Tag: writeup

wrench

July 8, 2022

it is a dilapidated house. you take stock of your surroundings and spot broken blinds in a dingy room. walking further out and you find yourself in a hollow and closed-in corridor with floorboards that seem to creak with every other step.

you can hear the children, their hushed and hurried voices carrying through another room over.

suddenly, you look down and see an emaciated young girl with neat pigtails clashing shockingly with her overall drab disposition; she pulls at your hand. her eyes plead with you to come with, so you give in and let her lead you.

this is the entertainment room, she says, even if there was barely anything that could be considered relatively entertaining in that room. littering the room are torn-up curtains, couches and chairs with their upholstery and springs spilling out like guts. you look up and squint your eyes at the rain patches on the ceilings, and the cracked wallpapers fluttering limply in the drafty room.

tucked in one corner of the room is a man. he is tall and lean, with strips of his clothing hanging off of his frame. he’s hunched over on the table in front of him. the children are huddled around him, and one by one he tries to scare them albeit unsuccessfully. there is an empty, faraway look in the children’s eyes that is more terrifying than what he is attempting to do.

the girl holding onto your hand moves to stand in front of the man. she pushes herself back against your chest as he playfully lunges at her. you try to soothe her, caressing the top of her head with a hand and rubbing her shoulder with the other.

you look at the man. i know him, you think to yourself. and he knows me, too.

bending down to her height, you explain to the girl that he is a good man. he’s not going to hurt her. she looks up at you with a dull shine to her eyes, and then walks away without a word.

with the little girl gone, you conjure up a chair and sit before the man. you start talking. and find out that you are each other’s. he looks much different now, you think. but it is, without doubt, him.

in this world, you have become separated. but you have finally found each other. he is older, and so are you. in another lifetime you are your much younger selves, and together.

the room brightens, but not enough to make much of a difference. your heart thumps in your chest with something resembling relief, as the white noise inside your head quietens.

you steal another glance at him, probing his eyes for answers. and you find them.

boldly, taking hold of his arm, you pull him towards the children. they are preoccupied with nothing so you try to get their attention.

he has to leave now, you say. but we can’t let that make us sad.

the man’s hand shoots out to take yours and helpless against it, you let him hold it. he holds on tight and squeezes, resolute. he shakes his head at you once.

i don’t have to be anywhere where you aren’t. decidedly, he slides his hand down your arm and twines your fingers. no more letting go.

and then, i’m staying here with you. i don’t have to leave.

you are bursting to full with astonishment, hope, admiration, joy, love. think to yourself, finally someone who isn’t going to leave.

the floorboards creak and the walls groan in gratitude.

you smile up at him, and he returns it.

Ikalimang Utos: Huwag Kang Papatay

August 17, 2017

Bago pa ideklarang si Rodrigo Roa Duterte na ang bagong presidente ng Pilipinas noong 2016 ay isang anino na tila may dalang takot at kaba na ang bumalot sa buong bansa. Hindi kaila sa mga Pilipino ang reputasyon ng isang Rodrigo Duterte – tinaguriang Dirty Harry at The Punisher ng ilan sa mga international press, marami sa ating mga kababayan ang nagbunyi sa kanyang pagkapanalo dahil sa kanyang tila sinserong hangarin at kampanya para sa tunay na pagbabago na matagal nang inaasam ng isang bayang uhaw sa hustisya. Ngunit may ilan din nangamba at natakot sa maaaring idulot ng ‘pagbabagong’ ito.

Hindi pa man ang kanyang pagpapasinaya noong Hunyo 30 ay may may lumitaw nang balita ng mga biktima ng extrajudicial killings na may kaugnayan sa droga. Habang tumatagal ay pataas ng pataas ang bilang ng mga namamatay sa kamay ng mga death squads, ng pulis, at ng mga vigilante. Dahil dito ay kinailangang magsalita ng Simbang Katolika laban sa lantarang pang-aabusong hinahayaang mangyari ng administrasyon laban sa karapatang pantao ng maraming Pilipino, karamihan sa mga ito ay mga mahihirap.

