LABANGCO-BSN 2203_FINAL PROJECT-LITR102

HISTORY • CULTURE • LITERARY PIECES

The ASEAN
IN 1967

BY: KASSANDRA CAMILLE LABANGCO

aseanTHE FOUNDING OF

Table of Contents On 8 August 1967, five leaders – the Foreign Ministers of Indonesia,
Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand – sat down together in
2 philippines the main hall of the Department of Foreign Affairs building in Bangkok,
Island country of Southeast Asia Thailand and signed a document. By virtue of that document, the
in the western Pacific Ocean. Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was born. The five
Foreign Ministers who signed it – Adam Malik of Indonesia, Narciso R.
5 thailand Ramos of the Philippines, Tun Abdul Razak of Malaysia, S. Rajaratnam of
A country in Southeast Asia, and Singapore, and Thanat Khoman of Thailand – would subsequently be hailed
located at the centre of the as the Founding Fathers of probably the most successful inter-
Indochinese Peninsula. governmental organization in the developing world today. And the
document that they signed would be known as the ASEAN Declaration.
6 singapore
A sovereign island city-state in It was a short, simply-worded document containing just five articles. It
maritime Southeast Asia. declared the establishment of an Association for Regional Cooperation
among the Countries of Southeast Asia to be known as the Association of
9 indonesia Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and spelled out the aims and purposes of
Is a transcontinental country that Association. These aims and purposes were about cooperation in the
located mainly in Southeast Asia, economic, social, cultural, technical, educational and other fields, and in the
promotion of regional peace and stability through abiding respect for
13 malaysia justice and the rule of law and adherence to the principles of the United
A country in Southeast Asia.It is Nations Charter. It stipulated that the Association would be open for
a federation which has 13 states. participation by all States in the Southeast Asian region subscribing to its
aims, principles and purposes. It proclaimed ASEAN as representing “the
collective will of the nations of Southeast Asia to bind themselves together
in friendship and cooperation and, through joint efforts and sacrifices,
secure for their peoples and for posterity the blessings of peace, freedom
and prosperity.”

PHILIPPINES
Filipinos take pride in their families sa malabo at tila lagi nang may inaaninaw na mata. Kupas ang
History In the Philippines, it is family first. So whether gris niyang suot, may mga tagpi na ang siko at paypay. Ang
you are part of the immediate family or you kutod niyang yari sa matibay na supot ng asin ay may bahid
The Philippines is named after King Philip II of belong to the third or fourth generation, you ng natuyong putik. Nasa harap niya at kausap ang isang
Spain (1556-1598) and it was a Spanish colony are treated as a family member. Sometimes, magbubukid ang kanyang kahangga, na isa sa nakalusot sa
for over 300 years. Today the Philippines is an even the closest of friends are considered mga pulis na sumasawata sa nagkakagulong tao. “Hindi ko ho
archipelago of 7,000 islands. However it is family, too. mapaniwalaan, Tata Selo,” umiiling na wika ng kanyang
believed that during the last ice age they were kahangga, “talagang hindi ko ho mapaniwalaan.” Hinaplus-
joined to mainland Asia by a land bridge, Filipinos are very respectful haplos ni tata Selo ang ga-daliri at natuyuan na ng dugong
enabling human beings to walk from there. The From the moment they are born into this putok sa noo. Sa kanyang harapan, di kalayuan sa istaked,
first people in the Philippines were hunter- world, they are already taught how to be ipinagtitilakan ng mga pulis ang mga taong ibig makakita sa
gatherers. However between 3,000 BC and respectful by using these simple catchphrases kanya. Mainit ang Sikat ng araw na tumatama sa mga ito,
2,000 BC people learned to farm. They grew —po and opo, words that end sentences walang humihihip na hangin at sa kanilang ulunan ay
rice and domesticated animals. From the 10th when addressing elders. They have a culture nakalutang ang nagsasalisod na alikabok. “Bakit niya babawiin
AD century Filipinos traded with China and by of pagmamano, which is where they raise the ang saka?” tanong ng Tata Selo. “Dinaya ko na ba siya sa
the 12th Century AD Arab merchants reached backs of the hands of their elders to their partihan? Tinuso ko na ba siya? Siya ang may-ari ng lupa at
the Philippines and they introduced Islam. Then foreheads as a sign of respect. kasama lang niya ako. Hindi bat’ kaya maraming nagagalit sa
in 1521 Ferdinand Magellan sailed across the akin ay dahil sa ayaw kong magpamigay ng kahit isang
Pacific. He landed in the Philippines and claimed Filipinos value traditions and culture pinangko kung anihan?” Hndi pa rin umalis sa harap ng
them for Spain. Magellan baptized a chief called For Filipinos, traditions in their home and in istaked si Tata Selo. Nakahawak pa rin siya sa rehas.
Humabon and hoped to make him a puppet ruler their family are important. They usually set Nakatingin siya sa labas ngunit wala siyang sino mang
on behalf of the Spanish crown. Magellan aside a specific day for a certain celebration tinitingnan. Hindi mo na sana tinaga ang Kabesa,” anang
demanded that other chiefs submit to Humabon like festivals, birthday parties, reunions, etc. binatang anak ng pinakamayamang propitaryo sa San Roque,
but one chief named Lapu Lapu refused. And of course, every gathering is dedicated to na tila isang magilas na pinunong bayan nakalalahad sa
Magellan led a force to crush him. However the keeping up with each other over sumptuous pagitan ng maraming tao sa istaked. Mataas ito, maputi,
Spanish soldiers were scattered and Magellan food. nakasalaming may kulay, at nakapamaywang habang
was killed. The Spaniards did not gain a foothold naninigarilyo. “Binabawi po niya ang aking saka,” sumbong ni
in the Philippines until 1565 when Miguel Lopez Filipinos love to eat Tata Selo. “Saan pa po ako pupunta kung wala na akong
de Legazpi led an expedition, which built a fort Aside from breakfast, lunch, and dinner, saka?” Kumumpas ang binatang mayaman. “Hindi katwiran
in Cebu. Later, in 1571 the Spaniards landed in Filipinos manage to squeeze in a little meal in iyan para tagain mo ang Kabesa. Ari niya ang lupang sinasaka
Luzon. Here they built the city of Intramuros between, too. Whether they eat every hour or mo. Kung gusto ka niyang paalisin, mapapaalis ka niya
(later called Manila), which became the capital every three hours, they savour every bite. Oh, anumang oras.” Halos lumabas ang mukha ni Tata Selo sa
of the Philippines. Spanish conquistadors and they do love going to buffets! rehas. “Ako po’y hindi ninyo nauunawaan,” nakatingala at
marched inland and conquered Luzon. They nagpipilit ngumiting wika niya sa binatang nagtapon ng
created a feudal system. Spaniards owned vast Tata Selo by: Rogelio Sikat sigarilyo at mariing tinapakan pagkatapos. “alam po ba
estates worked by Filipinos. Along with ninyong dating amin ang lupang iyon? Naisangla lamang po
conquistadors went friars who converted the Ang panitikan ay salamin ng buhay. Ito’y isang nang magkasakit ang aking asawa, naembargo lamang po
Filipinos to Catholicism. The friars also built representasyon ng mga karanasan sa buhay ng Kabesa. Pangarap ko pong bawiin ang lupang iyon kaya
schools and universities. ng tao sa tulong ng mga salita. Sa kuwentong nga po ako hindi nagbibigay ng kahit isang pinangko kung
The Spanish colony in the Philippines brought ito, alamin kung anong mga pangyayari sa mga anihan. Kung hindi ko na naman po mababawi, masasaka man
prosperity - for the upper class anyway! Each tao sa lipunan ang malinaw na pinapaksa ng lamang po.nakikiusap po ako sa Kabesa kangina. ‘kung maaari
year the Chinese exported goods such as silk, may akda. Matagumpay ba itong nailahad ng po sana, ‘Besa,’ wika ko po, ‘kung maaari po sana, huwag
porcelain and lacquer to the Philippines. From may akda? Anong paraan ang ginamit niya? naman po ninyo akong paalisin. Kaya ko pa pong magsaka,
there they were re-exported to Mexico. The ‘Besa. Totoo pong ako’y matanda na, ngunit ako pa nama’y
years passed uneventfully in the Philippines until Maliit lamang sa simula ang kalumpon ng malakas pa.’ Ngunit...Ay! Tinungkod po niya ako nang
in 1762 the British captured Manila. They held it taong nasa bakuran ng munisipyo, ngunit ng tinungkod, Tingnan po ny’ ong putok sa aking noo, tingnan po
for two years but they handed it back in 1764 tumaas ang araw, at kumalat na ang balitang ‘nyo.” Dumukot ng sigarilyo ang binata. Nagsindi ito at
under the terms of the Treaty of Paris, signed tinaga at napatay si Kabesang Tano, ay pagkaraay’ tinalikuran si Tata Selo at lumapit sa isang pulis.
in 1763. napuno na ang bakuran ng bahay-pamahalaan. “Pan’ o po ban’ g nangyari, Tata Selo?” Sa pagkakahawak sa
Naggitgitan ang mga tao, nagsiksikan, rehas, napabaling si Tata Selo. Nakita niya ang isang batang
What is it about the Philippines that nagtutulakan, bawat isay’ naghahangan magbubukid na nakalapit sa istaked. Nangiti si Tata Selo.
makes it different from the rest of makalapit sa istaked. “Totoo ba, Tata Selo?” Narito ang isang magbubukid, anak-magbubukid na
the world? Well, for one thing, it is “Binawi niya ang aking saka kaya tinaga ko naniniwala sa kanya. Nakataas ang malapad na sumbrerong
all about their culture. siya.” Nasa loob ng istaked si Tata Selo. balanggot ng bata. Nangungulintab ito, ang mga bisig at binti
Mahigpit na nakahawak sa rehas. May
nakaalsang putok sa noo. Nakasungaw ang 2
luha

