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Isa Magazine Issue 7

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Isa Magazine is a non-profit student organization of UCSD. We pledge to create a publication aimed at enhancing Asian-American consciousness within the community. Our purpose is to create a space in which the Asian American students of UCSD can come together and find unity.

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Senses IssueSight Uploaded: The Asian American Movement Lessons from a Late Night Mad Man

Sound Words of Wisdom

Touch Newman Education Under Fire

Smell The Nose Knows

Taste Taste of San Diego

Writer’s Contributions

Isa Issue 7: Senses

Our five senses have a powerful impact on how we perceive the world. Each sensation places a certain impression and based on our experiences, gives us a certain understanding or reasoning to the world. This quarter we wished to dive into each sense and how they connect us together.

Isa Magazine is a non-profit student organization of UCSD. We pledge to create a publication aimed at enhancing Asian-American consciousness within the community. Our purpose is to create a space in which the Asian American students of UCSD can come together and find unity.

Editor Editor Photography Director Photographer Finance Writer Writer Designer Designer Designer Designer

Chris Asuncion Alfred Tanglao

Alice Kim Saniya Husain

Lisa Chao Natalie Bui Judy Chow

Clarissa Tong Judy Jue

Ada Espanola Jet Antonio

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Sight

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A recent UCSD alumni who graduated in the Visual Arts Media Film in 2011, has been making quite a scene in the Asian-American community for directing his documentary “Uploaded: The Asian American Movement.” I got to speak with Kane Diep, a the director of the film and ask him a few questions about his documentary. This documentary delves into pop culture to see how Asian Americans have used viral internet mediums to break out into the public.

The film shows how many Asian-Americans got their rise to fame and what struggles Asian-Pacific Americans have breaking out into the entertainment business. The feature showcases a wonderful cast ranging from the web content creators like Kevin Wu (KevJumba), Christine Gambito (HappySlip), to the musicians like Clara Chung, Dia Frampton, and other underground artists, dancers and stars. Each individual interviewee expresses their concern with the online environment and how identity crisis’s and life problems are just as prominent in the digital world.

What was your vision of the initial set up of the documen-tary and how did it progress and change as you filmed?

“We wanted to capture a really important time in Asian-American history, to reform the perceptions of Asian-Americans and how their stereotypes evolved through media. The script has gone through many rewrites and edits. We’ve collected sixty plus interviews and have over a hundred hours of footage.”

Could you tell me one of the easiest and one of the biggest challenges about directing this film?

“The easiest was getting everyone in the documentary. All of them were very supportive and knew that this was a good cause. The hardest part was organizing, reorganizing the content collected, breaking everything down and putting it together piece by piece. We had nine interns transcribed every word spoken and lots of feedback from producers and editors to make the film flow.”

What did you want the audience to walk away with after watching your feature?

“All of us had 3 main goals: education, inspiration and empowerment. We wanted to educate. The film ‘Better Luck Tomorrow’ was a groundbreaking film that hit the mainstream and got picked up by Mtv as well as other organizations before youtube happened. We wanted to show Asian-Americans to those who haven’t been into this part of entertainment as well as non-Asians. To inspire creativity and spark their creative juices through struggles and successes of the people in the documentary and to empower the audience, to show them that they can go for it and pursue their goals. You see people who didn’t have the opportunity but they took charge and put their stuff online. We hope that comes through in the documentary.”

As an Asian-American, who starred in the film and did any of them influence you?

Every single one of the interviews was inspiring but personally there were three that I’ve known before but I followed for a long time. Wong Fu Productions, they show you that you don’t have to have a lot of money to make funny content even back when they were at UCSD. Mike Song

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because he was in Kaba Modern, the very first dance team I was obsessed with. Found a video of him on youtube and got me into dancing in college. Also, AJ Rafael because he’s an amazing musician and you can tell he has a passion for his music. He believes in what he’s doing and what he loves.

Anything that threw you off guard?

“Positive surprises. Jon M. Chu - Step Up films, I had very similar stories as him, trying to pursue film and convince his parents. There were a lot of ideas you didn’t think of until you sit down and talk to them. Insight you would never get unless you spent this much time on something.”

When will your documentary be screened in San Diego?

