Echoes February-March 2019 by Echoes

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A U G U S T

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ADMU Goes to UPD by Giselle Garcia

TGIF CLUB by Andrea Carlos

Roots-Toots-Tootin by Alanis Pascual

Toxic/Together by Gianina Reyes

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Story: Captain MarBEL by Javi Vilchez

Power Couples by Mia Cruz

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Cover

It Takes An Organizing Body by Julia Castellon

Build, Build, Build by Max Capili

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Janoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Corner by Miguel Rodriguez

Cursed Images

W H O

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ECHOE S 61A PUBLICATION

E DITOR-IN-CH IEF 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.

COMMUNICATIONS E DI TO R IAL ASSISTANT STAFF

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, 10 subscription copies are produced. This publication is printed by Yza Copy Systems and Trading, located at Katipunan, Quezon City.

MAN AGING EDITOR STAFF

tweet us @echoesph

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.

Julia Castellon Jego Agabin Alyanna Basbas Lawrence Chu Joaquin De Guzman Glenn Guy Nikki Liu LA Manlangit Mario Quimbo Patrick Santos Robyn Sason

EVENTS

for more information, visit: echoes.ph issuu.com/echoes

Meira De Luna Ky l a B a l i t a Mia Cruz Paolo Jorge Kelsey Mariano Celina Pacana Bianca Rañola Jabby Aurelio Paolo Bisuña Gail Gibe Miguel Rodriguez Javi Vilchez

Fides Morales Moon Artadi Carlo Cabato Max Capili Mico Fernandez Jeremy Gemzontan Ann Geron Jand Magpantay Joseph Marasigan Jolo Zagala

CONTRIBUTORS

Paolo Jorge Max Capili Bernice Henson Giselle Garcia Nica Floro Klarisse Go R a m o n Te n a Jeremy Gemzontan Martin Mejico Andrea Carlos Ivan Bernardo Nicole Formoso Alanis Pascual

Julia Castellon Lance Cheng Pau Martinez Allen Galaura Roni Cabrito Vina Mengua Ky l a B a l i t a Avin Abelardo Miguel Rodriguez Gianina Reyes Mia Cruz Gab Rivera Javi Vilchez

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EDI TOR’S LE T T ER E C H O E S |

Do you think God stays in heaven because he, too, lives in fear of what he’s created? At least God didn’t fear the process of creation. I, unfortunately, did, and still do, and I have no heaven to turn to. I feared writing articles. I feared taking photos. I feared creating this issue. Everything about it freaked me out, from its conceptualization to its production. I give Bel and Nikki my unending gratitude for their patience as I fumbled and pretended to know how to be a photographer, all under the scorching heat. I also give my special thanks to the Devil that I was able to birth my first issue.

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This is dubbed the WOMAN issue for the mere fact that it seems to be the year of the WOMAN -- more so for our beloved UP Economics Society, with the new Execomm roster the most glaring aspect, and Echoes’ Team Heads a subtler aspect. As tradtion decrees, the president is to grace the cover of first Echoes issue of their term. Yes, it is indeed a coincidence that Bel is the president and a WOMAN. Here’s a plot twist: a person’s biological sex and gender aren’t personality traits. They’re sizable influences on identity, but they can’t fully and completely define you. There’s more to you than that. So why celebrate the WOMAN? Well, why not? They’re multi-faceted, unique, nuanced, imperfect, complex, different, valid. It is precisely because being a WOMAN has no bearing on her abilities. There is agency, and sadly, this isn’t said enough. Bel is just one of many powerful beings who continues to inspire those like me who have yet to fully realize their own power. Here’s to women. Here’s to men who support women. Here’s to all of us. Peace, love, watch Naruto.

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A LYA N N A B E R N A R D O Hey Ecosoc! Am so excited for the sem ahead and I hope you guys will be too! Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s definitely busyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; with 4 adhocs, committee work, and a lot more pa :0 But despite that, I hope you guys take this time to join the multitude of opportunities this semester had to offer <3 Shoutout to execomm who have been working super hard for the events and staples they have in store. Also, I hope you guys get the chance to meet our super cute and amazing apps in the tambayan! Come play bridge with us HEHEHE. See you at the Ecosoc events, and hope you have an awesome sem <3 ILYYYY

KARLA BULAN SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE Hi Ecosoc! I hope the sem has been good to all of you!! With 4 adhocs on top of everything else, this sem is very busy. Also, with a lot of new changes, this coming year is definitely exciting! Scholcom has 6 new officers to better accommodate our 15 scholars!! Thank you so much to those who signed up.

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C I E LO V E RZO SA ACADEMIC AFFAIRS NYELLER, ECOSOC!!! It’s been one hell of a ride for in the first few months of 2019, but I hope y’all have been enjoying the rush that comes with it, and taking time to savor each day, and taking moments to rest your mind sparkly heart emoji

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Acad has been so happy to see you in our events; ACDC, Recog Day, and tutorials; and supporting Bookalikes! It fills us with joy to know that the little things we do help you in your acads-related things. If you need help with school-related things or just want to be sent funny videos or memes, don’t hesitate to tweet or DM @TheAcadWorm because she’s always there! Good luck with your studies!

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BETINA SALES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Hii Ecosoc! I hope the past few months have been good to you, and if not, I hope the rest of the months will be! In case you haven’t met my Team Heads, they’re Klarisse Go, Mikee Lirio, and Julian Songsong. They’ve been preparing a lot for the past CDCs we’ve been having like Vendors Elective (the ates let you do more fun stuff now!), donation/blood drives, and of course ACDC. The ACDC kids have been a lot of fun to be with and they’re always happy to meet new Ates and Kuyas so I hope you get to drop by soon! CDC still has a lot in store for the rest of our adcvocacies but in the meantime, do follow @ giffy_cdc to learn more about our advocaCDCs! I hope you always remember to stay inspired so we may fill up the Heart of Ecosoc little by little together. Much love always!

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MEIRA DE LUNA ECHOES WASSUP ECOSOC it is time to re-evaluate our life choices So many things happening, so many new people to meet and greet, so many opportunities, yet so little time! I hope y’all can keep up. I hope I can keep up!!!!!! :))))))))))) Special shoutout to Echoes’ new team heads this semester: Kyla Balita for Publication, Julia Castellon for Communication, and Fides Morales for Events <3 Funny how these laddies represent different stages of my life Anyways, love you all lots and keep your eyes peeled for the culture that Echoes always aims to deliver! (who am i kidding)

H E AT H E R TA B L A N T E EXTERNAL AFFAIRS Hi Ecosoc! We’re already halfway through the semester and I just want to share what Exte has been up to! We already launched the scholar stories feature, and it is still ongoing SO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT YAY. We’re done with our 13th scholar, so we have 2 more releases left pa! We hope you take the time to read all our releases so that you’ll get to know our scholars as well <3 We’re also about to launch our new privilege card & release our list of partners. The CorpRel Team have been working hard the past few months for this yay!!! :(( proud ! also, we now have a total of 12 org partnerships (go ER!!!) and 27 corporate partners so far. <3 Lastly, the AlumRel team has been actively posting updates, features, and greetings in the alumni group to encourage more involvement from our alumni. We’re also going to invite them to memcomm’s initiatives like bowling night so pls go na rin to get to know some of our alumni!!! Exte hopes that you’ll continue to support our events & initiatives! GOOD LUCK THIS SEM Y’ALL <3 8

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NICOLE FORMOSO FINANCE YO ECOSOC pare bro chongs!!! I hope yall have been doing well!! kahit daming ganap inaatupag ng ecosoc this sem hope u are finding a good balance among this n acads n other things u want to do that make u happy!!! personally am proud that comms have all been doing their part to make up for their expenses! Take note that every fundraiser no matter how little adds up to the financial sustainability of the org WOOT HOT E C H O E S |

This sem Fin Management started strong with new fin trackers and WE ALSO HAVE A NEW MASCOT integrated in our monthly fin updates, SI PIGGY B!!! Fin Initiative is also going strong planning yet another bazaar ((woot di kami nagsasawa sa technohub)) and fundraisers has a bunch up in their sleeve with food sales, back2basics resales and riding the trend sales!! hope u all find the time to support these initiatives n the hard work of fin mems <333

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yay thanks 4 reading n always hoping that lyf is being gud to u all!!

LIA QUERIJERO MEMBERSHIP Bonjour, garçons et filles! The past few months have been haggard af so I hope you’ve been taking some time to rest. More than your mem grade, your Membership Committee values your wellbeing a lot. Don’t be afraid to pm me anytime about anything, from your worries about work/acads, to your inquiries on TGIF/other Ecosoc events. We gotchu always. With this, we thank you for supporting our events and initiatives as all of these are for none other than yourselves. We hope to see you soon at Bowling (March 22), Hiking (April 13), Beach Trip (May 24-26), and Send-off (last week of May). Labyu olways.

