NOISE VOL. 66 NO. 4

Art by JAZIEL ANN V. SEBALLOS

FOUNDED 1956

facebook.com/thespectrumusls · thespectrum.usls@gmail.com VOLUME 66 NUMBER 4 · NOVEMBER 2021

KYNAH RHEA B. FUENTES

HANA PATRICIA RAJ E. HAUTEA

Editor-in-Chief

Associate Editor

IVEE E. MANGUILIMOTAN

PATRICK N. BILLOJAN

Managing Editor

External Affairs Director

ANGELA A. CORONEL DREXEL JOHN N. AMIT Assistant Newspaper Editor KRIZZIA RICCI T. NEPOMUCENO Magazine Editor LANCE CHRISTIAN M. JUAREZ Online Editor MERYL C. SIGATON Literary Editor IMMALIE ROSE E. CAFIFGE Photos & Videos Editor KARL BRIAN T. MARQUEZA Layout & Graphics Editor MIKEY VINCENT T. VICENTE Creative Director

Newspaper Editor

Newspaper Writers

ALAN S. VILLANUEVA JR. ALYSSA NICOLE T. MAQUIRAN ANNA MARIA J. VILLANUEVA

Photojournalists

KEILAH N. BALDOMAR PHOEBE DAIDOJI Q. JABONETE MA. MICAH DEARIELLE V. TRAJERA

Magazine Writers

Videographers

ADRIANNE H. SAPLAGIO GABRIEL M. LEZAMA ELIZABETH D. FERNANDEZ

KYLE JOBE B. DE GUZMAN RODNEY A. JARDER JR. Illustrator

Online Writers

JAZIEL ANN V. SEBALLOS

ESTHER JOYCE M. LIMBAÑA JHUNE N. TINGSON

Layout & Graphics Artists

Literary Writers

GERICO T. GUANCO PERLYN JOY L. SUGANOB

FERRY LYRA B. FRONDA EJ NELL VOEN A. FLORENDO ZALDY MAR L. LAVADA JR.

Editorial Assistant

Web Administrator

Moderator

CHRISTIAN DOMINIC L. LEDESMA

MICHAEL V. BAYLOSIS

MA. KRISTINE JOY R. BAYADOG

The Spectrum is the Official Student Media Corps of the University of St. La Salle. Its editorial office is located at the Coliseum grounds, La Salle Ave., Bacolod City, Negros Occidental 6100; it can be reached through the telephone number, (034) 432-1187 local 172 and e-mail address, thespectrum.usls@gmail.com. All rights reserved. No part of The Spectrum may be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the Media Corps. All contributions become The Spectrum property and the Editor-in-Chief reserves the right to edit all articles for publication.

Editor’s Note

An unwanted disturbance triggers a decodingencoding mismatch. This is authenticated by the fluctuation of sounds—primarily those that interrupt and irritate our auditory perception. Yet even the deafening silence of the wee hours produces incessant ringing in our ears; even the absence of sound resonates much too sharply.

About the Cover

Albeit further complicating how this concept is determined, the Shannon-Weaver’s communication model is never wrong for putting in another crucial idea in its linear model and for arguing that it essentially comes in two factors. Whether internal or external, it sparks uproar in the thoughts and speech of humans.

Hence, noise is not necessarily audible.

Quite contrary to how others perceive it, it’s the inaudible ones that chaotically stitch disorder in our entity. Compared to ear-piercing noises, these are felt.

Consider now the resentment you’ve been longing to pour out but preferred to hold in—those words left unsaid leave your facade unscratched, yet it cracks a piece within you. Think about the times when you were physically, mentally, and emotionally strained but were too reserved to get it off your chest at home—those silent whimpers bearing the most excruciating pain.

The commotions concealed within humans unceasingly entangle more threads, thereby ruining one’s purpose of existence. Notwithstanding this cacophony, we jostle with life amid appalling reverberations. The persistence to stay afloat amid the chaos is what keeps us alive. And as we get used to it, our ears learn to filter out the static.

Adding noise to the picture destroys the linearity of Shannon-Weaver’s model. Similarly, if humans embrace such a notion, we will be cognizant of the reality that life itself is non-linear—that it gets complex and unpredictable no matter when.

Shutting off all the unwanted disturbances in our life—within and without—can’t drive out noise in perpetuity. It is here to stay, to toughen life’s complexity and unpredictability, and to guarantee a well-balanced, meaningful existence to humanity.

KYNAH RHEA FUENTES 66th Editor-in-Chief

Bathed in the coarse sands of interference, we prime our gaze towards silence: a suspension of stimuli, a held breath— an impossible respite. Though the possession merits a pushback, it’s only in our acceptance where these winds wane.

As will we, the Noise persists to be.

The cold splits and fractures crack through like shattering glass and root themselves deeper and deeper to our very cores. We may shrink down to the abrasiveness of the hissing and the snarls of the sounds, but we should never bow.

Attempt to stitch back the reality in place.

Ground and grasp it tightly lest it rips you apart along with it. Face the static; you are in more control than you think.

Art by PERLYN JOY L. SUGANOB & JAZIEL ANN V. SEBALLOS

Blitz How long has it been since we’ve been here? Trudging through this sea of static, we held our conviction’s candle to the darkness—only to find torrents of nihilism. We knew that the only way is forward, but in an abyss, how would we know forward?

A subtle cacophony of dronning and buzzing hovers over us like vultures.

Disoriented from this gnawing against our ears, we struggle to take one arduous step after another. There is no other option with time’s arrow as our compass and warden. Staying still is for corpses, after all. Everyday, we squint at a light at the end of a tunnel we cannot escape from. After being accustomed to so much stimuli, being in pure silence has never been so horrifying.

Who knew that a screeching silenace could make each of us feel so small? The fragility of life; the nihilism in routine; the people turned statistics—we aren’t just anxious or terrified, we are all in quiet, numbing agony. With a bloodied scythe looming over our heads, we get up from our beds all the same, all typical, all mundane. Vulnerable but unflinching.