“We’re planning a nationwide college tour in fall and winter 2012. Hoping to bring it to UCSD in October. Dates will be on the website (uploadedtaam.com) and to screen at SDAFF in November.”

You were a UCSD graduate, what kinds of advice could you give other film majors in directing a

documentary or any other type of film?

“I would say, have a reason or a purpose behind the film you’re trying to do. Especially doing a feature film, it takes years. Choose something you’re passionate about. There’s

writing pre-production, production and post and there’s lots of reasons why to quit. So have the drive and the money because the word starving artist doesn’t come from nowhere. If you love what you do it’ll be ok in the end.”

What are you next endeavors and film projects?

“This has been taking up my time for the past year and a half. I’m ready to start working on my fiction narratives. I’m working on several shorts that I plan to do in the next year, and I’m writing a feature film and iit will be my first fictional feature film and a story that I’m really excited to tell. I’m on page 20 and I got 100 more to go and many, many more drafts to go but that’s probably the biggest thing I’m going to be working on.”

Any parting words or anything you want say about your film?”

“I think that whoever you are, our documentary will serve to show you something. Whether you’re working in enter-tainment or not, seeing these people struggle and achieve amazing things is inspiring. Even us we, we were strug-gling. We were tired. We interviewed 3-4 people a day but hearing these personal stories enabled us to move forward. We knew these stories needed to be told and that’s what kept us going.”

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Written by: Chris Asuncion

Photography & Poster by: Melly Lee , Sthanlee B Mirador & the UPLOADED TAAM Documentary

Designed by: Chris Asuncion

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and ultimately try to win people over, but before all of that comes watching and learning from those who have done and do it better than you. I’m not here to summarize the event’s most memorable moments (that’s why Youtube was invented), but to give you what I surmised from observing a man at his best.

1. Know your weaknesses and use them to your advantage.

The pasty skin, his oddly proportioned body, those beady eyes. Conan constantly reminded the audience of his physical “uniqueness” and he milked

these insecurities for comedic fodder. He even joking about his sexuality and androgynous looks, suggest-

ing Tilda Swinton should play him in a movie. Having a sense of humor about yourself goes a long way by

showing humility and creating common ground that everyone can relate to and participate in- beating up

on yourself.

2. Play to your audience.

It’s been over 25 years since he graduated from Harvard, but he still knows how to speak the collegiate language.

Describing how the school would be different if he were in charge of UCSD, Conan O’Brien quipped, “Marijuana would be

required. You’d have to fill a quota.” And his mode of transpor-tation? A gold bentley with license plate that reads “STUDDDD”.

3. Seize every moment of opportunity, appropriately.

Amongst the highlights of the night was a polite, albeit a bit socially inept fellow, who solicited love advice from Conan, then asked if he could get a job with his show (he brought a resume and every-thing!). Conan responded to his audacity with enthusiasm and accepted said resume, even taking the time to ask what kind of job would suit him. Cut to the end of the show. As Conan is about to

say his parting words of wisdom, a young man shouts from the back of the auditorium, “How can I write for your show?”, only to be given

a dismissive response from Conan. “Well, thats not the way to do it. (pause) Actually, every writer I’ve hired stood up at the end of a seminar and screamed that question at me. Unintelligably. ” His sarcastic chiding his impertinent behavior was telling. Rules are meant to be broken, but c’mon. Don’t be rude.

4. Let fear be your motivation.

In response to a question about his biggest phobia, Conan said, “I’m absolutely terrified of not making an audience happy.” Set goals and let the idea of failure make you work harder and be better than the rest.

Conan O’Brien, how I do love thee, and have thus counted the ways. In this haphazard event, Conan attacked with an eager spirit and his always winning sense of humor, arousing pandemonium that even the Dalai Lama, for all his universal acclaim, couldn’t match only 24 hours earlier. His carpe diem attitude became an apt metaphor for any lost soul like myself about the take on the world. All the world’s a stage and we are all actors in an unending improv session

I filed for my diploma last week. Quit my student job. Received my accounts closing notifications. After four years of coming to this little safe haven tucked away in north La Jolla, I was forced to prepare for entering the real world. Those three words send convulsions of panic and dread down the spines of seniors from coast to coast. In the days that followed, I felt uneasiness, a ship without an anchor, like I was being made to walk the plank into uncharted waters. So where or to whom could I seek guidance? Enter Conan O’Brien, an Ivy League graduate who majored in English and history (my own majors of choice!) and then turned buffoonery into a quite lucrative profession- in other words, my hero. How apropo that he was coming to UCSD for a special event in the midst of my quarter-life crisis. Perhaps his words would inspire me, guide me, and be my saving grace.