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JANO DELEÑA SECRETARIAT

¡Hola! Ecosoc! ¿Como esta? I hope you are enjoying the semester acad work and org work, and with meeting new friends and applicants. With that, I also hope that you are enjoying the initiatives of each committee. I also invite you to join our future pub workshops (Yieee excitingg). Thank you also for all the compliments sa pubss. Kilig akoo <3 Thank you to my team heads ( Jan and Harvey) and to my 17 seccom members for constantly being responsive and doing your tasks. Thank you for constantly making pubs and for the dissemination of information. I luv u all <3

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E C H O E S |

PARA SA MGA DALAGANG PILIPINA

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N NEWS

ADMU Goes to UPD. First Genmeet. Apps Ak-welcome. Recognition Day 2019. TGIF Club. The Rundown. News by the Numbers. The Heart of Ecosoc. Build, Build, Build. Nigeria Elections Delay. Roots 2019.

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ADMU GOES TO UPD by GISELLE GARCIA

Last January 25, Friday, the tambayan was more crowded and literally bluer than usual. It was not an ordinary Friday filled with the normal set of people either playing bridge or catching up on some school work but rather a distinct group of people surrounded the area Ateneans wearing the colors of blue and white who crossed the other side of Katipunan. In partnership with the Ateneo Economics Association (AEA), Ecosoc welcomed almost 20 representatives from the said organization and supported their aim to have a glimpse on the life of a student in UP School of Economics. To attain this, several Ateneans were given the opportunity to sit in in either Econ 101 or Econ 102 classes and experience the different class discussions. Despite not all of them being Economics majors, it was

pleasing to see and meet several people having the same interest in learning Economics. Together with some of our members, they also had the chance to explore the different food ventures in area 2 such as the famous mango graham shakes and burgers from snack shack. Their visit will certainly not be complete without going through the walk from Econ to AS while enjoying the view of the different buildings of UP. However, this participation with AEA will not just end on this. On March 4, Monday, it is our moment to go across the other side and experience their student life, the Ateneo way.

FIRST GENMEET by NICA FLORO

The first Genmeet for the 2nd semester of SY 2018 2019 had taken place last January 16, 2019 in SE 125. The agenda for this Genmeet included the explanation of the important parts of the new constitution, home committee presentations, AdHoc committee presentations, and the induction of both new and old members who have received their EcoSoc pins. EE CC H HO O EE SS ||

There are now seven home committees, namely, the Academic Affairs Committee, the Community Development Committee, Echoes, the External Affairs Committee, the Finance Committee, the Membership Committee, and the Secretariat Committee. The 61A grading scheme had also been addressed in this Genmeet as well as the new guidelines for the AdHocs. AdHocs for 61A include Roots, Rundown, Upfront, and Scav. The Genmeet was also able to talk about all of the home committeesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; plans for 61A.

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A P P S A K-W E LC O M E by RAMON TENA

Last February 1, Ecosoc officially welcomed some new faces to the tambayan. On the same day, Team Apps held Apps Akwe, the introduction andwelcoming party of the applicants to Ecosoc. The program started ofwith the Guardian-Ward Bidding, or GW Bidding for short, a stapleevent wherein the applicants bid for their chosen guardians who willguide them through the app process to eventualy gain Ecosocmembership. It then proceeded to the Apps Amazing Race, wherein theapplicants were grouped with their respective GW families and severalother Ecosoc mems and together, they must go through a gauntlet ofchallenges, themed around Ecosoc’s profile. Lastly, to cap of thenight, the apps were taken to Dencio’s for a cute but quaint dinner.For this app batch, four amazingly quirky, fun and hardworking GWpairs signed-up, namely Isaac Magpantay and Martin Mejico, Vina Menguaand Pat del Rosario, who is also the Corporate Relations Team Co-Head,Alfonso Laureta and Harvey Sañga, who is also the Information and OpsTeam Head, and last but not the least, Jan Uy, who is the CreativesTeam Head, together with Klarisse Go, who is also a Staples Team Co-Head. Surprisingly, all of the GW pairs this app batch are also allfreshies!For the Amazing Race, the five stations featured challenges whichwere centered around various aspects of Ecosoc life, work and culture.The first station was centered around Ecosoc’s first core value,service, and the challenge was that they had to give a drink to eepney driver to quench his thirst. The second station was centeredaround excellence and the challenge was that they had to guess thename of the Ecosoc event using only its logo. The third station wascentered around tradition and the challenge was the timedtested andbeloved egg toss. The fourth station 16

was centered around unity and thechallenge was that they were to create a chant that represents the 3thrusts. Finally, the last station was the kainan in Dencio’s.Overall, the day was filled with laughs and fun, but mostimportantly, with this app batch, not only has the Ecosoc familygotten bigger, but it is also headed towards a bright future.

RECOGNI T I ON DAY 2019 by MARTIN MEJICO

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EcoSoc has always made it a habit to give credit where credit is due. That is why every semester, it celebrates its members’ academic achievements through the Recognition Day, handled by the Symposia team of the Academic Affairs Committee. This sem, it was held last February 7 in SE 105 with a travel/hiking theme to represent the #RoadToExcellence that each Ecosocer endured to earn their respective GWA’s. Truly, the journey to success is never easy. It’s an everyday climb for each and one of us. For some it’s an uphill battle worth celebrating, while for others it may just be a walk in the park, but admittedly they all had their struggles. EcoSoc understands this and thus wants to reward its members who braved the wild path.

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But Recog Day is not just about commending our achievers. As our Vice President in Academic Affairs, Cielo Verzosa, uttered in her opening remarks, that day was also about giving inspiration to those who fell short and lacked that little push to reach their desired grades. It aims to be a source of motivation for everyone to strive for greatness and uphold the school’s mantra of “Honor and Excellence.” But of course the event wouldn’t be possible without the majority-female Symposia team, led by Team Head Alexa Bulatao. To say that the event was a success is an understatement. It was a product of weeks of preparation by this team, and for that they also deserve to be recognized. Kudos team Symposia! It’s events like this where we show our genuine support for one another that we see what EcoSoc really is – a family. Here’s to celebrating more milestones with each other!

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TGIF CLUB

by ANDREA CARLOS TGIF Club is this sem’s new pakulo for mems to be able to bond more. It’s an avenue for all of us to have a constant ‘thing’ together. We pictured it to be like, “Uy, Friday na! Tara, saan tayo?” For the first one aka our semstarter, it was in TK— typical chill inom. But really, TGIF Club is meant to be simply a go-to “group” who’s g for anything—kahit anong maisip naman natin, g yan! To give you guys more ideas, based on the feedback form our team sent earlier last month, some of the next TGIF Club events we’ll be having next are bowling in East, BGC pub crawl—even Game Night falls on a Friday so YAY Sabi nga ni Lia, “Wherever Ecosocers are on a Friday, that’s TGIF Club” yieeee we hope to see you guys in our next TGIF Club initiatives! Let’s all bond <3

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Last February 28, voters go beyond platforms and campaigns to 15 Senatoriables in Rundown 2019. The event took place at GT Toyota with nearly 600 audience members not counting those who watched the event through our live stream. Rundown 2019 continued to pass on its core purpose to educate the youth’s vote through the different program segments that not only created discourse but also critical perceptions on candidates’ values, stances and projects. Along with the 15 Senatoriables, there are 4 panelists that represented important sectors in our society which includes Richard Heydarian (Politics and International Relations), Athena Presto (Sociology and Youth), Rodne Galicha (Environment), Renato Reside (Economics) and Etta Rosales (Human Rights). Issues like Same-Sex Marriage, Inflation, TRAIN, and Peace Process in Mindanao was covered, to name a few.

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The 15 Senator hopefuls who attended were Florin Hilbay, Samira Gutoc, Neri Colmenares, Leody De Guzman, Dan Roleda, Shariff Albani, Toti Casino, RJ Javellana, Butch Valdes, Elmer Francisco, Agnes Escudero, Ding Generoso, Ernesto Arellano, Balde Baldevarona and Dado Padilla. All candidates were able to deliver their platforms, vision, and answers in the panel discussion, yes or no, and student’s Q & A.

THE RUNDOWN

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by Ivan Bernardo

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NEWS BY THE NUMBERS BY: PAOLO JORGE

Women won an Oscars at the 2019 Academy Awards

Bands played at this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Roots Music Festival

Of the 12 US Democrats vying for the 2020 presidency are women

Women are running for the Philippine Senate in the 2019 Midterm Elections

Years have passed since the 1986 People Power Revolution

Women were ranked among the Worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Most Powerful people, with Angela Merkel holding the 4th Highest Spot

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ELENA KULIKOVA

$20.7 B Spent for Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day 2019

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Amount of Total Consumer spending of Women worldwide

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Inflation rate as of January 2019, dropping from 5.1 % in December of the previous year

$40 B

4.4% 94.3 % Is the Employment Rate of Women in the Philippines 21

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THE HEART OF ECOSOC by KLARISSE GO

CDC is the heart of Ecosoc. Most people think this involves changing the world through outreach programs and this it true. However, more than that, we at CDC want to change not just the world but the worlds of people. That is why, together with ACADs, we conduct ACDCs. ACDC is a program that centers around children. The students we cater to come from pook ricarte, ranging from kinder to grade 5. To secure their slots in our program, we conduct enrollment processes wherein their parents are asked to fill out forms in regards to the academic status of the children. The parents are also oriented on what ACDC is about and the benefits their children will get should they join the program. We, as tutors, understand the requirements of K-12 and as such, considered this when making the worksheets for the kids as it proves to be more engaging and beneficial to the

students. Here at ACDC, we consider learning to be a skill that must be trained from an early age. As such, we not only revamped the programs that we have for the toddlers to be more learning through experience based, but also we decided to take in more toddlers and provide a special team in charge of focusing on how to help the toddlers learn better. Part of prioritizing the kids is through making different committees in charge of each ACDC. We want the students to learn a lot of different skills and we understand that the different comms can approach teaching in new ways that the ACDC team did not think off. This also helps integrate each and every member into the ACDCs as members of committees in charge will be prioritized when picking for tutors for ACDC. Another thing that we acknowledge is the importance of time. We understand that we cannot teach them everything they need to know within 3 hours, which is why we choose to focus on the hard and important

knowledge, namely math, english and manners. In our course for academic excellence for the students, we believe it is essential that we give them help in their most problematic subjects like math and english which most of them tend to have problems with. Furthermore, we also believe that although the children must learn to strive for excellence, it is important for them to strive for it with honor. As such, we decided to give importance to the impartment of good manners and values onto the children so that even after the ACDC program they will grow to become efficient and honorable members of society. CDC is the heart of Ecosoc. We have a heart for the future of this world, a heart for the hope of the country, a heart for the kids. In ACDC we focus on the proper development of the kids in becoming honorful and excellent people. All this we do for the kids. Through ACDC we not only change the world, but we change their world.

