliterature

9by Telle Lao

S OM ET H I N G YO U WA N T. S OM ET H I N G YO U N E E D. S OM ET H I N G TO W EA R . S OM ET H I N G TO R EA D. Your guide to Christmas shopping

10

by Janelle Carrillo

P R E V I O U S I S S U E

D O YO U H EA R W H AT I H EA R?11by Mithi Zamora

A R E YO U EAT I N G C R A P ?On foodborne illnesses

12by Patrick Vicente

14by Wacky Narciso

2 0 1 3 I N R EV I EW: MOV I ES

E N D O F Y EA R S E N T I M E N TSA collection of features

16by Aiko Sagusay, Angelica Calso,

Mithi Zamora

On conspiracy theories18

by Carmille RomeroT H E R EA L D EA L

The deeper meaning of Christmas songs

4 NEWS THE GUILDER INSTITUTE

UP DILIMAN’S Christmas celebrations for 2013, mainly Lantern Parade and Karolfest, veer away from the norm in order to support fellow countrymen who were affected by typhoon Yolanda through cash and relief goods.

Most proceeds from these celebrations benefit specifically the UP Tacloban and UP Diliman students affected by Typhoon Yolanda who currently reside and are enrolled in the campus.

This year’s theme is “Pasko 2013: Maalab na Serbisyo Publiko ng Mapagkalingang Kampus.”

The Lantern Parade this year is entitled “People’s Parade for the Victims of Yolanda.” Thirty percent of the parol must be made of relief goods or other items that would benefit relief operations for Yolanda victims.

Meanwhile, Karolfest was held December 13 at the University Theater. The theme of the annual Karolfest inter-college choral

U P C h r i s t m as i s f o r Yo l a n d a V i c t i m s

WORDS BY MAICA FERNANDEZPHOTO BY ISABELA CRUZ competition is “Pasko’y Pag-asa” to inspire hope despite challenges

the country continues to face. This is directed by Prof. Roselle Pineda and produced by the Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Student Affairs.

Major changes have been made to the nature of the event, including the title of the event itself, which has been re-branded to “Karoling.” “Karoling” is now an event where choirs from different colleges in UP Diliman carol for cash contributions.

The College of Law bagged first place for the “Pinakamahusay” citation, followed by the College of Science, and the Asian Institute of Tourism. The “Pinakamalikhain” citation was awarded to the College of Science. The “People’s Choice” was given to the College of Science Faculty and Staff for collecting over Php 5000 worth of pledges during the show.

Along with performances from several colleges, students from UP Tacloban affected by the typhoon also performed for the audience. One student representing them shared her experiences and expressed gratitude for the efforts of the university in alleviating their situation.

WORDS BY ARVIN LIMPHOTO FROM FACEBOOK.COM/UPJPIA

O t h e r U P u n i t s o p e n f o r U P Ta c l o b a n c r o s s - r e g i s t r a n t s

THE UP administration, through President Alfredo Pascual, issued an urgent memorandum on November 13 to allow students from UP Visayas Tacloban Campus (UPVTC) to cross-register in other UP units. Pascual asked the heads of UP units to temporarily waive their requirements for cross-enrolment due to the “emergency situation” caused by Typhoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan).

Tacloban City was one of the most devastated places after Typhoon Yolanda passed through the Philippine islands on November 8.

This accommodation was done in order to allow UP Tacloban students to continue their studies for the semester since the campus was also left in ruins.

Aside from temporarily assigning the students to Bracket E2, which provided free tuition and other fees, and monthly stipend, they

were also given free lodging in dormitories, free meals and other privileges initiated by different institutions within and outside of the University.

The Diliman campus took in some cross-registrants from the affected campus in line with the administration’s request. The Virata School of Business, in particular, accommodated students from the BS Management and BS Accountancy programs.

SERVICE THROUGH NUMBERSDuring the first week of December, UPJPIA offered to help the

UP Tacloban cross-registrants by giving them “Accounting catching-up lessons.”

5DECEMBER 2013AY 2013.2014

THE UP Board of Regents (BOR) approved UP President Alfredo Pascual’s Socialized Tuition Scheme (STS), a proposed revision to the Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program (STFAP), along with 3 revisions to the University Student Code at the 1294th BOR meeting -- Friday, December 13, 2013.

STS aims to simplify the basis for assigning tuition brackets, adjust the gross income cut-offs, streamline and automate bracket assignments and appeal processes, increase allowance for lower income brackets (see table 2) and implement supporting measures for the students, Pascual said.

7 out of 9 members voted to approve the proposed amendments to the STFAP, Student Regent Krista Iris Melgarejo being at the forefront against the STFAP amendment. Melgarejo stresses that only Brackets A, B, C and D will be affected by the new income bracket assignments; the lowest income brackets remain the same. Hence, UP education does not make itself more accessible through these amendments. (see table 1)

“1977 palang, controversial na sa BOR ang STFAP. It was only during 1989 that it was approved and ang simula ng tuition fee increase sa UP, proportional sa approval ng STFAP”, Melgarejo said.

