FENOMENAL 2O2O

Why Pursue Online Class?

by Renzo C. Tan

Amidst the chaos, we have been under strict quarantine for quite a few months now, uncertain of what the future holds for us. Inside our household, we remain passive yet hopeful, as we put our trust on government officials, frontline workers, and our school administration in ensuring us a convenient course of action in taking the next step during this pandemic.

It is evident that the COVID-19 has become a threat to every aspect of society, most especially the educational institutions. It poses the possibility of students being unable to nurture and instigate their educational needs, considering the ‘new normal’ being introduced to us today.

Online classes, being the grand scheme of most schools and universities, calls for online-based learning for students to partake alongside with teachers as it becomes the new medium of education in today’s current situation. This sudden shift into a virtual classroom becomes the pinnacle of the efforts of school officials in preventing the disease from spreading in local school communities. With negative criticisms and difficulties surrounding the idea, it begs the question, "Why should we enroll in online classes?”

It would be pure ignorance to disregard the ‘digital divide’, in which inequality is present between the rich and the poor, as the rich would have the necessities needed for online classes while the poor would not. This becomes a problem for the school administrators to take head-on as it should be their obligation to ensure that the students are equipped with the materials needed to participate in a virtual classroom such as laptops, tablets, and the like.

Now we must not also take a blind eye and realize the consequences of choosing to abolish the idea of online classes, rather than engage in it. In the economical perspective, the refusal of students in enrolling in online classes would mean no income would generate for these educational institutions, thus they would be forced to release employees such as teachers and other staffs. This then results into bankruptcy for these institutions as well as plunging the employment rate of the country, damaging its economic and social structure.

The quick turn to online classes should not be looked at as an exclusivity, but rather as an opportunity for students to exercise their education. Despite the flurry of complexities, both the students and the school must do their part in conducting a productive environment in which it would benefit both parties. Assurance must be guaranteed to the students, and in return, they give their cooperation and trust to the school administration.

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Descended Angel in Locsin’s form

by Yusrhina S. Usman

A 35-year old Filipino actress-philanthropist became an angel in disguise helping her fellowmen get through these trying times. The real-life Darna does not need the ‘bato’ to transform into some incredible fictitious being, all she needs is her motivation to help mankind and voila! Angelica ‘Angel’ Locsin Colmenares: became the ‘superhero’ the mass admires.

At present, the country is facing a crisis that is steadily progressing that the celebrity actress cannot just sit back while watching Filipinos suffer from this pandemic. Locsin and her friends are doing everything they can to help those in need. In a span of nineteen days, the Filipina actress Angel Locsin, together with her team, was able to aid 135 hospitals throughout the country, set up 246 tents, and raised funds for a total of Php 11,359,856.89 through her campaign #UniTENTweStandPH. The primary goal of her campaign is to avoid further casualties caused by overcrowded healthcare facilities and to fight off COVID-19 threats that lasted from March 25, 2020, to April 13, 2020.

After signing off from her recent campaign, she has now set a new goal to continue helping her fellowmen by joining hands with her other Kapamilya actresses, Bea Alonzo and Anne Curtis to launch the ‘Shop & Share’ initiative that first took part during the Typhoon Ondoy relief operation back in 2009. Their fellow celebrities are going to donate their personal belongings for auction wherein the proceeds will be used for the purchase of the said test kits.

Last December 2019, the real-life Darna was hailed as one of Forbes' Asia's 2019 Heroes of Philanthropy: Catalysts for Change. Forbes then described her contributions for the past decade in which she donated about Php 15 million “to causes such as educational scholarships for students, supporting the economic and political rights of indigenous people, and ending violence against women and children” a proof of her great dedication to help the people.For the past years, Angel Locsin is always on the go when unfortunate events happen. Locsin’s presence during the 2017 Marawi siege was evident as she joined the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines handing out supplies to the victims. She gave out scholarships to 31 students through fundraising activity, donated a million for relief operations when a 6.5 magnitude hit Mindanao in October last year, skipped the 2019 ABS-CBN Ball to donate her supposed expenses for the event to Bantay Bata 163, the child welfare arm of the ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation. Locsin was also spotted giving out relief goods for the victims during the Taal volcanic eruption last January. All these actions made people see Angle Locsin as the real-life Darna, a Filipino comic superhero who stands up for those who cannot fend for themselves.

Despite her efforts, there are still those who do not know how to appreciate good deeds. Bashers and trolls are claiming that Locsin has been putting on an act when doing good deeds for the community. Nonetheless, there is the fact that cannot be denied, that Locsin’s “show off” helped countless Filipinos when others cannot. The negativities would not stop her from extending her hand for those in need. “It’s like taking little steps towards substantive, holistic change for the future of the next generations,” Locsin said. “The only motivation we need is being part of humanity.”