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Sunshine Plata: A Trailblazer in Coffee Painting

Sunshine Plata: A Trailblazer in Coffee Painting
by Mark Pere M. Madrona

Sunshine Plata, a 28-year-old fast-rising painter, still recalls how she discovered using coffee as an art medium in 2000. A sophomore Psychology student at University of Santo Tomas at that time, she said she felt the need to look for an affordable alternative to oil for her paintings.

"I'm no longer comfortable with the thought of letting my parents finance my not-so-cheap art materials. I looked for a medium that lasts long and would fit in my meager budget as a student then," Plata said.

An obscure item displayed at a Ripley's Believe It or Not exhibit in Shangri-La Manila later that year ended her search. "Among the collections there, I saw a 19th century framed paper bearing a coffee-printed signature. I realized that that item has been preserved for over a century already, maybe using coffee for paintings would work well too," she said. Toward the end of that year, she was able to finish "Ustedyante," her first coffee painting. A portray of UST's campus buildings, the 9" X 5" artwork was made on a sketch pad. It is now hanging on the living room of the Platas Marikina residence.

Sensing a renewed passion for painting, Plata said she tried to transfer to UST's Fine Arts program. Though switching courses would mean being delayed by a year or two for graduation, she said her parents Reynaldo and Consolacion had always been understanding. She took the shifter's exam for Fine Arts and when she didn't pass it, she said she felt bitterness for not getting what she wanted. "But I realized that maybe, it isn't really for me. So, I continued with Psychology and graduated in 2002," Plata said.

Describing herself as an "average" Psychology student, she said her performance during her college days dissuaded her from taking up medicine - which was her family's wish for her. Instead, she became a pre-school teacher from 2002-2007 at Antipolo's Rosehill Preschool. "I have always admired the sincerity and innocence seen among children" she said. But even her love for children can't contain the painter in her. Just when she's already due for promotion, she quit her job to focus on painting.

"When your passion knocks on your door, you cannot simply turn it away. Your passion would always haunt you. Hindi ka na nyan titigilan," Plata said. She said all she aspired for in her career is to have at least one show in her lifetime. "If you enter God into the picture, He'll make great things happen. Dream and your dreams would fall short compared to what He can give," she said. She never fails to go to mass everyday as a homage to the Creator.

Plata had her first solo exhibit last January 2008 at Instituto Cervantes' Casino Espanol de Manila. She said her entire family together with their friends were very supportive during the exhibit dubbed as LSD (Look, Smell and Discover) trip by Caffeine. Even her once-doubting father had become swayed that she can do it. "Me and my wife weren't really convinced at her craft initially. First, she's not a Fine Arts major. Looking back, I realized that maybe, I just don't know how to appreciate art then," Mr Plata said.

He recalled one incident where he unintentionally may have offended his daughter. “It was 3AM then when I saw her using my imported Maxwell House Coffee for a painting. I told her, Bakit mo ito ginagamit para lang dyan?” Mr. Plata said. After Sunshine successes, he jokingly said his daughter can now use his packs of Maxwell coffee.

The younger Plata said she had little expectations about her first exhibit. “I just want to express my art. I never expected that it would be received warmly by the people,” she said. She shared that Health Sec. Francisco Duque and his wife Carolina were among her exhibit viewers. The were known in social circles as devoted art patrons. “It is an honor for any artists doing an exhibition to be visited by them,” Plata said.

The Duques went on to buy three paintings: the “Caballito de Dilancin” (Rocking Horse), the “Nuestra Senora del Paz y Buen Viaje” and the Edgar Allan Poe-inspired “Kingdom by the Sea.” The thrid painting was inspired by Poe's “Annabel Lee,” the author's last complete poem. Plata said poems helps a lot in her paintings because the imagery they create gives her “great ideas.”

Aside from poems, she also derives art ideas from her dreams – like the story behind her world-famous “Diwata.” She said she had a childhood fantasy of being a fairy. “I've always read fairy tales. My favorite is Thumbelina because I'm also yearning for freedom like her,” Plata said. The idea behind the “Diwata” painting came from a dream she had in 2007 about a drowning fairy.

