The Forefront 2022 Women's Month: Matriarchy

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• Skeptic, Nihilist, Pedant, Atheist, Aquarius, Bading minsan

• Paramore is life, Ecco is lifer, Food is lifest

writers refuse to protect the letters of democracy?

That is a question I dare ask my fel low campus journalists both within and beyond the ‘Front. But this very question begs, demands even, an swers from my pseudo-philosophi cal persona. Or is it just my paradoxical tendencies who continually seek clarifications from the uncertain?

Make no mistake, I never adver tised myself as someone with opti mal intellectual capacity or a writer whose pen has grand influence, but I’d like to think that my byline will someday make an impact on read ers. There are household names that whenever heard do not need intro ductions of sort but still can com mand an entire (news)room. And I wish that, sometime in the foresee

editor’s note

ed my writing endeavors with that ambition in mind. But as the years went by, this superficiality got the best of me. Further proof of this is whenever I see fellow scribes being recognized by their respective insti tutions. In my four years as an edi tor—three of which as the executive editor whilst in the danger of conta gion—the title “Student Journalist of the Year” is the proverbial spotlight I never got to bask in. But this feel ing of envy (and perhaps self-pity) is how I managed to see through the superficial. The awards, certificates, medals, trophies, titles—each is a fundamental factor in the eyes of the ambitious. But those should not be the deciding factor of what it means to be an excellent campus journalist. It took a while to fully grasp that

QUEJADA, APOSTOL TOP FEMALE EDUCATORS IN “VALUING TEACHERS” STUDENTS’ CHOICE AWARDS

THAT’S A WRAP!

HISTORIC CROWN

FREE TINANG!

Writer, Main Vocals, Lead Dancer, Anti-Visuals

writing—whether it’s entwined with socioeconomic analyses, personal anecdotes, literary devices, cultur al commentaries—is inherently designed with purpose. And that pur pose is of our own choosing. The narrative we tread is already a reflec tion of our moral compasses; it mir rors our perception of worldviews. So, if I continue writing for the sole purpose of amassing more awards rather than echoing the cries of the silenced, then my humanity should be suspected and interrogated. But the change of heart is not an other case of spur-of-the-moment tragedy wherein I would dreadfully regret what was done all because it gave license to spectators crucifying my right to dissent, as I fear not my right to hold even myself account able; holding myself hostage for false beliefs is horror made manifest.

I still enjoy the occasional tri umphs, the accolades, those that can fill out the white spaces in my curric ulum vitae—but they, too, are mere illusion of permanence in the grand helix of time. Even putting that into

stretch anyway) that journalists pos sess. Or to which extent do we write the stories of the poor and the hun gry that stray away from self-complacency. But I do know that in the age of (mis/dis)information war, the truth is the language of democracy, and journalism, for me, is its curren cy. And I made sure to pass this jour nalistic outlook to the next in line.

To conclude this, to the entire Ed itorial Board Academic Year 20222023, to the new ExCom— Earvin Jon Arsua as the Executive Editor, Clarissa Mae Berja as the Associ ate Editor, and Reggie Boy Vargas as the Managing Editor—know that I have great trust in placing the future of the Forefront in your hands.

A reminder: dismember clout from advocacy. Only then you’ll be able to truly understand what it means to write with purpose, to write in the heart of informing and empowering.

#DefendPressFreedom

#DefendCampusPress

editorial board & staff

I still enjoy the occa sional triumphs, the accolades, those that can fill out the white spaces in my curriculum vitae— but they, too, are mere illusion of permanence in the grand helix of time.”

Journalism Excellence Awardee

Featured on National Television (TV Patrol)

Published works on Philippine Daily Inquirer, Rappler, Novice Magazine, and elsewhere

Quejada, Apostol

Top Female Educators in “Valuing Teachers” Students’ Choice Awards

CLARISSA MAE BERJA NEWS EDITOR

WITH REPORTS FROM EJ GACAYAN

Last December 2021, Ms. Krizia Fatima R. Quejada from the College of Education, Arts and Sciences (CEAS) together with Ms. Ruza Leni Apostol from the College of Allied Health and Services (CAHS), were among the announced winners and the only two fe- male instructors in the first-ever “Valuing Teachers” Students’ Choice Awards, spearheaded by the Gordon College- Su- preme Student Council (GC-SSC).

Coordinator and Adviser of BA Commu nication and Communication Society, re spectively, Quejada found herself speech less after receiving the award. “When I claimed my certificate a week after I was informed, I still cannot believe how and why I [became] deserving of that award,” she admitted during an ambush interview.