Since the start of the second semester, the Office of the Student Regent (OSR) has been conducting a series of university-wide student consultations regarding STS to hear the standpoints of the 55,000 UP student constituents. As of December 10, 2013, consultations have been conducted at UP Los Baños, UP Manila, UP Visayas (Miagao and Iloilo), UP Mindanao, UP Baguio, and UP Koronadal. Melgarejo noted that in Baguio city and in Iloilo city, UP posts the highest tuition fee, which should not be the case since it is the premier national university.

“We can’t get the maximum amount of money from the government. Dahil hindi lang tayo ang SUC”, said the UP Administration representative during the December 10 UP Diliman Student Consultation.

Melgarejo defends that UP should not use STS as a revenue-generating project because it burdens the students. As the national university, the UP Administration itself should look for mechanisms to help their students, not increase their burden.

The BOR also agreed to implement changes in Articles 330, 430 and 431 of the University Student Code, with Melgarejo solely opposing the changes in articles 330 and 430.

Pascual’s proposal of Article 430 stipulates 0% interest in student loans settled within one semester only and Article 330 requires the students to register and pay tuition fees before they are allowed to enter classes.

“Article 430 is deceptive kasi kung tutuusin, dahil 6% ang interest annually, mas lugi parin ang estudyante. And again, student loans do not answer the perennial problem of UP students during enrollment – mahal ang tuition. It only lengthens the duration of their agony. Huwag po nating kalimutan si Kristel Tejada,” Melgajero said.

Interest rates have been applied to stipulate funds for operational expenses, Melgajero said. But, this should not be the case because UP is not a bank. Kristel Tejada is a UP Manila student who took her own life because the UP Manila Administration no longer considered her as an Iskolar ng Bayan.

Justice for Kristel Tejada (JFK) Alliance’s version of Article 431, which allows students with unpaid tuition fees to attend classes, was approved by the board. Students with unsettled loans will also be allowed to register in the following semester.

STFAP Code Revisions approved for SY 2014-2015WORDS BY IYA BRUCAL

STFAP STS*A: Over P1,000,000 A: Over 1,300,000

B: P500,001 to P1,000,000 B: 650,001 to 1,300,000C: P250,001 to P500,000 C: 325,001 to 650,000D: P135,000 to P250,000 D: 135,001 to 325,000E1: P80,001 to P135,000 E: P80,001 to P135,000

E2: 80,000 and below F: 80,000 and below

STFAP BENEFITS STS BENEFITS*P2400 monthly allowance for Bracket E2 students only

P3500 allowance for Bracket E2 students only. May be in the form of cash, meals, dormitory accommodation, other benefits from the University

TABLE 1

* will apply only to the incoming freshman starting AY 2014- 2015

TABLE 2


BACBACAN I I :UNDIVERSIFIED

WORDS BY MIKHAEL ANJELU MAGANAPHOTOS BY THERESE ASEOCHE

7DECEMBER 2013AY 2013.2014

WORDS BY MIKHAEL ANJELU MAGANAPHOTOS BY THERESE ASEOCHE

DIVERSITY. THIS IS US.This is BA Week 2013’s theme, but when four equally ferocious

teams gathered at the Diliman Preparatory School Gym last December 8 for BACABACAN II 2013, diversity was hardly ever noticed: everyone wanted to win. In the battlefield were Wok Dis Weygandt, Techno Titans, Fourth Back Bakas, and World Trade Centaurs, unleashing everything that they could, never backing down from any challenge.

No event draws louder cheers than the cheer dance competition. Those flashy dance moves, excellent tosses, and perfectly executed lifts set the tone for the different sports and parlor games. Record-high energy levels set everyone full of force the entire day. Riding high from the energetic cheer dance routines, Mr. & Ms. BACBACAN followed, where the theatrically-talented individuals completely made everyone feel every feeling ever available, by displaying their uncanny abilities in acting, singing, and dancing.

Although BACBACAN is more known to be a sports fest, there was always room for the non-sporties. Singing Bee, for the singers and aspiring singers alike, was topped by Wok Dis Weygandt, Techno Titans, and World Trade Centaurs. In the Quiz Bee, where the grade-conscious, the crammers, and people in between battled, Wok Dis Weygandt reigned Supreme. In dodgeball, Techno Titans’ strategy brought them on top of the others, and the day was capped with the traditional tug-of-war, where Wok Dis Weygandt proved to be the stronger than any of their opponents.

Supporters crowded the makeshift futsal court as soon as the clock registered 1:00pm, marking the start of the kick-fest. Excellent strikes and gallant saves were displayed on the court, but at the end of the day, World Trade Centaurs eked out the victory in the finals against Wok Dis Weygandt. Despite losing star striker Patrick Gonzales on the early stages of the game, the Centaurs regrouped to establish their defense and launched quick attacks and nice set plays that allowed the ball to hit net thrice, as against only twice by Wok Dis Weygandt.

