Eksenang Agu! The Questions Nights Edition

By Binibining Bangs

Well, well, well, look do we have here?! While da rest of ya are busy basking in the success of the recently-concluded Pautakan, I was busy gathering juicy details of the past week or so. Oha! Straight Englishing ang lola niyo.. Bago dumugo ang ilong ko tulad ni Inday, lemme get started!

Sinetch itech na 2 mem-boys na nag-overnight nang solo sa first night ng Questions Nights? Oh diba, Brokebackan ang drama nila, haha! In the midst of the index cards of questions pa, bwahahaha!

Sinetch itech tong 3 mems na tinulugan ang panonood ng A Love Story? Dapat talaga, Korean porn este movies ang papanoorin nila. At talagang may baon pa silang mga piratang debede - mas marami pa sa mga binaon nilang reference books para sa paggawa ng mga questions! But wait! Pawang walang mga subtitles ang mga naturang debede. Kaya ayun, may I dub-your-own-movie ang naging trips ng tatlo. Nang hindi na nila makayanan, pinatos na rin nila ang Aga-Maricel-Angelica (incest) starrer, haha! Nung una no, kunwari nandidiri pa sila sa paglalampungan sa simula, pero pagkatapos noon ay nakatulog sila, ito's matapos na mandiri sila, pagkatapos nun eh nakatulog sila.. na may pandidiri't paglalampungan na sa simula.

Sinetch itech tong mem-boy na tapang-tapangan ang drama at 4 in the morning? (Cue in Gwen Stefani). So hunger na kasi ang mga nag-obernite na mems at inumaga na sila sa pagkwekwentuhan este paggawa ng mga questions. Kaya naisipan ng mga ito na mag Burger Machine (yak, jologs, haha!). Buong akala ng mem-boy na ito, may Burger Machine sa may kanto ng St Augustine, na may-I-confirm naman ng isa pang mem-boy na host ng Questions Nights. But no! Pagdating sa kanto, wala ni isang patty ng burger na matatanaw. Joke lang pala ang lahat. Kaya ayun, nag-RORO pa ang mem-boy sa kabilang ibayo sa may St Jude para lang makapag-cheese burger. Okay na sana ang lahat, pauwi na siya and all at nasa St Augustine na siya... nang biglang nagkamali siya ng kantong linikuan. Pagbigyan na natin, gabi na kasi, tumatanda na ang mem-boy, kaya siguro lumalabo na ang mata. Out of nowhere, bigla na lang hinabol ng aso ang pobreng mem-boy! Kamusta naman, 10 years ago pa yata nang huling hinabol ng aso sa bike ang ating mem-boy, kaya ayun, sa sobrang adrenaline rush, nag-pedal-for-one's-life siya! Ayun, nakarating siya sa dulo ng St Augustine, haha! Maswerte naman niyang natakasan ang mga aso.

Sinetch itech tong pa-tweetums na mem-girl na may-I-overnight ang drama nang walang dala ni isang piraso ng damit? Haha! Kaya ayun, nag-resort na lang sa side B (yata) ang lola niyo. Hindi naman siya masyadong nangamoy, inpernes!

Sinetch itech tong mem-boy na sobrang at home ang feeling sa mansion ng mga Gulapa? Sa sobrang at home niya, alam na alam pa niya kung saan ang dapat na paglagyan ng mga nahugasang baso at kutsara! Daig pa niya ang mem-boy na may-ari ng bahay. Gumawa pa siya ng eksena nang habang nanghuhugas ng paa, nasira niya ang bidet ng pamilya Gulapa! To da rescue naman ang isa pang mem-boy na kilala sa kanyang mga pisngi (naglakwatsa kasi somewhere ang host na mem-boy). Ayun, nagawan naman ng paraan. Pero ngayong tapos na ang Pautakan at lahat, tuluyan nang nasira ang nasabing bidet. Paumanhin po sa pamilya Gulapa. Babayarin po yan ni ****** ang lahat ng gastos, hehe!

Sinetch itech tong mga mems na puro bloopers sa pagpunta sa bahay ni Roman? Palibhasa first time yatang pumunta sa Citeeh of San Fernando, nagkaroon sila ng minor misadventures sa jeep papunta sa tamang subdivision. Unahin natin tong mga mem-girls na pawang mga galing sa isang batch na uber sa emo at sa uber sa load dahil mahilig mag-call kaysa mag-text. Dahil ang instruction ay bumaba sa "San Agustin", bumaba naman ang mga mem-girls sa San Agustin. Ang catch, dun sa baryo at hindi sa subdivision. Tinawanan tuloy sila ng mga wheelers kasi pilit silang nagpapahatid sa "Opal Street" samantalang wala namang ganun on that side of the barrio. Ang susunod naman ay isang mem-boy. Habang inaabot niya ang bayad sa driver ng jeep, sabi niya, "Keng St Augustine pu.." Napatingin tuloy ang mga manggagawang Pilipino na kasakay niya, at napatawang inabot ang bayad ni mem-boy sa driver, "San Agustin pu kanu.." Akala tuloy nila, conyo ang mem-boy, haha!

Sinetch itech tong committee na may balak yatang mag-venture sa poultry business? Dumating ang isang member ng naturang committee in time for lunch, at may dala-dala siyang chicken para pagpiyestahan ng lahat. Okay lang sana, kahit na ba the previous night eh inihaw na manok ang ulam, at least this time, ibang luto at ibang sauce naman. But come dinner, kamusta naman na manok pa rin ang ulam -- inihaw na manok, that is! Kamusta naman ang pagpurga ng manok sa mga members? Sana feeds na lang ang dinala nila, haha! Kaya naman kinaumagahan, nagising na lang ang lahat nang may biglang sumigaw ng toktokokok!

Sinetch itech tong 2 mems na mag-ex na muling ibalik ang tamis ng pag-ibig ang drama? Actually, tuwing Questions Nights, ay lagi silang may "former beaus moment", haha, kahit na years ago pa ang naging relasyon nila. This time around, nag-solo sila sa kwarto doing God knows what dahil nagkataon na umalis lahat ng mems to fetch a few things at another mem-boy's house. Mabuti na lang at may dumating na isa pang mem-boy bago pa natuloy ang anumang kababalaghan, haha!

Sinetch itech tong mga mems na akala yata ay makakaiwas sa hagupit ng Pentel Pen sa panahon ng Questions Nights? Unahin natin ang isang bubwit na mem-girl. Bago siya natulog, hinostage pa niya talaga ang mga pentel pen. Malas niya, may naitago pang extra pentel pen ang isang mem-boy, kaya ayun, at their mercy ang drama ng bubwit na mem-girl. Nung una, nag-mamatigas pa siya na hindi siya matutulog hangga't hindi umuuwi ang mga tanders na mem-boys. Pero hindi rin nakatiis ang bubwit na mem-girl at nahimbing rin siya. In fairness, habang tulog ay nagka-Havaianas siya sa isang paa, haha! Isa pang mem-girl ang naging biktima ng pentel pen. Nagising na lang siya ng may sing-sing at relos sa kamay. Ang akala pa niya ay may ipis na gumagapang sa kanya, in denial pa ang lola niyo, haha! Mayroon ring isang mem-boy na nakarami ng nabiktima bago siya matulog. Sa takot na mapaghigantihan ng mga biktima, tinago niya ang mga pentel pen -- to no avail. Kaya ayun, paggising niya, isa na siyang giant panda na may matching whiskers pa. Last naman ay ang isang batang-batang mem-boy na nangahas na mambiktima sa isang mem-girl na mahilig sa pusa. Sa sobrang puti at kinis ng kutis ni mem-girl, nahiya ang ibang mems na pagtripan ang lola niyo. But no, kebs sa seniority ang drama ng batang-batang mem-boy, graffiti kung graffiti ang drama niya at pati ang mem-girl na ito ay hindi niya pinalagpas!



