LASALLIAN CROSSROADS
Languor VOLUME 17
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ISSUE 2
n. the state or feeling, often unpleasant, of tiredness or inertia.
OXFORD LANGUAGES
|i| Illustrations taken from Canva
TABLE OF CONTENTS 1-2 3
#LEARNINGINTHENEWSHIFTEDPROGRAM: CONTINUING THE CHILDREN’S EDUCATION AMIDST COVID-19 BY MELISSA GEQUILLANA MENTAL HEALTH: RECOGNIZING BURNOUTS BY CARIELLE MONTILLA
4-5
THINGS WE MISSED OUT (AND TOTALLY MISS!) BY BEATRICE LOCSON
6-7
LET IT SNOW: THE DESPERATE PUSH FOR ‘ACADEMIC FREEZE’ BY LANZ GAEBRIEL DIONG
8-9
IMPORTANCE OF MEMES IN RELATION WITH REALITY BY CLAUE QUIMADA
10-11
TIKTOK: THE DAWNING OF A NEW AGE BY BERNADETTE THERESE R. DELDIG
12-13
THROWN BACK TO CLOUD NINE BY ANNE VASQUEZ
14-15
BAKING AS A HOBBY AND TRADE: THE RISE OF THE YEAST BY ELLA MONFORT
16-17
FACT-CHECKING THE MANILA BAY SANDS CONTROVERSY BY VINZ ANDREW CORESIS
18-19
REFRESH BY ISABELLA M. SEVERINO
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Editorial Board Moderator Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor
Beatrice Locson Lanz Diong Charmaine Rallos
Senior Feature Editors
Athena Visitacion Carielle Montilla Vinz Coresis Melissa Gequillana
Senior Lay-out Artist
Geneen Gelvoleo
Senior Cartoonist
Charmaine Rallos
Junior Feature Editors Junior News Editors Junior Lay-out Artist Junior Catoonist Contributors
Illustrations taken from Canva
Paul Corral
Associate Editors
Senior News Editors
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Merry Hope Ayre
Sue Esporma Luisa Britanico Andrea Gallo Jemaine Chan Sofia Blancia Janna Ledesma Brianna Pillo Claue Quimada Bernadette Deldig Anne Vasquez Ella Monfort Isabella Severino
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As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads around the globe, the majority of the countries announced the temporary closure of schools. According to the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), the widespread impacts more than 91% of students worldwide. Around 1.6 billion children and young people are unable to attend school in person. As a result, education has changed drastically shifting from the traditional way of teaching to e-learning. This paves way for online education to be the new paradigm in the acquisition of knowledge and skills. “Online education is a flexible instructional delivery system that encompasses any kind of learning that takes place via the Internet” (Jones, 2020). With the implementation of new academic changes brought by the pandemic, administrative members and faculties of different schools here in the Philippines find ways to create a safe and comfortable space for teachers and students to learn, interact, and communicate with one another through the use of digital means. The shiftED Program or “School-Home Integration for Flexible and Technology-Enhanced Education Program” is the newly enhanced instructional plan introduced by the University of St. La Salle-Basic Education Department (USLS-BED). It is used by the USLS-Integrated School which contains new features designed to aid the students and the young people in the continuation of their education amidst COVID-19. The recently developed program is arranged for teachers to successfully give their lessons while staying in their homes with the help of techsavvy applications such as ZOOM (a cloud-based video conferencing tool) to communicate with the students and CANVAS LMS (a course management system that supports online learning and teaching) to store and handout the modules to the learners online. In this world of uncertainty, giving importance to “me”, “you”, and “us” is as essential as learning basic life skills. Thus, the virtual school in a week is shortened to 4 days for online learning and a new feature of having a 1-day “Me Time” is made for students to have a break from school work and enjoy wellness activities for mental health protection. Mental health condition does not choose who it is going to strike. Therefore, protecting each mind from negativity and fostering positivity in life must be given attention. Illustrations taken from Canva
While new changes are being developed and implemented, traditional measures are still being observed. Children must still be well-groomed during online classes. Positive online behaviors and netiquettes in online learning must be practiced and nurtured. Students must remember to keep his/her gadget fully charged and updated at all times. And even though part of today’s learning is now done digitally, having access to paper, pens, and other standard school equipment is still as equally as important for offline studying. In the morning, students must take short screen breaks in between classes to protect their eyes from strains due to screen radiation. Students develop self-regulation and self-confidence when constantly doing the assigned tasks and asking for help from classmates or teachers when there are confusions or clarifications about the lessons. Learning in the new shifted program has many hurdles. One of the hindrances to students learning online is a lack of social interaction. In the actual setting, students can see each other but now, because of the pandemic, everyone must stay at home to protect themselves and others from the virus transmission. Another is the lack of the learner’s motivation in his/her study. Unlike in school, learners can see an environment where students study. However, today’s situation urges them to learn in their homes where there is less exposure to a school set-up. Poor internet connection and signal is also an issue. These barriers are unwanted but are needed to be ACCEPTED. A call for extra efforts is a necessity to battle these barriers. Social interaction can be improved by using messaging apps or phone calls. Disciplining one’s self is crucial to have a productive online learning. Also, being constantly updated on the latest news regarding the internet connection must be done to be prepared if power outages may occur. These situations may be difficult to handle but are not impossible to overcome. Shifting to online learning is not happening in a vacuum and is not simply switching from books to gadgets. It needs a strong foundation in weaving assorted understanding despite the distance with excellent teacher-student relationship. Continuing the children’s education amidst COVID-19 is a long journey happening in a diverse setting. Thus, the success of such endeavors depends upon how technology is applied by the educators and scholars. The innovation of ideas creating a flexible learning environment opens the doors to new realms, new opportunities, and new discoveries. Welcome to the new shiftED Program. Together, let us continue to “teach minds, touch hearts, and transform lives.”
