The Official Student Publication of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila ANG PAMANTASAN Volume 41 Issue 1 October - November 2020 COVER ILLUSTRATION BY PATRICIA SANTOS Ang Pamantasan Issues can be viewed on Issuu. Scan this QR code to check out Ang Pamantasan’s digital contents. BEKNOWINTHE NEWS PLM tackles hurdles of online learning in AY 2020-2021 Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila officially opened its first fully online semester last October 05, in line with its decision to push forth the academic year and fulfill its mandate amid the ongoing pandemic. MORE ON PAGE 2 FEATURES Still alive?: A look into rural MSMEs amid pandemic In the municipalities of South Palawan, businesses vary not much in style and do not fit in exactly in the molds of cosmopolitan. Like all enterprises, however, they yearn for the long-term stability of business, one that can last for generations... MORE ON PAGE 10 SPORTS PLM Haribons makes their maiden flight in E-Sports The rookies of Haribons E-Sports braved the skies and perched with a stir of victories and setbacks as they joined their first-ever intercollegiate competitions in AcadArena’s National Campus Open and University Alliance Cup. MORE ON PAGE 16
With over 13,000 students enrolled this term, the university opted to utilize Microsoft Teams as the primary digital platform of its Learning Management System (LMS), with both synchronous and asynchronous means, in light of the education sector’s adjustment to flexible learning.
online learning in AY 2020-2021
its purpose for some students. “Recovery week but we are still doing some requirements,” Marasigan said. Despite the implementation of recovery week, students’ struggles seem to prolong due to unfinished requirements with limited resources brought by the onslaught of typhoons. She also narrated the need to go to a computer shop for her to download the recorded lessons. She added that it will cost much data consumption if she will continue watching it through her mobile phone. In line with the recovery week, several adjustments were mandated to give students an ample time to prepare for the upcoming midterm examination. tackles hurdles of
Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Facebook Page PAMANTASANANGThe Official Student Publication of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Volume 41, Issue 1 • October - November 2020news02
Vice President for Information and Communications Technology Engr. Evangeline Lubao reported that issues regarding the Outlook accounts are being addressed accordingly. Moreover, negotiations to improve the LMS are ongoing, along with the enhancement of the campuswide internet Scholarshipsconnection.are also available at the Office of Student Development Services to provide students in need of financial assistance. The Online Education Committee was also established, which comprises student representatives from the Supreme Student Council and College Student Councils, faculty, and administration staff, to raise online learning concerns and recommendations for the improvement of the LMS. University President Emmanuel Leyco acknowledged the challenges posed by this “new normal” in education and ensured the PLM community that the administration is continuously working for further improvements.
“Gising ako hanggang 2am kakahintay lumampas yung bagyo. Pinapakiramdaman ko kung lilipadin ba yung bubong namin,” he narrated when asked about his experience during the Typhoon Ulysses. A nursing student, Ela Marasigan, also experienced difficulties as she can’t attend her online classes prior to Typhoon Ulysses due to power interruption. Phone batteries are also reserved for emergencies that left her no choice but to miss her classes. The irresponsibility of the national government in addressing the recent calamity urged the student organizations within Intramuros to appeal for an academic break through social media. The PLM Supreme Student Councils (SSC) and College Student Councils (CSC) also crafted a letter of recommendation for weeklong academic ease to recover from the loss and destruction of Typhoon Ulysses. In response to the students’ call, President Emmanuel A. Leyco declared recovery week from November 16 until November 22 wherein faculty have the discretion whether or not to hold classes while attendance should not be required. This announcement caused mixed reactions from the students and was later on clarified by the Office Order No. 20201116-01 that the recovery week suspends classes and submissions of academic requirements. The one-week break serves as a breather to recuperate from the recent calamity but it did not serve
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P amantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila officially opened its first fully online semester last October 05, in line with its decision to push forth the academic year and fulfill its mandate amid the ongoing pandemic.Faculty members underwent prior training and workshops in preparation for the virtual term. Consequently, departments and councils across colleges mounted student orientations before the start of classes, further assisted with the university-wide simulation last September 14. However, technical issues emerged at both the students’ and professors’ ends in the newly established learningStudentssystem.across colleges reported internet connectivity issues, inaccessible Outlook accounts, inconducive learning environments, courses without professors, and limited financial resources in the first week of classes. Some also aired the mental strain of online learning and the narrowed margins between responsibilities. Nonetheless, they recognize that everyone is adjusting to this“Eventransition.though it is hard for me, I will not give up,” Serapin Jr. Rapsing, a BSED-Sciences student stated. “I can see that my block mates are there to lighten up the environment even with this unusual set-up, and I know that our professors are trying to adjust as well to teach us and to make sure that no student will be left behind.” Additionally, some students shared that they use learning strategies, such as advanced reading and time management, to keep on track with their course outlines. Nonetheless, mental health must also be taken care of, according to a 3rdyear student from the College of Engineering and Technology. “Sleep is a must pa rin. Although nakakapressure ‘yung mga gawain and ‘yung set up ngayon, mahalaga pa rin na makapag-rest para maging healthy rin ‘yung mental health natin.” On the other hand, some professors noted their share in terms of connectivity issues, along with difficulties in teaching compared to face-toface discussions, especially for those with laboratory classes online. A faculty member stated in an interview that aside from the constraints of the set-up between students and professors, coordination between departments and the administration is still lacking. In the meantime, planning and course-related approaches are used in their efforts to ensure quality education.
Several PLM students struggle in the surge of Typhoon Ulysses JESSA DAVID YUKI MECAELA MAE GUMADE PLM
As Tropical Storm Ulysses struck different areas in Luzon last November 11, 2020, a number of PLM students experienced difficulties in coping up with the damages in the midst of online classes. One student from BS Psychology narrated their family’s loss in livelihood as three consecutive typhoons battered their area. Power outages and signal loss made it more difficult to attend synchronous classes and it added the risk of merging into the crowd at their City Hall for the sake of charging their batteries.
SSC, student orgs assemble over online learning concerns
Photo courtesy: Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Facebook Page
PLM ranked 6th in 2019 Bar Exam
“It is not meant to antagonize din pero dun namin nao-observe kung gaano rin hindi ka-aware yung employees ng PLM tungkol sa mental health and kung paano yun iha-handle. It’s something na need talagang i-work out pa kaso di naman ito kasama sa scope namin to conduct projects that would educate them [regarding] the said issue.” Padilla said that these suggestions are still subject to the approval of the University President, but they are hoping that they will be implemented by the next semester.
SSC and CSCs also informed the attendees that the midterm examinations will be deferred, in line with the implementation of the Recovery week and OnePLM’s appeals, as agreed on their meeting with the university administration last November 18. Moreover, the misinterpretation of the admin on the students’ appeals for academic break as a call for academic freeze was clarified and resolved.
PLM College of Law won three awards at 31st ALSP National Convention
The Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) College of Law received three awards in the virtually-conducted 31st National Convention of the Association of Law Students of the Philippines (ALSP) held on November 3, 2020, via Zoom VideoTheConference.PLMCollege of Law Student Council was cited as one of the Top Law Student Governments in the Philippines. In addition, a fourth-year student, Casina Mae B. Cenit was given a Leadership Award for her definitive accomplishment in the activities and projects of her organization. Furthermore, the Presidential Citation for Outreach and Community Service was awarded to Enrique Adolfo C. San Juan.
STUDENT REPS RECOMMENDATIONSRAISEAT ONLINE EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Consequently, they also suggested that a “monthly faculty evaluation” must be implemented to provide the students with an avenue to voice out their opinions on how to best approach their classes, all at the discretion of the professors and with respect to their academic freedom.
JOHN COBY CABUHAT
The PLM Supreme Student Council (SSC), with the college student councils (CSCs) and other student organizations discussed concerns on the university’s current online learning setup along with other updates last November 16 and 18, 2020. Student representatives raised almost similar grievances, such as some professors’ lack of leniency in the middle of the current crisis and faculty’s absence during asynchronous and modular sessions despite the Omnibus guidelines stating otherwise. In response, SSC Adviser and concurrent College of Nursing Dean Professor Lynnette Cleto asserted that students should coordinate their concerns first to their respective CSCs before directing it to the“…Still,SSC. he or she [the professor] is open for inquiries. Hindi pwedeng kayo lang mag-isa nag-aaaral… pero dapat kasi yung mga ganiyan, dina-direct ng college councils doon sa admin… Direct it immediately sa colleges, then the colleges will do something about it,” Dean Cleto said, adding that only when the specific college administration fails to address these concerns will the SSC be mobilized.Moreover, issues regarding the distribution of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) allowances to Manila-residing students were also raised, from delays in handing out the allowances to late notices of lacking requirements. A representative from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences Student Council responded that since they cannot directly intervene with transactions due to privacy reasons, they opted to frequently follow-up with the Office Student Development Services (OSDS) in case the office failed to respond to SAP-related inquiries.
PLM placed 4th in November 2020 Medical Boards
The Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) placed fourth among the top-performing medical schools in the recently conducted Physician Licensure Examination (PLE) or also known as Medical Board Exam last November 10, 11, 15, and 16. In addition, two of the PLM College of Medicine graduates, Dr. Czarina Angelli Anastacio and Dr. Ernest Paul Calasanz, with a rating of 87.92%, ranked seventh among the PLE Top 10 Passers.
ANGPAMANTASAN The Official Student Publication of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Volume 41, Issue 1 • October - November 2020 ISKO PRIDE
Consequently, the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs stated that they are exploring adjustments on the academic calendar in light of setbacks due to the subsequent class suspension.
“Isinama din sa recommendations yung pag-defer muna ng laboratory classes until ma-lift ang quarantine measures kasi mahirap ma-grasp yung concepts kung walang physical experiment tapos mag-provide ng better online modules and simulation application.” she added.
They also urge the administration to formulate guidelines to evaluate the students’ physical and mental capacity if they’re fit to continue their classes or if it’s best to recommend a Leave of Absence instead. This was included due to the reports that some students were roughly adjusting with the current learning setup.
SSC Acting President Erica Jane Padilla stated in an interview that the student councils constantly raise recommendations with the faculty and university staff on the Online Education Committee (OEC) to improve the current Learning Management System (LMS). Suggestions include the amendment of the Omnibus Guidelines to allow the recording of class meetings for those who cannot keep up with synchronous classes, among other technical issues on class and test procedures.
MARELLA IRIS PALCES
The ALSP is a national federation of more than sixty law student governments, a national organization accredited by the National Youth Commission, and the official student counterpart of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, as recognized by the Supreme Court of the Philippines.
The Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) ranked sixth among the Top Performing Schools in the 2019 Bar Examination. The Legal Education Board awarded PLM College of Law a plaque of recognition for garnering a passing rate of 55.88%, with fewer than 63 examinees, 28.52% higher than the national passing rate, on November 11, 2020.
The ranking was based on the university’s overall performance during the bar exam. There were 2, 103 examinees who passed out of the 7,685 takers, 19 of which were PLM graduates, hailing them as one of the top-performing schools.
PLM garnered a 97.58% passing rate with 121 out of 124 examinees who passed the PLE. The university is among schools, with 100 or more examinees and with at least 80% passing percentage, who were ranked in the examination.
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University President Emmanuel Leyco reprised his stance on the meeting about academic freeze. “PLM will proceed just as the whole world is moving to surmount the challenges of the pandemic and natural disasters. No one will be left behind as we will help those who may find it hard to catch up.”
The passing rate of the university increased compared to the 2018 passing rate of 51.61% which is also higher than the 22.07% national passing rate of the same year.
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The Official Student Publication of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Volume 41, Issue 1 • October - November 2020 The Official Student Publication of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
Unmuted: The pitfall of compromised learning
To address the concerns on the online learning setup, the PLM Supreme Student Council (SSC) arranged an online conference with the College Student Councils (CSCs) last November 16 and 18, 2020. In the said conference, several issues were raised. First of which is the professors’ lack of leniency and their absence in modular sessions and asynchronous activities. With this, the SSC and the CSCs were advised to follow the process of raising inquiries, and that the SSC should only take action when the respective college administrations failed to bridge the gap between the concerned parties. These are only some of the plethora of issues underneath the façade of surmounting the challenges of the pandemic in the educational context. For the purpose of continuing the school year, the education sector piles most of the brunt on learning institutions, teachers and students with the abrupt transition to the online learning set-up whilst sabotaging resources, establishing unfamiliarity, and compromising learning. In these trying times, education must be inclusive and accessible. Cataclysm, in this context, is a violent way of making us rethink the nature of education itself and the need for sustainable change.Starting from the tip of the iceberg, back in the 5th of October 2020, we abruptly transitioned to the online learning setup. With over billions of learners affected worldwide, about 24 out of 28 million Filipino learners went back to school through abrupt, modified forms of distance learning. sessions, where real-time lectures occur, and asynchronous sessions, where time-based outcomes are required, were introduced. Despite the claims of preparedness in the opening of classes, some reports state that the faculty was not trained adequately to transition effectively in this new mode. In an interview with a faculty member last October, he stated that the faculty is prepared to teach, as they were capable and experts in their own fields. However, in terms of merging with technology and distance learning, they have little to no experience and training. Furthermore, social policies on this are inexistent except for the Republic Act (RA) 10650 or otherwise known as the Open Distance Learning Act. This forcibly urges universities to craft their own policies and provisions on the Statisticsmatter.say that over 45%, translating to over 46 million Filipinos, do not have access to a stable internet connection. With the increasing demand of staying connected and acquiring materials for the pursuit of “learning”, others barely have electricity at home while some also worry about putting food in the table. It is also evident that a portion of the students in PLM use their mobile data to attend synchronous classes online. This takes toll on their expenses, as video calls cost more than we can imagine. Furthermore, these circumstances painfully increase the digital divide between the students. Ironically, the goal was to keep everyone connected #NoStudentLeftBehind, but are we really catching up with their pace? Sinking deeper, we thread on our educators’ lack of resources and experience in the new mode of teaching. Despite the lack of substantial training, the professors complied and pushed through delivering lessons to the students. Moreover, they exhausted the resources that they have in order to fill in the unavailability of materials and equipment whilst compromising their own resources and well-being. From the interview, it was said that the experience was “absolutely dreadful”, for the constraints severely hampered their delivery of the lessons. In addition, coordination among the departments and information dissemination was severely lacking.Justbeneath, shrouded, is the learners’ financial, mental, and emotional challenges. Three months into the online classes, three cases of education-related suicides were already recorded thereby stressing the detrimental effect of the abrupt transition.
Withstanding the increasing pressure, we hear the lethal call for quantity over quality resulting in counterproductive measures and unnecessary exhaustion of human resources. As the drive for productivity accumulates continuously, the pursuit of knowledge remains under-served. Having our workloads overflow, we no longer strive for the deeper meaning of things. In essence, we only strive for bland completion and desolate efficiency. If you will observe closely, you’ll come to notice that individuals are blindly complying and thus, having serious and necessary dialogue dismissed, as compliance is a facet of isolation. Karl Marx termed this ideology as the alienation of labor wherein, in this context, individuals are pressured to work on courses and modules within a restricted time frame for the sake of completion. It is saddening that the supposed “learnings” remain foreign to the learners. Drowning, we are unconsciously trenched in the corporatization of the education system. Being enormous social and economic structures, universities tend to call for efficiency and productivity. However, instead of decentralizing power and establishing a culture of transparency, the administration either becomes strangely quiet or terribly clamorous. The flawed system of information dissemination persists in spite of several calls— this is an exquisite form of bureaucracy in higher education and an exasperating tendency of corporatizing the education system. As we must always remember, “having knowledge must never confer power.”Aswe were engulfed back on land, we come to wonder as to what really occurs behind disabled cameras and muted microphones. The students, teachers, staff, and administration underwent a rough transition and adjustment. Along with adequate and definite support, a reform for the defective system must be established before unforeseen and more destructive consequences occur. Essentially, resistance is impossible without collective work and solidarity. These circumstances call for a collaboration within these parties in order to establish a substantial dialogue wherein different perspectives are considered thereby allowing decisions to be made by individuals with the most information and expertise. By taking a step back and rethinking on the unsound nature of education, we would be able to bring it to those who are underresourced, underprivileged, and unreachable. This brings about the chimera of inclusive, accessible, and sustainable education guided by transparency, consistency and fairness for all Filipino learners.
MECAELA GUMADE Acting Editor-in-Chief NICOLE ANNE MENDOZA Managing Editor MARELLA IRIS PALCES News Editor ALAIZA ELAINE MANANSALA Features Editor ELECYL CABALQUINTO Filipino Editor ANNE NICOLE CARIG Literary Editor ART CEDRICK ROMERO Online Editor FLORIANNE KHAYE GONZALES, Board Secretary PHOEBE STACEY ALMARIO Circulations Manager MAUREN MERCA Business Manager HANNAH ANDRIE ADAME EDUARDO HERNANDEZ JR. ELIRA VERA PATCO News Staff KEN JOSHUA DE PAULA DAPHNE SAGUN Features Staff INA FRANCESCA GONZALES REENA FAYE REGENCIA Filipino Staff MARY JILLIAN CRISTOBAL PATRICIA GABRIELLE MARQUEZ Literary Staff TRISHA MAY BANZON Sports Staff JOHN COBY CABUHAT JESSA YUKI DAVID KEITH KENDRICK DIONISIO FATIMA RAYYAN SALABI Online Staff LEXANDRINE GWYN BELENZO MARIANNE GAYLE CABALLERO MA. GIFTA LAGONERA PATRICIA SANTOS Graphic Artist JHON BERT PAYOS KIM ANGELO NAVAJA BENJAMIN SAN JUAN Layout Artists BILL PHILIP ARIEGA IBANICA LORRAINEDIONISIOGUILLANG Photojournalists CARL JUSTINE MOGOL ASHLEY MAY HERNANDEZ JUNNINE MARIE TUPAZ FAITH ANGELYNCACNIOBIANCA VALENZUELA ANNE LOUISE MANUBAG Illustrators and Cartoonists NORLIZA NORDAN Technical Adviser
First of all, students had to go through mental, emotional, and psychological adjustments and challenges despite the limited support system that they have. Financial insecurities and problems brought by the constraints in resources are also present. On the onslaught of the Typhoon Rolly and Ulysses, some students and faculty members were significantly affected. Despite the misunderstanding between the student body and the administration, the latter resolved to have the post-recovery week granted to allow the affected to recuperate for their losses. Gasping for air, we come to witness the alien, incoherent, and unfamiliar space of learning. One of the most pressing disadvantages of having classes online is the lack of environments which are conducive and efficient to learning at home. Undoubtedly, it is hard to separate our roles in the house and our duties as a student. In fact, dozens of inevitable distractions are present while we attend our classes. A bigger challenge is maintaining the balance between our priorities. Without face-to-face interactions, there is lesser social integration and peer culture. With this, students tend to lose focus or develop a lack of interest in the subject matter, for both the teachers and the students try to replicate and adapt traditional methods that are not suitable.
What would He think? Mauren
the Philippines handles a lot of calamities in a year. However, the expectation is far from reality. In 2017, President Duterte’s administration slashed the agency’s budget by more than half to P15.8 billion from P38.9 billion in 2016. This year, P4 billion was cut from NDRRMC compared to their 2019 budget.Inthe recent typhoon Ulysses, most of the volunteers reported that they had a “hard time rescuing” due to a lack of professional pilots, rubber boats, rescuers, and equipment that ensure their safety.
Penalties to violators will be fined P500,000 to P1 million and imprisonment at the discretion of the court. Advocates and critics of the bill made sure that their concerns are heard as legislators debate on it. According to critics, discrimination is experienced
Trisha May Banzon “ The narratives of Filipino resilience are often used by government officials to excuse their drawbacks and absolve themselves from responsibilities. Eye Level by many people not only the LGBTQIA+ individuals therefore there is no need to pass this bill to be a law. Advocates responded with their own clear intention of supporting the bill and what it intends to do. In our existing laws, we have those for our Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW), indigenous groups, farmers, nurses, and other distinct clusters in our society. These laws are to cater to their specific rights as people should not prevent other people from practicing their rights. We should also keep in mind that the bill constitutes for institutionalized discrimination which is different from discriminatory acts of particular individuals. Also, by saying that all kinds of people experience discrimination instead of acknowledging that people in the LGBTQ+ community are in need of such law due to the violence and unlawful acts done towards them just because of how they identify is a clear indication of turning a blind eye to that fact. A person who is a cis-hetero or someone that is not part of the LGBTQIA+ community that hasn’t experience any discrimination due to their SOGIE cannot fathom what these people have gone through. The community needs that kind of recognition because they are being robbed of the equal exercise of their rights that every citizen should have - the right to education, to work, to acquire government services, health services, etc. that is why we need to indict those who rob people off of their basic rights, thus the SOGIE Equality Bill. It is also argued that the bill will entail the power to that community instead of what they say now asking for equality. Some religious groups refer to this bill as a wolf in sheep’s clothing that it will pave the way in passing laws in the future to allow samesex union, which they greatly opposed to for religious reasons.