Noong Hulyo 2016 ay naglunsad ang Simbahang Katolika ng kampanya upang matigil ang extrajudicial killings sa bansa na pinamagatang “Huwag Kang Papatay” na may layuning lipunin ang mga pamilya ng mga biktim ng karahasang lumalaganap sa bansa. Pinamunuan ito ng misa ng Archdiocese of Manila noong Hunyo 25 ng nakaraang taon.

Bukod dito ay patuloy ang pagiging aktibo ng simbahan sa pagsulong ng karapatang pantao ng mga mahihirap na madalas na biktima ng karahasan na kumitil na ng mahigit-kumulang 7,600 na buhay mula pa noong isang taon. Isang matinding kritisismo sa operasyong ito ng administrasyon ay ang pagiging anti-poor nito dahil karamihan sa mga biktima ng mga pagpatay ay nasa ilalim ng sinasabing poverty line – mga drug addicts at tinatawag na mga petty criminals.

Marahil marami sa ating ang nagsasabi na mabuti ang hangarin ng pangulo, upang tuluyang malinis ang mga kalye ng mga masasamang-loob, ngunit hindi ang pagpatay sa kanila ang dapat na solusyon. Lahat ng tao ay may likas na karapatan sa makatarungang paglilitis. Hindi ninanais ng Simbahang Katolika na mabigo ang administrasyon sa layon nitong makamit ang pagbabago para sa bansa – ngunit magiging pabaya ang simbahan kung maituturing kung mananatili itong tahimik sa gitna ng karahasang dinaranas ng karamihan sa ating mga kababayan.

Ang tunay na pagbabago at ang katarungang hinahangad ng mga Pilipino ay hindi madaling makamit – lalung-lalo na sa paraang madugo at nauugat sa pagkitil ng buhay ng ibang tao. Ang ikalimang utos ang dapat pa rin manaig at pagtibayin – huwag kang papatay.

Jessica Racquel Santillan
A published written article in Katiwala, the official newsletter of San Roque Parish Church.

Taon ng BEC: Isang simbahan ng pagkakaisa, pakikilahok, at misyon

December 7, 2016

MANILA, Philippines – Sa pagbubukas ng bagong taon ng liturhiya ng Simbahang Katolika ay inilunsad din ang Taon ng Basic Ecclesiastical Communities (BEC) noong Nobyembre 25, sa Sto. Cristo Parish Church sa lungsod ng San Juan, na pinamunuan ng Kanyang Kabunyian Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle sa pamamagitan ng isang banal na misa.

Ang Taon ng Parokya ay siyang ikalimang taon ng preparasyon para sa selebrasyon ng ika-500 taon ng pagkakatatag ng Kristiyanismo sa ating bansa. Layunin ng Taon ng BEC na bigyang-din ang pagiging simbahan ng pagkakaisa ng Simbahang Katolika, na may kaakibat na temang sumesentro sa pagbuo at pagpapatatag ng mga komunidad na nakikilahok sa pagpapalaganap ng mga turo sa Ebanghelyo.

Ang Basic Ecclesiastical Communities (BEC) ay mga mumunting pamayanan sa binubuo ng mga kapitbahayan na nagsasabuhay ng mga aral at turo ng simbahan, nagkakaisa dahil sa Salita ng Diyos at sa Eukaristiya. Ang bawat pamilya ay nagtataglay ng pagmamalasakit, pagtutulungan, may pananagutan sa isa’t isa, at may matatag na espiritwal na pananampalataya bilang mga Katoliko. Matatawag din na parokya ang mga maliliit na komunidad na ito na umuusbong dahil sa pananampalatayang Kristiyano.

Sa kanyang mensahe, iniimbitahan ng Kardinal ang simbahan na makilahok ang lahat sa iasng taong selebrasyong ito.

“Inaanyayahan ko po kayo, hinihimok ko po kayo na makiisa sa paglulunsad ng Taon ng Parokya bilang bukluran ng munting sambayanan, at hindi lamang sa paglulunsad kundi sa lahat ng gampanin sa buong taon.”