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Mental Health:
Recogizing Burnouts By Carielle Montilla
Imagine facing your laptop screens for at least 10 hours a day, with a few minute breaks, dozens of work to finish, notes to take down, quizzes, exams, projects, and lots and lots of stress. Well, this is what it is like for students in this 'shifted' way of learning and what we have to deal with day after day? Burnouts. Burnout is a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress (Smith et al., 2020). Burnouts do not only make us feel all dried up and drowning in responsibilities, but it can also be the cause of weak immune systems, which can lead to frequent illnesses. Feeling drained, apathetic, helpless, cynical, and resentful is most likely what people suffering from burnouts would experience, and the lack of rest and overload of tasks makes everything worse. At times, we are too preoccupied with school work and catching up to deadlines that we forget the one thing that keeps us sane -- rest. Despite the importance of our academic lives, juggled with extracurricular tasks and activities, our mental, physical and emotional health should always come first. So, what must we do to make sure we do not get burned out and sacrifice our mental well-being for our studies? Rest. Rest is one of the most fundamental things we must always include in planning out our schedules for the day. It does not just mean having a good night's sleep but also disconnecting from everything that stresses you out -- turn away from your laptop, phones, computers-- even just for a little while. According to Rami Abboud, MD (2020), rest boosts up our immune system, sharpens our brain function, and makes us more optimistic. Taking a breather from everything helps us improve our mental health. Rest makes sure we do not get burned out from too much stress and also enhance our ability to function on a day-to-day basis. We must always keep in mind that although everything may be new and overwhelming for us, taking a break will do us more good than harm. A pause from all stressors in life might be the one thing you need most right now, and I assure you, with the proper time management, it can hugely be of help.
Illustrations taken from Canva
Things We Missed Out (and Totally Miss!) By Beatrice Locson
If you had told me at the beginning of the year that a pandemic would arrive and wreak havoc worldwide, I wouldn’t believe any of it. Many had predicted 2020 would be “the best year yet” and naively, I had my heart set on that. Yet with an invisible, seemingly invincible enemy and three months later, everything vanished in a snap. As we look back at the year that had been (and could have been), we’ve listed down the top 10 events that we’ve missed out on this school year.
Spirit Night Beginning the year with a bang. There’s always that excitement in knowing who your big/little sibling is and attending Spirit Week activities with them. Other than the headache of what you’re going to wear for the night, there’s always the cacophony that occurs every dismissal due to all the practices.
Animofest Yearly talent showcase. Although newlyintroduced, the Animofest has made its mark on the student body. From declamation to group lipsync, there’s always a category to fit your liking. It’s also entertaining cheering on your batch’s talents as they perform!
U-Week U-Week = lagaw. As this week-long celebration includes the whole university, it’s the institution’s most famed event. Your U-Week experience isn’t complete without a food-trip outside the Coliseum, negotiating with teachers to visit the college area instead of having class, and choosing between booths (plus points if you waited in line for the horror room).
Cebu-Bohol Once-in-a-lifetime school trip. If travelling to new places isn’t fun enough, then add the whole batch to the mix. Not only do you get to visit another island, but you also have the opportunity to learn and make life-long memories with friends and teachers. Unfortunately, it’s highly unlikely for this year’s Grade 10 to pursue this trip.
Sportsfest Single-handedly the most anticipated event of the school year. Nothing beats IS Sportsfest. Who wouldn’t want to see the batches go head-to-head for the Sportsfest title? With the ever-famous cheering and drumbeating competitions, the wide array of sports to join, and your batch’s cheers, the thrill of this five-day event is unparalleled.
Illustrations taken from Canva
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Prom A night to dress up, look good, and party. It’s not every day you get to look and feel like royalty. For a few hours, you get to see another side to your batchmates and their dates. Oh, and cotillion practices and the acquaintance party? Absolutely fun (although we’re mostly here for the food)!
PE Dance/INSPA Weekend Where school and home collide. This weekend has been a tradition of the Integrated School Parents Association for years. From INSPA Shows to PE Dances, some things may have changed, but the vibe is all similar. The coliseum grounds are lined with stalls bustling with Lasallian families and friends.
Tribute to Parents and Teachers/Graduation The seniors’ last hurrah. For new beginnings to occur, things must come to an end. As the 10th graders conclude their last year in the IS, they’d typically prepare a night of performances to offer gratitude to their beloved parents and teachers. Graduation marks the very end of the entire Junior High School journey.