Hindi niyo ba kilala ang mga sinetch iteches? Well, it's your fault! Hindi kasi kayo pumunta ng Questions Nights! Pwe! Hehe! Siguro naman asy busog na busog kayo sa mga blind items. Marami na naman kayong pag-uusapan at huhulaan!

DBA wins High School Pautakan 2007

October 27, 2007, Msgr Serrano Auditorium Theatre - Even if the ranking of the Top 5 schools before and after the Championship Encounters remained the same, the last day of Pautakan 2007 was not devoid of suspense and drama.

The first five of the Championship Encounters were held in the morning. And by the resumption of the encounters at lunchtime, only HFA was poised for a possible sweep after beating DBA and UA. In its encounter versus DBA, HFA was able to correctly answer four consecutive questions. Until CS finally beat HFA through a knockout tiebreaker when it was able to correctly give the original name of Yahoo -- Jerry's Guide to the World Wide Web.

The 10th Championship Encounter between DBA and PHS proved to be full of tension. By this time, CS, HFA and the UA were already done with all of their encounters and all have a 2-2 win-loss record. By virtue of their advantage points from their rank in the Winners' Pool, UA and HFA were already out of contention for the Final Encounter while CS was secure in 2nd place, regardless of the result of the encounter between DBA and PHS. Meanwhile, DBA had a 1-2 record while PHS was at 2-1. So in effect, the 10th Encounter determined who will battle CS for the Final Encounter with the twice-to-beat advantage. The loser will be relegated to 3rd Place.

Interestingly, the quizmasters for the 10th encounter between DBA and PHS were Yek Santos (Kaputul 2004A) and Rex Dizon (Salagpi 2001A). Yek is an alumna of PHS while Rex is an alumnus and a former Pautakan team member of DBA. So in order to relieve some tension, the two quizmasters gamely asked the contestants to name one alumnus/alumna from their schools whom they were proud of. Indeed, the answers that the students from both schools gave provided a few moments of laughter and humor. In the end, it was a close fight but DBA was able to triumph over PHS.

The Final Encounter was similarly filled with tension and excitement. DBA only needed to beat CS once to be Champion while CS had to win twice. By the 8th question, CS was leading 20-10. Mathematics proved to be this year's DBA team's strength -- they were able to answer the 8th questions which was in Math in order to force a tiebreaker, since neither of the two teams was able to answer the 10th question anyway.

The answer to the 3rd knockout question, Mariano Ponce, was DBA's winning answer. The CS team, based on the facial expression of their contestants, also knew the answer to the question. Unfortunately for them and fortunately for DBA, DBA was able to buzz in a few milliseconds ahead. Thus, after 18 years, Don Bosco Academy was finally declared the Pautakan Champion again.

While waiting for the Awarding Ceremonies, the Aguman AVP titled "10 Things that you need to know about UP Aguman" was viewed by the the audience. The numerous Aguman alumni present amusingly reacted to the pictures included in the said picture slideshow. The Aguman alumni who graced Day 3 of Pautakan 2007 were:

Mel Santos-Henares (Charter)
Jerome Canlas (Kasingkilan 1984A)
Jun Martin (Tanikala 1986A)
Doby Pineda (Tanikala 1986A)
Francis David (AKbe 1988A)
Lec David (Pecat-Pecat 1993B)
Maan Laud (Ambula 2000A)
Andre Galang (Salagpi 2001A)
Dennis Manabat (Salagpi 2001A)
Argel Casupanan (Salagpi 2001A)
Dawn Cruz (Kasaup 2002A)
Di Sarmiento (Kasaup 2002A)
Joman Laxamana (Kasaup 2002A)
Mike Penalba (Sampelut 2003A)

Members of Lakatan 2006A and Langgotsi 2006B also had their Oath-Taking ceremonies. Again, Mr Gilbert Abueg and Ms Adelle Sotto composed the panel of judges.

PAUTAKAN 2007 WINNERS
HIGH SCHOOL:
CHAMPION: DON BOSCO ACADEMY
1st Runner-up: Chevalier School
2nd Runner-up: Pampanga High School
3rd Runner-up: Holy Family Academy
4th Runner-up: University of the Assumption
ELEMENTARY:
CHAMPION: HOLY FAMILY ACADEMY
1st Runner-up: St Scholastica's Academy
2nd Runner-up: Angeles Elementary School



LEFT: HS 2nd placer CS pose with their lone CS alumnus Aguman member present, John Carl Gozun, together with Daphne, Gboi and Jean
RIGHT: The HS Pautakan 2007 Champion, DBA, pose with their Busko alumni Aguman members, Rex Dizon, Francis David, Andre Galang, Kevin and Mike Penalba and Buduy Mallari, together with Gboi and Daphne

For more pictures, click here.

DBA leads the High School Championship Round qualifiers

October 26, 2007, Msgr Serrano Auditorium Theater - It was the second day of intense academic competition at the Pautakan 2007. This time, 13 of the best high schools in Pampanga competed in Encounters and written Eliminations.

Angeles University Foundation - Integrated School (AUFIS)
Chevalier School (CS)
Don Bosco Academy (DBA)
Don Honorio Ventura College of Arts and Trade (DHVCAT)
Holy Angel University (HAU
Holy Family Academy (HFA)
Mary Help of Christians School (MHCS)
New Era University (NEU)
Pampanga Agricultural College (PAC)
Pampanga High School (PHS)
Republic Central Colleges (RCC)
St Scholastica's Academy (SSA)
University of the Assumption (UA)

For the Encounters, the pairings and results were as follows:
PHS 20 pts
MHCS 10

HAU 10
CS 10 (CS was the first to answer in the Knockout tiebreaker)

NEU 10
AUFIS 10 (AUFIS was the first to answer in the Knockout tiebreaker)

DHVCAT 10
RCC 10 (RCC was the first to answer in the Knockout tiebreaker)

PAC 0
SSA 20

UA 20 (UA was the first to answer in the Knockout tiebreaker)
DBA 20

As always, winners in the Elimination Encounters qualified for the Winners' Pool with a +10-pt advantage. HFA was the unpaired team during the drawing of lots, so it qualified to the Winners' Pool without the +10-pt advantage. The losers on the Encounters were grouped in the Losers' Pool.

