Echoes November 2018 by Echoes

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A U G U S T

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Nightmare on Tyrone Street by Meira de Luna

Service, Excellence, and New Traditions by Cel P.

Clout and About: Politics in 280 Words or Less by Cielo Verzosa

Gemzoncheng Part 1 by Karla Tuplano

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The Single vs. Taken Life by Katie Abrenica

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Cover Story: Holy Trinity by Bianca RaĂąola

Almost Can Be Enough by Betina Sales

Cruising Together by Ann Geron

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Rodrigo Duterte & His Army of Skanks by Anon

Condiments Bro by Bernice Henson

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ECHOE S 60B PUBLICATION

E DITOR -IN-CHIEF AS S OCIATE EDITOR STAFF A

STAFF B

Echoes is the official publication of the UP Economics Society (UP Ecosoc), a nonstock, non-profit, student organization based in the University of the Philippines Diliman School of Economics. Echoes is released two to four times a semester and six times in a year on the months of March, April, August, September, October, and November. It draws its funding from a subsidy from UP Ecosoc, subscription revenue, and small fundraisers. For this semester, 35 subscription copies are produced. This publication is printed by Yza Copy Systems and Trading, located at Katipunan, Quezon City. CONTACT US upecosoc@gmail.com ecosoc.echoes@gmail.com TWEET US @echoesph FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT: echoes.ph issuu.com/echoes All errors are corrected when uploaded on issuu.com/echoes. If you spot an error, please email us. NO PART OF THIS PUBLICATION MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT PERMISSION.

Bianca RaÃ±ola Meira de Luna Andrew Banaag Carlos Barreiro Mari Ferrer Jolo Zagala Alyanna Basbas Joaquin de Guzman Pita Ochave Javi Vilchez

COMMUNICATIONS E DITO RI AL ASSISTANT STAFF

Maxine Capili Jego Agabin Lawrence Chu Gail Gibe Glenn Guy Patrick Santos

EVENTS M ANAGING EDITOR STAFF

Franzze Milag Katie Abrenica Bianca Cacnio Kelsey Mariano

CONTRIBUTORS Ky l a B a l i t a Mario Quimbo Katie Abrenica Nicole Formoso Miguel Balao Hazel Syhongpan Celina Pacana Meira de Luna Gem Agudo Johanna Almaida Charyzah Esparrago

R a m o n Te n a Mari Ferrer C i e l o Ve r z o s a Betina Sales Ann Geron Luis Orallo Javi Vilchez Julia Castellon Andrew Banaag Bernice Henson K a r l a Tu p l a n o

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EDI TOR’S LE T T ER

To your right you will see freshie me at my first Induction Ball, holding Outstanding Applicant certificates that don’t belong to me. I was the only person in my table to not get an award, but here I am now crawling to the end of my term as EIC.

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This issue is all about CONTRAST, and though we do talk about opposite ends of a pole - Manila vs. Diliman, Ann vs. Jude, single vs. taken life (please enlighten me! I’d like to know) - we also put the focus on the CONTRAST inside us, and how the person we were a few years ago is different from the person we are now. Which is why Hazel Syhongpan, Lia Querijero, and Jad Castillo - people from different stages in their college lives - are on the cover this month. I don’t think Echoes has ever put a Vice Chairperson, an Adhoc Director, and a Committee Chairperson together on one cover, and for the first ten minutes of the cover shoot I got an idea why, but seeing these active Ecosocers giving me their best angas look as they turn the Oval into their very own Abbey Road proves to be worth it, as ambitious ideas often do. The three share how Ecosoc has changed them and what they’d like to tell their past and future selves. Perhaps it all boils down to a lucky combination of time, grit, and grace. To my past self, I’d say that everything works out the way it’s meant to in the end. And to my future self, I’d say I really do hope you survive having Pajaron as your thesis adviser. But hey, I went from OA poser to actual two-time MOM nominee to the person who awards OMs, and I have never been quite the same. I think I’ll be just fine.

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J E R E M Y G E M Z O N TA N ECOSOC MONTH HELLO ECOSOC!!!!!! About 90% done with the term and it’s only starting to hit me now how much I’m going to miss every single part of this :( from playing bridge in the tambayan to signing sigsheets to getting drunk at Meira’s house, this experience has been nothing short of amazing and I’m 100% going to cherish every single memory.... PERO MAY DALAWANG BUWAN PA KAMI SO FUCK BEING SENTI HAHAHHAHAAHAH!!! NYC is just around the corner and we’re set to meet some of the best and brightest high schoolers the country has to offer! We’re also going to meet the next set of execommers to lead this home into the future!!! AKALAIN MO IILANG BUWAN NA LANG PERO POTEK ANG DAMI PA RIN NANG-YAYARI!!!!!! MAY ROOTS 2019 PA WILD!!!!! It’s been one hell of a ride Ecosoc BUT IT AIN’T OVER YET!!!!!!!

ERIN CHENG SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE Hawoo ecosoc hope you’re all doing ok !!!! it’s been a couple of weeks since we ended EM with a bang with GAH, and I’m glad to see you all enjoy boogie-ing your hearts out with some of our cutest n craziest alumni! Mad props n congratulations to the EM team for getting thru almost 2 months of Ecosoc craziness n showing us just how fun it is to love the org <33 HEHE we’re almost thru with the entire year, with NYC coming up in a few weeks! It’s been almost 5 months of the team working nonstop to give this year’s highschoolers the best NYC experience yet and I’m so happy and proud to see what everyone’s accomplished. Just 2 months to go until the sem is over i hope you’re all still holding up!!!! labyu ecosoc see u in events teehee

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I S A B E L C U E VA S ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

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It’s November!!! I can’t believe that our term is about to end and NYC 15 is happening this month! NYC is one of the events that I have really looked forward to throughout my college life. A lot has changed the past years and I’ve met amazing people who I worked with along the way. My college journey definitely helped me grow so much. The NYC OB has been preparing for the past 5 months, and I’m just really proud of how everyone’s effort has paid off. It’s a bittersweet feeling now that it’s about to end. Thank you to the OB and the BOD for making this year’s NYC possible. We’re also down to the last 2 ACDC sessions. Acad is holding a talk on finance with Sir Dar Uyco, one of Ecosoc’s past Academic Affairs Chairpersons. Lastly, we’ll be distributing hell week goodies before we all prepare for finals!! Good job to everyone for surviving the countless hell weeks we’ve had! You’re almost there!

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CHRISTINA LLANA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT nyello giffybabes!!!! the sem’s almost over but we still have a loooong loooong way to go HAHA keep your heads up because we’re almost there and we’re gonna finish strong. see you in our last few cdc events!!! giffy loves u all!

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BIANCA RAÑOLA ECHOES Hiiii for the penultimate time! These past few months have tested my ability to clutch my way out of tight situations, but time and again I have survived, with a 100% survival rate at that! A few compromises will have to be made, but that’s better than nothing. That said, I am keeping my promise of releasing four issues in the second semester of my term, with the last one being a Back to School issue that will be released to our current subscribers in January. I have a vague idea of the direction it will take, but with the help of Echoes, I am unafraid. In terms of online releases, the steady stream continues to flow, and we have relaunched Godofredo’s for the benefit of our new members. Though Spechoes Culture Club will no longer pull through, we take comfort in the fact that there’s always something new to create, something different to dive into, if only we allow ourselves to.

JAD CASTILLO EXTERNAL AFFAIRS Hello again Ecosoc! We’re only a month away before the semester ends, our term ends :< It’s been a great year of ups and downs. Looking back, again lol from the day I joined ecosoc, and even when I entered UPD (look at that face ang payat nuuu), I really have learned a lot and I can honestly say Ecosoc played a big part of that learning lolerz. Anyway, after NES, exte has been busy doing its usual operations! Thank you for attending our DG (DYNASTY!! shoutout to Emman, Lia and Alexia plus the whole awareness team and my apps for doing great :< sobrang solid nyo parang la akong dulot tbh lol) in partnership with SESC and UP Vote (wowers!) cause its election season. Also, we’ll be having an initiative for violence against women and children c/o both Awareness and Brand Management, and hopefully the last stretch of the sem for our scholars (yay 60 yrs!) so pls stay tuned hihi. We’ve also had few partnerships with SEAC and online releases on our page. And for the remaining month, please support our remaining initiatives (and new set of chairs wow) I hope we get to be clingier lolerzzz.

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C A R I N A TA N B I O FINANCE

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It really seems like yesterday when my blockmates and I were discussing which orgs we were going to apply to. Now here I am - down to the last month of 2018, almost four years into my college journey and to the last few weeks of my term. I’ve had such a crazy journey in Ecosoc - a lot of ups and downs, new learning experiences, difficult decisions to be made…I wouldn’t have gotten through all of this if it were not for the upperclassmen, GW Fam, heads, coofficers, officers, VCs, and friends who made this org feel like home. Thank you, Ecosoc and Fin! Thank you to mems and VCs for making my work so much easier than it had to be. I know I don’t really express it much, but I’m grateful for each and everyone of you!

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ERYEL BENITEZ LIAISON

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HELLO ECOSOC! Just finished organizing a talk with First Circle! YAY!!! We’ll also be releasing a recruitment company database this month, where Ecosocers can find the contact info of the company they want to apply in! I’m so thankful to my officers and VCs for working so hard to regularly post the Liai Monthly Infographics, Humans of Ecosoc and the alumni birthday greetings! Also, I would like to thank them for being active and supportive throughout Liai’s activities. Thank you so much to Maia, Jo, Alyssa, Dana, Karla, Mabel, Koleen, Stef, Joel, Alec, Dan, Miguel and Anton! Shoutout also to my apps- Anna, Sophia, and Shannah! Love you all! Without you guys, Liai wouldn’t be able to survive this sem. It’s been very challenging to balance out my social life, mental health, execomm duties, and of course, thesis!!! Every single step in writing my thesis has been a challenge. Since September, my schedule has been so crazy and I get little to no sleep at days :( Well, it’s almost December though and I can’t wait to feel the cool December air back in Tagaytay

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JOSH QUIMBO MEMBERSHIP Hi Ecosoc! The end is near, and we’re in crunch time for both the app process and the small scale initiatives for the Members! We’re making sure that everything we do will benefit everyone in Ecosoc! Some exciting events and initiatives are those for tambay week. We’ll have the same video games, but this time we’ll extend it to 2 games. We will have more sandwhich making (malamang paborito ko ‘to)!!! In the end, we’ll start planning for the Induction Ball! Don’t worry it’ll be the best you’ve seen! Stay tuned!