“That morning, I drew it immediately in a sketch pad. Since the fairy is drowning, I want her to drown in style,” she said. She added that she retained the name “Diwata” for the painting even in international exhibits so that foreigners would know that Filipino word.

After her Casino Espanol exhibit, the coffee painter had been featured in many news reports (24 Oras), morning shows (Umagang Kay Ganda) and in wire agency Reuters. She even took part in the “Plato para kay Ploning,” a fund raising event for the Judy Ann Santos film. Many prominent Filipino artists took part in the auction and most of them were puzzled when the name Sunshine Plata was announced. When prominent sculptor Ray Contreras and her then manager Marilyn Plata explained to the clueless artists who she was, the commotion stopped.

Plata said Juday personally thanked her, and all the other artists, for their contribution in the event. She said she donated “Sorbetes ni Gorio,” a painting about her maternal grandfather Gregorio with an ice cream cart. The winning bid for the painting was at P 60,000 though Plata got the work back because the entire auction-process was disorganized.

Plata's most recent exhibit was at Cordillera Coffee last December 2008. Dubbed as “Season's Brew,” 10% percent of proceeds from each paintings sold were directed to organizations of coffee farmers and their children. “It is a way for me to give back. Without them, I won't be here,” she said. In the next few years, she said she hopes to establish a foundation for the same purpose. “I'm sure those children wouldn't want to remain as coffee farmers forever,” she said.

For Plata, who considers herself a part of the Naive Art Movement because of her lack of artistic influences and formal training, coffee painting should go on for the years to come. “Even when I get married, I would go on doing this. In fact, that would be more favorable for me since I can take care of my children and paint while staying at home,” she said. Indeed, coffee painting is here to stay.

My Final Enrollment as a Journalism Undergrad! Running Diary...

It's all about the climb (sorry, Miley!), and I'm already near the summit of my UP Journey.

Today, November 3, I am enrolling for the 2nd semester of AY 2009-2010. If we include my registration for three consecutive summer terms, today's enrollment is already my 11th since I entered UP Diliman in 2006. More importantly, this shall be my last as an undergrad - if everything goes as planned. Here's a running account of what happened today, as I have written in my red notebook:

5:40 AM: My day begins. I clicked the TV, and guess what, I saw Mareng Winnie on Unang Hirit! I hope it's a good sign.

7:20 AM: I arrived at CMC. At the building's entrance, there's this post about 18 journalism students who must enlist in an Econ 100.1 discussion class lest they won't be given a grade in that subject. Of course, I'm one of them. If not for that, my enrollment today would have been a breeze.

8:20 AM: Ate Raquel Bacarra (the Journalism Dept. Secretary) finally arrives. Yung adviser? Wala pa...

8:40 AM: The list of thesis topics and their respective thesis advisers has been posted. Our topic, "Face to Face(book) with the candidate: How 2010 Philippine Presidential Candidates use social networking sites for campaigning" has been picked by Prof. Yvonne T. Chua. It came as a surprise to me because I thought someone else would pick it.

9:10 AM: Prof. Ma. Cristina Rara, the designated adviser for the day, finally arrives.

9:15 AM: Just went aboard a Katipunan jeepney to go to the School of Economics. Upon arriving there, we were told that the enlistment for Econ 100.1 would begin at 1PM. Wow, that's still four hours away!

9:50 AM: I went back to CMC. I paid P20 for the student council fund. Wait, where's the P20 for ...? Anyway, I already got my form 5. I'm going back to Econ again.

10:15 AM: I'm back at Econ. Here with me are three other Journ majors: John Antiquerra, Katherine Cortez and Frances Olayon. But 1PM is still 3 hours away! What shall I do? Well, start filling-up the form 5.

11:00 AM: We're still here at Econ. Where are those 14 students who weren't able to get Econ 100.1 slots? By the looks of it, we'll be camping out here 'til 1PM comes. I'm done filling up the form 5. To use my time, I solved some find-a-word puzzles! (sorry mama, pinuslit ko yung book mo!)

