OPINION
10
Do What You Gonna Do “T
hese unprecedented times..” Kapagod ‘di ba kapag paulit-ulit mo naririnig o nakikita sa telebisyon, radyo, at maging sa timeline mo sa social media. Noon tuwang-tuwa ka pa na nagkaroon ng biglaang walang pasok tapos malalaman mo, may bagong buhay na palang paparating sa’yo. Walang nakakaalam, ni hindi nga kamo napaghandaan. Pero, kamusta ka ngayon? Nasa ayos ka ba na kalagayan? Yung pamilya mo, mga kaibigan mo, ayos lang ba sila? Ang hirap isipin na sa isang pitik lamang, mababago ang lahat ng nakasanayan mo. Noong isang araw nasa kompyuter shop ka pa, nakikipagbardagulan sa Facebook, pero ngayon halos buong araw ka nang nakaharap sa Google Classroom at tamang nood ka nalang ng Youtube kasi hindi ka nakikinig sa online meetings niyo. Kamusta ka na? Naalala mo bago nangyari ang “unprecedented times”, yung stress level mo di mo na mailarawan. Ngunit ngayon, heto ka dumoble pa kamo ang stress at halos magkapalit na kayo ng mukha ni Tiktok. Sabi mo sa sarili mo, “nakakapagpasa naman ako, okay na yon.” Siguro nga okay na yon, pero may natutunan ka ba? Hindi mo ba naisip konting panahon na lamang at isa ka nang ganap na Inhinyero. Nahimasmasan ka, humarap ka sa salamin at tinanong mo ang sarili, “Konti nalang pala, tapos na ko. Handa na ba ko? Kaya ko ba? Bahala na.” Oo, kaya mo. Kakayanin mo. Inhinyero ka, hindi ka nilagay kung nasaan ka ngayon, kung hindi mo kaya di ba? “Paano? Hindi ko nga gets yung lesson?” Don’t you worry, my child. For I will be there for you. Diretsuhin na kita, my dude. Kung sa tingin mo man hindi mo nagets yung lesson, ‘di mo talaga nagets yung lesson pero, may alam
By Jericho Cardejon
ka paano gawin yung bagay na yon. Kada maencounter mo ulit yung topic na ‘yon, yung utak mo magkakaroon ng flashback. Para ka na nag-Avatar State pero di ka nag-glow. Nagscroll ka sa Facebook, tumambay ng ilang oras sa Tiktok, at nakichismis pa sa Twitter. Nakita mo yung internet friends mo may ganap sa buhay pero ikaw, kamusta ka na? Naisip mo, “may stable na internet at maayos na kompyuter naman kami, bakit di ko gamitin?” Kung kaya’t, sinimulan mo mag-aral ng libreng online courses, nagbinge watch ng mga lessons na hindi mo nagets noong klase, at nagsimula ka magonline-selling. Things are getting better, ika nga. Bumabalik na yung positive outlook mo sa buhay. Masaya ka kasi nagiging masaya ka. Naisip mo ito na yung bagong nasa larawan. Nakikita mo yung sarili mo na kahit hindi mo man naintindihan yung ibang lessons, meron ka pa rin naaral at nadagdagan pa ang marketable skills mo. Nakikita mo na sarili mo habang nakasuot ng itim na toga, at handa na sa panibagong hamon ng buhay. “Kaya ko ‘to!” sabi mo. At some point in our roller-coaster life journey, we embark on our lives. We get to the part where we reach our lowest point. Sometimes we give up bago pa man tayo magsimulTa o kung saan malapit na natin maabot ang dulo ng linya. Naiisip natin ang napakaraming effort na ginawa pero bakit wala pa rin, walang ganap. ‘Wag ka mag-alala, makakarating ka sa dulo. Matatapos din itong “unprecedented times.” Kaya mo yan! Do what you gonna do, my dude.
TRANS-form: Letting trans take the center stage
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By Eldrin Gulapa
don’t need to win Miss Universe. I just need to be here. These lines led the path and left a mark during Miss Universe 2018 as Miss Spain Angela Ponce took her historic walk as the first-ever transgender woman to compete in the prestigious competition. And recently, a FilipinoAmerican beauty Kataluna Enriquez won Miss Nevada and is about to conquer Miss USA, which sparked up the conversation as it trended on several social media platforms. Some were grateful, especially the allies and members of the LGBTQIA+ Community for their representation in the global stage, while the latter disagrees. It reflects the domino effect of the progress the world is making in terms
of diversity. In this day and age, we are slowly stepping forward to a more inclusive and accepting society. Allowing transwomen to join gives them the chance to carry not only their names or their countries but the whole community. It gives them the platform to amplify the voices of the abused trans people, knowing how rampant it is nowadays. In 2020, at least 44 transgenders, the majority being Black and Latin, were fatally killed in different violent ways. Sadly, it is said at least because usually, these stories were ignored or misreported, even in our country. And all of the victims were human, who do not deserve to have their lives taken. This number reflects the need for proper
education to walk towards justice and equality for transgender people. These people have fought a long time and took decades of struggle fighting for trans visibility. Belonging to a community suffering from inequalities, injustices, and discrimination justifies their eagerness to be seen and heard. If pageants such as Miss Universe will give them a platform to speak their voice and fight for what they are passionate about, especially trans and LGBTQ rights, there is nothing wrong with hearing their stories and allowing them to do so. It is a leap towards creating opportunities and breaking stereotypes and barriers for LGBTQIA+ people. They also need empowerment to realize their ambition and be a catalyst for future success. They deserve a spot not only in beauty pageants but also in our acceptance, because transwomen are women. And they are not just women… they have fought all their life to be one.
Awakened Sympathy: Save a Life
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By Anjielyn Cortes
ental health problems are invisible suffering. It’s happening even when we’re able to physically see each other, then how about now that we are merely seeing their smiling profile. Mental disorder is an everyday battle for those who are struggling with their mental health that will sooner deteriorate, ended with the resolve that death is the only way to escape the pain. Yet most are still justifying that it isn’t as serious as physical illness. The experts have one thing to say, “No one is spared.” As the pandemic drags on in the country, in a 2021 figures by Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), suicide cases rose by 25.7% in 2020 compared to the previous year. The country is still struggling to reopen the economy due to its failed pandemic response and along with that, the cases of deaths due to self-harm also increased The government urged religious groups and spiritual leaders to lend a hand in counselling and providing guidance to their followers to reduce their anxiety and prevent them from “self-destruction” during this pandemic. Well in fact, somehow these religious groups also contributed to the stigma against mental illnesses that those who commit suicide are being sent to hell making most of us afraid to talk about this issue. Each of us plays an important role in ensuring mental wellness aside from religious groups; our family, teachers, the government and the youth themselves. Parents and teachers should focus on preventive efforts by being equipped with knowledge of mental health to avoid a full-blown mental disorder among the youth. And for the government, what we need to ease our anxiety and prevent ourselves from “self-destruction” is a solid response for this pandemic- free mass