RELLA GLORIA SECRETARIAT HEY ECOSOC!!!!! Can’t believe it’s almost the end of the sem!! Parang yesterday lang I was the freshie na Ecosoc app??? It all went by so fast. I can’t believe I’m already in my last year (hopefully!!!) of college and it’s almost time to say good bye. College was the time for me to get to know myself more. It was here that I was able to make friendships that I’m certain will last for a long time. It was also in college that I learned how to love selflessly and be more understanding. Thanks to Ecosoc, I also learned how to be responsible and how to manage my time wisely. I know that a lot of people have said it already, but joining Ecosoc really is one of the best decisions I’ve made and I hope it’s one of yours too.

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ANN GERON SPECIAL EVENTS

E C H O E S

As you read this, November 11 (11/11) has passed. For New Age philosophers, the day was spent visualizing goals. I used it as time to realign myself with reality and my ambitions. As I got to writing, I saw how drastically I have changed throughout the years. Before college, my friends would stop mid-conversation and say, “It’s 11:11! Mag-wish ka!” I always asked for joy or a bOoOoyfriend, because #MissUniverse #boys. Now on my final year in college, my dreams have taken on a different dress. My Cinderella fantasies then are now visions of prosperity for others, a fairytale life for the greater good. UP has sharpened my sight and adjusted my hearing* to see the picture beyond the colorful books and listen. The physical gainz are testament to an enriched perspective, but I am most grateful for the difference within. There is time before the clock strikes, but I pray I leave behind a shoe or something useful. After all, it is only November; there is more to see. To you, darling: The song goes, “A dream is a wish your heart makes.” Enjoy the waltz, the melodic ride, but remember to explore the world from outside the carriage.

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DINDO RAMOS SPORTS

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Hello Ecosoc!! I heard that this issue’s theme would be contrast so I thought that I might as well look back on my college journey and see how much I’ve changed. 3 years ago, I’d remember myself as a quirky and shy kid with no idea on how I’d be able to restart my whole social life. See, I knew no one in UPSE, and I wasn’t/ am not really the best in striking up conversations. Fast forward to now: I’m still that same quirky kid, but with all the people and lessons I’ve encountered in this university, I was able to grow into an overall better person. It is true that this place hastens your potential, but I believe that only those who allow themselves to be transformed (intellectually, emotionally, socially) can remain. Of course, I have lots of people to thank for my stay here, but most of the credit for my improvement goes to Ecosoc. The way the organization further hones one’s potential is amazing, and I believe that that’s why it has remained as a respectable figure in the whole university.

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Firs Circle With Their Fine Fintech. Nightmare on Tyrone Street. How Kaizen: A Lifestyle Bazaar Kind of Ruined My Life. News by the Numbers. Service, Excellence, and Some New Traditions. Excelling at Excel.

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FIRST CIRCLE WITH THEIR FINE FINTECH by MIGUEL BALAO

Last November 7, the UP Economics Society Liaison Committee organized a career talk on the Financial Technology or “Fintech” industry. Hosting this talk were representatives of First Circle – one of the top 250 fastest-growing fintech startups in the world based on CBInsights. At the beginning of the event, just as everyone had settled down, First Circle Speaker Chief of Staff Plunkett McCullagh invited all attendees to play a Kahoot game on the Fintech industry. By the end of the game, five participants received Starbucks gift certificates for having the highest scores. Now that attendees had a grasp on a bigger idea about the new and emerging industry of fintech, Mr. Plunkett McCullagh then proceeded to his slide presentation. Orienting them, Mr. McCullagh began by mentioning how the economy is becoming digitalized. With industry disruption occurring at a fast pace as a result of startups and ideas coming forth, he continued saying that the financial services sector is rapidly transforming. And so, needing to further culture this startup innovation, First Circle was founded by Patrick Lynch and Tony Ennis. Both Patrick and Tony saw the issues present in the Southeast Asia. They had seen the need to expand business opportunity and business financing in emerging Southeast Asian markets which show strong macroeconomic indicators of potential like in the Philippines. The distinction between banks and First Circle was made when Mr. McCullagh mentioned how First Circle creates credit scores using information attained from technologically related data in order to achieve financial service meritocracy for small to medium enterprises or SMEs. As a result of possessing this vision, First Circle has been backed by global investors and successfully serves thousands of businesses all over the Philippines.

that one can deliver is far greater. In the case of First Circle, by providing a better means of financial inclusion through business opportunity expansion to the empowered SMEs, the startup is able to boost industry and economic growth, and leads to the startup worker’s impact.” As the talk was coming to a close, both talk givers spent the remaining minutes endorsing the people behind the company, stating that they recruit highly skilled and passionate people with their management team being world-class talent of international experience. Instilling this into the minds of the attendees, Mr. McCullagh and Ms. Cañaveral ended by inviting them to join their mission. If you are interested in applying for First Circle, email your resume to careers@firstcircle.com.

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Meanwhile, Product Marketing Associate Tricia Cañaveral talked about the work culture and dynamics of the Fintech startup industry and how startup work plays out differently compared to being employed in a conventional nine-to-five desk job in a large financeoriented company. She began by asking the attendees, “Should you kickstart your career in the corporate or startup landscape?” This was followed by her defining what a startup exactly is; stating that it is an early-stage venture that can be scaled up rapidly given that product demand increases. As startups like First Circle are early-stage ventures, Ms. Cañaveral emphasized on the idea that work is broader and an individual’s roles in the startup evolve frequently. “The people behind each startup face constant challenges that bring opportunities to add value to their work and experience. In a fast-paced working environment, there may be a great need to manage one’s self well but the people directly involve know that the impact

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Last October 31, 2018, on Halloween night and the evening before the much-awaited Undas break, the efforts of SPEV and Memcomm along with their respective interns brought forth Game Night, the canonical better sibling of the Semstarter. Within the gates of Tierra Pura, the eighth house on Tyrone street witnesses yet another night of purely wholesome bonding. The night was met colorfully with various members and applicants alike in differing costumes, ranging from ones that were beautifully well-thought, ones that were effortless yet charming, ones that are plain wack, and ones that are just disappointing because they turn out to be dressed up as themselves. Festivities surfaced in the form of tournaments in Bridge, Fliptop, Mario Kart on the Nintendo Switch, acquiring as many sigs as possible from drunk mems for the apps, and the race to die from alcohol. The differences between Game Night and Semstarter are abound and aplenty. For starters, there were more guests with the apps joining the mems for the night, thus adding to the general life and energy of the night. Another key element which is especially crucial that sets this night apart is the greatly reduced cases of vomit on the tiles, a highly commendable feat for both mems and apps alike. This is definitive proof of two things: there was enough food to fill stomachs and actually keep bodily matter inside, and that tolerance for alcohol is getting slightly better. Nonetheless, nighttime bonding with Ecosoc is always a breath of fresh air, away from academics, work, and the other stresses in an already fast paced world that rarely stops to take a break, to rest, and to simply enjoy life.

NIGHTMARE ON TYRONE STREET by MEIRA DE LUNA

HOW KAIZEN: A LIFE ST YLE BAZAAR KIND OF BROKE MY HEART by NICOLE FORMOSO

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out because of an unexpected sickness that caused her to spend money intended to pay for the rent. To remedy this, we gave her a discount which led to one of the happiest phone calls I’ve ever made. Nevertheless, it was sad to see her not push through for all days because of the lack in resources and manpower. These are just some of the words uttered by the merchants of Kaizen that are enough to ruin any bazaar organizer’s day. For me, however, they were enough to pang at my heartstrings, and there are still even more of these stories to tell. Many merchants didn’t have their own transportation, so they had to load all their things in taxis. One even asked to stay until 1 am so they can reach the call center agents working at Technohub. Even though the event was profiting, it was painful to see that this wasn’t the same case with these small business owners. Kaizen did not only profit in terms of money but also in terms of learnings on reality. This begs the question: is it ever enough that we stop at our own conveniences or is there so much more we can do?

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No, this is not a rant on relentless workloads nor being at the brink of burnouts. This is not a sob story of countless emails ignored nor of dealing with the restless “Wala na po pang discount?” being asked 182098783 times. Most of all (and thankfully so), this is not your cliché event deficit plotline. Instead, Kaizen became a storyteller of an unfamiliar, yet always looming, reality. It was able to shed light on your not-so-typical heroes, particularly the ones struggling to get by. Despite their differences with each other, they all seem to carry with them one similarity – a certain sprit that refuses to falter any time soon. “Sorry pero lugi po talaga kami. Pwede po wala nalang bayad yun?” said Nanay Shirley of Booth # 30 on the final day of the bazaar. During first day ingress, their booth pleaded for three extra tables because they didn’t bring enough and since they came all the way from Cavite, they couldn’t just go back and get more. In exchange, they assured that they will pay extra. However, when the last day came, she was backed up by her posse in saying that they just didn’t earn enough, and I just didn’t have the guts to argue. “Baka po pwede mo ko idiscount nalang para mabawi ko negative ko ng 2 days,” said Ma’am Elaine of Booth # 10 as she reasoned that she just didn’t attain much gains for the most of her stay at the bazaar. Since she did not possess her own car, she had to use Transportify which greatly increased her costs. Again, I couldn’t just tell her a simple ~no~ and she got away with a cheaper rental fee. “Pasensya na po pero pullout nalang po ako. Akala ko kakayanin ko eh pero naging masama ulit pakiramdam ko,” said Ma’am Michelle of Booth # 4, who became one of my favorites at the bazaar. Her story was that she was all set in joining Kaizen, but then requested to back

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NEWS BY THE NUMBERS

BY: KATRIEL L E AB RENIC A

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Deaths in the 2018 Sagay Massacre

Individuals who filed for candidacy to run for the 12 available Senate seats on 2019

Male sexual perpetuators in positions of power taken down by the #MeToo movemet

Articles in the newlyapproved Ecosoc constitution

Months of engagement before Ariana Grande and Pete Davidson broke up

New Ecosoc scholars

1.180B Peso jackpot in the lotto split in half by the two winners

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Source: @nvclearclouds

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UPCAT takers last October 27, 2018

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Source: @abihilario

Source: desastre.mx

55% Votes for far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro in the Brazilian Presidential elections

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S E R V I C E , E XC E L L E N C E , AND SOME NEW TRADITIONS by CELINA PACANA

Change is coming, and this time it’s for the better. In light of our pivotal 60th year celebration and the organization’s ever changing culture and needs, the emergence of a new constitution was a long time coming. (Three years, to be exact). Over a span of months, the Constitution Committee debated and discussed heavily pertinent issues within the constitution and other organizational concerns that required new constitutional stipulations. With this, Concom put out a proposed 2018 UP Economics Society Constitution. Some key changes include structural ones, which created a newly defined Membership Committee that absorbed the roles of both Special Events and Sports, and Externals Committee that absorbed the role of the Liaison Committee. These structural changes also included the change of the title of Execomm positions from Chairperson of their committee to Vice President, with the Vice President effectively being renamed to Executive Vice President. Execomm elections were also made out to be open to all members of the organization, even those who are no longer majors from the School of Economics.