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ANGPAMANTASAN The Official Student Publication of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Volume 41, Issue 1 • October - November 2020 opinion 05ANGPAMANTASAN The Official Student Publication of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Volume 41, Issue 1 • October - November 2020 opinions 05
For a country that is visited by around 20 typhoons in a year, one would think that the Philippines would have, by now, prepared programs to address the citizens’ preparedness in natural disasters and their aftermath. However, it seems that the state has been largely content in leaving its citizens to fend for themselves and exploit the “Filipino resiliency”. On the night of Wednesday, November 11, only five days after the retreat of supertyphoon Rolly, Typhoon Ulysses made its landfall in Metro Manila and nearby provinces. In Marikina, river waters quickly rose to 22 meters, which surpassed the 21.5-meter level of tropical storm Ondoy that submerged the metro in September 2009. Marikina City Mayor Marcelino Teodoro appealed to the national government for aid in rescuing residents stranded in their homes and stuck on their roofs waiting for rescue. He admitted the local government’s lapses and lack of resources to respond to all those who need immediate help. In Cagayan, the local government officials consider the flooding caused by Typhoon Ulysses to be “the worst” they had experienced in four decades. Office Civil Defense (OCD)-Region 2 Acting Director Harold Cabreros reported that more than 151,600 families or 583,493 individuals were affected by the typhoon which also took The SOGIE Equality Bill was recently passed on November 27, 2020, at the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality. Even though the bill moves forward another step in becoming a law that the Senate Plenary will be deciding, it is still a topic sensitive to the majority of the nation as we are the only Christian country in Asia. As a distinct catholic country, religion plays a large role in the formation of our culture's way of living. However, our interpretation of it may be deeply flawed and biased in particular cases, such as the SOGIE bill. For more than two decades did this bill waited to progress and be taken into an extensive discussion amongst the country’s legislators, and even though it took that amount of time, the concepts inclusive to the bill is still up to debate until it becomes a law and both advocates and critics of the bill are not holding back on what they have to say about it. It is clear that those who are against the bill are religious groups and/or individuals that take the Bible into account for justifying their reasons for resisting the passing of the bill into law. SOGIE means sexual orientation, gender identity or expression – sexual orientation distinguishes your attraction and gender identity or expression is about how a person perceives and wants to present themselves to society. Most of the time it is associated with the non-hetero individuals or those that belong to the LGBTQIA+ community although it is not a term only limited to those people. This is because that same community comprises the advocates of the bill as well as a big part of the reason why the bill was drafted in the first place. However, even though the LGBTQIA+ community will benefit from it, it is not a law limited to people in that community. It is a law inclusive of all people regardless of how they identify since all people have their own SOGIE.
caused three injuries, and left another three missing. OCD-CAR Regional Director Albert Mogol said that there is a need for an effective and efficient early warning system to prepare those in lowlying areas for evacuation.
Responding to this, Filipinos tapped into bayanihan spirit to help those affected by organizing donation drives online and providing rescue boats. But this familiar act of resiliency is slowly being exploited and overly romanticized.Thenarratives of Filipino resilience are often used by government officials to excuse their drawbacks and absolve themselves from responsibilities.
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Risk Reduction or Risk Resilience?
But as far as Filipino citizens are concerned, there is a separation of the state and the church and that civil and secular rights that are inclusive to all people should not be based on religion.
There is a fear among critics that such a bill will create a more divided society by putting labels thus creating confusion and disruption to the normalized binary system that we have now. They fear the dangers that predators might pose as a trans-individual in order to commit crimes. However, we must keep in mind that in the first place, the binary system is the root of the discrimination since it is what society deemed as normal and anything outside of it unnatural. It is true that there is a threat of predators, but with or without this bill, there will always be a threat because of predatory behaviors. That is why even before the passing of the bill, it is suggested to have gender-neutral comfort rooms in establishments. But this is more than just a topic of comfort rooms. Bible-quoting left and right to pronounce that this is not part of the Gospel. That there is no need for a bill like this since there are only two genders in their opinion influenced by religious beliefs. But most of us can agree that not all Filipinos are Christians and that we are entitled to our own opinion since it is personal and that all of us should have the same rights, the same way that others have the right to believe differently – which extends to everybody else who perceives another kind of difference to which will be in question to why should you hinder an individual, much more a community, to have a bill to protect their rights? The bill will not take away any rights of the straight community. With the efforts of our lawmakers to study and discuss the bill, if literalism of the bible will be used, the two decades will not be enough if we continue to nitpick verses to apply it in our modern society. We are so used to accepting only what we deemed normal but in this modern society in which we all expect to develop and change through time, we should be able to adapt to that without abandoning our faith. And in this faith, Christians are taught how Jesus always stood up for those who are marginalized and oppressed. That he gave voice to the unheard and gave strength to the weak. Come to think of it, if Jesus is alive today and sees that the church he built from love and peace is resisting to protect the feeble, what would He think?
The intention of the SOGIE Equality Bill is to protect the rights of the people that are being discriminated against and oppressed based on their SOGIE. It sheds a light on those who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community since they are the ones who advocate this bill due to their experiences of discrimination and prejudice but it covers all genders, even straight individuals. To mention a few, some of the violations listed under this bill are promoting stigma and discrimination in media as well as printed materials. It also includes the sectors in the workforce for their criteria in treating their future, current and former employees. There is also the inclusion of access in both private and public services and facilities.
The glorification of resiliency undermines the importance of immediate action by exaggerating the image of a Filipino who is able to survive in spite of their situation, rather than that of a Filipino who is able to survive because of adequate support and given proper response. It also promotes the concept to normalize that Filipinos should get used to the fatal consequences and move on every time a disaster hits the country. Lastly, the concept of a resilient Filipino is idealized as someone who is able to overcome their sufferings and trauma, which shifts the blame to the victims and detracts from their experiences by implying that their inability to surpass these struggles is a weakness and not a characteristic of a resilient Filipino. While resiliency is one of the traits that Filipinos are well-known for, we must also demand proper accountability and learn to differentiate resilience from abuse.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) is the agency tasked with the preparation and response for natural calamities. It is expected that the government would allocate a sufficient budget for the agency, given the fact that
Per Orem “ Practice then Preach
Doubt is a single word that accompanies tremendous consequences. We know that everything that happens has underlying reasons that answer all the why’s of every student’s burdens brought by online distance education. Despite the calls for academic leniency made by various student organizations, several professors and instructors still refuse to believe the claims of academic burden, tagging it as an excuse for the students’ laziness and noncompliance. And this mistrust adds fuel to the fire. The external stressors do not just stop with the global pandemic and several social issues as calamities and natural disasters would not contribute less. However, to some, these piled-up occurrences are inadequate reasons to allow the students to take a break from whatever is bothering them, specifically in the academic aspect— not unless you have proof. On November 15, different student organizations from the universities inside Intramuros campaigned for an academic break led by Kabataan Partylist-Intramuros and Intramuros Organizations Alliance. These organizations made the call as a response to the calamities that battered the country for the past few weeks, particularly the typhoons Quinta, Rolly, and Ulysses. More importantly, it aimed to urge the government to take responsible actions.
The students from Ateneo de Manila University did the same action beforehand. Following their academic strike, the Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that these students who demanded would lose their future and would not be able to graduate since following the academic requirements is a must regardless of their reason for the supposed strike.
The blatant invalidation of the purpose of the call is a mere manifestation of the government’s lack of empathy.
Various student organizations call for academic leniency to uphold the supposed goal of the education system in the country, whereas no student should be left behind. On the other hand, others link this call with the lethargic feedback of the students concerning the new system of learning. Numerous rants of students surfaced on the internet regarding their professors still giving them lots of workloads despite the current situation. Some even said that they must send proof that they were affected. Whether a joke or not, to be sensible is basic human decency. Roque, a professor himself, triggered the said issue more by overtly stating the words “Babagsak kayo” towards the students who called for an academic strike. While it is true that learning must continue as previously stated by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairman Prospero de Vera III amidst the pandemic, we cannot deny the fact that lots of factors hinder the students from actually learning. Dr. Joan Rifareal of the Philippine Psychiatric Association mentioned that these hindrances are due to the interplay of biological, psychological, social, and spiritual factors that give rise to mental health issues.
The sudden transition in the methods of learning brought by the pandemic contributes to the leading factors causing stress among all the members of the academic institution. Not to mention the struggles that add up to it that include the complexities of material, financial, mental, and infrastructural challenges. The main point here lies in the fact that everyone is greatly affected by the disastrous events that occurred within the past few months. Either the implications directly strike an individual or not, such events could still impact one’s life to a greater extent. In an article published by Rappler, Sensei Adorador, a faculty at Carlos Hilado Memorial State College, stated that students enroll not because they want to learn but because they do not want to be left behind. Many students across the country attest to this statement as evidenced by numerous social media posts that feature similar sentiments. These strengthen the claims of the ineffectiveness of online learning to deliver its goal among the students. The failure of the government in addressing these issues should be enough as it is unacceptable to put the mental health of the students at stake by insisting them to comply with the new education standards that are beyond what they could handle.Truth be told, those factors mentioned are the real opponents of the educators upon fulfilling their duties, not the laziness or any makeshift excuses of the students. Perhaps, students would not resort to that action in the first place if they could see learning as an essential part of their lives while they enjoy it, and not just a mere burden. The only time when we could address this issue is when the government assumes its full responsibility not just to the students but more importantly, to every Filipino. Nonetheless, schools can declare as many academic breaks as needed, yet, if problems with internet connectivity, an inconsiderable number of school requirements, overworked educators, and burdened students are still not addressed, then no solutions are deployed at all. A thing that a competent government would have resolved. In times like this when everyone is struggling to cope up, empathy is the best thing we could offer to one another. We probably hear a lot about spreading kindness recently, and it may sound cliché, but that is what we need most. We may be students, teachers, workers, or employees, but we are all humans first, and we should never forget to be one.
It was 2018 when President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Republic Act 11036, otherwise known as the Mental Health Law. Authored by Senator Risa Hontiveros, the law targets to secure the rights and welfare of persons in the country with mental health needs. If they were able to establish this law years ago, then it means that they were finally able to see the importance of mental health. However, why does it seem that the mental health of the Filipino learners is still being taken for granted nowadays?