Recollections/PPAs Breathers from typical, everyday class. It’s every section’s goal to earn as many stars as possible to avail of the PPA. Some classes achieve it, but others simply do not. Other than that, a school year isn’t complete without some emotional outpour during the class recollection (cue the batchoy and the chocolates!)
Physical Classes Normalcy. Of all that’s been mentioned, this must be the thing we’ve missed out on the most. The pandemic has deprived us from going to school, conversing with classmates, and listening to the teachers as they walk around the room. Online class is the most viable alternative, but it can never compare to face-toface ones.
As much as we’d want to take part in all the aforementioned activities and act like the pandemic never occurred, the odds simply aren’t in our favor. COVID-19 is here to stay, and no one knows precisely when we can return to our former normal. Until we can set foot back at the high school building and interact in person, we’ve no choice but to keep the faith that this too shall pass.
Let It Snow: The Desperate Push for ‘Academic Freeze' B y L anz gaebriel d i o n g T h e d a t e i s M a r c h 1 3 , 2 0 2 0 — y o u ’ r e w a lk i n g o u t o f y o u r la s t p e r i o d f o r th e d a y , b a s k in g i n t h e g l o r y o f t h e o h - s o g r a t i f y i n g T G I F m a n tr a . Y o u b u m p i n to y o u r fr ie n d s fr o m o th e r s e c t i o n s , m a y b e s n e a k i n g i n a f e w s e lf i e s h e r e a n d th e r e , b e f o r e fin a lly p la cin g y o u r b o o k s a n d n o t e s i n y o u r l o c k e r a s th e f i n a l b e ll s o u n d s . A h , w h a t a s w e e t e s ca p e th e weekend brings. I t w a s n ’t l o n g a g o w h e n m o s t s t u d e n ts f i r s t h e a r d o f th e u n e x p e c te d y e t e x citin g n e w s ( a t l e a s t f o r u s a t t h a t t i m e ) t h a t b r o k e a ll o v e r th e c o u n tr y . A n e a r ly cla s s s u s p e n s io n s e e m e d l i k e t h e p e r f e c t s t a r t t o t h e lo n g - a n ti c i p a te d s u m m e r b r e a k — f r o m ca n ce llin g th e f i n a l e x a m s t o m o v i n g t h e s t a r t o f t h e f o llo w i n g s c h o o l y e a r to J u ly . B u t h e r e w e a r e n o w , a l m o s t a y e a r la te r . O v e r t h e c o u r s e o f m u l t i p l e l o c k d o w n s , th e c o u n tr y h a s s e e n c e r ta i n s o cia l e co n o mic i s s u e s l i k e p o v e r t y a n d u n e m p l o y m e n t g r o w i n c r e a s i n g ly f a s t. T h i s , a lon g w ith th e cu r r e n t a d m i n i s t r a t i o n ’s f a i l u r e t o i m p o s e s e r i o u s , e f f e c ti v e p r o g r a m s s u c h a s n a tio n w id e ma s s t e s t i n g i n o r d e r t o c o n t r o l a n d m i t i g a te th e d i s e a s e e a r ly o n , m a d e o n e th in g ve r y cle a r : A s h i f t t o w a r d a n o f f - s i t e v i r t u a l e n v i r o n m e n t f r o m th e tr a d i ti o n a l f a ce -to -fa ce w a y o f l e a r n i n g w o u l d b e b o u n d t o h a p p e n . A lth o u g h i t d i d , th i s n o w s ti r r e d a co n tr o ve r s y a mo n g s t u d e n t s , p a r e n t s , e d u c a t o r s , a n d p o li ti c a l f i g u r e s o n w h e th e r o r n o t th is d e cis io n w a s the right one to make. A d v o c a t i n g f o r a c a d e m i c f r e e z e h a s b e e n a t th e c e n te r o f n a ti o n a l d e b a te s in ce cla s s e s f i r s t b e g a n , w i t h m o s t t e e n a g e r s b a c k i n g i t u p a s th e b e s t o p ti o n f o r Filip in o s tu d e n ts , g i v e n t h e c o u n t r y ’s c u r r e n t s i t u a t i o n . T h e i r p o i n t li e s h e a v i ly o n th e d ig ita l d ivid e th a t is n o t o n l y c u t t i n g d e e p e r i n t o o u r e d u c a ti o n a l s y s te m , b u t i s a ls o u n co n s cio u s ly m a r g i n a l i z i n g t h e u n p r i v i l e g e d F i l i p i n o y o u th . S o m e a r e p u t i n s u c h a d is a d va n ta g e o u s p o s i t i o n w h e r e d e s p e r a t e t i m e s c a ll f o r d e s p e r a te m e a s u r e s , i n c lu d i ng s tu d e n ts a s k in g f o r h e l p a n d d o n a t i o n s ( P i s o P a r a S a L a p to p ) o n s o c i a l m e d i a , a n d g r a d e s ch o o l s tu d e n ts i n B o h o l w h o h a v e t o c l i m b t r e e s a w a y f r o m th e i r h o m e j u s t to f i n d a n i n te r n e t co n n e ctio n for classes. Yes, grade school.
