VOLUME XVI ISSUE NO.1

TheAdamsonChronicle

The Autonomous and Official Student Publication of Adamson University

Adamson goes HyFlex for A.Y. 2022-2023

By Antonio Gabriel D. Tongco

After more than two years of online learning, Adamson University has finally implemented the hybrid-flexible (HyFlex) learning modality, its adaptation of face-to-face (F2F) learning for the Academic Year (A.Y.) 2022-2023.

Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Catherine Q. Castañeda revealed the general guidelines of the said learning modality through a memorandum last July 15,

a full month before the A.Y. began. Nevertheless, the first two weeks of the first semester, August 16 to 28, were still conducted online in preparation for HyFlex.

The said memo defined HyFlex as “a learning approach wherein some students attend face-to-face classes, while others join the same classes virtually.”

Paired with asynchronous learning activities, the VPAA assured that “all students,

regardless of the learning modality attended, will achieve the same learning outcomes.”

General guidelines, improvements HyFlex mixes the online and F2F modes of learning through a weekly rotation between two groups.

Classes of more than 20 students are divided into Groups I and II, or students with surnames starting from letters

A-K, and then L-Z, respectively. Meanwhile, sections with 20 or less students are made to follow full F2F arrangements.

Regardless of grouping, however, all students are required to take major exams onsite under HyFlex.

Although all colleges and departments are required to follow the above guidelines for lecture classes, they were given “appropriate autonomy” in the conduct of their laboratory

classes.

“Deans and chairs shall take into consideration the current setup and resources of their respective laboratories in the scheduling of laboratory classes,” wrote the VPAA.

In a supplemental memo released July 28, the VPAA added that the same autonomy will be granted for the implementation of F2F on-the-job trainings and data gatherings for theses and

dissertations. Similarly, the Physical Education Department was allowed to decide which learning modality would be the “most appropriate and relatively safest” for its classes.

While the HyFlex learning modality was not without flaws, especially on its first two weeks, the University took swift measures trying to mitigate them.

AdU IT & IS Society bags 1st place in 13th ALC awards

By Mat Jefferson T. Richter

The Adamson University Information Technology & Information Systems (AdU IT & IS) Society was awarded as the most active Recognized Student Organization in the 13th Adamson Leadership Congress (ALC) last September 9 and 10.

“This is a good start for our organization this year. It is now our motivating force to keep striving for success,” shared AdU IT & IS

Society president Aliah Pasca.

However, despite the long-fought triumph, time constraints have also challenged their organization.

“Planning everything we will do as a team is perhaps the most challenging aspect of our organization. Even in the midst of a pandemic, we are constantly considering how to improve our efficiency and how we can produce

good results in everything we do,” she added.

Established in 2003, the academic organization strives to “persist through adversity” by serving Vincentians with progressive leadership and camaraderie.

Meanwhile, Silip@ Lente-AdU (SILAU) ranked a spot higher after bagging 2nd place. SILAU president, Chris

I may disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.

STUDY SAFE. Adamsonians observe proper health protocols as they return to face-to-face class setup in batches. PHOTO BY SER ALBERT CHRISTIAN I. CAPOQUIAN

GOOD START. AdU IT & IS Society celebrate their feat as the 13th ALC Awards top RSO for 2022.

PHOTO BY SER ALBERT CHRISTIAN I. CAPOQUIAN

GOES/P3

AUSG holds special election due to lack of candidates

By Michaela Ann Marie R. Razon

The Adamson University Student Government (AUSG) held a special election following the University’s Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Resolution No. 1, series of 2022 last September 6. According to the resolution, AUSG Representatives will convene the Legislative Council of Leaders (LCL) and act as the Constituent Assembly presided by the outgoing AUSG President

and/or Vice President for Internal Affairs for purposes of electing the AUSG Executive Officers and Directors for the Academic Year 2022-2023 before the 13th Adamson Leaders Congress (ALC) on September 9 and 10.

The resolution was made after the filing of the Certificate of Candidacy, initially from August 15 to 18 but was extended until August 25, passed without any aspiring candidates.

According to newlyelected President Joshua Castañeda, they will continue the previous batch’s “progressive” leadership and that he will be an “open book” when it comes to criticism, opinions, and comments from the Adamson Community.

Castañeda added that they will prioritize the revival of faceto-face events and the pursuit of stronger ties

with Recognized Student Organizations.

“As I said in the 13th ALC, we will be continuing the legacy of the former officers to our community. Which is promoting excellence and being the voice of our fellow klasmeyts. I’ve seen them fight for our rights and welfare especially giving importance to our mental health,” said the president-elect.

The new AUSG

Executive Council consists of the following students: Joshua Ronett S. Castaneda (President, 4th year, BSED English), Patrick Patiño (Vice President for Internal Affairs, 4th year, BA Political Science), Jimmaira Angel Almohasin (Vice President for External Affairs, 3rd year, BS Chemical Engineering), Brian Dale Francisco (Secretary, 4th year, BA Political Science), John

Jeffrey Aduna (Treasurer, 4th year, BS Information Technology), Adrian Jullan G. Lignes (Auditor, 3rd year, BA Political Science), and Syssy Xerxel Carcillar Emanel (Public Relations Officer, 3rd year, BSBA Financial Management).

All candidates automatically won as they were the sole aspirants for each position.

Guerrero, disclosed some details that the organization is looking forward to this academic year.

“We are very much excited to execute our two major events, [which are] Deep Focus, a photography competition, and Realifilm, a filmmaking contest. The events and competitions are open for all the colleges and universities in the Philippines,”

Guerrero revealed.

While some were able to achieve higher rankings, others merely maintained their spots. The Adamson UniversityStudent Assistants Organization (AdUSAO), for example, remained in third place.

“Our organization’s greatest accomplishments have been minor victories that will one day lead to our greatest triumph,” said Smile Dela Cruz, the

president of AdU-SAO.

Dela Cruz highlighted the significance of developing relationships with their members this academic year so they can “experience the organization’s presence as a family.”

This year, the ALC sought to “initiate, innovate, and inspire” student leaders at the forefront of change.

DIFFERENT FACES, SAME RESPONSIBILITIES. Newly-elected AUSG officers pose for a photo with OSA Director Atty. Jan Nelin M. Navallasca during their turnover ceremony at the Co Po Ty Audio Visual Hall last September 29, 2022 PHOTO BY JEREMAY ONAYAN

How should AdU improve HyFlex? Students weigh in

By Anjaneth Lyka E. Raymundo

Adamson University implemented its first faceto-face classes for A.Y. 2022-2023 after two years of online learning.

For the first semester of the said A.Y., the University adopted the hybrid-flexible (HyFlex) learning modality, an approach that splits classes of more than twenty (20) students into two batches based on surnames.

Students in one batch attend classes in person, while students in the other batch attend classes virtually.

What students think

The Adamson Chronicle conducted a mock survey in which students were asked about their initial HyFlex learning experiences.

The survey received 104 responses from students enrolled in various courses.

The survey’s findings indicate that Adamsonians are opposed to the HyFlex

guideline that splits classes into two batches.

According to one respondent, “It is only beneficial to students who are onsite. Those who learn through online platforms cannot discern the topics effectively. Instructors cannot divide their attention (well).”

Moreover, students also raised their concerns regarding AdU’s unstable internet connection which highly affects their learning capacity.

“During the initial testing of HyFlex learning the online batch is having a lot of technical issues like professor’s low internet bandwidth during class, basically unstable connection,” answered another student.

The survey also revealed students’ concerns about some instructors’ “disregard” for online students.

One student expressed, “Professors tend to forget that they have online students and the students cannot hear and see properly what they are discussing.”

On the other hand, the newly implemented learning system received positive comments from 17 students.

“Although there are lapses in the implementation and the facilities, I think the strategy to divide the number of students is necessary since the outrage of the global pandemic is still at its peak,” the student explained.

The University, however, has taken steps to address some of these complaints.

For example, they transferred to a cloudbased internet connection and placed two different frequencies for the campus Wi-Fi networks to help alleviate internet instability issues.

AdU maintains 17k enrollees for A.Y. 2022-2023

By Allysa Mae P. Saldivar

Alongside the new hybridflexible learning modality, Adamson University welcomed 17,090 enrollees for the first semester of Academic Year (A.Y.) 20222023 last August.

Compared to last year’s record of 17,768, the University only saw a 3.9% drop in enrollees.

As usual, Tertiary-level (Undergraduate and Graduate School) enrollees make up the most of it with 13,126, with the Senior High School and Basic Education Department following it at 2,814 and 1,150 students, respectively.

With 4,058 enrollees, the College of Engineering continues to have the highest population among other degree programs.

Meanwhile, the College of Business Administration had 2,467 enrollees, close to the College of Science’s 2,372.

Although the College of Architecture saw a 9.81% increase in enrollees at 1,052, the College of Education and Liberal Arts had the highest growth this A.Y., going from

759 to 1,023.

The College of Pharmacy and College of Nursing recorded 639 and 420 students, respectively.

While the Graduate school had slightly more enrollees at 907, the College of Law had the least number of students at 188.

Adamsonian graduates excel in various licensure exams and maintain above average passing rates.

Combining passers from both the January and June 2022 Architecture Licensure Examinations (ALE), Adamson produced a total of 100 new Vincentian architects this year, two of which being among the topnotchers.

Gellie Ann Almacin ranked third in the January 2022 ALE with an 82% general average, while Dominique Frani snatched fourth place in the June 2022 exams with 81.7%.

The University achieved above national passing rates for both ALEs with 68.18% and 70.71%, respectively.

On the other hand, the College of Law set a new

record in AdU as 61 new Vincentian Lawyers passed the 2020-2021 bar exams; the highest number of passers it has ever recorded.

Adamson tallied a 72.72% passing rate, with 71.43% of passers being first takers.

Lastly, in a top 10 list filled with students from the University of the Philippines - Diliman, Neal Audrey A. San Diego became the sole Adamsonian topnotcher at sixth place in the August and September 2022 Mining Engineer Licensure Examinations with an 87.95% general average.

The University was also included in the Top 700 schools of the QS Asia University Ranking this year on top of being among the ASEAN Philippine Higher Education Internationalization Champions of Nationbuilding and Sustainability (ASEAN ICONS) 2022 awardees as one of the top educational institutions in the country.

For example, Adamson had already provided the “necessary gadgets,” limited to webcams and lapel mics, to enable all colleges and departments to conduct simultaneous classes onsite and online. But internet connectivity was a separate issue from the mere provision of equipment.

Hence, the University announced its decision to transfer the campus’ internet connectivity from a “local area network (LAN) to a cloud-based system” in a memorandum released September 2. A temporary HyFlex arrangement, wherein all first and second year students were made to conduct purely online classes from September 5 to 10, was implemented to make way for the said switch.

Another memo was released in the following week,

September 8, to help enhance internet connectivity in the campus.

The University placed two different frequencies for its Wi-Fi networks: 2.4GHz and 5GHz. Compatible devices were encouraged to connect to the latter frequency for a faster connection.

In terms of equipment, they also gave instructors the option to request Bluetooth earphones from their respective departments if they ever experience audibility issues for their students attending classes online.

F2F for other colleges, departments

Despite tertiary-level students having taken the lead in the implementation of HyFlex, initially excluded colleges and departments will soon be

conducting F2F classes as well.

This includes the College of Law, which continues to hold a purely online modality for the first semester of A.Y. 2022-2023. The AdU Graduate School, on the other hand, has a similar setup, with the exception of thesis and dissertation courses, which they hold onsite.

Meanwhile, the Basic Education and Senior HIgh School Departments will be going fully F2F after October 31, following the Department of Education’s requirement that “all public and private schools shall have transitioned to five (5) days of in-person classes starting November 2, 2022.”

If COVID-19 cases surge, however, the University holds that it will automatically revert back to online learning to maintain the safety of its stakeholders.

MAINTAINED POPULATION. Adamsonians line up to scan their QR codes upon their entry at the ST gate. PHOTO BY JEREMAY ONAYAN

EDUCATION IN THE NEW NORMAL. An Adamsonian professor conducts the HyFlex learning modality at the CT building last October 10, 2022..PHOTO BY JEREMAY ONAYAN

Losing your passion is okay

Growing up in an overbearing family was not easy. As a child, I was already exposed to their expectations of me. My relatives, who place high importance on professional titles, urged me to pursue courses that would give me one.

I slowly entered a world of pressure. They convinced me that having a title was necessary for a comfortable life. They demeaned other members of our family who did not receive the same education they had. Their small whispers of who and what I should become in the future dominated me. As a result, I made it my goal to take the path they wanted me to take.

And so it began; my enthusiasm for this particular course grew. I became invested in it, and even religiously read books related to it. And with the burning passion I felt, I thought I was certain that was the right path for me.

But when the time came for me to choose, it made me

reconsider the course I’d been planning to take ever since I could remember. Everything was so real at that moment. The pressure of choosing one path that would dictate my life scared me. And the echoing voices of my own dictators haunted me. There, many questions flooded my mind. Is this what I want? Or is it something I thought I wanted because of them?

It felt suffocating to be caged by their expectations; it gradually exhausted the youth out of me. Being brave, I decided to pursue a course I once shrugged off because of their influence. It was a big risk given that everything about that course was foreign to me. But it wasn’t until my first two years of studying Communication that I realized how much I was capable of.

A lot of times, I still hear criticism for the course I chose. Some still even use the old “MASSkomportable” joke. But what truly matters is that I’m happy with where I stand today.

So, losing your passion for something you’ve wanted for a long time is okay. And making a decision that won’t please the people around you is acceptable because it provides you with the opportunity to discover your own identity.

What else do we not know?

During a health crisis, information can draw the line between life and death.

As of writing, it’s only been three weeks since the University implemented its new hybrid-flexible (HyFlex) learning modality, but it has been rather disappointing to many so far.

