The Blue Normal Archives

Sep222022 by No Comments

[NEVER FORGET] The Blue Normal – Pila sa bigasan

PHOTO BY RAINIEL ANGELYN FIGUEROA/ THE FLAME Anong natatandaan niyo noong Martial Law? “[....] My memory of Martial Law was huli na. Siguro ‘yung [nalaman ko ‘yung mga atrocities] college na ako, during the death of Ninoy Aquino. [...] Ang natatandaan ko noong sa Martial Law was noong pumila ako for bigas. Kasi ako ‘yung pinaka-galing sa errands at [when I was in] grade two, pumila ako sa bigas. ‘Yung house namin was near the simbahan and ung simabahan. Meroong cooperative na conduit ng mga Nutribun [at bigas]. [...] Wala akong kamalayan sa mga atrocities kasi nakikinabang ako. Pero ung pag-pila sa bigas was something kasi ang haba-haba ng linya, sa tirik ng araw. [...] Na-witness ko ‘yung isang ale, pagdating niya doon sa dulo, malapit na siya [at kasi] two kilos lang puwede i...

Sep222022 by No Comments

[NEVER FORGET] The Blue Normal – Waiting for apo

Features, The Blue Normal

PHOTO BY ANGELINE TANQUECO/ THE FLAME Anong natatandaan niyo noong Martial Law? “Noong bata ako, panahon ng Martial Law.. sa EARIST ako noon [nagaaral]. Ni-re-require kami, kapag dumadating si Marcos, pipila kaming nakahilera papuntang Malacañang. Binibigyan kami ng bandera, magkakaway lang pag dumating si Marcos. Minsan nga nagalit sa akin [‘yung nanay ko] kasi ginabi ako ng uwi eh, [pero] kaya ako ginabi ng uwi kasi nga inaantay namin dumating si Marcos. Nabigyan din kami dati ng Nutribun. Nakatikim din kami, grabe talagang siksik. Pero ‘di naman ‘yun palagi, minsan lang... Minsan lang nagbibigay ng Nutribun. Pagka-declare ng Martial Law, bumili agad kami ng bigas kasi nagkakaubusan. Tsaka may oras na may curfew, lahat sila pasok na sa bahay pag gabi na tumutunog na ‘y...

Sep222022 by No Comments

[NEVER FORGET] The Blue Normal – Radio silence, collegiate fears

The Blue Normal

PHOTO BY ARIS JOHN GALANG Anong natatandaan niyo noong Martial Law? “It was a Saturday when I woke up, and normally, before going to the office on Saturdays, nagoopen muna ako ng radyo. [That time] wala akong marinig sa radyo, lahat ng stations quiet. I went to the office and sabi nga Martial Law daw was declared already. August ‘yung Martial Law [...] November na kami nagkaroon ng klase. Tsaka nagkaroon na ng konting bali-balita sa mga radyo---pero puro Marcos lang. During the time of Martial Law, Marcos created a Bagong Lipunan Society which later on he turned it into a political party na lahat naman sila-sila ang nag-ho-hold [political positions]. There were so many atrocities made by Marcos at that time, he took control of all major industries in the Philippines...

Sep222022 by No Comments

[NEVER FORGET] The Blue Normal – High school peace

Features, The Blue Normal

photo by ARWIN ROMANO/ THE FLAME Anong natatandaan niyo noong Martial Law? “Ang natatandaan ko noong Martial Law, nasa high school pa ako noon, first year high school ako. Noong wala pang Martial Law, laging nagkakagulo sa compound ng school namin. May [mga] nagbabatuhan, may mga nagra-riot. Noong time na ‘yun—hindi pa naibaba ang Martial Law—sinasara namin mga pinto ng classroom. Kinabukasan, nagbaba si Marcos ng Martial Law, natigil lahat ng mga pag-aamok nila sa loob ng compound ng school. Nanahimik sila. Wala ng riot, basta naging very peaceful. Ang natatandaan ko pa, ‘eh pag may inutos si President Marcos, walang pwedeng humindi. Kailangan matupad ‘yun, at kailangan susundin lahat ng mamamayan na nakabuti naman kasi noon, mga responsable ang mga tao, unlike ng...

Sep112022 by No Comments

[A Pet’s Love] The Blue Normal – Thunder and his call for furparents

Features, The Blue Normal

Photo courtesy of Rayne Nicole Decili [Trigger Warning; Mentions of animals passing] Tell me about your pet. What is your favorite thing about them? I have a total of nine dogs at all, but the one that I can say is mine is a 2-year-old-ambulance Siren-wanna-be and his name is Thunder. He's a black (and white) Siberian Husky. Do you believe in 'love at first sight for pets? Yes! When my brother came home carrying this huge black husky, I was intimidated by him because he used to have that very dark mask that made him appear dominant. But upon looking at his eyes once again, I saw a soulmate and best friend in that gentle giant baby's eyes. It was like we were really meant to be with each other! And that, I believe, is love at first sight. What is the most difficu...