The result of the Losers' Pool Eliminations were as follows:
HAU 95 pts
DBA 25
DHVCAT 10
MHCS 0
NEU 0
PAC 0

The Top 3 schools, HAU, DBA and DHVCAT were re-grouped to the Winners' Pool (again, without the +10-pt advantage). For the Winners' Pool, the scores were as follows:
DBA 110 pts
CS 75
PHS 75
HFA 70
UA 70
RCC 50
SSA 50
HAU 40
AUFIS 30
DHVCAT 20

The Top 5 schools qualified for the Championshiop Round tomorrow, but since the ranking was important for the corresponding plus point advantages, the tie between CS-PHS and HFA-UA had to be broken. By the last question for the Clincher Round, CS and HFA already answered 1 question correctly. But the last clincher question proved to be a crucial one -- the meaning of the more famous acronyms today, ZTE, was asked. In a dramatic turn of events, UA and PHS were able to answer it correctly. So the tie still ensued and the Knockout system had to be employed. In the end, HFA and CS were able to answer the 5th knockout question: the city where The Oprah Winfrey Show is taped from. Both teams answered "Chicago".

For the Championship round, the Top 5 schools will compete each other in Encounters in Round Robin format. Based on their places in the Winners' Pool Eliminations, the plus-point advantages are as follows: DBA +25, CS +20, PHS +15, HFA +10 and UA +5. Each Encounter win will be worth +10 pts.

Aguman Charter Alumni Renan Del Rosario graced the event. The judges for the High School Pautakan were Ms Adelle Sotto, Mr Gilbert Abueg and Mr Adonis Ramy Elumbre.

For more pictures, click here.

HFA wins Elementary Pautakan 2007

October 25, 2007, Msgr, Serrano Auditorium Theater - It was the first day of the Pautakan 2007 and the members came in full force to help the Educational Committee in ensuring the success of the event.

A total of 9 schools registered for the Elementary Division of this year's Pautakan:

Angeles Elementary School (AES)
Angeles University Foundation (AUF)
Chevalier School (CS)
Don Bosco Academy (DBA)
Holy Angel University (HAU)
Holy Family Academy (HFA)
Mary Help of Christians School (MHCS)
St Scholastica's Academy (SSA)
University of the Assumption (UA)

The Opening Ceremonies followed after the registration. Kevin Penalba (Langgotsi 2006B) led the Opening Prayer while Thea Lising (Kadaya 2005A) led the singing of the National Anthem. The Yek Santos (Kaputul 2004A) and Frida Galban (Bucayo 2005B) served as hosts and entertained the audience with their antics before the Opening Ceremonies and during the breaks.

After Gboi De Padua (Lakatan 2006A), this year's Pautakan Project Head, delivered the Welcome Remarks, the Group Dynamics for the contestants immediately followed. All the present participants were divided in 5 groups and played a game to foster camaraderie before the pressure and tension of the Pautakan competition sinks in. The special game for the coaches followed after. Twelve high school and elementary coaches played Exhaust, a game where the players enumerates as many items as possible depending on the category given -- the same mechanic for the Final Round in the TV game show Pilipinas Game Ka Na Ba. Ms Anna Lucia Ocampo-Samson of the HAU Elementary Team won the game while Mrs Leticia Gallo of AES was the runner-up.

The Elementary Eliminations started in the afternoon, after the lunch break. After 25 questions, the final scores were as follows:
AES 100 pts
SSA 90
HFA 70
HAU 60
DBA 55
CS 45
UA 40
MHCS 25
AUF 10

Top the Top 3 scorers: AES, SSA and HFA qualified for the Championship Round with AES having a +15-pt advantage, SSA with 10 and HFA with 5. They battled with each other in one-on-one Encounters and each win merited +15 pts. For the Championship Encounters, the scores were as follows:

SSA 10
HFA 10 (HFA was the first to answer correctly in the Knockout tiebreaker)

HFA 20
AES 0

AES 10
SSA 20

Thus, the final scores were:
HFA 35 pts -- CHAMPION
SSA 25 - 2nd Place
AES 15 - 3rd Place

Representatives from Pautakan 2007's Co-presentor, Level-Up Games, gave a talk about their latest games during the Opening Ceremonies. They also gave away freebies -- posters, CDs and many more -- for the students.

This year, a new timer and buzzer system was used. The new system is now in Flash and was developed by Dennis Paguio, brother of EducComm member Cindy Paguio (Kadaya 2005A). Cindy, together with Aga Retirado and Josef Marimla (both of Kadaya 2005A as well) were able to successfully employ the new timer and buzzer system without any technical glitches.

Aguman Alumni Francis David (Akbe 1988B) and Dennis Manabat (Salagpi 2001A) graced the event. The panel of judges was composed by Ms Anna Marie Alfelor, Marco Lansangan (Kaputul 2004A) and Renz Caliguia (Kaputul 2004A).



L: Gboi (Educ Head), Justin (FinComm) and Daphne (President) pose with the representatives of Level Up!
R: The members pose at the stage after the Day 1 events, as they finalize the preparations for the High School Pautakan

For more pictures, click here.

Sooo big, it can't fit this column's width

Originally published in the printed "ASLAG: The Pautakan 2007 Edition"

The following Pautakan testimonies were compiled from Aguman members and alumni that were former Pautakan contestants and Pautakan Project Heads. These are featured on the centerfold of the "ASLAG: The Pautakan 2007 Edition".

Pautakan is not entirely an intellectual competition; it’s a venue for social interaction. It’s not just a quiz show for unrelated talents; it’s a gathering.. An ENCOUNTER.
~Mike Penalba, DBA Pautakan Team 2000 and 2001

Being a Pautakan contestant was a great experience for me. At first, I thought that it would be just an ordinary quiz show, but definitely not because what I witnessed was a quiz show full of action and suspense! Seriously, ilang beses kong nasabing “Mamamatay nako, di ko na kaya!” sa sobrang kaba! That was almost every encounter. My Pautakan days were some of the best moments I will never forget in my entire life.
~Cindy Paguio, SSA Pautakan Team 2004

What does it take to be a Pautakan champion? Actually, there are several. First, you should have the passion and dedication on what you really want to achieve. Sometimes, it’s the innate love that drives your willpower to win! Second, you should have the interest to go beyond the basic knowledge a high school student has. Amazing facts and techniques in analysis are just in your school library. Discipline yourself to be diligent in further study you really want to dig; remember that it is so cool to be smart! Third, you and your teammates should have unity. Way back then, I personally learned that a systematic agreement among my comrades is such a crucial part of the game. Fourth, there should be NO PRESSURE! If you feel that heaviness, you would lose. Thank God I didn’t prolong that feeling in the succeeding encounters of my Pautakan days. This leads to the fifth one: You should have faith. Trust me. PRAYERS CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS! I just proved it the moment my team won. Moreover, it changed how I look towards my goals in life. Now, buckle up, break a leg, and prove the power of your mind!
~John Carl Gozun, CS Pautakan Team 2005