Meanwhile, loud cheers and drum beats clobbered the volleyball court for every vicious spike and wonderful digs, as well as superb service aces. Wok Dis Weygandt took the better out of World Trade Centaurs in the finals, with the former taking three sets as to the latter’s solitary set win. After giving up the first set, the Centaurs got a big boost with the entry of Juli Calugcug into the game, complementing the all-around game of Patty Coronel to tie the game at one set a piece. However, the hot spiking hands of Josh Lam and Miko Samson, with

the excellent feeds from Gama Garcia, was too much to handle for the Centaurs, as they watched Wok Dis Weygandt claim victory in four hotly contested sets.

The last to conclude among all the ball games was basketball. World Trade Centaurs came with a runaway win in women’s basketball behind the stellar plays of Bea Daez. Her crossover dribbles often led to uncontested layups that proved to be the difference, as these resulted to a commanding win against Techno Titans in the finals, like how they did in their preliminary matches earlier during the day.

The men’s basketball championship game was very intense, not to mention it was a very tight game from start to finish. World Trade Centaurs completed the double championship in basketball as they outfought Fourth Back Bakas in the finals.

Like in their first match prior to the finals, it was again a comeback win for the Centaurs. They needed that booming triple from JR Yambao in the dying seconds of regulation to tie the count at 34-all and force overtime. Fourth Back Bakas, led by the unflappable twin towers in Andrew Harris and Godfrey Cabrera, seemed to have lost steam in the extension period as they allowed the smaller line-up of the Centaurs to clearly outscore them. In the first two minutes of overtime, Donal Ong completed a 3-point play then converted from rainbow country to give the Centaurs a sizeable lead. The Bakas couldn’t recover and catch up, as Jimbo Maniri sealed the championship with an undergoal stab plus a foul. The final buzzer sounded with the Centaurs triumphant, 47-39.

Who is this year’s Over-all BACBACAN II Champions?

Everyone anticipated and patiently waited for CulmiNight for the announcement of winners. It was indeed worth the wait for everyone, as all the four teams are victors in their own right. But there has to be only one champion.

With their dominant wins in the basketball and futsal as well as in Cheerdance and Mr. & Ms. BACBACAN, World Trade Centaurs broke into pandemonium as they were proclaimed BACBACAN II Over-all Champions. They reigned supreme. They stood tall. They proved that they are the Centaurs of greatness, with incomparable passion and dedication to finish on top of the other conquerors and rivals.


of the year.

It’s the mostwonderful time

9DECEMBER 2013AY 2013.2014

of the year.

It’s the mostMy Favorite Things

Candy canes on trees and ribbons on tresses,

bright window displays and dresses on hangers,

pointy antlers brimming with furry jackets,

warm patterned scarves covering my sore ankles -

these are a few of my favorite things.

Shiny chocolate coins and pretty little elves,

pudding, Rudolph’s nose and crunchy gingerbread,

lovers that kiss under the mistletoe -


Snowball attacks that turn to hugs and kisses,

snowmen in coats that await midnight bells,

hallucinating aroma of roast pigs -


When school comes,

when my nose runs,

when I’m feeling meh,

I simply remember my favorite things,

and then I don’t feel so bad.

*based from the original song My Favorite Things in The Sound of Music

WORDS BY TELLE LAO

wonderful time


“Something you want. Something you need. Something to wear. Something to read.”

CHRISTMAS IS the season of gift-giving. And oftentimes, we are left overwhelmed by the wide selections that the “holiday rush” brings. The essence of a gift is to bless someone with something that he/she will benefit from. Lest you want your gifts to go straight into storage boxes, or passed on to another person, you better master the art of gift-giving.

Some folks have long been following the philosophy of “Want. Need. Wear. Read.” When the buzz of the season leaves you confused on what to get, stick to this simple philosophy and you’ll be sure to get through.

This may be the easiest thing to identify for someone in your list. All you need to do is listen. Maybe she has been talking endlessly about something she’s been wanting you to notice? Tickets to a concert? Or perhaps something related to her favorite hobby? Maybe she’s been eyeing those shoes for quite some time now. Be quick to pick up these clues, for if you get this right, you may earn the title of the best gift-giver for the year!

These are the gifts they may not even realize they need until after you get these for them. Or maybe they’ve been needing these all along, but they think it lacks the magic and excitement of a Christmas gift. These gifts are the most thoughtful ones, as they tell that person that you are indeed observing him/her and you know what he/she needs. Has he been constantly borrowing USBs from you/his classmates? Or do you often see her carrying disposable water bottles because she doesn’t have a tumbler for her drinks?

Clothes of the right fit, color and personality always bring delight. Go get her that little bright dress you know she’s been eyeing, or get him that shirt that you know speaks so much about him. Shoes are much loved, too! Just be careful with the size, if you want to get a pair for someone. Jackets, cardigans and cover-ups are always great gifts to purchase, since they never go out of style and are flexible enough for sizes.