Illustrations taken from Canva
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W h e n y o u w a t c h t h e n e w s , y o u w o u ld k n o w th a t c o u n t r i e s w h o h a v e a t t e m p t e d t o r e o p e n i n s ti tu ti o n s h a v e f a i l e d t o p r o v i d e q u a l i t y p h y s i c a l e d u c a ti o n o n t o p o f s t o p p i n g t h e s p r e a d o f c o r o n a v i r u s . I n S o u th K o r e a , s t u d e n t c a s e s r o s e a s s c h o o ls c o n ti n u e d b e f o r e f i n a l l y c l o s i n g t h e m a g a i n . I n th e U n i te d S t a t e s , s e v e r a l h i g h s c h o o l s h a v e a lr e a d y c a n c e lle d classes weeks after reopening, just as cases c o n t i n u e d t o s p i k e . T h e “ n o v a c c i n e , n o c la s s e s ” p o l i c y i s a l s o b e i n g p u s h e d , w h e r e i n f a c e - to - f a c e a c a d e m i c c a l e n d a r s w o u l d b e s u s p e n d e d a s lo n g a s the presence of a reliable and safe vaccine is u n c e r t a i n , a s t o l e a v e n o s t u d e n t b e h i n d (“ Ed u c a ti o n is a right, not a privilege” mindset). That being said, the implementation of academic f r e e z e a l s o h a s i t s f a i r s h a r e o f c o n s a n d c r i ti c i s m , e s p e c i a l l y f r o m a d u l t s a n d p e o p le i n p o w e r . S u s p e n d i n g t h e e n t i r e y e a r m a y j e o p a r d i z e th e t e a c h i n g f o r c e , l a y i n g o f f h u n d r e d s to th o u s a n d s o f e d u c a t o r s a n d s t a f f , m a n y o f w h o m r e ly o n s tu d e n t t u i t i o n t o k e e p t h e p a y c h e c k c o m i n g i n . S o m e w o u ld a l s o a r g u e t h a t a p r o l o n g e d s u s p e n s i o n o f c la s s e s m i g h t d i s c o u r a g e m a n y t o e n r o l l o n c e e v e r y th i n g c o m e s b a c k t o n o r m a l , t a k i n g i n to c o n s i d e r a ti o n h o w a c a d e m i c s t a g n a t i o n m i g h t a f f e c t a s tu d e n t’s mindset/behavior. T h o u g h f a c e - t o - f a c e c l a s s e s a r e p r o b a b le to r e s u m e e a r l y t h i s y e a r , t h e n e a r f u tu r e i s s ti ll to o e a r l y t o c a l l . N o m a t t e r w h a t h a p p e n s , o u r f a te i s s e t — m a n y m o r e m o n t h s o f s t i c k i n g to th e n e w r o u t i n e : o p e n i n g l a p t o p s a n d p h o n e s , li s te n i n g to l e c t u r e s i n f r o n t o f t h e s c r e e n , a n d ta k i n g a f te r n o o n n a p s i f y o u ’r e l u c k y . F o r n o w , w e m i g h t a s w e ll d a y d r e a m a b o u t t h e l a s t w a l k , l a s t c h a t, a n d la s t g r o u p p h o t o s w e t o o k m o n t h s a g o , c o n te m p la ti n g o n the year that could’ve been.
IMPORTANCE OF MEMES IN RELATION WITH REALITY By Claue Quimada
W h e n e v e r y o u f e e l d o w n a n d h a v e n o o n e to ta lk to, what usually cheers you up? Let me guess. M e m e s ! M e m e s h a v e b e e n a v i t a l p a r t o f o u r li v e s , to t h e p o i n t w h e r e i n n o d a y c o u l d p a s s th a t w e w o u l d n ’t b e a b l e t o s e e m e m e s . According to, Merriam-Webster, “a meme is an a m u s i n g o r i n t e r e s t i n g i t e m ( s u c h a s a c a p ti o n e d p i c t u r e o r v i d e o ) o r g e n r e o f i t e m s th a t i s s p r e a d widely online especially through social media.” T h e i r a c c e s s i b i l i t y t o t h e m a j o r i t y o f i n te r n e t u s e r s i s a m a j o r c o n t r i b u t i o n t o t h e g r o w th o f th e i r popularity. A life without memes is beyond i m a g i n a b l e f o r n o t o n l y d o m o s t p e o p le s e e m e m e s a s s t r e s s r e l i e v i n g , y e t i t i s a l s o a w a y to e x p r e s s o n e ’s s e n s e o f h u m o u r . T h r o u g h m e m e s , c o m m u n i t i e s a r e b u i lt, a s w e f i n d w a y s o n h o w w e c o u l d r e l a t e w ith o n e a n o th e r . T h r o u g h t h i s , w e v i e w l i f e i n a p e r s p e c ti v e w h e r e w e r e a l i z e t h a t d e s p i t e o u r d i f f e r e n c e s o f c u ltu r e , r a c e , s e x u a l i t y , r e l i g i o n , o r o t h e r a s p e c ts , w e a r e a ll h u m a n s j u s t t h e s a m e a n d t h e r e a r e m o m e n ts o r s i t u a t i o n s t h a t w e f i n d o u r s e l v e s i n th a t c o u ld a ls o be relatable to most individuals. Through memes, w e a r e n o t d i v i d e d b y o u r d i f f e r e n c e s , y e t u n i te d b y t h e s i m i l a r h u m o u r w e h a v e a n d e x p e r i e n c e s w e ’v e been through.