When asked if the teaching profession is still being negatively pigeonholed as a woman’s job, she said no “because we have a different era wherein every gender is empowered to do any job.” Moreover, she underscored that no one has ever discred ited her or even her body of work because of being a woman. She then extended her gratitude, through a Facebook post, to the students as well as to the GC-SSC for the honor.

Meanwhile, CAHS instructor, Apostol, said in an online interview that she was “overwhelmed, delighted, and grateful” upon receiving the honor, and further em phasized that teachers serve as a catalyst in shaping the students’ lives.

“[That] award is an acknowledgment of hard work and a job well done,” Apostol said. “[Instructors] play a [crucial part] in preparing students for the challenges of the future by equipping them with the skills and knowledge required for success.”

Alongside Quejada and Apostol, Mr. John Angelo Diwa of College of Business and Accountancy (CBA), Mr. John Vincent Dela Cruz of College of Hospitality and Tour ism Management (CHTM), and Mr. Melner Balce of College of Computer Studies (CCS) were also recipients of the student’s choice award.

The GC-SSC has ascertained the continu ation of this initiative. Determined by the GC student body via online voting through google forms, the said event was “to recog nize our instructor’s diligent efforts.”

THE FOREFRONT “Triumphant Informing

FOREFRONT SCRIBES:

“Triumphant in the name of Informing and Empowering”

In celebration of the 104th anniversary since its founding, CLSU Collegian, the official campus press of Central Luzon State Univer sity, organized a journalism skills training and competi tion with the theme “Lak bay Panulat: Paglalayag sa Daluyong ng Malayang Pamamahayag” last 15-16, 22-23, and 29 of January.

Prior, Regina, the uni versity publication of the University of Assumption, spearheaded a Luzonwide edition of the 2nd Assump tion Outstanding Campus Press Awards (AOCPA), last January 12.

Outgoing Editor-in-Chief Ray Mark S. Espiritu said that this win is not part of his legacy, nor should it be celebrated under his term. The publication’s involve ment and winning in press conferences, he believes, are “bonus works only.”

“

Running a publication

with our current polsit, ag gravated by the contagion, plus the other multifacto rial interventions, the chief goal is to stay true to our journalistic calling, that is to inform and empower. But there’s no harm in admit ting that adding feathers to our cap is just as euphoric, ” he said.

Further, Espiritu said the current editorial board and staff, and succeeding mem bers are “manifold better” than him.

“I know I’ve worked hard under my editorship for three consecutive years. And I know na kung sino man ang susunod na eboard and staff ay ‘di hamak na mas magiging proactive. I’m just glad that I have this great team, these brilliant fellow campus journos to celebrate the publication’s success with.”

The winners in the two events are as follows:

John Ian Marquez 1st Place, Development Journalism

REGINA: Assumption Outstanding Campus Press Awards (AOCPA)

Earvin Jon Arsua 2nd Place, Feature Writing

Ray Mark S. Espiritu 2nd Place, Feature Writing

Ray Mark S. Espiritu 3rd Place, Editorial Writing

Emmanuel John Gacayan 2nd Place, Sports Writing

Ray Mark S. Espiritu 3rd Place, Opinion Writing

THE FOREFRONT, the official student publication unit of Gordon College, brought home journalistic merits in two recently held press conferences

CL campus journos illegally detained, hold graduation rites

RAY MARK SAMSON ESPIRITU EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

10,

“Makatarungan lang na sila ay palayain. Hindi po sila kriminal,” Cathy Eatavillo mula sa Bantay Bigas saad nito sa isang protesta. “Ang mga magnanakaw at ang mga convicted ay nananatiling nakakawala pero ang mga magsasaka na lumilikha ng pagkain ng mamamayang Pilipino ay sila pang ipinakulong.”

Macalino is among the 87 peasants, farmers, student-lead ers and advocates, and campus journalists who were peacefully conducting a collective land cul tivation yesterday, June 9 in Haci enda Tinang, Concepcion, Tarlac. Despite posing no harm, Tinang 87 were red-tagged and forcibly dispersed, prior to being arrest ed without warrant, by armed policemen—as evident in videos and testimonies circulating in so cial media.

Proof of their illegal detain ment is made palpable by the certificates of land title granted to the accused by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). A to tal of 236 agrarian reform ben eficiaries (ARBs) were awarded by certificates of land ownership (CLOA) in 2019.