What’s better than a gift that nourishes the mind and feeds the soul? Different types of people prefer different genres of books. If you know him/her long enough, you’re better off getting something that suits his/her vibe. Lose yourself in the bookstore, go through summaries and reviews, and find that perfect book that you know he/she will enjoy. The bestsellers collection provides safe picks, but there are also other great stories inside the shelves.

Christmas is not just a season of gift-giving, it is also a season of festivities and eating! Baked goods and delicacies are staple gifts for families and friends, but home-cooked meals and family packs are just as welcome. If you’re running low on time to think about any of the four categories above, you can always get them freshly baked Christmas cookies or the famous Christmas ham, yum.

SOURCES:http://voices.yahoo.com/a-christmas-shopping-philosophy-want-wear-11923987.html?cat=25

WORDS BY JANELLE CARRILLOILLUSTRATED BY FRANCES LEE

Something they want.

Something they need.

Something to wear.

Something to read.

BONUS: Something to eat?

11DECEMBER 2013AY 2013.2014

Do You Hear What I Hear?

DECEMBER FILLS the lively air with Christmas carols. Be it in a coffee shop, in malls, radio stations, everyone seems to be excited for the holiday season. With these festivities, three of the most prominent Christmas songs have been staple music to us ever since: “Jingle Bells,” “12 Days of Christmas,” and “Silent Night.” Not only are these carols “LSS-triggering,” but they also carry with them an interesting story worthy to be shared.

“Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way...”

Who hasn’t ever heard of this song? “Jingle Bells” is one of the first Christmas songs that I’ve encountered and one of the first ones I learned. Everyone seems to be so familiar with this song, but not much of its story.

“Jingle Bells” was written by James Lord Pierpoint in 1857 and has an original title of “One Horse Open Sleigh.” This is the first song to be ever played in space, when astronauts performed this using harmonica and bells during 1965. This song is also so prominent that it is considered to be one of the 25 most recorded songs in the history. Because of its catchy and repetitive lyrics, different versions were created for this carol. Its appealing tune makes it so easy to memorize and sing along with. It’s no wonder that this song is one of the most popular Christmas carols in history.

Originally an Austrian hymn entitled, “Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht,” “Silent Night” was first written in 1816 by Joseph Mohr, a young priest. It was only two years after when the melody of the carol was added. According to legend, it was said that Mohr wanted to create a carol to be sung by children of their village on Christmas Eve. However, when they were practicing, the organ broke, forcing the children to learn it well so that they could still perform it even without accompaniment. The song has originally six verses but when it was translated to English, the verses were reduced to three.

“Silent Night” may be considered one of the calmest Christmas songs and it appeals much to children as it resembles a mother’s lullaby. It is also one of the most famous Christmas carols in history and it has been recorded in about 40 versions.

When I was a kid, I would try to memorize all the gifts that the singer’s true love sent to him/her. The gifts made no sense until I learned the meaning behind these.

The carol was created during the era when Catholicism was not allowed in England. The carol served as a catechism song that teaches Catholics the “tenets of faith.” Here are the lines of the song and its meaning:

A Partridge in a Pear Tree - Jesus ChristTwo Turtle Doves - The Old and New TestamentsThree French Hens - The three virtues of Faith, Hope, and CharityFour Calling Birds - Four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and JohnFive Golden Rings - First five books of the Old TestamentSix Geese-a-Laying - Six days of creation before God’s rest on the seventh daySeven Swans-a-Swimming - Seven gifts of the Holy SpiritEight Maids-a-Milking - Eight BeatitudesNine Ladies Dancing - Nine fruits of the Holy SpiritTen Lords-a-Leaping - Ten CommandmentsEleven Pipers Piping - Eleven faithful disciples

Twelve Drummers Drumming -Twelve points of belief in the Apostles’ Creed

Christmas carols do not only heighten the Christmas mood but are also effective means of reminding us the true spirit of Christmas. Christmas is not all about buying and receiving gifts. It is about celebrating and remembering Jesus Christ and His love and sacrifices for the humanity. So the next time we hear these songs, let us remember not only the gifts, but the true Love behind them.

SOURCES:http://folkmusic.about.com/od/folksongs/qt/JingleBells.htmhttp://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/twelve-days-christmas.htmhttp://www.whychristmas.com/customs/carols_stories.shtml

Jingle Bells

Silent Night

12 Days of Christmas

WORDS BY MITHI KAPAYAPAAN ZAMORAILLUSTRATED BY THERESE ASEOCHE


ARE YOU EATING CRAP?TEMPERATURE, CHOPPING BOARDS, AND BAD EATING HABITS

THE HOLIDAY season has already started and everyone is so excited about it. Who wouldn’t be? Classes are over for the meantime! We can catch up with our favorite TV series without the thought of school load deterring our enjoyment! There are so many presents to open! And, of course, there’s free food—lots of them. Basically, for the next two weeks or less, most of us will be bums this sembreak—we’ll just live to eat!