ay may halas. May sukbit itong lilik. “Pinuntahan niya ako sa aking saka, amang,”

paliwanag ni Tata Selo. “Doon ba sa may sangka. Pinaalis ako sa aking saka, ang

wikay’ iba na raw ang magsasaka. Nang makiusap ako’y tinungkod ako. Ay!

Tinungkod ako, amang, nakikiusap ako sapagkat kung mawawalan ako ng saka ay

saan pa ako pupunta?” “Wala na nga kayong mapupuntahan, Tata Selo.”

Gumapang ang luha sa pisngi ni Tata Selo. Tahimik na nakatingin sa kanya ang

bata. “Patay po ba?” Namuti ang mga kamao ni Tata Selo sa pagkakahawak sa

rehas. Napadukmo siya sa balikat. “Pan’ o po niyan si Saling?” muling tanong ng

bata. Tinutukoy nito ang maglalabimpitong anak ni Tata Selo na ulila na sa ina.

Katulong ito kina Kabesang Tano at kamakalawa lamang umuwi kay Tata Selo.

“Pan’ o po niyan si Saling?” Lalong humigpit ang pagkakahawak ni Tata Selo sa

rehas. Hindi pa nakakausap ng alkalde si Tata Selo. Mag-aalas-onse na nang

dumating ito, kasama ang hepe ng pulis. Galing sila sa bahay ng kabesa. Abut-abot

ang busina ng dyip na kinasaksakyan ng dalawang upang mahawi ang hanggang

nooy’ di pa nag-aalisang tao. Tumigil ang dyip sa di-kalayuan sa istaked. “Patay po

ba? Saan po ang taga?” Naggitgitan at nagsiksikan ang mga pinagpawisang tao.

Itinaas ng may-katabaang alkalde ang dalawang kamay upang payapain ang

pagkakaingay. Nanulak ang malaking lalaking hepe. “Saan po tinamaan?” “Sa

bibig.” Ipinasok ng alkalde ang kanang palad sa bibig, hinugot iyon at mariing

ihinagod hanggang sa kanang punog tainga. “Lagas ang ngipin.” Nagkagulo ang ‘Besa?’ tanong ko po. Ang wika’y umalis na lang daw po ako. ‘Bakit po naman,

mga tao. Nagsigawan, nagsiksikan, naggitgitan, nagtulakan. Nanghataw ng batuta ‘Besa?’ Tanong ko po uli, ‘malakas pa po naman ako, a’ Nilapitan po niya ako.

ang mga pulis. Ipinasya ng alkalde na ipalabas ng istaked si Tata Selo at dalhin sa Nakiusap pa po ako sa kanya, ngunit ako poy’ ... Ay! Tinungkod po niya ako ng

kanyang tanggapan. Dalawang pulis ang kumuha kay Tata Selo sa istaked. tinungkod nang tinungkod.” “Tinaga mo na non’ ,” anag nakamat tyag na hepe.