11:45 AM: Since I'm already hungry, I looked for something to eat. I found this food stall in Econ peddling ham and burger in huge pandesals. For P25, why not! But no, the meal isn't enough for me. I bought Nissin Cup Noodles too (chicken flavor ha). Later on, former Journ Dept. representative Edmalynne Remillano arrived. Yes, she needs Econ 100.1 too. Meanwhile, I got to talk to her about many salient issues. Sample:

M: Na-send na sa akin ni Charmaine yung transcript ng interview mo kay Titoy nung September! Ang haba nun ah...

E: Yuck ha. Bakit naman "Titoy" ang tawag mo sa kanya?

1:00 PM: It's 1 o'clock already. Labing-apat na tao na kaming naghihintay sa labas ng SE 127. I later learned that some of them are Sociology seniors. Masarap yata ang lunch ng mga RA!

1:20 PM: Two female RAs finally arrived. They instructed us to form three lines based on subjects needed: econ 11, econ 100.1 and/or 100.2 amd econ 199. After that, one of them distributed Teacher's Prerogative forms to us. Of course, we had to write there the econ 100.1 class we intend to enlist in.

1:30 PM: One of the RAs came over to get our TP forms. She instructed those with conflicting schedules to cancel those classes first. She also asked everyone to present any valid ID (with picture and signature) before they process our enlistment. But hello! We left our IDs at the department so we can get out form 5As. But in the end, we were left with no other option but to go back to CMC to get our IDs.

1:45 PM: The RA at the department (she's my schoolmate in HS) seems unable to understand that we need to get our IDs to enlist for an econ 100.1 class. You know what I did? I got my ID from the table where it is placed - and I also pulled my form 5a from her hands. Sorry! We don't have time to explain to her...

2:00 PM: We're back at Econ. The RA asked for our form 5As, accomplished TP form and the ID. She then asked us to get inside the enlistment room. In less than 10 minutes, we're already enlisted in the Econ 100.1 (THC-HJ2) class, 2:00-3:00 PM. I proceeded to the Center for International Studies (CIS) to get another class to avoid being underloaded.

2:20 PM: At the CIS, I asked Ms Fatima Bautista (the dept secretary there) if there are still available slots for Japan Studies 101. Yes, meron pa daw! Later on, Literature Prof. Amparo Adelina "Jina" Umali saw me and exclaimed, "Oh, CIS major ka na ba?" FYI, this would be my 3rd subject under that unit.

2:40 PM: I'm back at CMC. I proceeded to our department for the post-advising. There's Prof. Rara again and this time, I asked her why there's still no J111 grade. Ang sabi nya, she was sick for two weeks daw kaya she failed to upload our grades. I got to see her class record and I saw the grades. Darts. Dice. Crystal ball.

2:50-3:20 PM: Checking, validation and assessment at the CMC Admin Office. I'll pay my dues tomorrow morning. Just like that, I'm almost done with my last enrollmenr as a journalism undergraduate! :)

Francis Escudero and Loren Legarda's never-ending pingpong game

And the merry-go-round of Philippine politics goes on. With Francis Escudero leaving the Nationalis People's Coalition yesterday, the party now has no standard-bearer for the 2010 presidential elections. It leaves open the possibility of NPC teaming-up with Lakas-KAMPI-CMD or Manny Villar's Nacionalista Party. Now, a Gilbert Teodoro-Loren Legarda or Villar-Legarda tandem can really happen.

The fluidity of the current political scene is highlighted by NPC's declaration yesterday (through Rep. Mark Cojuangco) that they can still field Legarda as its presidential bet. Legarda would look like a proxy candidate (panakip-butas) though, since NPC bigwigs had long indicated its preference for Escudero despite Loren's experience.

What about Chiz? Can he run for president without Danding Cojuangco's billions? As a UP public administration professor said yesterday, no one has won the presidency as "ako bilang ako." Running for VP under under the party of President Arroyo would make him look like a hypocrite (do we have to say why and how?) while running with Villar would betray Escudero's supposed stand vs. corruption.