Additionally, a new section was created dedicated to Adhoc Committees, raising the option to pitch relevant and necessary Adhocs to the Execomm, providing opportunity for innovation in our line-up every semester. With regards to membership, sections on probation, suspension and expulsion were adjusted; section on alumni status also adjusted to allow for inactive members to still gain their alumni status postgraduation. This allows graduating members to file for inactivity in their final semester to accommodate other responsibilities they may have outside of the organization. The new constitution would also prescribe greater transparency in terms of the organization’s finances, as well as a more holistic scholarship program through the creation of the UP Economics Society Scholarship Program (previously a Scholarship Fund). Following the plebiscite wherein the membership voted in favor of this new constitution, this will take effect immediately next semester. These changes signal a new era in the organization’s history and are expected to facilitate greater efficiency in Ecosoc’s pursuits in the years to come.

E XC E L L I N G AT E XC E L by HAZEL SYHONGPAN

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Last November 14, 2018, the Secretariat Committee held Ecosoc’s very first Google Sheets workshop, entitled “Excel at Google Sheets”. Speakers were Erin Cheng and Bianca Ranola, both whom are part of the Executive Committee and unofficially named Ecosoc’s “tracker kweens”. Both speakers are very well versed in Google Sheets and have gained experience from their respective committees and adhocs. They tackled the basics of Google Sheets such as formulas, fonts, and tips on making efficient and aesthetically pleasing trackers. You may find their materials in bit.ly/GoogleShitsTalk. The speakers made use of a live demonstration of creating a sheet and making use of the taught formulas. The mode of teaching was very hands on, with attendees able to watch directly from their own laptops. Seccom hopes to be able to continue to hold workshops like “Excel at Google Sheets” to promote digital literacy within the organization and to help members gain new skills. The workshop was an overall success with over 35 attendees consisting of both members and applicants. We

hope that Ecosoc-ers will continue to support future workshops!

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F F E AT U R E S

“More Potential”: First of its Kind. Internal Contrast. Cruising Together. The Big Four Freedom Walls. Perfect Places to Study in Katipunan. Holy Trinity. Location Dissonance: How to Feel At Home No Matter Where You Are. My Life As A Transferee. No Nut November. Clout and About: Politics in 280 Characters or Less. Almost Can Be Enough.

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F E A T U R E S

J U S T A D D WAT E R

JOHANNA ALMAIDA

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If you’re not ready for constant academic stress, don’t enter UP, they say. But guess what? We’re down for a rollercoaster ride to become an Iskolar ng Bayan. After all, with greater potential comes

greater expectation. Being lost in the middle of the discussion/lecture because of the teaching discrepancy (i.e. senior high teachers assuming that a certain topic will be taught in college and college professors assuming that the topic was discussed in senior high) is among the primary struggles of our batch. To add to that is the stress of submitting requirements with quality on time, adjusting with the new environment, balancing academics, org application and social life, and such. Although our batch has undergone curricula revisions and have been considered first of its kind, we’re no different as we share the same struggles of being an Iskolar ng Bayan (play safe—iwas batch wars tayo dito, mare).

Finally, two years of ‘prolonged’ agony has come to an end. Spending six years in high school was a waste of time, thanks to the K-12 system ( just being honest). Being the pioneer batch of the new educational system, we were expected to be more advanced, skilled and learned aka “have more potential” as we reach college than those who weren’t able to experience attending senior high school yet in general, although it brought too much stress (and for some, early burnout), it helped us become stronger.

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“ M O R E P O T E N T I A L” : F I R S T OF ITS KIND

Along the way, utters of “ayaw ko na” and even “di ko na kaya” at the midst of every struggle is replaced with “kaya ko to today” and “kakayanin ko to”, thanks to our blockmates and even upperclassmen’s encouragement. The fun stuff and moments worth cherishing are enough to give remedy to the headaches and heartaches of what it takes to become an Iskolar ng Bayan. These fun moments that destress us include treating ourselves to our favorite meal in Area 2, talking to a friend, asking for help, playing bridge and most importantly, spending time with friends usually every Friday night aka inom night. Such experiences within our first few months of stay in the university including the past experiences we’ve had in senior high truly made us stronger and somehow more equipped to enter not only academic battles but also career and life battles. That I guess is the better contextualization of “having more potential” —the increasing endeavors that our batch experienced and will experience will amass together like an increasing potential energy and prepare us to be more vigorous and wiser, having more kinetic energy, in making our lives more meaningful.

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Contrast is defined as “the state of being strikingly different from something else, typically something in juxtaposition or close association”. We may not realize it, but contrast is all around us— and that in itself indicates the separation between the narratives we lead and the prevailing reality that acts as a backdrop to all our storylines. This rings truest in the context of our very own university— a melting pot of socioeconomic and ideological inequalities. The amalgamation of these contrasts is most highlighted, in my opinion, during the UPCAT. Last October 27th, I spent a morning in a campus that I felt was no longer my own— but not in a bad way. Allow me to simply share what I saw. Thousands of people lined the sidewalks, waiting for their children or siblings who were taking the examination. Hundreds of people dotted the downward slopes of Sunken Garden, soaking in the sunlight and the cool breeze. I myself found a spot just outside the Law Center where my sister was taking her test— seated amidst a dozen or so mothers. The mom to my right had a Gucci bag and was typing furiously on her iPhone 10. The mom to my left had a kid on each knee and was trying her best to feed them pancit canton. I saw some kids walk in with headphones and Nike Cortezes, and others in tsinelas. I overheard droves of teenagers exclaiming, “Fuck it bro, probs not gonna pass naman eh”. I saw an elderly lady praying fervently, a rosary sifting through her fingers, and I later heard her say to another waiting mom, “Kagabi ko pa dinadasal itong UPCAT na to sand talaga pumas apo ko”. I eventually

INTERNAL CONTRAST by JAV I V ILCH EZ

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saw her and her grandson in line for a jeep just outside Vinzons Hall after the exam. As the noontime sun peaked, I asked a security guard seated nearby what time exactly the test would end. He responded with, “Ay, pasensya na po, hindi po aka taga-dito. Hinihintay ko lang rIn anak ko”. I saw seemingly endless lines for jeeps headed to Katipunan. I saw waves of people walking to and fro. I saw an abundance of cars of all shapes and sizes making brief stops in front of the Law Center to pickup test-takers. I saw banged-up mini jeeps, motorcycles belching smog, sedans, a van with broken windows, some brand new SUVs— I even saw the newest Hummer. Every pick-up I overheard retained the same dialogue, “O, kamusta naman yung exam? Mahirap ba? O kaya naman?” We may not realize it, but contrast is all around us— and that in itself indicates the separation between the narratives we lead and the prevailing reality that acts as a backdrop to all our storylines. Last October 27th, I spent a morning in a campus that I felt was no longer my own. Moreover, I was reminded that this campus was never mine to begin with. It always has been and always will be the people’s— regardless of socio-economic status or ideology. For many, this university is a source of infinite hope— a place where a passing grade on just one entrance exam can change the fortunes of a family for generations. All this sounds nice. All this sounds idyllic. But is it really? Should inequality be embraced as a mere externality of a post-colonial, capitalist society? Should it be considered an indicator of “diversity”? Or should it be viewed as another social ill that our university was built to address? We champion our diversity, but in doing so we subtly reaffirm a system that reeks of inherent unfairness. Contrasts can be embraced in many ways. Identifying which social contrasts we should celebrate is the first step to making the hopes and dreams of many a reality.

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CRUISING

TOGETHER

by ANN GERON

Ecosoc has seen the Clementes, the Fernandezes, and more recently the Jacobs. These are a few of the Ecosoc siblings, the members you could go an entire semester without knowing they’re related. You may know them as a pair, have met one of the two, or have no clue who the heck I’m talking about. In any case, take my word for it: They may come from one family, but they are individuals. They have disparate interests, distinct humors, distinguished senses of style, varied talents, not two peas in a pod. Picture a musician as one and a writer for the other. Imagine someone outgoing, and the counterpart the most timid person you will ever come across. Of course, there may be similarities too. Their interests might intersect, they make the same jokes, they share one Uniqlo-filled closet, or they both sing. Often, we’d want to separate ourselves from our relatives, make a name on our own regardless of their success. I am ½ of an Ecosoc-siblings pair, the little sister of the once “crush ng bayan, writer extraordinaire, Ultimate beast” of this org. However, I won’t talk about what sets me apart from him. I don’t have to list his accomplishments. Rather, this is a story of how my dreams came to life with my Kuya by my side. When I applied for Ecosoc on my first college year, I was generously greeted with, “Oh! You’re the sister of Jude!” by most members. The shy, freshie me was relieved that I got some recognition without having to say much. There was also that security that if all else fails, I would have someone to run to. After all, my big brother was walking the same Econ hallways I was. Jude Geron was a former Echoes Editor-in-Chief. His heart beat immensely for Task Force, and with whatever came, Ecosoc was dear to him. He brought his stories home to me, even when I was still in high school. I was brainwashed into choosing the same course and joining this very org. I took a separate path and interned for SPEV. Little did I know he launched me toward seeing marvelous sights.

The day of my induction, on my brother’s final year, I looked at him and inspiration flooded my soul. I wanted to do what my brother was doing. I wanted to overflow with pride for a community that made waves. I knew that Ecosoc would give me more than I could surmise. That was the moment I first dreamed of becoming SPEV Chairperson. Today, on MY final year, I still look at my brother and get the same motivation. I’ve realized that despite our different energies and tempers, we knew what was the most important characteristic of all. Amid the differences, we stuck together. It’s easy. Enzo and Gel, Gel and Carlo, Timmy and Ryan, and Jude and Ann... all different. We simply know that if we had to, we’d choose to get stuck together in the same boat (not all the time though... quelle horreur!). Thank you for everything, Kuya. I love you! <3

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THE BIG FOUR FREEDOM WA L L S by LUIS ORALLO

With the recent popularization of the so-called “Freedom Walls” appearing all over social media, most especially on Facebook, it has taken a toll on different school and universities with its eye-catching messages and anonymity. These freedom walls provide students with a medium to be able to vent their frustrations about any issue that comes up to their mind. The idea of “Freedom of Speech” allows students to express themselves to help them cope with stress, anxiety, and pressure. But with how the posts from the freedom walls recently look like, it seems that these posts are starting to reflect on the image of the students part of their respective schools. Topics range from politics, crushes, and other messages pertaining to a specific student. Some topics also have a generalized idea among the different schools when it comes to parking spots, good places to eat, or finding good bathrooms.