“Mabibilanggo ka niyan, Tata Selo,” anang alkalde pagkapasok ni Tata Selo. Tahimik sa tanggapan ng alkalde. Lahat ng tingin—may mga eskribante pang

Umupo si Tata Selo sa silyang nasa harap ng mesa. Nanginginig ang kamay ni Tata nakapasok doon—ay nakatuon kay Tata Selo. Nakayuko si Tata Selo at gagalaw-

Selo nang ipatong niya iyon sa nasasalaminang mesa. “Pa’no nga ban’ g nangyari?” galaw ang tila mamad na daliri sa ibabaw ng maruming kutod. Sa pagkakatapak sa

kunot at galit na tanong ng alkalde. Matagal bago nakasagot si Tata Selo. “Binawi makintab na sahig, hindi mapalagay ang kanyang may putik, maalikabok at luyang

po niya ang aking saka, Presidente,” wika ni Tata Selo. “Ayaw ko pong umalis paa. “Ang iyong anak, na kina Kabesa raw?” usisa ng alkalde. Hindi sumagot si

doon. Dati pong amin ang lupang iyon, amin, po, Naisangla lamang po at Tata Selo. Tinatanong ka anang hepe.” Lumunok si Tata Selo. “Umuwi na po si

naembargo—“ “Alam ko na iyan,” kumukupas at umiiling na putol ng nabubugnot Saling, Presidente." “Kailan?” “Kamakalawa po ng umaga.” “Di bat’ kinakatulong

na alkalde. Lumunok si Tata Selo. Nang muli siyang tumingin sa presidente, may siya ro’n?” “Tatlong buwan na po.” “Bakit siya umuwi?” Dahan-dahang umangat

nakasungaw nang luha sa kanyang malalabo at tila lagi nang may inaaninaw na ang mukha ni Tata Selo. Naiiyak na napayuko siya. “May sakit po siya.” Nang

mata. “Ako po naman, Presidente, ay malakas pa,” wika ni Tata Selo. “Kaya ko pa sumapit ang alas-dose—inihudyat iyon ng sunod-sunod na pagtugtog ng kampana

pong magsaka. Makatuwiran po bang paalisin ako? Malakas pa po naman ako, sa simbahan na katapat lamang ng munisipyo—ay umalis ang alkalde upang

Presidente, malakas pa po.” “Saan mo tinaga ang Kabesa?” Matagal bago mananghalian. Naiwan si Tata Selo, kasama ang hepe at dalawang pulis. “Napatay

nakasagot si Tata Selo. “Nasa may sangka po ako nang dumating ang Kabesa. mo pala ang kabesa,” anang malaking lalaking hepe. Lumapit ito kayTata Selo na

Nagtatapal po ako ng pitas na pilapil. Alam ko pong pinanonood ako ng kabesa, Nakayuko at di pa natitinag sa upuan. “Binabawi po niya ang aking saka.” Katwiran

kung kaya po naman pinagbuti ko ang paggawa, para malaman niyang ako po’y ni Tata Selo. Sinapo ng hepe si Tata Selo. Sa lapag halos mangudngod si Tata

talagang malakas pa, kaya ko pa pong magsaka. Walang anu-ano po, tinawag niya Selo. “Tinungkod po niya ako ng tinungkod,” nakatingala, umiiyak at kumikinig ang

ako at nang ako poy’ lumapit, sinabi niyang makakaalis na ako sa aking saka labing katwiran ni Tata Selo. Itinayo ng hepe si Tata Selo. Kinadyot ng hepe si

sapagkat iba na ang magsasaka. ‘Bakit po naman, Tata Selo sa sikmura. Sa sahig napaluhod si Tata Selo, nakakapit sa uniporment

kaki ng hepe. “Tinungkod po niya ako ng tinungkod... Ay! Tinungkod po niya ako

ng tinungkod ng tinungkod...” Sa may pinto ng tanggapan, naaawang nakatingin

ang dalawang pulis. “Si Kabesa kasi ang nagrekomenda kay Tsip, e,” sinabi ng isa

nang si Tata Selo ay tila damit na nalaglag sa pagkakasabit nang muling

pagmalupitan ng hepe. Mapula ang sumikat na araw kinabukasan. Sa bakuran ng

munisipyo nagkalat ang papel na naiwan nang nagdaang araw. Hindi pa

namamatay ang alikabok, gayong sa pagdating ng buwang iyoy’ dapat nang nag-

uuulan. Kung may humihihip na hangin, may mumunting ipu-ipong nagkakalat ng

mga papel sa itaas. “Dadalhin ka siguro sa kabesera, Selo,” Tinatanong ka anang

hepe.” Lumunok si Tata Selo. “Umuwi na po si Saling, Presidente.” “Kailan?”

