The Crusader Super Magazine 2021

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Cover Story

Cover Story

Publishers Subscribing Students of Xavier University Editorial Board Melvin P. Villacote Editor in Chief Abdel Rafi M. Lim Associate Editor Derrick Kean A. Auxtero Design Editor Rafhael L. Jabongga Managing Editor Nia Enrille R. Rabanes Features Editor Paula Elaine D. Francisco Photography Editor Jayson Elvie G. Ty Graphic Design & Layout Editor Sumayyah G. Caris Freehand Editor Jean Mika M. Aporillo Video Productions Director Managers Edshera Mae R. Abella Human Resource Manager Catherine Marie C. Naldoza Office Manager James Patrick B. Pabonita Circulations Manager* Jivi Roy D. Rizaldo Online Accounts Manager

Finance Officers Sumayyah G. Caris Auditor Rafhael L. Jabongga Senior Finance Manager Reyjean Marie S. Bacud Junior Finance Manager (Trainee) Staff Writers Danica Ela P. Armendarez (Trainee) Alyssa Chantal P. Moreno (Trainee) Levina Eunice O. Palarca Leinarra L. Tumarong (Trainee) Claire Ivy T. Vanguardia (Trainee) Reina Margaret Gwynette T. Villamor Staff Artists John Ian G. Bradshaw (Trainee) Sheil Ann Ashley P. Bruas Jhovale Ryan A. Edloy Zenju P. Enspinosa (Trainee) Reuel Matthew T. Maslog (Trainee) Kevin Matthew N. Pacana (Trainee) Joseph Lawrence P. Padillo (Trainee) Aira May L. Plaga (Trainee) Kenneth Jhon D. Sanchez (Trainee) Karl Mykell M. Tabbay Darren Camille C. Tabanera Moderator Ms. Ann Catherine T. Acenas *Interim For contributions, please address your articles and/or comments to: TheCrusader Publication Office, Rm. 302, Student Training Center (STC) Bldg, Xavier University 9000, Cagayan de Oro City Circulation 1,000 copies thecrusaderpublication.ph /thecrusaderpublication @thecrusaderpub @thecrusaderpub /thecrusadertv

Table of Contents 1 2 4 6 7 8 11 12 14 15 16 20 21 22 24 26 28 30 32

Editorial Columns The Secondhand Lab Experience XUFD 2020: A Virtual Homecoming A Spreading Dread: The SARS-CoV-2 Variants Unprotected: The Unending Force of Brutality Behind a Nation’s Abomination Zoom Out: The Pandemic Across the Globe Know Your Vaccines On Vaccinations: Are We Throwing Away Our Shots?

Unmasked: The Streets and the Pandemic Vox Pop: Thoughts on Vaccination CDO: A Shot of Hope Call Me by My Preferred Pronouns Activating Activism: From Posters to Hashtags Men, Milk tea, and a Dash of Misogyny Cora Contrabida: Online lab classes are easy!

Comics Hohongihong

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he pandemic is damaging for a plethora of reasons, but it is those who remain in the streets that are most vulnerable. With the ongoing economic and health risks imposed by the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), how does our city plan to care for those out on the streets?

Words by Reina Margaret Gwynette T. Villamor Photo by James Patrick B. Pabonita

Read the full online version of this issue at bit.ly/SuperMag2021 or at thecrusaderpublication.ph.

The official student publication of Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan Vol. 47 No. 3 February 2021

Email your comments & suggestions to thecrusaderpub@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Dear Universities: An Informal Invitation

D

ated Jan 15, a letter intended for University of the Philippines (UP) President Danilo Concepcion was made public by the Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, its contents bearing an announcement that enraged the UP community and the rest of the country’s academic institutions—and justifiably so. The letter made formal the decision of the DND to unilaterally scrap the 1989 UP-DND Accord, a decades-long agreement to keep state forces away from the free academic grounds of UP. This abrogation of the Accord will then allow police and military personnel to enter the premises of the university without prior notice. Moreover, on Jan 26, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) supported Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade Jr’s statement which essentially red-tagged schools to be “recruitment havens” for the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the New People’s Army (NPA), one among the 38 schools listed being our very own University.

Like an informal—arguably inhospitable and even ill-natured—invitation, the DND is weaseling their way into campus grounds, inviting themselves to places that have no need of them. They claim that the accord is a “hindrance in providing effective security, safety, and welfare of the students, faculty, and employees of UP.” Whether their decision is for the sake of a higher calling to protect its residents from a supposed danger, or for the purpose of strengthening the grip of tyranny that holds dissent and protests at bay, one must only look at the inconsistencies at play to discern the answer. Even then, the DND has no legal basis to terminate the mutual agreement, seeing that the accord did not include an exit clause and the decision to do so was made without the consent of UP. On the other hand, the radical claims of the NTF-ELCAC regarding XU being ‘breeding grounds’ of the CPP-NPA recruitment activities are “totally false, baseless, and unfortunate,” discloses XU President Mars P. Tan during the Pakighinabi: University Actions on Nation Building online forum on Feb 16. These series of events are fundamentally just crackdowns on intellectual institutions who are openly critical about the government. To them, acts that are meant to be displays of democracy are instead perceived to be attacks and harassments towards those who govern us. It seems that during these times, activism is slowly descending to be synonymous with terrorism.

If they wish to purge our University of the alleged influences of violent extremist groups, we are still protected by The XU Magna Carta of Students’ Rights and Responsibilities for Undergraduate Students under Article X, “Right to Security”, Section 3, “Prohibition Against Militarization of School Campus”. It states that, “The pursuit of academic excellence and exercise of academic freedom can be attained only in an atmosphere free from fear and unreasonable restraint. Pursuant thereto, no military, detachment or any affiliation similar thereof shall be installed or be given special accord of residence on the school campus.” We must ensure that this provision is upheld by the University administration and is not broken by the likes of those that blemish our reputation. Be that as it may, these dangerous narratives being spun by the DND and the NTF-ELCAC endanger all students and the safe spaces where educational freedom is promised, as well as our abilities and responsibilities to express dissent and empower justice, regardless of our political and academic affiliations.C

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OPINION

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Enigma

By Jivi Roy D. Rizaldo jivi.rizaldo@thecrusaderpublication.ph

ver time, there have been upsurging opportunities for queer roles in film, sponsored by the eagerness to see diversity on screen. In relation to this, we have seen the sudden rise of Boy’s Love (BL) series being marketed everywhere, which has captured the hearts of many. These romances between boys or young men were originally featured in the media to cater to young female audiences. However, film industries in a lot of countries have been adapting this genre of romance with audiences not limited to young women.

Through BL, we see an upticking visibility of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, or Queer (LGBTIQ+) community in the region, particularly in Thailand, where these well-known BL series prospered. Consequently, many Filipinos became avid fans of films of the genre, contributing to the abrupt rise of the development of Pinoy BL shows. We have seen efforts of producers to stray away from the stereotypical parlorista imagery of gay men in films, where gays are portrayed as comic relief. However, how gays are represented in BL creates another challenge.

Decades of being stereotyped as villains or tragic figures, queer characters frequently end up settling into a small variety of storylines involving

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Zeiss

By James Patrick B. Pabonita james.pabonita@thecrusaderpublication.ph

2 Photos by Kenneth Jhon D. Sanchez

Playing it straight coming out from either a sexual or emotional awakening, or the realization of one’s gender identity. How gay characters are portrayed in BL series is also problematic. They are always portrayed to be eye candies, with idealistic boynext-door features and fit bodies, and are played by charismatic lead actors with no hint of body fat or effeminacy. For newfound queer viewers, they might end up viewing themselves as “too ugly to be gay,” or think that they cannot have the same love with their looks.

Another thing, most actors that play these roles in these films are not even queer—definitely defeating the purpose of better representation of the community on screen. All actors should be capable of playing any role, and industry experts should work on the need for queer actors to play roles that represent these identities. Casting straight actors is not enough, even if they are allies.

A lot of us may have been attracted to these BL series, but we also need to see the importance of having fair queer representation in films. We don’t need another idealistic Sarawat-and-Tine love story, but a healthy BL film industry where everyone in the community is represented well, while also lending a voice to the least represented in the community, regardless of appearance.C

Fallacy fetishist

t doesn’t take a doctorate degree to identify fallacious statements. “You’re just an idiot,” “I don’t understand your claim so it must be not true,” or “Men wearing skirts are gay.” These are common statements you see in social media that reek of fallacies. A fallacious statement is a display of error in reasoning. It is commonly seen in arguments or discussions, but it is also observed in normal statements that people utter on a daily basis. Others are blatantly brazen about their statements as if saying something doesn’t need any thought. These people present themselves with miasmic pride, like they know what they are talking about, but a simple thought and a little deliberation is enough to show that they don’t.

Have some decency and learn your fallacy. If you wish to say something, then say it right. Say it within the bounds of logic and learn how to speak your inference. Formal logic is one thing as it is a scholarly demand, but being logical on simple statements is a skill that one ought to develop.

Being logical doesn’t mean to be always right.

It is about adhering to the rules of inference and assessing your statements in accordance to the principles of validity. Learning how to reason is not simple, but it gives justice to both your statements

and the ones you are confronted with. It allows for the bearing of a fruitful discourse which leads to knowledge and understanding.

It is valid to commit mistakes and be illogical at times. It is only right for people to be wrong. But to intentionally do it for reasons of satisfaction is simply absurd. This is when your statements in a discourse, be it in social media or other platforms, become unreasonable. It doesn’t make sense to be intentionally illogical. This is what we would like to call a fallacy fetishist—someone who likes to commit fallacies to satisfy their absurd desires that only they know of. These are the people that show extreme excitement whenever they speak fallacious statements. They lavish in the feeling of being dense and they choose to stay that way.

If you are guilty of this and you keep on uttering fallacious statements, then why are you a fallacy fetishist?

Now that you know what it means to be fallacious, and what the value of being reasonable is, the best course of action is to perhaps have a self assessment and evaluate yourself in accordance to what this column has taught you—maybe you have an unknown pleasure for fallacies which you are yet to discover.C

Vol. 47 No. 3 February 2021

OPINION

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Yuheng

By Edshera Mae R. Abella

Occasion for concern

yaw lang gud na huna-hunaa. Di lang kamo gikapoy, kita tanan. Oftentimes, we hear variations of these phrases when discussing struggles with the current pandemic, particularly with how students have been struggling to cope mentally, be it because of the stress online classes are associated with, or the isolation that comes with staying at home the whole year.