How much longer do we have to go? We may not know, but the static can only go on for so long. There is nothing we cannot endure. *** The Spectrum would like to extend our sincerest thanks to the following: Sir Michael Baylosis for his enthusiastic support and guidance throughout this year; to Anastasia Alcantara for capturing the chaos in our cover; and to IMPRESS Quality Printing for their steadfast service.

And of course, we thank you, dear reader, for bearing the static with us. We hope peace comes your way soon.

Art by PERLYN JOY L. SUGANOB

NOISE

DISCUSSION

When the Flame Dies Out A discussion piece exploring the journey towards the death of a passion—highlighting the possible reasons, factors, and circumstances that come into play—and the eventual path towards recovery.

Words by ANNA MARIA J. VILLANUEVA Art by JAZIEL ANN V. SEBALLOS To have lost or to be lost?

Everyone has been there. Whether it was a loved one’s death or a bad breakup, the concept is all too familiar.

Loss is and will always be an inevitable part of life. Now, what happens when it is the loss of your passion for something? If you are one of those who have always known what to pursue since the beginning, well, good for you. For others, it is an entirely different story.

Depending on the individual, the journey towards finding their passion is a franchise of sequels, reboots, or even rewrites—all defined by circumstances in life. There is no one recipe for pursuing a passion. It is a matter of taking the chance, seeing where it goes, and overcoming the setbacks.

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THE SPARK OF INTEREST There is always a first time for everything; however, it is a matter of taking the first step. It is ingrained in one’s psyche that everyone is destined to do something, and it is up to the individual to discover what that is. This leads to trying new things, hoping that something will stick in the long run.

The spark of interest can appear through varying methods at different times in life. It can be the thunderous cheers at the stadium during one’s first goal in a football game, getting chosen to do a solo performance at a recital, or embarking on a new business venture post-retirement.

Ultimately, there is no expiration date for finding one’s passion. Like a timely sign from the universe, it can appear at the most random opportunities.

FINDING THE MOMENTUM After a period of trial runs, one realizes this might just work. What were once casual hobbies and interests have now turned into something promising—things they excel at and genuinely enjoy. An example would be the “child prodigies” who are usually put under the care of the best teachers and programs upon showing great potential, maximizing their innate talent.

Discovering one’s potential in a particular field can be a “Eureka!” moment. People can begin to make changes in their lives, ultimately prioritizing this newfound passion of theirs. Game plans are mapped out and goals are manifested. Hope beams on the horizon—what more can one ask for?

WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH Eventually, the twist and turns begin.

Whether it would be contemplating to fully pursue this endeavor, deciding to continue despite the lack of fulfillment, or finding the sense of motivation amid a pandemic—one’s quest towards pursuing their passion gets put to the test.

External factors start to interfere in the journey such as lack of time or peer pressure. Family physician Clark Gaither cited emotional exhaustion as an indicator of an upcoming burnout, defining it as being emotionally

depleted that one feels they can no longer maintain themselves emotionally or psychologically.

Additionally, the challenges can come from within. Gaither highlighted the lack of personal achievement and overworking until it turns into a boring routine. Such was the case during the COVID-19 lockdowns, wherein people struggled to motivate themselves while being confined at home. Perhaps time and maturity have also taken the wheel, with people naturally growing out of things. The dilemma boils down to accepting this reality and letting go.

For example, someone with a harmonious relationship with exercising will be able to freely engage in a fitness session while being able to enjoy other aspects of their lives. Compared to an obsessive relationship, wherein they feel compelled to always work out even if they are sick.

Having an obsessive relationship with one’s passion leads to its downfall.

Upon realizing this, a moment of reflection washes over: “Did you control the activity or did it control you?” Life is now at a crossroads— where do they head to next?

THE BURNOUT

THE SPARK OF HOPE

It is time to face the music: the fire has been extinguished. Emptiness starts to sink in, making one reflect on the amount of time they spent pursuing their passion—or what they thought it was.

It is time to start anew. Now, it is back to square one, and that is okay. It could be an opportunity to realign one’s priorities or to rekindle a harmonious relationship with what was once loved. When that spark comes back, one can choose to pursue an entirely new thing or a variation of interests, such as athletes becoming coaches or musicians turning into producers.

Canadian researcher Robert Vallerand and his team proposed a dualistic approach towards passion: harmonious and obsessive. Harmonious passion results from an autonomous internalization, wherein one is willing to engage in an activity without any contingencies attached. Obsessive passion, on the other hand, stems from an activity’s unhealthy internalization into one’s identity because of pressure and attached contingencies—such as social acceptance, high self-esteem, or even money.

The death of a passion does not signify the end of the road—however, it could end up being a gateway towards finding what you were truly destined for. Everyone has different timelines, ebbs, and flows in this journey towards fulfillment—that is life, isn’t it? To have lost, to be lost, and in the right time… to be found. S

“To have lost, to be lost and in the right time... to be found.”

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SOCIETY

War for Public Mind: The Power of Propaganda An article that tackles how propaganda has transformed over time and how it is now being used to brandish power in unconventional ways—cunningly pushing conformity for misdeeds in the society.

Words by FERRY LYRA B. FRONDA & ALAN S. VILLANUEVA JR. Art by MA. MICAH DEARIELLE V. TRAJERA & MIKEY T. VICENTE Only the strong and ruthless breathe to see another day—that was the cruel reality presented to humanity in the past where fistfights, sword strokes, and gunshots ruled over the world, until words brought mankind together. And yet, although these have ignited peace and reason in our minds and hearts, they left a trail of smoke that continues to blind us until now.

Here’s the ironic truth: As easy as it is for communication to enlighten and unite people, it is just as quick for it to alter the truth and tip the scales of justice towards depravity.

Propaganda isn't a newfangled idea; the war for man's minds dates back to the dawn of time. Concerted efforts to psych up attitudes and opinions have been made to promote a cause or movement from the outset. Looking back, the word "propaganda" has a long and illustrious

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history. Following the Athenians’ first application of the concept in games and theater, it was ordained by the Catholic Church to describe its strivings to falsify the Protestant code of beliefs in the 1600s. It was only in later times that the word embodied a deceitful and subversive undermeaning, as nations used it to band together the populace in wartime.