Adamson’s line of reasoning is easily predictable at this point. They would probably say that it’s only been a short amount of time; that it’s normal to experience issues at this stage of HyFlex; that they are asking for everyone’s patience as they continue to create solutions for problems encountered under the newborn learning modality.

To be fair, they do follow through with some of those solutions. When the Community raised concerns on internet speed, they responded by (1) transferring to a cloud-based internet connection and (2) releasing two different frequencies (2.4GHz and 5GHz) for the campus Wi-Fi networks.

When problems surrounding audibility for students attending classes online came to light, they gave professors the option to borrow bluetooth headphones on top of the already provided “HyFlex cameras” and lapel mics.

The University was swift in addressing their faculty members’ electronic attendance woes, too. There are problems left unfixed, of course, but we’ve at least seen

a couple of solutions.

But this isn’t about Adamson being slow to solve problems. It’s about them ignoring the elephant in the room when it comes to face-to-face (F2F) classes: COVID-19 itself. It’s about them not realizing the simplest way to actually combat the virus in the midst of HyFlex, which is by providing their stakeholders ample information about cases within campus, or even students experiencing any COVID-related symptoms.

Last September 5, the College of Nursing released a memo, saying that all of their students will be conducting online classes for the remainder of that week after receiving reports of “individuals experiencing signs and symptoms of COVID19.”

Nursing students were kept safe from further infections, if there were any. But what about the rest of the students who went F2F when those symptoms surfaced? What about those who used the same classrooms as they did?

The answer is, we don’t have the answer. The University never really told us. All we knew was that Nursing students went online that week. No more, no less.

If the University did take the necessary actions after that memo, why didn’t they tell the students? Because if it’s to avoid tarnishing the reputation of HyFlex, they would get more value from

actually being honest with their stakeholders. In fact, it would show the public that they do care for the Adamson Community, and that they’re willing to take accountability for any shortcomings as HyFlex progresses.

Could it be to avoid causing panic? If so, is it not more panic-inducing to find out that you’ve interacted with people that could have been COVID-positive, only after you’ve already interacted with them?

Of course, maintaining Adamson’s image is a top priority, but the Community’s overall safety during HyFlex should still reign supreme. And proper information dissemination is the key to that.

This whole time, students have practically been grasping at straws, only working with rumors that certain klasmeyts are apparently already not attending their classes due to fever and other symptoms. As far as any recent studies go, rumors are not good contact tracing methods.

Speaking of contact tracing, is the Health Declaration Form even serving its purpose so far? It’s been proven that the generated QR codes don’t really expire; at least not after 24 hours. QR codes generated on a certain day are apparently still usable days later. Why is that so? Does the system not validate the dates certain codes were generated? Again, we don’t know the answer. At least, not right now.

A little bit more proactivity and initiative would do wonders for the entire Adamson Community during HyFlex. When anyone tests positive or have symptoms akin to that of COVID patients, we shouldn’t have to rely on gossip from fellow klasmeyts.

The University should be upfront and have some sort of mechanism that constantly keeps its stakeholders up to date about health concerns that arise during HyFlex as well as the solutions they create for them. Otherwise, we will be kept in the dark.

Simply disseminating information related to these things isn’t complicated. If anything, it can be as simple as releasing yet another memo via email blast or a publication material on social media just to keep us updated. But for some reason, they don’t do these things.

Adamson needs to understand that no one’s going to judge them for the inevitable fact that there will be cases. All we ask is that they become transparent about it for everyone’s safety.

With the extremely limited information that we have at our disposal, it’s a terrifying thought that we’re attending F2F classes with the virus in our midst. So, at this point, what else do we not know? One way or another, the truths will reveal themselves. And by then, we hope it won’t be too late.

I know I’m not the only one

For four years in college, I have always taken the same route going to school and coming home.

Most nights, I had to scurry in hopes that I could catch the last train ride home. Whenever I couldn’t, I’d resort to cab-hailing applications. Sure, it was pricey - almost fivefold of my usual fare - but nobody can ever put a price on safety.

There was always this constant battle between commuting in order to cut back on my expenses and paying for a more costly mode of transit. If I were to pick the former, there was always this lingering fear after dark. What if something happens to me? As a 22-year-old with dreams larger than life, this thought never not crossed my mind.

Recently, reports of missing persons have been going around the metro. Circulating posts of families and friends begging for any kind of viable information for their loved ones who mysteriously went off the grid is not something that anybody would want to read while preparing their cup of coffee at 5 in the morning.

The Philippine National Police, despite contrasting reports, claims that the alleged cases of abduction are “not connected.” In a statement issued by the Anti-Kidnapping Group, the police force’s primary unit in handling such

cases, only 27 are verified and recognized. They even went on to say that the crime rate in the country is going down.

For the long arm of the law to boldly state that the cases of felony in the Philippines is decreasing is a humiliation for those who are still nowhere to be found. They have reiterated that most of the reported cases of kidnapping had been solved. If so, why are families still begging for help and justice? While they have promised to conduct patrols around highcrime areas and schools, there is still that nagging sense of terror and dread.

With promises as empty as theirs, is it enough? Will it ever be enough?

The government should do more. They should be more active and hands-on in cases like this. From what I can observe in the news, they have been downplaying the gravity of the horrific circumstances we are in. Proudly telling the people that there are only a number of missing people makes me wonder if they see these atrocious turn of events as severe casualties or just mere statistics.

One day, I found myself buying a handheld panic alarm, a kubotan, and a compact pepper spray. I found myself messaging my loved ones as soon as I left school, as I hopped on the train, and as I left the station. It was a grueling feeling - to fear for my own safety. I cannot remain calm in light of recent events. Who could?

And the sad thing is, I know I’m not the only one feeling this.

What lies ahead of us

In ideally less than a year, I will finally walk my dark ragged shoes on the aisle of the graduation ceremony, bid goodbyes to people I love, and leave with a delusional goal that “I will make it through” after four long years.

In fact, I am writing this at 21, with enough pressure spinning around my head to think of the future. My thesis is barely halfway through, yet I just can’t help but already think: what lies ahead of me?

A burnt-out senior student who thinks it’s already too late to press the brake pedal. The old tale of an undergraduate who doesn’t have a safety net— nothing new. You’ve already

heard of this story—except that the “art” student now wants practicality.

For reference, I’m now a fourth-year communication student at Adamson University. I’ve been selfsufficient since I entered college, meaning that I pay my fees from tuition costs down to transportation prices through jobs that trim my breathing. To cut the story, picture this: A young blood who thought that one day, his art can provide food on the table.

Spoiler: He has been failing, and that’s okay!

Not a day has elapsed wherein I didn’t mutter about burnout since the first year of college—only to figure out that I am now down on my last two semesters in college.

Contrary to popular belief, society has been, in fact, lying ahead of us; that University is that coming-of-age story—the eye-catching tunnel scene

wherein you’re shouting on top of your lungs with the people you’re willing to put one foot in the grave for.

But the tricky part about what lies ahead of us is that everyone has to learn how to navigate the cards they’re dealt with. If your comingof-age is a blockbuster horror film, you’d need to have the best weapons or sacraments to combat supernatural entities.

With that said, any course under art—be it communication, film, visual, music, and the like—is pricey to take, and would take you years to successfully hog the limelight. But perhaps, as I do, having a delusional objective can lead you to better routes, too.

If I were given enough time and guidance to think, I would’ve pursued economics, marketing, or business instead of communication. Nonetheless, this is among

the cards I picked myself; it’s normal to loathe what you once loved, especially when you were clueless about the future.

If you feel like your course is no longer for you or you simply want to stop studying, you’d often hear to follow your “calling” or adhere to what your heart desires. But lest we forget, an idle mind is the devil’s workshop; amid uncertainty, sometimes, the best option is to breathe and proceed.

The best trick is to just keep on persisting, no matter the wreckage of what lies ahead of us. Society has already bestowed enough pressure for our shoulders to collapse. Laugh your way out of college if you must. Straighten your back, chin up, and pull an all-nighter once more.

Get in, loser! We’re going studying!

TheAdamsonChronicle

The Autonomous and Official Student Publication of Adamson University

How dare you want more?

You miss a hundred percent of the chances you don’t take. But what if the chances weren’t there at all?

I’m not going to be a hypocrite and say that online classes have been all bad for me. It’s the reason I found the time to work as a freelancer at the beginning of the pandemic. It’s how I managed to get back in touch with the things I used to love doing. Reading books or writing music, for example. It’s why I gained enough experience to be hired by some foreign business owner and eventually become financially stable enough to pay for my own luho.

Now, almost everything I own was paid for by me, even the extremely costly Samsung tablet I used to write this column. Hell, I even got hired by Yahoo! Philippines to write for them; a position that has steered me towards a faceto-face interview with James Reid himself. At this point, even my fresh graduate friends ask if they can add me as a character reference for their resumes. They think I’ve more than secured success after I finish college.

This is a dream for many people my age, which is why I feel like an ungrateful brat whenever I still end up feeling like they’re not enough. I ask myself, repeatedly, how dare you want more?

The reality is, I think

I could have done so much more if the pandemic didn’t hit. Despite all these achievements, I find myself with a hundred what-ifs.

What if our film subject was done face-to-face? What if we conducted radio production classes in one of Adamson’s speech laboratories? What if we actually finished the rest of our journalism course in person? What if our theater class plays were performed in the Adamson Theater? What if we attended our editing courses in an actual computer laboratory?

Someway somehow, I still would have chosen all of these over any success I’ve had during the lockdown. I feel as if my accomplishments were paid for by so many missed opportunities, and more especially,

enjoyable moments with my blockmates. Even though my graduating year will be partly face-to-face, these thoughts continue to haunt my head.

The future already seemed uncertain to me pre-pandemic, but now, it feels bleaker than ever. Sea levels are rising. Forests are burning. A Marcos is back in the presidency, attending parties instead of being hands-on with the ongoing economic crisis. What is the point of anything at all? I might never have the answer. But what I know for sure is that things wouldn’t be as bad if COVID-19 never happened.

I’ve already taken the chances that were given to me. Now, where do I go from here?

The Adamson Chronicle is the official Student Publication of the Adamson University. It is an autonomous student organization and classified as a tertiary level student publication that aims to serve the University community, especially the students through the dissemination of relevant, reliable, and impartial information, and the advancement of civil liberties, social consciousness, nationalism, humanities, and Vincentian values through responsible campus journalism.

Antonio Gabriel D. Tongco, BA Comm Editor-in-Chief

Anjaneth Lyka E. Raymundo, BA Comm Associate Editor & Senior Illustrator

Wencel R. De Lara, BSCS Managing Editor & Senior Illustrator

Justine Denise S. Cruz, BSChE Human Interest & Entertainment Editor Mat Jefferson T. Richter, BA Comm Literary and Science & Technology Editor

Marielle Nadine A. Dautil, BS Geology Office Manager & Senior Staff Illustrator

Maximillian S. Wandag, BS Arch Chief Illustrator

Charles Dominic L. Ubana, BSCE Chief Photojournalist

Ricardo Martin H. Tecala , BSCE Chief Layout Artist

Trisha Mae P. Barredo, BA Pol Sci Online Manager & Senior Layout Artist

Jerome P. Monte, BS CpE Online Manager & Junior Layout Artist

Christian Joshua D. Corcuera, BSA Senior Staff Writer

Aleckine Troy N. Rada, BSME

Jeremay G. Onayan, BSChE Senior Staff Photojournalists

Janzell Nicole D. Rosuello, BA Comm Senior Layout Artist

Michaela Ann Marie R. Razon, BA Comm Junior Staff Writer

Ser Albert Christian I. Capoquian , BA Comm Junior Staff Photojournalist

Sophia May D. Salamat, BS Arch Junior Staff Illustrator

Maica Shane A. Oira, BS Arch Junior Staff Layout Artist

Mark Rainier P. Ignacio Technical Adviser

Esports are sports

By Allysa Mae P. Saldivar

Right when students were stuck at home during the height of the pandemic, Adamson University Guild of Animation Makers and Esports (AdU-GAME), the first esports Recognized Student Organization in the University, was established.

Two years later, UAAP President Fr. Aldrin R. Suan, C.M. revealed that the idea of adding esports as one of the events for Season 85 was considered, but was eventually turned down due to the limitations of the league and other financial restrictions.

Esports as an industry has a long way to go in the Philippines. Yet, institutions like AcadArena and the Collegiate Center for Esports have started to make efforts to elevate esports from the collegiate ranks and serve as stepping stones to those who aspire to enter the industry.

Last season of the National Campus Open (NCO), AdU-GAME made an appearance in the open qualifiers and outshined 42 teams from different colleges and universities. While bringing the name of the University, they arose as the top 3 after eight bestof-one series.

The phenomenon of esports has also existed in other UAAP schools: Ateneo De Manila University, De La Salle University, Far Eastern University, National University, University of the East, University of the Philippines, and the University of Santo Tomas.

Esports should not be overlooked and ignore its growing side. It has a promising future in the country, especially if it starts in academic institutions. It will foster among students and may continue to present more career opportunities in the future.

Like AdU-GAME, they attained a partnership with AcadArena to provide scholarships for young esport-athletes. They stand as the “training ground” and provide their members

with access to opportunities from other gaming groups in the country.

Adding new sports can also be seen as inclusivity and the emergence of the sports industry. It enables people to feel included in the path they go with. Making esports an official part of it, particularly in UAAP, is a chance for the students to take precedence in a broader set-up.

The UAAP President disclosed that the proposal of adding new sports means “another expense.” It is fair to say that it will exert economic edges in finance for the new coaching staff, allowance, and uniforms.

Maintaining esports is also one of the anticipated problems.

They passed over the benefits that it would give them and the students. Esports succeeded in showing its competitiveness, and it is time to take the courage to give esports the limelight for the public.

Professional esports players are real athletes. As stated by Professor Ingo Frobose, playing competitive video games produces the same amount of cortisol as a race car driver. Their heart rates can come as high as 180 beats per minute, which is the same as the heart rate of marathon runners after a race.