For the past months, mental health awareness campaigns have surfaced at the forefront of our social media timelines and news outlets, raising concerns and questions with regard to everyone’s mental health and encouraging people to check up on each other. However, why do we still continue to disregard and minimize the importance of mental health? Are we supposed to care only once every few months when it’s the most pressing issue? Is it reserved only on mental health days and months?

Aside from issues of stigmatization when it comes to mental health and illnesses, we are also guilty of undermining the experiences of people who are struggling mentally. While misconceptions and demonizations of certain mental disorders is a

real and concerning issue, downplaying people’s personal experiences and struggles with their mental state and chucking it up to them just being dramatic or asking for attention is also not okay.

Trigger warnings and tone indicators are not just people being overly sensitive, comfort threads are not done just for clout, and mental health is not a once-in-a-blue-moon event that we only have to care for occasionally.

Furthermore, students legitimately breaking down whether it be because of the workload and stress, the unstable internet connections, the failing grades, or the isolation they felt throughout this whole year, is not just them being whiny and overreacting. We are all on different levels of healthiness physically, and the same goes for our mental health.

People have different limits and it’s important to be sensitive enough to respect them and care.

Something trivial to you could be triggering for others and if you don’t have anything helpful to say then don’t say it. A single battle for you could be someone else’s war. Try to be kind, and this time, more consistently.C

edshera.abella@thecrusaderpublication.ph

W

Midget

Voice of the voiceless

henever there is a hot controversy circulating on the internet, we always see teens expressing their opinions.

They openly share their reasonable thoughts on why they support this kind of issue or oppose it.

However, it is discouraging to see that some adults simply consider those opinions worthless and immature just because they assume that teens lack the experience and knowledge behind every reason. No words can express how frustrating this widespread perspective towards the youth is.

To the adults, ask yourself this question, “Wasn’t there a time when you were only teens wanting a voice, too?”

Back then, a lot of teenagers constantly heard the grownups say, “Ayaw pag sambat-sambat kay wala ka kabalo ani na mga butang,” or, “Bata pa kaayo ka para mag apil-apil.” It’s no secret that most adults belittle and label the youth as naive, oblivious, and presumptuous. They prefer to listen to older and more experienced individuals, for they say, adults are always right. But ironically, the ones who call teens ignorant end up being the

narrow-minded and arrogant ones. Of course, not all adults are dismissive of teens but not all teens are useless and irresponsible, either, and it is time that more people should start realizing the fact that teenagers’ opinions matter.

The majority of teenagers do not stick to the idea of a stereotypical teen image. Stop saying that teens do not care about the world’s happenings. The youth are worried about the future of the world, particularly since they are the ones who will inherit the responsibility of making the world a better place. Stop labeling them as imperious just because the minority are rude and unwelcoming—many of them are open-minded and accepting of others.

Teenagers are some of the most courageous people we’ve ever seen. They are willing to stand up for what they believe in. They’re proud, but they have a good sense of humility and can admit that they are wrong. More importantly, they have hopes and aspirations that have yet been fulfilled.

Isn’t this something we should be cherishing and nurturing rather than ignoring and suppressing?C

By Catherine Marie C. Naldoza catherine.naldoza@thecrusaderpublication.ph

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By Alyssa Chantal P. Moreno & Leinarra L. Tumarong

Y

et again, the whole XU community continues to embark on the Flexible Learning mode this second semester of AY 2020-2021. In conjunction with the past semester’s narratives of drawbacks and merits, the University still strives for excellence. However, as students continue submitting their syllabus requirements, are they experiencing the excellence they hoped for this school year?

While the second semester dawned in XU students’ horizons, the glaring rays of laboratory (lab) classes and research subjects blinded their weary eyes. With a soft stretch, they set their schedules for the next five months. Along with the pandemic restrictions, lab classes became a daily workout for students’ resourcefulness, coupled with the start of a Research subject for most schools and colleges. The survival of the fittest has now commenced.

Behind the screens Considering the regulated and strict protocols of XU, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), student’s homes are transformed into lab classes, and in order to provide materials and resources, each department extends their efforts by packing lab materials to be picked-up at the campus gate.

With the Online Database and Online Library, XU continues to support students as much as they can.

However, there are still issues to discuss.

Francis Ayuban (BSChE 3) mentions that a teachers’ strategy significantly impacts their expected learning outcome. Since each teacher has their own approach, some techniques are just ineffective.

To illustrate, for Biology majors like Gabriela Alvarez (BS BIO 3), who is already experiencing a hard time performing experiments inside her home, not having the opportunity to practice skills 4 Page Design by Darren Camille C. Tabanera

needed in their course is even more challenging.

Another Chemical Engineering student says, “Laboratories online just doesn’t make sense for me. Even the use of simulation software doesn’t cut the experience of having it hands-on.”

This sentiment, as observed, is now common among programs which mostly revolve around laboratory activities. And aptly, students have been carrying the weight of teaching themselves and acquiring experience through limited resources.

Not only are these soon-to-be professionals worried about their missed opportunities for skill practicing, they’re also lost in the process of coming up with research ideas. Ayuban remarks, “Need kayo ang lab na classes kay diha jud mi makakuha ug mga essential na data na kailangan sa among lab lahi na topic sa research”.

Guidelines: Home-based The Research Guidelines titled, “Interim Guidelines for Continuing Research during Flexible Learning (SY 2020-2021),” established by the Kinaadman University Research Office (KURO) came out with University Memo #U2021-020, disseminating that despite the on-going crisis, research must continue. This guideline is divided into two sections: one for faculty doing research, while the other for special considerations for graduating students both in the Basic Education and in the Tertiary undergraduate and graduate programs, covering data collection activities, the use of university campus and facilities, and travel restrictions. Nonetheless, Dean of Research Heidi R. Rabanes Ph.D. mentions that the University’s top priority goes to the protection and safety of all faculty, research staff, and student researchers.

XU-Biology Department Chair Astrid L. Sinco Ph.D. mentions that before the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the requirement for the first thesis course was for students to submit

a topic that would be worked hands-on in another semester. But pondering the current situation, departments have encouraged students to utilize simulation softwares for their studies.

For student research, it is magnified in the guideline that the different colleges must place their efforts on both undergraduate and graduating students with completing their final research requirements. Rabanes mentions, “Hence, it is important, more than ever, that faculty research advisers work closely with their student researchers/advisees. Research activities involving data collection that employs the faceto-face mode of interaction, travel, and campus entry and use of facilities are generally restricted.

Alternatives are encouraged.”

However, if there are cases in which face-toface interactions cannot be replaced by any online alternative, then students may formally request a “student research activity form” from the KURO website. This requires the permission from their parents/guardians, Faculty Research Adviser, and is noted by the Department Chair and the College Deans, the Deans for Research, and the VPHE. Once approved, they may have face-to-face data collection activities.

Herewith, students are much more considerate of their research subjects. With the access to online resources of XU, students also have vast resources on the Internet. One student notes, “Since we are still in the research proposal stage, I still can’t feel this lack of resources since every information that we need seems to be on the net already.” But as the COVID-19 situation continues, more students are likely to feel discouraged in their thesis.

A foible in the online system With the University on home-based learning modality, everything has transitioned to an online setting where lab activities have posed numerous Vol. 47 No. 3 February 2021

challenges, making students from different colleges question the reasons for the University pushing for these lab classes. Students have grown to be terribly worried about the fact that they are no longer learning in the same way they used to.

With no choice but to survive, students would depend on various complex applications that would aid them to comply with their requirements.

Beanne Salino (BSCE 3) states, “I am worried that coming from a course that is used to physical simulations and applications, this flexible learning would greatly affect our practices in the future.”

For nursing students, College of Nursing Dean Mary Paayas, RN, Man says, “Laboratory classes are inherent in selected general education courses (GEC) and mostly, the professional courses through their Related Learning Experience (RLE).” With this, nursing students continue to face difficulties with training as they take their practical tests at home with no equipment for them to utilize. Marcel Orina (BS Nursing 3) mentions, “Hands on experience is vital for student nurses since we deal with actual patients, and hospital procedures need to be learned in order to provide optimal patient care. In level three, we need mastery of skills in doing tracheostomy care, blood transfusion, changing, monitoring, and removing IV, colostomy care, catheterization, and many more. Having RLE classes without the actual materials for performance would be difficult for the students. These procedures require actual performance, and supplementing these procedures by watching videos is not enough to master the students’ skills.” Despite this, clinical instructors make sure that their student nurses continue to grasp the concepts needed for related learning experiences.

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“Experiencing Excellence?”

Students acknowledge the efforts made by their colleges and see the willingness to adjust to ongoing virtual duties and lectures, proving that learning can be dynamic. At the moment, face-toface classes are put on hold. Until then, students and professors are stretching themselves out in every way possible to produce the requirements needed for their preferred learning outcomes.

With the versatility of the XU faculty and the perseverance of the students, excellence by all means is not impossible. However, each party is still part of achieving greatness, and one can only be stretched to a certain point before yielding.

Excellence is achieved through flexibility and balance and when one party fails to integrate these, then excellence is unattainable.

*** Surviving this semester is not just up to students but the faculties as well—just as Sinco felt the difference between face-to-face classes and online classes even with the technology. She says, “Despite the situation now, we really want to teach and give students the best that we can offer; remember that being Atenean is going beyond what is expected of us.”

Nevertheless, it is of course in the capabilities of students to conclude whether Flexible Learning exhibits excellence. As Orina says, “It would be better if we were to have online lecture classes and lab related learning experience classes in a gradual, face-to-face transition, as skills development is very much needed.”C

“

LABORATORIES ONLINE JUST DOESN’T MAKE SENSE FOR ME. EVEN THE USE OF SIMULATION SOFTWARE DOESN’T CUT THE EXPERIENCE OF HAVING IT HANDS-ON.”

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By Danica Ela P. Armendarez

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very December, the University lights illuminate, signifying the start of the most anticipated XU Festival Days (XUFD).

However, this time is quite different. The gates remain closed and the University is embraced in solemnity. It is unusual, for the first time in 87 years, we are to celebrate XUFD distantly.

However, amidst the onslaught of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 19) pandemic, the administration finds a way to uphold the annual festivity with a hopeful perspective. Suiting it with the theme: Puhon, a Bisaya word that symbolizes our future anticipations—a reminder that despite the shortcomings and unforeseen circumstances, the Atenean spirit remains.