The Nazis were the most notorious in capitalizing on propaganda to bolster their power. Through posters, film, radio, newspaper, and even children’s books, they seized the press in order for their vision for Germany to gain acceptance and to instill prejudice against Jews.

Hitler wrote that to reach the summit of its objective, propaganda must “be limited to a very few points and must harp on these in slogans until the last member of the public understands what you want him to understand by your slogan.” The effects fade if one abandons this idea and tries to be multifaceted. For him, it was not about decency or truth but of success in cultivating a “national community”.

And if you think this widespread distribution of specific ideas has not

set foot in the Philippines, then you can't be more wrong. For a country that was under the clasp of many colonizers—from which the most prominent were the Spaniards—the Philippines was denied not only of its culture amidst oppression, but of education and expression among other rights. But, through the courage of its founder Graciano Lopez Jaena as well as our national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, the propaganda movement’s newspaper La Solidaridad was founded. The publication gave the Filipinos a voice to call out for change over the corrupt religion and government of our Spanish conquerors in the 19th century.

Propagandists exhibited the urgency for reforms through pen, brush, music, and speech as an information campaign and an attempt to elicit sympathy. However, after the colonizers rejected their petition, they were unable to sustain a solid front.

Majority of its members belonged to the upper class, so they still had to be mindful to protect their personal interests. Aside from insufficient funds to continue the operations, petty conflicts also hampered the movement’s success.

Even though propaganda started by empowering our predecessors, it has grown into a convenient poison that is irresponsibly wielded by present-day Filipinos through various media platforms. From being a political campaign tool, TV commercials and social media posts have become effective in political assassinations. One ninstance is the unreasonable franchise shutdown of media giant ABS-CBN last year that had somehow become a clear example of the dark side of a systematized expression of information. The network carried a biased disposition towards the Philippine president through broadcasting an advertisement with a negative presentation of him and dishonoring his paid advertisements by not airing them (along with those

of other candidates) during the campaign period.

As a scheme of promotion, bandwagoning or currently known as FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), is an integral technique of political and social campaigns in a democratic state and media-savvy societies like ours.

Propelled by algorithms, this form of campaign compels individuals to hop on a popular train of thought by swarming them with many who think similarly. This creates a psychological trigger for some to join the online rallying mob, which is difficult to resist.

Moreover, Facebook was seen to be a strategic element of Duterte’s election and term. So-called troll farms were being employed to devise multiple fake social media accounts that uploaded political publicity and attacked critics—gas-lighting and fabricating thoughts. The large number of trolls paid to spread disinformation gave the public a false sense of assurance about what was really true.

In the international context, Facebook had to terminate a Chinese disinformation campaign that aimed to promote politicians who favored China, such as the Philippine president, last September 22, 2020.

Dubbed as the “Operation Naval Gazing” of social media analysis firm Graphika, the network utilized hundreds of false accounts and profiles intended to trick people into accepting their deception.

The ubiquitous social media platform is seemingly becoming a powerful tool for indoctrination while cementing political control. This shape-shifter, if left unchallenged, can dramatically revise the socio-political landscape of our country.

For years, fighting propaganda has become a game of whack-a-mole.

In truth, our ways of dealing with it have remained unchanged even though some can easily manipulate

and circumvent online security measures. As this has transformed into a problematic information war, our individual decisions can significantly drive trends that may determine what proliferates online and what does not.

When we watch the news or read online posts every day, we should bear in mind that what we see is only a portion of the story, if not a complete sham. Unless we train ourselves to think critically, this information will bypass our logic and will simply make us roll like obedient dogs readily accepting what is fed to us.

Re-establishing our free will in this sickly cage of systematic manipulation should be our focus as most of our information is designed with psychological knowledge in mind.

As the May 2022 presidential election looms over, everyone has become more armed when entering the seemingly endless crossfire of arguments and dubious claims of truth. Without structural changes to avoid super spreader events as the campaigns shift online, harmful content and falsehoods are likely to increase. The conflict will now be over who has the most appealing narrative and who has control over it—giving them the power to write what history was, is, and will be. S

''

Even though propaganda started by empowering our predecessors, it has grown into a convenient poison that is irresponsibly wielded by presentday Filipinos through various media platforms.

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HILIGAYNON

Sa Pihak Sang Balabag Ang paghangop sa nanuhaytuhay nga balabag sa komunikasyon sang mga Pilipino nga may sari-sari nga lenggwahe kag diyalekto.

Ginsulat ni IMMALIE ROSE E. CAFIFGE Dibuho ni PSALM JULES D. SABANDAL kag JAZIEL ANN V. SEBALLOS

Pagbutlak sang adlaw alas sais impunto sang aga, ang mahumot nga kape ang gilayon nga gakasimhutan, samtang ang mala-ambahanon nga tunog sang silhig bukog kag balita sa radyo nga ginapatukar sang tupad balay ang una nga gakabatian. Indi man madula sa eksena ang nagatumpok nga mga marites—patimaan sa mga nanay nga wala untat nga naga-tsismisanay asta tungang-adlaw. Kung kaisa, amo man ini ang ginasuguran sang paglalisay, indi paghangpanay, kag pag-ilinaway kapin pa kung indi magilintsindihanay.

Sa tiyempo kung diin bantog ang sinamo-samo nga kultura sa probinsya sang Negros, isa sa madamo nga butang ang lapnag nga pagkinalain-lain sang mga diyalekto kag lenggwahe nga masami nga gakabatian sa tagsatagsa. Ayhan, sa palamangkutanon kung ano mas luyag nga lenggwahe ang gamiton sa matag-adlaw, pilion bala sang katawhan ang ila tumandok nga lenggwahe? Sa pihak sang pag-usisa kag paghinuring-huring, pagahangpon ang sabat sa pamusod sang lugar nga gindak-an sang mga Negrosanon.