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Freedom Walls can also however violate a person’s privacy. For example, when someone posts about his or her crush and then that person is tagged, there was no consent given. Another issue about these freedom walls is that fake news can be easily spread due to lack of verification of sources. Moreover, it allows users to bash other people and fights start to arise. It is up to the admins to be wary and filter out posts, since the privilege of anonymity should go both ways, to the writer and to the possible subject. They should also exercise due caution in at least attempting to verify certain posts, especially if the post has information that could possibly ruin someone or a group’s reputation.

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P E R F E C T S T U DY P L AC E S I N K AT I P U N A N GEM AGUDO

Are you tired of studying in loud, overpopulated coffee shops that serve expensive meals and drinks, have no wifi, and closes too early? Well then this article is perfect for you! I discovered 10 cafes in Katipunan that are spacious, affordable, underrated, and have the perfect ambience for students like you and me.

1. SATCHMI Satchmi is a new coffee shop in UPTC. The place has a homey feeling and if you’re a music lover, you’ll definitely enjoy going here! The best ones on the menu are the Mocha Latte, Caramel Mocha, and Sans Rival. During a brain break, you can listen to sample vinyls in their listening room which is calming for me personally. The drinks are inexpensive (100160 pesos) unlike the food (200-300 pesos) but give the Wagyu Burger and Reuben Pasta a try!

2. THE LIB This is one of the greatest finds in Katipunan. It’s located near Lan Kwai and Annie’s Kitchen. It’s very lowkey and quiet since it’s not situated alongside Katipunan road. The interiors are perfect for your IG stories and it’s really huge which doesn’t make the place suffocating or too near to overhear stories from the people near your table. They serve free wifi and meals that are less than 250 pesos. There’s also a promo where you can order their rice bowl or pasta of the day for 100 pesos (both originally priced at 180 pesos) from 11am to 2pm!

3. THE FAT SEED CAFE + ROASTERY The place is perfect for your IG feed since it’s chill and has a great aesthetic. You can either study here or even hang out with friends since they serve not only coffee but also cocktails! They’ll be installing wifi soon so it’s almost gonna be a perfect study place for everyone. The drinks and food are really, really delicious. They have unique meals such as Ube Waffles with salted egg sauce and Hotate Soy Cream Pasta which are both really yummy. It’s quite expensive but treat yourself! You deserve good food.

4. TYLER’S CAFE Lately, I’ve been seeing friends who go here to study which made me curious as to why people study here and now I understand. This beautiful cafe is situated along the Katipunan road and serves the best meals such as Ricotta Pancakes and Tyler’s Breakfast, and drinks like Matcha Latte, Strawberry Milkshake and many more! The food is quite pricey (150-350) but it’s definitely worth it. They also have free wifi and has a quiet ambience.

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5. DEJA BREW

It’s a small quiet cafe in Xavierville near Ababu with delicious meals such as Buffalo wings, Garlic Tapa and Hungarian Sausage. You can opt to have it served with unli coffee or unli tea! They also have free and speedy wifi perfect for students doing research and papers. Deja Brew closes at 10pm or 11pm depending on the volume of the customers.

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6. CO + SPACE

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A new Katipunan cafe near National Bookstore and below BLB. Their rates are hourly, daily or weekly in which you can have unli coffee, unli wifi, and a perfect seat in their cafe. You can also print here and hold meetings in their meeting room! There’s a dog who stays here as well on weekdays which is super cute.

7. EL L A AND TH E B L AC KB IRD This cafe is located in Esteban Abada near Regis and has the most artsy, rustic interiors in the list! The best ones on their menu are the Bacon and Mushroom pasta, BLT Sandwich and Brazil coffee. The drinks are very affordable (Price range: 110-165 pesos). There isn’t any wifi but it’s still perfect for study dates or group study for exams.

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H O LY T Inte r vie w b y BI P ho to g r a p hy b y

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TRINITY

A NC A RAÃ&#x2018;OL A MARI O Q U I MB O

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“FUCK ECON.”

all-girls school ~environment ako nag-grow up kasi it really made me a Strong, Independent Woman™. ‘Yung kwento naman kung paano ako napuntang Econ, wala ayun lang talaga pinakatrip ko piliin nung 4th year ako kasi gusto ko talaga Diplomacy na course pero walang ganun sa UP eh gusto ko rito mag-college so ayun! Benta kasi the day na nalaman kong pumasa ako sa UP tas BS Econ, kakabalik lang ng HS Econ exam namin tas bagsak ako amp luh edi ok lanakompake!

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WHAT’S ONE THING NOT EVERYONE KNOWS ABOUT YOU? LIA: Default answer ko usually sa mga ganito would be nahulugan ako ng electric fan nung Grade 7 or nabangga akong kotse nung tumatawid ako papuntang Math building nung 1st year haha pero since alam na ata ng lahat ‘yon, I guess answer ko na lang would be that I’m bi? I’m quite open about it naman and slightly vocal about it sa Twitter pero I never mention it to people lang unless it comes up. Sometimes, I’m scared kasi na it might become MY THING ganun na oh it’s Lia and she be bisexual or whuteva HAHA pero gets medj dein din kasi kasing

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HAZEL: I’m the youngest of the family, studied in an all girls catholic school my whole life and didn’t even dream of going to UP one day. Just getting in was a surprise, more so Business Econ because tbh didn’t take it seriously naman and so ayun ended up here HAHA. Really surprised din that I stayed and that I’m still here cause sobrang FUCK ECON. Overall am happy about where I am as of now but still looking for where life will lead me and searching for deeper meanings in things kaya ako nasasaktan eh.

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF!

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JAD: I think lagi ko naman na sinasabi na from Bulacan ako, and a transferee from UP Los Banos, tapos both my parents are senior citizens, and that my sister (with an age gap of 18 years!) has a family of two already. I graduated from an all boys school of a minor seminary setup with the vision of promoting priestly vocation yes loool pero ngayon. Looking back, I never planned to take Econ as a course legit, but was inclined to businesses nagtitinda pa ako dating paputok pag Christmas break and Ice Candy pag summer like kahit lugi (oops) for fun lang ganon.. And even before I go to class in the morning nung high school, I see to it that I get to watch Mareng Winnie spill her strong words on her Unang Hirit segment. Then when I saw Business Economics as a course, I told myself that I want this kasi both business + economics wow labo. Pero now shet, fuck Econ :((

LIA: I’m an only child tapos sobrang tahimik ko nung bata ako since duh Barbie lang kausap ko as a bebe. As in ako ‘yung quiet kid na binubully ng upper batch busmate ko to stay in the last row of the school bus HAHA SADNU ! Pero ayun, MC happened la na napabarkada na haixt HAHA jk honestly ang thankful ko na sa 35

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open-minded Econ people kaysa sa ibang colleges (LOL PANSIN KO LANG TALAGA NO HATE NAMAN). So, ayun! I like girls too! No to bi-erasure!

HOW DIFFERENT ARE YOU NOW FROM THE PERSON YOU WERE WHEN YOU ENTERED UP? HAZEL: I honestly believe that I’ve become a completely different person from before I entered UP. All throughout my life in Poveda, I was the quiet girl. Yung tipong nilalagay sa gitna ng mga maiingay ganun HAHA. I wouldn’t be doing the things I’m doing now and wouldn’t be as happy as I am now. LIA: I’m proud to say I’ve only become stronger through time. I’m happy that my high school friends could still say na I haven’t changed, and that’s a good thing–I liked who I was in high school. I’ve stayed true to myself, which wasn’t easy, especially when I was a freshie. But at the same time, I know I’ve gone through so much failures and low points in college na I never thought kaya ko i-overcome. Sabi nga nila, rock bottom will teach you lessons that mountain tops never will ! I felt that !

WHAT LIFE LESSON WOULD YOU PASS ON TO THAT PERSON? HAZEL: I would really just tell that person to step out of her comfort zone and to do all the things she wanted to! Don’t let anything stop you from trying new things or just doing you!! U DO U ALWAYS!!! LIA: DON’T TAKE YOUR CLASSES FOR GRANTED! Discipline is key gaga ka pumasok ka nga. Make your parents proud. But most importantly, know that things won’t always go your way. You might not find your 38

college best friend in your first semester, or your crush might not like you back. Don’t be too hard on yourself for the things you cannot change. Busy yourself with looking for the good in the simple moments instead! JAD: Have a lot of patience, care, and understanding for people. Being the bigger person always super important! No judgements and accept anyone talaga. Also, na you have a lot to learn pa rin in life. Dati mga maliliit na bagay binigyan ko na ng meaning, tapos okay na ako sa ganito ganyan na nagagawa

ko to etc pero in college and in UP you really get to appreciate life na sobrang dami pang iooffer sayo na opportunities, and doubtful moments and life lessons.

WHAT’S YOUR BIGGEST UP MILESTONE? HAZEL: My biggest UP milestone would really be Ecosoc. I always tell people na I wouldn’t have loved being in UP as much if I weren’t part of this organization. Ecosoc has given me the best people, memories, and first two years of college.

wew and makagraduate cause hello yoko na mag 6 years hahaha. But ang sipsip pero it’s really Ecosoc, and joining orgs in general cause I loved org stuff during highschool but really hated orgs when I entered UP in Los Baños (again parang almost everyone naman alam to eww paulit ulit hahaha). Promise, I swear, Ecosoc changed me a lot to be a better person.

JAD: Di ko talaga alam siguro if mapasa ko tong 122

JAD: Dapat OBEM ETC talaga ako cause ayoko ng

HOW DID YOUR ECOSOC LIFE BEGIN?

party shit cause CATHOLIC SCHOOL plus sobrang probinsyano conservative. I talked to my schoolmate in highschool na UPSE student, and he said na I was really for OBEM ETC knowing me na super GC, then not outgoing person wow stereotypes but no hate naman until I ended up not joining any SEAC org at all during rec week cause and scared rin to join because of the app process and commitment. Up until during the first week of Ecosoc app process when my shiftees and transferees friends specifically Dan, Kim and Evette na

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LIA: Registration period for 2nd year, 2nd sem. I was on probation and needed to pull my EWA, a 4.00, to at least a 2.5 at the end of that sem. I needed Econ subjects so bad I could cry on the spot. I remembered being in front of SE101 the whole day for a couple of days that week. Ako ‘yung type ng person na ma-sshy humingi ng water sa restaurant so hindi ko inakalang magagawa kong magmakaawa for subjects. Intense talaga, it’s an EXPERIENCE.

parang nagpush nalang sa akin to join Ecosoc kasi nandun din naman sila. Sobrang clueless ko sa nangyayari but oh well nag g na lang ako cause ito na rin naman. And eventology was my first “immersion” in Ecosoc and ayun shet ang galing. And from then on, who would have thought I’ll be here.