Sa pagpasok ng Taon ng Parokya, nawa ay mas mapatatag ng bawat pamilyang Katoliko ang pagsasabuhay sa turo ng simbahan, dahil ang mga komunidad na ito, gaano man kaliit, ay siyang magsisilbing asin, ilaw, at lebadura ng Simbahang Katolika sa mga darating pang henerasyon.

Jessica Racquel Santillan
A published written article in Katiwala, the official newsletter of San Roque Parish Church.

Manila Rejuvenated: Manila’s old gems get a facelift

March 9, 2015

Manila is not the great city it once was, and for many of the jaded people inhabiting it, it’s nothing more than an old and worn-out concrete jungle. Plagued with tangled traffic lines, and the air stained with a black mist hanging over it, Manila is what others would call their boulevard of broken dreams. For what was once a prestigious and progressive city that bustled with life, is now a seemingly dull and lifeless disappointment.

Before the war that pushed Manila down on its knees, it was known as the Paris of Asia. But gems of that era are still around, alive more than ever, and renewed in the face of apparent desolation. Contrary to what other people may believe, Manila still has some of the oldest yet timeless havens made new; places that are considered as glimpses of La Ciudad Insigne y Siempre Leal – The Noble and Ever Loyal City that was, and will always be Manila.

Manila Cathedral

Under the Spanish plaza system, it could be said that Manila Cathedral was the very heart of the country. It was recently renovated by the orders of Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales in 2012, and it has always been a venue for papal masses.

Manila Cathedral is currently located at Plaza de Roma in Intramuros.

Fort Santiago

Often a popular spot for wedding photos, Fort Santiago was an old military fort used until the American and Japanese occupation. The dungeons are said to be haunted, but then again, everywhere in Intramuros is pretty much ghost territory. A place of interest would be the new and improved Rizal Shrine that is located a little deeper into the fort.

San Agustin Church

This is probably one of the prettiest churches I’ve ever seen, and having said so, San Agustin Church was declared a heritage site by UNESCO, and it stands as the oldest stone building in the Philippines. With its humble exterior, visitors are often subject to awe and impressed surprise when they get inside. The exhibits and the monastery itself are being renovated, and a lot of its artifacts are under restoration.

The very founder of Manila itself, Miguel Lopez de Legaspi’s remains lie in the church. Beautiful and breathtaking tromp l’oeil painted ceilings and intricately carved doors are some of the most distinguishing features of the San Agustin Church, thus making it a famous church for lavish weddings.

Although they say that during the war, the supernatural creature Kumakatok, our local version of the Harbinger of Doom, knocked on every building in Intramuros except for the doors of the San Agustin Church. It was the lone survivor of the war.

National Museum Complex

Currently standing with two buildings to its name – The National Art Gallery, and the National Museum of the Filipino People, the National Museum Complex is going to get an upgrade, with plans of a National Museum of Natural History underway.

The art gallery is also getting an additional selection to its contemporary art collection. The art gallery holds works from the legendary artists like Luna, Hidalgo, Dela Rosa, “Botong” Francisco, and Tolentino.

The National Museum of the Filipino People pays homage to its namesake, holding various anthropological artifacts that tell the story of the FIlipino, who we are as a nation, and how our culture has developed and diversified. It features fossils of the oldest human remains discovered, and mammoths, the Manunggul Jar that’s displayed on the one-thousand-peso bill, and items discovered from a galleon shipwreck on the coast of Batangas. A visit to the National Museum will certainly make for an extensive trip down memory lane, consisting of memories you don’t have, but memories all the same.

Luneta

But of course, who could forget Luneta Park? It used to be called Bagumbayan, during the time when the Spanish took over Intramuros, and Filipinos were exiled and they had to find a place to settle in. It was an open public field, often a venue for executions, until the Brits came and said, ‘wait, we need a park to have tea in,’ and so they turned Luneta into a park.