Like traditional sports, esports require training and practice. Top esports players typically have thousands of hours logged in on their games and are constantly analyzing their performance for them to improve.

Over the years, the sports industry has been transforming and perpetrating new rising trends. Esports was, and still is, becoming popular among this generation. It can be the game changer to reshape the industry in the future, and going with it is a sign of the diverse world of sports and entertainment.

EPIC COMEBACK. ‘Klasmeyts’ share positive feedback as they return to school with esports becoming recognized in the university.

PHOTO BY SER CHRISTIAN ALBERT CAPOQUIAN

AdU MBT S85 Preview: Falcons on the road to redemption

By Antonio Gabriel D. Tongco

After flunking an almost historic return to the Final Four in the previous UAAP Season 84, the Adamson Soaring Falcons continued to work through their rebuilding process, pulling out new tricks just in time for the next season.

When veteran coach Nash Racela entered the Falcons’ Nest as the new head coach of the Soaring Falcons in December 2021, he had little time to adjust and prepare the Men’s Basketball Team for the upcoming Season 84.

Nevertheless, the San Marcelino-based squad managed to stand their ground, ending their run on a 6-8 standing. Despite suffering more losses than wins, most of them were closely-fought matches, even against the now defending champions, the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons.

If Adamson nearly secured a Final Four spot in a season that they didn’t have enough time to prepare for, how far can they go with a more generous adjustment period? Their pre-season performance gave us a good glimpse.

A stellar pre-season performance

The Racela-led squad played at various tournaments before the UAAP Season 85, where they demonstrated newfound potential to finally secure a spot in the Final Four—something they haven’t been able to do since 2018.

Among these is the Kadayawan 2022 Invitational Basketball Tournament held at Obrero, Davao City, where the Soaring Falcons snatched the championship from Team Davao itself. Team captain Jerome Lastimosa was also crowned the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

The 2022 Filoil Ecooil Preseason Cup, however, paints a better picture of the Soaring Falcons, as it pit them against foes they will be up against in the next season. With Coach Nash having kept Lastimosa benched for the most part or for the entirety of some games, the tournament showcased how the other players can now confidently step up in his stead and still bring home some wins for the squad.

Adamson ended their stint on a 5-3 standing after losing their finals ticket to the National University Bulldogs in the semis. They begged off an opportunity to place third in the tournament for an exhibition match against the University of Visayas Green Lancers at San Agustin, Surigao del Sur.

“We can’t go to Japan, we can’t go to Korea, we can’t go to Israel diba? So we just go to Davao, and Surigao,” said Racela in an exclusive interview with sports news site Tiebreaker Times. According to him, experiences such as the Kadayawan Festival Tournament exposed the Soaring Falcons to “really tough players,” which helped give them an edge in the Filoil Cup.

Key losses

1. Keith Zaldivar

After nearly a decade in the Falcons’ nest, big man Keith Zaldivar was drafted by the Magnolia Hotshots as their 12th overall pick in the 2022 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Draft last May 15, joining former teammate Jerrick Ahanmisi who was drafted by the same team a year prior.

The 6-foot-6 forward was among the defensive stalwarts of former head coach Franz Pumaren’s bench.

In his final season in the UAAP, the Aklan City native showcased a newfound outside shooting range, sinking pivotal shots that helped secure wins for the San Marcelino-based squad.

Key additions

1. Ray Allen Torres

University of the Philippines Integrated School shooter Ray Allen Torres announced his commitment to Adamson earlier this year.

The now 20-year-old guard led his team in the UAAP Season 82 high school tournament, averaging 21 points on 35% shooting from beyond the arc on top of 8 rebounds and 2 assists. Despite the Junior Maroons’ poor 1-13 standing, Torres still managed to cement himself as the season’s top scorer.

Office for Athletic Development Director Fr. Aldrin Suan believed that the 5-foot-11 guard has “a caliber to equate or surpass the

performance” of Adamson’s former top scorer, Jerrick Ahanmisi.

If Torres is going to live up to these expectations, his UAAP Season 85 debut will be a good place to start, as he wasn’t able to show much brilliance during the Filoil Preseason Cup, where he averaged only five points and two rebounds in 12 minutes of field time.

Mainstays

1. Jerom Lastimosa Team captain Jerom Lastimosa has become the face of the Adamson Soaring Falcons, and reasonably so.

During the off-season, the Dumaguete-native flaunted his consistency and all-around presence for Adamson, averaging 14 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists across all games in the Filoil Preseason Cup. After being eliminated, he steered the Falcons to a championship in the Kadayawan Festival at Davao City, where he was named the most valuable player (MVP).

The 5-foot-10 guard, who was also UAAP Season 84’s elimination round top scorer, recently revealed that he forewent offers from the Korean Basketball League.

“Hindi ko basta-bastang maiiwan sila [the Adamson Soaring Falcons], and gusto ko din mag-champion bago umalis,” he explained in an interview with the sports news website, Tiebreaker Times.

Lastimosa has two more seasons up his sleeve, and it’s

obvious how hungry he is for a strong finish to his UAAP career.

2. Joem Sabandal

While Lastimosa may have been the Kadayawan MVP, it was Joem Sabandal who won the championship match for Adamson, 71-69, after nailing two free throws for the team with less than two seconds left in overtime.

On paper, Sabandal averaged only 10 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal in the Filoil Preseason Cup. But stat sheets fail to give justice to how he shows up for Adamson in clutch, high-pressure moments where they need him most.

The 5-foot-11 guard was especially pivotal in Adamson’s opening matchup against the De La SalleCollege of Saint Benilde Blazers, where he racked up a monstrous 18 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals to hand the team their first win in the tournament.

3. Cedrick Manzano

If any other Falcon could outshine Lastimosa, it would be none other than Romblomanon big man Cedrick Manzano.

While the 6-foot-4 forward had a stable average of 6 rebounds and 1 block for both the UAAP Season 84 and the Filoil Preseason Cup, he upped his average points by 6 in the latter tournament.

Manzano showcased this improvement in their Filoil Preseason Cup match against the Mapua Cardinals, where

he delivered a game-high 26 points on 13-of-15 shooting on top of 12 rebounds and 5 blocks to lift Adamson to a strong 4-1 slate.

This monstrous performance came after he admitted to slacking off during a month-long break that Racela gave the team. Hence, if there’s anything more impressive than those numbers, it’s his ability to learn and adapt.

Also adding to the Falcons’ already competitive roster of big men this coming season is AP Manlapaz, who has finally shown up for Adamson in the Filoil Preseason Cup after almost three years away from the basketball court.

Back in 2019, Pumaren called the 6-foot-4 forward the “best athlete” in the nest.

Chicago-native Aaron Flowers will also be playing for the San Marcelino-based squad in the UAAP Season 85 after getting past remote learning woes.

At the end of the day, sophomore shooter Flever Dignadice sums up Adamson’s Season 85 hopes best: “Last season was about getting used to Coach Nash’s system. This time around, it’s all about execution.”

Rebuilding takes a couple of years to accomplish, but as Adamson hosts the upcoming season, the Soaring Falcons have no choice but to prove that their constant flirting with Final Four runs aren’t flukes—they’re really just that close.

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT. Coach Nash Racela guides his players on how to properly execute their play last September 29, 2022 at the SV Gym. PHOTO BY CHARLES DOMINIC L. UBANA

CDC S85 Preview: Nowhere to go but up

By Anjaneth Lyka E. Raymundo

After bagging the silver medal last UAAP Season 84, the Adamson Pep Squad aims to bring the Cheerdance Competition crown back to San Marcelino as the University is set to host the latest edition of the country’s premier collegiate league.

The AdU Pep Squad

has been a consistent podium finisher for the last 5 years since their last Championship title back in 2017.

To boost their chances in the upcoming season, the AdU Pep Squad led by Coach Jam Lorenzo, held a tryout in different provinces last June.

However, the rookies arrived later than their expected arrival, which delayed the start of their preparation.

With the mix of young talents and veterans, the pep squad aims to surpass their Wild West-themed performance last season.

The Pep Squad was

pushed to fast-track their preparation and adapt to a new training routine with less than three months left before the competition.

“Minsan hindi na nagwe-weekends ‘yang mga ‘yan. Kasi ‘yung mga bago hinahabol namin, so hindi talaga siya biro,” Coach Jam

shared.

“Walang weekends, walang social life ‘yang mga ‘yan. Gano’n katindi. Kung kayo, nakakain niyo yung mga food na gusto niyo. Sila, I’m really really strict with nutrition. Hindi sila basta-basta nakakakain ng fast food, ng junk food, ng

milk tea, ng iced coffee, hindi basta-basta,” he added.

While Coach Jam has been blunt with their sacrifices and hardships, the decorated mentor has kept mum on the theme of their performance for UAAP Season 85.

LIGHT IT UP LIKE DYNAMITE. Adamson Pep Squad performs a BTS-inspired routine on Adamson University’s Pep Rally held last September 27, 2022 at the SV Gym.

PHOTO BY CHARLES DOMINIC L. UBANA

Members of Adamson Pep Squad warm up for their training at the SV Gym last September 18, 2022.

PHOTO BY CHARLES DOMINIC L. UBANA

Coach Jam Lorenzo of the Adamson Pep Squad.

PHOTO BY CHARLES DOMINIC L. UBANA

Human Interest

A Walkway of Adamsonian Generosity

By Sheena R. Sagales, Alessandra Angela C. Gomez

Stillfueled by Vincentian values, Program Charity Over Virus Indifference and Despair (COVID) has marked two years of service as of March 21, 2022. Adamson University (AdU), the Parish, and the Miraculous Medal Apostolate launched the project as a means to exercise charity by regularly distributing food along the Falcon Walkway amidst the pandemic.

While the Parish had established a weekly feeding program even before the pandemic, Program COVID specifically encouraged more people to help as it gained continuous support from donors.

The support behind the management

The partners for the program include AdU Alumni and institutions like the Caritas Manila and the Parishioners of San Vicente.

In an interview with The Adamson Chronicle, one of the heads of Program COVID and a Parish Priest of the University Fr. Joel Rescober, CM, shared: “There are people who are keen on helping the poor, and then saw what we were doing, very organized, and at the same time very transparent, so, some of

them kept coming back to us and extended their help.”

From an initial 100 recipients, the program grew and eventually managed to cater to 400 people.

The program at a glance Fr. Rescober revealed that the Parish staff volunteers receive the donations daily while a separate group prepares the hot meals. There are also teams dedicated to the program’s marketing and finances.

According to the parish priest, the hot meals vary each time, especially when the donors provide more than usual.

The program has also been flexible enough to adjust to constantly changing health protocols by either (1) distributing the meals or (2) having recipients line up at the Falcon Walkway to pick them up.

Despite such strategies and consistency, however, the program still faced some issues along the way. For illustration, people have complained about street dwellers gathering around the walkway and accumulating trash.

Fortunately, the issue was resolved quickly by explaining the program to the passersby and instructing recipients to

pick up litter after eating.

The future of the program

“Okay, maybe there will be some changes in the future. But as far as I am the parish priest, we will continue this [program] at the level of the parish,” said Fr. Rescober.

“Like what we are doing in pre-pandemic, every Tuesday [ang food distribution]. […] Maybe like what we did before, three days a week or kung talagang wala na, at least once a week. But if we have enough funds and more people are donating, we will not stop. We will not stop,” he added.

Fr. Rescober also shared that the current budget can stretch the operations until December next year, but if Adamsonians unite and continue to practice charity, the project can be sustained for much longer.

In its totality, Program COVID stands as an inspiration not only to Adamsonians but also to organizations and supporters outside campus. Many people are following its lead in contributing to the betterment of society amidst all the troubles in the present.

The program beneficiaries echo the same message : “Salamat sa Adamson.”

In education, the Philippines is left behind

By Christian Joshua D. Corcuera

People frequently say that education is the key to success, but access to quality education in the Philippines is a privilege not everyone could enjoy.

On November 2021, the World Bank (WB) reported that an overwhelming 9 out of 10 Filipino children aged 10 cannot even read and understand simple

text. The term “learning poverty” is used to explain the inability of children to perform these tasks.

Consequently, students’ performance in other aspects such as math, science, and the humanities is adversely affected, the WB argued.

Such a statement makes sense because, after

all, reading comprehension would be necessary to solve math and science problems. The report, however harsh it may be, revealed an undeniable reality: Philippine education is in dire straits and is being left behind by its neighboring countries.

CHARITY AND COMPASSION. Adamson University and the Miraculous Medal Apostolate provide basic necessities for the underprivileged during the COVID-19 pandemic.

PHOTO BY ALECKINE TROY N. RADA

Missing out on social media is OK

By Danica Jane R. Guieb

There

is a false dichotomy underlying in the idea of success.

It is not rare to see people thriving in life regardless of whether or not they finished in a prestigious college, or if they finished college at all.

Yet, why do we stumble in thought the moment we hear gleaming testimonies from people who became epitomes of success even though they took the risky path of only using diskarte?

People will repeatedly tell you to finish college. There is a strong ideology of success associated with having a degree and was reverberated from generations to generations. A diploma will be your ticket to the grandiose platform of the future, as they say. So, we often assume that people who decided to drop out of college collectively fail in life.

But this isn’t the 1600s anymore.

We now live in a time where people, regardless of the deep trenches that they came from, will achieve anything just perfecting this formula: goal + will + hard work = success. As a result, we are now brave enough to depart from the conventional idea of finishing school more than ever.

The attempt to explain how individuals thrive aims to emphasize only a few

IN EDUCATION/P1

The 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results showed that the Philippines ranked last among nearly 80 countries in reading comprehension, and second to last in math and science. From this, it cannot

notable successes that match a particular narrative. On one hand, we hear and see a lot of testimonies showing that despite no tertiary education, one can succeed in life. On the other hand, the successful exhilarating stories of those who chose to finish college can only be seen once they are on top of the piled-up blemishes. But these exhilarating narratives only can be seen once they are on top of piled up blemishes.