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DESCRIBE YOUR ECOSOC LIFE NOW.

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HAZEL: I started as an average app, not pabibo or anything, di ko kaya yun. Got in thankfully, stayed in Seccom ever since and was a 2 peat VC under Rella. I enjoy being pretty active but tbh namatay din ako this sem cause of 101 and 102 hahaha fuck econ. But I really love the work and the adhocs so still have no regrets. It’s really a great feeling to be part of something like Ecosoc and to be able to do all these things. LIA: HAHAHAHA ah medyo roller coaster of emotions ako ngayon, ano? Pero sa totoo lang, sobrang adik ko sa Ecosoc. No joke dami ko pagmamahal for it nagtataka rin ako sometimes. There are times I wonder why I’m still here, but then I remember all the memories it has given me, from 58B to now, and I know I can’t just leave. I guess it’s my drug and I gotta stay high all the time. Right, Bianca?

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HOW HAS ECOSOC CHANGED YOU SINCE THE TIME YOU APPLIED AND GOT IN? HAZEL: Ecosoc has given me the opportunities I didn’t have before. I’ve been given the chance to work for these amazing events and contribute to something bigger. I was even able to lead in my committee as VC twice. It allowed me to learn so much things and grow as a person. Again you wouldn’t have expected that quiet girl from Poveda to be doing all of these but that’s how Ecosoc changed me for the better!! LIA: Ecosoc really 40

taught me the importance of doing ordinary work extraordinarily. For me, a well-oiled organization would be one where everyone has something to do, no matter how small, and is doing it excellently. In short, gawin mo lang trabaho mo and you’re already contributing a lot.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO TELL YOUR FUTURE GRADUATING SELF? HAZEL: Be kind to yourself!! You deserve nice things even if you think you don’t and everything happens for a reason!! BUT OMG CONGRATS AH di ko

inexpect na makakagraduate ka pero sana on time ok lang kung hindi basta sana [mas] masaya ka na by now!! JAD: Hmm graduating na nga ba ako fuck kinakabahan ako Gonzales-Donnie come thru. Pero kundi next sem mag-aral ka na Jad focus on acads pls hahahah and maging super thankful to everything that happened and to everyone na nameet mo cause lahat sila sobrang daming naturo at natulong sayo na sana gawin mo rin to other people. And when you graduate, always look back to where you started to still keep yourself grounded and lowkey yet dami mong gustong gawin sa buhay.

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L O C AT I O N D I S S O N A N C E : H O W T O F E E L AT H O M E N O M AT T E R W H E R E YO U A R E CHARYZAH ESPARRAGO

Reality is distorted in the guest rooms of anyone over the age of 65. I learned this at a young age because little fingers know no patience when the only channel on the TV is PBS (not PBS kids just PBS). When we moved from Manila to Chicago in 2003, my mom took up two jobs on separate ends of the world, which to a kid was just the two buildings on the opposite side of the block. One had gold ceilings and carpets that always smelled like old cigars and even older cats. The other was a navy blue silhouette with big chandeliers and shadows of tall burly men behind the front desk. Since it was just me and my mom most of the time, she always took me to work. I grew familiar to both worlds but neither was supposed to know I existed. So I hid in guest rooms filled with Willie Mays’ bobbleheads, aging dressers and cushions with dust sewn into the fabric. When the old lady my mom worked for would enter the room, I’d freeze as arthritic limbs walked slowly in an attempt to ignore the varicose veins that had already engulfed them. She’d look at me sometimes but I would never look at her. When she spoke, her voice only wavered because of age but never because of power. “You don’t belong here.” She’d tell me. And I suppose the only thing distorted about the reality in that guest room is how painfully real it actually was. Despite the fact that I grew up in Chicago, I never felt like I blended in with the landscape. No matter how hard my parents tried to give me a normal life, with summer camp and swim team and martial arts and trips to the lake, I knew there was something missing. I assumed, when I got older, that the only reason I felt so out of place was because I had no roots in Chicago. All my family was in the Philippines, we rented an apartment and I just couldn’t relate to the concept of “home”. The word itself screamed belonging and I was more or less just longing. Longing for normalcy and for my identity to be less associated with the stamps on my passport. So when we moved back to the Philippines in November of last year, I thought those missing puzzle pieces would just fall back into place. But those roots I planted all those years ago hadn’t been watered in over 14 years. They stared back at me with parched lips blaming me for forgetting the secret ingredient to normalcy. Familiarity. I had family, sure, but they had history that wrote itself while I lived a different life in Chicago. I had a house no , yes, but it was no more emptier than it was as a studio apartment 8,000 miles away. I realized nothing had changed, especially and painfully, the overwhelming sensation that I didn’t know what “home” was. “You don’t belong here.” I told myself.

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belong here. You don’t belong here. You don’t belong here. You don’t belong here. You don’t belong here. You don’t belong here. You don’t belong here. You don’t belong here. You don’t belong here. You don’t belong here. You don’t belong here. You don’t belong here. You don’t belong here. You don’t belong here. You

“ Y O U don’tD belong O here. N ’YouTdon’t belong here. You don’t belong E don’t L Obelong N Ghere. here.B You You don’t belong here. You E Rhere. E You . ”don’t don’tH belong

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However, the problem with identity is that we so quickly want to place in into a box. Like filling in the blanks from an old mad libs puzzle. “Hi! My name is Charyzah and I am _____, _____ and ______.” But it’s never really that easy. The problem wasn’t that I didn’t have roots in Chicago or that I didn’t have history in Manila. The problem was that I kept trying to give home a location. This is a side effect of a disease, location dissonance disorder, something of which I have just made up and diagnosed myself with. The only cure is to realize that home is not a location but a sensation. It is the absence of longing. To obtain this we need to immerse ourselves into the culture of wherever we are. What we choose to dive into really depends on us. Personally, I find I’m most You don’t belong here. You comfortable around people. The only mindset holding me back was the don’t belong here. You don’t idea that there was a prerequisite to being in someone’s life. That I had belong here. You don’t belong no right to gain the intimacy and vulnerability of my friends and family. here. You don’t belong here. But, I learned that there is no cutoff point for relationships and that as You don’t belong here. You long as you are willing to share and listen, so will others. The people don’t belong here. You don’t in my life fueled my sense of belonging. My security in experiencing belong here. You don’t belong everything the land I stood on had to offer, no matter whether the soil here. You don’t belong here. had tasted my skin or not. For others, they may be more comfortable You don’t belong here. You immersing themselves into music or the arts or the local cuisine. Either don’t belong here. You don’t way, the secret to overcoming this location dissonance disorder lies not belong here. You don’t belong in pointing out where we are different but where we are the same. In other here. You don’t belong here. words, reality isn’t actually distorted, we just need to change how we see it. You don’t belong here. You

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MY LIFE AS A TRANSFEREE RAMON TENA

It was surreal and at that moment, a burst of emotions came flooding in. Joy. Pure, in

Accomplishment. unabridged ecstasy.

I got into UP Diliman… my second year.

When I was first applying for UP Diliman, I had my sights fully set on the School of Economics. I’ve always wanted to enroll in UP Diliman and to study the course that I’ve always wanted, BS Economics. I took my entrance tests, although a little bit uneasy and nervous, knowing full well that I had what it took to be in Diliman. Unfortunately, fate took me to another direction and taught me that what I want isn’t what’s always going to happen. Sadly, I did not qualify for UP Diliman and the silver lining in this story was that I did qualify for UP Manila though, taking up BA Political Science. This story is like the multitude of other people who landed elsewhere, but always felt that their heart belonged in UP Diliman. Yes, at first, grief and disappointment overwhelmed me and I almost gave up going to UP. It was through the advice of friends that I decided to weather one year of

studying in UP Manila. During my time in Manila, I worked myself to get admitted into UP Diliman and fortunately, I did. It took grit and effort. It took blood and sweat, but I did everything I needed to do. I managed to get into the program and now, here I am writing for Echoes. YIE! As I entered SE, I was nervous because it was exactly like starting over again yet, I was also happy because I felt that finally belonged somewhere. I was fortunate enough to already have friends in SE who

were kind enough to guide me on my journey here. I was also very lucky because aside from myself, I had people who were going through the same thing that I was, so I could really say I was in good hands. The moment that everything changed for me was the moment I decided to become an app for Ecosoc. I think that because of them, the tough journey of making it in Econ became so much easier. Joining also conferred upon me exciting opportunities and new responsibilities, and made me take on the task of self-improvement, a feat I personally difficult even in the past. In Ecosoc, I found new friends and peers, which I can now lovingly call “a second family”. In summary, the journey of a transferee is filled with many ups and downs, but in my case, it was mainly downs. However, with persistence, you can actually get to the place where you feel you can belong and once you’re there, it makes all the hardships worth it. From there, its nothing but ups. The journey, however, isn’t done yet. There are a lot more things to experience and a lot more people to meet. Thank you for coming to my TED talk! CHARLES!

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no nut november no nut no nut november no nut no nut november no nut november no nut november november no nut november november no nut november no nut november no nut no nut november no nut no nut november no nut november no nut november november no nut november november no nut november no nut november no nut no nut november no nut no nut november no nut november no nut november november no nut november november no nut november no nut november no nut no nut november no nut no nut november no nut november no nut november november no nut november november no nut november no nut november no nut no nut november no nut no nut november no nut november no nut november november no nut november november no nut november no nut november no nut no nut november no nut no nut november no nut november no nut november november no nut november november no nut november no nut november no nut no nut november no nut no nut november no nut november no nut november november no nut november november no nut november no nut november no nut no nut november no nutWhile no nut november no nut it could, in theory, november no nut november november no nut november no nut november teachnovember some people self-control, no nut november no nut no nut november no nut nut november no nut the no marginal costs eventually november no nut november november no nut november november nut november outweigh the no supposed gains no Nnut nutsenseless november no nut O november N U T Nno O Vnut E MnoB nut E R november no nut fromnothis abstinence. november no nut november november no nut november november no nut november FERRER Your body will be disturbed by no MARI nut november no nut no nut november no nut no nut november no nut the sudden change in activity, november no nut november november no nut november november notonut november and it address no nut november no nut no nut november no nut nowould nut want november nothenut inactivity as it is not in equilibrium. november no nut november november no nut november november no nut november There Latinnovember saying: “Mensno sananut no nut november no nut no nut november no nut nois anut in corpore sano”,no which november no nut november november no nut november november nuttranslates november to “Ano sound mind in a sound body.” no nut november no nut no nut november no nut nut november no nut The november mind and body must be in november no nut november november no nut november no nut november synchronization so we can no be atnut no nut november no nut no nut november no nut no nut november november no nut november november no nut november november nodecide nut november our best selves and as such. no nut november no nut no nut november no nut nut whisky, november no nut Like no drinking everything november no nut november november no nut november november november should be done no in nut moderation, no nut november no nut no nut november no nut nut november nolestnut and no the demons kept at bay, november no nut november november no nut november november no nut override november we let our self-starvation no nut november no nut no nut november no nut no nutbeing november nogotnut our rational (hell, I even november no nut november november no nut november november no nut november a migraine once from hopping no nut november no nut no nut november no nut no nut november no nut on the bandwagon). 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F E A T U R E S