“Kamakalawa po ng umaga.” “Di ba’t kinakatulong siya ro’n?” “Tatlong buwan na

po.” “Bakit siya umuwi?” Dahan-dahang umangat ang mukha ni Tata Selo. Naiiyak

na napayuko siya. “May sakit po siya.” Nang sumapit ang alas-dose—inihudyat

iyon ng sunod-sunod na pagtugtog ng kampana sa simbahan na katapat lamang

ng munisipyo—ay umalis ang alkalde upang mananghalian. Naiwan si Tata Selo,

kasama ang hepe at dalawang pulis. “Napatay mo pala ang kabesa,” anang

malaking lalaking hepe. Lumapit ito kay Tata Selo na Nakayuko at di pa natitinag

sa upuan. “Binabawi po niya ang aking saka.” Katwiran ni Tata Selo. Sinapo ng

hepe si Tata Selo. Sa lapag halos mangudngod si Tata Selo. “Tinungkod po niya

ako ng tinungkod,” nakatingala, umiiyak at kumikinig ang labing katwiran ni Tata

Selo. Itinayo ng hepe si Tata Selo. Kinadyot ng hepe si Tata Selo sa sikmura. Sa

3 sahig hepe. “Tinungkod po niya ako ng

Agriculture is an important part of the economy of the tinungkod... " Ay! Tinungkod po niya ako ng tinungkod ng tinungkod...” Sa may pinto ng
Philippines with crops like rice, coconut and sugar tanggapan, naaawang nakatingin ang dalawang pulis. “Si Kabesa kasi ang nagrekomenda
dominating the production of crops and exports. kay Tsip, e,” sinabi ng isa nang si Tata Selo ay tila damit na nalaglag sa pagkakasabit
nang muling pagmalupitan ng hepe. Mapula ang sumikat na araw kinabukasan. Sa
The carabao is a domestic swamp-type water buffalo bakuran ng munisipyo nagkalat ang papel na naiwan nang nagdaang araw. Hindi pa
native to the Philippines. namamatay ang alikabok, gayong sa pagdating ng buwang iyo’y dapat nang nag-uuulan.
Kung may humihihip na hangin, may mumunting ipu-ipong nagkakalat ng mga papel sa
The Banaue Rice Terraces (Filipino: Hagdan-hagdang itaas. “Dadalhin ka siguro sa kabesera, Selo,”” anang bagong paligo at bagong bihis na
Palayan ng Banawe) are terraces that were carved into alkalde sa matandang nasa loob ng istaked. “Don ka suguro ikukulong.” Wala ni papag sa
the mountains of Banaue, Ifugao, in the Philippines, by loob ng istaked at sa maruming sementadong lapag nakasalampak si Tata Selo. Sa
the ancestors of the indigenous people. paligid niyay’ natutuyong tamak-tamak na tubig. Naka-unat ang kanyang maiitim at
hinahalas na paa at nakatukod ang kanyang tila walang butong mga kamay. Nakakiling,
naka-sandal siya sa steel matting na siyang panlikurang dingding ng istaked. Sa malapit
sa kanyang kamay, hindi na gagalaw ang sartin ng maiitim na kape at isang losang kanin.
Nilalangaw iyon. “Habang-buhay siguro ang ibibigay sa iyo,” patuloy ng alkalde. Nagsindi
ito ng tabako at lumapit sa istaked. Makintab ang sapatos ng alkalde. “Patayin na rin
ninyo ako, Presidente.” Paos at bahagya nang narinig si Tata Selo. Napatay ko po ang
Kabesa. Patayin na rin ninyo po ako.” Takot humipo sa maalikabok na rehas ang alkalde.
Hindi niya nahipo ang rehas ngunit pinagkiskis niya ng mga palad at tiningnan niya kung
may alikabok iyon. Nang tingnan niya si Tata Selo, nakita niyang lalo nang nakiling ito.
May mga tao namang dumarating sa munisipyo. Kakaunti lang iyon kaysa kahapon.
Nakapasok ang mga iyon sa bakuran ng munisipyo, ngunit may kasunod na pulis.
Kakaunti ang magbubukid sa bagong langkay na dumating at titingin kay Tata Selo.
Karamihan ay taga-Poblacion. Hanggang noon, bawat isa’y nagtataka, hindi
makapaniwala, gayong kalat na ang balitang ililibing kinahapunan ang Kabesa. Nagtataka
at hindi makapaniwalang nakatingin sila kay Tata Selo na tila isang di pangkaraniwang
hayop na itatanghal. Ang araw, katulad kahapon ay mainit na naman. Nang magdadakong
alas-dos, dumating ang anak ni Tata Selo. Pagkakita sa lugmok na ama, mahigpit itong
napahawak sa rehas at malakas na humagulgol. Nalaman ng alkalde na dumating si Saling
at itoy’ ipinatawag sa kanyang tanggapan. Di-nagtagal at si Tata Selo naman ang
ipinakaon. Dalawang pulis ang umalalay kay Tata Selo. Halos buhatan siyang dalawang
pulis. Pagdating sa bungad ng tanggapan ay tila saglit na nagkaroon ng lakad si Tata
Selo. Nakita niya ang babaing nakaupo sa harap ng mesa ng presidente. Nagyakap ang
mag-ama pagkakita. “Hindi ka na sana naparito Saling,” wika ni Tata Selo na napaluhod.
“May sakit ka, Saling, may sakit ka!” Tila tulala ang anak ni Tata Selo habang kalong ang
ama. Nakalugay ang walang kintab niyang buhok, ang damit na suot ay tila yaong suot pa
nang nagdaang araw. Matigas ang kanyang namumulang mukha. Pinalipat-lipat niya ang
tingin mula sa nakaupong alkalde hanggang sa mga nakatinging pulis. “Umuwi ka na,
Saling” hiling ni Tata Selo. “Bayaan mo na...bayaan mo na. Umuwi ka na, anak. Huwag,
huwag ka nang magsasabi...” Tuluyan nang nalungayngay si Tata Selo. Ipinabalik siya ng
alkalde sa istaked. Pagkabalik niya sa istaked, oinanood na naman siya ng mga tao.
“Kinabog kagabi,” wika ng isang magbubukid. “Binalutan ng basang sako, hindi ng
halata.” “Ang anak, dumating daw?” “Naki-mayor.” Sa isang sulok ng istaked iniupo ng
dalawang pulis si Tata Selo. Napasubsob si Tata Selo pagkaraang siya’y maiupo. Ngunit
nang marinig niyang muling ipinanakaw ang pintong bakal ng istaked, humihilahod na
ginapang niya ang rehas. Mahigpit na humawak doon at habang nakadapay’ ilang sandali
ring iyo’y tila huhutukin. Tinawag siya ng mga pulis ngunit paos siya at malayo na ang
mga pulis. Nakalabas ang kanang kamay sa rehas, bumagsak ang kanyang mukha sa
sementadong lapag. Matagal siyang nakadapa bago niya narinig na may tila gumigising sa
kanya. “Tata Selo...Tata Selo...” Umangat ang mukha ni Tata Selo. Inaninaw ng mga luha
niyang mata ang tumatawag sa kanya. Iyon ang batang dumalaw sa kanya kahapon.
Hinawakan ng bata ang kamay ni Tata Selo na umabot sa kanya. “Nandon’ amang si
Saling sa Presidente,” wika ni Tata Selo. “Yayain mo nang umuwi, umuwi na kayo.” Muling
bumagsak ang kanyang mukha sa lapag. Ang bata’y saglit na nag-paulik-ulik, pagkaraa’y
takot at bantulot nang sumunod... Mag-iikaapat na ng hapon. Padahilig na ang sikat ng
araw, ngunit mainit pa rin iyon. May kapiraso nang lihin sa istaked, sa may dingding na
steel matting, ngunit si Tata Seloy’ wala roon. Nasa init siya, nakakapit sa rehas sa
dakong harapan ng istaked. Nakatingin siya sa labas, sa kanyang malalabo at tila lagi
nang nag-aaninaw na mata’y tumatama ang mapulang sikat ng araw. Sa labas ng istaked,
nakasandig sa rehas ang batang Inutusan niya kanina. Sinabi ng bata na ayaw siyang
papasukin sa tanggapan ng alkalde ngunit hindi siya pinakinggan ni Tata Selo, na ngayo’y
hindi pagbawi ng saka ang sinasabi. Habang nakakapit sa rehas at nakatingin sa labas,

sinasabi niyang lahat ay kinuha na sa kanila, lahat, ay! Ang lahat ay kinuha na sa kanila. 4

Thailand

Thailand officially the Kingdom of Thailand and formerly known as Siam, is a country in Southeast Asia. Located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, it is
composed of 76 provinces spanning 513,120 square kilometres (198,120 sq mi), with a population of over 66 million people; Thailand is the world's 50th-largest

country by land area and the 22nd-most-populous. The capital and largest city is Bangkok, a special administrative area. Thailand is bordered to the north by

Myanmar and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the west by the Andaman Sea and the southern
extremity of Myanmar.