Photo: Philippine Star

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recently had a Groundbreaking Ceremony for rebuilding. Even the residence halls have been undergoing renovation, most notably the International Center. Let’s all not forget the new sports facilities that have been cropping up, from a FIFA-certified football field to an Olympic sized pool. All these improvements and renovations are, of course, appreciated. However, it makes you wonder just how reflective of the current government administration is our university’s current thrust for build projects. The forced eviction of some campus residents comes to mind, especially since the QC local government was the one to place them on university grounds. It makes you think of what else the build projects could be hiding.

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Going around campus, you’ll notice that there seems to be many projects underway. Every other road seems to be in the process of improvement. There is a plaza being installed in front of the main library. The old student center, Vinzons, is in the process of being renovated. The beloved Faculty Center

The current UP administration is reflective of the government it is under. There have been many slated projects for improving the university grounds. Last February 23, 2019, we saw the newly opened Oblation Plaza which featured a reinstalled fountain. Twitter was full of pictures from students and joggers alike. There is also quite a few new buildings, including one for the College of Architecture.

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When you think of UP, what would be the first thing that would come to your mind? Landmarks, for most people. Who could forget the Oblation with its arms spread, looking towards the sky? Maybe some people would remember the Sunken Garden and all those who laughed and cried on its grounds. More likely, a student would remember rushing up the AS steps as they try to get to class on time. Unfortunately, some of these landmarks have seen better days. As a state university, funding has always been a problem, and maintenance has never been at the top of the list of priorities. At least until recently.

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD

b y MAX CAP ILI

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NIGERIA ELECTIONS D E L AY by BERNICE HENSON

Emotions were at an all time high at the announcement in the delay of the presidential elections in Nigeria. The sudden delay came as a shock to everyone, including the 73 candidates, causing already high tensions to rise even further. The polls for the election were to open at 8 a.m in local time, Saturday, February 16, 2019 but at 3 a.m local time, an announcement was made on that day that the elections will be subject to delay for a week despite the continuous reassurance from the Independent National Electoral Commission or INEC (Nigeria’s version of the Philippine’s COMELEC) that they are prepared. The authorities cited that the cause of delay was due to logistical issues and not tied to any political nor security issues. The two leading political parties and some voters, however, would argue otherwise and that some form of corruption and skullduggery is at play in the most crucial time in Nigeria’s sovereignty. Nigeria has the largest population in Africa but accompanying this are high levels of unemployment and poverty affecting over 91 million people. In first glance, it seems that the voters and candidates alike seem to be overreacting over a measly one-week delay. One cannot help but ask as to why everyone raising arms against the INEC over what seems to be a very valid reason of logistical concerns. The answer to the question is in the experiences of the Nigerians and how important these elections mean for the country and its people’s future and why we should reflect on our own country’s situation. Leading up to the elections, the country faced -and continues to face- widespread problems that plague developing countries especially where poverty and corruption are rampant and, in most cases, come in a packaged deal. The severe mismanagement of the rich oil reserves in the country does nothing 24

to help ease the lack of jobs available. To make the situation even worse, the country suffers from violent attacks and insurgencies some of which were claimed to be done by the terrorist group ISIS. In times of such immense struggle, it is easy and perhaps even logical to give in to despair as the country you grew up in continuously falls into more and more chaos. That is why the elections for the highest seat in the government is incredibly crucial. The power to vote gives the people a chance to make their voices heard and, in turn, gives them hope that progress will be felt throughout the population. These people are willing to travel more than a hundred miles just for one day so that they can cast their votes on who they believe will bring their country back from the brink. This makes their frustrations, anger, and disappointment all the more sympathetic and understandable. Every active citizen wishes their country to progress and trust that the government, especially the president, make those decisions. With the upcoming senatorial elections here in the Philippines, we remind ourselves about the universal struggle that encompasses each one of us; be it Nigerian of Filipino. That is to make the statement known that we, the citizens, deserve better.

ROOTS 2019 by JEREMY GEMZONTAN

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The Thursday started off with clear skies, the university still reeling from an eventful UP Fair Wednesday. Ingress began at 6AM, with members flocking in and heading out at different times throughout the day. The lines started building at around 3PM, and by 4:30 in the afternoon, we officially kicked off the

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And did they deliver.

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After having grown accustomed to handling Saturday nights, the sudden shift to a Thursday (and a weeknight at that!) was a daunting task for the entire organizing body. This was then followed by the competition of booking acts for Valentine’s Day, which is a hot date for gigs and concerts. Four months of planning and two weeks of intense ticket-selling (with lines starting as early as 4AM!) later, we were met with the ultimate challenge of executing the most anticipated Ecosoc event ever.

program for Roots 2019. For the next 10 hours, the Sunken Garden and the entire UP community were treated to a lineup like no other, featuring the likes of UP Underground Music Community mainstays such as Shirebound and Busking, Wish Sticks and Son of a Peach!, as well as rising stars in This Band, I Belong to the Zoo and Munimuni. As they always do, Roots made an effort to bring back some nostalgic feels with the inclusion of South Border. The lineup was rounded off with acts such as Franco, Hale and Rivermaya amongst others.

The Roots Music Festival has always been one of the prides and glories of the UP Economics Society, and this year was no exception. The initial stages of planning was met with a few hurdles. For the first time in three years, Roots would be finding itself lined up as the Thursday night of this year’s UP Fair.

All in all, as the lights went off and the program came to a close, Roots 2019 was able to hit a number of milestones. From a new record number of attendees, an even larger number of tickets sold compared to last year, and being the only night to finish on time, the Task Force committee this semester found a way to produce an outstanding event. Despite all the hurdles, heartaches and troubles that came their way, Ecosoc was once again a proud nighthandler of a successful UP Fair night. And the best part of it all was that they knew that all of their hard work and effort would go to the people who need it most. Always and in #ForTheScholars

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F F E AT U R E S

Para Kay Eba. Data Rookies. 20 Questions With Piggy B. A Definitive Guide To Imee Marcosâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Degrees. The Queen and The Iron Fist. Captain Marbel. Roots-Toots-Tootin. The Bechdel Test. Call Out Culture. It Takes An Organizing Body.

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P A R A K AY E B A Pau Martinez

Minsang nagdasal ang isang musmos sa sulok ng isang tagpi-tagping tahanan. Sa ilalim ng buwan ay nanikluhod sa harap ng Poon, nagsumamong dinggin ang panalangin, pakinggan ang lagim ng pangungulilang dala ng kumakaripas na pagtakbo, at tahimik na pagbabadyang inalipin ng oras. Na siyang ibinabalik ng mga talang saksi sa binihag na kahapon. Sinasabing burdado ng pinakatatagong mga lihim at hinaing ang mga mata. Ang hindi maipaliwanag ay nag-iiwan ng bakas sa bawat pagsulyap-sulyap, sa paiwas na mga pagtingin – sa hindi pagtingin. Anila’y tahanan ng pagnanais at hiling ang pakubling pagbanaag, ngunit sa itinagal ng pag-iral ng ating lahi’y tanging rehas lamang ng mapanghusgang mga tingin ang pinagpalagian. May katotohanang taglay ang mga tingin kaya kung sisipatin ang mata ng ating mga kapatid, mahabang panahon ng pagkaalipin ang pupuno sa tanawin. Alipin ng panahon para sa sapilitang paglupig ng ating karapatan. Alipin ng pagkakataon para sa ipinagkailang pag-unlad. Alipin ng mga pasibo, ng nananamantalang lipunan. Sa kahabaan ng mga lansanga’y samu’t saring mga kwento ang maririnig. Tila nakikipagtalo sa busina ng mga sasakyan ang mga bulong, mga sigaw, mga hiling. Lulan ng kasula-sulasok na singaw ng makinarya ang kasaysayang sapilitang ibinabaon sa limot – dahil sino nga naman ang gugustuhing bumalik sa poot ng kahapon? Sino ang handang sariwain ang marahas na panggagahasang ipinataw sa ating kamalayan? 28