I joined the Pautakan during my Elementary and High School years — I never won, though, haha! Akala ko pa noon, the UP Aguman is just another campus, like UP Diliman and UP Manila. UP Aguman and the Pautakan’s essence dawned on me only during my high school senior year — that it is the most exciting and most prestigious academic competition. Parang Olympics talaga. It would've been more fulfilling if my team won (We lost by 5 pts dahil sinuwerte lang yung isang school, haha, bitter!), but the experience was not any less meaningful. The Pautakan really does make you assess yourself, your competence, your goals, etc. The experience really makes you wanna aim for more, to not settle for mediocrity, to raise the ‘bar’ — which apparently, was the real goal of the Pautakan, something I learned when I myself became part of the organization that’s behind the quiz show for the past 34 years.
I ALWAYS look forward to it each year, not only to secretly root for my alma mater but also to interact with the kids. And I am proud of the contestants when they get to answer the questions I made (DBA man sila o hindi). But more than that, it’s so great to see dreams of these kids come true (which was once mine, too, right?), especially for the eventual Pautakan Champion teams each year.
/Here in the UP Aguman, we don't get to give away cash, appliances or other monetary prizes. We really wish we could. Pero wala eh, non-stock, not-for-profit organization talaga kami, mas maraming kailangan pagkagastusan na mas importante. Besides, in the future, I can always buy those things, and probably even donate some of them for my alma mater school. But no matter how financially successful I become someday, I will only have one chance to give them that precious Pautakan trophy, and to myself, that precious Pautakan medal. And it’s something money can't buy.
~Rex Dizon, DBA Pautakan Team 1996 and 2000

Being part of Holy Family Academy’s academic team is a privilege. Winning in the Pautakan is a prestige. The Pautakan, one of the most prestigious elementary and high school academic competitions in Pampanga, is the most exciting and thrilling contest that our team joined. Its unorthodox rules made the event so memorable for us, especially when we clinched to proceed to the final round against CS, after defeating DBA by a single crucial point on the last question. Until now I can still recall how our team’s story became like a movie, with us of course, being the protagonists. We started out in the loser’s pool and ranked 4 of 5 before entering the encounters. Then we almost bagged the championship by winning 3 out of our 4 encounters.
Nevertheless, entering the final round was something we were not really expecting especially after how we’ve been left behind by our other competitors. When we won against DBA in the last encounter, it was like we won the Finals. We almost forgot that we still need to play against CS to win the championship. We were greatly overwhelmed. I guess the rules in Pautakan are responsible for creating dramatic stories in every team and in every batch of competing schools.
The Pautakan shares with its participants not only the trophies and the awards, but also the chance to be a part of a prestigious competition and the chance to meet new friends from other schools. It does not only foster a competitive ambiance but rather an atmosphere of friendship that makes the competition even more exciting.
~Dondon Dy, HFA Pautakan Team 2001 and 2005

As participant, I never really exerted that much effort on studying for these kind of contests. (Syempre, excuses muna) Kung alam ko lang how BIG of a deal the Pautakan was then, malamang di na lang ako nagbasa ng Pugad Baboy! Haha!
Pero truth is: bitter ako. Dami regrets, kasi the PAUTAKAN is PAUTAKAN. Peka-prestigious ya atang acad contest ini keti Pampanga! Sana mig-exert ku pang effort para mekapag-prepare.
Ampo enjoy ya eh? Sweet torture! Questions were damn hard but at the same time, a-meet kula ding eventual friends ku ngening college. From high school rivals to college groupmates! Oha! Sa batch namin, ultimo loveteams, nabuo, o diba? Napaka-holistic ng Pautakan.
As a Pautakan project head, I loved the job. But never did I imagined na sobrang matrabaho pala ang preparations for Pautakan! Instant liposuction kapag head ka sa kawindangan at ngarag! Two months before the event, nagpeprepare na just to make sure that it will be successful. Ing pamag-STS, market, solicit, at ultimung pamang-gawa ng questions, asna pala kaobra! Nung balu kung makanini la magprepare deng AguMems sana anyang contestant ku, mig-prepare ku rin to give them a good show (haha! Yabang!).
With the help of the mems, me-accomplish ngan ing dapat gawan. Pero syempre, ene man meging smooth sailing keng pamag-prepare — dakal problema, pero at least mesolusyunan. I’ve learned to appreciate how Pautakan supplements the mental and social development of its contestants. It’s not just a mere quiz show. It’s a rendezvous for students from various schools to share insights/opinions and a medium where friendships are built.
For the mems, the Pautakan is a training ground. Dakal ka abalu at adevelop na agamit mu in the future — being responsible, punctual, cool-headed ampo pagiging alisto or bibo. Patse akit mu ing abie ning Pautakan, emu isipan na obra or burden yamu ini.
~Fergie Panganiban, HAU Pautakan Team 2004, Pautakan 2006 Project Head

“Pautakan Team” — that was what the academic team at my high school was called. Even if we joined other academic contests not named “Pautakan”, it was still named as such. Eight years after my last stint as a contestant, I would have to say I miss the pressure. I miss the pressure of being the only school to answer some of the Physics questions. I miss being bitter about a question regarding Mariah Carrey's Song. Simply put, Pautakan changes you after the wins and losses. And I also witnessed how non-contestants are affected everytime a question is answered. If Pautakan were a song it would be Atin Cu pung Singsing for me — you can't live a life as a Kapampangan, without hearing about it... That is THE PAUTAKAN!
~Argel Casupanan, ACHS-SSC Pautakan Team 1998 and 1999, Pautakan 2003 Project Head

Every year, the Pautakan raises the bar on how a good quality quiz show should be. It gathers the most brilliant students here in Pampanga. It maintains its standard for its difficult but witty questions. Being a Pautakan participant in my high school years, joining the contest was such an honor, to carry your school’s colors, in such a prestigious contest like this. The Pautakan is, and will always be, the biggest quiz show in Pampanga.
~Renz Caliguia, SVA Pautakan Team 2003

Joining the Pautakan is plainly and simply a prestige. It’s one of the most difficult wit-battles anyone could ever encounter since it does not just gauge plain knowledge but your tenacity to stay put in fighting as well.
~Celine Dagdag, UA Pautakan Team 2002

As a high school Pautakan contestant, I used to get intimidated by the eloquence of quiz master Kuya Hermie in oral encounters, especially when SSC answers, and he says, “I’m sorry… I’m sorry HFA, but SSC’s answer is correct!” Haha! Being one of the organizers, I had numerous opportunities to actually sit beside him and do my own share of intimidation. Haha, kidding!
I also had a notion before that being a quiz master was that easy, but no, it’s not. Much like being a contestant, being a quiz master entails presence of mind. You have to pay attention to every little detail all at once – contestants looking at the audience, audience coaching the contestants, contestants answering before being acknowledged, contestants answering after the five-second time was given, and a lot more. I would have to say that the way coaches and contestants perceive the competition was largely dependent on how the quizmasters (and judges, for that matter) take on their roles. One little mistake could lead to complaints that could take too long to resolve. If complaints from any school made me feel tense before when I was a contestant, they make me way tenser now that I am one of the organizers. It’s more worrisome when the integrity of the competition that’s been here long enough than the senior resident member has is at stake.
~Pie Pamintuan, HFA Pautakan Team 1999 and 2002, Pautakan 2005 Project Head

Being in the PAUTAKAN is more than just a privilege. It’s more than just the usual boring quiz show that any entity can establish. Losing hurts. Losing as many times as you could imagine hurts even more. If it does hurt, then it’s really worth the pain.
~Buduy Mallari , DBA Pautakan Team 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005 and 2006

A Living Conclusion

By John Carl Gozun

“It’s over.”

