The Bosun Print Issue 2018-2019: Rediscovering the Dragon by The Bosun

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the editorial board Editor-in-Chief Sophia Medina

Sports Editor Julian Samson

Associate Editors Kristina Garcia Christine Zamora

Promenade Editors Luigi Pinga Aurelio Banzon

Managing Editor Victoria Rheia Maliuanag

Marketing Directors Marie Louise Sy Jenilyn Canlas

News Editors Gabriel Abit David Tolentino

Creative Directors Jasmin Montenegro Clyde Vicenco

Politics and Opinion Editors Mia Agnes Tacoloy Aiken Yao

Human Resource Directors Danielle Guizano Don Alvin Cagro Miguel Karlo Prion

Schools Editors Nicco Sobermonte Anne Zamora

Theme: Rediscovering the Dragon in this Dynamic Age When trying to understand reality, one of the first questions we ask is: “Who am I?” Once in a while, we dig deeper and start asking: “What is my purpose in life?” These are queries that point to the building block of our being but are not commonly dwelled upon on because they are baffling. It is not easy to find the answer. However, the need to reflect upon ourselves is inevitable in order to determine how we should make a decision in our lives. At times, we become too accustomed to the norm, not realizing that there is something amiss in our behavior and practices. With this point in mind, the time to think about these is now.

Finance Directors Andrea Lim Carla Cruz

In this increasingly fast-paced age, it is easy to get swept up in various ideas, opinions, and arguments. Technology presents us with the golden opportunity of getting access to various sources of information and updates. As a consequence, we have a diverse range of perspectives and the promotion of open-mindedness. Yet, not everything is perfect since with diversity and technology comes the risk of blindly following the mainstream wave or as otherwise said, “joining the bandwagon”. People have yet to fully understand the danger in agreeing with the majority and not being critical about happenings in our surroundings.

The Bosun Crew Behind This Issue News Laurence Tubon Politics and Opinion Clare Pilos Rianne Reyes Miles Fong Sports Julian Samson Craig Fernandez Anne Lamug Little Sevillo Promenade Rocio Gatdula Sepi Madamba Gino Pinga Iso Apor

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Schools Phoebe Cuachon Maria Ana Francesca Ison Monty Luciano Bethany Resulta Photos Ronan Salting Clyde Vicencio Patricia Calderon Don Alvin Cagro Layout Jasmin Montenegro

message from the editor

Therefore, in this print issue, The Bosun strives to answer the question: “Who Am I?” Because by knowing our identity, culture, convictions, and values, we will not stray away and get lost in the hodgepodge of ideas. By knowing who we are, our strengths and our flaws as UA&P Dragons, we will know how to move forward. Sometimes, in the midst of a busy lifestyle, it is necessary to pause our actions and rediscover who we are in society. Sophia Angelica D. Medina Editor-in-Chief A.Y. 2018-2019

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sports

UA&P Varsity Highlights: A.Y 2018-2019

politics and opinion

Unitas Games: Gaining or Losing the Dragons’ Roars?

What Does It Mean to be Truly ‘Woke’?

conten

schools

Six Transcending Qualities of 6YP Students SLG: Visionaries of POLIS

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When A Dragon Comes Back to its Nest

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The Watering Hole

We are not Harry Potters

Rethinking the Underlying Meaning of CLAYGO

Viare Much ado about Nothing

A Humie To Be or Not To Be?

Online Transparency Through the Liberal Arts

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Brand Audit: The SCM Student

promenade

The Power of Unity

Hit the Mats: The Prowling Dragons of the Budo Club

Our Dream Park

news

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Learning to Deal With Criticism

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NEWS

Our Dream Park Words by Laurence Tubon Image © Kristian Dorwen Yu

The roads we see today in the Philippines differ from those of the past. Nowadays, the streets are filled with the honking of horns, accidents on the roads, and irritated people as they wait for long periods of time to reach their destinations due to traffic congestion. No one can safely walk the streets without fear of getting hit by speeding cars and some vehicles are also parked in walkways, which forces a person to walk on the roads themselves. Additionally, with the smoke that comes out of vehicles, pollution tends to spread faster through the air. 1

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This brings in the ‘Why Mobility Matters’ talk which highlighted the status of our roads. As it goes, more and more cars are added at a rate that is not sustainable. It also touched on the neglect of our walkways, bike lanes, and mass transit in order to further accommodate the increase in the number of vehicles. This only leads to further loss of mobility as people are compelled to use their cars due to the decreasing space for pedestrian walkways. These issues inspired the initiative to turn Pearl Drive into a walkable space.

The design we will be sharing in this article is not the final rendering of the project in the future, but an interpretation formed from asking a number of students and Mr. Philip Peckson, a professor from the College of Arts and Sciences. The following statements below are common opinions about how Pearl Drive should look like once it is remade.

“Pearl Drive could be a place where pedestrians can walk without worry or fear of anything untoward happening to them. It is not to say that Pearl Drive will be completely closed off from cars, but merely revamped to have better passageways for not only cars and other vehicles, but especially for the people,” a student said.

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“A successful city is a walkable city.”

On the other hand, Mr. Peckson stated that he wants the park to be one that encompasses the entire creekside, which he approximates to be 4-5 meters wide. He also emphasized that the cost and what they will change would depend on negotiations with stakeholders who control Pearl Drive. If the stakeholders were to withhold on the idea of giving up the parking space, then Sir Peckson said that the entire creak side will be paved instead, which would be expensive. However, if the creek were to be paved over along with gaining the permission to change the parking space, then the new walkway would be around 20 meters wide. “It would be a very big park. Maybe, potentially bigger than Ayala Triangle if you put the whole thing together,” he adds, “with an area of 9000 square meters”. That is the “dream for it”, he shares. Additionally, the event known as ‘Street Life’ held last January proved that turning those sectors of Pearl Drive into car-free zones would not cause any form of traffic. He further clarified this by saying that authorized personnel in cars can come through, such as those who are from the university themselves, or Residencia, Pearl Place, etc. This authorization could be in the form of a sticker, and a security guard would be standing by to watch over it.

“The people affected by such a massive change would be the people who go to Pearl Drive on a daily basis. [These are] the students and staff of UA&P, workers at the Tycoon Call Center, and the various other workers who all come and go through Pearl Drive, and the tenants of Pearl Place and other condominiums or hotels in the vicinity,” another anonymous student observed. As to the effect of the park development on the land itself, Mr. Peckson stated that the value of the land belonging to the property owners would increase significantly, which is usually the effect that a park has. The quality of life of all those affected would also improve as, just by stepping out one’s doorstep, you will be greeted with the sight of a very large park where you can stroll your children, take your coffee, or just read in peace without being blasted by car noise, horns, and pollution. One won’t need to look at their own feet while traversing in fear of getting run over, and no longer have to walk on the road just to get from one place to the next. The main impact of a new Pearl Drive, according to Mr. Peckson, in comparison to its current state, is that it will almost be like walking into a new universe if everything goes to plan. “Just removing the cars makes you feel like you are in a whole new world,” he emphasizes. After all, “a successful city is a walkable city.” He elaborates that what makes a city great is that it is walkable, not because it is car friendly.

In all, the idea of this park undergoing development is awe-inspiring and would definitely change the quality of life for those who inhabit, work, and study in Pearl Drive. More than this is the increased safety for pedestrians that will result should this project succeed in its endeavors. As of yet, the question of the scope of improvement will depend on the willingness of stakeholders to lose their parking spaces and the final design is yet to be revealed. All we have to go on are assumptions of how it will look like in the future gathered from a number of students who will most likely be affected. Still, such a project would be beneficial for all parties involved, as recent happenings like the ‘Street Life Fair’ can prove. The ideas of added safety and overall quality of public space for all are investments that are too good to pass up, especially in the long run. Like all noble efforts, it takes a long term mindset and action to make things happen.

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SPORTS

UA&P Chorale The consistent Egg Head Team was seen all around school events all year long. The UA&P Chorale presented concerts like the Magnificat: The Bond of the Living Rosary and Renaissance 2 Rock to the UA&P community this year. The team was also able to perform in the prestigious Madz Et Al Choral Festival last November 2018. Above all else, the UA&P Chorale welcomed a new, highly sought after conductor in Ms. Anna Tabita Abeleda-Piquero.

UA&P VARSITY HIGHLIGHTS A.Y. 2018-2019 Words by Julian Samson and Craig Fernandez

The sports scene in UA&P had its ups and downs this school year. From winning championships down to moral victories, all experiences served as a lesson going into next year’s games. A lot of our varsities are often overlooked as they continue to struggle in their grueling leagues. Nonetheless, win or lose, the Dragons proudly represent the UA&P community well. Although it is difficult to acknowledge every bit of detail about their year, here are the moments that must be remembered.

UA&P Firestarters One of the most decorated varsities in the university this year, the UA&P Firestarters boasts winning 1st runner-up on both cheerleading competitions in the Women’s Colleges Sports Association (WCSA) and Women’s National Collegiate Athletic Association (WNCAA). The events were held last November 24, 2018 and March 9, 2019 respectively. Both performances by the Firestarters this school year were inspired by the 90’s. “Our very own coach choreographed the routine. He was inspired by the 90’s music ever since the WCSA Cheerdance Competition and this inspiration carried over to the WNCAA cheerdance routine. I’d like to believe that his choice of music represented the personality of every member and the personality of the team as a whole”, said team captain Patricia Cabral. With the golden anniversary of the WNCAA coming in the 2019-2020 school year, expect big things from the Firestarters as they continue to build on their success.