It’s popular because it’s the place where our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, was executed in, and it’s a common unknown fact that he was not shot in the spot where his monument stands. Instead, Rizal was executed in a nearby field where they now hold a lights and sounds show to re-enact his execution.

So, if you have some free time during the incoming summer vacation, you don’t need to go too far for an educational trip, or have to dole out cash excessively to have a good time. It’s a great thing to keep alive the memory of Manila as a place you’re so used to that you no longer see what’s so good about it, but with the right lenses, you can see the true value of a city that holds much of your people’s history that it’s been dusted under.

Jessica Racquel Santillan
A written school exercise for Features and Technical Writing, 2015.

Lost in Binondo

February 2, 2015

Growing up, Binondo was a magical place for me. Like a labyrinth I’d get lost in if I so much as let go of my lola’s hand when visiting relatives, it was no more than a noisy and crowded district at the heart of Manila – at least, that was what it had seemed to me back then. I didn’t always go there as a child though; only occasionally.

But after my mom got assigned in Binondo for work, I found myself visiting more and more. I would usually go there after college lectures and I used to be so proud of myself for being able to commute going there from Vito Cruz.

Visiting my mom at work normally warranted a foodtrip after. And Binondo has never disappointed me when it comes to food. Take it from me – if you ever find yourself lost in Binondo, know this one thing: you will never go hungry.

Masuki’s Beef Wonton and Siopao

I’m always craving for noodles, one way or another. Masuki has this unique sauce for its wonton noodles. It’s a mix of sweet and salty that you pour into your bowl that essentially gives the soup its flavor. But what I do with the sauce (it’s savory and really delicious, trust me), is that I dip my siopao into it or the other way around. The hand-pulled noodles are always a treat because I like it when my noodles are firm and long so my tummy is always pleased when my mom and I go to Masuki for dinner. Aside from their famous noodles, they’re also known for their siopao with adobo-like filling, and their giant siomai!

Masuki is located in Benavidez Street in Binondo, but if you don’t want to go too far for a quick stop, they have a branch over at the Mall of Asia now too!

Po Heng’s Lumpiang Sariwa

Now, I’ve never actually been to Po Heng Lumpia House because what my mom does is that she orders lumpiang sariwa for the family and has it delivered to her office. For Php50, you get a burrito-sized lumpiang sariwa with special tokwa, dried seaweed, and peanuts in the mix! The sweet sauce for their lumpia is one of my favorites, too. I’m not really a vegetable-person myself, but Po Heng’s lumpia made me want to eat my veggies willingly, and my mom considers that an accomplishment for her and Binondo’s fresh variety of lumpia!

Lucky Rainbow’s Pumpkin Soup

On one of the rare occasions that I was able to tag along with my mom and her officemates for their Christmas party, I had the most satisfying experience of getting to try pumpkin soup. Lucky Rainbow offers a huge variety of Cantonese buffet servings, but one that I remember the most was the bright orange pumpkin soup that I was hesitant to try at first, but am absolutely glad that I did. The pumpkin soup had this remarkable texture of actual pumpkin but what surprised me was the bits of crab and shrimp in the soup. I also loved the cold cuts and the huge dalagang bukid they especially put in front of me!

Sincerity’s Fried Chicken

I know that Sincerity is pretty famous for their fried chicken, but I think what’s most often overlooked in their menu is their kikiam. While I do love their chicken, the highlight of our trips to Sincerity is their sweet and longganisa-sized kikiam that I like topping off with a sweet and sour sauce! Sincerity’s lemon chicken is also one of the best that I’ve had, and that’s definitely one the things I always make sure to order!

Ying Ying’s Beef Wonton

Tucked into an unassuming street sits the small but cozy Ying Ying Tea House! It’s just like any other Chinatown dimsum place but it’s heir beef wonton and fish cakes that really blew me away. The prices are affordable too so it’s a good place to visit with friends when you’re really looking for a good food trip but without the risk of running of your pockets empty and with a gaping hole!

Jessica Racquel Santillan
A written school exercise for Features and Technical Writing, 2015.