C L O U T A N D A B O U T: POLITICS IN 280 WORDS OR LE SS CIELO VERZOSA

Everyone loves drama, but hates being in the middle. So, when people are given the chance to sit back and put their feet up as other people roast each other online, they take it and put on some popcorn in the microwave for good measure. Because, really, who isn’t guilty of witnessing catfights and witty clapbacks, and loving every second of it? If you have a Twitter account, there’s no doubt you follow at least a few of your favourite celebrities to keep you updated on what goes on in their daily life—be it the release of a new album, a paid advertisement, or something else altogether, like brainfarts or word vomit. You may love Cher’s emojifilled self-aware tweets, or Cupcakke’s photo captions, but the bottomline is this: You religiously scroll your feed for hours on end, ‘retweeting’ and liking a variety of content, and coming to life at the first sign of a celebrity Twitter feud. 50

Not much of Tweeting from you goes on, but when it does happen, it’s almost always a reaction to something you see or something you’ve heard. From the release of Kanye West’s “Famous” in 2016 to the trending National Snake Day trend early this year, presumably an ode to how Taylor Swift went 180 on approving a raunchy lyric in Kanye’s song, who could forget the infamous social media spat between Kim KardashianWest and the country-turnedpop singer over the span of 2 years? Or the on-going diss between two female rappers, Nicki Minaj and Cardi B? (We have to admit, these two major altercations gave birth to a rise in song streaming and media clout.) Twitter feuds elude not even politicians as we recount Hillary Clinton’s “Delete your account” clapback at her then political rival, Donald Trump. Even the Philippines doesn’t fall short of these ridiculous Twitter feuds.

In 2012, former beauty queen Miriam Quiambao was under fire for brandishing on Twitter her opposing of the permission of transgender women to join the Miss Universe pageant, and for calling homosexuality a “lie from the devil”. While this isn’t considered a celebrity feud, as she was not in a heated argument with another celebrity, she was up against the LGBTQ+ community for being transphobic and homophobic. And, fresh on everyone’s minds is, a thread involving The Voice Kids Philippines stars Darren Espanto and JK Labajo, with homophobic slurs thrown around, which caught netizens by storm later this year. Although petty and plebeian at best, so conveniently did it happen at almost the same time the music video for the former’s new single was released. People are taking to Twitter to pick fights and air out their opinions on a wider and more accessible platform, and it seems

upon. This is potentially why releasing ‘calls’ and ‘hashtags’ on Twitter may very well be a smart move. If anything, Twitter teaches people to get crafty. One would think a limit of 280 words isn’t enough to get a point across, but it is. We’ve all seen people who’ve done it. Not only do they get clout—‘retweets’ and likes—but they also start a powerful movement. Because that’s how strong movements are born—not with a plethora of flowery words, but with strong taglines that capture the collective consciousness of the eyes (or ears) they fall upon. All it takes is 280 words and responsibility to own up to Tweeting them for the world to see.

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people get away without facing the ramifications of their unsolicited opinions, protected by hiding their true identity behind a wall of pseudonyms and fake accounts? But maybe it isn’t all so bad. Getting political on a platform where there are 10 million Filipinos with freedom to say anything they want would mean having an audience ready to pounce on anything they can get their twiddly thumbs on. How can anyone not take advantage of that? It’s democracy in its purest form. People are entitled to their own opinions, and given the freedom to react to virtually anything they chance their eyes

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like this is a “trend” that will not die anytime soon. And that has implications for Philippine political culture. What may have started out as a publicity stunt that social managers may have started to promote a new album or a new single (Yes, we’re looking at you, Katy Perry. We still remember when Swish Swish came out at the same time as Reputation.) could eventually find itself as a trademark of Philippine politics, and that could mean a lot of things. Majority of those things are negative. Why should talking about politics be reduced to a platform that houses childish spats about who’s more famous or who’s more relevant? Why should discourse be left to the devices of trends and flurries of tea-sipping GIFs? Why are we letting

F E A T U R E S

To be in UP means possibly being seated next to the smartest kid in class who’s seated to the next smartest kid in class and so on and so forth. It’s gotten so easy to compare ourselves to those around us only leaving us either pushing harder to “get on their level” or being frustrated for “falling short” every time. They will often tell us to keep fighting and to fall down 7 and get up 8; however, when do we stop pushing? When is enough really enough? College or even life in general is taxing in almost every aspect, physically, emotionally, and mentally. It is essential and even imperative to re-evaluate the things we are fighting for, be it something of your acads, personal life, or even love life (#chz).

ALMOST CAN BE ENOUGH BETINA SALES

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As someone who is competitive, it’s difficult for me to give up on things that I strongly believe in, especially if it means taking on a challenge. However, I end up find myself walking on a tightrope with some balancing act. Every tiny stumble would only push me harder to keep the act together. Eventually, the fatigue left me unhappy with where I was going. I knew it was time to put aside my pride and answer this one question: “Is it really still worth fighting for?” The answer was obvious. It was time to make better decisions and more than that, to realize that there were always more ways than onethe right way this time and at your own pace.

We need to learn to be kinder to ourselves, to accept our limitations, and to still love ourselves despite those. It’s so easy to be fixated on one goal we forget that this world is filled with endless possibilities. It isn’t always “quitting” to drop something you no longer deem worth it but rather “finding a better way”. I understand that sometimes, we may only be convincing ourselves that we made the right choice to get rid of that dissonance, but if it will still lead you to where you can find happiness, I don’t see why you can’t convince yourself so. And to help you even more, I will end with this quote by Deepak Chopra: If you obsess over whether you are making the right decision, you are basically assuming that the universe will reward you for one thing and punish you for another. The universe has no fixed agenda. Once you make any decision, it works around that decision. There is no right or wrong, only a series of possibilities that shift with each thought, feeling, and action that you experience.

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To whoever is reading this, I hope you are happy where you are, and if not, I hope you have the courage and compassion (towards yourself) to chase that happiness.

C C U LT U R E

Why It Snows in the Philippines During Christmas (Or Why Christmas is My Favorite Time of the Year). The Single vs. Taken Life: A Helpful Cost-Benefit Analysis. Gemzoncheng Part 1. Godofredoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Picks. Rodrigo Duterte and His Army of Skanks. Tweetable Tweets. Hey, Professor DJ. Condiments Bro: Recognizing the Meme.

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Image by Kelly Mercer

WHY IT SNOWS IN THE PHILIPPINE S DURING CHRISTMAS (OR WHY CHRISTMAS I S M Y F AV O R I T E T I M E O F T H E Y E A R ) by ANDREW BANAAG

garden and the street adjacent to us. I say feel because, well, there obviously isn’t any snow, nor is it anywhere near as cold, but what I mean by snow is the spirit of Christmas. To me, this spirit is that of all of us when Christmas would near when we were children. It’s the sparkle in our eyes as we help our parents set up Christmas decorations. It’s the warmth of our families and friends all gathering together to enjoy. It’s the joy you get from all the food and gifts. I think a lot more people need to know that snow exists in the Philippines, because I’ve been seeing alot more sad faces these days, what with political instability and seemingly insurmountable academic workload. Christmas is a time to forget about the bad things and life and remember that despite all these bad times, there is still good in this world. Christmas is also a time for all of us to go back to our roots and spend some good ol’ quality time with the parental units and the rest of the gang, because I know for a fact that college really sucks not just the life out of all of us, but also our time, so why not take a breather and instead of wasting your parents’ hard earned cash

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Now you might be thinking “Andrew, we live in a two-season country. You’re delusional!” Well here’s the thing: you’re absolutely correct, but hear me out though. Ever since I was but a wee lad, I had always enjoyed everything ytabout Christmas: the delicious and hearty food, the wonderful company, and of course the plethora of presents! There always never seemed to be a bad Christmas, and I find it difficult to point out what could be missing. However, as I aged, I learned more about how the world worked and how our geographical location caused the seasons here to be either just hot or hotter. It was at this point I realized what was missing from Christmas: snow. Again, given the geographical location of our beautiful country, snow just isn’t possible. Never is there a time where temperatures reach below the freezing point of water. Actually, they never go below 20 degrees. However, growing up, I wished that there would be snow so much that I started to actually believe that there was snow every Christmas. Given it is that season as I am writing this, I can feel the snow just falling slowly onto the ground of my

W I L L YO U O R WONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T Y O U ?

T H E S I N G L E V S . TA K E N L I F E : A H E L P F U L C O S T- B E N E F I T A N A LY S I S by KATIE ABRENICA

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Initial disclaimer, I’m not the cheesiest person around so forgive me if this article gets too pragmatic at times. I’m also not sure if I’m the best person to be talking about this, but I do have a lot to say on the matter so here goes... As a certified introvert, I have nothing but praises for the single life. I could do anything with my free time and I was not obligated to spend it with anybody else. This may just be the wallflower in me speaking, but anyone who thinks that being single is nothing but loneliness and sadness really needs to see things in another perspective. Time alone is time to focus on yourself and nothing but yourself! You have nothing to worry about but yourself! You can do whatever you want! How is that not great?! Of course, the costs of being single are glaring and obvious. Long periods of time spent not having a hand to hold or someone who will constantly listen to all your worries will eventually get really old and tiring. I suppose the hardest thing for me when I was single doubting my worth and significance to other people. I would always find myself wondering whether I was being valued by anybody, or if I was just another person in the periphery. On the opposite end, being in a relationship isn’t an easy ride either. No matter how easy to get along with or unconfrontational you or your significant other might be, there will inevitably be times where you won’t see eye to eye, and I realized that’s just the way it is. You will always have your differences and being mature and rational about them isn’t always the easiest thing to do. It’s usually during these times where I notice how much less drama and stress I could’ve gotten myself into if I were just single. But eventually, all the fights and confrontations pass and all that matters are the good memories, which are great to say the least. Currently being in a relationship gives me a lot of things that I appreciate – a best friend I get to be completely open with without hesitation, who respects and motivates me at all times, and all the little things in between. But the most important thing I received from my relationship was knowing that I was much more than an afterthought to at least one person in the universe, and that person happens to be a person I value very much as well. Any doubts I had about my self-worth and significance went out the window, and in came all the reassurance and love that I needed. Having said all of that, here’s my conclusion: if you were to ask me whether being single or taken is better, I won’t be able to answer you definitively. Both the single and taken life gave me a different set of memories and life lessons that I value highly and hold dearly, and yes, these benefits are more often than not mutually exclusive. I recommend that if you find yourself single, don’t be in such a rush to be with just anybody. Cherish your alone time and use it as time to grow into your own person and spend with your friends. But the moment you know that you’ve found someone you love and are willing to struggle for, then forget about all the costs and benefits because they just won’t matter anymore.