Para kay Eba na makailang beses na mula sa panaginip ay gumising sa isa pang panaginip, dahan-dahang isinilang sa pagkakahimbing ang pabulong na mga sigaw. Isang pagsubok ang maghayag kung ang mga salita’y inangkin ng iba, lalo na kung ang bibig ay buslong bagamat pinuno ng katahimika’y ‘di kailanman naging payapa. Nasa alaala niyang ang unang paglapat sa papel ng pluma’y unang alingawngaw na nagpalaya mula sa pagkakatikom. Kaya hindi mali ang mahimbing basta’t huwag kalilimutang gumising. Totoo’t may nagbabadyang takot sa hapding hatid ng unang pagdampi ng liwanag sa mga mata, ngunit sadyang ganoon ang sinasapit ng sinomang sa katotohana’y unti-unting namumulat na. Pakaingat lang at baka malugod nang maigi’t mabulag sa mga mapagpanggap. Para kay Eba, malawak na mapang markado ng umiiral na panlulupig ang kanyang katawan. Nakalimbag, iniukit kahanay ng mga ugat ang kasaysayang yumurak sa paghadlang sa mga karapatang pantao’t pagsulong sa katayuan sa lipunan. Sinasalubong

ang pagbangon ng pigil na tinig, at naging hantungan ng sinupil na pag-iisip ang mga gabing ang kislap ng nagnanais na mga mata ang natatanging tanglaw. Para kay Eba, higit na mas mahirap ang buhay kung nananatiling humihinga ngunit hindi maramdaman na buhay. Sapat na ang inihaba ng panahon upang maiwaksi sa mundong ibabaw ang mga kwentong inihabi sa panibagong umagang may panibagong pakikibaka: ang pagbagtas at pagtubos sa landas na noo’y ipinagkait. Tapusin na ang paghihintay. Tapusin na ang pagtatago sa mga pag-aatubiling hinihimok ng takot. Para sa mga gising ngunit nananatiling sarado ang mga mata, para sa mga tinatahak ang reyalidad nang nakagapos ang mga paa, para sa mga malalakas ang tinig ngunit pinipiling tumahimik, para sa mga nakaririnig ngunit hindi nakikinig, panahon na para tumindig. Manindigan nang may paninindigan. Manindigan nang walang pasubali. Para kay Eba

Luciano Garbati, 2008

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D ATA R O O K I E S LANCE CHENG

Here is a good video that talks about what Data Science is and what a Data Scientist does: h t t p s : // w w w.y o u t u b e . c o m / watch?v=xC-c7E5PK0Y

fb.me/datarookies The Slack Community: You can interact with the community, talk about anything under the Data sun, and get the latest updates. https://tinyurl. com/joinDataRookies Data Science - What is it? There are many different definitions of Data Science, but essentially itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the use of data to find solutions to problems. This may be in the form of using data to find trends or using data to generate insights into customer behavior. Technically, one can think of Data Science

(1) Preparing and Filtering the data for it to be usable for analysis (2) Building and managing structures to house and organize data (3) Formulating hypothesis based on the data and testing this out using statistical models (4) Building Machine Learning models Data Science - Why should I care about it? The advancements in technology in our current era have led to an explosion in the amount of data that is available to us as well as the processing

Fun Read Intelligence

Artificial

Here is a very good read if you want to know more about Artificial Intelligence and how China is catching up with the US and Europe in the race for AI. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ AI_Superpowers (You can also pirate this on libgen.io)

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The Facebook Page: You can get information on events - such as meetups - and community announcements (This is open to everyone!)

Data Scientists are in charge of various tasks depending on what role your employer specifies which may include but are not limited to:

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The Learning Portal: You can find links to tutorials and classes to help build your data skills. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s open sourced, so feel free to contribute the resources you know about as well! https:// github.com/DataRookies/ DataRookiesLearningPortal

What does a Data Scientist do?

power of our computers. We are already living in a datadriven world where businesses and organizations want to make data-driven decisions. It will soon become an essential skill for people to know how to use data to generate insights and to make effective decisions based on it. Also, as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) become more and more integrated with our everyday functions in society, data will become the new oil that will power these AI and ML algorithms to perform effectively. Even now you hear of jobs and particular functions being digitized and automated -- being run by computer programs or ML algorithms. For these automated programs and algorithms to work, there is a need for data scientists to prepare and filter the large amounts of data and to come up with the right models to interpret, analyze and apply the data effectively.

as harnessing the theory and techniques of statistics and using computer science to apply it. Data Science is also sometimes used interchangeably with Business Analytics, Statistics, Predictive Analytics etc.

E C H O E S

Data Rookies is an online learning community for people who are interested in working with data. It is open to dataenthusiasts of all levels, both beginners and experts! As of the moment we have 3 platforms for interested members to interact with the rest of the community.

2 0 Q U E ST I O N S W I T H P I G GY B compiled by NICS FORMOSO

Illustration by Nina Castle Q: What is the one thing you CAN’T live without? A: my butt plug (keeps d moolah from falling out of me) Q: What is the one thing you CAN live without? A: slaughterhouses Q: Who would win in a fight: you or Mr. Krabs? A: me duh he jus a krusty ass hoe Q: Would you rather work more hours per day, but fewer days, or work fewer hours per day, but more days? A: id rather jus .. not Q: How would you spend Php 80,000? A: i wud help other comms pay off their debt #charity #sociocivic #bigyanngcounts #jokeidoitoutoflove Q: How would Acad Wormy and Giffy Raff describe you? A: one n only sugar mawma Q: Are you secretly dating Romantic Baboy? A: dein pero yummy naman siya ;) Q: Are you a virgin? A: ewan a lot of things have gone into my coin slot di ko na alam Q: What’s your favorite fundraiser? A: red belbet crinkles bIH WALA TALAGA NAGSASAWAAA DUNNNN Q: What do you think is the best Ecosoc event? A: Sunika !!!! o wait …. 30

Q: Would you fight for love or money? A: yes anything for some netflows in d bank and in d love tank Q: If you could master one skill you don’t have right now, what would it be? A: poverty eradication ! Q: What words of wisdom do you have for Ecosoc? A: fuck bitches get money

Q: Would you rather become a millionaire by winning the lottery or from your own work? A: anything works as long as it’s not prostitution ! Q: Eliminate one thing from your daily schedule. What would it be and why? A: when comms remove my butt plug to get moolah from me ugh it hurts :(((

Q: If you had to spend all your money on one thing, what would it be? A: new butt plugs

Q: What is the one would you would use to describe Fin? A: fin is pretty hot yo like yall think they just be some accountants or wuteva but

Q: What would be the worst “Buy One Get One Free” sale of all time? A: buy one get one herpes

Q: What do you do to get rid of stress? A: remind myself of my hot fin babez

Q: What is the one thing you CAN’T live without? A: my butt plug (keeps d moolah from falling out of me)

Q: Any message to Fin? A: u guys are my assets (and u also make my ass fatter tnx i appreci8) <333

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A DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO IMEE MARCOSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; DEGREES

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b y A N ON YMO U S

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Yâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;RE ZERO

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https://www.saatchiart.com/art/Painting-Cleopatra-Modern/927556/3230203/view 34

THE QUEEN AND THE IRON FIST VINA MENGUA

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Deception it speaks, charisma it shows Uncorks the bottle, the scent arose Tips to fill its glass with the blood from the crossbows Empty promises, the golden lion boasts

Reeks of dead men’s corpses made To rot, to mount a crown on the head it parades Every sip of crimson wine, a gunshot strayed Proudly, the monster claimed, “The debts are paid.”

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Amidst the deafening tolls of death and time Sweeter the murder, sweeter the wine Ideals upheld through a twisted paradigm Slaughtering lives to build its bloody shrine The ruler drinks to the freedom of crime Alone in its glory, it savors hollow praise Taken from the heads found on displays Unheard roar from the beast that betrays The sanguine wine is now a bare phase A vision of the queen and the iron fist ablaze

CAPTAIN In t e r v ie w by JAV I V I LC H E Z P h o t o g r ap hy by ME I R A DE LU N A

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MARBEL

ALYANNA BARE S

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On March 22, 2019, Echoes was granted an exclusive all-access interview with one of the most beloved figures in local politics. Alyanna Bernardo has served as President of the UP Economics Society since her landslide victory over Abstain in late 2018. The usually private and secretive leader bares all in this never-before-seen conversation.

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Javi: Okay so right now we’re walking in the walkway of Econ back. We’re situating ourselves on a stone bench. Alright. Good afternoon, Echoes, we are here with incumbent UP Economics Society President Alyanna Bernardo the first. Likewise, our first question is, what is it like being Ecosoc President? Bel: Weird, I guess. I don’t think it’s sunk in yet. But it’s been pretty chill and fulfilling so far.