This was the first thought that popped in my mind when the members signified the end of the special Final Rites (FR). My warm tears and sweat messed up my cute Tigger-designed face paint. My lament turned into gladness.

Not Just an Ordinary Morning

A blurred image of the brown ceiling was the first figure my eyes saw at 5:30 one Tuesday morning. I twitched on my bed as I was feeling something weird inside me. I closed my eyes, trying to sleep again, but something was really bothering me.

“Oh God, FR na,” I said in my mind as I was jerking and stretching my lazy body.

I went to the bathroom to take a bath. After which, I prepared the things that I would bring that day, and while I was getting ready, annoyance was shrouding every fiber of me as thoughts in my mind were running. Will I be just all right when this day ends? Or should I ask myself if I could make it to the end?

I asked Dad if he could set his wheels for me. While we were in the high way, I couldn’t help myself but stare afar. After a half of an hour, we arrived at McDonald’s.

Baskal’s Final Four

Don, Jewel, Mae and I were on the same table trying to relax our minds. We even broke some silly jokes to remove the depression linking our psyches. Then, I decided to order breakfast at the counter. Don helped me.

“One apple pie and a glass of orange juice,” I ordered. “Don, kakarug ku ata.”

“Ah ok mu yan. Aku nandin abac, aramdaman ku rin iyan.”

We chose to join Ate Daphne on her table obliquely opposite the table of our co-apps. My mobile beeped several times, and when I opened my inbox, I read the messages of our Baskalmates who already attended the first FR. They were all worrying about us remaining four. They sent us words of encouragement, wisdom, and trust.

I called up one of them.

“Jill?” I said.

“Hello.”

“Tsk. Mangapaluha ku. Eku na balu ing gawan ku.”

“Basta agyu yu yan. Uhm, kakarug naku rin para kekayu.”

“Eku expect, analang karakal ring mems na atsu keni.”

“Edi masanting. Basta trust the mems, ok?”

“Ok. Thanks Jill. Sige, bye,” I hung up.

I drank some juice and ate some pie.

Don asked me, “Y Jill ita?”

“Wa.”

“Ok kamu John?” One of his eyebrows rose.

“Kakarug ku sh*t,” I said. I felt like all the negative energies were in me.

“Aku pin kagising ku eh. Basta emu masyadu isipan. Agyu tamu ini.”

I wrapped up our conversation with a sigh.

Crawl for Aguman

“I believe in truth, and in truth I will walk this earth…” The four of us were reciting the UP Aguman creed as we were immersed, like toddlers in their cribs, in the khaki hay and squashy mud.

It was already afternoon. Every stroke of my arms and legs was about to trigger my asthma, but I had to continue. Also, it was extremely hot because the sun was directly on us. I was catching my breath because I was already dog-tired. Even the Tigger-designed face paint created by Allandail was about to make a hodgepodge with my sweat.

I stood up when I was done. I felt that I was about to collapse. I could feel the blood rushing in my head, the food turning around in my stomach, and the pain on my elbows and knees.

I heard that Don had a fall out, and he was just right beside me. I understood him because I felt the same way, but I just thought of being strong.

Tests of Trust

My index finger was trembling as Allandail let me get hold of something. My finger suddenly shuddered. I spanked it with fear created by my gruesome nerves. Sadly, he told me that I failed.

“Ali da naka man paburen diba? Bakit ya mayna? Nanu wari ing aramdaman mu?” he sincerely asked like a brother.

“Fear,” I disappointedly answered back.

“Nanu ing ala patse ating fear?”

“Trust.”

With that answer of mine, I felt failure and disappointment. Moreover, his approach to me was inexplicable. It was not hatred or intimidation. Then, I started to cry.

Ate Cyrille approached me. “Ati pa namang aliwang stations. Bumawi ka kareta.”

“Gewa ku naman ing pepagawa na diba?” I said while mourning over stupid me.

I learned my lesson with that experience.

Let Go Of Me!

“Jewel, Mae, Don! Nokarin kayu?!” We were in the lawn searching for each other. I had to shrug the mems away in order for me to find and grasp my co-apps. I had to bite some of the hands of those who clasped me harshly. There was even a big guy who really didn’t release me until I said, “Let go of me!” I heard the mems reacted: “Wow. Sosyal!” and I just laughed in mind. Ha ha!

This was my favorite part of the FR. I mean, there is a vivid message or lesson that can be gotten from this. That is no matter how difficult, how painful, and how impossible it is to find each other, we should not surrender taking each step; the sense of sight is a just mere instrument to see each other, and the most important thing is to feel each other – this is the way towards understanding and unity.

Is it already Goodbye?

The four of us were asked to sit on the grass and to form a compact circle.

The mems asked, “Finally, tapos na ang FR!”

There came joy in my heart, it immediately faded away when one gave a bad news – a bad news that turned my joyful heart in deep somber.

It was just like what I felt in the morning. I knew that it was already dusk for the cold breeze was already penetrating my neck. I felt the gloomy twilight that formed in my mind. There’s really no chance for me now, I thought. I have to honor their decision. I said before that it doesn’t matter if I would pass or fail. What matters most is that I didn’t surrender, and I continued ‘til the end. It’s really time to say good bye.

All that ourselves required was unity, and in the end, it was more than enough.

WOOSH!

“CONGRATULATIONS!!!” All the mems said.

For a second, everything was explained.

“It’s over,” I murmured.

The Tigger-designed face paint was then completely messed up. Tears of grievance turned into tears of joy. At last, we are now uninducted members!

We, the new mems, embraced everyone we saw as everybody was running to avoid being embraced by our dingy and wet bodies! Ha ha! Unfortunately, Ate Daphne was cornered by us four. We made a group hug! I can’t stop laughing while she was shouting and shouting.

The Living Conclusion

During a breakdown, there still exists a hope – a hope that requires sacrifice. And sacrifice means love.

I will never forget this experience. I learned a lot of lessons from the start of the application process up to the final rites. I will always treasure this momentous event right in my heart for it will forever be a living conclusion as it may be.

*Photos courtesy of Elaida Castro

Will it be worth it?

By Jill

I don’t know when it started, but lately (or maybe not so) the word emo has been used repeatedly to describe our batch, Baskal. It may be from the fact that on most activities, someone always ends up in tears. There were also a several times when some of us went through “deferring points.” Are AguActivities for apps really that hard? Or are we just really emo?