Diri magasulod ang kapuslanan sang kinaadman sa mga nagabalabag sa epektibo nga komunikasyon agud bisan sari-sari man ang lenggwahe ukon diyalekto nga ginausar, may ara sa gihapon sang paghangop kag kahilway sa pagistoryahanay.

Kung aton paminsaron: Ngaa ayhan may pag-ugyon sa gihapon ang duwa ka ga-istoryahanay bisan luntad ang nagabalabag sa komunikasyon kag naglain-lain ang ginausar nga lenggwahe kag diyalekto? Makatingalahan, indi bala?

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Ang mga balabag sang komunikasyon ukon communication barriers ang nagahupot agud indi magintsindihanay ang mga katawhan sa pagpakigsugilanon kay bisan nagapalareho man ang lenggwahe nga ginagamit ukon indi, posible nga matabo man ini gihapon sa kada paghambalanay. Pila sa mga nagabalabag, mapa-online man ukon personal nga pakipagstorya, amo ang buron nga mensahe tungod sa sala nga pagmitlang kag doble nga buot-silingon, kulang nga komento, pisikal nga tublag, kag iban pa.

Suno sa lokal nga manunulat kag manughimo sang pelikula nga si Mark Garcia, indi kasablagan ang paggamit sang mga Pilipino sang nanari-sari nga lenggwahe. “May ara kita sang Tagalog bilang kabug-usan nga ginagamit nga lenggwahe.” Dugang pa niya, ang mga Filipino nga lenggwahe ang padayon nga naganuhaytuhay, sa kabilugan.

Luwas sini, madugay na nga ginagamit sang kadaman ang pagbayluhanay sang lenggwahe kag diyalekto, apang sa madamo nga sayop sa pagtamod tuhoy sa diri nga konsepto, wala nila nahibaluan nga may kinalain ang duha. Sa sugilanon ni Ruanni Tupas, isa ka sociolinguist kag manunudlo sang lenggwahe halin sa University College London, ang lenggwahe ang pamaagi para makapagkomunikar ang mga tawo. Sa piyak nga bahin, ang diyalekto naman ang paggamit sang pareho nga lenggwahe apang may kinatuhayan lamang sa tono kag iban nga mga pulong.

Kung amo, bilang Negrosanon, ano-ano nga mga lenggwahe kag diyalekto ang hapos maintsindihan sang kadam-an?

“Sa akon eksperiensya, nahibaluan ko nga kalabanan nga lenggwahe sa Pilipinas may pagkaangay kag kaangtanan sa isa kag isa, amo nga hapos ini tun-an ukon intsindihon paagi sa pagpamati. Kung halin ka sa Visayas, mahangpan mo nga ang lenggwahe sa rehiyon naga-inangutay,” komento

ni Jonathan Davila, isa ka manugbinalaybay, maestro sa lenggwahe, kag Artistic Director sang Santermo Writers Group sang University of St. La Salle. Suno pa sa iya, bisan sa huna-huna, ginapabutyag ang kinaandan nga lenggwahe.

Kung aton lantawon, may pagka-anggid ang mga lenggwahe kag diyalekto sang mga Negrosanon. Tumandok sa Bacolodnon ang malulo nga pag-Hiligaynon, apang paglab-ot sa bagatnan kag aminhan, naga-amat-amat sulod ang lenggwahe sang Bisaya kag Hiligaynon nga may diyalekto sang pagka-Bisaya. Pila lang ini sa madamo pa nga ehemplo, amo gani diri naton mapamatud-an kung ano kadamo ang lenggwahe nga nagakabuhi sa nagakinalainlain nga mga rehiyon sa Pilipinas. Isa lang ka parte diri ang Negros, ayhan pa gid kung pagatun-an ang iban nga lenggwahe kaangay sa Ilocano, Waray-waray, Kinaray-a, Bicolano, Bisaya, kag iban pa?

Sa pihak sang mga huyog nga balabag kag indi palareho nga lenggwahe, dala sa madamo nga solusyon ang tatlo nga kinahanglan naton ubrahon: (1) mamangkot; (2) magtuon; kag (3) himuon pundasyon ang ginasiling nga mga lenggwahe.

“Tan-awon naton ang lenggwahe subong sa tuburan sang gahom kag ekspresyon—pundasyon [kag] palatukuran sang layi kag institusyon. Kung kaisa, indi kita makatalupangod nga ang ginagamit naton nga lenggwahe naga-apekto sa aton paminsaron,” ginpahayag ni Davila pagkatapos niya gin-mensyonar ang kaangtanan sang pagtuon sang kaugalingon nga literatura.

Sa pagpreserbar sang lenggwahe kag diyalekto sa tunga sang globalisasyon, aton kilalahon ang gahom sini paagi sa pag-ulikid sang ginhalinan kag paggamit kag pagtipig sang kaugalingon nga lenggwahe bag-o ipasa sa sunod nga mga henerasyon. Labi sa tanan, tinguhaan naton nga aton madumduman nga sa pihak sang mga balabag, may yara sang taytay tuhoy sa epektibo kag madinalag-on nga komunikasyon. S

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Photo Courtesy of VANESSA MAY JONTONGCO HUMAN INTEREST

Children having Children A human interest article featuring the trials and tribulations of a teenage mother.

Words by MA. KRISTINE JOY R. BAYADOG & ALYSSA NICOLE T. MAQUIRAN In a society that is critical of premarital sex, teenage pregnancy is a hot topic on reunion tables, church sermons, and many other occurences.

Women’s capabilities to foster life can be deemed taxing, yet on the other hand, fulfilling. Although pregnancy at a young age can be thought of as an unplanned mistake, motherhood is a choice that a woman makes daily.

A typical teenager, young Vanessa was a liberated girl who loved going out with friends. Spending her days at school and her nights drinking cocktails; her house was but a pit stop.

She never put much thought into these activities until one day, she found herself nauseously retching over her breakfast. Waving off her two-week sickness for the flu, she didn’t think anything was off.