Illustrations taken from Canva
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S o c i a l m e d i a h a s b e e n q u i t e w i d e s p r e a d n o w a d a y s , m e m e s c o u ld c o m e fr o m lite r a lly a l m o s t a n y t h i n g . I t c o u l d b e t h e i c o n i c f a c i a l e x p r e s s i o n s o f a p o li ti cia n , a ce le b r ity , a n i n f l u e n c e r , a c h a r a c t e r , o r e v e n a c o m m o n e r . M e m e s c o u ld a ls o in clu d e ce r ta in e x p r e s s i o n s o r w o r d s b l u r t e d o u t b y p e o p le th a t c a n b e u s e d a s a ca p tio n fo r o th e r jocular situations. M e m e s h a v e t h e a b i l i t y t o l i g h t e n u p e v e n ts . H o w e v e r , i t s h o u ld a ls o b e u s e d in p r o p e r m o d e r a t i o n a n d i n s e n s i t i v e w a y s . W e m u s t a ls o r e m a i n m i n d f u l th a t d e s p ite th e “ d a r k h u m o u r � t h a t m o s t p e o p l e a r e f o n d o f n o w a d a y s , a w a r e n e s s o f r e sp e ct mu s t r e ma in e v i d e n t . I f p e o p l e f i n d h u m o u r i n i n s e n s i ti v i ty to w a r d s r a c e s , r e li g io n , s e x u a lity , a n d e v e n h a r a s s m e n t , o n e m u s t l e a r n t o c o n tr o l th e m s e lf . N o t e v e r y th i n g tr e n d y is r ig h te o u s after all. I t i s n e v e r w r o n g t o l a u g h , y e t y o u m u s tn ’t le t a to x i c s o c i e ty c a u s e y o u to d is r e g a r d t h e m o r a l s y o u u p h o l d a n d t h e v i r tu e s y o u v a lu e . M a k i n g f u n o f i s s u e s a n d to p ics th a t c o u l d b e d e e m e d s e n s i t i v e f o r c e r t a i n g r o u p s o f p e o p le i s tr u ly e r r o n e ou s . M e m e s c o u l d b e a n e s c a p e f r o m t h e c e r ta i n h e a v y f e e li n g s b r o u g h t b y a ch a o tic r e a lity , b u t o u r h u m o u r a n d r e a l i t y i t s e l f s h o u ld n e v e r b e s e p a r a te d . W e li v e i n a w o r ld w h e r e o u r w o r d s a r e t h a t o f d a g g e r s t h a t c o u ld a f f e c t o th e r p e o p le i n a n e g a ti ve ma n n e r . D e s p ite t h e p o p u l a r i z a t i o n o f m e m e s , i t i s a n e c e s s i ty a n d a n e s s e n ti a l to r e m a in min d fu l o f y o u r r e a l i t y a n d h a v e e n o u g h c o m p a s s i o n to e m p a th i z e w i th o th e r i n d i v i d u a l s . I t i s a m u s t f o r u s t o a v o i d t h e c r e a ti o n o f m e m e s th a t m a k e f u n o f o n e a n o th e r a n d s e e k l a u g h t e r f r o m t h e m i s e r y o f o th e r p e r s o n a g e s . I n s te a d , le t u s s ta n d fo r me me s w h ich w e c o u l d l a u g h a t w i t h o u t h u r t i n g o th e r s . A c o m m u n i ty o f c o m ica l a n d w itty y e t c o n s i d e r a t e a n d r e s p e c t f u l i n d i v i d u a ls i s th e f o u n d a ti o n to a w o r ld w h e r e p e a ce a n d harmony is evident in every aspect.