It is a place where....... Close your eyes. Think the face of your current love interest, crush or ideal person. Then,
sing any song you would like to dedicate fondly on that person while imagining that you are

going to take that person in a candlelight dinner while having a boat ride in Mae Klong River
in Central Thailand. Sing louder!

BoAtmAn’s Love Song?

1 Superstitions are rife A happy and reckless As for thy nose, Im’ certain that
youth I am As I ply None other has come has one so wide and
Often connected to the belief of ghosts and spirits, boat on the deep.
Thailand is a land of superstitions. It is customary for Menam; flat;
people to consult a fortune teller or monk for an
auspicious date before arranging a wedding, buying a My song shall end and And the ebony’s bark in
home, test driving a car, and other situations. my song begin In praise its core beneath’Was
never so black as thy
of there, my darling.
shiny teeth
CHORUS: Begin with the head and
end with the toes; My praise shall be CHORUS: Begin with the head and
end with the toes; My praise shall be
strong as the tide
That flows. strong as the tide

2 Monks are highly respected Who that has been That flows.
ee’ r forgot Thy pretty Complexion of gold and a high
You’re sure to see many monks during your time in hair tied in a sweet cheek-bone, Such a lovely bride
Thailand, both inside the temples and outside on the
streets, on buses, at festivals, and in a variety of knot? as my darling Chin.
everyday settings. Monks are highly revered and
respected in Thai culture and disrespecting a CHORUS: Begin with the head and CHORUS: Begin with the head and
monk is a huge no-no. end with the toes; My praise shall be end with the toes; My praise shall be

3 Body awareness is important strong as the tide strong as the tide
That flows.
Thais place importance and significance to different That flows.
parts of the body. The head is seen as the most Thy eyebrow black, Im’ Thy frame is as light as
spiritual part of the body and you should never touch sure that each Is a shiny the forest stag And as
a persons’ head … although, most people wouldnt’ go
around touching strangers’heads in any case! This as any healthy leech; strong and firm as a
goes for children too—an affectionate ruffling of the rocky crag; Thy feet and
hair could cause offence to Thai No elephant, white, black,
parents. short, or tall, Can boast of toes (the more good
such eyes, so loving and luck)

small As pretty and broad as the web-footed duck.

CHORUS: Begin with the head and CHORUS: Begin with the head and
end with the toes; My praise shall be end with the toes; My praise shall be

strong as the tide strong as the tide
That flows. That flows.

SINGAPORE Singapore is unique on a global scale! Keep on reading to
discover the most amazing Singapore facts.
In 1299, according to the Malay Annals, the Kingdom of
Singapura was founded on the island by Sang Nila Utama. 1. You Shouldn’t Buy Chewing Gum In Singapore
Although the historicity of the accounts as given in the Malay You won’t find a chewing gum in any store. Only a doctor can
Annals is the subject of academic debates, it is nevertheless prescribe it to you! Why does Singapore have such a weird
known from various documents that Singapore in the 14th law? It is all about cleanliness. The government’s main goal is
century, then known as Temasek, was a trading port under the to keep the country clean, and we all know how many people
influence of both the Majapahit Empire and the Siamese throw the chewing gum on the street, without thinking about
kingdoms, and was a part of the Indosphere. These Indianised how disgusting it is. So no chewing gum!
kingdoms were characterised by surprising resilience, political
integrity and administrative stability. Historical sources also 2. Singapore Is The Only Island City-State In The World
indicate that around the end of the 14th century, its ruler One of the cool facts about Singapore is the next one! If you
Parameswara was attacked by either the Majapahit or the have ever been to South East Asia, or at least read
Siamese, forcing him to move to Malacca where he founded the something about this area of the world, you must have heard
Sultanate of Malacca. Archaeological evidence suggests that the of the Marina Bay Sands. This is the most famous hotel not
main settlement on Fort Canning was abandoned around this only in Singapore but also in the whole ASEAN.
time, although a small trading settlement continued in Singapore
for some time afterwards. In 1613, Portuguese raiders burned 3. Singapore Was A Malaysian City In The Past
down the settlement, and the island faded into obscurity for the The History of the City-StateOne of the very interesting
next two centuries. By then Singapore was nominally part of the facts about Singapore is that some people still don’t realize
Johor Sultanate. The wider maritime region and much trade was that Singapore is not only a city but also a country. When
under Dutch control for the following period after the Dutch talking with other people, we often hear that they thought
conquest of Malacca. Singapore is just another Malaysian city like Kuala Lumpur

6

Grandfather’s Story

by Catherine Lim

Grandmother died when I was ten. I had always
been in awe of her, mainly because of the stories I
had heard relatives and servants whisper about her
atrocities towards the many bondmaids she had
bought as infants and reared to work as
seamstresses and needlewomen in her rapidly
expanding business of making bridal clothes and
furnishings. Grandmothers’ embroidered silk bed
curtains and bolster cases and beaded slippers for
bride and groom were famous and fetched good
money. The more nimble-fingered of the handmaids
did the sewing and headwork; the others were
assigned the less demanding tasks of cutting,
pasting, dyeing, stringing beads, or general
housework. It was rumoured that one handmaid had
died from injuries sustained when grandmother
flung a durian at her. The story had never been
confirmed, and, as a child, my imagination had often