Why do I have to bring this up when you’ve already built up your appetite the moment you saw that buffet table? Basically, my dears, I’m just worried about your well-being. After all, I do want to see those same cute faces of yours upon class resumption. I’m concerned about the kind of food you’re eating. This is not about staying away from grease, fat, sugars, and salts, because those are what we like, right? I’m referring to this crap we call as foodborne illness which we can get from microscopic bacteria that contaminate our food.

A buffet table full of gastronomical masterpieces may be the most beautiful sight to see, but if the food presented were not handled carefully, then a buffet table may just be a fancy name for a septic tank. I know we are all aware of how food should be handled, but sometimes we forget them or don’t know about them. This article is about reminding and teaching you some of the basic things that we should think about and practice in order not to eat that crap.

Just like human beings, bacteria are picky when it comes to the temperature of the surroundings and are productive only when it’s favorable to them. Bacteria seem to be the most active when the temperature is between 4 – 60 degrees Celsius. What’s the implication? When food is within this temperature range, most likely, it has all sorts of bacteria in it! That’s why this range is what we call as the temperature danger zone.

Unfortunately, we consume most of the food within this temperature danger zone. It is room temperature; not so hot nor so cold—just right for us to eat. But since bacteria thrive within this danger zone, should we accustom ourselves into eating either really hot or really cold food, and bear burnt tongues and brain freezes all our lives? No! The key here is to eat food right away after it is served. Bacteria don’t multiply to millions instantaneously. It takes them quite some time to grow into numbers that’s hazardous for us to consume. Remember that a few bacteria may not cause us harm, but millions can. Therefore, we should consume food right away when the number of bacteria is still not harmful for consumption. This temperature danger zone reminds us of the adage, “Keep Hot Food Hot, Keep Cold Food Cold.”

The temperature ranges below illustrate the Temperature Danger Zone and other key temperatures for safe food handling.

The iPhone 5c is not the only coolest multicolored thing that ever hit the market. Chopping boards also come in different colors of not just five but six attractive colors: namely green, yellow, blue, white, tan and red. But why the heck do chopping boards need to be in such varied colors?

These colors are not just for aesthetic purposes but they’re mainly for the purpose of preventing one of the reasons for food-borne illnesses: cross-contamination! Some brilliant person started this practice and eventually most cooks and chefs implement this inside their kitchens. Here are the different cutting board colors and their meanings:

Green: Fruits & Vegetables Yellow: Raw Poultry Blue: Cooked Food

White: Dairy Products Tan: Fish & Seafood

Red: Raw Meat

I would also like to advise you not to use chopping boards made of wood. As you can see, compared to plastic ones, chopping boards made of wood tend to soften over time because of continuous chopping, and get wet due to raw food items and continuous washing.

TEMPERATURE EFFECT74°C and higher Most bacteria die within several

seconds61°C to 73°C Holding hot foods and sauces.

Bacteria aren’t killed, but they don’t multiply, either

4°C to 60°CFood Temperature Danger Zone

Bacteria thrive and multiply. Limit exposure of perishable foods to one hour or less.

1°C to 3°C Refrigerated food storage. Bacteria aren’t killed. They multiply, but relatively slowly. Food is safe here for a limited time.

0°C and lower Frozen food storage: Bacteria aren’t killed, but they don’t multiply, either

WORDS BY PATRICK VICENTEILLUSTRATION FROM DRAGONARTZ.WORDPRESS.COM

Temperature Danger Zone

Chop ‘til you Drop

(http://culinaryarts.about.com/od/safetysanitation/a/dangerzone_tab.htm)

13DECEMBER 2013AY 2013.2014

Eventually, with repetitive use, cooked and uncooked food particles get stuck to the wood, leaving those disgusting sediments where bacteria live! Try scraping your chopping boards made of wood and you’ll see what I mean. Moreover, don’t just wash chopping boards with water and soap. Use soapy hot water and scrub it clean. Don’t stop repeating this procedure until you cannot feel the sliminess from the chopping board anymore. The sliminess test is the safest way to ensure that bacteria are mostly washed away.

Whenever possible, get food items fresh. But since majority of the food items that we get are frozen, we should also take into consideration the proper way of thawing them.

Who here thaws their frozen food at room temperature? I think most of us do that, right ? It is not a bad thing if we want to get sick! But since it’s the holiday season and we want to be present in all occasions, we try to avoid getting sick.

Unfortunately, by just the simple incorrect way of thawing food by leaving them there on top of the counter, we put ourselves closer to acquiring foodborne illnesses. Why? Remember the concept of the temperature danger zone: food must not be left within the 4 - 60 degrees Celsius temperature because it promotes bacterial growth. If we merely let our food thaw at room temperature on top of a counter, we expose the food to the temperature danger zone.

We all know what to do and not to do when handling food. But this practice should be exercised habitually. The number one bad habit that we should eliminate is tasting food with our fingers. Who cares if the food is finger-lickin’ good? Just don’t use it to taste the food. It’s just plainly unacceptable! Also, never use the same utensil you already swallowed for dipping once again to the pot. It’s just the same as what you did using your finger. This hastens the exponential multiplication of bacteria and speeds up the food spoilage. Use a clean utensil for every taste!