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TikTok
THE DAWNING OF A NEW AGE
TT
By Bernadette Therese R. Deldig
h e a pplications w e h a v e i n ou r m o b i l e d e v i c e s a r e n o t j ust there by a c c i dent. We d o w n l o a d e d e a c h o f t h e s e f o r t h e r e ason that each a p p l ication sat i s f i e s a s p e c i fi c n e e d t h a t w e p o s s e s s . H owever, imagine s a t i sfying a num b e r o f y o u r n ee d s t h r o u g h a s i n g l e a p p l i c a tion. TikTok is a v i d e o-sharing ap p t h a t i s t a k in g t h e w o r l d b y s t o r m . I t e n ables millions of in d i viduals to d i s c o v e r t h e e nd l e s s p o s s i b i l i t i e s o f o u r w o r l d through short v i d e os t hat can a m u s e , e d u c a t e , a n d l a u n c h t h e c a r e e r s o f ordinary people a n d turn them in t o t h e s t a r s of t o m o r r o w . L o u i s Davis’ a r t i c l e o n M y A r e a s o f E x p e r t i s e e m p h a sizes the im p o rtance of e n t e r t a i n m e n t i n o u r l i v e s b e c a u s e i t i m p r oves our mental s t a t e and it he l p s u s d e - s t r e s s . I n t h i s d a y a n d a g e , m o dern technology m a k es entertai n m e n t p l a t f o r m s m o r e a c c e s s i b l e t h a n e v e r before. TikTok is o ne of the mo s t p o p u l a r a pp l i c a t i o n s t h a t p e o p l e t u r n t o for amusement. F u r t hermore, thi s s i n g l e a p p l ic a t i o n i s c u r r e n t l y a w o r l d w i d e entertainment p h e n omenon b e c a u s e i t o f f e rs i t s u s e r s a w i d e r a n g e o f comedy, music, a r t , and dance r e l a t e d v i d e o s m a d e b y c o n t e n t c r e a t o r s from across the w o r l d in imagina t i v e a n d a s t o ni s h i n g w a y s . E v e n though Ti k T o k i s w i d e l y r e c o g n i z e d a s a s o u r c e o f e n tertainment, it a l s o p rovides c o u n t l e s s i n ve n t i v e a n d a r t i s t i c e d u c a t i o nal contents that in v i gorate indiv i d u a l s t o l e a r n n e w t h i n g s i n o r d e r t o ameliorate their k n o w ledge on t h e i r t o p i c s i n s c h o o l , c u r r e n t e v e n t s , s o c i a l issues, cooking, c r a f ting, art, and f a s h i o n i n f r e s h w a y s . I n l i g h t o f t h e C O V ID-19 pandemic, a n article from S o c i a l M e d i a T o d a y t e l l s u s t h a t T i k T o k r e c ently announced th e #LearnOnT i k T o k I n i t i a t i v e t h a t w i l l f u n d a r a n g e o f e d u cational videos in o rder to help f a c i l i t a t e l e a r ni n g d u r i n g t h e C O V I D - 1 9 p a n demic.
Illustrations taken from Canva
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II
f w e’d t ravel ba c k i n t i m e , w e ’ d g e t t o s e e t h a t t h e d r e a m o f stepping on
th e world’s stag e a n d b e i n g i n t h e s p o t l i g h t w a s f a c i l e f o r those who came from o pulent fam i l i e s . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h e q u e s t o f b e c o ming a star was b a c k -breaking a n d a r d u o u s f o r o r d i n a r y p e o p l e e v e n t h ough they had e x t r aordinary ta l e n t s b e c a u s e t h e s e i n d i v i d u a l s n e e d e d to work hard in o r d e r to be in t h e p u b l i c e y e f o r t h e r e a s o n t h a t s o c i a l m edia was unsung b a c k in the day. T h u s , c o n n e ct i n g t o o t h e r s i n a l a r g e s c a le was grueling. H o w ever, in to d a y ’ s b o r d e r l e s s w o r l d , m e d i a p l a t f o r m s such as TikTok o p e n ed the doo r s o f t h e w o r l d ’ s s t a g e t o e v e r y o n e . I t a l lowed people to e x h i bit their brea t h t a k i n g s k i l l s i n m u s i c , a r t , d a n c e , a n d a c ting for millions o f p eople to s e e b y o n l y u s i n g t h e i r p h o n e s . I n t h i s r e gard, we get to w i t n ess various s u c c e s s s t o ri e s o f d i f f e r e n t t y p e s o f p e ople in different a g e s emerge fr o m u n e x p e c t e d p l a c e s l i k e s o m e o n e ’ s b e d room, backyard, a n d k itchen. The y s a y t h a t t h e p a t h t o g r e a t n e s s b e g i n s w i t h a single step, b u t in this case , i t b e g i n s w i t h a s i n g l e c l i c k o f a b u t t o n .
The world-renowned video-sharing platform, TikTok is not just a source of entertainment because it is also a source of knowledge and enlightenment. In addition, it also surrounds us with
opportunities
that
are
waiting
to
be
harnessed. In our modern society, technology makes us see the world in a new perspective every day, not through our bedroom’s windowpanes but through our screens.