Further, according to Elizabeth Felix—one of the hundreds of families in possession of CLOA—

the legal decision was already established in 1995, but due to the Barangay Agrarian Reform Council’s withholding of this in formation, the beneficiaries had only discovered this fact in 2016 and had not been taking effect.

Aside from Macalino, other members of the press from The Angelite, The Work of Tarlac State University, and CLSU Colle gian of Central Luzon State Uni versity are among the baselessly arrested.

#FreeTinang87

#FreeCEGPCL5

Editor’s Note: Tinang 87 has since been released on June 12 af ter posting bail. Moreover, on June 27, Capas Trial Court has junked the two cases—illegal assembly and mischief—filed against them.

OnJune

campus journalists from Central Luzon con- vened a mini-graduation rites for Denisse Macalino, a social studies major and former editor of The Angelite, the university-wide student publication of Holy Angel Uni- versity, after being illegally detained in Tarlac Provincial Of- fice, Concepcion Police Station.

“10s across the board!”:

Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, First Trans Woman Golden Globe Winner

I-MAN KLAY GARCIA STAFF WRITER

“

This is for the LGBTQAI, Black, Latina, Asian, the many multi-beautiful colors of the rainbow around the freaking world. This is not just for me, this is for y’all.

tage actress and singer Michaela Jaé Rodriguez etched her name in the television industry after a historic tri umph in the 79th Golden Globe Awards.

Besting seasoned actresses such as Uzo Aduba, Jennifer Aniston, Christine Baranski, and Elisabeth Moss, Rodri guez became the first trans woman to ever bag a Golden Globe—a major act ing role one at that.

Already familiar with the ballroom and drag culture at a young age, her portrayal of Blanca Evangelista in the critically-acclaimed series Pose further proved her acting chops, if not already established on her previous stage per formances.

During her spontaneous acceptance speech via Instagram Live, Rodriguez stressed her victory is not hers alone, rather, for the people of color and queer community everywhere, especially the youth.

“This is for the LGBTQAI, Black, Latina, Asian, the many multi-beautiful colors of the rainbow around the freaking world. This is not just for me, this is for y’all,” Ro driguez underscored. “There are going to be so many young individuals—young, talented thriving individuals—that are going to be able to trail in and storm in through the door. This is for y’all.”

Pose also tackled the stigma that ex isted then regarding HIV and AIDS. The show focused on the minority of the queer community—the Black and Latino—and the impact of neglect and discrimination amidst an emerging ep idemic, which then resulted to the rise of ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) and gay rights activists.

SCREENCRAP FROM YOUTUBE

WRITER

No nest is actually entitled to a bird’s wings. However, that is not Britney Spears’ life for about 13 years under conservatorship. After dedicating it in the industry, pouring a lot of herself on it, and making every dream visible in her eyes—in 2008, all of her rights to these things and everything about her life vanished as the court decided to put Jaime Spears, her father, as her conservator. This happened during Britney’s battle to mental crisis which made her undergo hospitalization and reha bilitation. It was like plucking out the feathers of her wings just by living in the means of her world. For about a decade and three, imagine someone making decisions for the life you have built for yourself. It is in all honesty a tor ture for someone who is not yet old enough to have the inability of making credible financial decisions and obviously still able to decide for herself. This conservatorship, a US Law, restricted her life in aspects that anyone will

be surprised to know—from choosing the col or of her kitchen cabinets to who to date and to have or should not have her own children. Nobody has thought that this nest can be this suffocating where in fact, it should be where she most feels safe at.

Afterall, she knows her worth. She knows what she is capable of doing. And the circum stances that polluted the skies she is meant to conquer, as well as the people who plucked out the feathers of her wings and wounded her did not stop her power to get up and at tempt to fly.

It is not just her fans, but Britney, herself, wanted to unchain her wings from this legal ly binding contract that didn’t let her decide for herself for about 13 years. Hopeful, eager, and dedicated to free this deserving woman, her fans, made the #FreeBritney movement where everyone prays for her to get the jus tice and freedom she is entitled to. Further

more, after everything that has happened, by the help of her own platform and the people at her back, on November 12, year 2021, the court finally terminated Britney’s conserva torship after proving that this 39 years old woman is still capable of handling her own life and its financial aspect. Along with this termination is the freedom from what is said to be “cruel” and “abusive” use of conservator ship over her. Britney is finally free.