Another bad habit is using the same serving utensil for the rest of the 20 other meals on top of the buffet table! You would not want to

see spaghetti sauce mixed with fruit salad or taste ham while eating graham, right?

Another bad habit is using a dirty cloth to wipe recently washed plates. It’s ridiculous that after you washed the plates clean, you would wipe it with a dirty cloth. It’s just labor put to waste. Also, never crowd your refrigerator with leftovers. Because of the numerous food items inside the refrigerator, there won’t be enough cold temperature that would halt the thriving process of bacterial growth. If you think that your refrigerator increased its temperature, pull the other food items out to make the temperature drop once again. Also, never drink or taste beverages from the container. It also speeds up food spoilage.

We have reviewed some forgotten food handling testaments and shared with you some that you may not know. If you follow them and apply it to your food handling practices, or at least tell these to the food handlers, we can now say that you’re not eating crap! The key is knowing what’s good for you and applying them to your personal life. The holiday season will end but the proper food handling practices should stay. Whether it be at home, the cafeteria, a fastfood chain, or even a fine restaurant, who would want to eat crap?

SOURCES:http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/food-poisoning/tc/salmonellosis-topic-overviewhttp://www.dayjob.com/content/safe-food-handling-1150.htmhttp://www.freshjuice.ca/eat-well/everyday-healthy-eating/7-bad-kitchen-habits-that-make-food-spoil-faster/a/44274http://www.fehd.gov.hk/english/publications/code/allc_5.htmhttp://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/safe-food-handling/washing-food-does-it-promote-food-safety/washing-foodhttp://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/nutrition/healthy-eating/food-safety-thawing-food-correctly.htmlhttp://culinaryarts.about.com/od/chickenturkeymore/a/chickensafety.htmhttp://culinaryarts.about.com/od/safetysanitation/p/cuttinbrdcolors.htmhttp://culinaryarts.about.com/od/safetysanitation/a/dangerzone.htmhttp://www.prevention.com/prevent/how-prevent-food-spoilinghttp://azdailysun.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/columnists/public-health-you-practice-food-safety-during-the-holiday-season/article_51510856-4e76-11e3-94cf-0019bb2963f4.htmlhttp://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2005/document/html/chapter10.htmhttp://princewilliamliving.com/2013/11/food-poisoning-dont-spoil-holiday-plans/

Frozen Delights

Bad Habits Gone Worse


15DECEMBER 2013AY 2013.2014


I REMEMBER distinctly vowing to myself to maximize my remaining months as a student. I took my chances, jumped headfirst into the fray, despite my fears. As the year ends, my chance to make this year the most memorable ever continues to run out. But despite everything I’ve been through this year, what do I have to show for it? Have I really achieved anything?

First semester. The same old struggle with academics. More time from not being as involved with org gave way for other things. Guilder. Cheerdance. Got rejected for, and rejected a position. Feasib. Dreams of future entrepreneurial undertaking. Took PE finals, knowing only two out of eight dances; passed. And the countless moments—random trips and overnights—with friends around and in between.

It is hard to rate the success at which I accomplished my objective. While my goal was clear, I guess it was not as easy to measure—especially given the apparent dearth of tangible, definite moments of triumph at the end. I mean, we did rank second in cheerdance (and won two-peat), but I was a spot in many, and it isn’t truly just my own success. I have my dedicated and talented batchmates to thank for that. My CRS may reflect decent grades (except accounting), but I remember clearly the times I crammed and cursed myself for time lost. We might have finished feasib and produced scarves to hopefully sell to market, but we never really found illumination on our ideas as circumstances made it impossible for us to present.

Others I think will rate my level of success way below average. My semester was mediocre, nothing special, nothing worthy to write—and read—about. My own more critical self questions, censures, passes judgment. It rants at opportunities lost; and raves about competitions I could have joined, rash decisions, and about resources lost from stupidly missing a flight while already in the airport.

But then right in the middle of the hysterics comes recollections of precious time spent with friends, of laughter, confessions, tears, breakups and the consequent making up, the crazy jaunt to the guidance counselor’s office, and the quieter moments spent together while attending to our own business. My grade in accounting could be better, but looking back, I remember the endless hours devoted to studying, of trying to commit the lessons to heart, of how worthy a battle it really was.

Second semester. Falling out. The stress of enrollment. Grad pic. The joy of writing for friends for the yearbook. Unfortunate, single miss in the CPA boards. 23 units. As the world prepares for Christmas, I question my sanity for even trying. And as the blunt reality of graduation infuses a current of restlessness into our days, heck I’ll let go. Let life happen.