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THROWN BACK TO CLOUD NINE
Illustrations taken from Canva
By Anne Vasquez
With everyone being stuck at home because of the pandemic, the things we can do for our entertainment might be pretty limited for some of us. Doing the same things everyday can be quite annoying sometimes especially for those that want to experience some thrill in their life, so this is where the power of using your imagination comes in. Instead of whining about how bored you are and how you have nothing to do, just put on some music. Music is very flexible for any kind of situation and it’ll definitely let your creative side shine some light with the energy that you’re getting from your music. Don’t know what music to put on? Well you came to the right place because we’re going to go back in time to the early 2000s, the era where some of the most iconic songs were released. If you’re into a more pop-punk genre, wanting to channel your old dreams of becoming a rebellious teen, this first category of songs is for you. Most of the songs mentioned are from the pop-punk prodigy from Canada herself, Avril Lavigne. My five song recommendations for you are: Complicated, Girlfriend, Here’s to Never Growing Up, Sk8er Boi-- All by Avril Lavigne and Still Into You by Paramore. Now go fulfill those childhood dreams of becoming a rock star! This second category is for my hopeless romantics out there that love to fantasize about their ideal love life because they most likely don’t have one or their standards are too high. Our muse for this category is the American singer-songwriter born in West Reading, Pennsylvania, United States, Taylor Swift! My five song recommendations for this category are: You Belong With Me, Love Story, and Everything Has Changed-- all by Taylor Swift featuring Ed Sheeran, She Will Be Loved by Maroon 5, and Someone Like You by Adele. To my hopeless romantics, happy dreaming~ I hope you guys will find some good use with these songs.
The third category is going to be especially dedicated to my old K-Pop stans. There’s going to be no muse for this one because there were a lot of iconic artists and idol groups at that time so here are my five iconic songs that are perfect for a private concert and dance parties by yourself or with some friends at 2 AM in the morning: Hot Issue by 4minute, Ring Ding Dong by SHINEE, I am the best by 2ne1, Hands Up by 2pm, and Fantastic Baby by BigBang. Have fun singing your heart out at your private concert! (although, I do warn you not to be too loud if you’re going to do this at 2 am in the morning, some people like your neighbors or the other residents in your home might complain about the noise.) Okay, phew! This article may be over already, but the endless list of songs that you can still add surely aren’t! Limiting each of the three categories to five songs was hard considering that there were so many iconic songs in the early 2000s, feel free to add some more to your playlist, but now this article has come to end. I’m going to leave it up to you guys to come up with a fun activity to do while listening to those songs. Happy dreaming!
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BAKINGTHE ASRISE A HOBBY AND TRADE OF THE YEAST By y E Elllla a M Mo on nffo orrtt B
G
oing out and enjoying life as we used to is put on hold indefinitely due to the risk CoronaVirus poses on all of us. Probably the reason why so many people have started to learn new hobbies and skills which in turn helps to keep them preoccupied whilst stuck in the safety of their homes. One of the many new hobbies people have found most comforting during the quarantine is, baking. What is “Baking”? If you google “what is baking”, Wikipedia tells you that baking is a method of preparing food with the use of dry heat in an oven, so there you have it, the literal definition of baking. Seeing my mom bake regularly definitely makes me rethink the definition of baking! I see it as a fun task where you can immerse yourself in it’s sometimes complex methodical steps as well as enjoy with satisfaction the fact that you were able to create such a delicious masterpiece. But without all the sugar coating and sweet compliments, baking is by far one of the most time-consuming activities I know of. So why do people bake? For one, the quarantine has given us extra free time. The time spent commuting, the time spent for outside leisure activities are all diverted to time spent at home. And that’s where baking enters the picture of many kitchens. Who knew that with basic ingredients such as flour, sugar, eggs, butter and milk, you could create so many delicious treats which is both a productive way of spending your quarantine and a great way to relieve the stress and anxiety the virus brings about. Before you know it, you have found a new hobby - Baking! Some people bake for fun and satisfaction, you know that happy kind of proud feeling when you see the satisfied look on other people’s faces when they see and try your creation. It always feels good when others praise you when your desserts taste amazing. I never would have thought that sweets are a great ego booster.
Illustrations taken from Canva
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R
emember, I mentioned that baking is sometimes complex? So, if it’s so meticulous and challenging, why do people keep on baking? There are a lot of reasons for this. Aside from it being a new hobby which gives you the chance to relieve stress and at the same time feed your ego, baking is a way to give your families healthier and less costly alternatives. Goodies when baked at home are free from any preservatives and ingredients can be manipulated for a healthier bake, like using natural sweeteners as opposed to sugar or using organic milk and butter from grass-fed cows, the list of healthier alternatives goes on but I’m sure you know what I mean. Without overhead costs, the cakes and other desserts baked at home are much more affordable. Plus, there’s no need to rush to the store when you run out of bread or desserts. When you become really good at baking you move on to the next step from it being just a hobby, to it becoming a potential source of regular income. Yes many people now bake for business. Why may you ask? With the COVID-19 virus scare a lot of people are no longer able to work thus many are in search for an alternative source of income. A lot of people on Facebook and Instagram have started their own small baking businesses. And because of the convenience it brings many people (those who still haven't found the joy of baking) actually patronize the products from these home based bakers. Baking is definitely something to explore whatever your reason may be. Earning a little or a substantial income from it is a more than welcomed opportunity. The important thing to consider is, if it makes you happy, keeps you sane and helps you survive the long quarantine days, then you should continue baking away.