This woman is the only one who flew de spite the storms, got her own worms, built her own nest—and that should be enough reason to let her enjoy the taste of it. No one must have the power to decide when to fly, where to go, and what to do in and out of the nest for her. She must fly when she wants to for a woman who knows her worth will always be capable of leaving unjust situations.

KAREN ANN GATBUNTON STAFF

Life would probably be perfect if things were going our way. All the time. As if all the rewards the world could offer are for all the work we have dedicated ourselves into. But most of the time, life itself is what imprisons usanticipation about the things that we deserve.

IAN MARQUEZ DEVCOMM EDITOR

JOHN

PHOTO BY JOHN IAN G. MARQUEZ

Walang

Subic-Clark Railway Project (SCRP)

Oktubre taong 2016 nang mag kasundo ang bansang Tsina at Pilipi nas sa isang proyektong may layuning pabilisin ang bawat pagtanggap at pa ghahatid ng mga produkto’t kagami tan mula sa Subic tungong Clark. Ang proyektong ito ay ang Subic-Clark Rail way Project na bahagi ng Build Build Build Program ng administrasyong Duterte.

Tinatayang may habang 71 kilo metro, tatakbo ang tren mula Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ) hanggang Clark Freeport Zone (CFZ) upang magkaroon ng koneksyon ang Port of Subic Bay at Clark International Air port (CRK). Layunin din ng proyekto na maging sentro ng industriyalismo ang mga lugar sakop nito partikular na ang buong Central Luzon. Karagdagan, inilatag din ng programa ang layuning maibsan ang bigat ng trapikong nara ranasan sa Metro Manila partikular na sa trapikong nagdudulot ng kabagalan sa mga import at export activities ng Manila Port.

Base sa inisyal na plano, ang pon dong nakalaan sa programa ay Php50,030,918,426.78 na nagmula sa bansang Tsina at General Appropria tions Act (GAA). Sa tinatayang 50 bily ong piso, 85% nito ay mula sa Offical Development Assistance o ODA na si yang mula sa Tsina at ang nalalabing 15% ay mula naman sa GAA.

Samantala, kalakip ng programa ng gobyerno ang alanganin ng sam bayanan partikular ng mga residente mula sa probinsya ng Bataan, Pampan ga at Zambales. Bilang parte ng pagsa sagawa ng proyekto, magkakaroon ng relokasyon para sa mga lugar na matat amaan ng isasagawang pagtatayo ng railway. Mula sa Social, Economic and Environment Info ng nasabing proyek to, tinatayang 669 na pamilya mula sa walong bayan at siyudad ng tatlong probinsya ang maaapektuhan.

Gayunpaman, hindi pa rin natata pos ang demolisyong isinasagawa bil ang parte ng proyekto. Kaugnay nito, mayroon pang higit tatlong taon ang tatakbuhin ng proyekto na inaasahang magtatapos sa taong 2024.

Ang takot ng mga residente Taong 2020, buwan ng Marso, na gulantang ang buong mundo sa ma bilisang paglaganap ng Novel Coro navirus o mas kilala sa katawagang COVID-19 na nagmula sa bansang Tsina taong 2019. Bilang hakbang ng gobyerno at pakikipag-ugnayan sa iba’t-ibang namumuno, nagkaisa sil ang isailalim ang buong bansa sa com munity quarantine bilang hakbang at pagpigil sa nakahahawang sakit.

Sa pagdaloy ng panahon, patuloy na

lumala ang sakit na umapekto sa mi lyun-milyong tao sa buong mundo at kumitil din ng milyong mga buhay. Sa kasalukuyan, kaliwa’t kanan ang mga sitwasyon ng pagkamatay gayong du marami rin ang mga COVID variants ang nananalasa sa buong mundo.

Sa kabilang banda, kasabay ng pan demya ang proyekto ng pamahalaan: ang SCRP o Subic-Clark Railway Proj ect. Maaapektuhan ng proyekto ang daan-daang pamilya ng Zambales, Bataan at Pampanga.

Nagsimula na ang demolisyon para sa mga kabahayang maapektuhan ng proyekto sa isang barangay sa Florida, Pampanga noong 2021. Oktubre, taon ding iyon ay sinimulan ng isagawa ang assessment para sa ilang kabahayan sa Dinalupihan, Bataan.

Isa si Paulina Coronel sa labis na maaapektuhan ng proyekto. Aniya, wala silang lugar na malilipatan. Ang tangi na lamang nilang maaasahan ay kung magkakaroon ng proyektong pabahay ang gobyerno sa oras ng de molisyon.