URGENT! PLEASE PRAY FOR MS MILGRAY MERIDA'S SAFETY (PLS REPOST)

Her former students will remember her in many ways. The one who reminds them to "be good and make good"; the one who never allows students to report unless they use colorful visual aids and the teacher who "coerces" her students to attend school events as a "socialization requirement." And how can we forget her order for us to have a bank account? And there's also the "energizer" before the class starts (Ye-ye Bonel)!

When I learned that Ondoy has caused flash floods in places like Marikina, Cainta and Pasig, I immediately texted her to know how she and her octogenarian mom is doing because I know they are living near the Tumana river in Marikina. That was last September 26. I have texted her again in the succeedding days and still, no response.

When I visited RMHS yesterday, her co-teachers at the SS Department (like Ms Melania Vitan) that they've been doing the same thing in vain for ten days. This is chilling. Up to now, no one knows what happened to Ms Merida. Yesterday, her fellow economics teacher Linda Sabalza tried to call her, but the phone is "unattended." Right now, I'm certainly not at peace knowing that her fate remains unknown.

To me, Ms Milgray Merida of Ramon Magsaysay High School's Social Studies Department is not just a class adviser. She is my first mentor.We've known each other since she became my trainer for the first-ever city-wide contest that I have participated in, and that was in January 2003. She have seen all my empathic triumphs as well as my frustrations in school. Even when I'm already a UP student, I have always kept in touch with her through text. And she never fail to tell me how thankful she was to me for remembering her, and she'd ask too how my mom is doing.

I am helpless. All I can do is to ask God to save her from harm's way. I can only hope that she's safe now. I hope that you'll pray for her too. We can only hope for the best in this situation. Please ask your batchmates and former classmates to do the same thing too. Please spread the word. If you can, please repost this entry too. Thank you.


MARK PERE M. MADRONA
BA JOURNALISM, UP DILIMAN
IV-EDISON, BATCH 2006

My heart bleeds for the people of Brgy. Bagong Silangan, QC

If you have been watching the news since Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) wrecked havoc in much of eastern Metro Manila, you have certainly heard about Brgy. bagong Silangan. Even as you read this, much of the area remains submerged in knee-deep mud. But that's the least of their problems. Hundreds (if not thousands) of Brgy. Silangan residents, including children and elderly, are staying in the Bagong Silangan High School (who had become their evacuation center).

Most, if not all of them, had their homes washed out by Ondoy last September 26. They've lost evry thing, evry single possession that they've worked hard for. About 50 residents lost their lives as well. In fact, both the evacuees and the dead can be found side-by-side at the BSHS. When I learned of this disaster the other Saturday, I became restless. After all, Brgy. Bagong Silangan is close to me.

For CMC students who had their CWTS in summer of 2008, you should know what I'm talking about. More than half of our class (under Prof. Rachel Khan) worked for Gawad Kalinga at that time. We were assigned to the GK Community in Brookside - one of the eight puroks in brgy. bagong Silangan. Since houses had already been built there, we only had to improve the place by repainting and "beautifying" it.

It was May 12 2008, our last day at the area. We are having a thanksgiving/farewell party when strong rains abruptly ended the fun at around 1PM. An hour later, Ate Marife, a resident of Sta. Clara St., told me to leave the place. She told me that since the rain is so strong, the nearby creek might overflow which might cause a huge flood in the area. I obliged and left, even if most of my groupmates are still enjoying "Prinsesa ng Banyera."

A few hours after I got home, the unimaginable happened. Floods high enough to submerge the residents' entire homes appeared, forcing the residents and even my groupmates to seek refuge in the rooftops. In a visit a month later, I saw first-hand how easy it ease to lose everything (TVs, DVD players, karaokes) in a snap. And mind you, construction worker lang naman ang trabaho ng kanilang mga family breadwinners.

Yes, it is easy to destroy - but it takes months, if not years, to stand again. My heart bleeds for them.

Despite the disaster, we still have lots of things to be thankful for

The rain has stopped and the storm has passed. As we already know, life would never be the same for many of our kababayans. Some of them lost their loved ones while the fate of those missing are still unknown.