In celebration of the 10th anniversary of Sixth College, Conan O’Brien was the host of a 90 minute discussion on 4/20 to a palpably excited crowd of questionable sobriety at the RIMAC arena. Promoted as a Q&A session, the event’s press release disclosed no discernible theme or structure, leaving many scratching their heads at what to expect. The show opened with Six College’s Provost, Dan Donogue, announcing March 20th to forever be the day of Conan O’Brien in Six College, followed by other administrative jubilations commemorating the event. And then the stage was cleared to make way for Coco himself.

Bouncing out from stage left appeared his 6’4 wiry frame in the flesh, flaming head of hair and all. Conan O’Brien bellowed out the school’s name to a deafening, unrelenting roar before angrily launching into a tirade best summarized by his opening statement, “What the hell do you mean naming the college after me for ONE DAY?!?!?!” It became clear within minutes of the guest of honor mounting the stage that the man of the hour was just as clueless as the rest of us. Given no direction, Conan O’Brien master-fully seized the mike and his audience with unrelenting fervor and charm; never batting an eye once over the cumbersome organization, the abundance of ludicrous questions and requests to be touched, not even stopping to take a sip of water. In the ninety minutes that followed, Mr. O’Brien became a display of improv at its best. Returning every serve and using every play in the book to deliver nonstop laughter, he was a marvel of comedic skill, reminding us why we were all Team Coco in the now infamous Tonight Show debacle.

In this free-for-all improv session I found some nuggets of wisdom to guide my wayward journey. It wasn’t through his recollections of his youthful embarrassment, from skipping prom to grand theft newspapering. Nor was it through his detailed escape plan in the event of a zombie apocalypse. It wasn’t even through the moments of serious reflections peppered through-out his one man show, urging everyone to work hard, be humble, and appreciate struggles. It was watching him maneuver his way through the situation. Conan was forced into blindingly hot lights and made to prove his worth in front of five thousand curious sets of eyes. This alone is not unlike his day- erm, late night job, but there was no script, cue cards, or producers off camera. It became an apt metaphor for my own predicament. Without the guiding structure of school anymore, I’d have to go out, test the waters,

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Sound

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Touch

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Written by: Alfred Tanglao

Photography by: Chris Asuncion

Designed by: Chris Asuncion

What about that window fan with the missing piece of blade? It looks like something someone would throw away if they noticed that it was there. But the fan has been there forever. It is old. It may

have been donated from the U.S. base and was used during the war. Because it is hard to do anything in this island without having a fan blowing in your face, especially fighting a war. That is why the teacher would always turn on the fan before calling roll call. A little flicker of the switch, and it would hum and whir and turn its blade. It gave a cool breeze in the classroom. All of the children enjoyed it.

What about the sun? The students would suffer every morning because the classroom faced the sun. The principal decided not to spend money on putting window covers in the classroom. The reason was that the children were not getting enough time outside and needed to see the sun a bit more. Also, it cost money to install cover. It always cost money to build anything in this island. The heat dove right into the classroom. It brought the color out of everyone.

“Quiambao,” said the teacher.

“Here.”

“Bautista.”

“Here.”

“Newman,” the teacher continued.

What about Newman? Newman sat in his room fixing a tie that his mother had handed to him. He loved wearing that tie. He preferred to wear it over anything else, even if the color did not match his clothes. He learned how to wear the tie by having his uncle teach him. It was difficult for him at first, but he learned how to do it perfectly. The bottom of the tie sat just above his belt. That was the perfect height, and the height he would always fold before going to school. He looked at the clock and realized that he was late.

“You look exactly like your father.”

“I guess that could be true.”

“You are probably as tall as he is right now. You’ve grown to be such as big kid.”