Failing to notice the underlying flaws of a concept so we only act upon what can be seen is what we call survivorship bias. Originally, it is a term coined by Abraham Wald, a statistician who studied World War 2 aircrafts.

Then, he used the infamous phenomenon on minimizing the failures of executed aircrafts during the time. Today, we see this not only in mathematical considerations, but generally in life.

In our course of following the same path of successful people, we often fail to consider the possible deficiencies when it is our turn to do it.

For instance, you may have heard a friend’s story of how they flourished in life despite not graduating from college. And as you try to be like them, you failed to take into

be denied that the Filipino youth have a lot of work to do.

Besides academic performance, the equipment and facilities necessary for learning are a problem in the country.

Despite the general improvement in living standards in Philippine cities, there has been little

account that they might have come from a wealthy family and were able to maintain whichever path they chose. But in your case, it’s different. You are not a product of nepotism nor have the capacity to sustain the same path that they have.

Contrastingly, survivorship bias can also be applied to those who are in college. The notion of getting a diploma in order to achieve anything you desire in life is not as clear as we see. There are people that, in spite of finishing their degree, were not able to secure the job that they perceived to have after or obtain the kind of life that they had planned in their head. This might be due to factors like lack of job opportunities or low wage offers.

So how do we really define the undefinable path of success?

Success is subjective.

The tactics to be used in order to be truly successful in your own terms rests only in you. A single method to “success” cannot be a standard measure applied to everyone. In your journey, just make sure that the underlying risks will be taken into consideration.

Whatever path you choose to be in right now, be the first one to believe in yourself and the wonders will happen.

Diploma or diskarte? You call the shots.

change in the problems that schools in urban areas are facing. For example, the resumption of face-to-face classes last August in basic education revealed that some classrooms in Metro Manila cannot accommodate all students. Some suggested that overcrowding may occur— and they weren’t wrong.

How do we reconnect by disconnecting?

In the age of the internet, it is not unusual to see how people have several commonalities despite being total strangers. It is both fascinating and dystopic how our lives today can become highly interconnected just by a single-click.

But sometimes, social media pulls us out of the moment. One might feel overwhelmed because of information bombardment, anxiety-inducing news, and non-stop notifications from all over the world— all at the same time.

Why don’t we spend a moment reflecting how detaching from the mainstream is actually beneficial to us?

The anti-FOMO

There are actually a lot of testimonies from every

part of the internet today that ironically shares their experience of logging off from social media not just for a day, a week, but years!

Believe it or not, there are actually a lot of positive things that being detached from these apps could bring. It gives us time to rediscover ourselves, develop mindfulness, practice contentment, and free from the mainstream. Fear of missing out (FOMO), no more!

You can overcome your fear of missing out in what social media prepares for you to consume by using the joy of missing out (JOMO) as medicine.

Social media pressures us to take things in a fast pace, and JOMO gives us the chance to savor life in a slower rate. It allows us to build genuine human connections, to appreciate our present, and to give us time to accept our

feelings regardless if they are good or bad. But how can we genuinely make JOMO a habit?

The best way to start manifesting JOMO is to turn off your screens. The moment you decide to log off and put down your phone is the moment you can connect with your real world. Go out and enjoy your surroundings. Practicing gratitude could also help you appreciate what you have, alleviate the chances of comparing yourself to others, and most importantly, keep you in progress.

JOMO serves as a reminder that in the height of chaos, what’s more important is to focus on our emotional and mental well-being. Despite our loud outside world, we can be in the present and be mindful of our boundaries.

One digital detox, coming right up!

Diploma versus Diskarte

By Danica Jane R. Guieb

Meanwhile, many Filipino children in the countryside would express harsher struggles, as some have to walk for hours on muddy roads and cross rivers just to attend formal schooling.

To be fair, the budget allocated to the Department of Education (DepEd) was more than P600 billion last

year—but was plagued by anomalies and corruption.

In the 2021 audit report of the Commission on Audit, DepEd was found to have an aggregate misstatement of P10.395 billion on the same year.

Most students in the socalled “Big Four” universities belong either to the middle-

class or the social elite, which is not surprising given the expensive tuition fees in three of these four universities.

The imperative challenge at present is to ensure that everyone, regardless of economic status, receives the education necessary to lift themselves from poverty and ignorance.

A recipe for poverty

By Michaela Ann Marie R. Razon

Everheard someone say, “Hindi mo kasalanan na pinanganak kang mahirap, pero ang tumanda nang mahirap, kasalanan mo na ‘yon.”

This litany seems familiar—for all the wrong reasons.

Ever wondered whether there is a club for banned books? Yes, and no.

Yes, as it actually exists in America in response to the rising cases of reading materials being pulled out from local libraries and schools due to their content. It is an alliance of students who discuss banned written materials.

And no, there is no such club situated in the Philippines, fortunately.

However, the book banning movement has been slowly starting to pop up in the country—giving us a heads-up to prevent the Filipinos from tweeting #bannedbooksclub.

Just this August, the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) attempted to censor books for all the wrong reasons.

The memo

The KWF released an internal memo on August 9, 2022, ordering one of their units to ban five books. Only two of the 11 KWF commissioners, Commissioners Carmelita Abdurahman and Benjamin Mendillo Jr., made the decision.

The reading materials on the hit list were “Teatro Politikal Dos” by Malou Jacob, “Kalatas: Mga Kuwentong Bayan at Kuwentong

Most of the people who have the guts to say such are those who live in a bubble— whenever they are flexing their lavish lifestyle or narrating how they achieved the life they are living to their hundreds or thousands of followers online.

Buhay” by Rommel Rodriguez, “Tawiddiwa sa Pananagisag ni Bienvenido Lumbera: Ang Bayan, ang Manunulat, at ang Magasing Sagisag sa Imahinatibong Yugto ng Batas Militar 1975-1979” by Dexter Cayanes, “May Hadlang ang Umaga” by Don Pagusara, and “Labas: Mga Palabas sa Labas ng Sentro” by Reuel Aguila. Their reason? They claim that the books would encourage readers to think about attacking the Philippine government, citing Article 9 of the Anti-Terrorism Law, which says that any person who incites others to commit terrorism “by means of speeches, proclamations, writings, emblems, banners, or other representations” shall be penalized with imprisonment.

Actions taken

Arthur Casanova, the commission chairman, pointed out that the commission does not have the authority to ban any written materials. He even revealed that they evaluated the books properly with the two mentioned commissioners.

Due to that, Casanova formed a panel of reviewers for a content discussion of the listed publications. He asked writers, KWF

However motivating as it may seem, still, we can not deny the truth that that statement seems a little problematic.

A dash of romanticism

If we could ask everyone in the world

commissioners, and representatives of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTFELCAC) to join him.

The decision

The general public, government officials, and many more flooded the memorandum with a sea of criticism.

They collectively expressed the memo to be junked because everyone has the freedom to read what they want—even the books they labeled as anti-government.

Rommel Rodriguez, a professor at the University of the Philippines Diliman in the Filipino and Philippine Literature department, shared his sentiments.

“Censorship is my muse. The more an artist or writer is prevented from writing, the more enthusiastic we become and the more we want to write,” he explained.

More than a week later, the Makabayan partylist filed House Bill 253 against the KWF memo.

“The resolution violates academic freedom, freedom of expression and other rights of the people,” the bill wrote.

By September 21, the KWF announced that it will revoke its order

which state of life they would choose between being poor or rich, they would definitely answer the latter.

Most people think that in order for us to succeed in life, we need to go through the needle’s eye, and that because life is

hard—we always need to study and work hard. If not twice, then thrice as hard.

We always settle with the bare minimum, such as low wages and incompetent school facilities that hinder us from achieving our dreams. We always say that we shouldn’t depend on other people because our destiny is in our hands. So much so that we often forget to make the masterminds behind our sufferings accountable.

A pinch of tyranny

It is the lawmakers’ job to serve and protect their compatriots; but if one comes from an elite clan known for being antipoor, will it be possible for them to make laws that are pro-people?

Below minimum wages, demolitions in urban poor communities, land-grabbing, contractualization, and a poor educational system are just some of the anti-people existing dilemmas—they serve as evidence that it is virtually impossible for a wealthy official to produce laws that benefit the lower classes.

We can see that it is never the people’s choice that they are struggling because they are mere victims of injustices in the current system handled by the rich.

Only if the shoe fits

By Sheena R. Sagales

A dozen enablers

There is no problem with radiating positivity online as an influencer of sorts. However, instead of saying that someone should work hard so they could achieve a comfortable life, why not call out and ask for accountability to the authorities who are behind their suffering?

Kind words are appreciated but we should never romanticize poverty, especially when we are not directly affected by the abuse and other struggling problems experienced by those living beneath the poverty line.

Displaying luxurious lifestyles to motivate the poor is low-key an insult that may result in another issue—the idea that having high-end material objects is what defines “success.” Yes, financial freedom is good, but having principles that serve the common good can make someone just as “rich,” albeit not in terms of money.

Besides, words can conceal but never erase the fact that these deeprooted issues are here to stay as long as they aren’t recognized by those living in the big, white palace.

A dash of romanticism, a pinch of tyranny, and a dozen enablers—that’s a recipe for poverty.

against the so-called subversive, terrorisminciting pieces of literature.

If it takes a village to build a child, then it takes a batallion of lawmakers and a number of heeds from the public for the 31-year-

old commission to get their heads back in the game.

Forming a club solely focused on book banning in the Philippines should be the least of our worries—but a worry, nonetheless, especially

with the said incident. We should be more eager to fight the mentality that books are forms of terrorism, as they stray very far from that. How bad could a book bruise an ego?

Well, only if the shoe fits.

HOME DEPRIVED. A man sleeps on a sidewalk and makes it his temporary shelter at Kalaw Street, Manila last October 7, 2022.

PHOTO BY CHARLES DOMINIC L. UBANA

What’s an audit? Explaining COA, Audit Reports, and Accountability

By Christian Joshua D. Corcuera

The Commission on Audit (COA) has been in the media limelight as it inevitably exposed shady government transactions and other material misstatements in the finances of certain government agencies in the past few months. COA as we all know, oversees the auditing and examining of the financial statements of all other public institutions. But what exactly is an audit? What are the several audit reports that an auditor can issue? And how does an audit benefit society?

In a nutshell

Auditing is a service where the auditor expresses an opinion on the fairness of the financial statements (FS) of the responsible party.

In the government, the Constitution has empowered and authorized the COA to

“examine, audit, and settle all accounts pertaining to the revenue and receipts of, and expenditures or uses of funds and property, owned or held in trust by, or pertaining to, the Government.”

Simply stated, the COA plays a crucial role in safeguarding public properties and funds.

To illustrate, assume that a certain government office or agency claims in its FS that it had expenses of P10 billion for a certain year.

State auditors from COA would obtain and evaluate audit evidence objectively and systematically to arrive at an opinion if this claim is materially correct. Ultimately, state auditors can issue four different audit opinions: (1) unqualified opinion, (2) qualified opinion, (3) adverse opinion, or (4) disclaimer of opinion. The same is true

for private audit firms that audit private corporations.

If based on the audit evidence, there is reasonable or high assurance that there are no material misstatements, then an unqualified or unmodified opinion would be issued. Of the four audit opinions, this is considered as the “clean” opinion.

However, if there is a material—but not pervasive— misstatement, a qualified opinion would be issued.

Meanwhile, an adverse opinion would be issued if there are material misstatements, and such material misstatements are pervasive, widespread, or excessive.

Lastly, a disclaimer of opinion would be issued by the auditor if there is a material and pervasive scope limitation, which occurs when the auditor failed to obtain

ROTC isn’t the end-all-be-all discipline

By Alessandra Angela C. Gomez

necessary audit evidence due to various factors such as the auditor being prevented by the client from accessing key documents necessary for the conduct of the audit.

The need for audits

From here, it can be deduced that audit clients would do everything to avoid receiving a qualified, adverse, or disclaimer of opinion—especially the last two mentioned—as these opinions could create a negative impression and lack of credibility in the eyes of the general public.

On the contrary, an unqualified opinion is the most ideal of the four audit reports, though it does not necessarily mean that the audit client is perfectly free from material misstatements due to fraud or error.

Rather, there is

As part of his first State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos (PBBM) Jr. proposed the reimplementation of the mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program, only this time, to Senior High School students.

According to the 17th President of the Republic, he believes it will boost and improve disaster response in the country.

With its dreadful resurrection nearing, what awaits the Filipino youth?

Debates about mandatory ROTC sparked memories of abuse and violence. Specifically, it brought up the program’s severity and irregularities in 2001 that cost the life of Mark Chua, a student cadet in the University

reasonable or high (but not absolute) assurance that the client is free from such peculiarities. In practice, most government offices receive a qualified opinion in contrast to private corporations which usually receive an unqualified opinion.

In 2021, some government offices that received an unqualified or “clean” opinion include, among others, the Office of the Vice President and the local government unit of Quezon City.

All of these facts beg the question: why should there be a need for an audit? The answer is obvious and self-explanatory.

Through an audit, we can see whether or not public finances are done legally, and—along the course of an audit—auditors can expose anomalies due to fraud,

of Santo Tomas.

The 19-year-old engineering student was responsible for exposing the macabre practices of his fellow officers in The Varsitarian, the University’s official student publication. A month after the story was published, Chua went missing, and on March 18, 2001, his decomposing body was fished out of Pasig River.

Following his gruesome death, only then did the Philippine government pass Republic Act 9163 or the National Service Training Program (NSTP) Law, which removed mandatory enlistment to the ROTC prior to graduating in college.

Hence, it was deemed confusing and concerning for the youth today when the President announced its

error, or non-compliance of laws and regulations.