Keeping the momentum going The four-day celebration was filled with virtual games, activities, and performances. Office of Mission and Ministry Vice President and XUFD Executive Committee Irene Guitarte states that this year’s celebration commemorates us giving thanks for the opportunity to come together as a community amidst the challenges. She adds, “Celebrating XUFD is relevant for me because we celebrate it with sense of community and the spirit of magis and excellence being made flesh with the various engagements and activities.” The entire duration of the festivity was held through Facebook live, featuring different performances from local artists. “We also think of XUFD as a benefit concert […] that would somehow not only showcase different performances but also [sic] as a platform to relay the essence of the songs that they are singing to the virtual crowd,” Central Student Government (CSG) Secretary of Department of Events Management (DEM) Giselle Acabo explains. More than 300 viewers stood by each day to sing along in the comment section, reliving the days of previous XUFDs with throwbacks and

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wishful cheers to their greatest puhon of seeing everybody once again.

The virtual experience Conducting a huge event in an extraordinary set-up comes with many constraints—specifically, seeing the event through despite the city’s current condition brought by the pandemic, and the accessibility of online events. However, for some students like Mon*. For her, “Online events are limited lang man jud, not everyone can access it.

And as [sic] online student dili kaayo impactful ang virtual set-up.”

This year’s virtual XUFD, having 500 live viewers at its peak, shows an evident decrease of the celebration’s event-goers, with the records of XUFD’s engagement rates in the previous years being: 149,563 foot traffic in 2017, 85,566 in 2018, and 126,737 in 2019. However, for CSG President Matt Ondap, “The usual mode of faceto-face or real interaction is the most ideal in terms of student engagement but it would not be fair to compare with the virtual platform in terms of impact.”

The virtual XUFD focuses on resurfacing the annual celebration that will suit our current situation. As a result, a number of students have taken the opportunity to participate regardless of the virtual set-up. “This year is only my second XUFD experience. It is a bummer, though, that one of my XUFD will be online,” BS ComSci-2 student Albert Layasan shares. “However, I’d still want to rate it with a 10 because XU still made it possible,” he adds.

Visualizing future possibilities Pulling off the most anticipated event in XU virtually is more than challenging for the people who were working behind the screen.

“Even with the presence of the COVD-19

Photos by James Patrick B. Pabonita

pandemic, [...] I see two important reasons why we still have to celebrate the 2020 feast of St. Francis Xavier,” University President Fr. Mars P. Tan, S.J. shares in his welcoming message.

Firstly, he emphasizes the celebration of joy and thanksgiving as one community. Secondly, Tan highlights the community’s dream of looking forward to a much better future. “We want to send a message to everyone that we are one as Xavier Ateneo community. We are one in times of prosperity and adversity, and this celebration will help us connect to everyone and make us realize that we do not have to be physically present to give support.”

Although it is still early to think of the next plans for XUFD, Acabo shares. “Hopefully, if God gives us the opportunity, we deserve a big party to celebrate [...] we need to catch a break after a whole year has gone through na grabe ang ups and downs and roller coaster of emotions. We deserve to celebrate with each other.”

As things might get better, the XU Executive Committee wishes to pay more attention to the accuracy of the theme and activities, which will impact the collective sense of a bolder, stronger, and better XU Atenean spirit. “Puhon, next year, we’ll be back even with more spirited energy and excitement,” Tan reiterates.

*** XU has never embraced such quietness for such a long time. And with the distance, our longing to see everyone became palpable. We may have celebrated XUFD distantly this year, but puhon, we are all to witness the gates open to welcome us again. The day for us to come home— for us to embrace the warmth, joy, and comfort of XU that we all missed—will soon come.C *Name is changed per request of anonymity Vol. 47 No. 3 February 2021

By Paula Elaine D. Francisco

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By Levina Eunice O. Palarca & Leinarra L. Tumarong

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n December of 2020, the Philippines was stirred by the viral video of Senior Master Sergeant Jonel Nuezca, who faced double murder charges over his victims’ demise. Police violence caught on cam.

However, upon the dawn of the viral case and trending hashtags #StopTheKillingsPH, the recollection of more buried police brutality cases was triggered—discovering even more issues left unresolved and unknown cases left on zipped lips.

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The trending violence was not, in fact, the first and unfortunately not the last. Just less than a month before the terrible news about Sonya Gregorio and her son, Frank Gregorio, shot at point-blank, a Baguio City resident was found headless in Benguet. The decapitated body of Harjan Lagman turned out to be the act of two Cordillera regional police drug enforcers.

On later dates, the Cordillera Regional Police Enforcement Unit would be disbanded. Additionally, five more police brutality cases were reported and circulated in news outlets just within the year 2020.

According to XU Center for Legal Assistance Director Ernesto Neri, there is an alarming rate of police violence in the country.

He cites the 2017 high-profile case of the seventeen-year-old Kian Delos Santos, who was murdered by three police officers in the light of the anti-narcotic campaign of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“There are cases already of convicted police officers, especially the case of Delos Santos, which is just one step of the whole sea of EJK (Extra Judicial Killing).”

Course of cruelty In a span of almost five years from July of 2016 and as of press time, there are already 2,301 cases recorded by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), implicating members of the Philippine National Police (PNP), with over 2,493 killed victims and 526 surviving victims. The numbers mentioned do not replicate the totality of police brutality cases in the country. Undoubtedly, the rise of police crimes in the Philippines was at its peak during the years of Duterte’s term. However, the history of police-related crimes goes way back.

CHR Chief of Strategic Communication division Marc Siapno reiterates, “While it is true that it was also in a way peaked, during the time of COVID Pandemic, it has been ongoing throughout the years.” He augments, “The history of police brutality in the Philippines can go as far back as the history of Philippines constabulary.”

He explains that during the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos, police forces were incriminated with countless cases of Cruelty Inhumane Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CIDTP), or in layman’s term, torture. And over the years, the tortures were theoretically lessened by the Republic Act 9745, an Act Penalizing Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment and Prescribing Penalties or the Anti-Torture Act of 2009. Nonetheless, even with RA 9745, the CHR has only seen one convicted case that they specially supported and assisted with. This goes to show that even after the prohibition in 2009, police brutality is still rampant even in today’s era.

Chained liberty In the eyes of University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu Student Council Chairperson Aura Agbay, “Hindi lang siya usapin ng pagkabrutal ng institusyon kundi usapin din siya sa kung paano ito ginagamit bilang instrumento para i-arangkada, o i-forward ‘yung mga personal interest o agenda ng mga tao na nasa government.” However, the CHR believes that the Philippines’ rate of conviction reveals the complexity of police brutality in the Philippines, with the common mindset that alludes to police brutality as a necessary consequence of law enforcement. Siapno says, “It’s a mindset that we wanted to change.”

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Even with this, the Commission continues to reprimand and call out the government to be firm in addressing the issue irrespective of where in the Philippines the detention facility is, albeit there was no one looking. As the primary obligation of respecting, protecting, and fulfilling our rights ultimately is placed within the state primarily and at the same time the state agents.

Unfolding police brutality As enforcers of the law, it may seem quite ironic when police themselves break the laws they are enforcing and promoting. It’s alarming when those we entrust our safety on become the ones who might endanger it. According to the CHR, this abuse of power may be caused by a few things.

The police who commit a crime are, of course, held fully accountable for their own actions, but the CHR also points out that we should also be wary of the possible lack of proper training especially in stress management. “Perhaps one of the reasons kung bakit mataas ang incidences ng police brutality is because police forces are not properly trained kung ano nga ba ‘yung human rights based approach in handling detainees,” the CHR adds. If the police bear a heavy duty, it makes sense that they should also be professional. For the CHR, this means “they must be able to understand specific laws that govern their work”.

This incompetence is dangerous in itself.

According to Neri, “When there is this thread of (police) brutality, [...] it erodes our trust in the

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justice system and that’s more dangerous because people now don’t see any alternative.”

One of the pillars of governance is trust among its constituents, and if this trust is broken, it may lead to chaos or retaliation among the citizens, as witnessed during the Black Lives Matter (BLM) Movement last year. When the government turns a blind eye to injustice, social activists like Agbay take action.

Moreover, we are being gaslighted that the duty of the police is a matter of life and death such as in the context of self-defense. According to the CHR, “Even police officers have rights [...] the use of force, use of self-defense as an alibi has its own standard and self defense as an alibi is proven before the court.” When a police kills someone and they claim it as self-defense, it cannot be ignored and should still undergo trial before the court.

“And so dangerous ‘yung gano’ng thinking, kasi it’s not correct to say that just because you have a value for the right to life it automatically absolves you from all accountability,” the CHR adds.

The duty of the police is to protect and promote the rights of the citizens. Even if they have authority to detain people who commit crime, they are still not in the position to torture or kill—no one is. The Anti-Torture Act of 2009 enumerates acts of torture that are punished, and when it is coupled with abuse of authority, the crime is heavier.

There is also the concern of abuse of power and injustice in our country. “There is this

impunity, [...] na bahala ‘pag unsa imong sayop basta protektado ka sa people in power, you can do anything. It undermines the entire rule of law and rule of justice,” says Neri, which leads us to the diminishing trust in the government. This is why Neri suggests recording instances of police brutality to serve as clear evidence. *** We are made to believe that we should not question our government. “The conservative culture sa mga Filipino families is hindi iniencourage ‘yung dissent, or pag-criticize sa mga people with higher positions,” says Agbay. The climate of fear—fear of retaliation from the police force—also stops us from reporting cases of abuse in authority.

As the CHR points out, “At the end of the day ang kailangan nating gawin is to continuously demand accountability.” With the increasing tally of police brutality cases and even those that we might not know of, it cannot be simply ignored, especially when the police are supposed to protect our rights, not take it away.C

Sources https://www.esquiremag.ph/politics/news/policebrutality-cases-philippines-a00203-20201221 https://www.bbc.com/newTs/world-asia-46381697 https://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2009/ ra_9745_2009.html

Vol. 47 No. 3 February 2021

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he past year, and even the recent weeks, had witnessed the world in its anger, fear, and frustration; and the Philippines was no exemption. What lies within the state of Philippine society are the larger contexts that have affected and continue to affect the islands. Indeed, the years 2020 and 2021 are not isolated cases, and the national government may have proved itself to be in bad shape.

Amid crises and disasters About a year has passed since the first confirmed case of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 19) in the Philippines appeared, the present numbers going past 500,000. Much has been said about the quarantine, now known as the world’s longest lockdown, as part of the response that was freshly given Rank 79 of 98 by the Lowy Institute, with its COVID Performance Index.