“Do you think I’m just as smart as him?”

“Probably. Your father is a very smart man.”

“I guess that could be true.”

Looking forward as the school reached near his sight, Newman pedaled his bike as fast as he can. The wind blew his tie behind him. As he pedaled faster, he can feel a slight tugging around his neck. It he pedaled any fast, it would have suffocated him. But that did not matter. Newman was having a good day today.

“Here!” Newman shouted. His breath still hasn’t caught up with him as he entered the classroom. It was still hot, and the teacher eyed him down as he entered the room.

“Take a seat.”

Newman looked around to find a seat. He preferred to sit in the middle, but it was already taken. He liked sitting in the middle. Newman enjoyed his studies, and sitting in the middle means he could take better notes. The only chair open was by the window, but he did not mind. He sat next to the window fan, and it cooled him down a bit.

It was always the same routine. For the first hour, the children would spend time doing math. The second hour, a lecture about English and vocabulary. The third hour was spent learning about cities in far away places. Newman enjoyed learning about these cities. He wished to visit them someday.

What about Newman’s father? After class, he ran straight for his bike and pedaled back home. He looked up at the sun and thought how it would be so much better if the sun was a huge fan. It would cool the entire island. The school would instead have a small sun sitting on a pedestal to keep everybody warm. That would probably cost some money, and the school could never afford such as thing. Newman continued to pedal his bike under the hot sun. It brought the color out of him.

NEWMAN

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That’s how committed they were in identifying with their own faith- but they would not allow this cultural erasing, this genocide. They were committed in starting their own institu-tion for higher education for a country they still loved: the Baha’i Institution for Higher Education Movement spurred the fact that education was far too important for it to be embodied in just one person. It was worth risking their bodies, so that their mind and soul would still live on through the next gener-ations, to promote understanding and equal opportunities.

During the panelist discussion, one student asked the Baha’i Institution for Higher Education (BIHE) architecture graduate, Niknaz Aftahi, what some of the daily challenges of going to BIHE were. “It was hard to complete assignments because there were never permanent classrooms. It was hard because we could not draw attention to ourselves.”

Essentially, this community was learning in complete secrecy. This institution was an underground, secret rebellion. Even Muslim volunteer teachers would take in Baha’i students and hide them out. However, she spoke so affectionately of her school on how they cared for and looked after each other, to make sure that each student received a personalized education. Dr. Mitra Kanani, a professor of architecture at the BIHE said how it was very difficult teaching courses over Skype because connection would keep breaking over and over, and how it was just satisfying to be able to finish that one sentence after many redials.

“The government can crush our body – but they cannot crush our mind and soul,”

As I took my seat in the middle of Price Theater, waiting for the screening of the documentary to begin, I noticed the general audience. There were students here, of many different particular races and religions. The majority consisted of this visibly tight-knit Iranian community from all generations on a Friday evening. There were teenagers that were still in high school, middle-aged men and women, and even elders, all of whom were smiling, laughing, and hugging each other with warm acknowledgement.

And that’s how close this community was - they were here to support a cause that is affecting their loved ones back at Iran. People of the Baha’i faith’s preaches and practices are not consistent with the Islamic Faith and are denied the most basic human right and are heavily monitored, arrested, beaten, and even tortured in Iran. However, the Iranian Government denies one of the most crucial and basic rights of all - the right to learn, grow, and are educated. On March 9th, 2012 UCSD Baha’i Club screened “Education Under Fire,” a documentary highlighting the persecutions of people of the Baha’i faith attempting to pursue higher education.

“The government can crush our body - but they cannot crush our mind and soul,” said one woman, whose father was executed after pursuing higher learning. It wasn’t just their mind and soul that the government couldn’t crush - the officials would never be able to crush the determination, bravery, and strong will of the Baha’i community. People of the Baha’i faith were denied certain occupation titles, admission to other schools. If they put down that they were Muslim, they would be given the opportunity to gain an education but they did not want to deny their true identity.