Well, it may be a bit of both. The application process in UP Aguman is not easy, and it never claimed to be. As Minsky said in our AVP, “becoming part of a big time group requires big time ways to prove you are deserving.” The kind of kinship within Aguman can only result from people who really exert efforts for the org, and if the application process was easier, then kinship wouldn’t be as strong. If no big time ways were required for one to become part of Aguman, then the bond wouldn’t be as tight.

The activities, though at times hard, are really just right. But even with this knowledge, frustration sometimes still gets the better of us; clouding our views and making us at times wonder if our efforts will eventually pay off in the end. Most of what happened in the application process was unexpected. I’m sure it was not just me who was taken by surprise. From Talents Night to FR, we apps (fomer pala, yehey!) did not know what exactly to anticipate, because although guidelines were given, nothing can really prepare us for the real thing.

Will it be worth it? That is a question we always asked ourselves, each other, as well as some of the mems. And the answer from mems would always be a resounding “YES”. Yes, they said, you’ll all see why in the end. And though it was hard at times, especially when we had to compromise some things for the application process, we still held on because we trusted the people in the org who told us to just keep on.

I’m not sure if Baskal is the most emo batch to ever apply in Aguman, but though often perceived as a negative trait, our being emo can actually be a good thing. We immerse ourselves totally in the tasks given to us that our investment in this org is really something we won’t put to waste.

The question “Will it be worth it?” shouldn’t even be asked, because the journey itself is part of the destination. The application process in Aguman is not just a way for apps to prove their worth, or for mems to have fun. As Ate Daph told me before she signed my sigsheet, “in the org we want members who are trained to be leaders.” Every step in the app process has a reason. And the answer to the question of whether it will be worth it or not, lies not only in the end when an app becomes a mem, but also in the lessons that an app learns through the tasks.

Baskal 2007A Aguman Write-ups

The following are Aguman write-ups submitted by batch Baskal 2007A prior to their Formal Interview. These are not necessarily the best three, but they are worth sharing nonetheless.

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ALONE NO MORE
By Khen

First of all, the UP Aguman made my adjusting to UP Diliman a whole lot easier. I first became aware of the UP Aguman when I was still in the 6^th Grade when Holy Angel University, Lab School first joined the PAUTAKAN. (Tingnan niyo man sa yearbook, sa 29^th Pautakan 2002 Elementary Level. Haha! Kami yun! That was the only medal I ever got from the UP Aguman, hehe!) Anyway, from the moment I set foot on the UP Diliman soil, I felt so alone. Every time I made a friend, she would always see some former classmates and bid me goodbye. Then I’d be alone again. Sad no? Hehe! Well, I really looked for the org. Long story of how I found it. So anyway, when I finally found the tambayan, the members were so intimidating! Even so, I saw how bonded they really were. The UP Aguman isn't only an org; I realized it was a family. And I wanted, and still do, want to be a part of that family. I gained friends within the org, and life at the university wasn’t so lonely anymore.

Secondly, the UP Aguman helped build my self-confidence and helped develop my social skills. It made me a stronger and a better person. “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”, right? Haha!

Lastly, I saw that the UP Aguman is not just some organization ‘na pasosyalan lang’. It really seeks to serve, especially our Cabalens. Even though there maybe budget constraints, it doesn’t stop them from achieving its goals. There really is a strong bond within the org that keeps them going. And of course, I saw that the residents really do live by faith, truth and kinship.

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JOURNEY TO THE WORLD OF TRUTH, FAITH & KINSHIP
By Jewel

I can note that there are lots of things in me that have changed in my 4 months of stay in UP. My view on joining an organization is one of the biggest. Back in high school, simply signing the membership form followed by paying the P20 fee already makes you a licensed member. Meeting twice is at most in a month. The peak of the club is during its assigned month wherein it sponsors activities for the whole department and launches contests to each year level. Then after all those, the club keeps its silent existence almost the rest of the school year. In UP, it is way too different. Playing with my curiosity, I even asked Ms Daphne-Dominique Villanueva if they ever run out of topics to discuss on Genmeets. Her answer was clear, that with so much to do and lots to plan on, they always have matters to discuss and even debate about. With the org having different committees, works are divided so as to let the members work and contribute to their specialized field. This is a significant fact the workshops taught me. Being a member, doesn’t mean owning the privilege of having a ‘tambayan’. It’s a lot more than that!

Every major activity in the app process is worth noting. The talent’s night being horrifying, it became an effective way on making an applicant learn many things. First, on your road to work on some thing, you can never get away with failure and criticisms but the power in you to struggle more and stay strong. Never let those put you down, or else you end up the loser! And second, you should learn the value of doing a job and dedicating your whole attention to it. Distractions will be there. Voices from everywhere will come, but you must learn to work on one at a time, know whom to listen to and where to specialize.

I believe that the advantages you gain when you become part of an organization are more than enough to compensate for the effort and hardships you’ve spent in its application process. Being a part of a FAMILY is its best prize!

On my reflection paper for the Indoctrination Week I had the chance to ponder on the whole app process. It summarizes the thoughts running through my inquisitive mind regarding the organization itself.

“Taking this road was my choice and I will stand with it. Let the route be rough and bumpy, but in me, it will not be enough to lay me off this trip. In the UP Aguman, respectfully speaking, I will forever belong!”

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TO UP AGUMAN
By Neicy

I will not sugarcoat what this application has been. It’s been tough. It’s been difficult and many times it has made me and my coapps want to break down. Many times we went home with swollen eyes and hurt feelings. Many times we went to sleep asking why we had to go through so much. For the last three months of my life, I've been through so much of what I used to particularly avoid during high school – apprehension, frustration, trepidation.

And thus I did not expect that this is where I would learn one of the most important lessons in life: that the finest sword is the one that makes it through the hottest flames.

Because of my application, my definition of the words patience, confidence and bravery changed. I thought you were patient if nothing could rile you up. I thought you were confident if you weren’t nervous. I thought you were brave if you did not feel fear. Now I know where I went wrong. You are patient, not if nothing could rile you up, but if you feel frustration but continue to be diligent and dedicated. You are confident, not if you do not feel fear but if you are nervous and embarrassed but continue to do what you are doing for your conviction. You are brace, not if you do not feel trepidation but if you are dead scared of what can happen but continue to go on.

I'm a better person now. Patient, confident, and brave because I have been frustrated, nervous and scared, but I did not let any of these stop me from going on. Nor do I have the intention of letting these stop me in the future.

There were unpleasant memories and there is a fear for what may happen in the future, but my application has not always been dreadful. I will not forget that it is also here where I met people I now hold dear and lessons that rose from wonderful reminiscences. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my coapps, who taught me that you don’t need to know someone’s biography to be able to trust him or her. They became my barkada, my brothers and sisters and my advisers, never leaving me in times I needed them and otherwise. My Budd Jen, Aguman’s resident gorgeous, for being a buddy to the truest sense of the word – taking care and looking after me, helping and supporting me to the best of her abilities, and trusting me with her personal thoughts even though we have not known each other long. Thank you for teaching me that there are no shortcuts in life – and that no matter what happens, I always have to be strong.