WORDS BY AIKO FRANCES SAGUSAYPHOTOS BY THERESE ASEOCHE and RAPPLER.COM

17DECEMBER 2013AY 2013.2014

A YEAR nears its end as another is about to begin. Yesterday, as it may seem to you, you were wrapping the year up with thoughts of how the past 12 months had been. Today, as you may not recognize it, you still find yourself reliving the highlights of your year before embracing the ensuing chapter. But there may be moments that were too bright — too blindingly vivid of an image for your mind to handle. So the highlights that you tend to recollect are the less flamboyant ones — dull snapshots that cannot be that haunting.

In the prologue of her latest album, Taylor Swift said, “And when we’re trying to move on, the moments we always go back to aren’t the mundane ones. They are the moments you saw sparks that weren’t really there, felt stars aligning without having any proof, saw your future before it happened, and then saw it slip away without any warning.” Do you also feel this way in moving on from one year to the next?

Had there been moments that you saw as being brilliant while you were experiencing them but eventually became lackluster images in your mind — happiness and hope that were wiped out by gloom and regret? Had there been moments that left those seemingly permanent scars in your heart and those shattered memories that kept on piercing your mind? Had there been moments that plagued you for several years? If yes, the reason is that it tends to take you a long time to realize, longer to regret, and longest to accept — a long process of surviving a disaster of your own. But the costs incurred will definitely yield great returns; the only thing that remains uncertain is how long you will need to live through the pain before being able to reap the gain.

So long as you bear the pain, moving on from a year to another will be more of seeing flashbacks or listening to echoes and less of touching a newfound hope; ending your year will be more of penning prequels and less of anticipating sequels in the story of your life. You look back, document the past, and may opt to write New Year’s Resolutions and Wishes. But most, if not all, of those New Year’s Resolutions and Wishes reappear in your list next year, in the year after next year, and until those scars are completely lightened and those shattered memories are finally dissolved. Your end-of-year sentiments can be a repetitive throwback, which is not like any of your Throwback Thursdays. Such a throwback tends to be tenacious. And theatrical. And timeless. And torturing. But it is sometimes, if not often, inevitably indispensable.

“FIVE HUNDRED twenty five thousand six hundred minutes, how do you measure, measure a year?”

As we near the end of 2013, most of us would probably reminisce of all the trials, achievements and new experiences we had during the year. We would remember all the late night cramming, long hours of studying for exams, never ending cases and overnights , as well as those fun bonding (aka “YOLO”) moments with our barkada and orgmates. Some of us may also look back at our New Year’s Resolutions list to see if they’re accomplished.

All these experiences define who we are today. From every challenge and achievement, we always learn something that eventually shapes our personalities and values. As the year comes to an end, we don’t only remember the activities we had, but we also realize how much we have improved, as compared to the person we were at the start of the year. They may not be planned, but they still have affected us after all.

So before the year ends, let us take a step back and cherish all the experiences we had. These experiences may take part of our “archives list” of memories, but let us remember that all these brought us learning and realizations with how we live our life. Let us be always thankful and optimistic that all these moments gave us growth. Let us always look forward for more opportunities of self-improvement that we may come across as we face the daily challenges that life offers us. Let us measure the year not in terms of months, weeks, days, hours or minutes, but most importantly, in terms of experiences and realizations.

WORDS BY MA. ANGELICA ESMERA CALSOPHOTOS BY JANELLE CARRILLO


WAS THE AIDS virus actually created in a secret laboratory? Is the climate change and global warming issue just a hoax? Was the Pearl Harbor bombing a planned attack known by the US? Did that “One step for man, one giant leap for mankind” never really happen? A dozen year after 9-11, and 50 years after Kennedy’s assassination, all these questions – and more – still remain puzzles for the most inquisitive minds. Collectively, these stories that present other sides to a phenomenon are called conspiracy theories.

Babylon Dictionary provides a more or less comprehensive definition of a conspiracy theory: a conspiracy theory attributes the ultimate cause of an event (usually political, social, pop cultural or historical) or the concealment of such causes from public knowledge, to a secret and often deceptive plot by a covert alliance of powerful and influential people or organizations. To further make sense of conspiracy theories, it would be helpful to look into various examples of such theories.

Members of the scientific community believe that the HIV/AIDS virus jumped from monkeys to humans sometime in the 1930s. However, some researchers believe that the virus was introduced via contaminated vaccine experiments exclusively targeting the Black African and American Gay Community. AIDS in America started when government researchers began experimenting with gays using an experimental vaccine developed in primates. HIV occurred exclusively in the gay community because the virus was put there by scientists themselves. Gays were the perfect target to test a new retrovirus because a largely homophobic public would easily accept HIV infection in gays due to their purported promiscuity and drug use. On the other hand, many African-Americans believe AIDS is an experiment to rid the world of Black people, as part of a US government-sanctioned world depopulation program.