Sa nasabing programa ng pama halaan, ang mga maapketuhan ay makatatanggap ng kabayaran para sa mga materyales lamang na ginamit sa kanilang mga tahanan. Naging hinaing ng mga residente—partikular na ng mga apektado—kung saang lugar sila pupulutin sa oras ng sila’y paaaisin sa kinatitirikan ng kanilang mga bahay.

“Hindi ko alam, baka bumalik na lang ako ng bisaya [Visayas] kasi wala naman akong matir[a]han dito,” ani Coronel.

Dagdag pa niya, mahirap ang trans portasyon at paglabas lalo na sa kasa lukuyang panahon kung saan nakara ranas ang buong mundo ng pandemya. Sigaw pa ng ilang residente ang segu ridad at konsiderasyon ng pamahalaan dahil sa nararanasang sitwasyon kung saan nakasalalay ang kalusugan at bu hay ng lahat.

Ayon kay Juan Marquez, dapat isaalang-alang ng gobyerno ang kapa kanan ng kanilang nasasakupan. Mal aki ang usapin kung sila ay palilisanin sa kanilang tinitirahan. Ngunit, pagda ragdag niya, bilang isang mamamayan lamang, wala silang magagawa kung hindi sumunod na lamang lalo na’t gobyerno ang kanilang naging katapat.

Langit lupa: ang buhay ng nasa ita as at nasa ibaba

Kasabay ng mabilis na pagbaba gong-bihis ng ekonomiya, patuloy na naghahanap ng paraan at hakbangin ang pamahalaan para sa ikauunlad at ikagaganda ng sistema ng bansa. Ngunit, paano na lamang ang tulad ni Aling Paulina? Maririnig ba ang boses nila?

Walang masama sa pag-unlad lalo

na kung may progresibong proyektong labis na makatutulong sa ekonomiya. Ngunit, sa pag-unlad na ito ay pawang iginugupo ang mga mamamayang nasa laylayan na walang pagkakataong isab oses ang kanilang mga saloobin. Kay dali nga namang sambitin na gawin at bagbagin ang mga tahanang nag-alaga sa atin ngunit para sa mga nabubuhay sa kalupaan, tanging mga taong ‘di na kararamdam lamang ang may kakaya hang bigkasin ang mga katagang iyan.

Sa huli, ang punto de vista ng pama halaan ay hinding-hindi maitutuon sa kakarampot na sumisigaw kung hindi sa mas ikayayabong ng lahat. Muling pag-isahin ang natatanging karapatan, manindig at ipaglaban ang iyong nar aramdaman. Boses ay ipagsigawan da hil ang simpleng mamamayan ay may malaking papel sa ating bayan.

Mula sa Patnugot: Ang artikulong ito ay isinulat at isinumite noong ika-22 ng Enero, 2022 bilang panlahok sa pa timpalak ng CLSU Collegian na SUHAY: ‘Sumulong at Sumulat,’ a Journalism Skills Training & Competition mula sa kategoryang Development Journalism, na siya namang nagwagi ng unang gantimpala. Tugma sa tema ng isyu ang artikulo kaya’t ipanasiyang ilathala sa layon ng pag-artsibo.

kasiguraduhan— ganito ang paglalarawan ni Paulina Coronel, 55, mula sa Brgy. Pinulot, Dinalupihan, Bataan, ang kanilang sitwasyon sa nalalapit nilang paglisan sa kinatitirikan ng kanilang tahanan dahil sa programa ng pamahalaan ukol sa pagtatayo ng railway project.

Isa si Paulina Coronel sa labis na maaapektuhan ng proyekto. Aniya, wala silang lugar na malilipatan. Ang tangi na lamang nilang maaasahan ay kung magkakaroon ng proyektong pabahay gobyernoang sa oras ng demolisyon.

“

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

n 2021, the world celebrated the triumphant news of journalists being awarded the No- bel Peace Prize. But in the Philippines, many, however, mocked the Nobel laureates— especially our very own Maria Ressa—and instead called them “fake news.”

RAY MARK SAMSON ESPIRITU

To write and choose the masses and their interests through journalism and dissent are and would never be crimes or threats to our country.”

Beyond online rid icule is the per petual attempt to silence progres sive journalists who never bowed down to any iron hand. Filipino journalists are being threatened, harassed, unjustly jailed, and worst, murdered.

Thus, a question de mands to be asked: Is the Philippines truly a home for a free press?