Phoebe Stacy Almario
Florianne Khaye B. Gonzales TheYouthHopeless
Empty Empathy
Pondering upon how much worse the current administration of this country can become, the Department of Education continually disappoints with their flawed self-learning modules (SLMs). Surfacing on various social media platforms are errors found in the modules that earned criticism. It is such a shame to think that little to none of some government officials’ efforts recently can be described as quality work. For a country well-known to often generalize the youth as its only hope, some of those who mentor the young ones are either corrupt or hopeless, hence, the irony. Nearing the VVVthe anniversary of the current and unseen lifetaker’s existence –COVID19, the country’s educational system leaned onto home-based learning wherein students have various learning delivery modalities, namely, printed or digital modules, online distance learning, and broadcasted educational episodes via radio or television. It can be remembered that calls were made to further postpone, or better yet to just skip this academic year, for the sake of everyone’s safety and financial capacity. However, these educational institutions, specifically, the Department of Education paid no heed. Secretary Leonor Briones even firmly relayed to President Duterte, during press conferences, how ready they are to keep this school year running. As per a statement released by the DepEd on their official website last May 5, 2020, “... Education can and must continue but only under the conditions and health protocols set by the DOH and the World Health Organization (WHO)...” They also emphasized the need for basic education to carry on despite the crisis. The tables have completely turned for they have been releasing countless apologies for their lapses with the implemented mode of learning, especially with the errors found in theirDepEdSLMs.recently acknowledged about 41 mistakes in both modules and aired educational episodes, wherein most are factual, and some are grammatical, even mathematical. One of these includes a color matching activity, but having the material printed with black ink only. Another of which are errors in distinguishing animals, such as an owl from an ostrich, and in representing the letter L for rabbit. Moreover, there are also the never-ending and norm-conforming prejudice and stereotyping of femininity and masculinity, differentiation of gender in kids’ toys, body-shaming, demoralizing tattoos as signs of being a criminal, and a distasteful visual representation of ending one’s life as a result of bullying. One of the worst yet is an illustration of a farmer’s family, too poor to even afford decent clothing. The younger generation suffers this kind of unacceptable incompetence from a government agency that is supposed to spearhead and offer quality education. This collection of old and fixed perspectives on various social issues stifles the hope of the nation and impedes the development of their viewpoints which may contribute to progressive changes. It is disgusting to think that these biased opinions are reflected in learning materials that are supposed to let the youth explore their widest knowledge and imagination, rather than to confine them into negative ideologies, such as misogyny. Famous and well-known personalities such as Lea Salonga and Angel Locsin slammed these human-degrading statements, wherein the former emphasized that tattoos signifying criminals are unacceptable and the latter demanded to hold DepEd accountable for not only anchoring her name with body-shaming comments, but also for allowing teaching personnel to claim such statements, and even include it in their learning materials. Furthermore, Opposition Senator Francis “Kiko” N. Pangilinan, a farmer himself, deemed that DepEd should immediately address the belittling of farmers in the modules, for such portrayal strips off a farmer’s dignity and his essence of being the one to feed and offer food on our tables. Personal experiences of parents paint a picture of how some are academicallyincompetent yet makes an effort to teach their children, while some are disappointed with these flawed modules and what it teaches their children. How can they trust the system when the system itself admits its dysfunctionality? Nevertheless, such mistakes made by those who despise accountability only add fuel to the fire of burden that burns the country as a whole. DepEd officials, namely Education Undersecretary Toni Umali, DepEd Undersecretary Diosdado San Antonio, and even Education Secretary Leonor Briones herself, although acknowledging their mistakes and miscommunication between local and central offices, took ground that the lack of time in preparing the modules and initiating an operational team for proofreading was their defense. Moreover, the Department of Education-7 Director Salustiano Jimenez stood firm that most flaws are not the teachers’ faults and that the viral social media posts regarding such modular mistakes, only has the agenda of tainting the name of the Department of Education.Ifaneducational, government agency projects that accountability equates to providing a bunch of excuses and puts the state of being imperfect on a pedestal, then it is ideal that the Filipino people think of their individual paths instead, rather than depending on such officials. Resiliency has been just an attribute and is not a solution to the country’s piled up crises. If it is inevitable to perform one’s job incompetently, then might as well leave and make room for others who are more deserving.
PAMANTASANANGThe Official Student Publication of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Volume 41, Issue 1 • October - November 2020opinion06 PAMANTASANANGThe Official Student Publication of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Volume 41, Issue 1 • October - November 2020opinions06
The incompetenceofsuffersgenerationyoungerthiskindunacceptablefrom a government agency that is supposed to spearhead and offer quality education.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque stated that there is no need for an academic break as public schools under the Department of Education (DepEd) are under blended learning from which modular learning is the primary mode of instruction and that there are no face-to-face classes. As for state universities and colleges (SUCs), Roque said that instead of imposing an academic break, they will only be allowed to extend their academic calendars for one to two CHEDweeks. has earlier announced in September that there may no longer be summer and weekend breaks due to the adjustments made in the academic calendars.
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ANGPAMANTASAN The Official Student Publication of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Volume 41, Issue 1 • October - November 2020 news 07
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he Commission on Higher Education (CHED), supported by Malacañang, rejected calls for nationwide or even Luzon-wide academic break amidst the aftermath of subsequent typhoons that hit the country, stating that the decisions on suspensions rely on the hands of institutions. In an interview with CNN Philippines, CHED Chairman Prospero De Vera does not agree to implement academic break as the impact of the typhoons varied across different parts of the country and that universities are already deciding regarding the suspension of classes. “A unilateral suspension is not a good policy. We cannot make unilateral decisions that are not based on what is actually happening on the ground,” De Vera added.
To address this concern and ease-up the situation of students affected by the calamity, the university and college student councils opted to send a formal letter to the PLM Administration for its immediate response. As students awaited the decision of the University, the use of social media hashtags became a venue to raise academic break petitions in PLM and other university administrations. Intra-wide hashtags
Within the same day of petitions, PLM Administration imposed “Recovery Week” per Memorandum No. 2020-1116-01 which suspends all synchronous and asynchronous classes for a week until November 22, 2020. Meanwhile, universities inside Intramuros also called for temporary ease of classes and academic requirements through students’ online petitions. KPL-Intra considered this a “triumph,” on behalf of all students who were gravely affected by the calamity. “Nakakamit ng tagumpay ang nagkakaisang sektor estudyante ng Intramuros sa kanilang pagpapanawagan para sa academic break at academic ease … na simbolo ng pag-unawa ng mga school administrators ng pangangailangan ng estudyanteng bumangon mula sa sunud-sunod na kalamidad,” the statementKPL-Intraread. further stated, “Sa ngayon ay nananawagan kami sa pagtugon ng ilang mga Unibersidad sa bansa na hindi pa nagbibigay ng anunsyo ukol sa panawagan ng kanilang mga magaaral. Hindi mapapatigil nito ang mga estudyante sa patuloy na pagpapatampok ng kanilang mga suliranin at hinaing.” The country’s education system shifted to distance learning – which involves the use of printed and digital modules, online classes, television and radio to deliver lessons to students at home – after the government banned in-person classes due to the ongoing threat of COVID-19.TheCommission on Higher Education earlier called for the suspension of classes in higher education institutions in regions that are still recovering from the impact of Typhoon Ulysses, which inundated large parts of Luzon.
ELIRA
Few hours after students’ sending of petition letter and holding a social media rally, PLM Administration imposed “Recovery Week,” a week-long suspension of synchronous and asynchronous classes from November 16 to November 22, to ease students’ workload from a series of typhoons that ravaged parts of the country in the past weeks.Other universities, especially inside Intramuros, subsequently declared a recovery period after united online protests urged by Intramuros-wide students alliance for academic ease. On November 15, Tuesday, the Union of Intramuros Student Organizations collated the urges of different university student councils and organizations for a “break” from resorttoareasarenoconnection,nonothemTyphoon2,765Studentreleasedawaystudentsberecommendationdisruptions.ascontinuethattoindirectlytocallaftertheirconveyedconference.Intra)PartylistAnakbayantheColegioPhilippinesMapúangorganizationsmembersdiscussionoutsidefromofOrganizationOrganizeddisasters.bytheIntramurosAlliance,acoalitionseveralstudentorganizationsuniversitieswithinandIntramuros,thevirtualwasattendedbyofstudentcouncilsandfromPamantasanLungsodngMaynila(PLM),University,LyceumoftheUniversity-Manila,deSanJuandeLetran,andPhilippineNormalUniversity.MurallaandKabataan-Intramuros(KPL-alsoparticipatedintheStudentrepresentativesthecurrentstatusofrespectivestudentbodiesthecalamity.Theircollectiveforan“academicease”aimshelpstudents,directlyorhitbythecalamities,recoverfromthechallengeshamperedtheircapacitytoonlineclasses,suchpoweroutagesandinternetMoreover,theisdeemedtoaconsideratemovetoprovideamplerecoverytimefromacademicworkload.InapartialgathereddatabythePLMSupremeCouncil,atotalofstudentswereaffectedbyUlysses,wherein,529ofresideinareasthathaveaccesstoelectricity;717haveaccesstoastableinternetand468ofthemhaveaccesstoboth.111studentsalsoreportedtobeinfloodedwherein8ofwhichareyetsubside,and4studentshadtotoevacuation.
PLM students were affected by Typhoon Ulysses. BY THE 529NUMBERS of them reside in areas that have no access to electricity. 717 have no access to a stable internet connection. 111 students are also reported to be in flooded areas. 468 have no access to both.
De Vera said that schools that implemented long class suspensions (such as those in Marikina) may consider adjusting their academic calendars by extending the semester so that learning outcomes will still be the same and not be compensated. He suggested that summer break or breaks between school years may either be “reduced or given up” to have more time for the regular semesters. The first semester may end in January and the second semester may start in Meanwhile,February.
PLM students call ‘academic ease’ after disasters, Intra-wide students united online to amplify petitions
In connection, a number of higher education institutions in Metro Manila including University of the Philippines, Ateneo De Manila University, De La Salle University, University of Sto. Tomas and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, have suspended classes for a week to allow the members of their communities to recuperate from the calamities.
BROKEN ACADEMIC PAUSE
Rejected Calls: Palace, CHED say no to nationwide, Luzon-wide academic break VERA PATCO 2, 765
EDUARDO HERNANDEZ JR.
featuresANGPAMANTASAN
DENR reminded the public that the collection and trading of certain threatened species should have a permit issued by the DENR. They also reminded that we should report sellers of threatened species, as an effort to preserve the country’s natural resources. Those who are involved in illegal wildlife trade could face up to 6-12 years in imprisonment and a fine that ranges from P 100,000 to P 1 million according to the Republic Act 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act. While we need a form of stress reliever and a way to address our social needs, it is still important to be mindful of how our actions affect the world. It is not bad to grow your own plants and to find comfort in them. It is not bad to seek an escape. But in doing so, we must still be mindful and make sure that we aren’t doing any more damage to our already damaged world. Before you make your next purchase as a plant parent, do the research and see if the plant that you are buying is endangered or invasive. As pretty as they are, our ecosystem needs them more than we do. They play a larger role in life than to be a decoration to be shown off. They are living creatures that need to thrive and be one with nature.