Last August, as an example, overpriced laptops by the Department of Education (DepEd) in 2021 were flagged by the COA. As a result, former Education Secretary Leonor Briones had some explaining to do to the Senate—in a wheelchair.

That incident was a small portion of the bigger picture, however, as the DepEd received a qualified opinion from COA in 2021 with misstatements amounting to an aggregate P10.395 billion.

More importantly, an audit can help hold into account those who commit fraud and illegal acts in extreme cases. Without an audit, fraud, illegal acts, and lack of transparency and accountability could all be the norm.

inevitable return. Will it be another case of history repeating itself?

While the mandatory ROTC’s vision means well, it is the people behind it that will determine the outcome.

If the government is pushing the youth to become more proactive, disciplined citizens, then, it’s a good idea. However, disagreeing with the idea of mandatory ROTC does not equally mean that the youth are sluggish, lazy, or other out-of-thisworld names that people have been calling them.

With its problematic history and a system found to be flawed since the beginning, how sure are people that its horrors won’t be repeated?

Besides, military training isn’t the endall-be-all of displaying discipline and nationalism.

RAISE THE BAR OF EXCELLENCE. The Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps Unit of Adamson University stand firm as they give credence to their motto. PHOTO FROM 246th NROTCU

Back to where it all began: “Nicole” by NIKI album review

By Antonio Gabriel D. Tongco

Most NIKI fans discovered her through her catchy R&B hits, “lowkey,” “urs,” and “I Like U.” These early releases dealt with a lot of pretty mature topics, despite her only being a 1999 baby. But before she sang of drunken nights, snuckout kisses, and life-altering heartbreaks as the worldrenowned singer-songwriter NIKI, she was just Nicole Zefanya—a student with a cheap guitar and keyboard, shooting her shot at a music career and uploading videos on YouTube.

“I wrote all of this singer-songwriter, folk and indie music as a high schooler, and then boom! I graduated, broke up with

my high school boyfriend, and wanted everything to rebrand – as you do, when you’re 18,” said Zefanya in an interview with music publication The Forty-Five. However, she took a sharp turn in genre with her debut album “MOONCHILD,” which dropped in 2020.

In an interview with women’s editorial HYPEBAE, she revealed that she did not know how to describe MOONCHILD in terms of genre or sound, but it wasn’t something she shied away from. Zefanya wrote, “It doesn’t really fit into any box and I’m completely ok with that. [...] I think that’s how this project differs from my past projects. I sort

of just let go of any and all preconceived notions, rules and limitations I had in my head and just let my creativity take the wheel in any direction.”

That was where Zefanya was headed. At least, until the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and more importantly, until Taylor Swift released “Fearless (Taylor’s Version),” a rerecording of one of her past albums of the same name.

Swift has always been one of Zefanya’s musical inspirations, so living through lockdown with new versions of childhood nostalgia-inducing tracks such as “You Belong With Me” and “Fifteen” had the singer-songwriter leafing

through her old journal herself, where she found the music she wrote and loved through high school.

From there, the idea for her sophomore album, “Nicole,” was born. It was released on August 12, 2022, and it finally showed us the exact childlike innocence and vulnerability that we’ve never really seen much of from NIKI.

The album plays out like some sort of diary, and opens up with “Before,” a bittersweet tale of two former long-distance lovers meeting each other again a year after they broke up. In a press release, Zefanya said that she couldn’t think of a better song to introduce the “ultimate break-up record”

she’s always fantasized of putting out.

It turned out to be a good decision. The chorus kicks in, “You were all I’d ever known / And now I’m supposed to love you from a distance / Like it’s nothing, like it’s instant,” and ends at “It’s so cruel how things will never be the way they were before.”

There isn’t anything too poetic about those lyrics, but it’s mostly the sheer honesty in her songwriting that elevates tracks like these in the album. It’s the same case for the succeeding, more upbeat song, “High School in Jakarta,” which is really just about an against-allodds relationship that many of us fought for at some

point as kids—even through judgmental schoolmates and strict parents.

“Backburner” and “Keeping Tabs” complement each other lyrically, but are musically distinct. The former, which is Zefanya’s personal favorite from the album, is a sonically minimal track that talks about settling with being someone’s last priority as long as some sort of connection is maintained. But she shows some regret for it with the more danceable, but nevertheless upsetting latter track, and the contrast between them is easily noticeable on first listen.

Taylor’s Folklore… but on ink and paper

By Danica Jane R. Guieb

Just when you thought you’ll have to wait a long time again for Taylor Swift to write and release her next mystical album just like “Folklore,” we can get the same sensation from reading books that magnify songs from one of her most recent albums!

One of 2020’s highest selling albums, Folklore was released July of that same year. For the bookworms slash Swifties

out there, have you ever wondered how the 16-track album might look and feel like on ink and paper?

In pages

In a Rolling Stones interview, Taylor Swift revealed that when composing Folklore, she delved into sadness and created songs to comfort people during “unparallel times.”

As seen in the tracks “My Tears Ricochet, This Is

Me Trying, Epiphany, and Mirrorball, for example— who would’ve thought that we can love slow-burn grief and stories of immersing in sadness? “The Play As It Lays” by Joan Didion is just the perfect one for your next reads if so.

Didion highlights the question of what to do when life no longer makes any sense in her writings on grief and existence.

Oldies but goodies: The hits of then and now

By Justine Denise S. Cruz

You are the dancing queen. Young and sweet, only seventeen.

Thanks to Julia Barretto’s iconic video dancing to the 46-yearold ABBA hit, netizens have been sharing their own version of the viral disco bop. Despite being almost half a century old, it somehow frolicked its way to the hearts of the young generation.

This is not the first time that an almost-forgotten smash hit resurfaced and made a comeback. The songs of yesteryears are getting a new lease on life and everyone is here for it. This wouldn’t be possible if not for the modern shows and gimmicks.

Thanks, TikTok. Recently, since the pandemic struck humanity, boredom has managed to kill every living ounce of excitement in the body. However, TikTok came around and saved the day.

Trends in the For You Page (FYP) of the video-sharing app almost always featured nostalgic ballads.

Mostly featuring clips of women happily dancing around to the beat, Edison Lighthouse’s 1970 sensation “Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)” has been synced on 3.4 million videos. It snagged over 120 million streams on Spotify afterwards, causing it to enter the US Top 200 Chart

by January 2022.

Madonna’s “Material Girl” was another bubblegum pop sellout that was revived. First released in 1984, the synth-filled melody was a banger then and it still is now. TikTok users would play this while indulging themselves in expensive hauls and sprees.

Truly, this is one way to make the Queen of Pop proud.

With accompanying vocals from Michael and Jermaine Jackson, “Somebody’s Watching Me” by Rockwell also topped the charts after being featured in clips that suggest eerie, unexplainable encounters with the supernatural or more scarily, the living.

ABBA is probably the band with the most number of comeback hits on the platform. With songs like “Mamma Mia (1975),” “Dancing Queen (1976),” “Angeleyes (1979),” and “Slipping Through My Fingers (1981)” headlining among others, the Swedish supergroup had gained a massive following among the youth of then and now.

Flicks and series

Old but gold tunes also garnered a place in the official soundtracks of wellknown films and shows.

Colloquially termed as biopics, biographical films about musical performers have been made since who knows when and every time it drops in the cinemas, it

is quick to pick up a cult following.

Bryan Singer’s critically-acclaimed “Bohemian Rhapsody” was a commercial success in 2018. It vastly covered the life of Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of Queen, the critically acclaimed fourpiece band of the 1970s. The film featured classics, such as “We Are the Champions (1977),” “Radio Gaga (1984),” and “Love of My Life (1985).”

Just recently, Elvis (2022), a biopic about the King of Rock and Roll, was directed by Baz Luhrmann. It featured the Mississippiborn singer’s lethal lifestyle and career. The performance of Austin Butler as Elvis

singing “Unchained Melody (1977)” is one of the film’s most watched clips on YouTube today.

However, Kate Bush’s 1985 hit “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God),” received the highest kind of praise from people. Featured in the fourth season of Stranger Things, an original Netflix series, the synth-pop single’s music video has reached over 100 million views. Since the premiere, it has become the most streamed track in the US, with a whopping 8,700% surge in global streams.

In an interview with Variety, the 64-year-old English singer shared that she never thought that the

track would garner the attention of the audience. “It’s so exciting. But it’s quite shocking really, isn’t it? I mean, the whole world’s gone mad,” she exclaimed.

The 1986 thrash metal hit “Master of Puppets” by Metallica was also featured on the show.

The then meets the now.

With the return of old anthems, what does it mean for the present? Simon Reynolds answers it for us.

In his book, “Retromania: Pop Culture’s Addiction to Its Own Past,” he affirms that sentimentality is not avantgarde. However, due to the technology we have at the palm of our hands, retro

culture is bound to erupt on itself.

His worry lies that in the next decade, the future will only have fragments of what we have now to consider as pop culture. In other words, a creative dead end.

Nevertheless, maybe it’s a good thing that there is still something left to reminisce about. We may hum and dance around to decade-old beats but eventually, we will crave for something fresh, new, and unheard of.

But for now, let’s stick to what ABBA tells us to do. You can dance, you can jive. Having the time of your life.

Make sure to make the most of the serotonin boost that “Keeping Tabs” provides, though, as the next four tracks are what many consider to be the highlight of the album. The reason being… they’re the saddest parts of it, and

arguably of NIKI’s entire discography.

From its title alone, “The Apartment We Won’t Share” is the anthem for anybody who still has a myriad of “what ifs” with their ex lover. If the first few songs may be too lyrically shallow for some, this

part of the album is where Zefanya’s love for English literature becomes a bit more obvious. She claims, “The son you never wanted is the wound your father left / And the mother I won’t be is probably for the best.”

Guess it’s always tough to lose someone

you thought you’d spend your whole life with. But at the end of the day, you can always stay “Facebook Friends,” as the succeeding track suggests. They are followed up by “Anaheim,” and although NIKI decided to be particular for this one (since Anaheim is a city in California), the feeling she describes is painful enough to sting even those who can’t exactly relate.

“In a perfect world, I’d kill to love you the loudest / But all I do is live to hurt you soundless,” Zefanya sings. It would probably hurt to be on the receiving end of those lyrics, but “Milk Teeth” showed that NIKI also knows how it feels to love someone without being assured of anything. The song goes, “Am I at your disposal? / You tell me I’m nice but I know I’m only the hostel ‘til there’s a house that you like.”

While the last four tracks merely continue the album’s trend of being an emotional rollercoaster, they succeed in painting

the picture of a girl who’s learned from the breakup she’s experienced. NIKI finally stands up for herself in “Autumn,” saying “I didn’t obliterate these walls for you to come and raid my home.” In “Oceans & Engines,” she acknowledges the fact that the relationship is no longer working and therefore has to end. “On The Drive Home” depicts how she’s accepted enjoying relationships while they last, and “Take A Chance With Me” shows her willingness to give another shot at love.

From there, the album ends, and the story is tied up, as if to say that these experiences are what made Nicole; that even though NIKI initially chose a different direction in music, these are the songs that she loved at that point in her life.

“I think I was just running from myself for a while” was what Zefanya had to say about why she only thought of breathing new life into her old music.

Another beautiful layer to it is the fact that the first half of it consists of “new and archived songs no one’s ever heard before,” while the latter half is made up of songs from her old YouTube channel, “nzee24.” And yet, the production and lyricism made it appear as if they were written in the same time period: when she was all but a high school student in Jakarta, Indonesia.

A lot of things have changed about Zefanya now, but owning her old songs, specifically the lines that she says she won’t write now, was something she described as personally “freeing,” and she hopes to achieve a similar effect for her listeners. Her advice?

“Embrace that every step and misstep gets us to exactly where we need to be.”

While that may be easier said than done, perhaps a quick but reflective listen to “Nicole” can help.

“Ang Walang Kwentang Podcast” has significance, after all

By Mat Jefferson T. Richter

this: You’re an introvert who wants to be included in conversations but desires to be left alone. A long day has elapsed, and you hear two creatives in the jeepney on your way home discussing both the atrocities and fruits of socio-cultural relationships and pop culture.

Picture

If you’re fond of listening to raw yet energyeliciting podcasts with contagious laughter that keep you awake at working hours alone, then this podcast with an impeccable Gen-Z blend is for you.

Hosted by filmmakers Antoinette Jadaone and Jamie “JP” Habac Jr., “Ang Walang Kwentang Podcast” is a tandem podcast that deals with authentic day-today scenarios surrounding

the film industry, including the two’s humbling days.

What’s peculiar about this podcast is that its episodes are always almost unedited; hence, the fourth wall in podcasting is dismantled, and you get to eavesdrop on their quirky conversations. Bonus: they do not force you to engage and participate in the humorous discourse.

Your only duty is to listen, destress, and laugh—simple and easy!

Humorous titles like “Babae, Babae, Paano Ka Nag-First Move?” and “Lord, Hear Our Purr” are attention-grabbing enough to hook you into the podcast cosmopolitan. The consistently-trending podcast has also guested popular Filipino artists like Paulo Avelino and

Angelica Panganiban.

Albeit its history is traceable way back 1980s and was initially termed “audioblogs,” podcasts had begun hogging the limelight in 2004 when handheld digital audio transmission gadgets and internet access had become popular.

Whether people are commuting on their way to work, listening to Autonomic Sensory Meridian Response (aka ASMR) episodes, ingesting information via the academe, or simply eavesdropping on tandem conversations about adulting, each ear will always have a spot in podcasting’s genres.

According to Podcast Network Asia, the biggest podcast network in Asia, the Philippines is the sixthfastest-growing country in

terms of podcast listening. This equates to over 31 million listeners in the Philippines alone, with the majority falling between the ages of 23 and 34.

A personal recommendation from this ear-catching podcast is the “Petsa De Peligro De Por Dios Por Santo (Sweldo Memez),” which humorously tackles the filmmakers’ seedling times when they were still trying to navigate adulting.