Education Under Fire

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One student asked Jeff Hoffman, director of “Education Under Fire,” ”What other immediate and direct actions could be done? I mean, it seems like the Muslim had such primitive thinking in denying the most basic human right to the Baha’i faith.” And though his intentions were sincere, his choice of words created this uneasy tension with the audience. An uncomfortable stillness stirred in the air. Jeff Hoffman stopped him there. “Before we start accusing other people of their way in thinking, we must educate ourselves, learn, and take time to understand the other side, to truly understand their intentions. And that is what this documentary is all about, promoting an education to bridge the gap of misun-derstandings. There are many instances to this day where Muslims take in those of the Baha’i faith to protect them from prosecution, even Muslims who help teach the courses and tutor the students.”

The statement resonated with the audience and even in the documentary. Although both societies’ ideologies and beliefs may clash, they can still work together for a common goal. The Baha’i culture is so beautiful in their dedication to their faith and none of them will deny their utmost love for their homeland of Iran. What makes them even more beautiful is their resilience and perseverance in working together to obtain something that they know is necessary. The deter-mination they will undergo to plant the seeds of knowledge, edification, and cultivation will astonish even the most skeptical of people.

However, there seems to be that one problem of starting a secret rebellion. I ask the panelists: “As more public attention has been drawn to the Baha’i institution of Higher Education,

Writ ten by: Natalie Bui

Photography by: educationonfire.com

Designed by: Judy Jue

has that in any way affected enrollment?” And sadly, the answer was yes. More raids happen upon their classrooms; more people are prosecuted and executed. Many are afraid of being at risk and forget education altogether. However, these graduates and professors cannot stress the importance of education - and their strong will for it.

There are many measures that can be taken; one simple step is to obtain 25,000 signatures to petition to Iranian Officials to allow education to everyone, despite religious affiliation. Go to www.educationunderfire.com. Learn more about the cause. Understand their culture, and see what great lengths these students attempt to go and just study. Here, our faith in the higher education system is wavering. There are plenty of students here on campus that doesn’t go to class because they don’t feel like it. Some don’t go to class because they know finding a parking spot is going to be an issue. But the students of the Baha’i institute of higher learning will go to any measures to go to school. Their persistence, their will, and their dedication are admirable beyond belief. And the universities in America are finally recognizing the students’ stories. Even Ivy League schools are making notable acknowledgements for the graduates from BIHE- and they should- because if risking your life and home to learn isn’t enough to get in, then what is?

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The smell of a freshly baked cookies coming out of the oven, warming trash on a hot summer’s day, or the freshly washed white linens straight out the dryer, these scents all conjure up a multitude of different

feelings and emotions. Scent is one of our stronger senses, affecting our taste, nearly all taste is directly connected to smell, smell connects us to a visual object we associate the scent with and nearly all smells have a feel to them, such as a cooling feel from menthol or a warm tingling when smelling cinnamon.

We may not think very much about how it affects our emotions but studies have shown that they are directly linked together. They are mainly due to specific and individual instances. In order for us to elicit any sort of response from a scent, we have to first associate it with a personal experi-ence. That odor will then create a conditioned response that will direct our emotions in that manner.

There are some scents which studies have shown to have a continuous emotional response, unless the individual’s experience has traumatically altered the response. It appears that these are just a few of many scents that evoke certain emotions when stimilating our sniffers.

“In order for us to elicit any sort of response from a scent, we have to first

associate it with a personal experience.”

Peppermint Pick Me Up

Peppermint odor significantly decreases ratings of pain over time and increases pain tolerance. Peppermint has been shown to help in the digestive process, curves one’s appetite, and increase alertness.

Lavender

Lavender can help soothe and relax one’s mood because of its “calming” effect. The peaceful sensation can also help one to sleep.

Citrus Refresh

Citrus has a revitalizing affect on our mood, which can also help improve your ability to focus and concentrate.

Vanilla

Vanilla is said to help curve one’s appetite, as it triggers the same stimulation as one who is eating something with vanilla.

So the next time you’re staying up late cramming for a mid-term, need something to help you sleep off whatever ails you, or need something to help you to lose weight, the saying “follow your nose”, might just be the extra something you need.

The Nose Knows

Written by: Chris Asuncion

Photography by: Chris Asuncion

Designed by: Chris Asuncion16

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What started in 2007 in San Diego by an accountant turned baker Lisa Bardyht, The Cookie Chew was a mix between cookies and accounting. These creatively catered, beautifully crafted, and gooey filled inside, creamy cookies is the next biggest thing in San Diego: their very own cookie service across the nation. Be forewarned, these cookies have been known to even turn the faintest hint of a sweet tooth into a dangerously big one.