Photo from UA&P Chorale

Photo from UA&P Firestarters

UA&P Men’s and Women’s Badminton For two new rising teams amongst the UA&P community this school year, both badminton teams have represented the university with their all at both the WNCAA and MNCAA. The men’s and women’s teams were able to finish at 4th and 5th place respectively. Photo from Kaith Espinosa

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UA&P Men’s and Women’s Basketball Team

Photo from UA&P Men’s Basketball Team

The UA&P Men’s Basketball Team saw great improvement this school year as the team was able to garner 2nd runner-up for their Metro Manila Athletic Conference (MMAC) during the first semester. The UA&P MBT was as active as ever by joining both major and minor leagues such as the Men’s National Collegiate Athletics Association (MNCAA), Northball League, and MMAC. The team’s social media team was also very active throughout the entire year keeping the community posted with impressive marketing materials and continuous support. Moreover, their final MNCAA game of the season was one for the ages as they were able to come back from a 30 point deficit to beat San Beda College Alabang in overtime. Similar to their counterpart, the Women’s Basketball team was able to win a nerveracking final game in the WCSA. The WBT was able to defeat St. Scholastica’s College (SSC) in regulation by just a single point to close out their season. They were able to finish at 4th place this 17th WCSA season.

UA&P Men’s and Women’s Table Tennis

Photo from UA&P Women’s Futsal Team

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Not to be overlooked, the UA&P Women’s Table Tennis Varsity joined the WCSA and WNCAA this school year. The team was able to bring home a 1st runner-up finish and 4th place finish respectively in the two leagues. Similar to their counterpart team, the Men’s Table Tennis also finished at 4th place in the MNCAA this season.

UA&P Men’s and Women’s Futsal Varsity The Men’s Futsal Varsity can be considered as the busiest varsity as they were able to join numerous leagues and tournaments this school year. Who would not forget the Dragons’ demolishing of San Beda College Alabang with a 20-0 win at the futsal opener? Moreover, the Dragons were able to win the championship on both the U20: Challenger’s Youth Tournament, where Carlos Miranda was crowned as the MVP and the Makati Futsal Challenge where Mike Fuentes, Kin Violan, and Miranda were able to receive individual awards. The Men’s Futsal Varsity did not stop there as they hosted their annual Intercollegiate Futsal Tournament and Dragons Futsal Fiesta this school year. Some may say that the UA&P Women’s Futsal Varsity had their best school year thus far. The women of UA&P were able to get runner-up finishes in both their major leagues this year. During the first semester, the Dragons’ first major league was the WNCAA. They were able to finish the eliminations with a record of 2-1-2.

Photo from Michelle Logronio

They were able to land a spot in the semifinals in which they were matched up against the ladies of San Beda College Alabang. Amazingly, cocaptain Paula Piedad was on fire last October 21, 2018 as she was the only one to light up the scoreboard with a hat-trick, giving UA&P a 3-0 win. The Women’s Futsal Varsity was then able to bag 1st runner-up in the 49th season of the said league. Moreover, Vanessa Heald and Piedad were able to garner mythical five honors. On the other hand, come second semester, the women were matched up against much tougher teams in the 17th season of the WCSA. It was a gruel eliminations as they finished it 1-2. It was an ‘all or nothing’ situation when they faced Assumption College San Lorenzo at the battle for third last March 16, 2019. A balanced attack by the Dragons led to Dominique Aguirre and Charles Ignacio to each score a goal for their team. The women were able to close the deal and bag the 2nd runner-up finish in this year’s WCSA.

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UA&P Track With the UA&P community taking steps to expand the sports scene in the school, another club has risen. Last school year 2018-2019, the UA&P Track team was formed. Being UA&P’s newly created club, the Track team has proven that they eye to be the official varsity of the school in their respective sport.

Photo from UA&P Squadra

Photo from Timothy Bowes

Last July 6 at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center at Pangasinan, the team competed at the 2019 PATAFA (Philippines Athletics Track and Field Association) Weekly Relay Series. The team was able to bring home seven medals (5 gold and 2 silver). Team captain Tim Bowes was surprised of the result of their tournament. “We did unexpectedly good, as in we put everything we got out there with our hearts. Although there is still more room for improvement” said Bowes. “We will continue to work and train hard for us to represent our school not only with full energy but with a full heart as well. It is still crazy to think that when we first started out, we have dreamt of representing the school in various competitions. Now, look how far we have grown, there is so much potential in the future.”

UA&P Squadra Dance Varsity

Photo from UA&P Men’s Volleyball Team

UA&P Men’s and Women’s Volleyball Team After powering through tough years since their establishment, the Men’s and Women’s Volleyball teams got the chance to shine this school year. The Women’s Volleyball Team was able to proudly represent the school in both the WNCAA and WCSA despite tough competition. On the other hand, the Men’s Volleyball Team was able to join the MNCAA and MMAC. Even with the struggles, the men were not fazed out as they were able to win 2nd runner-up in the MMAC during the second semester. Men’s team captain Philip Zeta hopes that this win is the start of sustainable winning for the team. “We hope that with this [win], we can now say that no one should look down or set this team aside because we are capable of the winning ways and your support will only keep us more motivated to always do better in everything.” said Zeta. With a relatively young team, both the Men’s and Women’s Volleyball Team are teams to look out for the next couple of seasons.

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The ever consistent UA&P Squadra Dance Varsity has once again proved that they are a team to be reckoned with at the collegiate dance community. Squadra danced it all out during the first semester by joining competitions such as the Crissa Dance Synergy 13 and Ego Supreme Crew Wars 5 during the first semester in which they ended up at the upper side of the standings out of a lot of teams. The highlight of the first semester was when the ladies of Squadra brought home a 1st runner-up finish in the first ever WNCAA Streetdance Competition last November 18, 2018. During the second semester, the gentlemen of Squadra showed that they are capable of grooving like their lady squadmates as they were able to bag 1st runner-up in this year’s MNCAA Hip-Hop Competition. However, Squadra’s year was not yet over as they did their first co-ed routine of the school year at this year’s Body Wars last February 17, 2019. The Dragons donned a Cholo-inspired costume and routine as they were able to dance their way to 2nd runnerup in the said competition. Squadra was also able to join this year’s Dance Supremacy in which they finished at 4th place.

UA&P Drumline Finally, each varsities’ games would not be complete without the loud and proud beats from the UA&P Drumline. One could expect that if there is a game, Drumline would be there to support. The team could be seen in action the most during the Firestarters’ competitions where they fill the arena with UA&P’s cheers. The team also has an active social media presence where the UA&P community can get the latest scores and updates about the varsities. With UA&P taking steps into giving athletic scholarships, the school is poised to be one of the schools to look out for in the field of sports in the next couple of years. As long as Dragons are here to play, the spirit of Unitas will be on display.

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Our university arguably takes pride in their varsity teams as any other university does. We have our beloved Firestarters, Squadra, basketball teams, volleyball teams, futsal teams, and more who carry the school’s name outside in times of competition. Other than the varsities who represent us with their grit and grind, we have the unsung heroes. While the varsity teams are training at the court of the Parking and Sports Building (PSB), there are the hidden dragons prowling at the PSB Mezzanine. Often overlooked, these dragons are no other than the UA&P Budo Club. Who exactly are they and what exactly do they do?

Hit the Mats: The Prowling Dragons of the Budo Club Words by Anne Lamug Photo by UA&P Budo Club

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The Budo Club is known as the martial arts club of UA&P. It focuses on the sharing of martial disciplines with added values and principles. Currently, the Budo Club is home to both new and seasoned practitioners of aikido, karate, and arnis. The organization currently headed by moderator Mr. Arthur Vito Cruz and assistant moderator Ms. Andrea Abulencia. The officers of the Budo Club are president and treasurer Roberto Reyes, external vice president Polo Nepomuceno, internal vice president Christina Zamora, and marketing head Amiel Narciso.

Compared to other sports teams, the Budo Club is not often talked about. Little is known about the club as there are only a few members that belong to it. The organization has been faced with problems such as ineffective recruitment, running short on equipment, and only a handful of people keeping the whole organization standing. Moreover, most question the importance of martial arts in this day and age. Reyes answered the question most people have about their organization’s vision-mission and the meaning of martial arts in his life as a UA&P student. “The Budo Club envisions itself to be an organization where the UA&P community could come to train in not only learning basic self-defense but also character building. As a martial arts organization, they aim to equip the community with knowledge of self-defense, instill proper discipline, and to encourage a healthy lifestyle through martial arts training” said Reyes. “Martial arts is important because it teaches self-defense as well as physical fitness. But most importantly it teaches perseverance and the pursuit of excellence. It also teaches several values such as justice and respect. It improves character and allows you to to develop a healthy one with

the friends you meet along the way” Reyes added. The Budo Club is currently recruiting new members and planning to add other martial art disciplines in its portfolio. However the question still lingers, why should UA&P students join the Budo Club? “Students should join the Budo Club because it creates an environment where trainees can learn in a controlled environment with competent instructors,” says Reyes. The Budo Club is not just a sports organization who merely trains in the martial arts but it is a place where everyone is welcome to join in something they have never experienced before. It is a place for everyone of all ages to experience how its members live and breathe the martial arts. It is a place where the spirit of Unitas thrives through the pursuit of discipline and excellence. So if learning martial arts, training in selfdefense, and discovering new disciplines are your thing, then maybe Budo Club is just the right thing for you. You are not only learning how to defend yourself but sharing your interest with others and the very people who created the club with the vision of self-improvement. So what are you waiting for? Time to hit the mats!

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Unitas Games: Gaining or Losing the Dragons’ Roars? Words by Little Sevillo

Participating in the Unitas Games (UG) is an inevitable part of being a student in UA&P. The annual event brings the seven schools and the rest of the UA&P community together to clash against one another in exciting sporting events to obtain the coveted UG trophy. A Dragon’s college life is not complete without experiencing the UG so it is highly recommended to participate, engage, and have fun in the awaited annual event. Every year, the UG is participated by the seven schools, faculty, staff, and the rest of the UA&P community. The students and faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), School of Communication (SCM), School of Economics (SEC), School of 13

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Photos by Nicasio Tuason, UA&P MMC

Education and Human Development (SED), School of Law and Governance (SLG), School of Management (SMN), and School of Sciences and Engineering (SSE) are the majority of the players for each competing team. The diverse mix of the UA&P community makes the UG an event where the spirit and the university’s motto of “Unitas” is truly displayed, tested, and flourished within the community. However, for the past few years, despite the fun and unifying spirit of the UG, has the annual sporting day become irrelevant?