Javi: When do you think it will sink in? Bel: Maybe at the end of the sem. But I really don’t feel it will have sunken in until my term has ended. Or maybe after Roots, I don’t know. Javi: You mentioned this position of Ecosoc President has been very fulfilling so far. What is the most fulfilling thing you’ve done as Ecosoc President so far? 40

Bel: Oh, that’s so hard. I don’t think I’ve had a most fulfilling experience yet but I think the answer lies in the little things like making tambay with the members, meeting the new apps, and just seeing how passionate members are about the things that they do. Seeing that spark in them makes me think, “Oh, they still love Ecosoc, they’re not burned out or tired”. It’s a great feeling to see them so fulfilled in the work that they do and that they are all so passionate about it.

being able to see where all our hard work goes into and really getting to feel like you’re making a difference in the lives of these people.

Javi: A very interesting answer! I have two followup questions to that: the first being what sort of event do you anticipate being a landmark of fulfillment for you as Ecosoc President?

Bel: I feel like burnout is inevitable not just in org work but in life in general, when things get too overwhelming and you feel like there are so many hindrances that you have to get through to do stuff. I feel like yeah I had a lot of moments where I felt the burnout but it was powering through that and getting into the core of why you do the things you do. You signed up for it, so you have to perform and do what you were tasked to do.

Bel: I feel like it really will be Roots. Having met the scholars and doing a lot of work for them, I feel like Roots is the culmination of the experience of not just an Ecosoc President but an Ecosoc Member--

Javi: You mentioned burnout in an earlier response. Did you yourself personally experience burnout on your path to becoming Ecosoc President? How did this burnout affect your affection and commitment to the organization?

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Javi: What was your biggest obstacle that you had to overcome in deciding to run for Ecosoc President? Bel: I think it was more of like a confidence thing. I don’t feel like I had the confidence to run. Or maybe even just like the notion of running for Ecosoc President was something I never could have imagined, like if you

told first year me that I would be Ecosoc President I would be like “Dafuqqq, what are you talking about?”. So it was just that initial fear and getting over that fear of criticism as well as developing confidence and self-esteem and telling myself I’m not doing this for me but for a bigger purpose. There was something bigger to being President than a personal job. There was something I could do and I could bring to the organization.

Javi: So you felt like it was your responsibility to be next in line to serve? Aside from that factor, were there any other contributing factors that propelled your confidence to run?

I DON’T THINK IT’S SUNK IN YET.

BUT IT’S B

CHILL AND SO FAR.

Bel: I kind of think so. As a person, I just like staying at home and stuff. But I also really like keeping busy and I feel like it helps distract me from the rest of the things that are happening in the world. If you are focusing on something, you have less time to think about stuff you don’t want to think about it. Javi: What do you mean by “rest of the things that are happening in the world”?

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Bel: I think it’s just, when you’re preoccupied or keeping busy with other things, there is less time to worry about everything in general. There are so many things happening in the world right now, not just personally but in terms of the global landscape, so-- I actually don’t know.

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Bel: I feel like I would have eventually taken on a position. Not necessarily an Execomm position, but I believe I would’ve found a way to serve and do something. I’m kind of like di mapakali and I like doing a lot of stuff, so I would’ve kept busy somehow with other

Javi: Do you identify with the UP millennial culture that you always have to busy, you always have to be preoccupied with different extra-curricular activities?

D FULFILLING

Javi: Wow, that was a very Ecosoc President answer. I have a few more to wrap up our conversation. If you did not run for Ecosoc President, what do you think you’d be doing given all this time you’ve invested in Ecosoc? What would you be doing if you weren’t Ecosoc President?

Ecosoc work.

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BEEN PRETTY

Bel: I think it was a culmination of the experiences I had in Ecosoc. As a member who wasn’t the most active and as a person who isn’t the most outgoing or present, I feel like being the background and doing behind-the-scenes work gave me a bigger sense of fulfillment in the work I was doing. It really made it feel like it wasn’t about me, but about the things I was able to do-- and I felt like that was so empowering. That eventually propelled me to eventually run. That, and I have a Messiah complex so I always feel like I need to save everything.

Javi: So you echo the sentiment that you’d rather be doing something to change the world rather than just constantly criticizing?

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Bel: Yeah, I think so. And I feel that as a UP student that cultural mindset is more ingrained. There are concrete things we can all do, and we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just stand idly by while the rest of the world is suffering. There are things we can do to make a change, even in small ways. And I feel like Ecosoc is my way of making that change in the most concrete way, so Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m glad that I have the opportunity to do so. Javi: A brilliant way to wrap up the interview. Alyanna Bernardo, Ecosoc President, thank you for hearing us.

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ROOTS TOOTS TOOTIN THE BACKSTAGE STORY ALANIS PASCUAL

Roots again and that time I was assigned to the main entrance security. I honestly did not imagine it to be that demanding. For long hours, I have been standing and shouting the same instructions over and over as the line goes on. I have never seen so much people in one night — I swear, the line seemed never-ending. I lost my voice in a span of six or seven hours, and my feet really hurt, I just wanted to go home. I was at the entrance, already sitting on the field when Aegis, the headliner started to play. The other volunteers and I ran to the stage despite the burnout to witness just that part of the program. This sounds cliché but they were so good that the moment I saw them perform right in front of me, I could definitely say it was all really worth it. The

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lineup. There was no way I’ll miss to see them live, so right away, I got tickets for the UP Fair Wednesday. Although what I remember from that night was singing, dancing, and jumping my heart out, in sweat, in the middle of the jam-packed crowd, while seeing flying condoms everywhere, that night was definitely one for the books in my college life that I would never do again. That same year, UP Fair Saturday or Roots came and as a volunteer I was tasked to be a peace officer backstage. I was not allowed to leave my post and was just standing the whole time of my shift, listening to the concert from backstage. The next year, I volunteered for

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I have always been a big fan of Original Pinoy Music, that whenever I hit the karaoke either with family or friends, there will always be those classic OPM songs to be sung. From its varying melodies to perfect lyrics and overall message of the songs, OPM does not fail to touch lives and change lives everyday. New and progressive OPM continues to inspire people, and I am proud to say I still am a huge fan until now. When I first heard about the UP Fair back in Freshman year through Ecosoc, without doubt, I immediately applied to be part of the organizing body as a volunteer even though I had no idea what to expect. As the lineup of the UP Fair were released, I got so thrilled to see my childhood favorite bands part of the

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feeling of the burnout going away — that moment it was what I felt. For the third time, last February 14, 2019, I was part of the Roots organizing body, but this time as a Programs officer. I still remember that week in November last year when we first started working — we were already messaging all the artists we could think of and deciding which to go for, given the budget. The work months before Roots were manageable since we were a lot in the team, and tasks were divided equally. As part of Programs, the greatest challenge really, was the night itself. I was relieved that the program started on time and everything was going well, at least in the beginning. I Belong To The Zoo was one of the bands I was assigned to usher, and they were

on stage, about to sing “Sana” when I started taking a video using my phone. Right after the vocalist sang the first few words, my teammate started calling, so I had no choice but answer the call. When I went backstage, in my surprise, everyone started panicking because this band, who was supposed to perform right after I Belong To The Zoo, was running late to their call time. My director was trying to rearrange and adjust the original program flow, while the band ushers tried asking the other artists if they would be willing to perform earlier. Fortunately, we were able to find our way around it. I was not assigned to the script of the hosts but as soon as my work ended, I witnessed how stressful it was and how much hard work it required.

In the end, to see the crowd go wild and sing their hearts out, there were no regrets. No regrets of whatever sacrifice was made just to carry out and even go beyond what is supposed to be carried out that night. As the program ended, I felt nothing but great pleasure to be part of something magnificent, something successful. Staring at the people’s faces, all smiles, enjoying a night full of OPM — it was ecstatic to know we have brought so much happiness and contentment, and surely, that is our kind of #TibokNgPuso that we would do over again.

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THE FEELING OF THE BURNOUT G O I N G AWAY - T H AT M O M E N T I T WA S W H A T I F E L T.

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THE BECHDEL TEST RONI CABRITO

La La Land, The Avengers, the original Star Wars franchise, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Finding Nemo—all these films are generally considered to be some of Hollywood’s best, garnering awards or being a box office hit, but if there’s one thing that all these blockbusters have in common, it’s that they all failed the Bechdel test. In a nutshell, the Bechdel-Wallace test (or simply Bechdel test) is a measurement for female presence in cinema. The creator Alison Bechdel is a cartoonist who crafted a comic strip titled The Rule in 1985 pertaining to this test, and it’s been gaining intrigue and usage as a benchmark in the recent years. The test is very straightforward, and the mechanics boil down to whether the film meets all three requirements. If it does, it passes, and if not, it fails. Simple as that. The criteria are as follows: one, it must include at least two named women; two, they must have at least one conversation; and three, they must talk about something other than a man or men. Easy enough? I mean, how hard can having two-dimensional female characters be? The women of Mean Girls, Frozen, and To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before pass the test with flying colors. Unfortunately, against initial assumptions, it’s not as easy as it sounds. You’d be surprised as to how many movies have struck out. On the contrary, it’s important to disclaim that the Bechdel test is not one hundred percent accurate, there might even be a loophole or two, and it doesn’t profess to capture the entirety of feminism. Thus it’s better to take it with a grain of salt, and to recognize the test more as a rule of thumb

than a scientific approach. So what purpose does the Bechdel test serve then? I believe that it generally gives us better awareness of sexism in movies specifically with how female characters (or the lack thereof) are represented. This is important because it isn’t uncommon knowledge that there are problematic stereotypes of gender and of women abound in social conventions, and the film industry is no exception. Historically Hollywood has been male-dominated, and the battle continues for female actors and directors of all sectors, against prejudices, against gender pay inequality, against the sheer scarcity of female characters (and well-written at that)—the list goes on. As we embody a more progressive culture, what the Bechdel test does for film is express criticism and raise critical discussions, and to expand the feminist perspective. It is a far cry from perfect, but it’s a great conversation starter. With how revolutionary visual media has become (thank you, Netflix), it’s crucial to be more considerate of the impact of gender representation and inclusivity. It is high time that we stop boxing women into superficial, one-dimensional roles, because we are more than just damsels, sexual objects, and romantic interests. We can be heroes, we can be smart, we can be flawed, we can take on many shapes and sizes, and most especially, we are independent of men. At the end of the day, it is an endeavor to deconstruct the oppressive system and finally give women the avenue to express their own narratives, and what better way than through a moving picture?