dwelt on the terrible scene, giving it a number of interesting variations: grandmother hurled the durian at the bondmaids’ head, and it stuck there;
the durian was flung at the bondmaids’ stomach, thus disemboweling her; the durian thorns stuck in the bondmaids’ flesh like so many knives and
caused her to bleed to death. Whatever the circumstances surrounding her death, the bondmaid was certainly dead at fifteen and quietly buried at
night in a remote part of the huge plantation in which stood grandmother’s house. Grandfather, who had been separated from grandmother for as
long as anyone could remember, often said, “Look at her hands. Look at the strength and power in them. The hands of a murderess.” And he
would go on to assign the same pernicious quality to each feature of her body: her eyes were cold and glittering, her mouth was thin and cruel, her
buttocks which by their flatness deflected all good fortune, so that her husband would always be in want. I think I unfairly attributed to
grandmother all those atrocities which rich elderly ladies of old China committed against their servant girls or their husbands’ minor wives and
concubines. Thus, I had grandmother tie up the ends of the trousers of a bondmaid close to the ankles, force a struggling, clawing cat clown
through the opening at the waist, quickly knot the trousers tightly at the waist to trap the beast inside, and then begin to hit it from the outside
with a broom so that it would claw and scratch the more viciously in its panic. I never saw, in the few visits I remember I paid grandmother, any
such monstrosity. The punishment that grandmother regularly meted out were less dramatic: she pinched, hit knuckles with a wooden rod, slapped
and occasionally rubbed chili paste against the lips of a child bondmaid who had been caught telling a lie. Grandmother did not like children. I think
she merely tolerated my cousins and me when we went to stay a few days with her. When in a good mood, she gave us some beads or remnants
of silk for which she no longer had any use. I remember asking her one day why I never saw grandfather with her and why he was staying in
another house. Not only did she refrain from answering my question, but she threw me such an angry glare that from that very day I never
mentioned grandfather in her hearing. I concluded that they hated each other with a virulence that did not allow each to hear the name of the
other without a look of the most intense scorn or words of abuse, spat out rather than uttered. Indeed, never have I seen a couple so vigorously
opposed to each other, and I still wonder how they could have overcome their revulsions to produce three offspring in a row, for according to
grandfather. They had hated each other right from the beginning of their marriage. It was probably a duty which grandmother felt she had to
discharge. “It was an arranged marriage,” said grandfather simply, “and I never saw her till the wedding night.” But he did not speak of the large
dowry that grandmother brought with her, for her father was a well-to-do pepper merchant who had businesses in Indonesia. As soon as her
parents were dead and she had saved enough money to start a small business on her own, she left grandfather, took up residence in an old house
in a plantation that she had shrewdly bought for a pittance, and brought up her three children there. Her two daughters she married off as soon
as they reached sixteen; her son, who turned out to be a wastrel, she left to do as he liked. She had put her life with grandfather behind her; from
that day, he was dead to her, and she pursued her business with single-minded purpose and fervour, getting rich very quickly. She had a canny
business sense and invested wisely in rubber and coconut plantations. Grandfather took up residence with a mistress; he had her for a very long
time, almost from the time of his marriage. It was said that she was barren, and he was disappointed for a while, for he wanted sons by her, but
his love remained unchanged. There were other mistresses, but they were merely the objects for grandfathers’ insatiable appetite, while this

7

woman, a very genteel-looking, soft-spoken woman whom I remember we all called Grandaunt, was his chosen life companion. I saw her only once.
She was already very old and grey, and I remember she took out a small bottle of pungent- smelling oil from her blouse pocket and rubbed a little
under my nose when she saw me cough and sniffle. She died some three years before grandfather (and a year after grandmother). Grandfather
howled in his grief at grandaunts’ funeral, and was inconsolable for months. In all likelihood, he would not have attended grandmother’s funeral
even if she had not objected. As it was, she had stipulated, on her deathbed that on no condition was grandfather to be allowed near her dead
body. She was dying from a terrible cancer that, over a year, ate away her body. “Go, you must go,” urged grandaunt on the day of the funeral,
“for, in death, all is forgotten.” But grandfather lay in his room smoking his opium pipe and gazing languorously up at the ceiling. When grandaunt
died – quite suddenly, for she was taking the chamber pot up to their room when she slipped, fell down the stairs and died – grandfather was
grief-stricken and, at one point, even blamed the sudden death on grandmothers’ avenging spirit. He became withdrawn and reticent and
sometimes wept with the abandon of a child in the silence of the night. The change was marked, for grandfather was by nature garrulous and, on
occasion, even jovial. He liked to tell stories – especially irreverently obscene tales of monks. In his withdrawn state, all storytelling ceased, except
on one occasion when he emerged from his room, to the surprise of the relatives who were sitting around idly chatting after dinner, and offered
to tell a tale. “Once upon a time,” said grandfather, grey eyes misting over and the wispy beard on his thin chin (which he always tied up tightly
with a rubber band, much to the amusement of us children) moving up and down with the effort of storytelling. “A very long time ago, perhaps a
thousand years ago, there lived in China a farmer and his wife. He loved her dearly, for she was a gentle, loving woman who would do anything to
make him comfortable and happy. They had no children; the womans’ barrenness, which would have compelled any husband to reject her, did not in
the least irk him. He worked hard to save for their old age, knowing no sons would be born tolook after them, and he and his wife watched with
satisfaction the silver coins growing in the old stone jar, which they took care to hide in a hole in the earthen floor. “Now near the farm was a
nunnery, and the head nun, a most cruel and mercenary woman who spent all her time thinking of how much in donations she could get out of the
simple peasants, began to eye the growing wealth of this farmer and his wife. She knew that they were an extremely frugal couple and surmised
that their savings were a goodly sum. “Knowing that the farmer was a shrewd fellow who regarded her with deep suspicion, she waited one
morning for him to be out in the fields before paying his wife a visit. “So convincing was she in her promise of heavenly blessings upon those who
would donate generously to her nunnery that the farmers’ wife was quite taken in. The foolish woman went to the hiding place in the earthen
floor, brought out the stone jar and handed it, with its store of silver coins within, to the head nun. The nun thanked her effusively and left. “When
the farmer came back, his wife told him what had happened, in her extreme naiveté expecting him to praise her for what she had done. Instead,
he picked up his changkul and repeatedly hit her in his rage. When he saw that she was dead, his rage turned into an overpowering pity, and he
knew he would never be at peace until he had killed the one who had brought about this tragedy. “He ran to the nunnery with his changkul1, and
there struck three hefty blows on the nun’s head until she fell down and died. In his panic, the farmer ran to a tree and hanged himself. “The
spirits of the three deceased then appeared before the Almighty, who sat on his heavenly throne in judgment. ‘You have done great wrong,’he told
the farmer, ‘and must therefore be punished.’ ‘You,’turning to the nun, ‘have done greater wrong, for you are a selfish, mercenary, cruel woman.
You too will be punished.’ “He looked at the farmers’ wife, and, whereas his eyes had narrowed in severe censure when they looked upon the
farmer and the nun, They now softened upon the gentle, timid woman. You are a good woman,’said the Almighty, ‘and although you were foolish
enough to be taken in by this nun, you will not
be punished.’ “The Almightys’ plan was simple.
‘I’m sending the three of you back to earth,’said
the Almighty. ‘You will be born and, at the
appointed time, you,’pointing to the farmer, ‘and
you,’ pointing to the nun, ‘will be man and wife
so that you will be each other’s torment. I can
devise no greater punishment for you. Since
your sin is less,’ he continued, addressing the
farmer, “you will be freed of the retribution
after a time and will be reunited with this
woman, without whom you cannot be happy.’