Unitas Games was first held in 2014. Since then, it has become a celebrated tradition for the whole UA&P community. Each year, the event comes with a different theme prepared by the UA&P Project Management Team (UA&P PMT). The games may be considered as a breather from all the academic requirements that a UA&P student has. Moreover, it is a fulfilling experience for students to represent their respective schools in the field of sports. At the same time, it is an enjoyable experience for the whole UA&P community and a chance for students and faculty to meaningfully interact. With unique games prepared such as pitik-bulag, it gives people the drive to put themselves out there. In fact, any student or faculty member would be honored to represent their respective school or department in a series of games, this is why nothing holds them back from giving their all. Amidst the competitiveness brought out by the Unitas Games, it brings rapport among the UA&P community. Involving students with the other members of the community creates a stronger bond between them. Furthermore, it caters enjoyment for the whole UA&P community as the games allow them to be ‘transported’ back to simpler times when we were kids who simply spent the whole day having fun. Senior student Paolo Navarro, UA&P PMT’s VP for Job Supervision said that “it is necessary to have the Unitas Games because it is one of the few times that UA&P students can have a break from the hustle of academic achievements. This [UG] acts as a breather from it. It makes is more human because we are not meant to work all the time. We must be able to experience more of the world outside of a classroom and an office setting.”

The question “What makes the Unitas Games unique?” transcribes a lot of answers. One answer could be found in the experience of being a player in one of the games. Another could be seeing fellow students enjoying and taking selfies with one another. Moreover, it could be seeing professors in their sportswear breaking their usual corporate attire. Lastly, could be simply just hearing the Dragons’ roars. The spirit of the Unitas Games is in full display when the whole community gets to be part of it. “I feel the spirit of Unitas in the UG when the different departments of the schools, such as the librarians and service masters join the students in games and activities. It is not all the time when the different school departments are able to mingle with the students outside the setting of a classroom. It [The UG] also allows them to showcase their skills” said Navarro. So, do Dragons still continue to roar? Do people still attend the games of unity? Definitely. The Dragons’ roars are still heard, and it is louder than ever.

Do Dragons still continue to roar at the Unitas Games? Do people still care about it?

Personally, I would describe UG as a fusion of creativity and uniqueness. In a more descriptive way, it is similar to attaching your legs on the monkey bars you found at the playground as a young kid, head hanging down, looking at a different perspective. Considering the fact that the UG is prepared to break away from the norms of a typical university sports day, I find it unique. Adding to that flavor is the mixture between students and university members for the games. In other schools, students are the only ones that usually play the games whilst cheered on by their teachers. However, the UG is an event where the university’s whole community becomes teammates who support each other to reach their goal. Experiencing my first UG, I deem it as a wholesome experience.

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O W POLITICS & OPINION

What does it truly mean to be ‘woke’?

K E Words by Clare Pillos

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The increasing popularity and usage of social media platforms have given birth to new buzzwords all thanks to its users. Words such as lit, slay, and goals have made their way into the vocabulary not only of netizens, but also of the general public. Out of all of these words, one of the most frequent ones brought up and used has been the word woke. The term woke is defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as a word to describe someone who is “aware of and actively attentive to important facts or issues.” It was originally a word used in African American Vernacular English (AAVE) but gained popularity on Twitter upon the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement. Since then, it has become part of the vocabulary of Twitter users, particularly teenagers and millennials who constantly engage in discussions about sociopolitical issues such as climate change, corruption, and many others. There’s nothing wrong with being woke to begin with. In fact, it shows one’s interest in gaining more knowledge and understanding about what’s going on around us. Engaging in discussions with other social media users about various issues can actually serve as a good springboard to enhance our critical thinking skills. Many people from older generations have extended their praises towards the woke millenials and Gen-Zs, saying that they can learn a lesson or two from them because of their initiative to speak out about problems in society.

However, as much as our selfprofessed “wokeness” can stem from good intentions, overindulging in it can often have disastrous results. Being at the forefront of online discussions subjects many users of falling into the trap of becoming prideful and hateful towards other people. Sadly, it has been commonplace for online discourse these days to be laden with discriminatory language. People who hold contrasting views are often shamed and, in Twitter parlance, cancelled for merely expressing a different opinion from one generally accepted by others. There are also people who claim that they are “woke” but only do so in order to gain recognition and admiration from other netizens. Others also flaunt their “wokeness” by posting surface-level information and opinions that make their lack of understanding of a certain issue evident. This is mainly the reason why wokeness had also developed a negative connotation on social media. We have to acknowledge that we’ve become so preoccupied with how we want to manifest our social media image to the point of feigning knowledge, interest, and passion about various causes. Rather than actually creating meaningful change in our society, we stick to the comfort of typing away on our phones, hoping to make noise and provoke others. In the process of trying to achieve moral ascendancy over people, we lose touch with them. We lose touch with their humanity and forget about the fact that it’s still possible for these people

to learn and grow, especially if we patiently guide them towards improvement. Instead of trying to be woke for the sake of achieving online fame, we should strive towards being woke in order to figure out what we can do in order to help alleviate the pressing issues faced by our world today. We don’t have to start big; by merely reading and starting insightful, respectful discussions with others, we’re moving towards becoming more woke. We also have to come to terms with the fact that we were not born educated. We didn’t just miraculously come into this world knowing the difference between right and wrong. Learning remains a lifelong process; it never stops. Humbling ourselves and listening to what others may have to say can open doors to new insights that help deconstruct old, outdated ones. As Alan Simpson stated in his Marks of an Educated Man, a person must “get rid of the nonsense of his wigwams” in order to be considered educated—or, in this case, woke. True wokeness is the fruit of a painstaking process of daily reflection and critical thought, as well as trying to see circumstances through different perspectives. It does not confine itself to the online world; it prompts us to show up together and come up with concrete, more meaningful ways of being of help to society. It also reminds us that the real battles are not fought and won online, but rather, faced in real life. 16

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1 the power of unity Words by Rianne Reyes

Unity can take form even in the most diversified communities, and our university is a prime example of this. We, dragons, are trained to analyze information from our own point of view and form opinions based on our judgments. This encourages a space of individuality but it ties us together all the same. When you look at the bigger picture, we all have a common vision we are working towards for the betterment of our school. And all these ambitions are made into reality through the voice of the student body: the University Student Government (USG). Serving as a bridge between the students and the Center for Student Affairs (CSA), the USG engages with the student population through projects and activities to bring the common interest into reality, all while upholding the university’s values and beliefs. We rely on them to be our leaders but what many don’t realize is that the USG simply wouldn’t work without the cooperation of the students themselves.

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“The USG is doing their best to connect with us. We have to do our part, too.”

Our Credo states that it aims to develop individuals who are “professionally competent, creative and enterprising, zealous for the common good, and capable of making free and morally upright choices, and who can thus act as positive agents of change in service to society.” We learn this well from the liberal education that our school provides us; empowering us to handle change with the knowledge our school teaches us. This is a prominent component of what makes us dragons—and yet, many tend to fall short on this. Take the voting regarding the proposed Referendum revisions this semester as an example. Despite all extensions and calls for participation not only from the USG and the COMELEC, but from the students themselves; only about 55% of the student population voted. This is shockingly far from the required 75% of students required in order for an election to be validated. I was genuinely confused with the lack of ballots despite how important the situation was, for this situation has also happened in various elections that I have seen. What further saddened me were the posts regarding the situation on the Dragon Freedom Wall and the conversations I heard from my fellow students as I passed them by. There was a clear consensus that having the right to vote does not mean having the obligation to.

This attitude is what I find most upsetting. How will we instigate change if we stay ignorant? How can be unified if we fail to give effort into contributing? To be unified, we need to take action and work towards a single goal, but we cannot do this by simply standing by and spew criticisms from our mouths. We must not only be attentive to what surrounds us, but responsible enough to use our rights. There is no such thing as a useless vote or action in any matter—to have rights is not to have an obligation, but it is to have a sense of duty. Being an upstanding member of the community brings about harmony and growth. In doing nothing, we cannot expect progress. The USG is doing their best to connect with us. We have to do our part, too. The university gives us the tools we need to become a productive member not only of the student populace but of our country as well. Our dreams can become reality if we strive to work together. To quote from the University website: “While we are constantly looking toward the future, we never lose sight of who we are. Our directive is, and will always be, that of unity.“

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2 Transparency Online through the Liberal Arts Words by Miles Fong

Bill Gates had once predicted the likelihood of the internet to have “a profound effect on the way we work, live, and learn once it enables to spread instantaneous and seamless communication and commerce from almost any device imaginable.” This became a reality as the internet continues to affect our lives by expanding its ability to spread abundant and accessible information through the creation of social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. It becomes an avenue capable of creating instant connections but, similarly, it can pave the way for disconnections because it cannot inherently combat the spread of fake news and misinformation. This issue remains to be a threat because it encourages human biases to act as credible information. As UA&P students and daily internet users, we are not spared from the harm caused by the mishandling of information. However, we have the inherent capacity to reduce potential harm by applying our training from CAS subjects to contribute to spreading and encouraging transparency online. Our brand of education at UA&P is such that every specialized course program is aligned with the liberal arts as a way for us to not only become competent professionals but humane individuals. We are constantly reminded that we can become true human beings once we learn to harness our rational nature. UA&P Liberal Arts Education highlights the training of our rationality which allows us to have the capacity to seek and spread the truth. Some of us may not realize that our CAS subjects, in their own ways, train us to have a purpose in our actions so that truth can be practiced in our daily lives. For example, we are assigned to write a paper about the implementation of federalism in our country for Political Thought. Before we begin to write the content, we should

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first gather knowledge on the issue, understand its relevance, and plan the paper’s presentation before submission. This practice encourages us to develop self-awareness of our work because it involves the audience who would read it. And this is important because it allows the production of good-quality work in terms of credibility, coherence, and relevance. In the same manner, the practice of selfawareness should be applied when we post content on online platforms like social media accounts or personal blogs. It is important to remember that the content we post would remain on the site even though it is subsequently deleted because others will be able to engage the content using their own accounts. Dr. Emerson Eggerichs, PhD reminds his readers that Social Media is “Social” and World Wide Web is “Worldwide” which means our communication today involves our messages being broadcast and seen by potential readers from all around the globe. We should realize the importance of thinking before we click because the content posted can open a spring of misunderstanding concerning our identity, beliefs and message. Nowadays, we forget the importance of the principle ‘think before you speak’ because we tend to allow our feelings to get the best of us before we evaluate whether it is necessary or appropriate to express. If this gets the better of us as Dr. Emerson Eggerichs, PhD remind his readers, we will continue to misrepresent ourselves in the worst possible way which would lead readers of our message to become confused, hurt, and offended. Moreover, we should have a clear intention on the purpose of posting specific content online, and practice proper communication skills so that we will not make the mistake of posting misinformation and unnecessary content which can cause unwanted consequences.