Everything accounted for, if you want to expand your art perception, podcasts are a heavy-hitter to learn from, destress, laugh, and theorize. Free yourself from the shackles of the mainstream, if not for preference; the writer vows you will treasure it like a mother’s necklace.

One may experience the confusion and isolation of the character while reading the story, thanks to Didion’s superb narration.

The fragments of ideas we learn about the people in the protagonist’s life— mostly through snippets of dialogue—make us feel just as alone as she does. Even though her actions sometimes frustrate us, it is easy to feel compassion when we see what she is up against.

Furthermore, Taylor Swift’s beloved anthem, “August,” just had a significant resurgence in

popularity recently, which seems to be due to the fact that it is the time of the year.

In “August,” she speaks about an ephemeral summer romance. “Anna K” written by Jenny Lee perfectly captures the same feels that August gave us.

Anna K will give you a storyline about exhilarating secret meetups, intense relationships, and longing for things and people you’ll never have.

Taylor, if wanting was enough for you, reminiscing the Folklore album with these books will be enough for us, too.

TAYLOR’S/P1

Through grass and sand: A preview of Genshin Impact’s Sumeru

By Antonio Gabriel D. Tongco

SPOILER

Dendro reactions

ALERT:

This article contains spoilers about Mondstadt, Liyue, and Inazuma, the first three nations revealed in the game. Read at your own risk.

Genshin Impact (also known as Genshin), one of the most popular roleplaying games of all time and the most talked-about game on Twitter this 2022, has made one of its biggest waves yet: the release of Sumeru, the fourth nation in the vast continent of Teyvat.

Travelers have journeyed through Mondstadt, the city of freedom ruled by the Anemo Archon, Barbatos, then Liyue, the city of contracts whose prosperity was largely brought by the Geo Archon, Morax, and Inazuma, the city of eternity under the Electro Archon, Raiden Ei’s care. Now, it’s time to venture into Sumeru, the land of wisdom, currently governed by the Dendro Archon, Nahida, also known as “Lesser God” Kusanali.

While the “lesser god” label already leaves so much to unpack for players, it is but a small speck of dust in the desert of lore that Sumeru has to offer. There’s that, and the fact that Sumeru is literally part rainforest, part desert— before it was released, its landscape was all the information that average players had about the region. So before jumping into it, here’s what to expect from the long-awaited update.

Anemo, Pyro, Electro, Cryo, Geo, and Hydro.

Since Genshin’s release, these were the only elements that players could utilize in their gameplay. Of course, they were no stranger to Dendro, as its logo remained present in the game’s loading screen. Enemies that used that element had also existed long before Sumeru’s release: Dendro Samachurls and Dendro Slimes, for example. But pre-Sumeru, Dendro lacked one of the things that make Genshin enjoyable for many players: elemental reactions.

Mix Hydro and Cryo, and you get the freeze reaction. Do the same thing for Hydro and Pyro, and you get vaporize. There are many elemental reactions that can be created by combining elements together. Before Sumeru was released, players could only ever trigger the burning reaction, but not readily. They needed to have grass around them or make use of enemies that can dish out Dendro to trigger it. But gone are those days, as six more reactions have been officially added to the club.

Other than burning, players will now be able to trigger new reactions: catalyze, bloom, spread, aggravate, burgeon, and hyperbloom. However, unlike other elements, Dendro can only work with three, namely: Hydro, Electro, and Pyro. This pales in comparison to other elements which can work well with everything else but

Geo, but interestingly, the dynamics are also different.

If, with other elements, all a player has to do is literally combine them with each other to trigger reactions, Dendro makes things more complicated. The reactions spread and aggravate require that an enemy is applied the catalyze status by combining Dendro and Electro, while burgeon and hyperbloom requires players to first create “Dendro seeds” by mixing Dendro and Hydro.

While HoYoverse, the company behind Genshin, has released tons of exciting content this year, such as Enkanomiya and The Chasm, Dendro reactions are on a whole different level given the new dynamics they add to the game. It’s just as one of the game designers, “Aquaria,” once said: Dendro is the “last piece of [the] puzzle.”

Dendro-wielding characters

There are new elemental reactions, yes, but naturally, a player would first have to get themselves a character that can apply Dendro. Only two Dendro characters other than the Traveler are playable as of writing: Tighnari, a five-star bow user, and Collei, a four-star that uses the same weapon.

However, soon-to-be playable characters include sword user Alhaitham, and the catalyst-wielding Nahida.

South Asian and Middle Eastern references

Just by reading some of these characters’ names, though, certain inspirations would already come to mind for readers who know even the slightest bit about world history. That is, that they are mostly fueled by South Asian and Middle Eastern influences.

It’s always been a Genshin tradition to base nations off of real-world locations. Simply exploring the area makes this obvious. Mondstadt, with its castles and extravagant city gates, is inspired by Germany. Liyue, with its heavy usage of symbols such as dragons and lanterns, is inspired by China. And Inazuma, with its Shinto shrines, cherry blossom trees, and fauna such as the kitsune (foxes) and tanuki (raccoons), is inspired by Edo-period Japan.

Other than the fact that Sumeru is a melting pot of two countries’ cultures and traditions put together, it is no different from the other nations. But it’s best to actually explore the area for yourself instead of imagining it from an article; the experience just doesn’t compare.

Genshin’s in-game academia

Players have met a lot of non-playable characters who are professional researchers, many of them being from different, currently unreleased regions such as Fontaine and Snezhnaya. But Sumeru, the land of wisdom, specializes especially in the development of knowledge

through back-breaking research.

An organization called the Sumeru Akademiya is something players will encounter in a lot of Sumeru quests, as they are Sumeru’s main governing body. This is because Archons mostly don’t rule their respective nations directly. Barbatos had the Knights of Favonius, Morax had the Liyue Qixing, and Ei (who literally imparted her will on a puppet to rule on her behalf) had the Inazuma Shogunate.

The reason why Nahida is called a lesser god, however, is now for players to see for themselves.

Wanted more content? Here it is

One of the constant problems that end-game Genshin players complain about is lack of content. However, such “issues” are to be expected, because after all, HoYoverse did make it clear that the game was yet

to be 100% finished when they released it in 2020.

But with Sumeru being a major update, players are expected to take quite a while with clearing the new content. In fact, a leaker named “GenshinBLANK” once confirmed that when released in its entirety, Sumeru will be larger than Liyue, which is the largest nation in Genshin as of writing. It is definitely a long-awaited update for many players, especially those who are hungry for lore.

Genshin Impact has been extremely successful since release, and it seems it has nowhere to go but up. While they’ve lost a reasonable amount of players over the years due to various reasons, this update serves as a giant poster telling them that it’s time to come back.

And, all things considered, it really is.

Naiuwi ba ni Andres ang tinapay?

By Mat Jefferson T. Richter

Mag-aakinse nang muling abutan si Andres ng petsa de peligro, ang bulsa’y tila pinana ng isang matulin na arkero. Napangiwi na lang nang kaniyang buksan ang pitaka’t bumulaga ang mga sapot, kap’rasong barya, at plastik ng Coca-Cola.

“Kasya pa siguro ‘to pamasahe sa trabaho,” banggit ni Andres sa kaniyang loob.

Walang hiya si Princess Mae, nagbukas ng YumBurger sa loob ng bus!

Dahilan upang kumalam ang sikmura ng mga taong napagmistulang mga hayop na nakawala sa hawla. Tila

isang sanggol na tumatangis ‘pagkat hindi naabutan ang dede ng kaniyang ina.

Sa ritmo’t tono ng sikmura ni Andres, minabuti niyang magsulat ng tula’t gawan ng kanta ang likhain. Upang libangin ang sarili, nilaro na lamang ni Andres ang kaniyang gutom at nakipagbiritan sa kaniyang sikmura.

Ang nagwagi? Ang sikmura. Kayang sapawan ng ingay ng sikmura ang lalamunan nina Regine Velasquez at Morisette Amon. Dali-dali namang kumaripas ng takbo si Andres papunta sa kaniyang matalik na kaibigang si

Raphael, labis ang pagalala.

“Raphael, ano’ng pabaon ni Tita? May biskwit ba dine? Pakagat naman! Paburaot, makaraos lang sa peligrong ‘to!” Aligagang sinambit ni Andres.

Walang pag-aatubuli, ibinigay ni Raphael ito’t itinakbo ni Andres ang Sky Flakes papunta sa kaniyang silid-aralan. Gayunpaman, ang ulo’y tila Bulkang Mayon sa init dulot ng HyFlex; ang propesor, kung hindi naglalaho ng parang bula, ay biktima ng kakulangan ng pagsasanay para sa bagong normal.

Muling pumasok para sa

wala ang binata’t umuwi na lang upang kumayod.

Asin, toyo, at calamansi ang sahog sa sinangag bilang panglaman-tiyan. Naglabas si Andres ng kap’rasong papel at lapis—at isinulat ang mga bayarin para sa paparating na buwan.

Balikan commute sa iskul – 1,500

Upa sa bahay – 5,000 Groceries – 3,000 Napahinto si Andres at matawa-tawang binanggit sa kaniyang loob, “Bahala na pagkasyahin ‘to. Mukhang mangangamusta na naman ang tuyo’t gulay sa’min ng mga pamangkin ko. Malapit ko na atang

maging kasinglakas si Popeye.”

Kuryente – 4,000

Tubig – 1,000

Muling napahinto ang binata’t sinabing “Ay, nako! Mag tipid-tipid! Wala munang maliligo’t bawasan ang paggamit ng kuryente. Igagapang natin ang buwan.” Sa patuloy na paglilista ni Andres, natawa muli siya’t napailing nang malamang kakapit muli siya sa biskwit ni Raphael.

Maiyak-iyak nag-login si Andres sa kaniyang trabaho. Mas magastos ang libing, mag-uuwi na lamang siya ng tinapay sa kaniyang mga pamangkin.

Isa lamang si Andres sa libo-libong trabahadorestudyanteng inaasam na mauiwi ang tinapay sa pamilya. Ilang sikmura pa kaya ang makikipagsapawan sa mga kantang pangbiritan?

Ang edukasyon ang dapat na nagbibigay sustansya sa’ting kinabukasan, ngunit sa sistemang pinamumunuan ng mga naghaharing yaman, dadating nang baluktot at kinakalawang ang kutsara.

Obligado kang tumungo, sumunod, at isubo ito— kahit pa lamok at ipis ang pasasalamat sa’yo.

No Golden Color In My Crayons

By Danica Jane R. Guieb

Yes. I am a troubled adult.

But no

I was not deprived of love while young

I was not undermined

When trying to circle back to its roots

My mind becomes a tabula rasa

But I never forgot the distinct applause of congratulations

The troubling overintensity of things

“You are exceptional, the best, the smartest”

The innocent stratagems wrapped in motivations

They were routing me up to a higher land

But I can’t even drink from glass alone Cosmic security, selfconfidence

I could share some with others

At 20-ish, there’s a veiled fraudulence

When uncloaked

I will celebrate the frailties, blemish Longing for recognition of what it is

Oh How I wished they were agnostic of my triumphs

This child is itchy for a breakdown

A chance to fail

What a feeling of liberation Free from extreme optimism Free from the chokehold of hopes

I want to be in every spectrum of color In dull and gloomy

Not just gold.

The writer who makes ink out of coal residues

By Mat Jefferson T. Richter

Writing out of sheer spite has never been this hilarious. I stare emptily at the laptop screen attempting to sensify living and existing—and magnifying if the two can co-exist. To me, living is surviving materially.

We shove focaccia down our throats, exchange wit with cash flows, and talk nonsensically with breathing beings. In these absences, our body numbs and disobeys. The grim reaper’s scythe scathes our limbs ‘til the soulless feast on them.

But my personal favorite is existing. Here, we at least

attempt to sensify living. We attempt to anchor our self-worth on things that we pretend matter. We prolong breathing, craving to witness the Lord’s coming forth from His place.

Behold, they say. I’ve nothing to fret about but losing the chain that ties writing with the anchor. I plead guilty to pretending I’ve been sensitized to what it means to exist. If I vanish, I will, once more, attempt to make ink out of coal residues.

This time, with a box of matches, under the city flares that flicker, and inclement weather looming.

Young Pioneers of the Outbreak

By Alessandra Angela C. Gomez

We waited. Like evergreens losing their old leaves. Adapted to an environment just as how past ages before grew towards changes in the surrounding.

It has always been fascinating, from what once was to what is now. I skimmed through books about how humans, plants, wildlife, and how all sorts of life on Earth had evolved.

Unfortunately, it must have been some kind of war— to lose what they had, gain something new for survival, and how unpredictable it was. Something we never wished or asked for.

Now, bodies become machines again for the hosts to take over. I waited to come back, to walk the familiar roads, to see faces I knew, to continue physically, and

to go back to normal. But just like them, it became my “what once was.”

Waiting was losing what we were used to, and survival was gaining knowledge and using technology in the environment of our homes. I then thought I was ready to go back, but not with a system that wore off. The next thing I knew, a lot of us had to start in a whole different place.

But maybe, some things were fortunate. We still needed what once was; it could not be entirely lost.

“Why is your bag so heavy? Are you walking all the way to the train station like that?” My dad asked. “It’s my laptop, we’ll be taking a quiz with it onsite,” I remarked. Just as how people of early history ventured to watch the sun rise and feel its beams on

their skin, I stepped out of home anxiously towards the city at dawn.

But it has now changed to unfamiliar roads, unknown faces, being physically there, with a sheer bit of normalcy. “Yes, Ma’am. You are audible,” one of our classmates confirmed on the other end through the screen.

I leaned on my chair at the sight of other students walking in and consciously tried to recognize some eyes from the memory of their faces on the screen.

“Do you write all your notes digitally now?” I asked.