8

AISENODNI EARLY
HISTORY

Fossilised remains of Homo
erectus, popularly known as
the "Java Man", suggest the
Indonesian archipelago was

inhabited two million to
500,000 years ago. Homo
sapiens reached the region

around 43,000 BCE.
Austronesian peoples, who

form the majority of the
modern population,

migrated to Southeast Asia
from what is now Taiwan.
They arrived in the
archipelago around 2,000

BCE and confined the native
Melanesian peoples to the
far eastern regions as they
spread east. Ideal
agricultural conditions and
the mastering of wet-field
rice cultivation as early as
the eighth century BCE

allowed villages, towns, and
small kingdoms to flourish

by the first century CE. The
archipelago's strategic sea-
lane position fostered inter-

island and international
trade, including with Indian

kingdoms and Chinese
dynasties, from several
centuries BCE. Trade has
since fundamentally shaped
Indonesian history. The

earliest evidence of
Islamized populations in the

archipelago dates to the
13th century in northern
Sumatra. Other parts of the

archipelago gradually
adopted Islam, and it was

the dominant religion in
Java and Sumatra by the
end of the 16th century. For
the most part, Islam overlaid
and mixed with existing

cultural and religious
influences, which shaped
the predominant form of

Islam in Indonesia,
particularly in Java.

please everyone. Her voice is loud and
the people who have to listen to her do
become annoyed. “This child is already

Mrs. Geni in December pregnant. Why are you hiding it? Why are
you embarrassed? To have children, to be

by Arswendo Atmowiloto able to fall pregnant, this is a gift. This is
not something to cover up, to be squeeze
“For Mrs. Geni, every month is December. down inside clothes. It is your own child,
Last month, the present month, or next right.” If I’m not wrong, the incident
month, they all mean December. So, if happened at the district head’s house. As
you have to deal with Mrs. Geni, it is a result, the news spread and continued
better not to rely on dates, but rather on to reverberate long after the incident was
the day. If you want to book her, you over. Another wedding ceremony was
have to say, “Two Fridays from this almost cancelled simply because Mrs.
Friday.” If you say the seventeenth, you Geni saw a sad face on the bride-to-be.
could be in trouble because the Usually two or three days before a
seventeenth won’t necessarily be a ceremony, Mrs. Geni needs to meet the
Friday. If you book her for the bride-to-be in person. Why not with the
seventeenth, she might just not show up bridegroom-to-be? “Well, his fate rests
on the day. The problem is a great many right here, right? When she met the soon-
people deal with Mrs. Geni. For anyone to-be-bride who she felt had the sad
wanting to arrange the wedding of a face, Mrs. Geni said, “Can’t be like
child, there is only one choice. Mrs. Geni. this. You have to be happy first.” No
Bridal makeup artist. There are many matter that the invitations had already
other bridal makeup artists, but none can been sent out, the reception hall been
match Mrs. Geni. Even after considering paid for in advance, and, more
the many other beauty salons, people importantly, the food been prepared. The
stay with the choice of Mrs. Geni. story wouldn’t have been unusual if it had
According to past clients, Mrs. Geni is no ended in cancellation. What was unusual
ordinary makeup artist. She can transform was that two days later, a bus crashed off
a would-be bride and make her so a cliff into a gorge. As it turned out, if the
beautiful she is truly stunning. wedding had actually gone ahead and not
Unrecognizable. One of her specialities is been cancelled, there was a big chance
to infuse cigarette smoke onto the face of the bridegroom-to-be would have
the would-be bride. According to gone into the gorge because he had in
tradition, she explains, this is bronzing, fact planned to travel on that very bus, at
applying a bronze, not gold, hue to the that very time. Mrs. Geni’s story
skin. Almost every bridal makeup artist continues next with the time she was
uses this technique, but none can match asked to do the makeup of the daughter
her skill. One time at a wedding the host of a government minister – possibly a
fainted because she thought the daughter senior coordinating minister – but she
she was marrying off had disappeared. replied, “Just tell the daughter to come to
The mother of the bride-to-be fainted, my house. A lot of people here are going
the father became embarrassed, and all to be put out if I leave them.” Last
the relatives started to search for the seventeenth of August, the neighbors in
bride at friends’ houses. Even after she her area waited to see whether Mrs. Geni
was found, the mother of the bride-to-be would ended in cancellation. What was
could not accept it. “That is not my child. unusual was that two days later, a bus
That is not my child,” she exclaimed. crashed off a cliff into a gorge. As it
“Well, if it is not your child, that makes turned out, if the wedding had actually
her my child. Let’s go home.” gone ahead and not been cancelled,
Only later the mother of the bride-to-be there was a big chance the bridegroom-
realized, and said, “How is it possible that to-be would have gone into the gorge
my child could be as beautiful as this?” because he had in fact planned to travel
Despite this, Mrs. Geni does not always on that very bus, at that very time. Mrs.