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“Our liberal arts education reminds us that using our rationality also involves the way we treat others.”

Ghyslain Raza, popularly known as the “Star Wars Kid meme”, had shared his past traumatic experiences of being heavily bullied on and offline after a video of himself portraying a Jedi was shared online by his classmates without his permission. His video was screenshotted many times which led to his reputation as one of the earliest widely used memes. As a result, he quit school and received treatment from a psychiatric ward to cure depression. Sadly, he was told by others to commit suicide. His story is an example for us to realize the possibility that we can cause harm to others even through a mere joke. We should remember that we can promote truth and avoid unnecessary conflict when we learn to treat others with respect and kindness online. The internet was created to build connections with everyone across the globe, and should not be used to damage a person’s character. A meme can serve as harm speech if not used carefully, but it is still considered inappropriate to use when conveying a message. This is because it can portray misrepresentations as the cultural idea shown may not be aligned with the biological trait presented. As UA&P students, we should harness our critical thinking skills and our own sense of creativity to express our ideas without relying on mockery and profane language, in order to produce clear and meaningful messages.

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education is not only about our personal growth, but also provides us opportunities to equip ourselves to help others. We have the ability to create an online environment which encourages readers to educate themselves and become sufficiently aware of the current issues that need addressing. In doing so, we can inspire others to maximize social media as a way to promote social causes. Truly then, we can make a big difference by starting with small changes within ourselves. By applying what we have learned so far conscientiously through our CAS subjects in school, we can contribute to the promotion of online transparency for the benefit of others.

“As UA&P students, we should harness our critical thinking skills and our own sense of creativity to express our ideas without relying on mockery and profane language, in order to produce clear and meaningful messages.”

Online transparency can be difficult to achieve because the internet and social media platforms are programmed to spread information that contains the highest degree of engagement. Human biases can influence and overpower the spreading of information because it attracts the subjectivity of the majority, which can often be inaccurate. However, this does not mean that it is impossible for us to reduce the problem because we have the capacity to encourage objectivity and human values online. Each of our CAS subjects has given us the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills required to create rational judgments towards our work and our actions. Moreover, we learn that our

The practice of self-awareness encourages us to make the right decisions when producing content that is understandable to readers, but truth also involves the act of kindness and respect when posting online. This is because our liberal arts education reminds us that using our rationality also involves the way we treat others. Moreover, in our philosophy classes, we are reminded about the importance of creating authentic intimacies with other persons not only for our own personhood, but for the sake of their own good as well. However, we sometimes tend to forget about the feelings of other people as we continue to abuse our freedom of speech for our own self-amusement. We can unintentionally cause harm when we make jokes about others whether online or offline. Online, the spreading of memes is a good example—we tend to share and create memes as a way to reduce stress and easily send a message. The act may seem harmless at first glance because social media platforms like Facebook included memes as a gif option to express certain feelings and messages, but we forget that memes actually represent the faces of real persons.

“We have the ability to create an online environment which encourages readers to educate themselves and become sufficiently aware of the current issues that need addressing.”

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CLAYGO Words by Sophia Medina Illustration by Don Alvin Cagro

The issues of trash disposal and environmental degradation continue to be some of the consistent problems as many generations witness the gradual disappearance of lush trees and pristine waters. In the case of UA&P students, we don’t need to go far to see the toll of human waste on the environment. Every day, we experience the worsening condition of nature in our urban community especially in Ortigas, where buildings have replaced trees and emissions from vehicles fill the air. While environmental issues are nothing new to us, it does not entail that we should be desensitized regarding the issue. People should continue to prioritize the well-being of their surroundings. Instead of seeing waste and thinking, “Ah, as usual, Pasig River is polluted”, we must reflect on our observations and translate them into actions. 23

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1. You enter the classroom for your next class and head towards your designated seat. To your surprise, you find candy wrappers or an empty cup beneath it. There was a class before yours and you know immediately that it must be one of those students who left the place untidy. Left with no choice, you clean the mess up. 2. You and your barkada just finished your class and are about to eat lunch at the university cafeteria. You are starving and excited to buy food. You look for a vacant table in the packed cafeteria and successfully find one. There is a problem though: the table had remnants of rice, cups, and paper bags. There are even stain marks of sauce or juice. If you relate to either one of the instances or both, then, you are not alone. These are common occurrences other students have also encountered. There are statements circulating around UA&P Voiceout and Dragon’s Freedom Wall (DFW) such as: “ACB 201A. Class before 4:30 pm. Don’t forget CLAYGO guys”. Another is: “Petition to normalize wiping up spills and picking up bits of food in CLAYGO!!! Highkey gross to sit at a table and there’s a mess someone left behind.” In the midst of all these comments lies a glaring problem: Have people hopelessly forgotten the concept of “Clean-As-You-Go” or CLAYGO? The university has

a lot of messy areas, but how come the recurring clutter does not diminish? The questions above should trigger us to start thinking of how we treat our surroundings. Do I clean up my food spills when I eat at Mcdonalds? Do I throw the plastic straw in the right bin? Do I pick up the tissue papers scattered on the floor? These are the questions that may not automatically lead to grandiose environmental projects but are vital to ignite a change--a change in our perspective. Once we realize that there may be improvements in how we treat our surroundings, then, we can actively change our practices. While we reflect on our actions, remember that being mindful of how we clean up after ourselves is not only to save our environment but also a sign of courtesy to others. We have a right to clean surroundings but others equally deserve the same. With right comes responsibility and it is part of our duty to protect our surroundings in our own little ways. No one should depend on our service masters or ates and kuyas. The fact that their occupation is to keep our surroundings clean does not justify leaving trash on top of cafeteria tables. Why should we wait for them when it only takes a couple of minutes to walk to the bins? Practicing CLAYGO for the purpose of saving the environment is only a surface level perspective on the issue.

Protecting the environment is a must but there is a need to reflect on what CLAYGO implies. CLAYGO refers to instilling or building a culture of discipline. People promote this in order to foster a sense of responsibility regarding our surroundings; to encourage individuals to think of the common good. Each of us has a role in our society and being cautious of our ecosystem is us accomplishing our part. CLAYGO indicates how we make an effort to think of others and that’s more reason for us to take CLAYGO seriously. At the end of the day, while we still struggle with keeping the environment free from dirt, I know that there is hope for us to change. There are initiatives which reflect an awareness of CLAYGO and environmental stewardship. For example, in recent years, people have encouraged the use of the metal or bamboo straws as a substitute to plastic straws. In Pasig, various businesses continue to observe “No Plastic Fridays”. In addition, I also know a few people who bring their own tumblers in order to avoid the usage of paper or plastic cups. These may be small actions but they hold great value. This connects to a message shared by the great Saint Josemaria Escriva, “Have you ever stopped to consider the enormous sum that many ‘littles’ can come to?”

Rethinking the Underlying Meaning of

In our daily university life, it is worth recalling if you have experienced any of the two situations:

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6 YP

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Words Sobremonte andand Anne Zamora WordsbybyNicco Nicco Sobremonte Anne Zamora

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Now, the question begs to be asked: who is the 6YP student in this dynamic age? What is our unique identity that separates us from the others? In this article, the different qualities and characteristics that we have developed in the 6-Year Program will be expounded on through insights from notable student personalities whose lives were changed because of it.

First, 6YP students are trailblazers. We are the first senior high school batch in UA&P, and we will be the first batch in the school to receive a high school diploma, bachelor’s degree, and masters degree all in the span of just six years. According to Raistlin Stanley Reyes, a 36YP-MsCM student, another reason why we are trailblazers is because we started certain traditions such as Graduation Ball and the Flashmob. Besides this, many 6YP students have already pioneered projects and events in the university as members and even as officers of their respective organizations.

Second, 6YP students are given a first-hand college experience with a high school touch. Rafaella Villarosa, a 36YP-MAPE-IRD student, says that the program is considered to bring out a high school student’s advanced maturation. We are not anymore alienated to other rooms in the University as they treat us like regular college students. It also applies to the treatments made by the faculty and staff and the participation of the students to the different non-academic and extracurricular programs offered by different school departments. Villarosa mentions that it may seem like a 6YP student experiences “a major culture shock”. However, there’s no such thing as that because the students are prepared for an experience that they will use when they graduate.

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Two and a half years have passed since UA&P introduced the pioneer 6-Year Integrated University Program, an innovative solution to the implementation of the K-12 education curriculum. Also known as the Junior College Program, it aimed to provide graduates of Junior High School with an opportunity to earn a Master’s degree in five different courses of their own choosing in a span of six years. Originally beginning with 99 students, the number grew to around 200 students in the succeeding two years. UA&P never shied away from the idea that 6YP students were part of a community where liberal education would mold them into better individuals. Thus, we were treated in the same way regular college students were—an advantage other universities with similar programs did not have.

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UA&P students from Block 26YP4, Master of Science in Management (MSCM) and Industrial Economics Program (IEP)

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Fifth, 6YP students show a long and lasting camaraderie even if they are separated into their respective courses. There are a lot of memories that will be experienced given that we have 6 years to achieve the college degree we desire. According to Samantha Co, a 26YP-MAC-IMC student, these will always have a special place in her heart no matter how small or simple they may be. Some of the events that played a major role in the student lives of 6YP students include the annual Sportsfest and Dance Presentations in their PE classes, the Graduation Ball (including its fundraising programs), and the other moments they share inside or outside the classroom. As Rafaella Villarosa also puts it, all of these events constitute a celebration where a formidable friendship between your blockmates was formed and will last for a lifetime.