With Nobel Before Ressa’s historic win, she, and her company Rappler, had always been a sharp critic of the Dute rte regime and its bloody drug war. Condemning and exposing thousands of extrajudicial killings through her journalism, she became nothing short of a powerhouse journal ist that led the Rappler newsroom to where it is now. This led Duterte and his administration to act as if they were the victims and made use of the pres ident’s power and intimi dation to attack—a classic play directly pulled from the fascist’s Nevertheless,playbook.Ressa stood her ground and proved her loyalty to hold power to account even more when she also began

exposing the effects of the careless act of letting lies spread on social media, specifically Facebook. The battles seem to be in fu tility, especially when she has already been wrong fully convicted with cy ber-libel—which have ap plied retroactively.

She is fighting two fronts of two different wars, both of which have directed all their minions to continuously attack her; yet her spirit remains unfazed. Fast forward to today, she now carries with her a prestigious No bel, a win not hers alone but for the journalists who have been wronged.

With nobility

But she is not the only journalist carrying the mantle of holding those in authority accountable for their actions.

While high-end jour nalist Ressa won—and deservedly so—became the first-ever Filipino No bel laureate for her works against attacks on media and press, and is contin uously exposing the re percussions of network misinformation orches trated by political giants, 22-year-old Frenchie Mae Cumpio remains in jail for fabricated evidence and

trumped-up charges. In February 2020, in justice befell Tacloban City when state forces stormed Cumpio and her colleagues on Eastern Vis ta’s headquarters. East ern Vista is a media orga nization in Tacloban City wherein Cumpio has lent her journalism service as its editor-in-chief.

The military have base lessly branded her, to gether with five others, as members of the Philip pine New Army. Alterna tive media networks and progressive groups have called for Cumpio’s im mediate release since her illegal arrest.

“Justice remains elusive” said the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) in a statement regarding Cumpio’s 23rd month behind bars. “To write and choose the masses and their interests through journalism and dissent are and would nev er be crimes or threats to our country.”

Noble cause

These women journal ists campaign for facts and truth, for the reality of the masses to come into surface, for press freedom as a right of the agents of the Fourth Estate and Fili

pino people in general yet they are being treated as if they were the ones who wronged our country. It is not their pens who have painted every corner of the Philippines red but they are the ones being put behind bars.

We are free to write be cause they held the line for us. It is because of the power of their pens that we are able to write, and even hold webinars about journalism and the illusion of the current state of press freedom. It is in that gravity of moral choices that we carry the responsibility to continue defending and holding the line.

Editor’s Note: This was written and submitted on January 15, 2022 as an entry for CLSU Collegian’s SUHAY: ‘Sumulong at Su mulat,’ a Journalism Skills Training & Competition under the Feature Writing Category, and won second place. This piece met the issue’s theme and is being published for archival pur poses.

From the onset, I want to say first that it is an honor just being able to think and appreciate the capabilities of all the women in the world—being the inspiration towards other people by shar ing their blessings and talents or just simply exuding confidence in beauty. And of course, I am writing about a group of women who stirred a cultural revolution amongst millions of fans and followers, the one and only biggest girl group whose every turn broke records—Blackpink.

Formed under YG Entertain ment in South Korea, Blackpink is composed of four rose-col ored women: Jennie, Rosé, Jisoo, and Lisa. The group’s name is not just a random union of two colors; it comes from the mem bers’ personalities: the color black as their cool and fierce vibes or savageness while still being cute or girly much like the color pink. This concept and the members who embody this new outlook, which was previously considered unfit in the bubble gum genre of K-Pop, have suc cessfully managed to put their music on an international scale. Don’t get me wrong, other K-Pop groups may have done it as well, but it is no secret that Blackpink did so too but on a much bigger scale.

Before anything else, I would like to give a big shout out to all the Blinks out there as our thirst will finally be quenched. Although three of the group’s members have already debuted for their solo music careers and another for acting, we are still somewhat dissatisfied because after such a long period of hia tus, we still long for the whole group’s comeback. It has been almost two years since the last release of their album. But the years of drought and rants have come to an end as Blackpink fi nally graced the cover of Rolling Stone Korea’s 7th issue. The said magazine focuses on featuring, introducing, and creating a cul tural world that unites different types or genres of music, and artists. With this feature, we will be getting a glance of what our idols, who we have loved for almost six years, had to go

through as trainees to become K-Pop Royalties. Now, on to the magazine interview (with a few actual quotes from Rolling Stone Korea and with my own com mentary of course).