10

Geni’s story continues next with the time questions that we do not have the
she was asked to do the makeup of the courage to answer. ‘Oh, such and such is
daughter of a government minister – my soul mate.’ We commonly speak like
possibly a senior coordinating minister – that. Or if it fails, ‘Oh, such and such was
but she replied, “Just tell the daughter to not my soul mate.'” Mrs. Geni then laughs
come to my house. A lot of people here at length. “So, is my soul mate actually
are going to be put out if I leave them.” Mr. Geni? Because I married Mr. Geni, he
Last seventeenth of August, the becomes my soul mate. Not, because Mr.
neighbors in her area waited to see Geni was my soul mate therefore I
whether Mrs. Geni would her house, married him. It would have been different
because in Mrs. Geni’s estimation that if before that I had not married Mr. Geni.
was the same as 17 August. As it turned Then he would not have been my soul
out, Mrs. Geni did have a flag put up. mate.” Why marry Mr. Geni at the time?
“What’s wrong with flying the flag on the “Yes, because it was time to get married,
seventeenth of December?” she asked. like everyone else.” Does that then mean
The officials in the village were happy it wasn’t out of love that I married Mr.
too, because if Mrs. Geni hadn’t put out Geni? “As with soul mates, as soon
the flag on the anniversary of as you marry, well, that has to be
independence, there could have been a accepted as love. That is more important.
problem. On the following thirty-first of Because if you rely on love beforehand it
December, Mrs. Geni did not object to might not last. What you have, that is
having a party at her house. But to her, what you love, whether there is love
the following day was not New Year’s before or not.” The question arises
Day, but rather 1 December again. Many because there is word that Mr. Geni is to
people say that Mrs. Geni’s magic is to marry again. “Yeah, don’t worry about it.
always look young. And Mrs. Geni does And I will do the makeup for the bride,”
indeed seem to have always looked the she says easily, in a flat, almost
same, whether it’s doing the makeup for a emotionless, tone. “To try to forbid it
neighbor, or doing it for her own child. would be hard, and it would be useless
Her face and appearance are the same. anyway. Just let him do it.” Maybe that is
The photos taken at the time can prove the reason Mrs. Geni is still happy to do
this, along with the photos taken over the the makeup for the soon-to-be-brides
following 20 years. Or maybe also the 20 who are to become second or third wives.
years before that. “Marriage is the most “Let people feel joy once in their lives.”
illogical of ceremonies. It causes a lot of For Mrs. Geni, marriage is joy, happiness.
trouble. You all stress about working out “If someone does not even feel happy
an auspicious date, what sort of when they get married, they aren’t going
matching clothes to have, and it all has to find any other joy.”According to Mrs.
no connection with the marriage itself. Geni, no marriage really fails because
Just look at the people who make the marriage itself is not a success. “All you
speeches at a wedding, the people who need is a little courage and a lot of
delivery advice to the newlyweds. That is foolishness. That is what is needed for a
the most boring part, the part that is marriage. In order to divorce on the other
listened to the least. But it is always hand, you need to have a lot of courage
included. That’s weddings for you.” It is and a small amount of foolishness.” Has
somewhat odd for these words to come Mrs. Geni ever thought about divorcing
from Mrs. Geni, because she in fact Mr. Geni? “I’ve never thought about
makes her living from weddings. “Yes, it getting divorced. Have I thought about
is strange. Isn’t marriage a strange thing. killing him? Often.” And so, Mrs. Geni,
Because something strange is thought of bridal makeup artist, has done the
as normal, the people who do not marry, makeup for all the women in her village.
who are widows or widowers, are even You could say, for everyone who has
thought of as strange.” On a different been married, and for those who have
occasion, Mrs. Geni said, “The strange not. The latter are done by Mrs. Geni as
expression ‘soul mate’ hides the fear or bodies when women pass away having

11

never married. Before burial, Mrs. Geni INDONESIA IS BUSY AND YOUNG
makes them up fully. Many disapprove, Indonesia is the fourth most
for many it is regrettable, still others fear populous country in the world
being made up. “Frightened it will come (261.1 million people per a 2016
true in the marriage. Frightened of being estimate). Indonesia is surpassed
too happy, too free, too enjoyable, so in population only by China, India,
that’s why we commit ourselves to a and the United States — in that
marriage that regulates responsibilities so order.
much, regulates obligations, including
the provision of a living, and the raising RELIGION IS DIVERSE
of children. Only it’s strange, but Indonesia is the world's most
basically, we are afraid of our own populous Islamic nation; a majority
happiness, and restrict it through the are Sunnis. But religion can vary
existence of God’s power.” Even though from island to island, especially
she says that humanity’s most restricting the farther east from Jakarta one
and frightening discovery is marriage, travels.
Mrs. Geni continues to do peoples’
makeup, still uses the infusion of INDONESIA IS THE WORLD'S
cigarette smoke. For someone able to LARGEST ISLAND COUNTRY
make time for herself – even though it is Indonesia is the largest island
still tied to December – Mrs. Geni is nation in the world. With 735,358
able to do the makeup for people, bodies, square miles of land, it is the 14th
bridal statues and trees as well as largest country in the world by
buffaloes. Mrs. Geni also chants the bridal available land. When both land and
mantra, breathes the three breaths onto sea are taken into account, it is the
the bride’s crown, with the same seventh largest in the world.
seriousness she uses to fast before
making someone up. “Let the buffaloes
experience happiness, just as we have
believed all this time that marriage is
happiness.” Fortunately, all of
this only happens in December.

NO ONE KNOWS HOW MANY
ISLANDS

Indonesia is the largest nation in Indonesia is spread across an
Southeast Asia (by size) and the archipelago of many thousands of
fourth most populous country on islands, however, no one can really
earth. It's a geological wonderland. agree on just how many there are.
Take the Equator, add hundreds of Some islands appear only at low
volcanoes at the meeting point of tide, and different surveying
the Indian and Pacific Oceans, and techniques yield different counts.
well, you end up with one very
interesting and exotic destination.

12

MALAYSIA

Malaysia, a member of the Sea. These two states occupy
Commonwealth, represents the roughly the northern fourth of
political marriage of territories the large island of Borneo and
that were formerly under British share a land boundary with the
rule. When it was established Indonesian portion
on September 16, 1963, (Kalimantan) of the island to the
Malaysia comprised the south. Surrounded by Sarawak
territories of Malaya (now is a small coastal enclave
Peninsular Malaysia), the island containing the sultanate of
of Singapore, and the colonies Brunei. Of the country’s total
of Sarawak and Sabah in area, which includes about 265
northern Borneo. In August square miles (690 square km)
1965 Singapore seceded from of inland water, Peninsular
the federation and became an Malaysia constitutes about 40
independent republic. percent and East Malaysia
about 60 percent.
Peninsular Malaysia occupies
most of the southern segment The soils of both portions of
of the Malay Peninsula. To the Malaysia have been exposed
north it is bordered by Thailand, for a long period of time to
with which it shares a land intense tropical weathering,
boundary of some 300 miles with the result that most of their
(480 km). To the south, at the plant nutrients have been
tip of the peninsula, is the leached out. Soils typically are
island republic of Singapore, strongly acidic and coarse-
with which Malaysia is textured and have low amounts
connected by a causeway and of organic matter. Any organic
also by a separate bridge. To matter is rapidly oxidized when
the southwest, across the Strait exposed to weathering, and the
of Malacca, is the island of soils consequently become
Sumatra in Indonesia. East even poorer. Soil erosion is
Malaysia consists of the always a danger on sloping
country’s two largest states, ground, where such preventive
Sarawak and Sabah, and is measures as building contour
separated from Peninsular embankments or planting
Malaysia by some 400 miles protective cover crops are
(640 km) of the South China required.

ZURINAH HASSAN

A FRYING PAN

14

15

IN
UNITY,
THERE IS
STRENGTH