Some people believe that Pearl Harbor was not an unwarranted attack all along. According to the conspiracy theory, President Roosevelt provoked the attack. He knew about it beforehand and did not warn the Hawaiian commanders about it. He denied intelligence to Hawaii, misled the commanders into thinking that negotiations with Japan were ongoing so that they will not anticipate a war, and sent false information to the Hawaiian forces about the location of the Japanese fleet. All these caused the Hawaiian forces to be caught unaware. Everything was a set up. He allowed the attack to happen because he knew that this tragedy would be more than enough to convince the public and the Congress to enter into war with the Axis forces, particularly with Germany. This entire bombing, leaving 2403 Americans and 64 Japanese dead, was Roosevelt’s backdoor to war.

Conspiracy theorists believe that information supporting the claim on the existence of climate change and global warming were exaggerated; thereby, misleading the public and instigating terror. They say that global warming is not an issue of science, but of politics. There had to be a trade-off between effectiveness and honesty. In this case, scientists let go of the latter. The lead author of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and one of the prime advocates of global warming, Stephen Schneider, explained in an interview that:

“Like most people we’d like to see the world a better place. To do that we need to get some broad based support, to capture the public’s imagination. That, of course, entails getting loads of media coverage. So we have to offer up scary scenarios, make simplified, dramatic statements, and make little mention of any doubts we might have. This ‘double ethical bind’ we frequently find ourselves in cannot be solved by any formula. Each of us has to decide what the right balance is between being effective and being honest.”

Doubters say the US government was desperate to beat the Russians in the space race. For this reason, they faked the lunar landings. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin acted out their mission on a secret film set. Some say it happened in the Hollywood Hills while some claim it happened deep within Area 51. Photos and videos were available only through NASA. This prohibited independent verification on the validity of the Apollo mission. A more precise observation leading to this conclusion was that the flag’s movement (as planted on the moon by Aldrin) showed the presence of wind. This is clearly impossible in a vacuum. In defense, NASA said Aldrin was twisting the flagpole to get the moon soil, which caused the flag to move. The worst part of this conspiracy theory was the alleged execution of the three other astronauts in their attempt to disclose the truth. Rather, it was said that they have died in a fire during the testing of the equipment.

Proponents of the conspiracy theory believe that the US government concealed or refused to investigate critical evidence that contradicts their official explanation of the September 11 attacks. The

AIDS: A GENETICALLY ENGINEERED VIRUS?

THEY KNEW ABOUT PEARL HARBOR ALL ALONG?

NO CLIMATE CHANGE? NO GLOBAL WARMING?

APOLLO NEVER REALLY LANDED ON THE MOON?

INSIDE JOB OF 9-11?

WORDS BY CARMILLE ROMEROILLUSTRATION BY THERESE ASEOCHE

19DECEMBER 2013AY 2013.2014

failure to intercept the hijacked planes aimed towards the World Trade Center was intentional. Also, there were alleged attacks on the Pentagon but no wreckage was evident. Theorists believe that the Bin Laden family cannot be behind the terrorist attacks since they had made business with President Bush in transactions which involved oil. Instead of a Muslim conspiracy, the 9-11 was an American conspiracy to overthrow the current government and install a police state, advance imperial ambitions, and take advantage of the energy resources of the Middle East.

All the aforementioned examples are conspiracy theories. Not one though may be deemed completely reliable because they provide no guarantee for either truth or falsehood. People can choose either to credit or not a conspiracy theory based on what they believe is true. What is certain about a conspiracy theory is that it provides possibilities. It widens the perspectives of people regarding a particular political, social, or historical event.

This process, however, implicates different individuals or groups of people. While widening the view of the public in areas of general concern, more and more names and organizations are being involved. Thus, information is easily distorted; making it unreliable to some extent. Manipulation of ideas and information is the key to winning the public’s sympathy in a debate of conspiracy theorists. We have to agree that the nature of these theories is obviously political. People struggle in order to win influence and the ability to spin the circumstance in a manner favorable to their respective interests.

Ultimately, we could make sense of conspiracy theories by actually looking at it from different perspectives and understanding that like any other body of knowledge, there exists limitations. Conspiracy theories may not always provide a definite answer to the questions we have in mind. And more often than not, they won’t. Nevertheless, we have to remember how Philosophy teaches us of its essence. Suppose there is light at the dead end of the road. In order to reach that point, we have to walk through the path. We may not always reach the end but the more significant part is walking the path. Sometimes, it is in our search for the answers and asking of questions that we learn and gain insight; not necessarily when the answer is laid down in front of us.

SOURCES:http://www.newdawnmagazine.com/articles/the-secret-origins-of-aids-facts-fallacies-conspiracy-theorieshttp://www.collativelearning.com/conspiracy%20theories%20-%20contents.htmlhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/charleskadlec/2011/07/25/the-goal-is-power-the-global-warming-conspiracy/http://whatreallyhappened.com/WRHARTICLES/pearl/www.geocities.com/Pentagon/6315/pearl.htmlhttp://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1860871_1860876_1860992,00.htmlhttp://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1860871_1860876_1861013,00.htmlhttp://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/10/19/330112/mainstream-journalists-expose-911-hoax/


Documents

Guilder 2013 Year Ender Issue