Aug212022 by No Comments

[Sinasalitang Diwa] The Blue Normal – Wika at kung sino tayo

Features, The Blue Normal

photo by ARWIN ROMANO /THE FLAME Sa iyong tingin, mas dapat bang gamitin ang Filipino bilang pangunahing paraan ng pagtuturo sa mga paaralan, lalo na sa mga kursong umaasa sa wikang Ingles tulad ng agham at matematika? “To answer the question, yes, oo. Kasi unang una mayroon tayong batas eh, nasa konstitusyon yan eh, na ang Filipino ang wikang panturo, [...] ani nga ni Dr. Almario Virgilio, national artist for literature, na hindi naman kasi kailangan palitan yung mga salita kada salita, o isalin salita kada salita, ngunit kailangan yakapin ang wikang Filipino, at wikang Ingles, upang makamit ang tinatawag na intelektwalisasyon.” Para sa iyo, anong mga aksyon ang pwedeng gawin ng mga institusyon para mas mapabuti ang mga kursong Filipino? “Isang magandang hakbang ang pagkakaro...

Jul292022 by No Comments

[Pillars of Strength] The Blue Normal – Pride and Joy

Features, The Blue Normal

photo by Aris Jhon Galang /THE FLAME “What is your proudest moment as the eldest child?” [My] proudest moment as the eldest is [that] I get to stand as the second parent of my younger sister. Maraming times na I get to provide her with the income I get [from gigs and commissions], mga life advice na mararanasan niya pa lang pero naranasan ko na na feeling namin ako yung mas fit magpayo sa kanya than my parents kasi kami ‘yung mas magkalapit ng generation. “What is the hardest part of being the eldest in the family?” Most challenging part [of being the eldest] are those times na parang feeling ‘ko ako ang experiment sa maraming bagay kasi ako ang unang sasabak. -Jose Gabriel Ignacio, journalism student Interview by PATRICIA MAE O. REBONG ...

Jul242022 by No Comments

[Pillars of Strength] The Blue Normal – On Trust and Positivity

Features, The Blue Normal

photo by Gaebriele Gutierrez / THE FLAME “How did becoming the panganay influence you towards reaching your goals?” Sa totoo lang, in reaching my goals, I have to be positive in every aspect, especially when you know that problems may occur in the future. Kasi ikaw yung gagayahin nung [mga] kapatid mo eh. “What advice or message could you give to all the eldest in the family?” You [Eldest siblings] really have to balance yourself kasi [...] you have the responsibility [of being] a role model to your siblings. if you can balance yourself, you are able to meet all expectations, hindi lang sa pamilya mo pero bilang isang anak at tao na rin. Yes, may pressure talaga bilang panganay pero you have to trust in yourself—always. Kasi sarili mo lang din naman ‘yung makak...

Jul162022 by No Comments

[Pillars of Strength] The Blue Normal – Gentleness in Difficulty and Progress

Features, The Blue Normal

photo courtesy of Catherine Dabu "Were there times that you wished of not being the eldest child? ” I wouldn't deny [wishing] it because sometimes when life gets hard we just want to run away from our problems, and I guess that’s part of life and life wouldn't be complete without challenges. [...] As the saying goes, “Through challenge and difficulty, we learn to see life differently than before.” “What advice or message could you give to the eldest child in the family?” Gentle reminder lang na go easy on yourself, okay? And always remember that a small step is still progress. Jessica Navarro, economics student Interview by PATRICIA MAE O. REBONG

Dec152021 by No Comments

[Plot Twist] The Blue Normal – Finding serenity from within

Features, The Blue Normal

"With only a month left in this year, what is something you are hoping for to happen?" To spend the last month of the year with my family—just the joy of enjoying each other’s company and being thankful for all God’s blessings. As simple as that. Nothing [grander] because I believe that 2021 has spared enough room for me to prosper and grow. For that, I’m thankful already. "What do you consider your biggest plot twist this year?" [It] would be finally choosing myself [...] For so long, I was in a dark corner… This year, I learned to finally encourage myself to grow regardless of the past. I [also] learned [to muster] the courage to cut ties [with some people] and build walls around my peace, [which is] something that won’t be broken easily. - Vhey Tapia, j...