Finally, to Ruth, Mike and Buduy, the first Aguman members I got to know, thank you for convincing me to join the organization this semester – if it weren’t for you, I would have never been here and experienced all these things – and for taking me under your wing, not just during Hum 1 but all throughout.

To the rest of the mems, thank you for making this application memorable.

“Shinji kareru utare tsuyosa yo”
“Strength gained from hurt is unbelievable”
(Heart of a Sword, Samurai X)

Baskal 2007A Buddy Write-ups

The following are buddy write-ups submitted by batch Baskal 2007A prior to their Formal Interview. These are not necessarily the best, but they are worth sharing nonetheless. Den aliwa kasi, super creative la pero ela in narrative form kaya medyu masakit lang ipost keti, hehe! Deng aliwa naman, masyadu lang madrama, haha!

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MY BUDDY, THE GIFT
By Jill Te

The buddy-mem of an app is a crucial part of the app process – for even if the obligations are on the hands of the app, it is the buddy mem’s role to assist the app through the process. The buddy-mem is the one an app relies on for guidance and support, and a good buddy relationship is, in my opinion, essential for an app to fully enjoy the process.
If there is one word to describe my relationship with my buddy, it would be the word, ‘gift’. Gift because it was freely given (I paid but not to her) and gift because I don’t think I deserve it.

Honestly, I know that my efforts as an app do not match Ate Fergie’s efforts as a buddy-mem. She has way more tambay hours than me, and I give her credit to a lot of the signatures that I got. She encouraged me through my ‘deferring points’, explained to me things I couldn’t understand about the org, and helped me through every step of the process (even picking out an outfit for the FI!). But more than that, more than all the help for the app process that she gave me was the friendship that was built in the two-month long app process.

When I lacked the initiative, she was the one who reminded me: “Budz pa-sign naka oh, ala ya mang gagawan… Sige na sign mu ne y buddy ku oh..”
When I lacked mission points: “Uy dinan mo ne oh!” Although it was quite tiring, but I'm not complaining, mission points are mission points!
When I lacked tambay hours: “Budz, mag-cut naka mu!” Haha! BI ever.
When I was on the verge of quitting: “Sagli namu yan..”
When I badly needed to have things explained: “Tara Starbucks!”
When I had nothing to wear for the FI: “Sige Trinoma tamu!”
And the list goes on and on…

As I have written in the buddy page of my sigsheet, if I was to repeat the app process (I pray I won't have to, it’s fun and all, but I really want to pass..) I will still want Ate Ferg to be my buddy. I'm not sure if there’s anything that I can do to repay her for what she’s done for me, but all I can think as of now is that I should do my best in the Final Interview, so that she may be proud to call me her buddy! Justin, her previous buddy, was the best app in his batch and I'm in no way close to being that in our batch, but I do hope I can still make her proud.

I hope that if/when I become a mem, I can be like her – from what I see, she’s one of the mems who love the org the most, and she takes her obligations seriously. And if do become a buddy-mem someday, I hope I can take on the role as properly as she has.

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BUDDY CHEVER*
ByTrish Nacpil

Balu ye ba ing buddy ko? Ali yu sasabyang ali ye kilala? Kadagul nang tau na imposibleng ali me apansin. A baka kasi aparisyun ya paminsan-minsan, joke!

Y Jowie Brent Timog Garcia ing kakung buddy! And I'm proud of it kasi yaku ing first and last buddy na! Whoo! Kaya pala pinakaditak ya ing Violet family eh. Makanano, pangatlu ne y Buddy kareng henerasyun na ning pamilya na na mangwang first and last buddy. Sadyang matamad kami ba? Ali neh! Sabi na ping buddy na ning buddy na ning buddy ku na y Kuya Rye, “Very rare tamung Violet Family. Ikatamu itang tipung potang lage daka tamu keng metung a ‘crowd’ lagi da katamung apapansin kasi ikatamu lagi deng mag-stand out or mag-shine ketang grupung ayta. Nyahaha!” Sinabi na rin kaku na, “Ikatamu itang tipung mumuna mahinhin kaybat kayari na ning Talents Night ala tanang marine, ehehe, tabalu na mu keng buddy mu na palage ku ala neng marine simula’t sapul, ahaha! Pero ikatamu deng pinakamasayahing pamilya, adyang ditak tamu mu.” Well, meg-enjoy ku nyang mikwentuhan kami kasi abalu ku ing ditak a background na ning hopefully maging family ku keng UP Aguman. Pero syempre ing buong family tamu pa rin ing org.

Ay wait, y Buddy pala, akalingwan ke, hehe! Y Buddy ing pinamakurang buddy kareng ngang buddies ngeni. Anyang minuna pin alang bisang mag-bid kaya eh. Kaya binid ku ne tutal pareho na kami man sched. Pero ali ku mag-sisi na ya ing meging buddy ku. Dyang ali kami laging miyayabe, we always keep it a point to know the state of the other. Y Buddy ing pinaka-sweet ampong caring and ‘touchy’ na buddy ever (yata!). obvious naman nyang ali ya pa busy. Ing pamang-wang buddy pic para keng Buddy Get-up ing pinaka-bonding session mi na siguro kasi within just a few hours nang karakal mengyari kekami, balamu meg-joyride kmai, ehehe!

Maswerte ku talaga kening buddy kung ayni. Biru mo masasakat ya lagi kako. Kaya siguro ali na naku lalapitan kasi tatakut neng masakat (karok ko talaga keng buddy ko!) =P

Dyang ali kami laging misasabing buddy, balu ming atsu kami para keng metung at metung. Miss danaka Budz!

*Charming Heartthrob of the Externals committee and the only Violet family Existing in our Race

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KUNG ATIN MANG METUNG A TAU
A BURI KUNG PASALAMATAN, IKAY TA, BUDDY
By Dondon Dy

Atin metung tau king Aguman
Buri ke talagang lubhan pasalamatan
Kasi andyang asne karakal gagawan
Paburen ing buddy na, ena man minsan depatan

Mag-umpisa king pamag-pirma
Angga king pamag-pasikan kaladwa
Dots to Dots maski pa Buddy Que Yan
Mangatmu ke ena talagang pehintulutan

Eku man pin inisip na makanini ya karesponsabli
Uling king samu’t sari nang pekyabayang aktibiti
Metung ya kareng tatalnan kung dahilan
Pamag-defer eku na makaying isipan

Makapagmulala ya ping tutu
Kung eyu man balu graduating ne pu
Andyang rugu atin yang feasib
Pane ya pa rin atsu para kaku, ita ing makabilib

Anyang bidding rugu a-bid ke mung tupipti
Pero grabi, ing ulaga na talaga namang dobli dobli
Anyang kanaku ating meng-api
Siguran ne at kanaku ya kinampi

Ing amanung ‘salamat’ kulang ya pa
Para asabi ku ing lugud ku keya
Buddy Cy anti kamong anghel a menibat king langit
Nung ala ka baka eku la ayagyu rening pasakit

Dakal a salamat keka! Ala kung asabi king kekang pamag-suporta!