ManansalaVolume41, Issue 1 • October - November 2020
DAPHNE SAGUN
Our Loneliness and the Ecosystem
Transitioning into quarantine was difficult for all of us. Since then, there has been a number of trends that emerged that everyone wanted to try out. We’ve seen several DIY projects; Dalgona coffee, haircuts and hair dying, sewing clothes, room makeovers, and many more. All of these things are our ways of coping with everything, whether we just wanted to explore something new or to feel like something changed. But one of the trends in particular addresses our need and longingness for the outside world. And that is the “Plantito/Plantita” trend. When lockdown first started, we were coping with our loneliness by shifting everything to online. We were constantly on call with our loved ones, perhaps played an online game, or watched a film or series together. More than ever, we couldn’t let go of our phones as it is our only connection outside of our homes. We miss the days when we could meet up with our friends before a class, when we could freely go eat at our favorite dining spots, when we didn’t have to keep our distance from others. While we were doing our best to be satisfied with the online setup, it just wasn’t enough. The world calls out to us. We are confined within the walls of our homes, discouraged to step a foot outside our doors. We start to wonder what a breeze feels like against our skin, what it’s like to feel the sun on our skin. We can’t go outside. And so, we fill our spaces with something that resembles it. We buy our pots and fill them up. We research how to care for them. That act of nurturing and seeing something grow makes us feel better, it has become a substitute for human company. For those who decided to hop on board with this trend, they have been dubbed as “Plantitos” and “Plantitas”. Social media has been dominated by photos of plant parents showing off their plant babies. Succulents, snake plants, and herbs, people of all ages have been slowly transforming their homes into an indoor jungle. The presence of greenery helped in relieving stress from the pandemic. The rising interest in indoor gardening not only relieved our stress but also provided a source of income for some of us. With several workers becoming unemployed and business shutting down, it is not hard to fathom why they would opt to sell plants instead. In our need to fulfill our desires and needs, humans sometimes overlook the possible consequences of our actions. It has been great for us mentally to take care of these plants, but in our pursuit of collecting these, have we ever considered how this would affect nature? At first sight, you will see that it is harmless to collect these plants. It is good that there is a renewed interest in horticulture, but if we are not careful, we will do more harm than good. Already, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) worries over the rising threat to wild plant species. In the market, the more rare or exotic the plant is, the higher it is of value. Because of this, there has been a great temptation for people to collect and trade threatened plant species. “Illegal gatherers and collectors are having a fiesta because the market is bigger and prices are more attractive” stated by Rogelio Demallete, ecosystem specialist at the DENR – Biodiversity Management BureauThere(DENR-BMB).have already been reports of missing plants in parks and greenbelts, according to City Environment and Parks Management Office in Baguio. Monstera plants in some parts of Mines View Park and Burnham Park have been wiped out, succulents at City Hall Park, and rubber trees at Upper Session Road. According to Win Marcella, a hobbyist engaged with gardening, there has been a 35% to 40% increase in prices for common plants such as caladiums, rubber trees, and ferns. Several Filipino netizens also called out online sellers who are overpricing their products. Plants that cost P100 to P150 are being sold on the online market for over P 1,000.Reports of traders scouring the mountains and forests for plants caused an alarm to DENR. Endangered species face more threats as the demand grows. Removing these plants from their natural habitat could endanger them even more. There are certain conditions that are needed for them to thrive, some of them can only be provided by forests.
EDITOR: Alaiza Elaine
The Official Student Publication of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
ALAIZA ELAINE MANANSALA
From filming TikTok videos to making dalgona coffee to becoming plantitas and plantitos, the Filipino youth have gone through several phases of quarantine recreational activities to cope up with the boredom and stress brought by the lockdown. Yet the booming and unexpected popularity of BL series during the early stage of quarantine is proving to be more than just a phase as the film and TV industry in the Philippines opens its doors to more LGBTQ+ content. Filipino BL series provides not just entertainment but also representation for the LGBTQ+ community and spreads knowledge and awareness. With the recent hearing on SOGIE Bill, can Filipino BL go beyond providing entertainment and serve as a catalyst to socialBoys’changes?Loveor BL is a literary genre depicting the romance between male characters, according to Manga Planet. It is commonly referred to as “yaoi” by overseas fans, originating from shōjo manga in the 1970s. The Philippines has produced some gay-themed films and tv series like Die Beautiful, Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros, 2 Cool 2 Be Forgotten and My Husband’s Lover. But it was 2gether: The Series which really paved the way for Filipino BL series. 2gether is a Thaitelevision series featuring the story of college boys Tine and Sarawat which gained millions of views on YouTube and is now one of the mostwatched BL series on LINE TV. Thanks to this Thai series, it became easier for Filipinos to warm up to Gameboys, one of the first Filipino-made BL series created during the pandemic. It was launched on YouTube on May 22 and follows the story of Cairo and Gavreel, two online gamers who found love and friendship online. It caught not just the attention of Filipinos but also developed a worldwide fanbase. Following the success of Gameboys, more and more BL series were released such andGayaQuaranthings,assaPelikulaHello, Stranger.Thetrend of Filipino BL also opened more room for online discussions of issues faced by the members of LGBTQ+ community. On November 4, writerforexpressedfansandharassmentservice,denialareconsideredActivitiesincludingonprohibitfileditsnowbillsoneIdentityOrientation,onAnti-DiscriminationBillBill,LGBTQ+shouldspiritualpsychosocial,impliedEddieHousespecialhasthehearingthePhilippinesConcernedCanatrended#SOGIEEqualityNowafterAtty.LyndonofCoalitionofFamiliesofthecondemnedbillduringanonlineandclaimedthatLGBTQ+communitybecomea“supereliteclass”.DeputySpeakerVillanuevaalsothat“emotional,andrehabilitation”begiventothecommunity.SOGIEknownasSenateNo.689entitledtheBasisofSexualGenderandExpressionisofthelongest-runninginthePhilippines,onits20thyearsinceearliestversionwasin2000.ItaimstodiscriminationthebasisofSOGIE,straightpeople.thatarediscriminatorypromotionofstigma,ofaccesstopublicmedicalservices,bythepolicemilitaryandmore.Actors,writersandofFilipinoBLseriestheirsupportthebill.AshMalanum,ofGameboys shared a video of the BL series’ casts stating “Gay rights, period”. Juan Miguel Severo, writer of Gaya sa Pelikula replied on Twitter “The stupidity seems endless” to a question asked by Lyndon Cana during the hearing, if the plus sign on the LGBTQ+ meant it includes pedophilia and those attracted to the dead. Lead actors of the series written by Severo, Paolo and Ian Pangilinan also voiced their support.
Bottom to Top: Can the hit of Filipino BL ignite social change?
For years, their rights were stepped on and placed at the bottom, maybe the rise of Filipino BL could be the spark for these rights to be pushed to the top and be recognized.
Photo GameboysCourtesySeries of Ideafirst Company
The success of BL series in Thailand pushed for significant moves towards official recognition of gay couples. And in July 2020, a civil partnership law was approved by the Thai cabinet.
The main goal of Filipino BL is to entertain and provide representation, but now its success is becoming a way for more people to understand the fight for rights of those belonging to the LGBTQ+ community. It gives light to the issues often disregarded and deemed irrelevant by close-minded people.
The said law allows same-sex couples to adopt children and pass on inheritances. If Thailand can do it, then it’s not impossible for the Philippines to fully open its arms to the community and recognize their rights through the help of Filipino BL fans. Filipino BL has so much potential to go beyond the entertainment industry and help shatter social norms that deprive the LGBTQ+ community of their rights as citizens of our country. Through its storytelling, more people would be able to understand and see that LGBTQ+ people aren’t any different from us and they too, deserve to be treated fairly. It also provides a window for people outside the community to get a glimpse of the life of gay and lesbian couples and that this kind of relationship should not be labeled as taboo, but be normalized and accepted.
Still alive?:
A look into rural MSMEs amid pandemic
“Kawawa ang sitwasyon ng mga tao, wala nang kabuhayan. Katulad na lang sa amin, doon sa mahihirap sa Barangay Sapa. Kung sige-sigeng lockdown…wala na.
PAMANTASANANGThe Official Student Publication of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Volume 41, Issue 1 • October - November 2020features10
“Ngayon ang mahina. Wala nang ayuda, wala nang pambili, wala nang kita...Eh wala na ring trabaho ang tao.” Some of Delaida’s customers had already migrated to the city in order to find jobs and to provide for their families. The families in their barangay lack the money to buy any of her goods now. Meanwhile, a school and office supply store just half an hour drive away from Delaida, faces the same persisting minimized income. At the very heart of the municipality of Bataraza’s Trading Center, business establishments are facing significant losses due to the pandemic.Inaphone call interview, Miss Indah Dayaw, a newlywed, thriving entrepreneur, recalled the days before the pandemic when she exceeded her daily sales quota. Now, only enough is left after paying for her shop’s rent, utilities, and other expenses.“ Dahil hindi open ang offices, hindi open ang school…walang bumibili,” Indah recounted how hardly any customer visited her shop or even come near the public market. “Yung palengke hindi masyadong pinupuntahan. Yung mga tao yung binibilhan nila yung malapit sa kanila. Nang pag-bukas kasi (matapos ang lockdown) na-uso ang delivery at online…hindi namin kaya yun.” A study of the Asian Bank Development reported that over two-thirds of MSMEs in the Philippines had reported cash flow problems last September, forcing owners to temporarily close business. Some have turned to families, relatives, and friends for borrowing money just so they could keep businesses afloat. Many MSMEs reported zero income and revenues fell over 30% during the strict lockdown. These had led to serious repercussions such as closing down of businesses temporarily and laying off staff to cut costs because most MSMEs were unable to adopt the work-fromhomeMostsetup.MSMEs also had to suspend payments, as they either had run out of cash and savings or would be depleted by the end of the month. Even tax payments to the government and financial institutions were requested to be delayed due to the impact of the restrictions. Nevertheless, Indah remains optimistic that she is still able to operate and keep her single employee. She is also relieved that she doesn’t have perishable items on the shelves.