When Jennie was asked about their training moments, she said: “We were on survival mode. Every month, our friends were forced to leave and go home. Get ting stressed? Having it rough? Those feelings were a luxury. What mattered was debuting.” Upon reading this, I admired her more because those survival experiences to become a K-pop idol must be tougher than we can imagine.

“When was this going to end? Like, when? Do we have to get tested every single month?” “I’d call my mom [in Thailand], wanting to quit, and she would tell me to hang on just another year, just hang on,” Lisa revealed. Lisa is just like me, always on the verge of quitting but always per severing despite it all.

Rosé then followed with “If I was going through a hard time, I’d go to the bathroom, sob my heart out, then on to the next thing. I was on autopilot or some thing. If you told me to do that again, I could never.” My idol, my inspiration goes through break down after another? She truly deserves every ounce of success she has right now.

Further, the girl group also talked about how they were not allowed to do other things as trainees—operating a vehi cle, boozing up, and even going on dates (wow, YG!)—unless permitted by the company. Ob viously, these grueling training periods with such controlled

lifestyle would have detrimental effects to both their physical and mental health. And true enough, they even underwent therapy but proved to be ineffective.

“We just endured,” Jennie dis closed.

These revelations are quite emotional for me because as a fan since 2016, I have witnessed how they have grown. Now that they are breaking millions, even billions, of views in YouTube as well as in other social media platforms, the girls are also hav ing their own individual career path like being ambassadors for luxury, designer brands world wide. Even though it was a long training experience, the girls were and are still consistent in pursuing their dreams, inspiring teenage girls like myself. Just by watching them, it helped me ac cept and love myself even deep er and hone my own talents and skills with the same mentality as my idols. In addition, their songs will always comfort me when ever I am feeling down, and if I finally memorized the dances of their songs, it really feels so ful filling.

To conclude, special thanks to BLɅϽKPIИK for their exis tence, making music, and the will of giving inspirations to so many people around the world. I am wishing that they would continue to do the things they love. And to all the fans like me, we should always know that we are all free in grabbing and liv ing our dreams like what our pinks are doing. Finally, let it be known that I will support them equally until the very end.

Filipinos have a seri ous fondness for good acting, and it shows— simply memorizing drama monologues, reenacting sequences in front of a mirror, powering through si esta hours to find out if the main character is adopted or not, shouting in support to give the antagonist a dose of her own medicine, and even quoting famous lines in a casual conversa tion.

THAT'S A WRAP!

RAY MARK SAMSON ESPIRITU EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Filipino actresses showing the world how

it's done

The wise Lavinia Arguelles, the blueprint kontrabida breathed to life by the late veteran actress Cherie Gil in the timeless classic that is Bituing Walang Ningning, once said, “We, Filipinos, pagdatin gsa acting, oh we can give them a run for their money.” Oh, you thought I was about to quote th spilling-off-a-glass-full-of-sauvignon-blanc scene? Apologies. Nevertheless, truer words have never been spoken, now more than ever.

Bloom of youth

Although we only get to see her for two minutes in one episode of Riverdale, AC Bonifacio—an established world-class dancer and oc casional singer—has obvi ously a knack for acting. And we loved it. Not because of the lost art of crying on com mand or the rare skill of co medic timing, but because of something else. Known for her stamina- and tech nique-based dance skills, AC visibly had to tone down her sharp pops and locks to fit her role. Why? To avoid over shadowing the main charac ter. If this isn’t a testament to her budding acting skills, then we don’t know what is, considering she’s still a newbie. Who knows? Maybe she’ll be able to showcase more in the future and not just in a cameo role.

But of course, a good cam eo is not the only thing we, Filipinos, can offer. We are, in fact, always hungry for more. And in that hunger for great ness, Chai Fonacier was able to secure a major acting role in a feature film. Opposite the formidable Eva Green, Chai plays a Cebuano caregiver in the upcoming thriller film Nocebo. And we know Chai is also formidable in her own right as evident in her stel lar performances in “Pauwi Na” and “Patay na si Hes us” among others, the latter earning her a Luna Award for Best Supporting Actress; for those who don’t know, Luna Awards are the Philippine equivalent of the Oscars.