Meanwhile, thousands of families have lost their homes and hard-earned properties. The total number of casualties is yet to be determined while the total cost of damages is yet to be accounted for. What we do know is that the extent of human suffering we are all witnessing is totally unprecedented.

Up to now, many of our kababayans are hanging for their survival at their roofs (lest they'll be swept away by flood water). According to PAG-ASA, the amount of rainfall dumped by Typhoon Ondoy yesterday was the most the nation has experienced in 42 years. Before we forget, most of the situational reports that we are being fed with are coming almost solely from the Greater Manila Area.

We don't know yet how our counrtymen in Northern, Central and Southern Luzon bore the brunt of Ondoy. Oh, and what about the plight of those in evacuation centers (in not-so-good conditions, we must remember)?

Since our family lives in one of the higher points here in Quezon City, we never experienced getting submerged in the flood - despite the torrential rains. The most disturbance that Ondoy had caused in our household is the 14-hour brownout that we had to endure. Yes, I bemoan the fact that I wasn't able to see Chris Tiu on TV nor update my online accounts yesterday. And I wasn't able to attend the OpinyOn too. But who am I to complain?

How about you? the fact that you can read this post means that you still have a computer with you - with Internet access at that! Just imagine those who can't even use their cellphones to tell their relatives how they are. The time you spent in reading this article also means that you have some spare time, unlike those who had spent countless hours pondering how to survive.
Well, what I'm saying is that we still have a lot of things to be thankful for.

If we can, in one way or another, help those at need, please do so now. The various ways you can help can be seen on TV. That's the best thing we can do right now.

Interview with UPD USC Chair Titus Tan

This morning, we have finally finished writing the Titus Tan* feature story (for Prof. Rara's J111 class). The article was exceptionally long: it reached 1,300 words. In fact, there are some parts of of the interview that has been left out like his thoughts on the perceived youth apathy. The entire story would be posted here soon. The story was titled “Titus Tan: A Student Leader, A Young Achiever.”For now, here are excerpts:

“Recalling the day of triumph, Tan said he was elated by the results. “Efforts had paid off. I can't say though that it's a personal thing. I don't focus in the effect of an event on me personally. I look at the bigger picture. Since many of my KAISA party mates won, the students have clearly supported our platform,” he said. The cheers and pats on the shoulder can't last too long, however. “There are the expectations. There's the pressure. You have to fulfill what you promised,” Tan added. ...

Tan let out a smile when told that science and politics seems to be “too far apart.” Asked what being a student leader means to him, he said it is synonymous to “being given an opportunity to express one’s style of executing a task.” “But always keep in mind that being in a position of influence, (a leader) must be cognizant of his actions and use it to promote a cause – and your style of leadership,” he explained.”

*Titus C.K. Tan is the current chairperson of the UP Diliman University Student Council. Elected last February with 49% of the total votes cast, his term would end in May.

Withdrawing from the presidential race for Noynoy is pure BS!

Last Wednesday, Noynoy Aquino finally announced his bid for the presidency – exactly forty days after former Pres. Corazon Aquino’s death and amisdt all the media frenzy. He made the unsurprising moving after going into a much-publicized “spiritual retreat” at a convent in Zamboanga. His ardent supporters claim that since Noynoy is the son of Cory and Ninoy, he is in a good position to carry the leadership torch once held by his parents.

Some had even argued that the outpouring of public syumpathy seen during Pres. Cory’s wake and funeral march is enough to carry him to the presidency. Before getting crushed in this mad stampede otherwise known as the “Noynoy for President” clamor, consider the following things:

1) Who are those running this campaign? Looking closely, one would see the traditional politicians like Franklin Drilon, Florencio Abad among others. 2) What exactly are Noynoy’s credentials? It is very important to separate him from the things his parents did. 3)Has he crafted any bill of national significance during his 12 years as a lawmaker?