Last, 6YP students are leaving behind a legacy. In Rafaella’s words, “The legacy of the 6YP students is not found simply within their grades, but in their ability to adapt, strive, and learn.” Years from now when the 6YP program is more developed, we will know that we contributed to that development. This is also what Jio and Samantha had envisioned as well: that the 6YP students are given the rare opportunity to study in the university that will allow them to develop more as individuals ready to face the professional world. In this dynamic age, the 6YP students are ready to face any challenge that will be given to them, knowing the values and principles each of them learned inside the classroom or within the pavements of the University.

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Fourth, 6YP students are not “baby-minded” people. Jio Genson, a 26YP-MAPE-IRD student, says that immaturity is the most common misconception that older UA&P students notice with 6YP students. This is because these groups of students show a lot of enthusiasm and energy when it comes to hanging out with their peers or when they’re having a wonderful time learning in their respective classes. Although there are moments where they tend to go overboard, Genson adds that it is still part of the ongoing development of 6YP students as mature and responsible individuals who are equipped with the ideals of liberal education. It may seem like a very tedious process but it will bring out the potential of 6YP students that they can use after they graduate from the university with a Master’s degree in their chosen specialization.

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Third, 6YP students are resilient. When we first started out, it was a new and untested program, so there were some things we had to figure out as we went along. For example, as Reyes, puts it, “we were put in an environment where we were expected to perform as college students with the age of high school students. Here, we were given new opportunities we could take, and most of the time, we did take it.” This is most prominently seen in the way almost all organizations in the school have an officer from 6YP. It goes to show that for many of us, not only did we accept the challenge of adapting to the challenges of university life at a younger age, but we also excelled in it. Rafaella Villarosa also pointed out that being placed in the college setting at an earlier age than the norm is the reason why we were able to develop a college student’s mindset early on. This has helped us gradually mature because we were treated in practically the same way college students were, such as professors having great expectations of us, having to take the same subjects, and being expected to not act immaturely. As Reyes put it, “We had our fair share of the best and the others, and we’ve formed deep relationships with them. Shout out to Sir Gary, DLR, Dr. Lacsamana, and R2.”

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To conclude, 6YP students are simply UA&P students who are given a robust “Senior High School” experience that will turn them into pioneering, matured, and resilient trailblazers upon their graduation from college. If there is one word of advice that these four students want to share to the future 6YP students, they simply wish them the best of luck and transcend to even greater heights. Because, it is through this program that the student will realize who he or she really is as a person and how the knowledge and skills they’ve learned will be properly utilized in society. After all, once a pioneer, always a pioneer.

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“SLG students are vanguards of worthwhile causes”

Visionaries of POLIS Words by Phoebe Cuachon

Leaders are visionaries. As a student of the School of Law and Governance (SLG), we view ourselves as visionaries in a way that we believe that to be able to arrive to betterment, we must make all citizens realize their important role in society. One man can not change everything. Hence, the need to get the people involved in the discourse of new ideas and of challenging the norms. Aside from this, being a leader does not only mean giving orders and have the followers to comply. A leader promotes free thinking and is open to the suggestion of others. They would want to build a better community that is made by the people and for the people. From there, SLG wants to spark change with the people for the common good. What occurs in SLG is more than the ordinary in terms of what they do, what they learn, and what they believe in. What makes SLG stand out from the other schools in UA&P is that they are trained to actively participate in various social issues. They point out the flaws in society, understand its causes, and discuss possible solutions. They study how something came to be and how it could be different or improved. Also, they are trained to be outspoken but open-minded enough to listen to what others have to say. Together with other Dragons, are the driving force that will make the country more progressive. As Kia Paredes, USG Internal Vice President and incumbent SLG representative, likes to put it: “The SLG students are ‘vanguards of worthwhile causes’ Indeed, we are not afraid to voice out our opinions, regardless of what reactions we may receive.”

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Many people often mistake Political Economy as just a combination of politics and economics. However, it is much broader than that for it is also a melting pot of history, sociology, and philosophy. It studies the interrelation of different concepts such as that affect economic and social welfare. In other words, it is a course wherein one studies certain phenomenon that intertwines the market, state, and society together. Some common misconceptions about the course and its students are of the following: 1. SLG students do not automatically become potential politicians. Their career paths are not limited to government jobs. Since politics can be observed everywhere, the knowledge they’ve learned in this university can be applied to almost every career path. Many of them involve finance and trade such as economist or financial analyst but one can also be a historian or an administrator. 2. Just like other UA&P students, SLG students have a social life. Despite the heavy workload, they still know how to have fun outside the campus. They are capable of managing their time and making wise decisions. One can be able to do this by simply balancing their academic and social life.

3. Political Economy teaches math. In fact, it teaches a bit of humanities and business as well. What makes it different from the usual though is, it uses mathematical methods such as statistics to bring forth theories that will help to determine and analyze economic problems. 4. In regards to the first point, Political Economy is not a “pre-law course” made solely for aspiring lawyers. This could be mistaken from the fact that it is under SLG because it does make sense given the name but yes, it is a good pre-law and many of its students want to pursue law. Then again, the scope in which it covers is undeniably the ontology of everything. We have our own different reasons to why we chose to pursue and continue to stay in Political Economy. In my opinion, what SLG students have in common is the great love for the social sciences and the acknowledgment of the importance of having a role for the common good of the nation. However, what can one expect when they encounter Political Economy? For those who are planning to shift courses or will soon be taking their majors, yes, it is a challenging course but this should not be taken as a discouragement. The experience will be worthwhile. When you undergo the course, it will challenge and develop your skills. These include your research skills, critical thinking

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“Political Economy exposes us to the events that should be given more attention. It encourages us to not only look at things from face value but to also dig deeper...”

According to SLG student, Kristina Garcia, what can be expected is that “It’s very difficult but worthwhile. Expect a lot of readings and a lot of Socratic discussions from professors that make you second guess some of your perspectives on certain issues. You can expect theories crammed to your brain but many opportunities to see how those theories can be useful in homework (should your professor give requirements other than readings--once we actually did a market intelligence report for International Economics), a lot of application of theories to social phenomenon which then you will trace the evolution of certain ideas (for Seminar of Political Economy), and some debating.” In a university that values excellence, one must have the patience and determination to be able to succeed. Majors will be a sort of “rigorous training,” wherein professors will challenge the student by setting the standards higher and giving heavier requirements. There is a lot to be done but submitting quality work will definitely be given high marks. Doubt may come at certain times and one will wonder “Why did I choose this course?” because it all feels like torture but one should instead ask themselves “Will this be worth it? Will this help me in pursuing my career?” It is best for one to ponder of their goals and then choose the path that their passion calls for. The course will only be worthwhile if one takes passion in it, recognising its purpose, and how it will serve beneficial to them.

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Now, how taking Political Economy considered as “worthwhile”. How does it affect our lives and how does it help us in our career paths? Political Economy exposes us to the events that should be given more attention. It encourages us to not only look at things from face value but to also dig deeper and search for more possibilities for the betterment of something. A testimony to support the claims is from SLGUSG representative, Kia Paredes, who said “Political economy changed my life for the better. This is because it exposed me to what is going on out there. It gave me [the] lenses that allow me to look at the bigger picture through different perspectives. Learning a lot of lessons such as political approaches, public policy, econometrics, theories, finance, international relations, etc. made me think twice of what I’m passionate about and what career I want to pursue in the future. Initially, I wanted to be a diplomat or a lawyer. However, I explored the possibilities and over time, I realized that I am actually more interested with finance so currently, I am directing almost all of my attention to financial institutions and services. So, if you think that you don’t have a solid career choice yet, explore and reflect—but do not be complacent. We all have different paces and at the end of the day, it’s a matter of constantly working hard and looking for that particular interest throughout the journey.” Political Economy pushes you out of your comfort zone and unravels interests or skills you never thought you had or would have even pursued. It reinvents you to know yourself better and certainly, brings out the best in you. However, at the end of day, it is really up to the student in terms of how they make the most of their lessons.

Brand Audit: The

Student Words by Maria Ana Francesca Ison

Communications? Well that’s easy. Everyone does that, what’s so special about these School of Communication students? An inconspicuous matter as it may seem, communications is a hard terrain to tackle even for someone who does it all the time. To be able to communicate well and to really understand what the other is saying is a skill that takes hundred or even thousands of times to practice before you truly get the hang of it. Telling your story and expressing who you really are is also another difficult path to take. UA&P School of Communication (SCM) students are not exempt from this and more so, they hold in their hands a more difficult weight of being judged easily as they are knowledgeable about branding, SMCR (Sender-MessageChannel-Receiver) models, and other communication strategies that they should be able to apply on themselves. However, as these students are in the process of learning how to apply these theories and concepts to wellknown brands and in making content, they themselves are stereotyped in the minds of their consumers i.e. the

UA&P student community. To uncover the answers to the question, where are we in the minds of our consumers?, we asked our aggregates on their perspective of the SCM student. These included students from other schools in UA&P, members of the faculty, non-teaching personnel, and the SCM students themselves regarding the stereotypes thrown at them and what is their standpoint on these matters. We asked 40 people across the university and were able to identify the mind map for the SCM student as follows: A student from the UA&P School of Communication? Oh, They’re noisy. They’re always so sanguine and outgoing. They look like they never run out of energy. They stay mostly in USC and Promenade B. Well, they tend to romanticize and over react over a small presentation. They’ve been doing it ever since they had majors. Why do they have so many meetings? Can’t they just meet once and delegate parts to do for each member? They seem to always go around in groups. You could already tell that they’re IMC or MEM by the way they dress. 32

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A lot of questions have been asked regarding the current behavior of the SCM student brand, thus, we want to address them by laying down our task at hand: to get the UA&P student community know who the real SCM student is. It can be addressed through the common stereotypes and correlating them to the four (4) Pillars of SCM (Keenly Strategic, Passionately Human, Insanely Truthful, and Obsessively Creative). Now, why are these ‘University dwellers’ always in meetings and crowd discussion rooms, the University Student Commons (USC), or empty classrooms most of the time? First of all, we can address this through being Keenly Strategic. SCM students know their own strengths and they learn from their past mistakes. If in their pre-majors classes delegation could be possible, in the world of Marketing

Communications and Media you have to talk to the people only as if you are one person. Thus, it is more strategic for them to gather in groups, ideate, and talk things out in person to get the perspective of one another. To talk as one, we have to think together and get the points of view of each member to be able to fully unlock an insight that resonates with who we want to talk to. Another reason why they always have so many meetings wherein everyone has to be present in is to truly appreciate the point of humility and their commitment to the truth (Insanely Truthful). These students know that they can’t possibly know everything which is why there is also this trust among their groups that everyone talked to actual respondents and must share their interpretation of what they think the respondents’ needs truly are.

keenly strategic insanely truthful passionately human obsessively creative

Every SCM student is extroverted; they never run out of energy. This is definitely fake news. “ I, myself, am an introvert and I also find it difficult to interact with people”, but with a lot of practice and truly discovering the need for truths to be communicated, the SCM student strives to perfect interpersonal skills. Being Passionately Human, we have to interact as humans also. In reality, the number of extroverts and introverts in the school of communication are evened out. What keeps them together is the next pillar which is being Obsessively Creative. Creative and insightful ideas come from these students whether they are an introvert or an extrovert. This creativity might sometimes be seen by others as being ‘pam-pam’ or ‘extra’ but we also have to consider the kind of academic and professional training the SCM students have which is being immersed in a saturated world wherein everyone is communicating almost the same thing. In order to disrupt the status quo and be heard amidst the noise, they try to unleash all of their creative juices on the things we could improve on either through product, service, or both.