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In true Gen Z fashion, it all started with a horoscope reading. Vanessa reread hers for the month when her eyes zeroed in on a phrase: Expect

pregnancy news this month. She suddenly wasn’t sure whether the weeks of fatigue and nausea were mere coincidences, as it could’ve easily been part of her premenstrual symptoms. But wait—it had also been two months since she last had her period.

With every gestation article she skimmed, Vanessa feared that it wasn’t just anxious butterflies occupying her stomach. Fed up with the constant worrying, she took the test and watched as a second red line appeared. “My mind was racing the moment I saw those red lines,” she recalled.

At 18, she expressed how worried she was for her parents’ reaction to her pregnancy. Though Vanessa’s parents may not have picked up on the signs, her mother’s friends were quick to sniff out the symptoms like bloodhounds— fatigue, an imperceptible baby bump, a sudden burning hatred for a random

side dish—until she had no choice but to break the news.

After the unexpected confession, Vanessa’s mom became emotional.

“She had so many questions and I could never find the right answers,” she sighed. But as a mother who must support her daughter, she set aside her frustrations and braced Vanessa for the trials of motherhood.

However, the pre-flawed relationship with her dad became permanently strained when he only gave her a withering look and proceeded with the silent treatment upon hearing her admission. Despite the initial reactions, Vanessa was grateful that she didn’t have to keep anything a secret anymore. With that, she braved through her pregnancy with her mom who became more supportive of her.

The next challenge for Vanessa was to inform her school. Gathering all the

'We' may have

disappointed our parents, but let’s not remain as disappointments. courage she could muster, the first teacher she confided in was her then Personal Development teacher and school guidance counselor. Vanessa also talked with Liceo-De La Salle’s Discipline Officer, who then raised the expectant mother’s concern to the Principal and Vice Principals.

“I was talk of the town for a while since I was known for being an outstanding student and an active youth leader,” Vanessa mused. Amidst the backlash, she was comforted by the administration’s empathy towards her situation. She was advised to prioritize her health instead, with the office assuring that she could always resume her education when she was ready.

Being a mother and starting her own family had always been part of the plan—Vanessa just didn’t expect the milestone to happen so soon.

Abortion was quickly dismissed, as the teenager believed that all life is precious and knew she had to face the consequences of her actions.

Living in a traditionally conservative country, Vanessa didn’t have to be clairvoyant to know that knives would adorn her back.

“It doesn’t really bother me because I already expect people to judge me,” she shrugged. Instead of focusing on the negative comments, Vanessa opted to redirect her attention towards her child and her dreams, as the young mother knew that her circumstance was simply a setback and not a hindrance to her success.

Now, there’s nothing more precious to her than her own star—her daughter Tala. Missing out on the opportunities of her youth was not that huge of an issue because the young mom believes that whatever will be, will be, and she would never trade her “Tala” for anything.

Three years later, Vanessa is now a first year Bachelor of Arts in Communication major. Her priorities have changed since she became a mom, but one thing is certain: she will make sure that Tala is at the top of all her priorities in life and school.

Nonetheless, she also wished there was proper sex education that could have guided young mothers like her about safe sex. To her, being a mom is rewarding, but being a teen mom is a completely disparate story. Increased

sex education is fundamental because it highlights the need of contraception use, so it can prevent teenage pregnancies or even the transmission of sexual diseases.

At a time where the youth is more active, liberal, and entitled to their personal lives, teenage pregnancy should still not be normalized.

However, it should not be prejudiced against either. Bearing a child at a young age is usually deemed the teenage mother’s fault for being reckless and irresponsible, but looking back at Vanessa’s experiences as a student leader and committed volunteer worker may show that it’s not just from pure rebellion but the lack of proper sex education in learning institutions.

The young mom encourages her fellow teen moms to not give up and always be reminded that there is always going to be someone who will see them as the most amazing person in the world.

“We may have made a mistake for having them too early and unprepared, but it’s never too late to make things right. We may have disappointed our parents, but let’s not remain as disappointments,” she encouraged. “Continue your studies, go get that degree, and secure a better future for your child. Let’s redeem ourselves, momshies!” S

According to a study by the Department of Health and the University of the Philippines, the country has roughly 15 million solo parents, with 95 percent—14 million—of these being women. Vanessa was no different. “I was really worried about my child not having a father,” she confided, “but eventually, I realized that it’s okay and it happens.”

To make ends meet, she used the saved portions of her allotment to kickstart “Sinag Tala Finds”, an online venture where she sold various products on Facebook. Fueled by determination, the young mother managed to raise enough money to support her prenatal needs. Vanessa shared that she is also a beneficiary of the Solo Parents Welfare Act of 2002, which was helpful whenever her daughter was hospitalized.

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NEWS-FEATURE

“This Way to the Zombie Safe Zone”: Our Path to Herd Immunity Words by ALAN S. VILLANUEVA JR. Art by MIKEY VINCENT T. VICENTE

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An article reliving some events transpiring amid the vaccination program in the Philippines.

It was an ordinary time—rushing in and out of our homes, bumping into friends and strangers, and experiencing life head-on were the norm until a looming enemy preyed on us. With time’s passage, our once cowering adversary spared no corner in the planet as it crept into the air we breathed, making the thought of being in a zombie apocalypse no exaggeration. Unlike sci-fi logic, however, the undead we’re fighting are far stealthier and nimbler—the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). But our war for asylum has ensued with global vaccination efforts.

Within almost two years of its stay, COVID-19’s teeth have sunk deeply in the Philippines as reflected in how it limited education and other primary activities to online operations, stole livelihood opportunities, and took lives. Despite this, President Rodrigo Duterte continued promising hope in the arrival of vaccines. And on February 28, the Filipino people were presented with this long-awaited hope in the form of 600,000 Sinovac doses donated by the Chinese government.