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G E M ZO N C H E N G PA R T 1 by KARLA TUPLANO

“Well, that’s the last of it. Yung iba kaya naman kahit Tuesday, plus hindi kasya sa kotse kaya balikan ko nalang,” Erin says as she reaches up to close the trunk of Jem’s car. He, however, remains silent as she rambles on about other deliverables that have to be attended to, unaware of Jem’s continued silence. Eventually she notices, midrant about the lights and sounds company coming hours after the agreed upon meet-up time. “Jem? Oks ka lang ba?” He shrugs in reply, simultaneously letting out an uneasy laugh that triggers warning bells in Erin’s head. “Uy ano, what’s up? May nangyari ba?” He looks away, wanting nothing more but to be anywhere else but here. “Di gago, pagod lang ako.” She pins her gaze on him, clearly disbelieving and wondering if she should push for a truthful answer. She decides against it, figuring that they had both just gone through an extremely stressful and tiring day, and knowing that not all battles had to be fought. ‘If it was a big deal, siguro naman sasabihan niya ako’, she mentally concludes. Jem lets out an internal sigh of relief, his thoughts tearing him apart on the inside. On the one hand he was grateful for her respecting his privacy, but another part of him wondered if he should have just been honest. His feelings had been growing so much that it physically hurt him to look at her, which he had to do a lot as they were practically attached at the hip because of Ecosoc. He never wanted this, definitely never expected it, and had not a fucking clue what to do. Every time someone teased or shipped them, they both laughed out loud. The idea was preposterous. They were good friends, but it was a professional relationship and no romantic feelings were involved beyond a mutual respect and love for a friend. But as second sem came his feelings

blossomed and evolved in a way he’d never expected it to, and he’d begun to feel nervous around her. Jem spent many a night losing sleep, wishing Erin would never find out. Something had changed in him and though he dearly wished to take it all back, he knew he wouldn’t have traded it for anything. But it left his heart a mess, saddened by the thought that once their term came to an end, so would their constant companionship. He had found solace in spending time with Cheng sibs, somewhere he could be completely honest and not find judgement. They drove in silence, heads in two completely different spaces. While she evaluated the event and its success, Jem listed down the pros and cons of telling he the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

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He pulled up outside her gate. Glancing to his left he saw Erin asleep, blissfully unaware of the extreme stress he was in. He nudges her awake, “Bih, nandito na you.” She blinks awake, “Oh shit sorry nakatulog ako.” Erin unbuckles the seatbelt, fires off a quick text to Lance to open the gate, and just as she’s about to open the car door he stops her, a gentle but firm hand on her wrist. She looks back at him, questioning. He avoids her eyes as he gruffly spits out, “May kailangan lang akong aminin.” Turning to him she gives her full attention as he squirms in his seat, clearly hesitant and uncomfortable. “I just wanted to start by saying na sobrang thankful ako para sayo, and I super appreciate the dynamic we have now pero matagal ko na tong pinag-isipan and I think it would unfair of me to keep this from you. I know this could change our relationship forever but you deserve to know.” She nods, silently encouraging him. “Erin, mahal kita....”, he trails off as her eyes widen comically. She’s about to respond when he whispers quietly, “.....but I think I’ve fallen for Lance.”

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GODOFREDO’S PICKS FLICKER by NIALL HORAN This is honestly such an underrated song. Life’s good wew - Jeremy Gemzontan

Queen can do everything, even R&B! “Cool Cat” off of Hot Space - Paolo Bisuńa

C O O L C AT b y Q U E E N

Hi I wouldn’t rly call myself a 1975 fan but maaaan I love their new album heheh ang sarap pakinggan pota??? My personal fave is Sincerity is Scary (cute music vid din) and I like Inside Your Mind also. Rakkk try niyo relevant siya sa generation natin lol - Lia Querijero

ABIIOR by THE 1975

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OX N A R D b y A N D E R S O N . PA A K can we all just take a moment to pay our respects to the king himself ( J.Cole AND Kendrick Lamar are on this album too AND PUSHA T AND DR DRE AND SNOOP DOGG. WAT THE HECK)

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- Celina Pacana

discovered this a few days ago n it’s been gr8!!! they’re opm hehehe issa bopp

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- Erin Cheng

YO U G OT D R E A M S b y S M O OT H I E B O OZ E GRAMMAR NAZI by REESE LANSANGAN With finals season here, I found a song that both is a bop and teaches proper English! Great for a night drive or for cramming a paper - Miggy Villamor

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RODRIGO DUTERTE AND HIS ARMY OF SKANKS b y ANO N Y M O US

In my senior year of high school, I took a university-level course on Revolutions. I decided to apply for the course because I needed a good excuse to travel and to skip two weeks of class. In those two weeks, my professor managed to discuss the histories of the French, Bolshevik, Haitian, and Eastern European revolutions in order to answer the question: why do revolutions happen? According to my professor, revolutions happen when dictators or fascist governments lose their primary bases of support (i.e. the military, their cabinet, the judiciary, their supporters, the elite and middle class, etc.). As their primary bases of support begin to erode, so too does their legitimacy, inevitably leading to revolution. My professor’s argument reminded me of a scene in the movie Mean Girls, where Janis Ian is explaining to an innocent Cady Heron of her plan to take down their high school’s resident mean girl, Regina George. Janis Ian’s plan revolved around getting rid of Regina George’s army of skanks in order to overthrow her as the Queen Bee of their high school. In much the same way, we can probably get rid of mean girl, Rodrigo Duterte, by also taking out his army of evil skanks. As Janis Ian would probably say, “Rodrigo Duterte is an evil dictator. How do you overthrow an evil dictator? You take away his resources. He would be nothing without his high-status mancandy, Xi Jinping, and his blind band of loyal followers.”

1. XI JINPING: WINNIE THE POOH

You’ve probably seen Winnie the Pooh appear on your timelines once or twice this month. The reason people are changing their profile pictures to the lovable yellow bear is because they are protesting the Chinese president’s November 20 visit to the Philippines. Aside from stealing OUR natural resources in the West Philippine Sea, China has also had a long-standing ban on Winnie the Pooh due to the frequent comparisons made between President Xi Jinping and the lovable Winnie the Pooh. After all, being compared to a fat, yellow bear isn’t good when you’re trying to build a strong image and a cult of personality in China.

2. HARRY ROQUE: HOE-RRY ROQUE

3. SALVADOR PANELO: THE LIZARD EVOLUTION FORGOT

If you still support this man after the thousands of people he let die on our streets with no semblance of justice or fair trial, then you are just as guilty of being a monster as he is. On the other hand, if you do not support this man but do nothing and say nothing, then you are an even worse monster. To quote the late Desmond Tutu, “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”

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Salvador Panelo needs no introductions. Sometimes you’ll find him denying a statement President Duterte made at Malacañang, other times you’ll find him and his dumb lizard face slithering on your wall. Recently, lizard-face made headlines for responding to a reporter’s question on President Duterte’s illegal public campaign for candidate, Freddie Aguilar, by asserting that the president did not mean that people should vote for him for office, but vote for him as an “outstanding man.”

THOSE WHO REMAIN SILENT

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Harry Roque would suck anyone’s dick just to get ahead. Beginning his career as a somewhat promising human rights lawyers, he has since devolved into a dumb, fake news machine nobody— not even the President—wants. When he expressed his wish to run for Senate in the next elections, President Duterte remarked in front of the alumni of the Philippine Military Academy, “[a]yan sila si Roque, gusto mag-senador. Sabi ko, Tama ka na. Tangina diyan. Standby ka. Bigyan kita ibang trabaho.. Hindi ka manalo diyan...yung mga sundalo ayaw sa iyo.” Yikes.

4. THE MARCOSES I don’t think I need to explain why the Marcoses deserve a mention in Duterte’s army of skanks. Not only did Duterte publicly say he owes the Marcoses a debt of gratitude for helping him out, but the Marcoses also surprised the public by flash burying the late dictator in 2016 and even questioning the results of the vice-presidential elections.

5. DUTERTE FANATICS AND 65

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T W E E TA B L E T W E E T S compiled by KYLA BALITA

@AndrewsonPaak: *On tomorrow’s Econ 118 exam* Things I am: screwed Things I am not: good at Economics @ramielanude: not to be dramatic but i would offer my life for desiderio @PreciousGirasol: it’s already 2018 yet titas & titos still think laging jowa ang dahilan kapag nakangiti ka sa phone wALA PO BA KAYONG KONSEPTO NG MEMES @julliaq_: Gago hindi pa ba tAPOS ‘TONG SEM NA ‘TO @ivanasnchz: 4 days ko nang iniisip school works ko pero never ko ginalaw. It’s the thought that counts. @jabbyaurelio: For my next magic trick I will now turn into a huge disappointment

@_heatherlian: take me back to when my only problem was how to be justin bieber’s one less lonely girl @Javiercrombie: lmao i love making 26-page reviewers just to fail!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@mshairajane: lord please lang gawin nyo na lang akong miss universe chz @almaidajohanna: me underperforming in college due to countless reasons

@_davidbass: Buti pa yung stress, kahit saan ako mapunta hinahabol ako @maizconcielo: sino ba kasi nagpauso ng thesis @langitsthelimit: I WILL NOT GET KICKED OUT OF ECON I WILL NOT GET KICKED OUT OF ECON I WILL NOT GET KICKED OUT OF ECON I WILL NOT GET KICKED OUT OF ECON I WILL NOT GET KICKED OUT OF ECON I WILL NOT GET KICKED OUT OF ECON I WILL NOT GET KICKED OUT OF ECON (pls)

@AndrewsonPaak: 2 years into UP and still dumb what’s new @dylanbrdn: when john maynard keynes said “in the long run, we are all dead” i felt that

@Magpa69: the researcher recommends na huwag kayo magccram ng term paper tangina

@agalau_: Looking back at the time when I took the UPCAT, I’m now thinking of what was more difficult, Taking the actual exam or That long ass wait for the results while thinking that it was also the hardest exam I took.

@celinapacana: thirty minutes na ako naghihintay back to booking screen pa rin —lang grab @jemzontan: nice.