Frontliners have often spoken of their woes on rigid working conditions, the newest of which is the statement from the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) that described the government’s attention to their needs as having “remained extremely slow, numb, and deaf”. Insisting the economy be revived through increased loans and the “new normal”, officials have left little room for prioritizing the welfare of the people, who are having difficulty in buying goods and making ends meet. Yet the same economy contracted to 9.5% and became at its worst, breaking the 1984 record of 7.0%.

The coveted vaccines, moreover, are finally in sight, despite the unauthorized entry and use of Sinopharm by the Presidential Security Group (PSG), deemed as “justified” by Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. But their presence notwithstanding, it is possible that it will take years for the country to overcome its problems.

In greed and falseness Avarice was once again highlighted in bureaucracy through a Php 15B fund that was claimed to be stolen from the Philippine Health Crusader

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By Alessandro Kennz Nioda (Contributor) Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) by fraudulent means. Latest updates say its liquidation is almost complete, although Sen. Panfilo Lacson and Bayan Muna Party-list Representative Carlos Zarate commented, respectively, that the process does not guarantee the fund being legally disbursed and that it “will not just erase the fact that (the fund) was anomalous in the first place”. Aside from the news that then chief Ricardo Morales and fellow PhilHealth executives had already received administrative and criminal charges, it seems there has been a lack of action in putting this issue to rest and addressing the so-called culture of corruption.

In addition, the pandemic has gotten the best of Baguio City Mayor and contact tracing czar Benjamin Magalong, who, with his wife Arlene, had attended Tim Yap’s January 17 birthday party, which in turn drew flak online days later because of violated safety protocols. His statement, “Tao lang po,” can be construed as downplaying the responsibility of respecting the law, an act that was said to have not been fulfilled by other authorities like Debold Sinas from the Philippine National Police (PNP). The penalty imposed on Yap and company was likewise compared to the higher amount paid by the Piston 6 (a group of jeepney drivers arrested for starting a “balik pasada” protest) to post bail, furthering the belief on the system favoring the rich.

With repression and abuse Speaking of Piston 6, many ordinary Filipinos, including activists, have been accosted and/or confined in jail by the PNP, which has received growing civilian distrust. Part of the reasons for the arrests are protests and police operations.

From last year, among the formerly and currently imprisoned are the Pride 20 from June 26, the Cabuyao 11 from July 4, and the Human Rights Day 7 from December 10. The University of the Philippines (UP)-DND Accord similarly comes to mind. With its unilateral abrogation, evacuated Lumad students in the Diliman campus are

probable to be at risk, and the underpinning of military power will cause worse anxieties over freedoms inside the UP System and the rest of higher education institutions (HEIs).

There is the issue of red-tagging as well, not only by state forces but also by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC). As of late, it has pointed a finger at XU, in a statement supporting Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade Jr.’s new pronouncements, for its alleged involvement with rebel groups.

Representative Zarate cited the unwanted amplification of China’s aggression against the West Philippine Sea that might happen soon due to the “security sector [being] shamelessly preoccupied now with baseless red-tagging against just anybody it perceives as its enemies”.

He recommends “a reassessment of what or who is the primary threat to the Philippines”. *** A lot of specifics were left unmentioned, but with this, the overall conduct of the national government can still be thought of as gravely concerning. It is clear that something has to be done. Public servant or not, in opposition or otherwise, the goal is not to become a nation of perpetual rage but of happiness. The future must not be a nation of cycles but of unparalleled change. Granted, one’s point of view of the situation is dependent on their discretion, yet it would not hurt if the facts that have been there all along are recognized, let alone imparted to others.C Sources newsinfo.inquirer.net/1390092/a-year-of-pandemic-inph-health-workers-group-says-govt-remains-slow-deaf rappler.com/nation/lorenzana-vaccines-used-by-dutertesecurity-smuggled-but-justified cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/1/27/PhilHealth-chiefP15-billion-missing-fund-questioned-.html rappler.com/nation/luzon/tim-yap-baguio-partybenjamin-magalong twitter.com/inquirerdotnet/status/1354305636704 501763 Page Design by Sheil Ann Ashley P. Bruas 11

By Edshera Mae R. Abella

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he Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID 19) pandemic has left the world in disarray, wreaking havoc on the global community with around 100M cases worldwide and about 2M deaths. Have a look at how these different countries are coping with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Sources foreignpolicy.com/2020/04/02/countries-succeeding-flattening-curvecoronavirus-testing-quarantine/ wsj.com/articles/which-countries-have-responded-best-to-covid-19-11609516800 globalcitizen.org/en/content/countries-with-best-covid-responses/ movehub.com/blog/best-and-worst-covid-responses/ worldometers.info/coronavirus/?utm_campaign=homeAdvegas1 csis.org/programs/southeast-asia-program/southeast-asia-covid-19-tracker-0 who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/interactive-timeline worldometers.info/coronavirus/#countries

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By Melvin P. Villacote

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Vol. 47 No. 3 February 2021

By Abdel Rafi M. Lim

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s the rest of the developed world began immunizing their countries against the Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID 19), only recently has there been word of inbound vaccinations for the Philippines—even then, it is nowhere close to actualization as some experts would like. Coupled by an unhealthy amount of vaccination skepticism held by the general public and a lack of mass media communication informing about immunizations and debunking vaccination-related myths, the Philippine’s hope for fighting back the virus may be a total miss.

What then must we do to even stand a chance against this nation-crippling pandemic?

Understanding our greatest (and most misunderstood) weapon may be our best bet yet.

Where are we now?

Center for Global Health Director and School of Medicine Professor Dr. Gina S. Itchon believes that vaccinations may perhaps be the most important public health discovery of the last 200 years. A vaccine is the dead or inactivated parts of bacteria/viruses which are capable of stimulating the immune system to form antibodies. Currently, local and national governments have been breaking ground in anticipation of vaccinating around 75M Filipinos. However, they estimate that this endeavor may take as far as 2023 for it to even happen.

“It’s taking so long,” Itchon comments. “I would have wanted this to be a little bit faster, kasi speed is of the essence. We have to vaccinate as many Filipinos as possible so that we stop the chain of transmission.” Although Itchon wishes for a speedier process, she understands how new and foreign handling a pandemic is for us. “Nobody knows what to do. Because this is actually the first time that we have had a pandemic in our lifetime, and there is no previous experience to look back on—there is no guidebook to tell us what to do, [...] it’s each to its own.” Different local government units are left to their own devices, and Crusader

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Itchon believes that there is a need for the national government to address what actually needs to be done. “There are very general policies pero no proper guidance,” Itchon observes.

For CDO’s local government, actions towards vaccinations remain in the planning stage, with the biggest impediment to this project being the lack of information on individuals in the city.

“We do not have a database of people,” Itchon elaborates. “If we do not have a database of how many people we need to vaccinate, unsaon nato’g order sa vaccine kung wala ta kabalo pila atong order-on? That’s our biggest problem now.”

What do we have to do?

According to Itchon, for a massive vaccination project to work, two things should be of the utmost priority. First, that the vaccine is available, and second, that the vaccine gets into the arms of people (which is considered to be the most crucial variable). There are a few considerations concerning the first point about availability: that the vaccine is ready for marketing, passing all necessary authorizations; that we have the funds to buy the vaccine; and that we understand the logistics of the supply chain. Itchon uses the PfizerBioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine as an example, which needs to be stored at -60 to -80 degrees centigrade at all times. “Unsa kaha ang logistics to fly the vaccine to the Philippines, because it is very far?”

Itchon ponders. “Pila kaha atong gastuhon just for the storage?”

Next, there is the predicament of actually getting people vaccinated. “It is not enough to buy the vaccines,” says Itchon. “They are better in arms than in freezers.” Beyond that, there is the concern of the availability of vaccinators and vaccination areas. “Naa ba’y magbakuna?

Ug asa dapit?” Itchon questions. “Kani wala pa ni siya gihuna-huna. Pwede man na nga naa ang bakuna pero unsaon nato’g hatag?” We also need to confirm the availability of materials for giving the vaccine. Itchon says it’s not only about the vaccine itself, but the syringes, cotton balls,

alcohol, and the personal protective equipment (PPE) that vaccinators need as well. Moreover, many of the vaccines require two doses and we have to assure that the two doses are available when they are needed, so the issue of supply stands as well. Finally, the most consequential of all considerations, is that people actually agree to receive the vaccines. “You may have all the vaccines and all the logistics prepared pero dili man magpabakuna ang tao,” Itchon illustrates.

“So what are you going to do with your vaccine?”

Herein lies the issue of vaccine skepticism.

Why the skepticism?

Itchon believes there are lessons to be learned from countries who’ve kickstarted their vaccination projects, one of which is the lesson of addressing vaccine skepticism early. “Public health education has to start now,” Itchon asserts.

“It actually had to start yesterday.” Itchon notices that there is a dangerous absence of information dissemination regarding vaccines and their effects.

“That is my first question, where is the mass media in all of this?” Itchon clarifies that it is not the role of the doctors to educate, but the media’s. “Dili ni madala og kada doctor mag webinar, because that will only be able to reach a very few and a very limited audience. We need mass audience— happening fast, happening now—to explain what the vaccine is, why everybody should get vaccinated.” *** Even at this early stage of the planning, some are already casting their hesitant votes against the vaccine. This alone may throw our shots of winning against the pandemic out the window, and it all boils down to being educated and being informed. “Part of the rollout is not only having the vaccine and thinking about the logistics, but also the education of people,” Itchon underscores.

“But nobody seems to be thinking of that. That’s my worry.”C Page Design by Derrick Kean A. Auxtero 15

COVER STORY

By Danica Ela P. Armendarez, Levina Eunice O. Palarca, & Claire Ivy T. Vanguardia

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he surge of the pandemic has worsened the plight of the city’s vulnerable sectors, and for them, the streets have become a continuous battleground. With the restrictions brought by the onslaught of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 19), their source of income is bounded within the streets; wherein it poses a threat to their health and safety. And with their knowledge about the virus still in question, their safety is further at risk.

The Local Government Unit (LGU) and other organizations have programs that reach out to street dwellers and provide them with safety, yet these promises remain unheeded as street dwellers still go back to the streets—where their livelihoods and homes are.

Health care inaccessibility Many identified street dwellers had lost their job and homes when the COVID-19 pandemic sent the Philippines into lockdown. As everyone hurdled back-and-forth, hoarding for protective gear and disinfecting essentials, most people who live in slums along the streets worried more about where they will be going. “Kaingon jud ko ato nga wa gani mi pamalit anang face mask, wa pajud balay,” as Jennifer* shares her firsthand experience during the national mandatory lockdown.