With all of these, you can also say apart from being strong, these students are also good at time management. There are some cases when people mostly cram their works but the way they handle pressure and things happening at the same time is truly remarkable. SCM students can handle a lot of things on their plate and truly until their senior year many of these seniors can still handle big leadership roles in their organizations. We still continue to take part in a lot of the activities in and out of the university and we truly believe that these interactions are really helpful also for our personal growth. We hope with some of the stereotypes addressed, we could get to see who the real SCM student is. They are really underrated but all they want to do is to tell your story and discover the truths that could help all of us. The next time you see them and they are looking for respondents or for extras for a film, please don’t hesitate to help them out. These students are really interested in people and all they want to do is to help society in their own creative and disruptive way.

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the SCM students still persevere because they believe that they could solve the pain points of people in the campaigns, concepts, and analyses that they deliver and would continue to deliver in the professional world. Although they already interact with these brands since their second year, the fear of failure would always be there. Unknown to many, SCM students are the strongest people when it comes to handling failure. Everyday, they drown to learn how to swim. They can’t just test the waters and go back when it’s too cold for their taste. They had to immerse in it even if failure is what awaits them at the other side of the pool.

From this drowning pool of work and training,

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A To Be or Not To Be? Words by Monty Luciano

With the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) having celebrated its 30th anniversary on March 19, we take a look back at the beginning of the Humanities program, which has become one of UA&P’s hallmark programs. The program has lasted its stay enough to have an identity among its students and professors under the program, but how? After all, the Humanities, in the name itself, is about who we are, what it means to be a human being. In technical terms, the CAS student is everyone since every student in UA&P has taken the general education of what CAS has to offer upon entering the university, before being sent to their specialized courses. And those under the Six Year Program (6YP) are categorized as CAS students. So why bother evaluating the identity of a school if it is everyone in the university? The distinctiveness comes from the Liberal Education itself, and how that will shape them, one of the core facets of the Humanities Program.

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CAS students have a distinct identity, yet it is not fully realized because of how diverse and versatile the subjects can be. Those who chose Humanities tend to have a passion in reading and writing. They immerse themselves in stories within any medium, be it novels, theatre, films, music, and even video games. Humanities students see these stories in a literary and insightful meaning not only to see the shallow purpose of simple escapism but also to study the flaws and limitations of a human being and how they overcome those limitations. UA&P prides itself in its Liberal Education with the CAS subjects being one of its core instruments since some subjects are integrated in every course. As such, every UA&P student must experience the lessons each CAS subject has, despite the different courses they choose. Every Humanities student was asked this particular question: “Will these subjects prove relevant or useful one day?” When it comes to time, it is not one day or one moment that will validate your entire college life, rather it is your entire life. Because the more a student gets immersed into the Humanities, the more it becomes their philosophy and a way of life. It gives a strong foundation for what they want to do in their lives, since they have had a taste in everything. The professors of the College of Arts and Sciences provide different opportunities for each of the students to go beyond their comfort zones, to try new grounds, improve existing skills that they have, and overcome their specific weaknesses. As with communities who have distinct personalities or identities, people tend to have stereotypes and misconceptions regarding that community, the CAS population being no exception.

“The more a student gets immersed into the Humanities, the more it becomes their philosophy and a way of life. It gives a strong foundation for what they want to do in their lives, since they have had a taste in everything.”

“I think what makes us CAS students different from other students in different schools is that we are eccentric in a way, or very creative. Because in our majors, we are encouraged to use our interests in an academic setting. Like for example, in Asian Literature, when our professor discussed about Japanese Literature specifically. She included manga as a literary work, and it is interesting because in my block, majority of them really like anime, so they used that opportunity to report the things that they are passionate about. We get to use our wide creativity and imagination to the next level, especially in an academic setting. The students of UA&P are able to talk about a lot of different topics, interested in different things, and able to form relationships because of those interests.” - Michaela Fong – 4th Year MA Humanities Student

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One stereotype that people tend to raise amongst the Humanities students tend to act reserved or apathetic like it is their lifestyle. On the surface, they may have the sophisticated looks and possibly even personalities, but they are as outgoing as they are passionate, or they are probably introverted. Perhaps one of the reasons of why many introverts chose Humanities is that they could be better in speaking [their] thoughts and become overall great public speaker[s] and writer[s], and to hone those skills is to study theater arts, oral communication, and literature. Or perhaps the reasons on why people choose Humanities is because of personal and probably even geeky reasons. Those reasons probably sound funny at face value, but it led them to a course that will let them experience joy, sorrow, anger, pain and suffering, all on an academic setting. Even those who chose Humanities because they do not know what other course they want, will still experience the joys of the CAS subjects, even later down the road if they switch to other courses or possibly even fail. “I had a teacher in my previous school, she was my mentor and a HUM graduate. She kept telling me that there are a lot of readings, so I was expecting that I thought we were going to be just reading a lot of literature and philosophy. When I finally studied in UA&P, I think it went beyond my expectations because we were not just reading, we were talking with each other with ideas being discussed, and writing about the things we are interested in, not just the topics handed to us. CAS is slowly evolving and finding its standing in the university, shaping itself to become a distinct school in UA&P. So I hope it continues to expand beyond what it is doing now.”

Another misconception is that the Humanities is one of the easier courses and that the students chose the program to get an easy college degree for their resume. If you interview a CAS student, most of the time they will tell you that it is not easy, and that it is brutally difficult. The university and its professors make it clear that it is hard. Many have shifted to other courses and many have failed, possibly for the cruel workload, abundant papers and readings, tight deadlines, or other personal reasons. Because in the Humanities, they have to apply critical thinking, proper reading and writing skills, and analyzing specific texts. The CAS professors are training us to become critical thinkers, in a sense that we do not just read and write papers, you also have to defend, support, agree or disagree with certain ideas from different thinks or literary writers. You need to have a passion [for] reading and writing to handle the challenges that the program offers.

“You can talk about what it means to be a human in so many aspects in the Humanities program, and based on my experiences in my majors classes, one semester or one school year or even five school years is never going to be enough to talk about these different human aspects in-depth. And to me, that is what makes it exciting - the fact that there is so much more to learn about who we are and what it means to live. There’s a sense of wonder that fills me pretty much every time I talk with other people (even those outside the Humanities program), because of all the things I learn from them about being more human (even in the little things, in their different courses, in different cultures and beliefs). I have learned more about standing up for the value of humanity through the training in the program and through my interactions with others, and I hope it is the same for other Humanities students out there.”

- Teri Santos – 4th Year MA Humanities Student

It is not possible to really define all possible Humanities students into one unified identity, because the definition of a Humanities student is simply a student that studies and specializes in the Humanities program. However it is possible to find a common ground within the program which binds our interests and opportunities, perhaps even start relationships. The future of the Humanities is bright, with the introduction of subjects such as 21st Century Literature, Contemporary Arts, and other more. The aim for these subjects is to have multi-disciplinary and even transdisciplinary studies, which are the possibility of bridging disciplines, instead of focusing of hyper-specialized studies. These future opportunities excite both students and professors for the evolution of the academe and the university. Without the Humanities, humans would just worry about the physical world, the practicality of their skills, and nothing more. The Liberal Arts, be it History, Art, Literature, or Philosophy, has its roots deep in this university, and will always be the pride of the school’s identity, along with the Catholic upbringings of Opus Dei. The Humanities will always be a Holistic Education, meaning that the student learns through experiences of oneself and with others, to find an identity and ultimately, what it means to be human.

- Patricia Ysabel Pantangco – 4th Year MA Humanities Student

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A graduate of Master of Science in Management in 2010, Ms. Dorelene Dimaunahan set her eyes on coming back to UA&P to pursue her passion for teaching and serving. She also saw it as a way to give back to the university. For her, teaching gives her balance. Inasmuch she loves consulting with older mentors, she also loves gearing students and mentoring them as their eventual success is also hers.

when a dragon comes back to its nest Words by Bethany Resulta

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It was her grandparents and her mentor that inspired her to teach and at the same time consult. She says that serving and imparting knowledge is not just a very prestigious role in the academe but more importantly, a key role in society, because it is here in the university (as a second home) where students are able to learn and open up to their dreams and desires. It is for them educators to guide students to achieve their dreams and desires in an ethical way.

UA&P has a diverse range of professors with interesting backgrounds and personalities. Some may view them as uniquely different from one another, while others may see them as belonging to only one and the same template: to burden students with loads of paperwork and make them work under tremendous deadlines--the kind who seemed to be quite relatable to students in this time and age It may surprise you, however, that many of them were actually just like you and me. They too were once students of UA&P who also juggled their time through the daily grind of attending classes, beating constant deadlines and working on special projects to either pass the subject or get a high grade even with subjects they dislike the most. In short, some of them just continued to work through the student life, trying to get through the semester. Several professors were asked why they came back to teach and their answers are what you may least expect.