What about the likes of Jejomar Binay, Ed Panlilio and Mar Roxas? They withdrew their respective presidential bids to give way to Noynoy kuno. Why shouldn’t we believe this crap? They’re not among those running ahead in the surveys. In short, they are sure/sore losers. They use the “I’m-not-running-to-support-Noynoy” line to portray themselves as selfless politicians when in fact, what they’re doing is merely a face-saving act.

Korina to Noynoy: "Kung Maibabalik ko Lang"

Last Monday, Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, the erstwhile Liberal Party standard bearer, announced his decision to withdraw from the presidential derby to give way to Noynoy. The decision must be very painful for Roxas. Talks of a future presidential run began as early as 2004, when he topped the senatorial race with 18 million votes.

His assumption of the LP presidency in 2007 was widely seen as a decisive step toward his 2010 bid. By late 2008, he began airing his “Murang Gamot” info-mercial. He had also beefed up his campaign team with former Arroyo officials like Florencio Abad, Avelino Cruz and Cesar Purisima.

This year, Roxas flooded the public with his “Padyak” TV ad. Then, there's his very public engagement in with Korina Sanchez. Indeed, his now-scrapped presidential bid has been years in the making. Ironically, Roxas never had any traction in the surveys (# 5 in the latest Pulse Asia poll). In fact, he has reportedly spent P500 million on TV ads from October 208 to August 2009! Then, there's Korina.

Imagine, she set aside her 25 year broadcasting career just to marry Roxas! Now, her upcoming October 23 wedding has lost much of its luster to the voters. So, her illusions of being the nation's First Lady are gone. I assume she's now singing “Kung Maibabalik Ko Lang” - to Noynoy Aquino.

How will the UP Community react to a possible case of A (H1N1) infection?

While I am writing this, La Salle-Taft had just confirmed its 3rd case of A (H1N1) infection. As a preventive measure, the campus would be closed until June 14 so that DLSU personnel can disinfect first their premises. The original carrier of the disease is a Japanese exchange student. The next two victims were her dorm mates.

In the mean time, the UP Diliman administration had announced the postponement of class opening from June 9 to June 16 “in view of extension of registration, and the DOH advisory on A (H1N1).”

A DLSU-like situation isn’t impossible in UP Diliman. First, we have hundreds of foreign and exchange students here. Second, we have many students who had just arrived from overseas vacations. What about those who had attended conferences and lectures abroad? In case someone tests positive for this dreaded disease here, the effect can be much worse.

First UP students, seldom stay in one area throughout the day because of our classes! Also, our campus area is so big! What about the residential areas in our perimeter? Because of the student’s mobility and UP’s big population, an ordinary student can probably get to mingle with a hundred or so people in a day.

In case of a confirmed infection, how will the UP administration react? Will they opt to close down the student’s home unit (e.g. the School of Economics) - or all buildings where the student went? What about contact tracing? Are you telling me that they have a way of knowing who the student’s seatmates in CASAA were when he ate there?

What about the Infirmary where the victim will be most likely sent initially? Will they close the down the facility? Better yet, how will the Health Service respond to this? What about the houses in RIPADA? Will they be asked temporarily to prevent a community outbreak? What role will the student leaders play in this case?

We’re not saying that this would happen in happen in UP Diliman, or in any UP unit for that matter. But, as they say, it is better to be prudent.

My Take on the CheChe Lazaro vs. GSIS controversy

Last week, all of us heard about the wiretapping raps against journalism icon CheChe Lazaro by a high ranking Government Service Insurance System (GSIS). In fact, a Pasay City court judge had ordered an arrest warrant against Ms Lazaro. As a future journalist myself, I do believe that this case is only meant to derail Ms Lazaro and company from doing investigative work. Anyway, I cannot really discuss the case’s merits because first, I’m not a lawyer – and second, there’s the rule on sub judice.

Let’s just turn our attention to another important fact – the accountability to the public of our government officials (both elected and appointed). There’s an old rule that says: “public office is public trust – officials must be accountable to the public at all times.” Accountability means ‘kapapanagutan’ in Filipino. In essence, it states that government officials must always be transparent in their conduct – and that they can be held liable for their actions. It is very convenient to forget this principle, especially when THEY seem to be more loyal to their patron in Malacanang than to the Filipino people.