With the help of the LGU’s efforts, all of the identified homeless families and Children in Street Situation (CISS) residing within the city were catered in temporary sheltering homes of different barangays in the locality.

Along with the temporary homes, daily needs and facemasks were also being shouldered by the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in coordination with barangay workers who

also helped in disseminating health protocols mandated by Inter-agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID). “Gi-ingnan mi mag face mask dayon mag hugas og kamot, dili mag sikit [...] pero usahay malimtan, kay mao raman japon para sa amo, isa raman mi’g uli-an,” street dweller Rob* reiterates.

To them, face masks and face shields are already enough protection from the virus so that they can go out and work again. Parking boy John Hunayon remarks, “Basta kay magface mask lang lagi mi oks na kaayo.” With them finding contentment with these gears for safety, their notion of vaccination remains to hang in the balance.

On health awareness, what this sector also lacks is a deeper understanding regarding health care and vaccination. To Hunayon, their protection relies on the provided assistance given by the government, and since most of them are unable to read—their awareness depends more on explanatory dissemination. Given these circumstances, this sector has continued to lag behind the government’s plan for mass immunization. Center for Global Health Director and School of Medicine Professor Dr. Gina S. Itchon shares that the lacking part of the health care program is the public health component.

“Okay ka, okay ko, kasi we are all educated, we read, we listen to news items on TV. But for the ordinary person in the street, wala na sila kasabot unsa na’ng vaccination,” Itchon emphasizes. With this health education concern being pervasive, it also doubles the vulnerability of street dwellers in this time of the pandemic.

Though all these precautions from health protocols intend to provide us protection, safeguarding from the virus entails a cost that not everyone can afford. As these street dwellers get back on the street, prior knowledge limiting only to health protocols will not overcome the threat of the COVID-19 virus. In this time of health crisis, the inaccessibility to proper health education has left the vulnerable behind in peril.

Back to the streets With the COVID-19 restrictions, those who are unfortunate inordinately bear the crippling economic shocks, leaving them still on the rough patch of poverty and of a pandemic all at once.

The temporary homes may have protected the homeless from further public exposure.

However, the roof over their heads still can’t fix other preceding circumstances that these sectors need to adhere—specifically in terms of income.

As Head of CDO Social Welfare and Development

An unnamed woman, wearing her face mask, stands near a fast-food chain restaurant while being surrounded by the hustle of the busy street.

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(CSWD) After Care Section, Norhidaya Hadji Sarip explains, “So far, for the sector, trabaho talaga ang pangunahing hinahanap nilang pangangailangan ngayon.”

As a result, when the Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) was lifted, it had given street dwellers like 16-year-old Mac-mac* an option to work again on the streets, relying on public parking spaces for their day-to-day earnings to help their families. “Daghan pa jud ko og igsoon [...] kinahanglan manginabuhi jud ko,” Mac-mac expresses. As a parking boy with only a face mask alone as protection from COVID-19, his exposure to the crowds and various interactions with people put him at risk.

The implementation of curfew was also one of the protocols of the LGU in response to the pandemic. To maximize their work time, street dwellers return to their temporary shelter nearly before curfew starts. Even if they are afraid of getting caught, street dwellers are still intent on working on the streets. “Mu-padayon japon ko’g trabaho diri sa dalan [...] hangtod sa masumhan sila’g dakop nako,” Hunayon confesses.

Despite the implemented health protocols and programs made for street dwellers, they still go

back to the streets to work. Rob shares, “Daghan man jud mi mag-igsuon. Akoang mama tinda-tinda ra pud iyang negosyo ginagmay. Maikog pud ko’g pabuhi so mangita nalang ko’g kwarta kada human nako’g klase.” If there is still a need for them to find a livelihood in order to earn money, government efforts might not be enough to alleviate the needs of street dwellers during this pandemic.

Street dwellers’ lack of trust in government efforts might also play a role on why such programs do not affect the improvement of their situation that much. According to street dweller Alex*, “Gina-hunahuna nalang pud namo nga kinsa man sad mu-[tabang] namo nga lain man sila’g pananaw namo.”

Insufficient efforts Within the grounds of initiatives, a question hangs quietly in the hushed streets of the city: are the actions being done by the government and several organizations enough to help these people?

Although cumulative acts have been established to provide aid to street dwellers, it is still not enough.

We may think that the fog of distress has been lifted, but the efforts that are being enacted is nowhere near in sight to support the lives of street

Parking assistant Manang Nel leans on a parked motorbike with her mask on—looking out for incoming vehicles to pull up along the parking lanes of of Magsaysay Park in Plaza Divisoria.

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dwellers. When the city is basked with the sun’s presence, we still see them around the streets, working to maintain their needs. And with the pandemic hurling around, these street dwellers continue to live in constant danger.

Rob continues to dwell in the bustling city to acquire money to sustain his and his family’s needs. Mac-Mac eyes public restaurants just so he could eat, and in worse cases, he shifts to food scraps found in trash cans. With little proper necessities, their only defense is a face mask, sometimes, none at all. Simply knowing that they are being aided by some organizations is just the tip of the iceberg and it will not suffice.

It is masking an underlying problem that needs to be entirely addressed: why do they continue to struggle still?

Even with the acquisition of government subsidies, street dwellers continue to occupy the streets merely because these grants are inadequate to uphold their living—some have even gone to the ordeal of earning money through working as parking attendants. These grants are rather ineffective because, with the growing prevalence of the virus, the impoverished are still left on their own accord. Those who are held accountable should surge their efforts to safeguard the impoverished community.

The vulnerable sector needs the utmost priority. With little knowledge about health protocols, likely, they are also skeptical about the vaccine. Itchon firmly emphasizes the importance of health awareness among the poverty-stricken, “There should be a public health education now, happening now.” With minimal access to health care, street dwellers must be prioritized in this unprecedented time as they are particularly susceptible to contracting the virus.

In any case, one thing is for certain—no one should live in poverty. For them, every day is a struggle of cautiously venturing through the streets of perils. No one deserves to wake up every day fearing for the danger and harm that lurks within the streets they dwell in—barely protecting themselves and sustaining their livelihood with the littlest money they have.

A parking boy stands by a motor parking area with his makeshift face mask around his neck, ready to be worn whenever vehicles come and go.

*** The strike of the pandemic has clearly exposed the state street dwellers are in. Despite the risks, individuals like Rob, Hunayon, and Mac-Mac continue to dwell where their safety is at risk, yet for them, it is also a place of home.

Consequently, the health crisis has unsheathed the epicenter of the problem— insufficient support from the government. The amount of support street dwellers receive is quite saddening. It does not even live up to the minimum standards for survival and utmost protection. Yes, they are efforts nonetheless; but those who have the power to mitigate the vulnerabilities of these people should regard this predicament as a priority and intensify their actions.C *Names are changed per request of anonymity

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n Jan 25, National Task Force (NTF) against COVID 19 Chief Implementer and Vaccine Czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. mentioned how the Philippine Pharmacists Association (PPhA) is asking for the support of local government units for the government’s vaccination program, emphasizing the necessity of implementing the “whole-of-nation” and “wholeof-society” plans to achieve herd immunity. With this, CDO Mayor Oscar Moreno has expressed in his daily press briefings that the city will participate and will commit to the national government vaccination rollout program to gear up for the vaccination deployment.

CDO City Hall has done an education and promotion campaign for the purpose of gaining citywide support for the soon-to-be implemented vaccination program. Several months into the pandemic, it is no question that the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis has certainly taken a heavy toll, radically changing everyone’s lifestyle. It has become increasingly clear that a vaccine may just be the only solution that would grant the citizens a shot of hope.

Aligning to the government’s plan The recently announced procurement for COVID-19 vaccines will help reduce the chances of infection and mitigate the level of severity of those infected. According to Moreno, the local government must align itself to the national government in terms of the supply and demand side. On the supply side, there are issues needed to be considered such as, who would be purchasing the vaccines, what vaccines are to be bought, the pricing, as well as the volume of these doses.

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Moreno states, “There are certain things that are already so-called given at this time, and one of which is the national government has already earmarked about 115M doses for the entire country. So, if you are looking at herd immunity of say 100M, you are looking at 75M people to be vaccinated. Vaccination is a two-dose vaccine, and then you have to have 75M times two.”

It is a fact that the national government will not be able to purchase all the necessities that the citizens need. Local government units (LGUs) will need to procure the doses, but in collaboration with the national government and hopefully, the private sector. Moreno mentions, “The supply side can be very tricky. So, we want to make sure that we are heading to the right direction knowing what to do under any circumstance.”

On the demand side, the government must have a good database that would guide them as to who will be vaccinated. The health workers and vulnerable sector are those who will be receiving the doses first, with the vulnerable sector consisting of senior citizens. The level of priority for the seniors would rely on their age, and as well as their presence of mobility.

Moreno says, “If there are still doses available, we can now cover the general public. But then again, you have to have a priority schedule. What we are doing is that we are preparing ourselves, keeping our ears close to the ground to know what is happening at the national level and also gathering the data. We are getting ourselves ready.”

When and How? The city will need to allocate Php300MPhp500M. Moreno mentions, “We just have to set

aside mga projects to provide the needed funds for the vaccination.” The City Health Office will be in charge of the vaccination program with various teams. Everyone is involved, but Moreno is accountable for overseeing all the plans happening in CDO. As the city embarks on this, Moreno hopes that the vaccination program would be organized, orderly, and equitable. “The highest objective really is the safety of the people,” he informs.

The government plans to have a strict observance on the priorities, and to aid health personnel and health centers all over the city.

There is still no specific date on when these plans would be executed, but Moreno confirms that it would happen soon. Though time is of the essence, he believes that it is not a question on who will do it first. He mentions, “The issue is who is to do it correctly.” *** “Never forget to observe at all times the minimum public health standards because these are the most important tools to combat the virus— still is, and the cheapest as well. To stop the spread of the virus? This is where the winning shot can only be delivered by the people.

The only thing that the virus is afraid of is when it cannot infect someone else. People must cooperate and observe the standards. It is not enough that many are doing it, everybody must do it as well. I hope that the people realize that,” Moreno finishes.C

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he national government has settled agreements with Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca on their COVID-19 vaccines. Both vaccines are authorized by Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). We can expect about 5.6 million vaccine doses from the mentioned brands to arrive in the first quarter of 2021. With the availability of the vaccine, are Filipinos willing to be vaccinated?