Shaped by time

Speaking of the Oscars,

Academy Award winner Ni cole Kidman caught a glimpse of what it’s like to work with a Filipino veteran, a three- time Cinemalaya winner, and a professional acting coach— packed in one person. In a six-episode series produced by Amazon Prime Video, Ruby Ruiz will be playing an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW), a nanny to be exact. She garnered nothing but genuine praises during the entirety of the shoot from the casts, director, and produc er. If that wasn’t enough, her 2019 role in the Cinemalaya film Iska (stream it on Net flix!) garnered so much ac claim that it nabbed her two Best Actress Awards in two separate film festivals—The Harlem International Film Festival and Herat Interna tional Women’s Film Festival. This then led to her being asked to audition for the said drama. Yes, she won multiple awards and was then scout edButinternationally. among all these joyful noise, Dolly De Leon has had the most buzz in recent times. In 2021, Dolly starred in a standalone episode in HBO Asia’s limited horror anthology Folklore. But this wasn’t even considered to be the breakthrough role for the FAMAS Award winner. Her role as the toilet cleaner in the Palme d’Or-winning film Triangle of Sadness has earned her a rather thun derous clap of celebration amongst cinephiles both in the Philippines and around the globe, making this her breakout role after decades of being a bit player. From film analysts to casual mov

ie-goers, all of them recog nize the greatness that is Dol ly De Leon. In fact, she most recently bagged the Break through Performance Award in the Middleburg Film Fes tival for her performance in Triangle of Sadness. Further, she was then signed by two US-based agencies—Gersh and Fusion Entertainment. Whether the claps are literal and are as loud as her acting chops or maybe metaphori cal in the sense of bestowing upon her the recognition—whicheverlong-overdue it is, she truly deserves both defi nitions.

Filipinos have a serious fondness for good acting, and it shows—simply memoriz ing drama monologues, reen acting sequences in front of a mirror, powering through siesta hours to find out if the main character is adopted or not, shouting in support to give the antagonist a dose of her own medicine, and even quoting famous lines in a casual conversation. It is in that fondness that we Filipi nos appreciate every single success story in the acting in dustry (or any other industry for that matter).

From Lea Salonga’s histor ic Tony Award-winning mu sical theater performance in 1991, Angel Locsin and Jodi Sta. Maria’s Emmy nomi nations in 2009 and 2016, respectively, Jaclyn Jose’s Cannes victory in 2016, to Nadine Lustre’s win at the Asian Academy Creative Awards in 2019, all of which are but a fraction of what the Filipina can do.

In the first seven minutes of the game, Filipinas’ Jessika Cowart’s header scored the first goal for the Philippines from a corner kick by their skipper Tahnai Annis.

FIFA World Cup ‘23:

IAN MARQUEZ DEVCOMM EDITOR

The Philippines’ women football team made a histori cal win after clinching the title that they have been battling for a decade of participating in the AFF Women’s CUP.

In the first seven minutes of the game, Filipinas’ Jessika Cowart’s header scored the first goal for the Philippines from a corner kick by their skipper Tahnai Annis.

After a series of defense, Katrina Guillou maintained her composure to establish a close-range shot making the Philippines lead against Thai land, 2-0.

The top scorer of the tourna ment, Sarina Bolen, didn’t let the momentum loose as she added one more for team Phil ippines with a header assisted by a corner kick of Sara Egges vik.

The AFF Finals game ended up with a crowd cheering for team Philippines’ victory.

Filipinas bested the South east Asian powerhouses in cluding the four-time AFF champion, Thailand and the reigning Southeast Asian Games gold medalists, Viet nam.

Thailand placed second to the Philippines followed by Myanmar after winning the third-place match against Viet nam.

Hali Long, the defender of Filipinas highlighted the con tribution of the presence of all Filipino fans.

“We couldn’t [have] done it without the crowd and being at home is extra special,” Long said.

With a crowd of more than 8,000, the stadium created an atmosphere of celebration as team Filipinas secured a tick et and qualified for the FIFA World Cup next year.

On the other hand, Filipinas’ coach Alen Stajcic calls Filipi no football fans to do their part and appreciate the growing sport in the country.

“We should just appreciate the success that this team has had and hopefully all in the Filipino football [community] embrace it,’’ Stajcic said.

The Philippines’ Filipinas will make its first appearance and will compete with 31 more teams for the Women’s World Cup next year to be held in Australia and New Zealand.

Filipinas capture a historic win over Thailand, 3-0

JOHN

MANILA, Philippines — With a wild and roaring crowd, Filipinas’ lady footballers cor rode Thailand with a victorious 3-0 game in the finals of the ASEAN Football Federa tion (AFF) Women’s Championship, July 17 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Missingpiece...

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