Our human instinct telling us to band together has been especially spot-on as our allies throughout the world have helped supply us with the metaphorical guns and bullets for our counterattack. Following the first vaccine donation came additional support like several friendly purchase deals and the delivery of more than 500,000 AstraZeneca vaccines from the World Health Organization’s COVAX facility—an initiative which aims to provide equitable vaccine access. Aside from this, various local government units have designed programs to expedite inoculations like Imus’ house-to-house vaccination and Makati’s incentivization of elderly people receiving vaccine shots.

On the contrary, fending off this seemingly undying disease has been no easy task, because in a wrestle of sheer numbers, our might alone may not be enough. As normally seen in fictional creations, zombies can’t evolve, but COVID-19 truly begged to differ by spurting into numerous variants which threatened the effectiveness of the existing vaccines.

With numerous COVID-19 variants unexpectedly popping out of nowhere, we have found our backs against the wall more often than we could imagine. This was certainly the case when the Delta variant, a highly contagious coronavirus mutation, brought along a horde of

positive cases and forced us back into tightened quarantine statuses and rebranding our country as a high risk area last August. Aside from the threat posed by the variant, the Philippines also faced the dissatisfaction of underpaid health workers and the occasional depletion of vaccine supplies, which have heavily hampered our path to safety.

Our struggle to bring back the comfort of the world we once knew and escape the monstrosity craving our flesh continues to be daunting.

The confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Philippines as of October 21 reached 2,740,111, with 65,835 active cases. Additionally, the sanctuary we seek may still be far from our sights with 24,694,717 people or only 22.41 percent of the population fully inoculated as of October 19.

But hope isn’t completely lost. San Juan, the least populated city in Metro Manila, has fully vaccinated 78 percent of its population and obtained herd immunity or the indirect protection from an infectious disease through vaccination or developing immunity through infection, on August 9. At our own pace, our provinces and cities can also attain herd immunity, which would not only weaken the threat of the pandemic but allow our return to the life we have been longing for— unchained, unafraid, and undivided.

In a world where air and land are held captive, where comrades and foes are unknown, and where our hands are tied, danger could close in on us whenever it pleases. With every city and every isle surrounded by mindless zombies once found in comics and TV series, escape may seem futile; but though our nemesis may be swifter, the battle will only be lost when we stop moving forward. S

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2021 VACCINATION TIMELINE Source: RAPPLER

1ST QUARTER

2ND QUARTER

MARCH

APRIL

March 1 Start of vaccine rollout

April 9 17 national public and private colleges and universities offered to set up vaccination centers within their campuses

March 2 Appearance of 13 "common" and "minor" adverse events (sore arms, headache, rashes, nausea, and increased blood pressure) among the vaccinated March 12 AstraZeneca vaccine's continued distribution despite its suspension in Europe for blood clot reports March 19 FDA granted emergency use authorization for Sputnik V vaccine March 21 The Philippines and India reviewed a potential vaccine agreement to help produce local vaccines in the future

April 10 Two-week suspension of AstraZeneca’s vaccine for people below 60 years old to study linked adverse events April 16 Inclusion of judiciary workers, teachers, public utility workers, internet and cable service workers, the media, and the diplomatic community to the A4 priority group April 22 FDA proposed a law to allow their quick approval of experimental drug use during a public health emergency April 23 Imus, Cavite launched house-to-house vaccination drive

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MAY

JUNE

May 1 Declaration of Sputnik V vaccine's continued national use despite Brazil’s rejection of the vaccine

June 1 Quezon City signed Ordinance No. SP-3024, granting a P2,500 daily allowance to volunteer health workers and paying for their food, transportation, and other necessities at vaccination sites

May 5 Moderna's vaccine got emergency use approval May 6 The Philippine Senate started its internal vaccination program for its employees May 8 Eight mild adverse events (body ache, injection site pain, rashes, back pain, headache and dizziness, and increased blood pressure) appeared among the Sputnik V vaccine recipients May 28 Inclusion of outbound overseas Filipino workers and family members of health workers in the A1 or top priority group

June 8 Approval of Pfizer and BioNTech's vaccine administration on adolescents aged 12 to 15 June 14 DOH signaled for LGUs to start vaccinating the A5 priority group or the indigent sector if there was sufficient supply June 18 DOH advocated continued use of Sinovac's vaccine continued analysis of the case of 350 Indonesian health workers who were infected June 21 Vaccinated Moises Padilla residents received three kilos of rice as an incentive

'[T]hough ' our nemesis may be swifter, the battle will only be lost when we stop moving forward.

3RD QUARTER JULY July 3 DOH conducted reorientation sessions for vaccinators to ensure protocols are obeyed after botched vaccination reports July 4 Manila City government launched midnight vaccination drive for market vendors and drivers July 29 Malacañang clarified that Duterte's order to keep unvaccinated persons at home had not been enforced yet

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

August 4 PhilHealth publicized the COVID-19 vaccine injury compensation package with an application period from March 3, 2021 to March 2, 2026

September 1 Health workers held a demonstration outside the Manila DOH compound, demanding the release of overdue benefits and Duque's resignation

October 2 The Office of the Vice President and Capas, Tarlac municipal government vaccinated 500 Aetas

August 8 Manila launched 24/7 COVID-19 vaccination operations to give 250,000 jabs daily during the ECQ and address the Delta variant August 9 San Juan City reached herd immunity with second doses administered to 78% of its 126,347 population August 15 Bacolod launched its "drive-thru" COVID-19 vaccination program August 23 Russia's Sputnik Light vaccine got emergency use authorization

September 3 FDA announced the amendment of Moderna’s vaccine emergency approval to cover adolescents aged 12 to 17 years old September 9 FDA recorded 242 breakthrough infections or infection occurrences despite being fully vaccinated September 29 Health Undersecretary Cabotaje projected vaccine rollout for minors with comorbidities to start

by October 15 in Metro Manila

October 4 DOH announced continued analysis on the decline in cases in 14 regions October 15 Vaccination for minors aged 12 to 17 began in the country with over 1,000 children with comorbidities shot with their first dose October 18 The Bureau of Corrections recorded only 10% of convicted prisoners were vaccinated October 21 CHED announced that vaccination is not required for limited face-to-face classes of college students

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SOCIETY

Snakes, Ladders, and Brick Walls A realistic insight on the misconceptions and actual causes of the gender pay gap.