Choosing not to get vaccinated only shows how unknowledgeable one is in terms of its benefits. People have been so misinformed about the bad sides of the vaccine and tend to neglect the truth. [...] Getting a shot is not being selfish; it is not entirely for the benefit of one person but its more of a duty to protect everyone around us. It is having the obligation to prevent transmission and save those immunocompetent individuals. It’s what this university has been teaching us, the sense of cura personalis.

Honestly speaking, despite of the urgent need of the vaccine, regardless of whatever brand it may be, I and my family are still undecided on this matter. So far, none of the vaccine trials have reported any serious safety concerns. But I couldn’t deny the fact that there’s still hesitation to get vaccinated due to online information and news exposed by media. [...]

Since nothing is yet known about the possible outcomes of these vaccines, clarity and safety are my utmost priority as of the moment.

I would like to get vaccinated, though I have some reservations in terms of the vaccination plans of the city/country. In order to help our community gain herd immunity from SARS-CoV-2 without contracting COVID, I have to be vaccinated. Though many companies have made headway in terms of developing a safe vaccine, there are still some vaccines with sketchy empirical evidences of their efficacy. [...] Though I wish to be inoculated for COVID-19, I wouldn’t want to take the risk if the vaccine I am to be inoculated with has below par efficacy rates and statistics. I might have to wait until the more efficacious vaccines are accessible in the country.

No, It is too risky. I wouldn’t promote it to my family and friends either.

Vaccination is a sign of hope for everyone. However, I am scared for what’s going to happen if I will be receiving the vaccine that’s why I am still undecided. The government has been not sure on vaccine procurement. I will promote it to others as long as it will help us to not get COVID.

I have a strong sense of trust to the scientists who dedicated their knowledge and hard work in developing the vaccine. As long as the vaccine provides reliable results through the clinical tests made, I don’t think there’s a problem in getting vaccinated.

I would like to get vaccinated for COVID-19. Because I know for sure that they are safe and will also make me feel at ease. Yes, I would like to promote to my family and friends too that getting vaccinated will prevent them from being infected by the virus. We need to be vaccinated for it will also help us to strengthen our immune system.

I still don’t want to get vaccinated because I still have doubts if vaccine will lessen or worsen the effects of COVID-19. There is also no known data regarding its side effects.

The data shows the results of the survey conducted on 265 XU student respondents between ages 17 and 32, a total of about four percent of the University’s gross student population. According to the survey, more than half of the respondents are still uncertain about getting the vaccine.

Out of 265 students, only 97 (36.6%) are asserting willingness to get the vaccination, with 138 (52.1%) still reluctant, and 30 (11.3%) who opposed the idea of getting a vaccination. The respondents’ unwillingness predominantly revolves around the fear of getting side effects. Moreover, the reputation of the vaccine brand influences the respondents’ unwillingness as well.

Given the results of the survey, respondents are more unlikely to get vaccinated because of the fear of experiencing side effects. With this, it is suggested that the most appropriate step to encourage Filipinos to get vaccination is to educate them regarding the vaccine.C Crusader

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By Nia Enrille R. Rabanes

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n social media profiles these days, it is not out of the ordinary to find a gender pronoun enclosed in parentheses as part of somebody’s bio section. The more common ones include: she/her, he/him, and they/them. It would be straightforward to assume that whichever is presented there is that person’s preferred gender pronoun, thus their forms is what we use to appropriately refer to them.

Despite this guide, there is still an air of hesitancy surrounding the way we are to address one another—sometimes even an outright rejection of the suggested practice. It is valid that most of us are unsure about other people’s Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC), especially since meeting in real life doesn’t come with a bio.

However, it does not mean we can go on with being oblivious to the importance of having regard for preferred pronouns. Perhaps it is about time we orient ourselves.

Extending a warm welcome The gender pronouns that we are accustomed to are the feminine pronouns “she/her” and the masculine pronouns “he/him.” Elementary English has taught us that when we refer to individuals in the third person, we choose the pronoun according to their gender.

With the changing times and the shift from the traditional view of gender being binary, the then-exclusively third person plural “they/them” is being utilized nowadays as a singular pronoun to accommodate genders of persons who do not ascribe to either “she/her” or “he/him,” as well as to remove assumptions on the gender of an unidentified person.

22 Page Design by Jayson Elvie G. Ty

A number of people find this use complicated and sometimes refuse to accept it. XU English Professor and XU Press Manager Arlene J. Yandug PhD notes that “it has to do with the current understanding of “they” as plural.” Although wellmeaning, the singular “they” if used carelessly, might be interpreted as verbal laziness and could cause confusion. But she adds, “Language…is dynamic; it changes constantly, just as people change through time.”

Despite this use having yet to be adopted in formal discourse such as paper writing or business and legal transactions, publishers and citation styles The Chicago Manual of Styles (17th ed), Modern Language Association (MLA), American Psychological Association (APA), and Associated Press (AP) have acknowledged the singular “they” to be inclusive of all people. With the slow adoption of recognizing preferred pronouns in social media, Yandug ponders on the possibility that people may warm up to this use in a few years’ time.

“The English language—or any language for that matter—essentially reflects society, its culture, and changing consciousness and values.”

Other than the mentioned pronouns, Mindanao Pride Founder Hamilcar Chanjueco Jr. shares that within the community, “ze/zir” pronouns are also used. Furthermore, “Mx” has been recognized as an alternative salutation to “Mr” and “Ms.”

built on.” If we are unsure of someone’s SOGIESC, Chanjueco recommends we ask the question, “How would you want me to address you?” This is so we are able to avoid misgendering Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, or Queer (LGBTIQ+) individuals, particularly transgender persons who are likely to be referred to incorrectly.

At the same time, we may consider letting go of our own prejudice. Chanjueco touches on a personal experience of others assuming that being called “Ma’am” is alright with him as a cisgender gay individual with feminine expressions.

It is also important to note that preferring “they/them” pronouns does not automatically mean a person is nonbinary. Pronouns describe one’s identity, but do not define it. Chanjueco comments, “Preferred pronouns are just one part of one’s identity thus it only describes it and doesn’t encapsulate one’s gender experience. However, it also doesn’t mean that it should not be respected.”

The recognition of preferred pronouns will enable an environment that is grounded on inclusivity. What this does is highlight the value of respect and acknowledgement we have for one another, with the gender we identify with and who we are as a person. At the same time, this intent for recognition is political. Chanjueco emphasizes, “It also embodies the aspirations of the LGBTIQ+ movement, to be respected regardless of who you are and whom you love.”

Cultivating a safe space A good first step for the lot of us who don’t yet know how to navigate through the idea of preferred pronouns, according to Chanjueco, is in “delving deeper in the concept of respect.” He adds, “Respect for individuals is the foundational value on which the concept of preferred pronouns is

An accommodating gesture With the significant shift from classroom learning to online learning, XU History Assistant Instructor Ena Rollan Jarales utilized an online platform other than eLearn, the virtual classroom the University endorsed. She had invited her students into a classroom server she made on

Vol. 47 No. 3 February 2021

Discord, initially a platform that catered to the gaming community but has now started to accommodate other communities that would like to come together. With her goal “to simulate a school environment where students could be around one another” in mind, she decided to touch up on the usual set of GTKY questions. Apart from asking them their nicknames, she made sure to point out that if anyone had preferred pronouns, they were free to indicate them after their names.

The platform’s feature that enables its members to pick out roles made Jarales use the opportunity for her students to put their preferred pronouns. Apart from “she/her,” and “he/him,” she also included “they/them.” She shares, “Selfassigning pronouns is completely optional, but an option still for whatever it is worth. If any number of them identify as “they/them,” they are well within their rights to do so.” When asked about this practice’s application in the school setting, Jarales does not advocate that it be implemented rigidly on an institutional scale. She shares its possible downsides: create overwhelming pressure

for young people to be sure of who they are by a specific age, or if fitting, force them to expose their gender identities when they aren’t ready to. “At the end of the day, classrooms should be spaces for our students to grow in all aspects of their identity, spaces where they feel safe enough to grow, even if the said classrooms are online.” *** Although the use of preferred pronouns has been given a considerable push in social media, it is still a practice that requires further promotion to be widely acknowledged. Respect, as highlighted in this article, plays a vital role in the success of this objective. What does it say about us, then, if we view this matter passively? Chanjueco reiterates, “If society is unaccepting of the concept then that’s an indicator that we are still far from achieving a just and equal society.”

All things considered, may there come a time when calling me by my preferred pronouns is not something too much to ask for.C

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RESPECT FOR INDIVIDUALS IS THE FOUNDATIONAL VALUE ON WHICH THE CONCEPT OF PREFERRED PRONOUNS IS BUILT ON.

Tips by Hamilcar Chanjueco

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By Claire Ivy T. Vanguardia & Reina Margaret Gwynette T. Villamor

24 Page Design by Sheil Ann Ashley P. Bruas

Vol. 47 No. 3 February 2021

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n the new age of digitalization, the advent of disseminating information has become much easier compared to past practices. With a single click of a button or among the whirling of hashtags, chunks of valuable details are readily available. And with these new forms of digital tools, a redefined engagement on political and social movements come to the surface. As such, social media has become an outlet for advocating social justice, expressing political views, and indulging in other forms of intellectual discourse.

However, how can we activate that sense of online activism collectively?

Tips from a teacher Today, social media has gone from being mere amusing, time-passing applications to fully integrated parts of nearly every aspect of daily life. Being something all-encompassing, it is not a surprise that it would go beyond the purposes of entertainment. Now, we see it touch the field of news, current events, and even politics. It is utilized not just as a platform to share photos and opinions but even to communicate various advocacies. With this, the youth have more access to information and greater liberty for activism.

“Activism consists of collective action with a desire to make the society better. This includes collective and tangible efforts to intervene in a political or social system,” says Information and Computer Technology Instructor Nicole Adelle Tacandong. She points out that with the use of social media, the youth can ensure that activism has an online presence.

“More than any other age group, the youth should be politically aware and active. In the digital age, the youth of today are technologically skilled to access reliable information so I think it’s important to use this to our advantage to get our message across and to communicate various social issues,” Tacandong explains.

With its interactive and accessible features, social media enables citizens to participate in social and political discussion by providing them a platform to air out their opinions and ideas.

It has also become an efficient tool in spreading information such as news and current events in society. Thus, it poses the question: how do we use it effectively?