“Marami sa food court at restaurant [ang nagsara]. Wala nang kumakain sa labas so yung iba nagsara na talaga…di na talaga nag-bukas,” she said. “Karamihan (naman) sa tindahan na nagbukas, naexpired na yung mga (items) nila sa mga groceryAnother.” challenge both Indah and Delaida had to overcome was delayed delivery of supplies. Indah’s main suppliers were from Manila. When she could finally open her shop, she could not keep up as well with the demand because the deliveries from her suppliers were either suspended or delayed a week or two. Consequently, she wasn’t able to maximize her income due to deficient supplies.Onthe other hand, panel trucks used to visit Delaida’s store every week to refill her shelves with products. This was temporarily discontinued because of the quarantine restrictions. During the ECQ, Delaida had to rent a van and travel once or twice a week to the nearest town of more or less 14 km far. The travel cost, fatigue, and mental stress were events she did not want to repeat.
”Delaida was thankful that immediate movement restrictions were imposed for cautioning against the coronavirus. However, she could not help but feel dismayed at how her sister’s business almost went into bankruptcy this pandemic, and how many of her customers are now out of jobs.
FATIMA RAYYAN SALABI
In the municipalities of South Palawan, businesses vary not much in style and do not fit in exactly in the molds of cosmopolitan. Like all enterprises, however, they yearn for the long-term stability of business, one that can last for generations, and, hopefully, one that can stand economic storms such as this pandemic.Delaida Tapalla is a mother of six children and is an owner of a small sarisari store in Sapa, Bataraza. Sapa is a small barangay located just about 18 km from the southernmost end of Palawan. Like any rural barangay, every family knows each other’s family, every neighbor is a friend, and every newcomer could be spotted a mile away in their jeans and jacket.When I visited Delaida’s store last June, it stood quite firm on the ground as a stilt house, reaching over the elevated main road that stretched across the whole town. It continues to operate during this pandemic.Onecan look at Delaida’s establishment and imagine how reassuring it must have been for a small sari-sari store such as hers to remain operating during this time as COVID-19 ransacked the public health and economy worldwide. Many stores like Delaida’s may seem on the outside stable. However, it is far from standing unaffected by the uncertainty of the current time. Small businesses like hers are, in reality, financially fragile. Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are recognized as important contributors to the growth and sustainability of the economy. They provide decent jobs and supply goods and services to the public. According to the Department of Trade and Industry, 99.56% of business establishments in the Philippines were MSMEs as of May 2019. They provided about 62.3% of the total jobs or over three and a half million employees—and these same enterprises are currently in a dire situation. The threats the pandemic poses to MSMEs entail the same for the thousands of Filipino families that they have kept fed and are still trying to feed. Most micro businesses are familyrun. They include our local bakeries, carinderias, and the ubiquitous sarisari stores. They feed a minimum average of five family members and can employ up to nine employees. Microenterprises make up about 89 percent of the total number of MSMEs. While the remaining 11 percent is accounted for by small and medium enterprises, i.e. single proprietorship-, cooperative-, partnership- or corporation-owned businesses.Iwasable to chat with Miss Delaida when she visited Puerto Princesa City. We laughed at first as she told me about how her store uniquely managed during the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) earlier this March 2020. “Maganda talaga kita ko doon sa lockdown!” Delaida exclaimed as she described how her business had surprisingly boomed during the monthlong ECQ. “Kasi hindi sila (nakakalabas), barangay barangay lang. Walang biyahe. Kumikita nga ako ng 20 thousand sa isang araw. Ubus-ubos yang tindahan ko.”Delaida’s store also had to temporarily stop operation during the strict lockdown. She, however, was forced to open just two weeks later. Since people were restricted by the quarantine measures to procure in the bigger and farther towns, they were left with no access to essential goods and products except the few sari-sari stores in their barangay. She further imparted how this surprising outcome had come to fruition. When President Rodrigo Duterte implemented a total lockdown on all travels and public gatherings in the entire island of Luzon, goods and cash aids or ayudas from the government were distributed. The ayudas prioritized millions of poor and vulnerable Filipino families across the country. These reached almost every family in Barangay Sapa as most of them were from below the poverty line. Reliant on ayudas, this blissful and unique upturn that Delaida experienced lasted but a short moment as cash aids were discontinued. Now, Delaida has found herself included as one of the numbers in the statistics reported by economic experts revealing the recessed economy.Priorto the pandemic, Delaida’s sarisari store generated around P12,000. But in the course of the community quarantine measures, she generates only around P3,000 to P5,000 now.
Meanwhile, in the trading center where Indah’s stationery shop stood, reminisces and hopes are what remains in the establishments that are attempting to strive.Once a booming public space full of locals, domestic tourists, traders, and vans shuttling cargo throughout the whole stretch of Palawan, a whole year is about to pass Bataraza’s public market in a few months where these bustling scenes have unreservedly left no trace behind. Aside from selling retail, Delaida also plants pot flowers and grows vegetables on her porch adjacent to the sari-sari store.
Until When are We Going
An analysis of the 2020 US electionsKENDEPAULA
KEITH KENDRICK DIONISIO
Violent winds, heavy rains, gushing waters, and loud cries for help – these are just some of the numerous scenarios we can see and hear on television during the onslaught of every typhoon in the country. It is common knowledge that the Philippines is a high-risk area for typhoons and other calamities for it is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire and the typhoon belt of the Pacific. Every year, the country expects at least 20 typhoons, five of which are heavily destructive. Despite being aware of this, the Filipino people still get to suffer the detrimental effects of every catastrophe. Why is this happening? Why we are still not Forprepared?aspan of just a few weeks, our country was tremendously hit by three typhoons and two tropical storms. Typhoon Rolly, Quinta, and Ulysses were those who left a significant amount of damage to our country. Rolly, or Goni as it is internationally named, was considered to be the world’s most powerful tropical cyclone ever recorded in history. Over two million people across eight different regions of the country were left with massive destruction. Almost 70,000 people including the elderly, infants, and pregnant women were displaced. Shortly after, Typhoon Ulysses also left a huge blow on the property and infrastructures especially in Isabela and Cagayan Province.From Typhoon Quinta up to Typhoon Ulysses, the government estimated a total loss of P12.3 billion in the agriculture sectorStatisticsalone. have shown how our country suffers every time we are hit. However, it is also evident in every calamity our countrymen still choose to see the brighter side and continue to smile. We often go with the flow and just settle for what’s left to us. We tend to overcome each challenge without questioning why we have to repeatedly go through the same fate and we’re even praised by our resiliency. This idea overshadows the trauma, stress, and anxiety that were evident in the victims’ lives. It could never hide the agony that most people affected felt.The devastating effects of these typhoons could’ve easily been managed enough funds are available. The unwitting cut of P4 billion on the budget for the National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council or the calamity funds for 2020 is a detrimental move, along with the defunding of Project NOAH or Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards of the Department of Science and Technology in 2017. These might have aid in more efficient disaster prevention and mitigation programs, especially situations that needed an immediate response.Through the years, our resiliency has been romanticized to the point where we haven’t assessed the problems anymore and learn enough to demand efficient solutions. It became our drawback to demand accountability and immediate action from the government. Capitalizing this idea puts a lesser focus on our country’s disaster preparedness and crisis management and also gives lesser emphasis on the preventive measures that we must be focusing on. The recent typhoons revealed how less prepared we are in dealing with calamities even though it is a re-occurring phenomenon. Refusing to romanticize and glorify Filipino resiliency means truly wanting the best for the Filipinos. Resiliency may keep most of us going but it should not be the sole thing to rely on during tough times like these. We have the right to demand accountability and we must until it’s duly given. Owning up to the shortcomings and striving to be better is the best way to put an end to the exaggerated use of the Filipino resiliency card. to
“ The 2020 US Presidential Elections exit poll leaned towards the Democratic opposition; their country is now expecting a transition into left-wing liberalism, rather than to maintain right-wing conservatism. So, where does the youth play in this shift of Withpower?71million votes, Republican re-electionist President Donald Trump had a considerable defeat to Democrat Joe Biden with 76 million votes. Gaining the highest election turnout in the last century, the aseemvotetoforUnitedplay,politicaltorolethetopracticedAmericans150-millionwhotheirrightvotehighlightedquintessentialoftheyouthdecideonthepower-notjustintheStates,butthewholeworldreflect.The5-milliondeficitmaytoappealtoclosefightfor leadership, but in the United States’ policies, it is about who had at least 270 Electoral College votes to decide who sits in power. Demographically speaking, Biden had a powerhouse of voters behind him. Grouping the voters by age, along with its corresponding bracket percentage in the 150 million votes, the two parties gained a close divide for voters among the working and older people: for ages 3044, with 23% or 34.5 million voters 52% are in favor of Biden; ages 45-64, with 38% or 57 million voters were close, with 50% in favor of Trump; while ages 65 and above, with 22% or 33 million voters, shown 52% to 47% parts, in favor of Trump. However, in the age bracket of 1829, it was a 61% to 36% voter turnout, favoring the democratic candidate; securing this remaining 17% or roughly 25.5 million voters. This demographic, which comprised the 15.3 million of the 60% of the blue side, profoundly contributed to Biden’s presidential win. On a statistical speculation, if the young voters had not yet registered and casted their votes it would lead to a drastic shift of voter turnout, which could have turned the table and enabled Trump to win his secondMeanwhile,term. in the Philippine context, inspired by the termination of the 4-year populist leadership of Trump, a call from netizens through #TayoNaman and #EveryVoteCounts sparked to inspire the new generation of voters in the upcoming 2022 Philippine Presidential Elections to seek and vote for competent leaders. The youth-led non-profit organization ‘We The Youth Vote’ started a campaign to rally the expected 40 million Filipino voters in the 18-39-year-old age bracket to maximize their voting capacity for the make-orbreak turnout of the incoming elections.
*all facts from the demographic US Presidential elections turnout were based on the Nov. 4 exit polls of CNBC
11 The Official Student Publication of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Volume 41, Issue 1 • October - November 2020 features 11 ‘Tayo Naman’
Accordingly, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) is expected to have 4 million newly registered voters until September 2021.We are no stranger to a tyrannical leadership that divides the nation’s people into a bipartisan state - the progovernment, and anti-bad governance. And such division causes nothing but havoc, and public feud on views and opinion, that had been said, may wethe young voters - seek a leader who has compassion, sense of leadership and accountability, and whose purpose is to unite and not divide the Filipino people.
Use the Resiliency Card?
Never underestimate the power of the youth.
The youth has long been monikered as the ‘hope’ and with the youth turning the tide of the US presidential elections, its implications cannot be seen as mere propaganda for politics. Rather it is a call for a movement of participative manipulating the youth, rather a call for a movement of participative and empowered youth.
ng Maynila Volume 41, Issue 1 • October
kalecturerluh,bhie?