Nung epa naman obvious, y Fergie ing buddy ng Jill, y Jowie ing kang Trisha and y Cyrille ing kang Dondon. (",)

Top 10 reasons why it's cool to host the Questions Nights

By kingofchocolates

Forget about overnight swimming parteehs, the Unity Night, the Acquaintance Party or whatever Extreme Bonding Session (EBS) the MemComm cooks up. When it comes to the ultimate Aguman bonding, the Questions Night definitely slaughters the competition. Having hosted the famous Aguman ‘night’ which actually lasts for about a week twice in my Aguman life, I should know.

But like any other ‘famous’ Aguman activity, it has its own little share of notoriety. A month before the staging of the Pautakan, the Questions Nights venue is almost always a problem because people realize the hassle first above all the advantages of hosting such important Aguman event.

So I’ve listed down the Top 10 reasons why an AguPip should consider volunteering in hosting the Questions Nights. Who knows, maybe next year we’d have to auction the right to and honor of hosting it, haha!

1) FAMILY, MEET AGUMAN. AGUMAN, MEET FAMILY. Isn't annoying when our parents innocently but gallingly comment “Nan ya wari ing Aguman a yan, na? Pota galang frat ya yan?!” as we don our Aguman shirts on our way to an Aguman event? Ignorant of the UP culture, they’ve been on our heads ever since we were applicants, ranting on and warning us about hazing and frat wars and all that jazz. Well, with the Questions Nights, you can finally set the record straight: Aguman is an organization with a worthy cause, and not just an ordinary barkada who’s into drinking sprees or overnight serial partying. Besides, we’re just a harmless bunch of cam-whore individuals, right?

2) HAVING THE AGUPIPS OVER. Don’t you just miss the Aguman tambayan and its crowd during sembreaks? Well, the perfect solution for that longing is bringing the AguPips over your house! Duh! Imagine the mayhem and ruckus our bonding sessions can produce, haha!

3) PRIVY TO PAUTAKAN DETAILS. And the whole question-making process, for that matter. What makes the Pautakan the most prestigious quiz show in Pampanga? Remember the classic “So big, it can't fit this paper” teaser? Well, it’s our questions that set us apart – which kinda is expected since we are all from the university to beat. I guess, in a way, you’ll learn to appreciate the event more, because you’re privy to the whole preparation, and the mess that it brings with it, haha!

4) OVERNIGHT TRAVEL DETAILS. You really, really want to attend the Questions Nights, including the overnight sessions, but alas, your parents just won't let you. Well, worry no more; you won't even pay a single cent for fare to get to the venue.

5) VANDALISM IMMUNITY. Oooh, that famous Pautakan Questions Nights tradition of graffiti on skin. Sleeping is a bad idea during Questions Nights, if you don’t want to get any skin tattoos. It may not be permanent, but the thought of being the object of laughter come breakfast time is not worth the risk. But as the host, you are exempted. You can sleep without fear of defacement.

6) HOSTING SKILLS. And no, I am not referring to an emcee or presenter. Sooner or later, we’d have our own homes and we’d have our own parties and our own guests. But the thing is, you don’t have the instincts yet on how to graciously entertain guests. “Pwede pa-CR?” “Nukarin la reng basu? Minum ku sana.” By hosting the Questions Nights, you’d know what to do.

7) HOUSEHOLD CHORES SKILLS. If it were only up to you, you wouldn’t mind being nagged by your mom over your undone chores. But having friends over is a different matter. Of course, it would be too imposing for the AguPips to even let the host family members pick up after their “dirt”, haha! As the host AguPip, it is just fitting to be extra helpful in washing the dishes, the glasses, and cleaning up the kalat that we make. Besides, it was one of the conditions set by your parents, before they opened their homes for the rest of us. Besides, nothing beats a clean and orderly working space.

8) INSIDE SCOOP. A room of full of at least 10 AguPips is a recipe not just for productive work but also for intriguing gossip and hilarious antics. And since you’re practically present throughout, day and night, you’ll know everything!

9) YOU’LL KNOW WHO SNORES. Picture this: a room filled with people so tired of researching, writing, typing and making questions. And after all that, they also get tired of exchanging banter and stories, so they decide to risk it and finally get some much-needed sleep and rest. It’s a sight you’d never witness unless you attended the Questions Nights: you’ll see which among the AguPips snore their lungs out, haha!

10) IN THE SERVICE OF THE KAPAMPANGAN PEOPLE. Okay maybe, that’s a little stretch, haha! But since hosting the Questions Nights is service to the UP Aguman, by virtue of extension, it’s a service to the Kapampangan people, as well! Kidding aside, it’s one thing to welcome people in your house and entertain them for a day. But it’s another to actually let them invade your house for more than a week!

Yes, there’s a price to pay in hosting the Questions Nights. Not only is your own personal sleep and space compromised, but also that of your family’s. So all in all, it’s a noble sacrifice. But hey, it’s a learning experience, in so many levels.

If you’re still unconvinced that hosting the Questions Nights is actually a cool thing to do, look at it this way: only one AguPip gets to host an annual Pautakan tradition each year. Therefore, it’s comparable to the honor a defending champion gets when it hosts the Pautakan. Who knows, the Educ Chairperson might even let you get away with not passing your questions on time, haha!

_______________________

QUESIONS NIGHTS 2007
Gulapa's Residence
San Agustin, City of San Fernando
October 19-24
Meeting Place & Time: McDonald's Dolores Junction, 2PM
For inquiries and reservations:
Contact MICHAEL 0927 337 7993 or GBOI 0917 403 4032

The Krassables 2007A

Who's the member that makes you weak in the knees? That makes your heart skip a beat? That unleashes butterflies in your stomach? We surveyed the applicants of Batch Baskal 2007A to find out!

The Krassables - Apps Edition

The Krassables - Mems Edition

Top Commenters for September 2007

In order to promote the blog and raise the level of interaction of the members in it, Aslag Online launched last September a monthly contest that will reward the most active visitors of the Aguman blog.

The Mechanics:
1. All an AguPip (resident or alumni) has to do is visit the blog: http://aguman-aslag.blogspot.com
2. One garners 1 POINT for every comment made on any of the blog posts. To maintain order in the comments section and maximize everyone's reading pleasure, flooding or spamming is discouraged. Thus consecutive and related comments from the same person on the same blog post are regulated and counts for 1 point only.
3. Each tag on the tagboard is worth 0.7 POINTS. Due to character constraints on each post on the tagboard, consecutive tags (whether related or not) from the same person are not prohibited, but flooding or spamming is still discouraged.
4. Enjoy reading the posts!

The Prize: The top 3 scorers will each receive custom-made Aguman pins specially made for Aslag Online. The most active visitor / top scorer will receive an extra Aguman pin.



The September 2007 winners are:
1. FERGIE, 76.9 pts
2. FELIPE, 41.3
3. GBOI, 23.3

The rest of the Top 10 are:
4. Maan (alumna), 19.2
5. Jen, 16.1
6. John Carl, 15.0
7. Joms, 13. 8
8. Jean, 13.7
9. Andre (alumnus), 12.6
10. Daphne, 11.6

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