“Taking a stand in various political and social issues is a start. I would also not want to force the youth to choose political discussions over the entertainment we get in social media; however, we need to understand that our decision to participate in important discussions will go a long way,” Tacandong advises.

She adds that a simple share and post under a hashtag is the first step in being politically and socially engaged, because the more we talk about a certain social issue, the more people will be informed and, hopefully, be interested to take part in the collective effort to make concrete actions about that issue. This, coupled with concrete “offline action” such as donations and measurable commitments to various advocacies, constitute being a politically and socially engaged youth.

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Lessons from a leader Social media has now become the contender for civic engagements and activism in the present society. With that in mind, it has become a platform for the younger generations to have a voice, collectively expressing and urging to fix societal problems. The youth are pioneering and challenging the issues that we currently face today—whether political turmoil, political corruption, deprivation of human rights, etc.

For City Youth Councilor John Ray Dante, being politically aware is a must in this tumultuous period we are in, “It is our very own duty as the youth of our country to be politically aware because the actions of the present is what would ripple in the future.”

Hence, by being politically active, one will have more knowledge of the events within a society.

They will then be able to refine and articulate their ideas to make better decisions that will create a significant impact on a societal transformation.

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THE YOUTH IS CHALLENGED TO BREAK THE IMAGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA BEING USED FOR MERE ENTERTAINMENT AS IT IS NOW A MEANS TO SPREAD INFLUENCE AND AWARENESS. However, in these unprecedented times and with the utterances of conflict and discomfort that is happening within the society, how does one practice political awareness?“Practicing political awareness may start with yourself; reading the political climate of our country may be a good start. It is important that you should have prior knowledge of how the government works; knowing the three branches, and their basic functions is a must,” says Dante.

Before charging into the battlegrounds, it is crucial to be informed on the different forms and structures of governance. Acquiring valuable knowledge regarding these subjects has become straightforward due to the rampant updates and information posted on social media—it could be through infographic posts on Instagram or Twitter hashtags. In the wake of discerning these notions, it is good to reinforce and amplify one’s political stances by allying with others who share your same views. Through this, combined voices that choose to grapple for justice and what’s right may be a catalyst of change.

For Dante, social media is a good outlet for expressing political sentiments. “I believe that

social media is now the best platform for activism; countless acts of change has now happened because of activism through this means.” The youth no longer have their curtains drawn; they are prominent individuals who take initiatives by exercising their valued opinions, seeking the rights that they deserve.

Insight from an influencer On the other side of the coin, we see that social media, with all its potential for social change, also has its limitations. Today, even with political and social engagement being civic responsibilities, some would like to keep social media to its mere core function—entertainment.

“I use social media purely for entertainment and promotion. I’ve been known to be the ‘entertaining conyo bisaya’ so as much as possible, I would like to keep my content that way,” says social media influencer and local Tiktok entertainer Jamie Aikee Lim. Lim has just hit a million followers on the TikTok app, and like many of the youth today, she uses social media purely for fun. Even with her huge platform, Lim says that she fears voicing her opinions online as it may trigger those viewers with opinions in contrast with hers.“I never talk about my opinions on politics and social issues because those things need extensive research,” she expresses. Because of these sentiments, Lim also says that social media is not for everyone. “Dili tanan maka accept og opinion sa lain. If wala kay say about the government, ‘wa kay pake’ unya if naa kay say ingnon dayun tag ‘pa woke’,” she adds.

In contrast, singer and Youtuber Janina Vela Punzalan, in the recently held Darna Movement Webinar by the XU Central Student Government (XU-CSG) last August 29, has a contrasting approach to the issue at hand.Aside from her usual content, she uses social media to advocate for change. “There is so much power in awareness,” Punzalan states. “If ignorance is a distorted view of reality, then the cure for that is to see—so I want to take away any excuses for people not to see.”

Punzalan adds that she wants her audience to learn from her. “I want to be remembered even more so for being a little kinder [...] for opening people’s minds, bringing education, bringing truthful, substantial, credible information to my subscribers because I want to add value to their lives.”

*** The advent and rise of social media has activated youth activism and engagement in the online setting. With information at the tip of their fingers, the youth of today are no longer excluded from the equation; they are the ones who have the capability to bring change into our society. Thus, the youth is challenged to break the image of social media being used for mere entertainment as it is now a means to spread influence and awareness Whether it be through captivating Instagram posts or Twitter hashtags, the youth occupy the trenches of social media with their online activism.

Behind the keyboards and laptop screens, they are given platforms to dominate with their powerful voices, clutching to be a catalyst for a change.C

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By Reina Margaret Gwynette T. Villamor

P

icture this: you are at a party searching for a drink when someone hands you a glass of cold, wintermelon milk tea with pearls.

Then that person says that one of the many pearls swirling around that drink is poisoned. Would you drink it?

The obvious answer would be no. After all, why would you risk your life for a drink you know will poison you?

Now, let’s discuss this in the context of the “men are trash” rhetoric. We acknowledge that not all men are bad, but statistics tell us that there is at least one man who is. This pushes women to be wary of all men in order to protect themselves.

Going back to the milk tea analogy, not all the pearls in that drink were poisoned, but one of them was. This would push you to throw the whole thing away because again, why would you risk your life for a drink you know will poison you?

Time and time again A study by the Center for Women Resources (CWR) shows that one child or woman is raped every 62 minutes. In the United States, the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) discloses that one out of every six American women has been the victim of attempted or completed rape. In the Philippines, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reports a 30.6 percent increase in rape cases in 2019.

These bone-chilling numbers, coupled with our predominantly patriarchal society, show that Filipino women, time and time again, have been subject to violence and oppression from men.

These statistics shape the sexist and misogynistic landscape of the country, and thus give merit to the statement “men are trash”.

But what does this statement really mean?

“While it (men are trash) is not supposed to be understood in its literal sense, I think it is being coined as a term right now because of how men treat women, particularly on objectification, belittling women’s rights, and an overall disregard of women and their welfare,” says Alubijid Municipal Councilor Atty. Princess Kimberly Ubayubay.

A (wo)man’s world The place of a man in society has, for the longest time, remained unchallenged. They took on the roles of the leader, provider, and protector.

But as women slowly found their independence, these societal roles were made available to them too. Today, we see women as politicians, breadwinners, and leaders. However, there are still remnants of outdated ideas of manhood, causing a disparity between men and women.

“It is a challenge for me as a woman in politics having to deal with the multiple burdens of domestic and public roles hoisted on me, whereas the male only has to deal with his usually public roles,” says Ako Bakwit Inc. Chair Hon. Samira Tomawis-Gutoc.

A timely show of this disparity in our political landscape would be President Duterte’s recent remark on women not being fit for presidency, to which Gutoc responds that it is important to note that various women leaders from around the world have proven themselves fit for positions of power. “That would be a very arcade and oldfashioned statement,” she adds.

26 Page Design by Darren Camile C. Tabanera

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THIS RHETORIC (MEN ARE TRASH) IS NOT A JAB TO MEN AS A WHOLE, BUT RATHER TO THE OUTDATED PATRIARCHAL SYSTEM THAT CONTINUES TO PROMOTE SEXIST ACTIONS THAT BELITTLE, OBJECTIFY, AND SHAME WOMEN. What’s a man gotta do?

“Sa usapan ng kababaihan, ang malaking champion po dapat ay ang kalalakihan,” says Gutoc, explaining that as men in our society have more advantage, they are called to be part of the solution. Ubay-ubay supplements this by saying that everyone has a role to play in changing the narrative, starting with talking about the issue and making it matter.

“Sexism, misogyny, and the ‘men are trash’ narrative are existing realities,” adds First Year Formation Program Professor Mr. Arniel Daluz.

He says that as students of the University, we can combat this problem through the Ignatian value of indifference. “Indifference in a sense that this Ignatian value would challenge us to let go of our biases and prejudice,” Daluz explains. “After all, there is no such thing as a better sex, but rather a better person,” he concludes. *** To some, “men are trash” is an unfair generalization. In the same way that not all the pearls were poisoned, not all men are trash.

However, this rhetoric is not a jab to men as a whole, but rather to the outdated patriarchal system that continues to promote sexist actions that belittle, objectify, and shame women.

Yes, not all the pearls were poisoned, but just one compromised the entire drink. In the same way, not all men are trash, but just enough were that a correlation was made.C Additional sources: edgedavao.net/the-big-news/2017/03/08/rape-every-62preen.ph/81711/alarming-state-philippines-sexualharassment-child-exploitation-cases businessmirror.com.ph/2020/03/09/more-women-rapedphysically-abused-last-year-govt-data/ rainn.org/statistics/scope-problem

Vol. 47 No. 3 February 2021

Design by Melvin P. Villacote

28 Illustration by Jayson Elvie G. Ty

Vol. 47 No. 3 February 2021

I

f anyone were to ask me how I am doing these days, a single-word answer usually suffices: lost. I know, shocking. Cora? Lost? That strong-willed woman who had her head shaved and had enough guts in her petite body to actually run for presidency? Don’t get too invested with piecing together how that came to be. Don’t even get me started on the fuss my mom made about the campaign posters scattered around the house.

With my status as the longest-staying student in the University, I had to have been over the challenges, right? I knew the transition to online learning would bring a myriad of hardship, and for a while there I was getting the hang of it—until the second semester rolled in and I am once again met with the predicament they call lab classes.

This afternoon started out with me sitting before the kitchen table where I propped my laptop and arranged my notes, and with every intention to pay attention to this synchronous class, I even had a glass of ice-cold coffee at the ready. As the hours ticked by while our professor narrated every procedure to preparing culture media, I have slowly moved farther and farther away from the world of test tubes and petri dishes. The girl that I was two hours ago simply isn’t me anymore. It doesn’t help at all that my internet connection couldn’t quite catch the taped recording of how exactly to conduct this experiment. In between a few minutes, my screen displays an exhibit of frozen pixels, and I can no longer keep track of which step we’re at or what just happened. I constantly try to tune in, of course, as we are tasked to do this experiment ourselves in the next week. But alas, the sun had already set and our session was announced to be over. Oh no. What do I do?