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Taken from “Dykes to Watch Out For”

C A L L O U T C U LT U R E A LLEN GALAURA

Welcome to the internet, an alternate version of reality run by keyboard presses and miles of scrolling all windowed in a powerful screen. Welcome to the internet, where possibilities are boundless. Welcome to the internet where they say you can be who you want to be. But wait, don’t forget to be perfect. Unless you want to be called out. But hey, welcome to the internet!

Once again, lit.

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In connection to the above argument, call out culture can be a form of an online activism. By straightening bent beliefs, calling out can help in convincing the netizens into changing their perspectives towards the better. The large avenue provided by the internet is also a useful instrument in spreading awareness to the people.

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It could be a good thing. After all, some views do need to be corrected. For instance, some people still have the credence that Marcos era is the Golden Age of the Philippine history when in fact, it is not. Now, I can present statistics and data but that would steal the spotlight from the topic. However, the point still stands. Correcting misconceptions is one of the positive bearings of call out culture.

But hey, think about it. You, I, everyone can have problematic opinions. At some point in our lives, we surely did have some beliefs that we did not want to bring up ever again. When you post on the internet, chances are your words gain immortality even if you hit that delete button. In calling out, past statements can be used against a person in the current situation. While not all, people’s beliefs and views change over time. Who knows? A person raised in a homophobic background could now be an advocate for LGBT rights. Can one really say that the person is hypocritical if an age-old homophobic opinion is being revived in a call out?

This desire for correcting the wrong gave birth to call out culture. There is no formal definition for the term, but it is generally the act of publicly denouncing a person for stating problematic views regarding issues. You are anti-LGBT? Call out. You are a Marcos apologist? Call out. You believe that wearing revealing clothes cause rape? Call out.

Another thing about call out culture is that it is utilized for showing off. For some, a marginal agenda is to show that their moral grounds are higher, that they are more “woke” and socially aware, and that their opinions are more superior than the others. Yikes.

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In present times, being socially aware or ‘woke’ is evident amongst millennials and Generation Z alike. We have the common goal to battle the older generation’s conventional and problematic views regarding politics, feminism, and gender sensitivity. And hey, it’s a good thing, right? I mean, promulgating social change? That’s lit.

However, call out culture denunciates. It condemns the person being attacked and such act can be toxic. Out-callers sometimes tend to forget that the person being called out is a fellow human being who is capable of committing mistakes. Calling out brings about humiliation to the person, especially when there are better options to choose from, one of which includes educating the person regarding the matter.

At the end of the day, we all are works in progress. We learn and experience something new each day, all of which may create an impact in the way we see things. Social media is a useful tool in imprinting knowledge to us, but when gone too far, call out culture can be damaging. Instead, educating the person of his wrongful views and taking the initiative of educating ourselves is the key in bringing about social change that we all yearn for. Be critical and open-minded. Remember that once you have opened your eyes to reality, it is a sin to close them again.

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I T TA K E S AN

ORGANIZING JULIA CASTELLON

B O DY The Rundown 2019 is a forum on the upcoming senatorial elections, catered to the youth. It is an avenue for senators to share their platforms and plans upon being given a seat in the Senate. The Rundown aims to eradicate the common notion that the youth is apathetic towards all political concerns. The Rundown, on the outside, 54

is a smooth sailing boat that was able to successfully execute the event from the perspective of the audience. However, it is an entirely different story behind closed doors. What the audience didn’t witness was the stress that the organizing body went through on the day itself. Working as a Candidates Relation Officer for The

Rundown meant that the main job was to work with the senatorial candidates themselves. Perhaps some would think that this job would be intimidating since we’d be dealing with such hotshot candidates when in reality, it’s like dealing with any other person. The candidates were very cordial in meeting the

possible if you have a proper map in your brain on how it will all go. LEARN TO ADAPT, YOU JUST GOTTA No matter how much preplanning you make, there is absolutely no guarantee that things will work out in the end. At least not all of it In the case of The Rundown, it has to do with the scheduling. Despite sending out the program flow to different candidates and constantly reminding them of the call time, some still failed to show up on time. And this caused more trouble than it seems because it meant having to push the entire schedule. Another thing we had to deal with is having to handle a candidate who confirmed on the day itself . Imagine planning everything out, from releasing schedules

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other Rundown officers. Upon entering the venue, they were quick to greet every one of us. Most of them shook our hands and started chatting up with the team while we made the necessary preparations for the event. Most of the candidates kept up their friendly demeanor until the end as they brought up casual small talk during the breaks and whatnots. In fact, dealing with the candidates and working for The Rundown was far from what I was expecting. It was stressful, yes, but it was indeed fulfilling. If anything, there are four things I have learned from this experience that I will carry on with me in my future endeavors.

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P L A N N I N G BEFOREHAND MATTERS (even if it’s not always followed) The product of your pre-planning will be the backbone of the entire event. This is where you come up with what everyone will do on the day itself, as well as your contingencies when things don’t work out (which is inevitable in every event, believe me). The Rundown was the fastest ad hoc event that UP Economics Society had to organize. It took around two months or so to make it happen. This is quite a rush because other events would have at least four months to work on it. However, the organizing body was still able to facilitate a successful senatorial forum despite the shortened time. The key to that is proper planning. Anything can be made

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publication materials to reserving parking spots for your candidates, only to have a candidate call you at 8:30 in the morning of the event to say they’ll be attending after all. After sending invitations and follow up emails for the past month. In both cases, you just have to deal with it. You can’t grumble on how much these problems are a hassle because all that whining won’t bring you anywhere. You work with what you have and you move forward. It’s all that you can do from there. COORDINATION IS EVERYTHING In The Rundown, coordination happens all the time and the audience may not even notice it. Some are coordinating with media partners, some with the audience, and some (including myself) with the candidates themselves and the entourage. Beyond this, the organizing body is coordinating among each other. It’s like with how every relationship works with proper communication – it’s the same thing with any event. You need to be able to talk with one another with what you need or if anything goes wrong. In this way, the problem could be worked out. And it won’t be just you w ho’ll work things through, but all of you. You should always remember that it making things work (may it be an event or a relationship, you decide in which context this advice is more appropriate in) , you aren’t alone in this. It always 56

takes two and with The Rundown, it takes an entire organizing body. KNOW YOUR “WHY” AND ENJOY THE WORK At the end of the day, you’d have to realize why you’re doing all this work in the first place – why you’re sacrificing so much of your time to make this event work. Everyone has their own reasons. Some may be doing it because they need time off from academics, some firmly believe in the event’s goal, perhaps some are just doing this because their friend asked them to. That reason, which fuels one’s motivation, is the driving force behind every person’s work. You keep your reason in mind, dig it deep within your heart, and it wouldn’t even feel like work at all. You find pleasure and contentment with what you do, which can bring good things for you and your event. At the end of the day, all the stress from the preplanning, to managing the event itself, to coordinating with the event partners after the event – it all wouldn’t matter. The organizing body may have gone through hell balancing this with other work and academics but it’s fulfilling. Everyone feels contented and happy that we all managed to make this event happen. I can’t speak on behalf of everyone but as for myself, I’d go through that again. I got to work with an amazing team, learned life-changing lessons, and we created a good

opportunity for the youth and future voters – my whyfrom day one. Which brings me to say that the most important thing you’ll need to make any event successful is to have a team . The Rundown was a huge success and it’s something that all entire organizing body should be proud of. If it weren’t for each other, things would have panned out differently. In having a reliable team, you build more confidence amongst yourselves that you can make everything work. And in the end, we did.

THAT REASON, WHICH FUELS ONE’S MOTIVATION, IS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND EVERY PERSON’S WORK. YOU KEEP YOUR REASON IN MIND, DIG IT DEEP WITHIN YOUR HEART, AND IT WOULDN’T EVEN FEEL LIKE WORK AT ALL.

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Twitter Meme Review. Power Couples. Alone Together Review. Waxing Afterthoughts. Godofredo Picks. Tweetable Tweets. Janoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Corner. Dear Echoes. Cursed Images.