Lie detector test 101. Mayroong di umanong mga coN ceRneD netizen ang nagbigay ng kanilang sEntiMents or should I say #lecture sa mga #piling IsKaLatS. HuWaW! Maraming pwedeng dahi lan kung bakit nila ito ginawa, kung may #galit ba sila sa mga #piling IsKaLatS, sadyang concerned istu dent, o kung gano’n lang ba tala ga magkampihan ang mga ibon #birdswiththesamefeathersflockto gether. Pero kebs pa rin. Lalo pa’t ang mga #piling IsKaLatS na ito ay open naman for reactions. Salamat sa magandang aral na ito! Pero ang wish ko lang for you all ay sana malinaw ang ating mga #fActS sa ating mga ipo-post. Lalo pa kung hindi naman present sa very spe cial meeting ng mga very special iskalats. Why naman kasi gano’n? Well, tingin ko, time ko na para ako naman ang maglecture. Makinig ka! May graded recitation ‘to later! Pa katandaan niyong karapat-dapat na lahat ng bagay ay mayroong basehan at pawang katotohanan lamang. Huwag din tayong puro say hangga’t wala tayong tiyak na pinanghuhugutan ng mga #fActS. Isa sa paraan kung paano mo ma sisiguradong leGit ang iyong mga sinasabi ay kung ikaw ang saksi. Nasaksihan mo ang mga kagana pan. Ganoin ‘yon, siz! Huwag nating ugaliin na ang ating basehan ay mga #rumors at mga patutsada na galing lang din sa soc medz. Sigu raduhing tama at totoo ang mga isturya ng ganap. Basta huwag ka limutan na i-check ang facts, bago ka manglecture bhie! And I, tenk yow!PS. mAhaL quo pha Rin nAmaN kHayO. hEHi.
Ang sabi sa librong nabasa ko, ang henerasyon daw natin ay puno ng mga #ayaw, #kabadtripan, #inis at #galit tungkol sa maraming bagay. Well, tingin ko, tama naman ang librong iyon. Kaya heto, ito ang listahan ng mga ikinagagalit ko sa mundo. Ayaw na ayaw ko sa mga hindi nagmamahal sa kalikasan. Inis ako sa mga #plastic at sa kahit na ano pa mang #single-use. Badtrip ako sa mga langaw, imagine, namamatay silang walang kahirap-hirap. Ang huli nilang pamamalagi sa mundo ay palaging masayang nangingitlog sa naiwanang pagkaing walang takip, at kapag nahuli sila ay basta na lang mamamatay, walang masalimuot na proseso, pero ikaw anong nangyari sa’yo? Ni hindi mo na makain pa ‘yong pagkain! At higit sa lahat, galit ako sa mga tambutso. Lalo na ‘yong wala sa tamang timing at lugar kung bubuga. Hindi man lang nag-iisip kung may mahihirapan o masasaktan ba sa gagawin niya. Fan yata ng #TulakNgBibigKabigNgDibdib. Basta kung anong gustong ibuga, g lang sila. Wapakels. At kaya ko na-open ay dahil lately, may tambutso akong nakilala. Grabe, sobrang umuusok! Sobra kung umusok! Nang wala sa tamang lugar! Walang pakundangan. Kulang na lang ay gawin niyang kulay abo ‘yong mga nadaanan niya. Estudyante pa naman sila. Ayun, pinagtinginan at kinaawaan. Tapos ‘yong ibang nakakita, nagalit pa dahil kasalanan naman daw ‘yon ng mga estudyante. Grabe, nahirapan at napirwisyo na nga, mali pa rin. Halos napalitan na ng dumi ‘yong mapuputi nilang uniporme. Sa buong buhay kong pagiging galit sa mga tambutso, iba talaga ang galit ko sa isang ‘to. Akala niya siguro, sumikat siya no’n. Pero ang hindi niya alam, isinusuka ng hangin ang mga inilabas niya. Hindi nakatulong sa kalinisan at sa kalikasan. Sadya ba talagang ginawang gano’n ang mga tambutso, na kagaya ng mga plastic at langaw, walang pakialam sa kalalabasan ng #actions? Kasi kung oo, I wanna say, it really hurtz so much! AYAW KONG MAGMAHAL NG TAMBUTSO. TAMA NA ITU *writing whilst extremely sobbing* It really hurtz!
Isyung IskoIsyung Isko Student Publication of Pamantasan Lungsod -
November 202012
Quality Edyukeysyown™ na hatid ng nag-iisang pHleGm. Kahit online man or peys2peys, walang isKalat ang makatatakas sa mga pagsubok na nasa likod ng pag-register sa pIeLEm. Issa package deal, my prends! Opkors, isa ang mare n’yo sa mga lucky iStupidents na kinailangan muna magmakaawa sa mga Poncio Pilatoe para lamang makasali sa diskusyown kahit naka register na ang mama ninyo. Wiz na nga pinagpala ang tita ninyo ng aWtluK account bago pa magsimula ang academic year, dinaig ko pa ang dumaan sa EDSA ng rush hour dahil sa beri turtle-like process ng #MicroSurfTims, mula sa pagkuha hanggang sa paggamit.
PAMANTASANANGThe Official
Sa dami nang naglipanang nakagagalit at nakakabadtrip na happenings lately, sorry na kaagad kung daragdagan namin ang mga iyon. Pero, ‘wag kang mag-alala, hindi ka basta mababadtrip lang sa wala. Isipin mong ambag ko ito sa inuman, regalo sa pananatili mo, o basta gusto ko lang na malaman mo. Kung maaalala at makikilala mo ang mga nasa ibaba, aba, congrats dahil isa kang certified iskalat! Naglalaman ito ng maraming #expectationvsreality na aming natuklasan sa mga nakaraang buwan. Maghanda kang malunod sa dami ng tea na naihanda namin para sa iyo. Ano? Ako pa rin ang taya sa panulak? Luh, asa ka! Sobra na yata ‘yon!
ng
#BoredAsF na ba kayo, mga teH? K’wentuhan muna tayo pero no worries! Wa kami papalitan na anything mula sa iZtory, oki? Kung ano’ng inispluk ng mga badet, ‘yun lang din ang aking ito-talk. So hearsung ko na may mga vAkluhH na supergigil at superpreach sa app na may ibon dahil wit nila bet ang isang sumikat na iZtory na involved (uy fancy!) sila. Wit ata nila bet ang pikchur nila na hindi inedit bago nai-print. Ekis sa #truth at #NoFilter dahil ‘di sila tinanong kung bet ba nila ang piksur na itech? Hay. Ewan ko teH! Hilo na din ako kasi may na-sight akong trumpo na ang sabi nila ay pinapaikot nila pero wit naman? Sila ay beri WRONG! Anes ba ang agenda nila sa trumpo na itey at whysung nila iniispluk na iniikot ‘yun kahit wiz naman? Spluk lang ng spluk kahit wit naman nila understand ang buong iZtory ng trumpo na itech. Pero in fairness, ang ganda ng #image ng nasabing trumpo na ito kahit pa naka ilang layer na itis ng makeup para gumanda. Bet na bet itis ng mga isKalatS at ang lakas ng kanilang #Support!! kahit wiz din nila knows ang truth ng trumpo at ng may hawak ng tali nito. Ilang ulit na rin silang nag-say na ‘di lang ganda ang iNtensyoWn nila para sa trumpo at sila’y may dEmanDs para ditey. Gaya ng inikot na trumpo, hilo din aketch sa mga iZtory at version ng kanilang #truth na hindi naman tugma sa kung ano ang aking hEaRd sa aming super secret meeting. Eniweyy, maniniwala ako sa piksur na walang edit. Wit ko naman bet ang mga story maker dahil ako ay story teller, oki? Kahit mukhang may mga mukha na gusto magpaganda lang nang mukha. Pero nilalatag ko lang ang mga #FactZ na direktang kinuha sa spluk at hanash nila, ah? Nothing more, nothing less. *Sabay hair flip at lakad palayo* May filter ay Better Sa ating mga istupidents ng Pamantarsan, hindi na new news ang banggainna#ChallengesAndObstaclesmgadapatnatintalunanatparamakamitang
Wititit naman sana magiging prob5 ang paghihintay na mag-load ang page ng Tims pero ‘di #PriviLeGed ang inyong ka-isKalat, teH, Purita Kashiwara lang ang ate ninyo. Tipid to the max na nga akis ng data na gagamitin ko para sa quiz bukas pero natetest ang aking patience siZmaRu! ‘Di na nga aketch nasasama sa attendance dahil sa #LagLagLag, laglag din ang tita n’yo sa recitation dahil biglang nagka-Crash Landing on You ang peg ng MicroSurfTims kahit pipindutin ko lang naman ang Unmute para mag ispluk at magsagot ng questiyown. Kapit na tuloy sa laylayan ang grado ko mars! Inuulanan na nga aketch ng requirements na ‘di makatarungan ang dEadTlines, nangangapa pa ako sa dilim sa instruksyones na walang kalinawan. Minsan din, nagtataka na lang ako kung p’wede bang macomatose ang Tims dahil ito’y beri beri unresponsive. The turtle ka, gHorl? ‘Kala mo ba na dahil online, mas madali ang buhay mo, ka-isKalat? Luh, asa ka.
CrashLaggingonU
Mirage of vast privilege on resource gleams‒Burdens a world so different and realistic, Shattering our future hopes and dreams.
• October
ILLUSTRATION BY ASHLEY
SECTION ANNE NICOLE CARIG
DAEDALUS
Snip, snip! ‒ there goes our wings Upsetting balances that uneven scales elicit Shattering our future hopes and dreams. Speaking with plums in their mouth are kings Unaware of inequality they don’t get to visit‒Snip, snip! ‒ there goes our wings.
Restless and unmotivated, at nights, I cry, unrestricted; compromising health to meet ends, stuck reliving moments with friends. Running in full circles, in usual patterns and chronicles —a little too lost wanderer, moving but towards nowhere.
literaryANGPAMANTASAN Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
Holding on false hope for solace, I hear voices all over the place telling me to grapple and all I ever did was crumble.
laments
The body in dark prisons of unmerciful disasters.
ILLUSTRATION
Fire on the line My soul burns in dying embers; Mind-numbing bores and exorbitant expectations That allows the mind to toil in apt stillness
Meals are unnecessary for machines But working to the grave is made complicit! Snip, snip! ‒ there goes our wings. Forced to undergo certain extremes Grapples, cheats for easy stature to succeed Shattering our future hopes and dreams. Only blind eyes pass by regimes Ambiguous differences made explicit Snip, snip! ‒ there goes our wings Shattering our future hopes and dreams. MAE HERNANDEZ BY MARIE TUPAZ
INSIDETHIS 14 The Official Student Publication of
Laughter in between sighs and worthwhile sleepless nights; finding reassurance and comfort through a circle of rapport. Now, days pass in routines, and I try too hard not to falter, always chasing for time while running away from it.