My weekends are constantly filled with anxiety. Not only am I falling behind on most of my subjects, but it’s also impossible for me to pass this lab class with no materials whatsoever to conduct the experiments. The various skincare products I have purchased over quarantine do no good over the acne and wrinkles that have started appearing on my face. I am stressdt. It was posted in our virtual classroom that we can claim a few of the items from school in order to perform the experiment —something I couldn’t possibly do as our family has moved to the province since COVID started. “If you are not within the city, you may improvise,” it

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says in the last part. Wait, what? That’s it? It’s up to my hands to make things work? I had totally loved attending laboratory classes. I get to wear a white coat and pretend to be professional. My block mates also seemed to enjoy taking Instagram stories in their goggles-and-gloves look. It was a good break from lectures in classrooms, and it was interesting to do hands-on activities. The whole experience of being enclosed within white pristine walls, being surrounded with shelves of impressive-looking equipment, and having an actual manual you can flip through are factors that have lured me into appreciating everything that was taught in the class. The moving exams were terrifying, but nothing compares to the triumphant feeling of having finished it on time. Now I have to make do with the limits of a 360p clip, a lowquality picture of a page from a book (which had been sent on Messenger), and a heart-racing timed test on eLearn.

Ah, so much for reminiscing. But wait, there must be a reason why the University and the entire educational institution pushed for the continuation of classes despite an ongoing pandemic. There must be a reason for their expectation that all students own the essential gadgets for online learning, that they have a stable wifi connection, and that they have a quiet and comfortable work environment.

More than that, there must be a reason for lab classes to carry on despite the fact that we are all literally stuck inside our houses.

Ladies and gentlemen, and non-binary folks, I have finally found the answer! I, Cora Contrabida, have officially found the way to approaching the dilemmas of online learning. I can’t believe we, students, made such a big commotion over this undertaking. We even got to the point of settingup numerous fund drives for those who are experiencing extreme difficulties. We’ve argued about it with adults both on Twitter and in real life, our point being our inability to truly learn with a lot of factors hindering our capability to absorb information. Seriously, I heard some of the people we know even stopped attending school for its damaging consequences.

I am no longer lost, for the road that lies before me points a straight direction.

The answer? Just follow their expectations!

Don’t have a laptop or personal computer? Get one! For a better experience, get two monitors.

Relying on prepaid surfing promos? Subscribe to an internet provider! The more expensive the faster mbps it could offer. Don’t have a desk and a nice room? Just set one up! How hard could it be? And finally, don’t have lab materials? Oh boy, you’re not ready for this. Just build your own laboratory!

Time is running, therefore I must make haste. I first consulted Google for recommendations of the best monitor in the market, as well as all the other parts that would compose my desktop computer. It must be one with high processing power and RAM for it to accommodate my need for multiple tabs for research, and one that can power through long durations of video editing. My keyboard must be mechanical so that I feel like a boss woman taking on my lab reports like a pro with the satisfying sounds of tactile clicking to accompany the low hum of my lofi playlist while I work at 3AM. I must not forget to include a 4K webcam and a professional microphone so that I am confident enough to reveal my face during Google Meet classes and speak for recitations. Apart from that, I’m thinking that I will be able to take better notes if I had an iPad and an Apple Pencil. We need to conserve the trees anyway, it’s about time we go green. Then I’m going to need a sturdy desk, the finest gaming chair, and some LED lights to create an inviting ambiance for my study space. And finally, my laboratory equipment and manuals.

From that student who can’t even source the most basic materials for the assigned experiment, I’m going to own my personal Agar sterilizer (an important equipment needed for a step which my fellow blockmates can’t even complete) and many more.

If anyone else out there is unconvinced of my fool-proof plan, I’m going to put it simply for you.

The only reason we’re struggling with lab classes is the fact that we don’t have access to an actual laboratory. Building our own will enable us to fully immerse in the entirety of what it would have been like in pre-COVID days. Every practical activity that has been turned to video-viewing sessions will be something we can actually execute. And with our ultimate online learning set-up, we are bound to live up to the expectations set for us. There is no other factor in the way of us getting the best out of this education. Without a doubt, this strategy will make all of us experience excellence.C

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hapi

Dear Ate Charot, Itago lang ko sa pangalang Joice, ang babae nga ang haba ng hair, mag rejoice kana gurl. Char lang, pero dili char lang kay tinuod man na ginailugan jud. Sa seryoso nga istorya Ate Charot, usahay lisod gyud ning gwapa ta ba? Lisod sab mupili if puro sila gwapa, what to do Ate Charot? On one hand, char naka english si manay giask ko ni ate cool girl named Doeta na magselfie date sa Valentines, on the other hand sab, nichat si bestie Acoe crush since forever na single na siya and ready to mingle. Gikilig ko Ate Charot, bakla of the year naba ko? Sino pipiliin ko, Ate Charot? Doeta or si Acoe? I have two hands, the left and the right, pwede ba duha makahold them up high? Tabang Ate Charot ano ba ito.

Dear Joice,

KURISEARCH ni Happy

flashlight

5 crusader dingbats

2 mugs candlestick

anchor

magnifying glass

spider

neck tie

butterfly

scissor

heart

sword

ruler extinguisher

Ayaw kabalaka Joice, kalma lang. Gipairal nimo imuhang damdamin, nadala lang jud ka sa emosyon gurl unsaern ang cheka siszt? Karung Valentines gurl, dili mana measured ang unsay buhaton ninyo sa kana na day, ang importante naa moy quality time sa each other gurl, every day is Valentines Day baya.

Ischedule na unsa oras sila basin magconflict sila plus tan-awa sad imuhang budget if pasok ba kay basin macharan ka. Lablab Joice, Happy Valentines kanimo.

To join: Photocopy this Kurisearch with your answers and submit your entry to thecrusaderpub@gmail.com with your fullname and contact number. Lucky participants will receive limited edition collectables.

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Vol. 47 No. 3 February 2021

KURISCOPE ni madame igit cholalat

igit

Huy mga siszums, musta nman mo karung second semester. Dugay dugay na sad ta wala nakacheka sa akong bolang chalalat. Dili na nako padayunon ang akong cheka uy, kabalo ko excited mo kay Feb-ibig month nasad. Naa ra inyuhang kapalaran karun mga siss. Karung Feb-ibig edition.

Aquarius (Have a kitkat sad) Dzaii time out sa module uy, take a break sad, try ug dating app basin matabangan ka sa imuhang modules. Unsay gihulat install nana. Take a break, have a date.

Lucky Color: Roses are Red Lucky Movie: To all the boys I love before

dan

Aries (Paubaya ala Moira Dela Torre) Dzai, kabalo ko na sakit sa buot na naay kachat imuhang uyab sa lain. Ayaw lang sad paghinala ug dako basin classmate rana nimo, pero if lahe na diha na dayun ka magpaubaya. Ikaw lang yan dzai.

Lucky Color: Violets are blue Lucky Movie: The Hows of Us

Cancer (Patawad, Paalam na) Mareng, ikapila diay ka magpatawad niya nth time lang ganun, ayaw sad. If knows na nimo na toxic na inyuhang paguban sa usag-usa, ayaw na, tama na, igna nalang salamat sa tanan.

Mareng, kabalo ko naay paabutay sa imuha.

Lucky Color: Ash blonde Lucky Movie: Camp Sawi

ed

Capricorn (Ikaw na si Ms Right) Quarantine is quaranfling, ganun. Catch up ta karun pandemic kay halosa sa imuhang barkada kay naa nay uyab. 2021 na raba dong plus February nasad. Good luck!!

Lucky Color: Transparent white Lucky Movie: 18 Again (kdrama)

Gemini (Sana ol sinusuyo) Sana all sinusuyo pag nag aaway binibilhan niya kasi ako ng melktea ,borger, che. Ang tunay na sana ol kay kanang ignun ka nagkaon naka, if wala lutuan tika ug pagkaon. Sacrifice sad panagsa dili permi palit, crisis ron.

hapi

Lucky Color: Jet Black Lucky Movie: The house arrest of us

Leo (Ikaw ang pag-ibig na hinintay) Yeng is that you? Charet. Higala, karung 2021 bahalag ‘new normal’ basta naay lovelife. Think positive lang basin ang muabot sa imuha kay makaingun ka na “siya ang pag-ibig na hinintay” Chizzzz...

Lucky Color: Burgundy Lucky Movie: Crazy Rich Asian

Libra (Bakit tayo iniiwan?)

Dili man jud nato maiwasan na iquestion sa atong self, bakit ako iniwan? Ikapila man ka makamove one, ika-pila ka magkaon ug red velvet cake kung ang inyuhang relasyon gitatak lisud jud siya wala.on. Remember, for the next time you love someone again, basin siya na ang dili mubiya sa imuha.

ed

Lucky Color: Pepper Brown Lucky Movie: Bakit hindi ka crush ng crush mo.

Pisces (Social Distancing Relationship) Naku Naku Naku, daghan jud magbulag tungod aning pandemya. Pero bro, ayaw kamingaw sa iyaha permi bitaw mo magsturya sa Messenger. Bahalag SDR mo ron, kay ang gugma walay pili unsa ka kalayo sa iyaha. Ugh chizzzyyyy kaayo uy.

igit

Lucky Color: Neon Green Lucky Movie: F.LA.M.E.S the movie

Taurus (Ako’y kinikilig et) Mingaw kaayo musulod sa klase na naa si crush, labi na kanang tapad nimo siya rawwr. Karun na new normal man taman lang jud ta sa virtual screen kiligon, hayyst mabalik unta ang kahapon. Ansabeh kilig lugar? Soon magkita rami niya ug magsturya face to face.

Lucky Color: Ocean Blue Lucky Movie: Love the way you lie

Virgo (Love you to the stars ang back) Mamser, ayaw jud mo pascam anang I love you from the bottom of my heart, kaloka, esophagus guro noh, dili heart? Karruun pandemya if naay magchat, stalk first and say CHALALAT kay basin macharran ta sige ug chat chat. Magbackground check sa ta.

ed

Lucky Color: Gold Lucky Movie: Love you to the stars and back

Sagittarius (Pambansang third wheel) Ang saket po, yes napakasaket maging third wheel. Maanad raka ana, timan.e karung 2021 naa kay plot twist. Hulat hulat lang, naa ra siya diha abay nimo or kachat nimo, scroll scroll na sa inbox, kinsa kaha na akong pasabot?

IGIT

Lucky Color: Flamingo Pink Lucky Movie: Hello, Love, Goodbye

Crusader

The

Scorpio (Tulog usab langga) Oh nagdamgo ka na uban nimo si Cha Eun Woo dzai or kadate nimo si Bae Suzy dong, istaph kinain kana ng systema sa k-drama karung pandemya. Hula-on ko na hurot na nimo ang mga k-drama sa netflix or Viu noh, char. Puhon makaanha raka sa Korea. Kapit lang!

Lucky Color: Ivory white Lucky Movie: True Beauty ug Start-Up

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