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DEE P D I VE I NTO T HE WO R LD OF T ROL L T WI T T E R ME ME S by AVIN ABELARDO Various communities situate themselves in the Twitter world, and may be popularly divided into the following: 1) the locals—accounts fond of making “JGH/JWU” tweets; 2) the stans—accounts that brand themselves with different names of the artists they support; and 3) the trolls—accounts that are highly comedic, witty, and offensive all at once. Of all these communities, the latter shines the brightest when it comes to concocting fresh and avant-garde memes. Are you ready? Brace yourselves as we take a deep dive into their world—the world of troll Twitter memes!

MY MIND Reality TV star Ms. Tiffany “New York” Pollard has made notable contributions to pop culture, especially memes. From her Beyonce Beyonce meme and to her altercation with co-star Pumkin in the first season of the hit TV show Flavor of Love, she has proven her majestic self to be a staple in the world of memes. Heck, even locals sometimes use GIFs of her when they feel like tweeting with taste. However, an iconic moment during her second season in Flavor of Love really struck the funny bone of Twitter. In this scene, Ms. New York was doing her best to mess with her co-finalist, Ms. Deelishes, while they waited for their next date/challenge. She prepared breakfast for her and her co-finalist to enjoy—with the intention of annoying and messing up Ms. Deelishes’ state of mind. Successfully, she was able to get her co-finalist to sit down and eat with her. Lo and behold, the “my mind” meme was born. Meme Rating: 8/10

YO U N G M I L E Y M E M E Taken from the red carpet of the 2008 Grammy Awards, the young Miley meme is one of the most versatile memes available online. People have used it for/most random moments and troll Twitter is here for it. Meme rating: 6/10

Y ’A L L WA N T H E R ? Worlds collide when we talk about the “y’all want her?” meme. Taken from Instagram, the meme presents a woman of color taking a selfie in front of a mirror resembling that of a comfort room. It has consequently taken Twitter by storm. Poll results are presented on top of this picture, with the caption “Y’all want her?” The element that mixes all the other parts of the meme is the result of the poll, with only 8% saying ‘Yes’ and a whopping 92% saying ‘No’. Using their creativity and talent, troll Twitter was able to break the meme out of its context. Now, it is used when people are not really feeling someone/something. Meme rating: 7/10

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T H E C O N T R OV E R S I A L M I L L I E BOBBIE BROWN MEME S

This next meme borders hilarious and super offensive. It is composed of a series of memes circling around the theme of making Stranger Things child star Millie Bobbie Brown seem homophobic. This started when troll account, Ms. Kelsey Fiona, tweeted about the young actress rejecting her admiration and consequently harassing her for wearing a hijab. From then on, the movement caught traction—various memes of the young actress started popping out of nowhere. While others may find it funny, this online hullaballoo caused young Ms. Brown to deactivate her Twitter account. People started standing up for the young actress, calling the meme extremely hurtful and mean. Nowadays this meme is rarely used, but is arguably one for the books.Meme rating: 5/10

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D O Y ’A L L H E A R S U M M N ? Troll Twitter is resourceful, I’ll tell you that. Who would have thought that they would be able to make a meme out of the ever-soloved cartoon series, Spongebob Squarepants? The meme at hand sports characters from the series during scenes where their faces looked indifferent and uninterested. The most popular meme out of this meme series is the one where Squidward is behind the counter at Krusty Krab. The text placed on the left side of his face brings the meme altogether. This is why the meme has continued to be relevant in the community. With the vagueness of its context, the meme can be virtually used anywhere as a reaction to something uninteresting. Meme rating: 6/10

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POWER COUPLE S: A List of Perfect Pairs to M a k e Yo u F e e l t h e P o w e r by Mia Cruz

POEMS 1, William Ernest Henley’s “Invictus” With a title that literally means “unconquerable,” this poem is literally a staple when it comes to powerful words. Written when Henley had been diagnosed with tuberculosis, Invictus reminds its readers that in the end, we are “the masters of our fates and the captain of our souls.” 2. Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise” BOOKS 1. Victor Frankl’s “Man’s Search for Meaning” This memoir of Jewish psychiatrist Victor Frankl paints a vivid picture of life at Nazi concentration camps yet gives a hopeful reminder of the power our perspective on life has. This beautiful work is responsible for some of the best quotes ever, such as “What you have experienced, no power on earth can take from you… Having been is also a kind of being, perhaps the surest kind.” Dedicate lots of time to read this short yet profound book because it’s pretty much like Pringles – once you start, you won’t be able to stop. 2. Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” The original novel that inspired the hit Hulu series, The Handmaid’s Tale follows the life and times of its protagonist Offred, a Handmaid of the theocratic Republic of Gilead whose only purpose is to bear children for her Commander in his wife’s place. Offred herself finds power in all the little things – having control over even the smallest actions of movement, the secret power of her reproductive abilities, and the more overt power of her sexual appeal. A darkly humorous and depressingly hopeful read, this book is a classic in dystopian and speculative literature.

If you’re already familiar with the powerfully defiant works of Maya Angelou, this particular poem is also a standout. This poem is about defiance in the face of all kinds of oppression. Written as both an anthem for the civil rights and feminist movements, Still I Rise is a direct but profound poem that resonates with all who read it.

ANIMATIONS 1. Steven Universe This cartoon is rightfully popular for various reasons: the art style, the soundtrack, the writing and world-building, the LGBT rep. But most importantly, this show teaches people the power that different kinds of love can have for someone. Each of the four main characters goes through an arc that deals precisely with these themes. Without delving into spoiler territory, this series has many powerful moments that can hit its viewers right in the feels. Watch with a box of tissues nearby! Now’s the ideal time to binge watch this show since its fifth season just finished with a killer finale. SONGS

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A strange yet intriguing addition to her new EP “Human,” this song is a soft yet spiteful tune from a broken heart. It uses the image of a monster, a creature that has so much more power than any other human could hope to have, as a metaphor for the power that anger and hurt feelings can give a person, especially when they’ve reached the point where they can no longer bottle up how they feel. This song also gives a feel for what it’s like to be free from negative emotions brought about by those high-tension situations. So come for the feels, stay for the bop!

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2. Dodie’s “Monster”

This anime is arguably one of the best of all time. A redemption story about two brothers set against a world run by alchemy, this show deals with themes of grief and redemption, war and genocide, gray morality, the strengths and weaknesses of extreme faith or science, and the importance of equivalent exchange. With stellar animation, a heart-wrenching plot, and a huge amount of representation for women and people of color, there is no amount of words to express how great, moving, and powerful this show is. Extra points too for being written by a woman in a male-dominant genre! For anyone who wants to understand their weeaboo best friend, this show is definitely the best place to start.

A bop by none other than the bog man himself, Nina Cried Power is both a tribute to the activist singers of the past as well as an anthem of power for the songwriters of the present. It alludes to greats such as Nina Simone, John Lennon, and Marvin Gaye while reminding its listeners of the strength that words carry through songs. The music video itself pays tribute to various Irish activists and the gospel choir-like vocals provided by Mavis Staples and the background singers adds to the overall powerful message the song gives.

2. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood EE CC H HO O EE SS

1. Hozier’s “Nina Cried Power”

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T O X I C / T O G E T H E R : A n A l o n e / To g e t h e r R e v i e w by Half of a Real-Life UP-UST Couple by Gianina Reyes

What if a UP student falls in love with a UST student? The answer is a case-by-case basis kind of thing, with the LDR aspect of it barely scratching the surface. Some overcome it, others part ways, but I’m pretty sure it’s highly unlikely that people break up with their current partners to get back together with some college sweetheart. After watching Alone/Together, the newly hyped romance film starring the LizQuen love team, I feel there’s a lot to unpack and talk about regarding the plot of the movie. The movie begins with Christine (Liza Soberano), aka “Tin,” an Art Studies major from UP Diliman, meeting Rafael (Enrique Gil), aka “Raf,” from UST in the National Museum. They instantly click and romance sparks between them. Problems ensue, however, when Tin’s reputation is sabotaged. Overwhelmed by the issues she had to go through, she decides to break up with Raf, especially since he was struggling in school by getting delayed. Five years after they broke up, Tin is now dating her new boss, who was also the one who helped her back on her feet after the scandal. She coincidentally encounters Raf one night, and despite both being in new relationships, they rekindle their friendship and eventually develop feelings for each other again. Tin, though, remains in denial even after travelling to New York and going around with Raf. After spending some time apart, Tin comes to realise that she still wants to be with Raf, and that she absolutely must follow her passion. She sets out to make things right, although not exactly everything turns out in her favour at the end. The movie ends with the two of them back in the National Museum where they first met, with Raf holding his child in his arms. The movie had too many overplayed Filipino movie tropes, employing many cliche premises and twists to try to enhance the story. The first of these is the Filipino’s dream to go to New York, the city that’s claimed to have everything. Why couldn’t Christine go elsewhere like the Louvre or Rijksmuseum? She didn’t have to go on that business trip to go to New York; she could’ve simply just used her vacation leave credits if she wanted to.

The second trope is the new boyfriend acting as some rich man who saved a poor lady from distress. It isn’t necessarily a Filipino trope alone, but it’s frustrating to still have a character with the mindset of Christine when she says, “He saved me when no one else was there for me.” It’s inconsiderate towards the feelings of her true love interest, Raf, who surely would’ve supported her regardless of his own problems. It also paints a bad image of UP students, showing that we can’t accept anyone else’s failures when we have our own. I don’t speak for all UP students when I say this, but I’m not convinced any UP student would’ve behaved the way Christine did in the movie. It sounded so selfish of her character to think he’d still want to get back together with her after two rejected marriage proposals.