Take the case of GSIS vs. CheChe Lazaro. Probe has aired a documentary, “Perwisyong Benepisyo,” last November 2008. It features the sorry plight of meager-paid public school teachers in connection to their GSIS benefits. Obviously, the teachers’ groups merely wanted the said government financial entity (led by Winston Garcia) to explain to them how it handles their money. It’s a legitimate concern because after all, GSIS contributions are already deducted even before the teachers get their paychecks.

GSIS officials must be compelled to explain the matter to its contributors because they are the only ones mandated to shed light on the teachers’ concerns. There’s so much public interest involved here since we are talking about public money! Aren’t the teachers entitled to know what the GSIS does to their money? The moment these teachers, and every Filipino for that matter, demand answers from the government – someone should go out in public and explain. It is because the public has the right to know!

The 1987 is very clear about it: Art. III, Sec. 7: The right of the people to information on matters of public shall be recognized… Members of the media, Ms Lazaro included, serves as the mediator between the public and their leaders. This may sound cliché to mass communication students, but the media’s role is to serve the governed (not the governors), to comfort the afflicted, and to give voice to the voiceless.

Just like any journalist, Ms Lazaro knew the importance of getting the other side of the story – hence, the Probe exerted all efforts to get the GSIS to talk. The GSIS declined to be interviewed because ‘based on experience,’ stories aired by Lopez-owned entities have always been biased against them. This is very arbitrary on their part and clearly, the GSIS is only using its past conflict with the Lopezes over MERALCO as an excuse for not talking at all. Non-transparency in government makes it conducive for corruption. Now we ask GSIS’s Winston Garcia and their VP for Public Relation Ella Villacerina: IS THERE SOMETHING TO HIDE? #

Isko at Iska, Are you wasting your food???

Are you wasting your food?

Food wastage in the UP Campus

by Mark Pere Madrona


Every time I have my lunch at the canteens here in UP, I can't help but look at the tables around me. I'm not doing this to know if they're having more delicious meals than what I have. Rather, I look at their plates to know how much food others have left behind. Most of the time, the question is not whether there is food wastage or not. The question is more about the food being wasted. Sometimes, I see so much left-overs that it makes me wonder if those who left it behind had eaten anything at all. Just have a seat at any canteen here in UP and you will the tremendous wastefulness among the students. It isn't surprising to see plates containing virtually untouched cups of rice canteen staffs (in Filipino, we refer to them as 'nalawayan na') and a full serving of viand being collected by the canteen staff. Personally, It's disappointing to see this.

When I was a child, my mom would tell me that I would have to finish my meal – down to the last grain if I can, because there are lots of street-children out there who have nothing to eat. That is a lesson that I have lived by to this day, and I intend to pass it on to my children. Whenever I see my schoolmates waste so much food, I wonder if their parents haven't told them not to do so. I wonder if they are that affluent not to feel any remorse for their food that goes instead to the trash. I wonder if they are simply indifferent to the fact that many people doesn't have the means to eat thrice a day.

Here in UP, it is very common to see children ask for the food that you're eating. “Kuya, akin na lang yan,” a young boy told me when he saw me eating 'biko'. It easy to get mad at them for being 'bastos' but on the other hand, you can see their desperate need to have something to eat.

A 2006 study by the Food & Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) indicated that each Filipino wastes around ¼ cup of rice daily. To measure the wastage's approximate cost, the FNRI multiplied the total wastage (about 1,200 metric tons) with the cost of the cheapest rice in the market – the NFA rice, which costs P12 a kilo at the time the study was done. The total cost? P14.4 million worth of rice goes down the drain daily. The figures are very staggering in light of the fact that the nation is forever trying to cope with adverse economic conditions.

Last year, long lines gathered in places where the much cheaper NFA rice are being sold. This is perfectly understandable since most Filipinos are looking for alternatives to the P35/kilo commercial rice. Rice i our most staple food and yet it is the one which gets most wasted in our dining tables. When the FNRI divided the amount of rice wastage with the number of street children nationwide (around 200,000), they found out that each child would have received P65.00 – enough for them to meet their basic food requirements for a few days.