Keeping in touch with her students through teaching, Ms. Dimaunahan gets to learn and be updated about the new trends especially given today’s digital age. This gives her the opportunity in sharing and imparting her experiences- both good and bad, which may hopefully serve as an inspiration to them or a source of hope in cases of stress or even depression, which is very much prevalent nowadays.

Ms. Dorelene Dimaunahan

As an alumna and as a professor, Ms. Dimaunahan advises students to do their best in whatever they do. She understands the stress that students undergo in maintaining grades and cutoffs or even in their personal lives, but she says as long as they have done everything in their capacity and prayed for wisdom and guidance, everything will be okay. She adds that there is always a reason for everything and students must find the good in any experiences instead of focusing on the bad. Most importantly, she advises students to pray. As she always tells her students towards their exams or as they part ways at the end of the semester: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” Jeremiah 29:11“ 40

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1 Mr. Raphael Rivera A graduate of Master of Science in Industrial Economics in 2006, Mr. Rivera already had a burning desire to be an instructor which was ignited by his teachers from Southridge and UA&P. They inspired him to pursue teaching to influence and inspire his future students. Similarly with Ms. Dimaunahan, he saw teaching as a way of giving back to the university. What inspires Mr. Rivera to keep on teaching is the idea of being able to share and learn from people. Through teaching, he is able to impart knowledge to his students as well as to learn from them.

As an alumnus, he said that he sees with better understanding what his students can and cannot do and he is better able to handle his classes and address class issues. Having gone through the same challenges as a UA&P student and now as a professor, he encourages students to listen and try to understand classes that they may not like because no matter how boring or hard a subject is, there is always something to learn from that class. Lastly, he advises students to do whatever they want to do and pursue their passion.

A graduate of the 5-Year Program for the Master of Arts in Humanities in 2016, she had no plans in becoming a teacher until she took her Pedagogy class of Dr. Grio in her 4th year in the university. That class made her realize how much she loved making students understand things and it helped her to see teaching as an interesting and worthwhile profession. She saw the opportunity to finally try teaching when she found out there was a need for a teacher to take over a certain subject (her first assignment was to be an English teacher). She had no regrets once she came back to these hallowed halls of education.

Ms. Andrea Abulencia 41

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As an alumna, she is able to better consider her students’ experiences with things like schedules, other teachers they have, and how to deal with the mountains of papers they have to read and write. A piece of advice Ms. Abulencia gives to students is for them to learn to balance their life as a student and life as themselves. They shouldn’t forget to have fun and enjoy life but know when it’s time to be responsible and do their work. If they struggle with this they must ask for help as there is always someone watching out for them.

Mr. Dae Lee For Sir Dae Lee, coming back to teach was sort of a twist of fate. A graduate of the Bachelor of Arts Major in Humanities in 2011, with a professional certificate in Integrated Marketing Communications, he was initially tasked to be a resource speaker for some professor’s classes. What’s more interesting was that he didn’t even want to be in the classes when he was still a student under those professors. The university initially tapped him to give talks: from marketing to business communications, psychology, human behavior, and organizational development. Eventually, he was offered to teach subjects. He accepted the offer and has since taught varied subject in all the different schools in the university. He absolutely didn’t see himself teaching at all because he didn’t have lofty thoughts about himself pursuing the profession. Despite any down trend he thought about his academic performance, he is now a PhD candidate in Organization Development and a certified LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® facilitator. Now as a professor, he empathizes with his professors when he would write halfefforted papers. It breaks his heart when his students would give very little effort in the papers he requires them to write. He wants his students to grow and learn but he feels saddened when he sees they feel hopeless. Therefore, he stresses that it is not just about getting good grades, but more importantly understanding what they learn.

Sir Lee says that if students are failing, they should not hesitate to ask for help especially from teachers who came from UA&P because they may understand them as they too were in the same situation as them. He advises students to stick with their extra curriculars because through these, students get to apply what they learn. He also says that students can make all the mistakes that they can because the university is their sanctuary where people won’t really judge them. He adds that it’s not about the grades but the values that demean the attitude towards whatever students are going to do in the future and no matter what course they graduate, they have that foundation or principles that they actually learn from UA&P. Ultimately, he encourages students to trust the school and ask help if they need it. Coming back to teach may be because it has already been one’s passion, desire, or out of serendipity. But one thing is for certain, that teaching is indeed a noble profession. Better yet, it is a splendid vocation. The role as professors, as teachers enable a new generation of UA&P students to develop and flourish into capable and wholesome individuals. Whether there is already the vehemence to teach or the disdain to do so, who knows if one day it’ll be you who would eventually come back to the nest to help raise a new generation of dragons that would blaze a trail. We salute these dragons who have risen to the challenges of today, to create and contribute to a more stable and solidly educated leaders of tomorrow. May their tribes increase!

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PROMENADE

Photo taken by Alexis Ganda ViARE’s back once again, in collaboration with Kultura, with none other than Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing to celebrate the organization’s 25th year anniversary. It sets itself in a modern-day resort which gives exhilarating vibes one gets when you’re about to make chismis to your friends and family, making it add a twist to this theatrical classic.

What to Do with Much Ado Words by Rocio Gatdula Photos by Alexis Ganda and Angelica Agor

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Long story short, it began where a group of young men and their leader, Don Pedro, visited Messina, Italy for a family friend who has beautiful daughter, Hero, and her spunky cousin, Beatrice. Although Claudio, one of the men, developed a relationship with Hero and decided to marry her; Benedick, the male lead of the play, is in a war of wits with Beatrice. All their friends however, thought they looked good together and devised gossip to make Beatrice and Benedick think they are in love with each other. All the merriness vanished when Don John, Don Pedro’s brother, schemed by making Claudio

think Hero cheated on him with another man. So, during the wedding, Claudio accused her in front of the entire congregation, causing Hero to faint. When Hero woke up, her father angrily berates her but is saved by the priest and told them to pretend Hero is dead while looking for the culprit behind these false accusations. After this, Beatrice cried for her cousin when Benedick comes in and confesses his love for Beatrice and bids her for him to do anything. Beatrice tells him to kill Claudio and Benedick promises her to do so for love, though taking several minutes to understand that Beatrice is really serious about murdering her crush’s best friend. Later on, they found out Don John was the culprit behind these terrible events and everyone lives happily ever after and all that jazz.

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Even though this is around a hundred-year story old, the magic of Shakespeare still holds as it is beautiful and relatable as ever. When you get through the well-crafted ye olde English, you can still see the behaviors in these characters are ever more prevalent, especially in the university setting. Wouldn’t you know someone like Beatrice, who is a strong independent woman that don’t need no man until she does meet the right one, who is Benedick, our stereotypical chermer boy representative. Then we have our school sweethearts such as Hero who, despite doing nothing wrong, is still the subject to gossip and slander. We also have our emotional wreck, Claudio, who just wants someone to love but can’t seem to get his mind straight on certain things and ends up ruining people’s lives as well as their hearts. Or those friends who just happens to know everything going on with people’s lives like Don Pedro. Even Shakespeare had created the concept of hypemen back in his day, with Beatrice’s and Benedick’s friends at their backs to support them (and also backstab by trying to make them fall in love with each other). Much Ado About Nothing seems to almost be similar to those romantic comedies you love watching over and over again. The light-heartedness of the play, as well as the interesting characters that make you laugh out loud, make Much Ado fun to watch.

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Since it is Shakespeare, there is more to it than silly jokes and playful banter. It really makes one wonder how powerful words are. The title is already a brilliant giveaway, as it implies there’s so much happening over nothing—Much Ado About Nothing. It’s a powerful message, especially to small universities such as this where word gets around pretty quickly. I remember someone told me that a piece of gossip that started at the top floor of ACB spread throughout the entire school population by lunch time. I’m still amazed with that story and slightly afraid for those subjected to those kinds of talk and mischief. In light of this, Much Ado About Nothing reminds us that we need to be careful with our words. You’d think we’d be able to get away with saying whatever we want, especially with social media around, but you can’t really ever take back what you have shared, even if you delete it afterwards. Some people will still have seen it and tell their friends about it. Whatever you post may go viral, you never know. So always take great care in whatever you say or do, you never know that a couple of words can ruin someone’s reputation forever, as it sadly did with our poor Hero.

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the watering hole Words by Sepi Madamba 47

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Whether you have it black, in a latte, or in any of the numerous blends and flavors available on the market today, chances are that you started this morning with a cup of coffee. It’s not an exaggeration to say that caffeine runs through the veins of our modern world—no matter where you live or who you are. From the chief executive officer of a multinational company to the humblest street sweeper cleaning up Metro Manila, the experience and even the joy of coffee unites workforces around the world by giving them all the energy to meet new challenges day after day. Another significant population of coffee drinkers are students like us—how often have we reached for our coffee machines, or marched off to our favorite café (sometimes in the dead of night) all in the hopes that the coffee we drink will give us the drive to finish this paper, or read this handout, or prepare for a presentation? With that being said, it makes sense that wherever people work hard (whether in their studies or as part of our greater society), coffee will follow. There’s a reason, after all, why companies like Starbucks make hundreds of millions of dollars every year, and continue to grow at a healthy pace. Such a fact holds true for the neighborhood around our university: you can exit the Pearl Drive gate and get freshly brewed coffee at no less than a dozen places within a five minutes’ walk. That’s not even thinking about the cafeterias and food stalls on the campus which already offer fresh coffee as part of their menus. In the process of drawing people searching for a cup of coffee, these establishments have cemented their place in the