What’s amazing is that you can customize your cookie and even have it ordered and mailed across California, with no shipping cost. They have great special deals and packages at great prices—all of which can be seen at thecookiechew.com.

Some of the most popular flavors are the Yin & Yang Salted Caramel Cookie made with milk chocolate and macadamia nut

stuffed with creamy, gushy salty sweetness; the Red Velvet chocolate chip cookie stuffed with cream cheese, the Chubby Hubby peanut butter cookie, and the S’mores Stuffed Cookie made of graham cracker stuffed with marshmallow. There is also the famous Truffies —the truffle stuffed cookie, so people still can get their chewy cookie wrapped inside of a truffle. They have the Peanut butter truffle stuffed cookie, the chocolate hazelnut stuffed cookie, and even the cookies and cream truffle stuffed cookie. And of course, if you just want the good old fashion cookie, they have that too. These make great gifts, even to yourself, and with Liz’s notably quick, friendly, and sweet customer service —you will find yourself bookmarking this page on the internet making more than just one package order at a time.

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Who says you can’t have your cake and drink it too? A bakery-bar-restaurant, Babycakes has carved an unrivaled niche as a social hub extraordinaire in the midst of the bustling Hillcrest neighborhood. By day, Babycakes is a breezy sidewalk bakery and restaurant, and by night a buzzing bar that dishes up food and desserts to go with your Bubblicious cocktail. This eclectic approach to business has attracted a similarly diverse customer base. From hosting mayoral campaign parties, Sunday afternoon “Church” mixers, and catering over 200 weddings a year, Babycakes is a place that effortlessly incor-porates anyone and everyone.

But back to the cake. This is where true inspiration and innovation come to play at Babycakes. Anchored by their wide selection of cupcakes, Babycakes offers 25 core flavors along with seasonal and experimental options that currently include Breakfast in Bed, a maple & bacon cupcake. Other unconven-tional flavors that you’ll be hard pressed to find anywhere else in San Diego are guava mango (a staff favorite!), pistachio, and

pomegranate. Of the 500 cupcakes that fly off the shelves on a daily basis, red velvet is most sought after flavor, inspiring its own weekend brunch entrée - Red Velvet Hotcakes. Not to be outdone by the food, the cocktail menu features equally decadent concoctions like the cheekily named Happy Endings Shot, a Bailey’s Irish Cream and Kahlua mix. For those hoping to avoid uncontrollable sugar highs or in desperate need of a post-binge fix, there is a menu full of savory classics like pork sliders and paninis.

In just four short years, co-owners Christopher Stavros and his partner Rafael Del Rio have turned their modest coffee house venture into a multisensory tastebud experience. An upcoming location in Balboa Park opening in June means new sights, new sounds, new flavors, and new people. But if anyone is up to the challenge, it’s Stavros who beams that running Babycakes is akin to, “hosting a big party every day,” where every party guest is sure to find something to whet his or her appetite.

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“less for self. more for others. enough for all.”

The University of California, San Diego (UCSD) has part-

nered with non-profit organization, Gawad Kalinga, to host

an Alternative Break trip for 10 students to donate their

time and energy to help end poverty in the Philippines. Gawad

Kalinga (GK) has an amazing vision of building communities to

end poverty. Their mission is to end poverty for 5 million Filipinos

by 2024. This transformative experience required these students

to collectively fundraise over $16,000 in order to purchase flights

and make monetary donations to GK in order for the village to

buy the materials needed to build their homes. After two quarters

of preparation and planning, these UCSD students embarked on

a life-changing journey of building communities, both figuratively

and literally.