“Oh, yeah. It’s all in here,” my classmate said as she swiped up on her iPad. This is now our “what is,” not exactly what we asked for, maybe we came off stronger, but I have yet to see what is to come.

Si

Si Maria ay isang benteanyos na kolehiyala, Maraming kaibigan, Mahal ng karamihan

Isang gabi, pauwi galing sa eskuwela, Naramdaman niya Na tila ba’y may sumusunod sa kaniya

Tatlo— Tatlong kanto na lamang at masisilayan na niya Ang maamong mukha ng kanyang ina Dalawa— Dalawang paang nagmamadali At malalaki ang hakbang Isa— Isang pusong nagsusumikdo sa takot At pangamba

Maria

By Justine Denise Cruz

Ngunit ano mang bilis ng kilos niya, Nakahabol pa rin ito sa kaniya— Payapa at kalmado naman ang mukha nito, Tila isang maamong tupa pa nga Na nawawala sa pastulan

Ngunit nang tingnan ni Maria Ang mga mata nito, Doon niya napagtanto na Isa pala itong sorong naghahanap ng mabibiktima At masisila

At si Maria pala ang tupa Nagpupumiglas At nagpupumilit Na kumawala sa kaniyang

pagkakayapos

Gusto na lamang ni Mariang makauwi, Sabik na matunghayan ang ngiti ng kanyang ina Na paniguradong nagaalala na sa kaniya

Gusto na lamang ni Mariang makauwi, Nagsisisi sa mga binalewalang yakap ng kaniyang ama Ngunit ito na pala ang kanyang huling maaalala

Si Maria ay isang benteanyos na kolehiyala, Hindi pa rin nasisilayan, Hinahanap pa rin ng karamihan

Ang bilin ni nanay

By Anjaneth Lyka E. Raymundo

Noong ako’y bata, paalala ni nanay ay ‘wag magpagabi sa lansangan. Delikado na raw ang mga eskinitang madilim at pasikot-sikot. Matanda na kasi ang nanay, nagpapaniwala pa rin sa mga kuro-kuro. Kay ganda kayang titigan ng liwanag ng buwan kapag sumapit na ang takipsilim.

Nakinig ako kay nanay, pero bakit? Umaga naman noong ako’y lumabas upang pumadyak sa aking pulang bisikleta.

Malaya sa mas malaking kulungan

By Michaela Ann Marie R. Razon

Agosto na naman, karaniwang maitim ang ulap, madalas ang tangis ng langit. Napatingin ako sa itaas, uulan nanaman, uuwing basa ‘pagkat ‘di makapuslit ng payong. Lumakad ako sa tawiran na parang nasa teleserye, ngunit walang pag-aatubili, kailangan ko nang makauwi.

Walang masakyan at basang-basa habang humihilik nang gising. Pumukaw sa atensyon ko ang isang lugar kung saan nandoon ang aking ama. Hindi ko na namalayan, dinala ako ng mga paa ko roon at tinagpo siya.

“Laya,” pagbati niya. Ngiti lang ang sagot ko sa kaniya. Sa mabilis na pag-usad ng

oras, tila umuurong ang dila sa mga salitang nais sambitin.

“Laya,” muli niyang bigkas.

“Wala pa silang naililimbag na akda ko,” marahas kong sambit habang lumalabas sa’king mga mata ang naipong panaghoy.

“Hindi nakakamit ang hustisya sa pagtangis at pagkainip.” Natauhan ako sa bawat letra ng kanyang sinabi, dali-dali kong pinunasan ang aking luha.

“Ano bang akala mo, maswerte ka kasi hindi ka nakakulong katulad ko?” Tumahimik ang paligid, tibok ng puso ko lang ang aking naririnig. Gumagalaw ang oras, ngunit nakahinto ang

mundo ko.

“Nilimitahan nila sa apat na pader ang kulungan ko, pero ikaw, nanatiling walang hanggan ang kulungan mo.”

“Mas malaking kulungan?” Hindi ko siguradong tanong sa kaniya.

“Mas malawak na kulungan.” Bago pa man akong magsalita muli ay lumapit na ang bantay para muli siyang ibalik sa selda.

“Ingat ka, Laya!” Huli niyang sambit bago pa man tuluyang mawala sa aking paningin.

Tumayo ako at nilisan ang piitang iyon. Magulo ang isip ko, ngunit malinaw ang bawat salitang kanyang sinambit.

Lupaypay at nasusuka

Nananabik na maramdaman muli ang init ng araw, inaantabayanang maamoy ang simoy ng hangin mula sa bukid.

Ngunit totoo pala ang mga aswang sa kwento ni nanay.

Nakasalamuha mo na rin sila sa daanan.

Walang pangil, walang sungay, walang buntot na mahaba. Sa ilalim ng bahaghari ko naranasan ang kanilang pagkahayok.

Inalala ko ang payo ni nanay; pero ang hindi

niya sinabi ay hindi pala takot ang mga aswang sa liwanag, marunong na silang makisalamuha sa tirik na araw.

Sinunod ko ang bilin ni nanay; subalit isa na ako sa dumaraming kaso ng mga babaeng nakaranas ng makamundong pagnanasa.

Ang paalala ni nanay sa mga bata ay ang aking kwento.

Ako ang bilin ng iyong nanay.

ako habang sinasalo ang tangis ng langit. Gusto kong isuka ang mapait na reyalidad na nagdala sa aking ama sa himpilan at masahol na sistema na nangigiit upang hindi maisapubliko ang mga katotohanan sa artikulo ko.

Sa ilang sandali ng pagkakalugmok ay nakakita ako ng liwanag, pero habang tumatagal ay parang mas lalo akong nanghihina.

“Tulong, tulungan niyo! Hit and run victim, habulin niyo ‘yung kotseng pula!” Sigaw ng isang ale na naka rosas na bistida.

Bago ako tuluyang humimlay ay nakatanaw ako ng pag-asa.

The tall child is teething

By Mat Jefferson T. Richter

I’ve grown into a tall child, the toys, I still mistake as necessities. I often stick a lollipop onto my mouth, candy the sweetest as it tears teeth apart, stick sculpted by the finest craftsmen, scent drenched from the petals of full-blown jasmines.

When the universe turns lopsided, I switch the candy with a tube. Or a weekold cigarette stick caressing my lips.

Or perform magic shows ‘til I see a green deity. The scent will linger in this child-sized capitalist prison; the lollipop will decay quickly.

The tall child has seen vaster than a bird’s eye. The teeth, bleeding from the candies he bled for the child. He still slides a handful of M&M’s in his mouth sometimes. He learns that the child isn’t lost; he is teething.

Photo by Jeremay G. Onayan

"Aquarium" Anjaneth Lyka E. Raymundo

Photo by Ser Albert Christian I. Capoquian

Photo by Jeremay G. Onayan

Photo by Charles Dominic L. Ubana

Photo by Aleckine Troy N. Rada

Photo by Aleckine Troy N. Rada

Photo by Ser Albert Christian I. Capoquian

Photo by Charles Dominic L. Ubana

Science and Technology

SVPP becomes first earthquake-resistant church in PH

By Mat Jefferson T. Richter and Michaela Ann Marie R. Razon

TheSan Vicente de Paul Parish (SVPP) installed rubber seismic isolator devices on its century-old infrastructure, making it the first earthquake-resistant church in the Philippines after the turnover ceremony last September 10, 2022.

According to Fr. Gregorio L. Bañaga, Jr., C.M., Vicar General of the Congregation of the Mission, “Ang sinabi ng Cardinal sa amin, ‘yung limited [church operation]

use. Pero kung wala kaming gagawin, pupunta ‘yung [earthquake] sa Church because it’s dangerous.”

The Church would’ve ceased operations due to old age and weak structure if it weren’t for the installed devices. Drawing back to 1872, the land it was erected on served as a sanctuary for seminarians and Vincentians housed at the San Carlos Seminary.

However, the piece of land

that the Vincentians bought, along with the majority of Intramuros' structures, was destroyed by an earthquake in 1880; thus, Vincentian priests deemed earthquake resistance not just a necessity but a milestone for the Community.

Engr. Ruel B. Ramirez, the pioneer of Anti-Earthquake devices in the Philippines, explained that “the rubber will bend during an earthquake,” which will then “resist” the tremors. When an earthquake

strikes, the innermost highdamping rubber experiences shear distortion, allowing it to absorb vibration energy converted to heat.

The engineer’s team also emphasized that the Church administration decided to commission them after they inspected the Church in 2017 and 2019. In both inspections, they found cracks in the building due to an earthquake that occurred in Zambales.

Nonetheless, the said

seismic device will keep the Church safe even if the “Big One,” or the 7.2-magnitude earthquake from the West Valley Fault hits it.

To better understand SVPP’s triumph, when an earthquake hits, the newly installed rubber seismic isolator devices undergo three basic steps.

First, the rubber changes shape due to force or “shear distortion” caused by an earthquake. Second, the

distorted rubber becomes capable of absorbing vibrations from the quake. Last but most importantly, the distorted rubber converts the absorbed energy into heat, significantly reducing earthquakes’ impacts.

The authorities, however, clarified that the project is not yet finished and that they are still raising funds to optimize the project; nevertheless, the devices are already ready and functional in case of an earthquake.

Smartwatches: The unsung heroes of modern tech

By Antonio Gabriel D. Tongco

Artificial intelligence, virtual reality, 5G connectivity, cashless payment systems— these innovations are commonplace in the minds of the general public when the topic of modern technology is brought up. After all, they really are some of the hallmarks of technological development in the 21st century.

Of course, smartphones are also an integral part of that conversation. But beyond quality protective cases, wireless earphones, and other accessories,

the one gadget that could greatly enhance the experience of using them is often ignored: smartwatches.

They’re definitely not suited to everyone’s lifestyle. In fact, a lot of people see them as mere gimmicks or status symbols. Just like every other gadget, though, it really comes down to what a person will use them for. What is obsolete for someone may be extremely useful for another; that is exactly the case for these wearables.

Despite being somewhat

swept under the rug, smartwatches can offer a variety of benefits.

Health within reach

To attain certain goals, you have to make sure that your progress is somewhat measurable. The same applies to fitness. While you can track your development through other means, smartwatches provide more specific details that can help. Data such as calories burned after a walk or workout, or hours spent in every stage in the sleep cycle, for example, are convenient

and help encourage healthy living.

Smartwatches have tons of useful reminders as well. Be it a notification about the number of times you need to drink water in a day, or a sudden alert about the fact that you’ve been sitting down for too long, they give these small but beneficial prompts that can keep you healthy in the long run.

They can track useful health information such as heart rate, blood oxygen, and even women’s period cycles.

EARTHQUAKE RESISTANT. Adamsonians pass by the newly reinforced St. Vincent de Paul Parish last October 7, 2022. PHOTO BY CHARLES DOMINIC L. UBANA

Adamsonians discover fifth Orphnaecus tarantula species

Researchers from the Adamson University Biology Department announced their outstanding discovery of a new tarantula species named Orphnaecus adamsoni during the flora and faunal diversity assessment in the course of their Dinagat Islands exploration.

Orphanaecus adamsoni is the fourth Orphnaecus sp. to be discovered in the Philippines and only fifth in the world. This new species was named in honor of the University.

The exploration and collection of specimens began last October 2018, but due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and the imposing of national restrictions, the research study was inevitably delayed.

Nonetheless, Julius John Salamanes, Gil Gabriel Villancio, and Jhayson Mark

SMARTWATCHES/P1

While these seem like basic statistics, they’ve proven useful many times over, especially for people with chronic conditions. But one of the best and most relevant ways they’ve helped is by helping wearers detect COVID-19 infections days before any symptoms arise.

A report by CBS News cited studies by “leading medical and academic institutions” such as the Mount Sinai Health System and Stanford University.

According to their research, smartwatches help with detecting COVID early by

Santos worked together from the collection of specimen samples up to the morphological details examination of the species to spark a new Vincentian discovery.

Last May 2022, Julius John Salamanes drafted the manuscript with the help of the Dean of the College of Science, Dr. Eleanor Austria.

A month later, they submitted it to Biodiversitas, an Indonesian journal engaged in the sphere of research, conservation, and use of biodiversity in a sustainable manner. Working with minor revisions, the manuscript was then officially accepted in August 2022.

This new species can be distinguished by its composition of having a rounded carapace, shorter leg segments, more clavate-

noting “subtle” heartbeat changes.

The article wrote about one of Stanford’s findings, that “81% of coronavirus-positive participants experienced changes in their resting heart rates up to nine and a half days prior to the onset of symptoms.”

It’s signs like these that not only promote fitness, but also preventative care; both of which could help you cut costs on healthcare in the future. And it’s all because of a gadget that you let sit on your wrist.

By Danica Jane R. Guieb

paddle-shaped maxillary lyra, and a different habitat. The researchers then intended to navigate Dinagat Islands for its under-explored landscape and unidentified specimens.

On the other hand, Norman Myers, a British environmentalist from the Green College of Oxford University, conducted scientific research entitled “Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities,” which highlights severe endemics.

The study sought to identify “biodiversity hotspots” where exceptional concentrations of endemic species are undergoing exceptional loss of habitat and how to support them. It also described the Philippines’ significant degree of species richness and endemism as being one of the world’s

biodiversity hotspots.

However, there remains a significant gap, with only two percent accounting for all recognized tarantula species in the Philippines.

This gap in discovery rate is due to lesser attention given to the field matter. Other reasons for the low rate of discovery include the prevalence of illegal captivity and illegal marketing of these species. Poaching practices also pose a big threat to the state of tarantulas.

The discovery of O. adamsoni, on the flip side, reflects a positive status of the Philippines’ natural landscape. The Vincentian researchers also shared that the number of existing species in an area would indicate the healthiness of an ecosystem.

The Adamson Biology Department aims to

strengthen its research capabilities given that biology is a huge part of natural sciences and there is an enormous amount of potential field topics to explore.