WALA KAHIT ISANG C. WALA. KAHIT ISA. OKAY LANG AKO SHUTA

@robaeyn: update: i couldnt do it

@_solball: Hi guys pag nakita niyo ako, wag niyo na lang muna ako lapitan kasi dalawang araw na akong hindi naliligo. @jandmagpantay: nakakastress talaga yung mga nagtatanggal ng towel after maligo sa gym tas wala palang brief underneath

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@robaeyn: IM GOING TO MAKE ACCOUNTING MY BITCH

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@jucastellon_: news flash: no one owes u shit :)

@fanceskafaraon: Pagod na ako pero okay lang kasi nakita naman kita today

Lumabas yung answer key hours after...

@dispaatcher: Bad sem but not a bad life

Q: Ma’am, what’s the difference vetween the choices? Ma’am: If I tell you, I’ll give you the answer already. Putangina, hanggang ngayon di namin gets.

@emineffable: Won’t ever forget Math finals. Nagtanong pa ko sa prof kung ilang minutes na lang kasi naglalabasan na mga tao sa ibang rooms. 3 minutes na lang daw. I flipped my test paper and fuck MAY LIKOD!!!! 1/5 of the test putek!!! @emineffable: I felt relieved kasi multiple choice though 2pts each. Letter C lahat bilang nagreview center.

@espiritujcm: What is the tariff rate? A. 50% B. Equal to 50%

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Ez 10k donation for that slot reservation out of fear lol

@alegaspi: As a normal UP student would say, “Bawi next year!”

asdfghjkl MY VIRGIN EYES

@joshquimboo: PSA: Don’t ever take SEA30. Worst decision of your life.

@erincheng_: god is a woman n her name is elizabeth tan. amen :’((((((

@jmr59n: putangina susulatan kita ng kanta diyan eh

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H E Y, P R O F E S S O R D J by JULIA CASTELLON

I believe I’d be speaking on behalf of most students when I say that one of the most essential study tools nowadays is either having a pair of earphones or a speaker nearby. Everyone has, at some point in their lives, felt that irritation of leaving behind your earphones when you’re studying out in some cafe or in your friend’s house. It makes you groan in frustration, roll your eyes, and want to flip the table in front of you. Yeah, we’ve all been there. Studying isn’t some static activity that’s the same for all circumstances. You are not doing the same thing all the time whenever you tell people that you’re “studying.” It comes in different stages. If you’re a music person, such as myself, you’d know that each of these stages merits a different playlist that suits that specific activity. While I’m aware that everyone has different music tastes, I could only hope that this guide could come in handy the next time you find yourself stuck in these moments and in dire need of some new music to listen to.

“STUDYING”-BUT-NOT-ACTUALLYSTUDYING PHASE

We’ve all been through this. We claim to be changed people, moving away from our usual loop of procrastination and cramming. It’s in this phase where we try to do our school work in advance. It could be in the form of studying a week ahead before an exam or finishing requirements two weeks before hell week. We promise ourselves we’d do this in order to avoid being stressed for the rest of the semester. But of course, we all know how this ends up – with nothing being done. This is because work expands to fill the allotted time. This explains why we can write a two-page paper in two hours before the deadline and take about five days to write the same paper a week before the deadline. This is a proven phenomenon, going

by the name of Parkinson’s Law. So don’t feel too bad when you go through this because it’s simply human nature at its work. The sense of urgency just doesn’t seem to kick in at all as you take your sweet time in whatever requirement you said you’d do. With that, it’s probably best to listen to something slow – enough that it could match the pace you’re working at the moment.

‘Softie’ Playlist: https://spoti.fi/2P6Y0IB

“I’LL-CATCH-UP-NA-SA-READINGS” PHASE

Okay lang ‘yan! Madali lang naman readings, kayang habulin ‘yan! We have told this to ourselves at least once in our college life and if you haven’t, you probably will soon enough. Maybe you had more important matters to tackle or maybe you felt lazy, but it’s a normal thing to put off your readings. The downside to this is that you end up with the consequence of having to catch up with them, which would require you hours of continuous reading. You could’ve done them earlier, spared yourself from this misery

and read at paced-out intervals but you didn’t. There’s no point in dwelling that you decided to cram your readings, you had your reasons for doing so. You just have to deal with that choice you made. It may seem difficult but it isn’t impossible. Readings can still be done while listening to music. However, some people may find it hard to focus on them when you’re listening to a song with lyrics. It can get confusing, especially when you get tempted to sing along to the lyrics. With that, it may be best to listen to instrumentals instead! At least in that way, the only words you’re focusing on are those in your readings and you won’t feel too bored as you do so. ‘Instrumentals’ Playlist: https://spoti.fi/2DkyWrq

NOTES-MAKING PHASE

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One of the most common methods of studying is writing what you hear or know so that you’d remember them. This means notes. If you’re researching something for your paper, this means notes. If you need to summarize lessons from your readings or textbooks, this means notes. Some people choose to take their sweet time making pretty notes while some choose to simply scribble them down a yellow pad. Either way, this means notes. Bottom line is that no one goes through college without having to write some form of notes. This isn’t exactly a stressful study phase; in fact, some people even use this as an opportunity to channel their creative side. A light mood playlist will fit such activity – some indie hits and OPM songs wouldn’t hurt. ‘Indie baby’ Playlist: https://spoti.fi/2P45rQO ‘Pakinggan mo ako’ Playlist: https://spoti.fi/2F1Nfme

Not everyone’s going to agree with this article. For others, listening to music while studying may seem like a bizarre idea. Studying in silence might work for them as it allows them to focus more. That’s alright – everyone’s different. Students have their own ways of coping with the academic stress. However, music can be an alternative outlet for it. There are some people, such as myself, who think that music is a way to release some tension. As cliche as it sounds, music does provide a form of escape. After all, silence can indeed be deafening but only becomes unbearable with requirements breathing

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CRAM NIGHT I HAVE TOO MUCH STUFF TO DO PHASE

While college in itself is already packaged as hell on earth, there are weeks where everything all cmes crashing down – hell week. Not only are you expected to catch up and study for three exams, but you have to deal with so many requirements. ‘Tis the season of breakdowns and stressful nights indeed. Weeks like these are hard to manage, it will push you to your breaking point. The only thing you can do to make this easier for you is to find rest amidst all the pressure. You do this in the smallest ways; letting yourself watch short videos after every chapter you’ve finished reading, snacking while studying your professor’s powerpoints, even listening to music as you rally through your hell week. You listen to the music that you love the most and will be able to calm you down. You need that bit of relief to make things easier for you. For me, it’s old music. Nothing more calming for me than listening to tunes from the ‘60s to late ‘00s. ‘Kick it old-school’ Playlist: https://spoti.fi/2QgHGSf

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DEADLY PPP (PAPER, PRESENTATIONS, PROBLEM SETS) PHASE

Other than exams, these three requirements would constitute as your worst college enemy. They make up a bulk of your grade in most classes and these are probably the ones that keep you up late at night. Finishing these requirements is going to take so much of your energy. You have no other option but to give it your all, unless you want to end up with a bad mark. More often than not, requirements like these pop up all at once. That’s why you’ll have moments where you find yourself trying to write two papers, finish a problem set, and complete a presentation for the next day. With that, it’s best to listen to something upbeat for you to be able to stay up to finish all that. After all, what better way to get yourself hyped up than a hype song playlist? ‘Yikes!’ Playlist: https://spoti.fi/2quwXbD

C U L T U R E

RECOGNIZING THE MEME by BERNICE HENSON

Filipinos are without a doubt a creative bunch. Since the history of our people, we have produced outstanding outputs that can be considered true masterpieces. We learned in our Kasaysayan classes how our ancestors were experts in goldwork, how books and other writings were made to free us from oppression, and paintings created depicting the hardship and victories the Filipino people has gone through or is going through. While memes could hardly be considered on the same level as Noli Me Tangere, memes still manage to reflect a different kind of Filipino creativity and wit. As millenials and Gen Z, we not only created memes but also grew up with them as well. What started as pictures with blocky white text expanded into six second videos (of which is most certainly about something gone wrong, a funny skit, or a lutang moment) and further into the memes we know and share today.

Memes are so ingrained in our daily lives that we can hold whole conversations with just the use of memes. But in a generation known for its six seconds of fame; nothing really lasts for long unless people talk about it for more than a month (then it is considered a classic and is considered a go to reaction pic saved in your camera roll for frequent use). This is why Filipino memes are one of a kind. People are constantly looking for ways to create new content while adapting existing or emerging memes, especially Filipinos. For example some brands like Yakisoba or Angkas use current trends and even memes to market their products. When the controversial SEA games poster came out and people started to poke fun of the poster to the point that it became a meme, Yakisoba was quick to make their own poster endorsing their noodles. Angkas, as well, uses hugots or memes generated towards Gen Z or millenials to

maintain their brand presence. Another way Filipinos adapt their memes in particular is the use of language. Instead of a general English-speaking audience, it mixes the two languages to create more relatable and even funnier to Tagalog speakers. One specific but favorite method of creating such memes is getting common Tagalog or English words and gradually but purposefully changing the spelling until it becomes a whole new word entirely but still we manage to understand what it means. For example the phrase “condolences bro” ends up being typed as “condiments bro”. In a humorous way, we use these expressions when we have no other way to respond; Ha? Hatdog. Oof. It be like that. Shrek (strict) parents ko ih. Another way we create content is based on events that happened and are happening in the country itself. In a way, we start creating content that is more accessible to the millions of avid Filipino users in the online community.

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The use of memes may be questionable at times and maybe even reckless, but in a strange way it is a common coping mechanism that tries not only to make the readers laugh but also think (maybe after the snorting and sharing) about the current state our country is in. We adapt to a platform where humor and witty content of memes manage to stay afloat on top of an abundance of information.

The creativity of memes made in the context of Filipino humor can only expand from here on out. Whether it is used in marketing, political criticism, or to simply make a person or two laugh, its influence and presence only grows continuously along with the unsaid roles it plays in our lifestyle. As the youth, we shouldn’t be afraid to push the boundaries of our creative capacity but neither should we create without realizing the consequences of what a meme can do to a person. We, after all, are the ones who truly know what works and what stays in the mind of our generation. Who knows? The wittiness and creativity may expand beyond memes one day but if we don’t even try then, well, condiments na lang bro.

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Although older generations would complain about the shallow and even nonsensical nature of memes, there is a connection created through the wit and creativity that goes into a meme. Some memes are even political in nature such as those that jab or poke subtly at the current administration by using one-liners at interviews with alleged drug crime cases. The context of the meme is instantly recognized by all those who use social media regardless of class and the language used in the meme further makes it accessible. This can be dualedged sword, such was the case of the infamous ‘Bobo’ meme that sparked debate on whether or not the meme was doing more harm than good in promoting Larry Gadon.

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