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Alone/Together received much of its hype due to the idea that a part of the filming took place in the university campus. With a plot revolving around two students from UP and UST respectively, who wouldn’t get excited? I understand that it was strategic to create a plot involving these two universities, although seemingly pointless and unsubstantial, rather than creating a movie about a student from La Salle or Ateneo; that wouldn’t resonate as much with the public. However, I do find it misleading for the hype to center around the universities, when the plot had little to do with the college experience itself in the movie. Once they had to specify which colleges the characters came from, one could assume they play the major part in setting. Instead, the majority of the plot revolved around their lives 8 years after they met. As a result the film felt quite baity to its target audience, since the overall plot could be the same regardless of whichever school the protagonists graduated from.

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The movie wasn’t entirely bad though. It’s nice to see that the idea of being in a relationship wasn’t the most important aspect of Christine’s development throughout the movie. Her passion drove her goals to where she was, but her other choices weren’t parallel with what she wanted for herself. She went from naive college student to grown adult who owned up to her mistakes. I still don’t agree with most of the choices she made, however.

Beyond the tropes however, the most problematic thing about the movie is that it romanticizes the act of cheating. Christine was well aware that she had a boyfriend back in the Philippines, yet she indulged herself by playing out the ‘dream’ she had with her college ex. All this time, she constantly hesitates about the idea of going around New York as Raf’s lover, and yet she doesn’t stop him when they kiss. This back and forth game of constantly teasing the audience of the possibility that they’d end up together gets tiring after dragging it on until the end of the movie. If they did rekindle their relationship, I’d be very concerned about them, with all their toxic what-ifs and vague signs of love.

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And the third trope, arguably the most overplayed of all the tropes - the love interest finding out his ex got pregnant. What I find really odd about this bit is that if Raf was so hung up on getting back together with Christine, why was he having (unprotected) sex with his then-girlfriend a month or so before breaking up with her? I’m not convinced that he just reunited with Christine the day before he broke up with his girlfriend.

C U L T U R E Overall, I don’t think this movie was a fair representation of UP-UST couples; it was too convoluted and too messy compared to most relationships out there. I’ve been with my partner, himself a UST student, for almost 4 years now, and even though he may be all the way in a different city for most of his time, we still get to communicate everything with each other. That includes our doubts, our issues, anything that troubles us in school, and so much more. We’re not ashamed of each other’s flaws and shortcomings, but rather, we encourage each other to be the best we both can be. I don’t speak for all couples out there, but I know for certain that open communication and trust are absolutely the first qualities relationships should establish. Trust meaning you believe your partner won’t judge you, will support you no matter what, or will tell you what you’re doing wrong. This movie is a disservice to the people looking for meaningful and lasting relationships out there by displaying the type of behaviour the characters possess. The production quality however very well deserves praise. The soundtrack is a must to listen to, featuring some classic OPM songs like Spoliarium by Eraserheads, as well as other track listings that helped create the mood of the entire movie. Costume design was well crafted; I appreciated the fact that they featured a lot of Filipino embroidery and craftsmanship in the clothing of Christine, especially since she is depicted as an Art Studies graduate. It got better after the timeskip, when she had a more mature and elegant closet yet retained her Art Studies roots by showcasing sophisticated Filipino designs. I would rate the movie a 4.00 on the UP grading scale, with this grade only being curved since Joergen, Angelo, Francis, and Shaira were also in the movie and made it 10x better!!

WA X I N G A F T E R T H O U G H T S by GAB RIVERA

I’ve had myself waxed before. So going into this shit, I really didn’t need to prepare much. But all the times I had done it, I was under the hands of people who actually knew what they were doing. Joergen and Ramon didn’t. When we got to Meira’s house, I was lowkey not in the mood to shoot since just before that I got into a fight with Angelo (we’ll save that one for another Echoes submission). But when Mario came in with a FUCKING JAR or 40% pure alcoholic vodka, my pussy SNAPPEDT.

But it’s whatever because after filming, we got to eat a whole box of pizza care of Mrs. TP de Luna and got to see Joergen puke on a school day.

Thanks for listening to my TED talk.

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So of course we gays drank up, and we soon realized that that was a mistake™️. These bitches waxed me so HARD and DISRESPECTFULLY that it was lowkey abuse. I think the video speaks for itself i.e. when Ramon slapped my back so hard it actually BLED. To add insult to injury, these drunk cunts put ALCOHOL on my back which I don’t think it was even a good idea to begin with. The pain was searing and I wanted to take a swim just because it was so hot. But I couldn’t, so the gays decided to make me jealous and swim for themselves.

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GODOFREDO PICKS MUSIC

Tadow by Masego, FKJ ( Julia Castellon)

Clouds by Any Nameâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Okay (Harvey Sanga)

Should I by Phoebe Ryan ( Joergen Camara)

Si by Bob Ong

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Last Night I Sang to the Monster by Benjamin Alire Sรกez (Pau Martinez)

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The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea by Yukio Mishima (Yas Bastida)

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T W E E TA B L E T W E E T S

c o m p i l e d b y K Y L A B A L I TA

1. @maizconcielo “kailan ba ko magiging crush ng ibang tao ha lagi na lang ako may crush pero kailan ba ko magiging crush ng iba HAHAHAHAHAHAHA asking for myself”

2. @ramielanude “if u work hard enough you can replace depression with exhaustion”

3. _belbernardo “UM,,,, BITCH,,,, WHAT THE FUK”

4. @AndrewsonPaak “Nah bro I ain’t basic”

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5. @ramontenaa_ “gusto ko ng BOYPREN BOYP - pera REN -”

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6. @jemiimahrose

7. @jucastellon_ “sarap mag-breakdown pero kulang tayo sa oras sis” EE CC H HO O EE SS || FF // M M 22 00 11 99

8. @vinaomi_ “LITERALLY CRYING RIGHT NOW FUCK I PASSED MATH 20 IPAPASARA KO BUONG POP UP GAGO BYE GURLZZZZZ”

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9. @BusinaBisuna “Bye BS Econ! I’m happy in my new course, BS Netflix!!!”

10. @celinapacana “ayoko na talaga maging estudyante hindi ba puwedeng maging youtuber na lang ako”

This how anime villains be watching over the protagonistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s progress to make sure theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re ready for their final showdown

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JANO’S CORNER

Compiled by MIGUEL RODRIGUEZ

#VendorsElectiveWithJano #MakingTindaWithJano “Luto here, luto dun, staple here, staple dun. Time to help our Ate and Kuya in Kiosks P.S. Napaso ako habang nagluluto

Nikon Post-Processing Workshop. As a SecGen...... #morningswithJano

Hi guys natalo ako sa bridge pero it’s okay lift your head baby dont be scared of the things that could go wrong along the way. You’ll get by with a smile. #morningswithJano

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Valentine’s Day will come in more or less a month and everyone can feel it. UP Fair OB and the 5 great event OBs have played a large part in this due to their marketing to couples. They advertise UP Fair as a 5-day date; perfect for couples who are too busy with individual academics, athletics, or any other similar commitments to have a date for themselves. With bands like Ben&Ben, Rivermaya, and The Ransom Collective performing, there can be no doubt; couples who choose UP Fair as their date will have music, memories, and, magic unique to this week-long music fest in Sunken Garden. In this instance, however, I would like to address those who will not be attending UP Fair or anyone who will not be celebrating the Valentine season. To all of you who, by their own choice or by the not-choice of others, do not have a partner to bring to UP Fair or to any other romantic event, this message is for you. I can relate to your wistfulness. I understand the pain of being the only single person in a room of couples. There is a sense of “What am I missing”, “Is there something these people have I don’t?”. The unrelenting coverage of well-known couples can give a sense of exclusion for some. Whether the couple are known within your small circle of friends or celebrities starring in an upcoming rom-com, couples dominate our media diet. My message is to ignore the unrelenting coverage. I am in no way saying to ignore your friends if they are in a relationship. As a matter of fact, I am encouraging you to be happy for them. Like their posts, comment positive things on their pictures, be a good supporting actor in their story. What I am saying is to not let their happiness be the source of your unhappiness. If you are feeling suffocated in a room full of couples, there will always be a door leading outside. If you are in a library full of couples “studying”, open a novel. There are infinitely more characters for you to know within the pages of that book than couples who will irritate you and the library staff. Spending time with your family, biological or otherwise, is always a way to, if not eliminate, beat back the fear of missing out brought on by the hyper idealism of couples. Busying yourself with deliverables is undoubtedly more satisfying than feeling sorry for yourself on Valentine’s Day. While couples are out on their dates, you will be writing that 5-page essay due in a week or fixing the poster for your org’s next event. After the Valentine season, you will be relaxed while those couples cram the essay you finished days ago, thanks to this message. Regardless of how you spend your time this Valentine’s season, I hope you will make yourself happy. All the activities mentioned above have the goal of making you feel better about yourself.

Couples are together because they make each other happy. How can you give what you do not have? EE CC H HO O EE SS

To all couples, Happy Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day

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To all singles, HappyWednesday

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