social lives of students. The coffee shop, beyond being an obvious place to get a caffeine fix, has long been the watering hole of the university student—a place for UA&P Dragons to meet up to work on their academics or to pursue their careers outside of the university, or to even just socialize—both with friends or their ‘special someones’. It’s one of the centers of social life in the university. As the life of a university student is fraught with deadlines, requirements, and paper upon paper, the most common thing that a student will talk about with their peers is their academic life, or better yet, how best to further their studies, and one of the best places to study. There’s something irreplaceable about studying in a coffee shop with one’s fellow students. It isn’t just about the coffee but the physical space of the coffee shop and the environment it creates. While the library may be more accessible for students, or an empty classroom may give you the freedom to act and speak with minimal scrutiny, the coffee shop provides a compromise between the two, and then adds something else of its own. But there’s something special in cafes that other places don’t have, and that is the music, or the gentle noise of fellow patrons, or the freedom of working outside the campus, the freedom to joke around a little. Thanks to all these little reasons, and more, the coffee shop gives both the place for young students to rack their brains, and the fuel to let them excel. Beyond studying is its aftermath—the moments of relaxation that only come after you’ve handed in that paper, finished that presentation,

or walked out of that exam you’ve studied feverishly for. Then, the coffee shop isn’t just a place to study, but also to recuperate from these studies. The comfortable nature of the coffee shop, which can only be enhanced when one has a cup of their favorite brew in hand, does wonders for the psyche. People can complain goodnaturedly about the latest round of requirements that they’ve somehow completed and submitted on time (or not!), or to plan their next weekend outing, or talk about anything at all, all in between sips of something sweet to give them a little boost of energy for the trip home. Removing yourself from the source of your stress goes a long way in helping relieve it, and it’s a lot easier for an exhausted student to limp over to a coffee shop and lick their wounds in the company of friends. So, because of its almost magical properties in fueling us in the day-to-day, it seems that no small part of the social life of us university students happens around coffee, and in the places where coffee is easily procured. Of course, this isn’t possible without the hard work of dozens of men and women standing in uniforms, greeting us warmly whenever we walk through the door, the baristas who conjure up that life-giving elixir that we so often draw upon. So, the next time you go with your friends to grab an iced coffee from McDonald’s, or plan your next study session at Starbucks, spare a thought and a genuine ‘thank you’ for the hardworking men and women who made your drink—and your favorite hangout—possible.

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To the innocent of heart, the immature at love and the easily confused in life, From the movie “Order of The Phoenix”, Harry Potter lost his only living relative Sirius Black during a chaotic wizard battle. In the last scene, Luna Lovegood comforted Harry and said to him: “Things we lose have a way of coming back to us in the end, if not always in the way we expect.” For Harry, this statement meant a big deal to what he’s going through to defeat Voldemort, and the circle of his friends granted him something to fight for. As students, we should not sympathize with Harry’s problems. We are not Harry Potters. I will repeat: We are not Harry Potters. After all, he’s just a fictional wizard empowered by the truth that he will always succeed. Instead, Luna’s speech offered a familiar light to how we should handle our perceptions of struggles.

e W Waareree nnHooatrtrryy HPPaoottteerrss. . Words by Gino Pinga

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College has been known to be the final straw of our learning process. Not soon before long, we would be out there working hard to earn a living. Yet, college can already be too hard to handle. Taking too many units in one semester, mishandling one’s time in between classes, getting homesick in the college environment, seeking comfort in new found friends, and feeling heartbroken in confessing to one’s crush—these influence how we handle ourselves, and often just ourselves. After getting through or avoiding any of these struggles, immediate happiness is often craved; The cycle then repeats until it becomes a defining procedure once you reach the working world. We savor the breaks but we sometimes don’t find purpose in the efforts we exhausted, and we see work only as another burden. Seeking immediate happiness to numb the pain of going through the workload has become a problem with students. To view happiness only as an end does not offer a reward on one’s part because tougher and meaner problems arise, and would immediate happiness be still something we crave for?

Commitment comes to those who firmly handle the choices they have made. It might be common to assume that commitment leads to becoming only a better version for yourself, but this shouldn’t always be the case. Valuing commitment means inspiring positivity to people outside yourself. Actions for one’s self can easily be postponed, yet actions that involve other people train us in putting the concerns of others before our own, and thus it gives us opportunities to grow with them in return. As young adults, opportunities appear at every corner. We are often expected to take every single one of them to succeed in becoming a great person. Again, we are not Harry Potters here where it means every decision we make is for the salvation of Hogwarts. It’s okay not to take all of them. The concept of diminishing returns applies to how many opportunities we take; the more opportunities you take, the less likely you are in accomplishing every new one. So, it’s better to choose what you can handle, and do your best in working at them. Taking the fear of missing out on opportunities should be turned into knowing what you have done is enough. Effort itself commends those who pursue with the intent of doing it for its own sake. The fact that you tried and reached a certain point in trying makes it your own unique experience. Sometimes, it’s just annoying that you can be your own worst critic with your own experience. The most hurtful problems arise when you blame yourself in trying. Commiting mistakes and constantly looking back to the ‘what could have beens’ is the most toxic roller coaster in any one’s mind. Time only goes forward and we’re no time travelers. We can’t change our mistakes. It would be good to take responsibility for your actions, but it would be better to take responsibility in moving past actions. Life’s a bummer, and it is the same for everyone else. No one is as exceptional to Harry Potter’s life of having no parents, being the chosen one of Dumbledore, and having the most awesome friends. We are all regular people, and we are always responsible for our attitudes. To blame who we are only leads to more immature conversations which

have no point but just to prove you are as special as Harry Potter. Those who look well accomplished have been through hell to arrive where they are now. Humility compels them to take on the mantle, and only those who are compelled by self-righteousness, don’t deserve the admired image. At the end of the day, there’s no certainty where you will arrive in life even if you're well accomplished. Certainty is man's chiefest enemy. Everyone still grows everyday. Knowing that there’s an exact destination from given pre-made decisions limits your capabilities for further growth. Doubt can actually be a good thing if you treat it as a principle of always having a room for improvement. The values we learn through our experiences can’t always be perfect, just as how we see the flaws we reflect upon ourselves as students. More importantly, reflecting that you’re not Harry Potter implicates you are your own unique you. Going back to Luna’s quote: “Things we lose have a way of coming back to us in the end, if not always in the way we expect.” Our losses are part of the daily commute towards goals, and the worst pain brings in the most radical change in our lives. To the people I address in this letter, let it be known that there is happiness in suffering. The reward is in the labors we do ourselves and in the growth of molding our virtues. Different types of problems come from different walks of life, and the beauty of these problems emerges in choosing which ones you’re willing to take. We are not Harry Potters, nor are we superheroes imbued with great courage to solve every problem, but we are handsome and gorgeous students constantly interested in the many ups and downs of life. When you step again into the halls of UA&P, don’t ask yourself: “What do I want out of college?” According to Mark Manson: “Instead, ask yourself—’What problems am I willing to suffer for?’ Maybe one day, you’ll be glad that you’re not experiencing Harry Potter’s problems.

Always, Gino 50

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Second Opinion: Learning to Deal With Criticism Words by Iso Apor

Criticism isn’t meant to attack you, but to build you up on the foundation of your previous failures. What we need to first understand is that constructive criticism is never personal. When criticism is designed in such a way that it targets our insecurities and attacks our efforts on a personal level, that criticism is considered destructive criticism, and should be taken with a grain of salt. Instead, focus on the criticism whose sole intent is to help us better ourselves and our work, and realize that criticism isn’t a method of doing harm; criticism is a way for us to get better and better.

Honest criticisms act as indicators of our flaws, pointing to our mistakes so that we may do better. We are all flawed beings, and have the tendency to make mistakes. Sometimes we simply mess up on a project or we overlook certain problems in our work. All of this is totally normal and acceptable—a few mistakes here and there doesn’t mean we have bad personalities.

Whenever we create something in any shape or form, we tend to do it with the intent of making it a success. Whether it be a story we’ve poured all our heart and soul into or even a presentation we’ve spent the last few weeks trying to perfect, it goes without saying that after a certain amount of time and effort has been spent, whatever it is we’ve been working on becomes a masterpiece in our own eyes. Regardless of what we might think is good, something remains consistent among those who wish to create: criticism. No matter who you may be, your product will invariably meet criticism at the hands of those who behold it. What varies from this point onward is not the product itself, but how you respond to your criticisms. 51

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Of course, being criticized may be irritating. Everyone’s a critic, and this fact is true regardless of piece or creator. Whether it be an acclaimed work of art or a piece made by a complete amateur, someone will always have something to say about it. In the end, part of becoming a well-balanced person is being able to listen to what is being said about what you’ve done. The fact of the matter is, not a lot of people can deal with criticism in a healthy way. If you believe that you’re one of those people in need of good criticism, and you think you need some tips when it comes to accepting criticism, then what follows next might be what you’re looking for.

As Proverbs 28:13 states, “A man who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful.” The sooner we can honestly accept our own shortcomings, the closer we come to overcoming them and becoming better and more well-adjusted people as a result. After all, we can’t fix a problem unless we can admit to ourselves that there is, indeed, a problem.

Criticism and creative work go handin-hand, and as such, we must learn to treasure and accept the criticism that comes our way. When we’ve accepted the fact that perfection is a near-unattainable goal and that criticism, when constructive, is meant to help us, what we have to do next is to listen. Sometimes, pride can blind us to the mistakes that we’ve made or deafen us to the advice we need to make it better. As a result, it becomes much easier for flaws in our work to slip through the cracks and into the final product. Remember that when we create with the intention of presenting our work, criticism is the tool one can use to buff out all the kinks and make our product much more enjoyable for our intended audience. And, as a school of creators, this is a tool that is incredibly desired in our various fields of study. We need to constantly seek out ways to better ourselves and our products. When we open our work up to criticism from others, we also allow ourselves a glimpse at how the general public may react to what we have created. It’s understood, of course, that opening ourselves up to criticism can make us feel vulnerable and afraid. It’s easy to doubt ourselves and consider our talents meager when we put them under the operating light. When we’re challenged, our basic instinct is to either fight back and lash out, or to run away. Instead, learn to confront these challenges head-on, in a way that betters ourselves. Let’s not forget that we’re never alone and that art does not exist in a vacuum. Learning to work well with others and interact with them is a vital life skill necessary for any adult once they’ve stepped out of the world of university and into the professional sector. 52

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Truth. Humanness. Integrity.

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THIS IS THE BOSUN.

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24/07/2019 5:43 PM