The screen lights up again, a cup of coffee sits adjacent to keep me sane and awake through yet another daybreak.
Volume 41, Issue 1 - November 2020 15
Routines
EDITOR: Anne Nicole Carig
JUNNINE
PATRICIA GABRIELLE MARQUEZ
Partial eyes look on cells linked yet divided Scrutinizing works with no debate nor contingency; With nothing to look but at glaring screens‒Time is our master; our warden, our instructors.
What does it take to be a functional adult? To be one is to be happy. What does it take to be a functional adult?
After years of chasing cars, I realized that the virtue of contentment is unparalleled.
How can I be a functional adult when I am merely even an adult? When did fulfillment start to equate into productivity? Isn’t being happy the point of our lives? Idealistic as it may seem, it is the reality that is being arrogated at us.
Chasing
I have diligently followed what adults say for I thought they always knew better and just like them, I will be right someday only to find myself moving towards nowhere.
To push and pull and scram and ponder Shadows loom on foreboding compromises.
The body in dark prisons of unmerciful disasters.
As I tremble tapping my keys, meeting the deadline’s threat. Allow me not to frustrate, nor resent, but to express my last words Before they present my sentence and the death row on my screen. Ironic how I learn ignorantly in every pace, while several others chase it everyday.
Please endure it a little more, No one would know if we cry anyway.
MARY JILLIAN CRISTOBAL Words
LAST
I was persistently fooled to believe that my worth was measured by titles; An unrestricted life I never got to live, as I have always walked on eggshells.
I felt the shackles restraining my wrists, the gun pointing at my brain— we were slaves of this silence; one mistake or question pounds the nail on somebody’s coffin.
As they pull us apart in different directions
I have tried to voice my plea, I have cried out for help. I was asking for a dream to be fulfilled, but they helped me lose it instead.
One can vainly seek a different morrow For what can we see beyond restricting bars If not distances we must cover to learn?
Years of institutional indoctrination has manipulated my life aspirations. For what purpose have I been gambling my life on? A predestined end of being a slave to tycoons?
Noiselessly suffering from all our woes Lonely is a word not enough to evoke
ANNE NICOLE CARIG
PATRICIA THE MARIE TUPAZ
And so, this is my last attempt to escape, in this system that imprisons my aim; but as I turn off my screen: did I win— or did I meet yet another end?I was four when I learned to recognize colors— the peach in the midsummer clouds, the bright yellow spirit of open doors, and the rainbow arch that flaunts proud.
GABRIELLE MARQUEZ ON
LINE Fire ILLUSTRATION BY CARL JUSTINE MOGOL ILLUSTRATION BY FAITH CACNIO ILLUSTRATION BY JUNNINE
I thought that this would be my refuge; Amidst the unseen war, this was my only shot left. But as this haven builds up its walls with papers and dates, it has turned into a suffocating prison cell more than a place I want to stay in.
Then I was introduced to a place unknown, all over were orange and monochrome, metal bars and fetters of iron; I was trapped in confines I cannot abscond.
“One last chance, please, before I meet my end.”
My soul burns in dying embers; Mind-numbing bores and exorbitant expectations That allows the mind to toil in apt stillness
Reliving every day in quiet isolation, Faintly remembering finer recollections, Far from the ever-present Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V That acquires not knowledge, but quiet acquiescence.
ANGPAMANTASAN The Official Student Publication of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Volume 41, Issue 1 • October - November 2020 literary 15
Drowning in the same responsibilities, Archaic rules put forth in this steely frame Doubting dreams, turning nightmares into reality, Overwhelming every session in this cold abyss.
TRISHA MAY BANZON The rookies of Haribons E-Sports braved the skies and perched with a stir of victories and setbacks as they joined their first-ever intercollegiate competitions in AcadArena’s National Campus Open and University Alliance Cup. The tournaments consisted of three multiplayer online battle arena video games, namely: League of Legends, Valorant, and Mobile Legends. The competitions were held from October to December 2020. Brix Relano, President of Haribons E-Sports said that it was his dream, along with the members of the organization, to represent the university in the esports competitive scene. “Dati kasi may LCL (LoL Collegiate League) du’n naglalabanlaban ‘yung mga universities, ngayon nawala na, pero ‘yung AcadArena ‘yung parang nagbalik so we just grabbed the opportunity,” he mentioned in an interview.Being the League of Legends team’s manager/coach at the same time, Relano also shared some of the difficulties that the team encountered while adjusting to the online “[Throughsetup.online] nakaka-apekto ‘yung ‘di agad ma-establish ‘yung trust and bond with the players kaya mahirap gamayin ‘yung personalities nila,” he shared.Relano also stated that he prefers guiding players face-to-face because of more efficient communication. Regarding the players’ performance, he added that while the new setup might have adversely affected them, there is still room for improvements for their individual performance.
Lewis Hamilton secures WDC, Mercedes win 2020 F1 Championship Title Quenching a drought in Korea Magnus Carlsen falls to ‘top of his game’ So in Skilling Open
The Silver Arrows of Mercedes Petronas AMG took home their 7th consecutive constructor’s championship at Imola as they bested Red Bull Racing, leading them by 254 points as of writing. Mercedes has officially beaten the 6-title streak held by Scuderia Ferrari. Lewis Hamilton, on the other hand, equals Michael Schumacher’s championship titles and is now the winningest F1 driver in history, with 95 race wins to date.
DAMWON Gaming clinches the Summoner’s Cup against Suning in a best-of-five, winning 3-1 in the finals of the League of Legends World Championship 2020 held in Shangai, China. This victory marked the end of a drought for Korea as they derail China’s championship streak. Damwon’s track record has been remarkable throughout the series, outperforming countless teams as they carved their way through the tournament, which saw them defeat fellow Korean team DRX in the brackets and breeze past EU’s G2 Esports in the semis.
Crashing the birthday celebration of Magnus Carlsen, the US Chess Champion So won 1.5 - .5 against the celebrant in a fight for 30,000 USD for the first leg of the Champions Chess Tour 2021.
The NBA bubble saw the Los Angeles Lakers take home the crown after finishing off the Miami Heat, 4-2 in a best-of-seven. The franchise now has 17 championships in its belt, tied with the Boston Celtics for the most titles in NBA history.
SportsFranchisecourtesy:Media
League of Legends: A Promising Start In the League of Legends wing of the tournament, the Haribons aced their way to the quarterfinals after striking two confident victories against Holy Angel University’s Archangel Blues and University of Saint La Salle-Bacolod’s RektikanoHowever,Esports.their ascent would be given an abrupt stop by the reigning champion of University of Santo Tomas’ Teletigers. Both teams were 2-0 in the same bracket and were in must-win situations to move on to the semifinals of the championship. Haribons went on to show their vim and vigor by going toe-to-toe with the Teletigers. The amateurs proved they are worthy opponents after narrowing the gap of gold lead to only 200 at one point in theThegame.titlists, however, defied the Haribons’ confidence as they won both of the clashes at the top red side jungle and mid lane. The Teletigers then pushed to execute the Baron and the ocean soul dragon.Haribons put up a strong final clash at the top blue side jungle before finally being mauled by the Teletigers’ prowess. The Teletigers would eventually emerge victorious as champions of the collegiate League of Legends scene for 2020.
Valorant: Biting the Bullet The Haribons’ ascent in Valorant was also given an abrupt and underwhelming stop after losing the battle for the skies to University of San Agustin’s Golden Eagles in a score of 13-5. The game finished their campaign with a dismal standing of 1-4. “All we were thinking was how can we get [to win] the next round, we don’t really think about the past rounds like what happened [in our match] vs. UP Diliman, where we also went 0-5 but finished the half 6-6,” commented Eljan Peralta, also known as Joker #OKS of Atomos Haribons, one of PLM’s representatives in Valorant.
ANGPAMANTASAN The Official Student Publication of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Volume 41, Issue 1 • October - November 2020
Photo courtesy: Haribon Esports
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World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen falls to the composure of Wesley So in the Skilling Open online rapid chess tournament held by chess24 last November.
As second runners-up, Polytechnic University of the Philippines’ FEWA and PLM Haribons will take home Php 10,000.
The victors of the AcadArena National Campus Open and University Alliance Cup will represent the Philippines in the International E-Cultural Festival in November and in PVP ESports Campus Championship in December. As for the Haribons, Relano believes that the results of this championship have encouraged and motivated the team to perform better and that PLM will ‘ascend higher’ in the following tournaments.
Mobile Legends: Close to the apex The Mobile Legends crusade of the Haribons would be their most notable effort yet, as they placed second runner-up in the tournament. The FAITH Colleges Bravehearts, who would eventually end up as champions, would be the ones to tear theirThewings.Haribon’s matchup against the Bravehearts concluded 1-3 in a best-offive. A strong comeback game from the players of FAITH Colleges in the second game would end up wreaking havoc against the mental of the entire team of Haribons, despite preventing a hat-trick sweep in game 3. “We had that game eh. We just, again, choked.” said Paulo Gabriel Antonio, manager of the Mobile Legends team. Asked about the player’s outlooks on the following games after the Bravehearts wrestled victory from the Haribons in game 2, he added: “At that point, everyone was pretty much in the mindset of ‘wala na to’.” This loss of mental will eventually spell the demise of the run of the team, falling to the boot of a stomp on game 4.
The Haribons, standing 1-3 as they faced the Golden Eagles, had their backs up against a wall in another must-win situation. However, the University of San Agustin’s Golden Eagles would prove to be formidable opponents, as they won 5 consecutive rounds in the opening stages of the game. “We were getting outperformed mechanically, which sa tingin ko is one of the main reasons kung bakit kami natatalo. Aside from that, lacking din ‘yung decision-making namin and the ability to adapt which was the nail in the coffin,” he continued. Haribons’ Joker led a vicious fight in Round 6 after acquiring three opponent kills, pushing the team to secure their first win in the match. In Round 11, Golden Eagles’ Vondubs aimed to defuse the spike after being left on a one-on-one match with Haribons’ Blaze. Blaze then quickly spotted and fired at the enemy, ending the round in an ambitious 8-3 with the Golden Eagles leading.The Golden Eagles continued to dominate further in the following rounds, pressing the Haribons to narrow the gap and give them their best shot. In spite of the Haribons’ determined defense, the Golden Eagles successfully executed their attacks and struck their final blow before claiming victory on RoundPeralta18. said that the tournament brought the hunger of competition out of his team which left them unsatisfied with their“Weperformance.willcome back stronger. We do hope that we could compete again and make the school proud,” he added.
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PLM Haribons makes their maiden flight in E-Sports