Salamanes, the first author of the discovery, expressed his fulfillment in being able to apply necessary expertise in the field, to be an educator and researcher at the same time.

“It’s very fulfilling to contribute something to the research field and especially, in science in general. It’s an unexplainable feeling contributing something to your community through your own little ways,” he said in an interview with The Adamson Chronicle.

He also shared a warm message for young and aspiring researchers: “Just pursue a field that you are interested [in]. Do what

makes you happy. You might discover something new and make a substantial contribution to the scientific community.”

This research study has been possible with the funding support of Discovery-Applied Research & Extension for Trans/InterDisciplinary Opportunities, Grants-in-Aid of the Commission on Higher Education, and the assistance of the Adamson University’s Center for Research Development.

Meanwhile, researchers from the Adamson Biology Department are planning to extend their research study of discovering other unrecognized tarantula species and are also currently eyeing to explore molecular studies since there’s not much molecular study within tarantulas.

Practical day-to-day use

Smartwatches embody the fact that it’s the little things that count. While smartphones are very much portable, it’s undeniable that carrying them can become a chore in certain situations, more so in a country like the Philippines.

With reports of theft becoming rampant on social media, using your phone in public or during transit has become more dangerous than ever, especially if you use expensive, high-end devices such as iPhones.

But with a gadget that

can show you notifications, make texts and calls, control your music app of choice, and other common activities that phones are used for—all from your wrist—then the number of times you need to bring out your phone is significantly reduced.

When properly set up, you might not even need to take your phone out at all. Apps like Waze or Google Maps are much safer to use on a smartwatch with built-in GPS as well to prevent similar cases of theft.

Another safety feature it can give is emergency alerts.

Smartphones already have this feature. Usually, by pressing a certain hardware button, your phone can send SOS messages to select contacts, but certain emergency situations can render them out of reach Buttons lying around your wrist are simply more accessible.

Worth it or not?

Smartwatches are quite specific devices, so it’s vital that you have a good idea of what you’re gonna use them for, and whether or not they’re fit for your lifestyle.

If you’re the type who

wants as much utility as gadgets can provide, then a smartwatch will serve you well. At the end of the day, the average branded traditional watch costs the same as a smartwatch, which can do so much more than just tell the time. With a lot of custom watch straps to choose from, they can be just as fashionable.

Most of it really boils down to these small preferences and personal budgets. But when talking about smartwatches, one thing is certain: they have so much more to offer than what we give them credit for.

Electric circuits on your skin? SoKor scientists explore E-ink

By Sheena R. Sagales

The death of telly and rise of streaming services

By Justine Denise S. Cruz

If you ever need a quick fix to your romcomfueled addiction or a breather, just make a few clicks here and there, and voila! Binge-watching a six-episode series while burying your face in a bag of chips is a great way to spend the weekend.

Streaming behemoths, with Netflix as the ringleader, have made this luxury available to those who can afford it for a certain price. With subscription plans starting at almost $10 a month, patrons can watch their favorite shows in the comfort of their own homes. They can stream on their mobile phones, desktops, laptops, and smart TVs. The sky’s the limit—with the sky being your budget.

How it started

Long before online streaming services existed, recreation and fun came in the form of cable television. In hopes of bringing

better signal reception for televisions in remote mountainous areas, John Walson introduced cable TV in the city of Mahanoy in Pennsylvania in 1948.

Two years later, Robert Tarlton developed the first ever commercial distribution in the United States, which gave birth to cable channels or networks. Originally called Community Antenna Television, this huge advancement then utilized antennas that were installed in highlands for homes to be connected to.

Seeing how this technology could pick up broadcast signals from miles away, operators took advantage of this opportunity to introduce new programming channels.

By the 1960s, over 850,000 patrons were serviced by 80 cable providers.

Shortly after, in 1972, Home Box Office (HBO) became the first paytelevision network to be

launched on cable TV. This prompted operators to use a national satellite distribution system. From here on out, other program networks sprung up, which further amplified the video entertainment industry then.

How it’s going

By the start of the 21st century, network juggernauts in the West, like ABC, CBS, and NBC, produced an array of programs, ones that scored high viewership ratings. Reality competition shows, sitcoms, crime dramas— you name it, they have it.

By 2010, cable TV reached its peak as over 105 million American households were subscribed to pay television. However, this changed when online streaming services came to light.

Netflix was founded by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph. It started out as a

DVD rental service in 1997 until 2006 before becoming a full-pledged streaming media service for video-ondemand in 2007.

Aside from having a carefully selected variety of shows, the now infamous

Smartwatches

and fitness trackers are some of the wearable technology devices people use today to monitor physical activities.

Asimina Kiourti, the senior research associate at ElectroScience Laboratory, a premier university center in Ohio State’s College of Engineering, believes we can use the mentioned concept further to generate new medical care devices for health monitoring.

With that said, e-tattoos have begun hogging the limelight in the medical field.

E-tattoos are composed of flexible electric components that can track information about health. They are also said to be comparable to cosmetic tattoos for kids as you have to moisten your skin before they can be applied.

For instance, Massachusetts-based company MC10 created an e-tattoo to monitor the performance of a heart.

Investigators from Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology also made color-changing wearable ink that can send information about dehydration and body glucose levels.

Furthermore, a team of scientists from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) is also exploring e-tattoos. The scientists from KAIST specifically made it to track several crucial body signals like blood pressure and heart rate. It can also be used as a heater for physiotherapy.

The ink is made from a liquid metal called gallium combined with carbon nanotubes that allow the conduction of electricity.

Then, it is used to print ultrathin circuits in the skin through 3D and circuit printing technology. The e-tattoo is physically attached to a biosensor, equipment used for detecting processes in the body, such as an electrocardiogram machine, and sends information regarding a person’s vital signs through the device connected.

According to Steve Park, a materials science and engineering professor at KAIST who co-led the team with Ph.D. candidate Lee Gun-hee, the e-tattoo they are working on is more comfortable to users because it is applied to the skin directly compared to the previous patch kinds of tattoo. Moreover, the electronic ink is lightweight and can be bent, folded, and stretched.

Meanwhile, even with the progress of the research about the e-tattoo, his team said that it is still at an early stage and requires more data. The group also added that they hope to link a wireless chip integrated with the ink so that people can send signals from their bodies to an external device.

Everything accounted for, they aim for the e-tattoo to eventually allow healthcare professionals and individuals a more personal and nonintrusive manner of tracking vital body signals.

bearer of the dark red icon is cheaper than its forerunner and eliminates the usual broadcast interruptions in cable TV. From this point in time, it gained popularity with over 15 million clients in 2010 before hitting the

220 million mark in 2022. Other Goliaths that belong in the on-demand media industry followed suit, such as Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and HBO Max.

Be real with BeReal

By Justine Denise S. Cruz

Interactive, and on some days, just incontestably addictive, sharing your own captured moments while clicking the little rainbow rings to view others’ “stories” is a surefire way to get a dopamine high. FOMO no more, as one might say. Whether it’s sharing your slick fit for the day or a look behind your Friday night out, there’s no denying that Instagram has everyone in a chokehold. For 24 hours, your “followers” get to take a peek at your world.

However, there is a new girl in town and some say she is just a few steps away from dethroning the queen bee. The 12-year-old photosharing platform may have finally met its match— one that steers away from the usual filtered, almost perfectly polished images.

Do it for the gram no more Tagged as the antiInstagram app, BeReal is a Paris-based social media application developed by Alexis Barreyat and Kevin Perreau in 2020.

Available on iOS and Android platforms, it encourages its users to post authentic, unstaged content—far from what the rival app is advocating through its carefully curated

feeds. Nothing extra and fancy, just the mundane and real moments of everyday life.

A statement sent by the company to The Verge read, “We want to make people feel good about themselves and their lives. We want an alternative to addictive social networks fueling social comparison and portraying life with the goal of amassing influence.”

At a random time once a day, a user will receive a prompt to take a snapshot of what’s happening right off the bat—no post-processing allowed. If they miss the 2-minute mark, they will be prohibited from seeing any of their mutual friends’ posts for the day.

Aside from the no-filter rule, BeReal doesn’t keep track of how many people have seen a snap. This feature is enabled by the developers to take away the pressure of pleasing people and extorting superficial validation.

“BeReal won’t make you famous. If you want to become an influencer, you can stay on TikTok and Instagram,” one of its disclaimers boldly stated. Talk about throwing shade at its predecessors.

Moreover, if you wish to react to your friend’s post

Explain like I’m 5: What on Earth is inflation?

By Mat Jefferson T. Richter

for the day, it will not be the typical yellow, round series of emoticons. RealMojis is the way to go—customized emojis that are literally made from your facial expressions.

The insta-real conundrum

Advertised as “not another social network,” it had its fair share of struggles like any quintessential media platform. Oh, the irony.

BeReal wasn’t an overnight sensation. Despite being available in the market two years ago, it only gained traction among Gen Z during mid-2022.

In a digital analytics report by Sensor Tower, the Andorra-based startup has been downloaded more than 20 million times on online distribution platforms. From only having 10,000 regular users a year ago, BeReal is having its breakthrough moment this year as its number of daily patrons skyrocketed to 10 million.

However, as its popularity grew among kids (and kidsat-heart), the number of complaints against it also snowballed.

Apptopia, a data intelligence program, reported that 56.4% of the total user reviews given in May 2022 were bleak due to technical bugs and glitches.

Foronce, has the thought “Why can’t we just print more money?” ever occurred to you? As a matter of fact, it really is intriguing to not know the answer to this. If inflation threatens our current purchasing powers, then why on Earth can’t we just print more money to curb it?

Is it an environmental issue in the sense that we lack the trees to print more money? Is it because we live under capitalist systems that prioritizes competition over morality? Is it due to the lack of banking options and methods stemming from technological issues? If this doesn’t spark curiosity in you, I don’t know what will.

Buckle your seatbelts as we are about to solve a bit of a mathematical problem.

Yet,

gears. Its rollout is nowhere near being announced but cheers to cloning other upand-coming applications, I guess?

Meta, which acquired Instagram in 2012, is quick on its feet as soon as it discovered the buzz surrounding the fast-growing app. Candid Challenges, a prototype for the Systromfounded social network, works the same way BeReal does—down to the cogs and

See inflation in this way: I have 10 pens and you don’t have any. I am therefore regarded as wealthy, whereas you are regarded as poor. If someone suddenly gave you 10 pens—and all of us have pens of the same quantity, then pens are now easily attainable and less special since all of us have them.

Precisely put, it is no longer special because everyone has it. The value of a pen is no longer as high and is therefore no longer in demand. Thus, it devaluates the pen, which basically exemplifies what inflation is. Meanwhile, you can also think of it this way. Say both have just recently purchased the latest iPhone 14 Pro Max. In a materialistic society that treats such items as prominent status symbols, us having the latest iPhones

The verdict

In order to survive in the business in the long run, the company has to have a pair of eyes on the target and a nose for innovation. Developers have to be sharp-witted to provide the growing demand for whatever is (and will be) in trend—anything that

implies that we’re “special.” But only if you’re among the first few ones who can afford it.

As more people purchase it, it becomes less special. In a year, this explains why Apple keeps on releasing new products—to lure their customers into thinking that their phones have already devalued, when in reality, more people just became capable of purchasing them as time passed.

To compensate, the price of a pen or a phone then increases so that fewer people are capable of purchasing it—and therefore, they will be deemed as more special. Inflation is a quantitative measure of an economy’s rate of increasing prices for services, goods, and products.

Inflation can arise when

screams peculiarity and is able to live up to the hype is the way to go.

Staying authentic online is hard, especially when it involves the lurking, judgy eyes of a gazillion followers. Can BeReal ultimately dethrone the apps we are so accustomed to using? Not likely, but its deadset goal of promoting an honest-togoodness experience makes it deserving to be given a chance.

the cost of manufacturing, such as raw resources and labor, rises. An increase in demand for goods and services can lead to inflation because customers are ready to pay more for them.

Generally, inflation serves to devalue a coin since it is associated with a decline in the buying power of a currency. As a result, countries with significant inflation see their currencies depreciate in value relative to other currencies.

This exemplifies why the Peso has been devaluating for a long period of time, and it’s definitely something to watch out for as the COVID-19 pandemic rages on. Be informed and educated; in a cosmos crowded by conscious, nonchalant capitalists, be financially literate.

A total of 72.2 million people are still giving their seals of approval to existing cable providers this year. However, this number is anticipated to plummet as more Netflix-like premiums are hitting the streets. Is this the beginning of the end for cable TV?

Undoubtedly, while digital subscription-based services are taking the world by storm, it has also suffered drawbacks that can alter the future of their services if unattended.

Just recently, Netflix suffered its first major subscriber loss of the decade.

From April to July 2022, a million customers have

decided to bid their service goodbye. Michael Pachter, a Wedbush Securities analyst, claimed that the streaming giant may have lost a number of patrons due to “competition, recession, inflation, and general fears about the economy.”

Hastings, in an interview with The New York Times, said, “It’s tough losing 1

million subscribers and calling it a success.” Yet, one-half of the HastingsRandolph duo still saw the silver lining in the situation and called it “less bad results.”

To compensate for the fall, the company has resorted to compulsory job cuts, additional fees for password sharing, and the

boldest gesture of them all: ad-supported plans by 2023. It begs to ask the question: is this also the beginning of their end?

Not really. Scott Zari, a director at S&P Global, doesn’t believe that Netflix would lose its footing in the industry. “I think it is indicative of maybe a new phase of slower growth,” he

said.

History tends to repeat itself but in this case, our goto stress busters can avoid the same fate as its forefathers by acceptance, anticipation, and adaptation. Now, while it’s still ad-free, get your popcorn and experience their promise of uninterrupted quality content.

Tudum.

the 254% increase of negative feedback in the first week of July didn’t hamper the number of monthly active users as it plummeted to 315%.