Upon arriving to the GK village in Bauan, the students were warm-

ly welcomed by smiling and waving villagers. Some of the Filipino

children stood in a line, holding flower necklaces to welcome each

of the volunteers. After the GK leaders gave a quick orientation,

the students put on their gloves and began working alongside

the villagers. While simultaneously sharing life stories and hand-

mixing cement with shovels, the UCSD students and the villagers

quickly learned about each other and the whole group became

like a family. Throughout the five days of service, the students

worked hand-in-hand with the villagers and played with the chil-

dren during break times. For 4 days, the students helped lay the

foundation for 5 homes and helped build the infrastructure for a

preschool. Close bonds were made with everyone who shared in

this experience and it was truly emotional when the students had

to say goodbye on the fifth day. It was an unforgettable experi-

ence that these UCSD students will never forget. Below are some

testimonials that describe the love, the work, and the stories that

were shared while in the GK village:

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entire family lived in a studio-apartment sized home, probably

smaller than my parents’ bedroom, yet housing our group for

that one hour made her happy to tears. Needless to say, it puts

things into perspective. All the homeowners are extremely proud

of where they are now and happy in the community they live in.

The most amazing part of this entire experience is that we went

there to empower their community, but they empowered us even

more. It’s impossible to put everything I felt and witnessed into

words, but it’s an experience I encourage everyone to have.

Roshani Waas writes:

I have had the opportunity to work with an extraordinary orga-

nization, Gawad Kalinga in the Philippines over spring break. GK

strives to not just create homes for impoverished people but aims

to build community and empowerment for individuals within the

GK village. It is one thing to provide someone with shelter but to

empower an individual and show them the power and strength

they have within will save them from living an indigent life.

Five things I learned from the Philippines:

1) Everyday is a celebration. There is always time to celebrate liv-

ing life and having a good time. Especially when it comes to mak-

ing time to dance, karaoke, or engage in laughter.

2) Treat everyone like family. Whether you’re a complete stranger

or blood relation treat others like family. Spread the love.

3) You will never go hungry! It is almost impossible to leave the

Philippines hungry! The food was unbelievably delicious and al-

ways made with love.

4) Happiness comes from within. Seeing how happy these people

are with little to nothing goes to show happiness is not something

bought, attained, or given. It comes from within and it is up to you

to seek your own happiness.

5) A women’s strength. Seeing these women work relentlessly

day after day alongside the men to build their homes goes to

show the physical, mental, & emotional strength ofa woman.

My experience in the Philippines was truly life changing and I am

grateful to have shared that moment in a place that embodies

love, family, and humbleness. I truly hope to return again soon.

“Be the change you wish to see in the world”

Alexa Lean writes:

Global health was not much of a concern until I experienced how

different the health standards are in developing countries. This ex-

perience completely altered my life plans and goals. After seeing

and experiencing such a lack of medical attention and hygiene in a

short amount of time, I became inspired to continue investigating

the healthcare available to the public in Batangas. I want to devote

my professional career to promoting wellness abroad in develop-

ing countries. I will now share a little anecdote. On the last day,

we made a little carnival for the village, with toys as prizes. One of

the little girls chose a prize that consisted of a pink, Barbie stetho-

scope. Of course I wanted to play with it too, so I went over and

sat with her on the dirt. She only spoke Tagalog but through our

minimal conversation and body language, I realized she had no

idea what it was as she placed it around her ankle and proceeded

to try to jump over the long chord, like a skip-it. I then showed her

the proper use, around her neck pretending to listen to my heart.

This scenario clearly showed me that this child, along with many

other, have never been to a pediatrician, or do not go regularly for

check ups, something vital. I now plan to return to the village and

implement a wellness program to teach good hygienic practices.

I am working to apply for grants to continue working with Keppel

Village.

One participant, Ciara Calub writes:

It was my first time in the Philippines but the villagers immedi-

ately made me feel like I was at home. Each of us was welcomed

with open arms, into the heart of a community I will never forget.

The 8 hour work days went by quickly because they were always

filled with dancing, laughter, and inspiration. However, the conver-

sations we had with the locals are what made this AB trip such

a unique experience. Hearing the life stories of these past slum-

dwellers not only made me more appreciative of what I have, but

also thankful for the opportunity to work with Gawad Kalinga.

One woman who was giving a tour of her home broke down cry-

ing because she was so happy to be able to have guests in her

home. She said that she never had the chance to do so before,

and she never thought she would. It never hit me before that hav-

ing people over is a privilege because it means you have some-

thing to show, something you can share with others. Her

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