Words by ELIZABETH D. FERNANDEZ Art by JAZIEL ANN V. SEBALLOS

Imagine—if you will—slaving over a huge group project worth half your grade for a major subject. Now, imagine getting a lower grade than your peers just because your work didn’t seem to be as “complex” as theirs (even though you all exerted the same effort). This is what the malefemale gender gap is like.

Defined by the European Institute of Gender Equality as the disparity between women and men in terms of their levels of access, rights, or benefits, the gender gap can encompass several aspects including sports, education, and, of course, pay.

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The last of those three aspects is the most well-known and, in extension, the most polarizing. Countless feminist posts have emphasized and condemned the said gap, while others deny its existence, crediting the difference of pay to job choice. This highlights the width of the opinion spectrum and how misunderstood and nuanced the subject really is.

“Women make 77 cents to every man’s dollar.”

This pseudo-fact has been heard by many and accepted by many more, with the majority crediting it to

plain misogynistic discrimination or the blatant exclusion of benefits due to identity. However, while gender discrimination is very much a prevalent issue, it is not the sole reason for a gender pay gap. Rather, it is a kaleidoscope of gender expectations, norms, age, race, and job description that contributes to the (narrowing) disparity today. Regardless of reason, one fact remains true—the gender pay gap does exist.

That is not to say plain gender prejudice in the workforce is nonexistent. In fact, barring education, skill, and experience, women still

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It is not that women do less work overall, it is that women do less paid work than men. have a disproportionate chance to earn a higher wage. Known as the “unexplained” pay gap, no other socio-economic factor can be attributed to this inequality but misogyny.

One prevalent case of this sexism was in 2018 when a group of medical schools in Japan was found to be manipulating exam entrance scores in the favor of men. Tokyo Medical University, Kitatso University, and Juntendo University all admitted to purposely aiding male candidates.

From reasons like women naturally retiring earlier in life to claims of men needing the added advantage since women “mature faster”—the inequity is clear to see.

Nevertheless, other factors do contribute to the pay gap—the largest being the traditional role of women as child-bearers. Women aged between 20 to 30 years old were found to

be less present in the workforce, subsequently widening the pay gap.

The reason for this absence? Children.

A majority of young families see the mother as the primary homemaker, essentially cutting her career short to instead focus on nurturing. Men, on the other hand, settle into their breadwinner roles and have more opportunities to advance up the career ladder.

The truth becomes startlingly clear in this regard. It is not that women do less work overall; it is that women do less paid work than men.

Added to this is the issue of gender stereotypes. The maternal stereotype of women cripples them when trying to obtain high-demand and high-risk jobs that require longer sporadic hours. In the mind of hiring managers, these positions cannot be fulfilled by women who have obligations at home.

Furthermore, women are typically delegated more empathy-driven roles in the job market such as teachers, nurses, and childcare workers while men tend to dominate more “aggressive” fields like engineering, software development, and finance.

Incidentally, due to the perceived “larger effort” required, maledominated occupations pay more.

However, in the light of economic, political, and educational progress, the gender pay gap has actually been shrinking. Whether by personal choice or financial reasons, more women today choose to settle down later in life and instead focus on

building their careers. Added to this, is the establishment of workforce initiatives to include more women in the aforementioned competitive fields of science and finance. In fact, the World Economic Forum reported that the Philippines has closed 79.5 percent of the Economic Participation and Opportunity gaps in 2021.

Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), in particular, are mostly women. These OFWs bring back a large chunk of money through remittances to support families back home, while spouses assume the caretaker role regardless of gender.

In the end, the current economic climate makes the truth easier to see—financial desperation does not discriminate.

Either way, the gender gap is here and will remain for years to come.

Realistically, the gap cannot disappear without reforming entire societal structures and gender norms. It is only through assertive strides towards equality of all genders and identities that we can truly advance as a nation and as a race. When all is stripped away at the end of the day, who are we all but slaves to an ever-winding machine? S

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MISSION FISSION Photo by PHOEBE DAIDOJI Q. JABONETE

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ENVIRONMENT

A zero-emission carbon-free tomorrow An environmental article looking into nuclear energy as a viable long-term solution alongside renewables to growing electricity costs and environmental sustainability in the Philippines.

Words by MERYL C. SIGATON Art by PERLYN JOY L. SUGANOB

Once regarded as the quintessential source of energy, nuclear power promised to resolve mankind’s various environmental, technological, and economic plights. But the pinned hopes failed to reach envisaged heights.

mainstream efficient technological solutions like nuclear energy might just pull us out from the climate crisis.

As it turns out, manifesting physics into engineering is enigmatic and expensive. Still, record highs and new extremes are not slowing down. The disastrous chain reaction of global warming amplifies pre-existing challenges, leaving no continent untouched from its effects.

Majority of all the nuclear reactors were built between 1970-1985, when oil prices skyrocketed, leading to commercial interest in this form of energy.

Shortly afterwards, the world entered a sort of atomic reluctance following the Three Mile Island accident in 1979 when a reactor partially melted due to equipment failure and the ineptitude of plant operators. This made many private companies worldwide apprehensive to keep exploring nuclear energy.

Climbing sea levels and competition for resources slowly fuel political unrest, displace millions, and sink entire districts. Such threats put mankind in a precarious position, but immediate action to

Or could it?

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'Nuclear ' power has prevented around 1.84 million deaths and

may spare 7 million more according to a 2013 study by NASA. Because investment and innovation halted then, replacing aging nuclear reactors in many countries may still take a decade or longer to finish and are ultimately not viable without subsidies.

With worldwide demand for electricity expected to triple by 2040, nations look for a way to satiate their country’s necessity.