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Fact-checking the Manila Bay Sands Controversy By Vinz Andrew Coresis The Philippines is in a very crucial point in our history with the further spread of the Coronavirus. As the cases remain to go up and down and continue to peak, the Philippine government turns a blind eye and instead opts to do other endeavors. One notable example of this is the infamous “white sand beach” of Manila Bay, you may have heard of this in recent months as it has quickly become one of the countries’ most controversial topics of the year. To sum it up, the Manila Bay Beach is a result of the government’s rehabilitation of Manila Bay, the “white sand” is mostly made up of crushed dolomite rocks. The said beach first opened in September 2020 and has received numerous criticisms among Filipinos. With a surge on social media usage during this lockdown period, there is no doubt that fake news and false information has gone out of control. That is why I’m here to tell you the cold hard facts and correct the myths and misconceptions concerning the “artificial” beach. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque claims that the white sand can ease the mental troubles of any person. According to him, going to places like Manila Bay that has a white beach can have a positive effect when it comes to the mental health of the people. He claimed that a white stretch of beach in Manila Bay could provide peace of mind. However. There has been no official evidence regarding this claim by the spokesperson. This statement has been mostly treated as a “joke” by Filipinos in social platforms such as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by posting and sharing memes mocking this claim. So, with that in mind, we can debunk this statement as false as it has no concrete evidence whatsoever. Aside from this, the dolomite used in the sand has disputes and misconceptions as well. The Department of Health flagged potential health hazards that might be brought about by the artificial “white sand” in Manila Bay, among them are certain respiratory ailments. However DILG Secretary Eduardo Año denied these saying the dolomite is “a common material used in -
Illustrations taken from Canva
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- beach nourishment in many parts of the country and the world”. So what is the truth here? Well according to Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, "There is indeed a harmful effect. If you crush dolomite in a mining area without protective wear for your nose, it will be harmful because of the small dust particles and silica, which is a component of dolomite. But this is not a concern here because the dolomite used is bigger and it is only during mining,". This means that the dolomite used in the project is not harmful to humans as it is not fine and crushed causing no dust particles to spread. Humans are not the only one affected with this however. The sand does not naturally occur at the bay, and it might be destroying the natural ecosystem of Manila Bay and according to findings this is true. The dolomite could cause hazards and around the water. Sediments in the water could make it turbid causing a stressful environment to the fish and other aquatic creatures living in the area. These are only a few examples of certain misconceptions or false information concerning this topic. A lot of the latter can be found in different social media platforms in the form of a news article, a picture or a post. There was a post going around comparing a picture of a “dirty and polluted” Manila Bay which was said to be taken during the previous administration to the now improved beach, but after a few research and reverse image search both of these pictures were in fact taken during the current administration. Looking at that example, social media users are encouraged to research first before posting information regarding current issues of our country. Cases of fake news have been surging these past few months and a quick search on the internet can really go a long way. Always keep on the lookout for these types of misinformation In our country. Don’t be afraid to correct people who spread “fake news” in the community. Research and fact checking is very important in these times. In order to separate the false from the true, one must take initiative to go through the given information. We, the people, should keep in mind the truth will always come out in any way imaginable.
https://lasalliancrossroads.com/articl
Refresh By Isabella M. Severino
Amidst all of the opinions and problems surrounding the development of the Philippines as a country, our information and communications technology (ICT) situation is the one to be the most excited about. Recently, the coronavirus pandemic has urged the world to rapidly adjust our ways to further enhance our protection and safety against our new invisible enemy, COVID-19. The Philippines’ way of doing this is by implementing various programs to disseminate information in the now most popular platform to share knowledge—the internet. One reason why you should look forward to our development using ICT is because it is simply the fastest way to reach out to people. Especially in the Philippines, anything can spread like wildfire. However, we don’t need “chismis” to spread information about an upcoming event or calamity anymore, because of different online programs and projects like project NOAH or Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). Trending on social media can also be one of the easiest things to do, and there are many Filipino icons that we have now because of how fast something can go viral.
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Illustrations taken from Canva
es/Isabella+M+Severino/Refresh/
Another reason to look forward to this change is that these updates are now real time. Instead of waiting for a day or two for an update on current events, we can now have it right then and there with a quick refresh on a publication website like Rappler. An example of this is the alarm from a mobile device that goes off that disturbs the class students experience when there’s an earthquake nearby or a possible flood or landslide caused by “Orange Rainfall'' from NDRRMC or National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. The Mobile Operational System for Emergency (MOSES) is linked to project NOAH, and it has the ability to receive real-time weather and flood information from PAGASA. It also gives users the privilege to access weather data such as temperature and moisture. The final reason to get pumped up about this leap is because of you— the netizens. According to www.statista.com (2020), the Philippines have been called the social media capital of the world, because most of the social media users have an extraordinarily high usage time of about four hours per day. This is also supported from the same site, seeing into the fact that as of 2019, there were approximately 74 million smartphone users in the Philippines, and it has continued to rise since 2015. It is forecasted that by 2025, there would be around 90 million smartphone users in the country. The future of our country depends on our ability to adapt to the circumstances and adjust for the comfort of people, therefore this is the best way to show that Filipinos are ready to tackle this sudden challenge with the use of our favorite thing, the internet. We are ready to change our ways for the convenience and safety, and a lot of benefits are coming our way. It’s your turn— refresh your page, refresh the future!
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