For me, it is very deplorable to know that Filipinos waste so much food especially at a time when hunger-incidence rates are hitting all-time highs. According to the latest SWS survey, almost a fifth of the entire populace have experienced involuntary hunger in the past months. We all know that food costs have skyrocketed due to the global financial crisis, making it tougher for the country's poor to survive.

When the rice crisis surfaced last year, the vulnerabilities of Asian countries particularly the Philippines, China and Vietnam got exposed. Ninety percent of the world's rice is produced in Asia and since it is at the center of the region's 2.5 billion people's diet, any abnormal upward trend in its price would definitely trigger food emergency, if not food riots (like what we see in Africa).

Now, let's go back to the smaller picture. The FNRI says food wastes tend to be greater among smaller households. It is likely because there would be a relatively abundant food supply for fewer household members. They also found out that food wastage is higher among households with larger budget for food. Parenthetically, those with less purchasing power can't afford to waste as much.

Some may argue that some of the left-overs are eaten by pets and other domesticated animals (e.g. pigs) while others may point out that food lost due to overcooking and spoilage isn't really wasted. The FNRI says edible food wastage includes all food that has not been eaten by humans for any reason. These are legitimate points but the most important thing in lights of all these facts is the need for us to be aware of the socio-economic consequences of food wastefulness. A change in people's attitudes and behavior is needed for us to be able to maximize our food resources.

Let me end by quoting Pope Benedict XVI. In his message to the Food and Agricultural Organization last year, he said “Give food to those dying of hunger because if you do not, you shall have killed him.” The Pontiff even says that “the main cause of hunger lies in people's coldness to their fellow human beings.” Remember my UP schoolmates who had been so reckless in wasting food? Are they that indifferent to the plight of the deprived ones?

Why does the media feed us with crap???

In my previous piece, I have related how the media had affected me for almost two decades already. Now, I would show how and in what aspects I would like to influence the media. First, I hope the said institution becomes a better watchdog of those in power. I’m not saying that they are not reporting about government malfeasance right now. It is just that there is a tendency among journalists to devote all its time on a single issue at a particular time then completely forget about ti a few days later. For example, no one remembers Jun Lozada and the NBN ZTE deal right now.

Everyone is fixated on the investigations regarding the World Bank mess. When the media stops its reportage on an issue, the latter’s salience before the public’s minds wanes. Clearly, the Agenda Setting Theory of the mass media is at play here. If the media won’t be able to constantly remind the public of these corruption issues, no sense of accountability among our government officials would be nurtured. As Mike Enriquez liked to say, journalists should tell these crooks that “Hindi naming kayo tatantanan!”

Another thing I would like to note is the obvious preference of the big media networks to showbiz gossip. A significant portion of our nightly news programs had been allotted to showbiz gossip. Recently, ABS-CBN had even put up a daily showbiz news show – similar to “The Insider” and “Entertainment Today” in the United States. I understand that people need some form of relaxation especially during these difficult times but I guess no one would dispute the fact that we don’t really care whether Boy Abunda and Vicki Belo finally make peace.

Although I watch these kind of shows every now and then (do I have a choice?), I know that these networks are just feeding us with crap. They are idiotizing the masses. It is my prevent wish that the media devote more time informative programs. For example, there are a lot of issues that the masses have to understand.

The media always mentions the global financial crisis and climate change in their reports but the masses is still having a hard time making sense of all of these. It is because the media haven’t bothered to explain the significance of these issues to them. Why? Because the networks think these issues are too complex for the masses to grasp. I guess it is the media practitioners’ (sorry for the term) responsibility to tell the public the significant issues – the topics that they need (not necessarily want) to know.

Part of the reason why the public seems to be apathetic towards the scandals besetting the present government is that a lot of them haven’t figured out why the issue is important to them personally in the first place. Amidst all the political shouting matches and mudslinging, the media had failed to bring its audience to the bottom of the issues raised.