The Aguman Alphabet
(Originally published in the printed Aslag, 1st Semester, AY 2004-2005)
By Rex Dizon
If someone outside Aguman asks you what our org is all about and you are lost for words, we’ve come up with something that could help you present Aguman in a different light.
A is for ACTIVITIES
Acquaintance Party. CEER. Pautakan. Sining. Unity Night. Talent’s Night. Sheer genius, right? Meron ba sila nito? Only in Aguman do we have gimmicks that are meaningful, service-oriented and fun-filled all at the same time.
B is for BOI
We don’t really the know the etymology of this term of endearment but come to think of this: have you ever been called a boy even if you’re actually a girl? Well, some of you may not have liked it when you were applicants or new members. But you’re bound to use this term of camaraderie someday, somehow.
C is for crEme OF THE CROP
We’ve got Valedictorians, Salutatorians, Pautakan and Sining material, laudes, board exam topnotchers, student leaders, Most Outstanding Kapampangan Awardees, Palanca Awardees, etc. We’re home to the best of what the Kapampangan race has to offer.
D is for DINE OUTS
It used to be a battle between Jollibee, McDonald’s,
E is for EXPRESSIONS
Hangal. Haller. Pogi (with the different meaning, of course). Matdas ka! Ala kung asabi! Suddenly, we find ourselves saying phrases didn’t consider ‘cool’ back in high school.
F is for FIBER OPTICS
You know the saying “May tenga ang lupa, may pakpak ang balita”? Well, in Aguman it doesn’t apply. For gossip in Aguman, especially love gossip, spread not even like brushfire. It is transmitted via, to put it in Dawn’s words, fiber optics. At now there's unlimited texting -- talk about always being 'in the loop sa chika!".
G is for GRAFFITI
Aguman is like an outlet of any feeling in our subconscious that we let slip through ‘artwork’. Before CSSP prohibited it, our tambayan is one big structure of graffiti. Not to mention our table then. You can see it even our logbook – from simple doodles of
H is for HOME
Home away from home. That’s what Aguman is to all of us. It’s as simple as that.
I is for IDOLS
Almost every organization has its own set of celebrity look-alikes – Aguman is no exception. On a more serious note, it’s also in our org where we find people to look up to when we were applicants or college freshmen. Our new-found kuyas and ates has taught us a thing or two about college and life.
J is for JOKES
This is something the AguPips seem to never ran out of. Whether it’s corny or witty, has an intended target or just an icebreaker, joking and fooling around has been away of life for us, in and out of the tambayan. Heck, it might as well be an application requirement. I mean, who among us was never asked to tell a single joke when we were applicants?
K is for KNOWLEDGE
There are some things you get to learn when you’re in Aguman – from the useful to the trivial, from the philosophical to the humorous, from the good to the not-so-good ones. Some of these are the things you missed out on when you were in protective walls of your high school.
L is for LOVE bug
Isn’t it obvious? Infected people swarming the tambayan makes your tambay time extra sweeter than leche flan. Unless you prefer gelatin, of course. Despite and in spite of recent heart-breaking break-ups, the AguBoys just couldn't help but fall for the AguGirls, huh? Aliwa talaga in maalindug!
M is for MOVIES
Watching flicks is another bonding activity we never get tired of. You just can’t say no when you’ve got 10 people convincing you that Princess Diaries 2 is not a chick flick, or if you finally found someone who invited you to watch Liberated 2 (at least hindi ikaw nag-yaya diba?). And just recently, there's Superman Returns and in a few weeks comes Spiderman 3. I mean come on, magpapahuli ka ba?!
N is for NSPIRATION
Aguman is a constant source of inspiration (Platonic and Non-Platonic) in every thing you do – may it be in acads (you have people giving you hope when you’re five and fighting), emotional (it’s where you belong) or any kind of endeavor like a fashion show or an article like this!
O is for ORIGINAL
We are the original Kapampangan organization that not only promotes camaraderie but also service to our people. We’ve been at it for three decades! Can any resto beat that? Apparently not, hehe.
P is for PHEROMONES
The medium that the love bug uses to spread the epidemic. Something that our AguGirls never ran out of, don’t you think? AguBoys are simply helpless.
Q is for QUESTIONS NIGHT
One of the most enjoyable weeks of the year. It’s the only night that lasts a week – a period of bonding, frolic and fun. And of course, don't forget, making questions.
R is for REST & RELAXATION
Like a previous article said, a quickie at the tambayan can flush out any kind of worry, albeit temporarily. But at least, it’s a welcome breather with the daily hustle and bustle of mind-wracking acads, right?
S is for SIGSHEET
It’s the immortal memory of what kind of applicants we were. The application period is one of the most memorable periods in one’s Aguman life. And all the highlights – the jokes you had to crack, the errands you had to run. The questions you had to answer, the gazillion trivias you had to research, the stories you had to tell and the secrets you had to divulge just to get a signature – can be remembered through the sigsheet.
T is for TAMBAYAN
One of the major privileges of being in Aguman, it’s our home away from home. It’s a place rich in memories, witnessed a lot of happenings (public and personal) – it’s our refuge.
U is for UNDERGROUND
Most commonly used and most efficient method in Aguman courtship. Its success rate if quite high, compared to conventional Your-Song or Abt-Ur-Luv or Love-Spell methods. Who would've thought na ang isang 'Mommy' at isang 'Boy' ay may lihim pa lang chumechever? Haha!
V is for VISUAL STIMULATION
This is one tambayan amenity that improved with our most recent relocation. Before, one had to wear glasses to clearly see Venus’ contemporaries. Now, all you need is a good sitting position for that effective guise of subtlety.
W is for WIT
We exercise in almost everything we do – jokes, comments, graffiti, punch lines or articles. It’s one of the informal training we get when we’re in Aguman. Our humor powered with wit is truly exceptional.
X is for XPERIENCE
It’s the same with K is for Knowledge. In Aguman you get to experience a lot of firsts (and sometimes seconds and/or thirds…) – love, puff, heartache, videoke singing, leading the national anthem, public speech and a lot more! Not to mention the belly-dancing, floor-climbing and the imitations of
Y is for YOUNG & OLD
Right now, our youngest member is Buduy and the oldest is Rex. But it’s not only in age that Aguman has youngs and olds – even at heart.
Z is for ZANY
Zany, Aguman life is simply zany. One moment, it’s fun, next moment it’s no-so-fun. Good thing is, you’re not alone. You have your AguBros and AguSistahs with you.
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