Largely turning to coal-fired power plants considering the price and abundance of the resource, subscribing countries—including the Philippines—have been under increasing environmental opposition. Nonetheless, as the silent death parade of coal and oil is gradually being brought to light, nuclear energy looks more alluring by the day and thus, is progressively gaining public traction.

From an environmental perspective, utilizing nuclear energy is not only emission-free, but also practical as it can back up the inconsistencies of solar and wind. And not to mention, it can save lives.

According to a 2013 study by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), nuclear power replaced energy that otherwise would have been generated by fossil fuels and kept out about 64 giga tons of greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere. In turn, this prevented around 1.84 million deaths and may spare 7 million more should the momentum keep rolling.

Even so, it has to pick up the pace. Nuclear energy meets only around 10 percent of the world’s energy demands today, and even renewables are not enough on their own. Should nuclear energy completely go offline, the missing capacity will be replaced—at least in part—by fossil fuels.

That said, the Philippines is openly considering the viability of establishing nuclear power as a means of addressing the nation’s energy security and equity. However, the long winding history of intertwined politics, business, and never-ending controversies surrounding its first and only (nonoperational) nuclear power plant continues to prevent a nuclear era in the country from taking off.

Electricity could be generated for as low as Php 1.80 per kilowatt should the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) be rehabilitated. But it would be like resurrecting an exorbitant ghost, a white elephant, from an era long gone—now with a bad taste in

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everyone’s mouth and still without support from the local community.

Although BNPP has never produced a kilowatt of electricity, Php 40 million is still spent annually for its maintenance and preservation. Many worry about the potential recurrence of corruption, citing the involvement of the Marcoses during its construction in what was considered a fiscal nightmare. But not going nuclear now would render debts even more unrealistic. Getting BNPP out from its more than 35 years in limbo will give it the opportunity to graduate from encumbrance and stop guzzling Filipino pockets.

Considering the many gleaming benefits of nuclear technology, its fatal pitfalls foil it from getting straight A’s. Lethal radioactive waste aside, there is the threat to national security with nuclear power plants being an all-around danger as potential weapons (or tools to create weapons) of mass destruction.

While the promises of alternative nuclear technology cannot yet be ascertained, burying hazards is still appealingly more rational to many rather than pumping them into the air the world breathes every day (for now, at least). No energy source is perfect. All require time investment and technological innovation to assure reliability and consistency in our trajectory for the ultimate goal— the absolute replacement of energy with electricity.

How quickly the different green technology will be ready is not something that can be predicted, unfortunately. So ideally, nuclear and renewables should not be seen as opponents but altogether good solutions as cleaner energy sources. With at least 40 years before we can fully switch to “renewable electricity”, opting for nuclear will save more lives than it destroys, minimize or completely eradicate future unprecedented catastrophes, and prevent the havoc our manmade global warming will wreak.

Heavy reliance on coal, oil, and gas to keep civilization going makes it difficult to transition away from them. But at this point, with the worsening climate and the risks it poses, any technology that has a chance of contributing to a solution may just as well be pursued in haste. No great human endeavor is an easy challenge, nor is it without risks. But when has that ever stopped mankind? S

HUMAN INTEREST

Life as an Empty Hourglass An article featuring the stories of two dementia caretakers, and their experience in taking care of these unique souls.

Words by GABRIEL M. LEZAMA Photos by PHOEBE DAIDOJI Q. JABONETE

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Forgetfulness is a natural development. As we continue to age, we tend to forget some events, people, or God forbid—work deadlines. It can be an irritating feeling when you open Google and forget what you wanted to search up, opting to default to YouTube instead, or that familiar pang of idiocy when you can’t recall why you entered a room. For some, however, this irritation is replaced by an entirely different feeling instead: one of somber confusion and hopelessness every single day.

Rather than simply forgetting, people diagnosed with dementia are practically locked out of their own memories. They know it’s there, but their minds can’t access it.

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A term used to describe an unusual loss of memory, persons with dementia may often find themselves confused at every turn, wondering why physical church on Sundays isn’t something that happens right now or being told that it’s September when they thought it was March. It’s small things like these

that soon evolve into an unthinkable and harsh way of life.

was an especially painful first-hand experience.

These symptoms spiral into a hopeless decline over the course of seven stages. The first stage only shows brain wave changes while symptoms start as early as the second stage, where they begin to misplace things—although this could just be a sign of old age as well. The third stage comprises short-term memory loss, which is why dementia can only be diagnosed as early as the fourth stage, when the person has already forgotten present dates and times. The fifth, sixth, and seventh stages only serve to worsen the symptoms, with the person beginning to lose memories of their address, the identities of their loved ones, and forgetting how to do basic human activities, respectively.

In Haydee’s case, she took care and watched over Angelina ValeroAcha—her sister. Originally working at a farm she owned, Angelina was the main breadwinner of her family, having three children with her husband. Some time in 2011, however, the stress of work led to a deficit of sodium in her body; as a result, she gained early symptoms of dementia.

It can be heartbreaking to watch this gradual decline, especially being unable to do anything to stop it. For the loved ones of these unfortunate souls, one Haydee Valero-Heyasa and one Shane Anne Tepino, this

At first, Angelina only forgot how to do household chores and didn’t recognize some of her own friends, but as time went by, she slowly forgot her own family and even how to go home at one point. At night, she would see white figures visiting her room and would ask Haydee in the morning where the people in white went.

A search from the Alzheimer’s Association noted that hallucinations are indeed one of the symptoms of dementia, appearing within or after the middle stages. “It hurts to see

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The present will matter to them more than anything. someone’s foundation degrade like that,” Haydee painfully admitted.

Instead of reprimanding her sister, she decided to be gentle and forgiving to her.

Acknowledging the hallucinations are a good way to validate the demented person’s emotions, as it allows them to feel welcome to talk more about it. In the case of the people in white, Haydee would tell her sister that they already left instead of trying to convince her that the people in white did not exist in the first place.

Shane Anne Tepino. She used to work as a food vendor and would often assist her husband by making and selling food for their workers. Shane would always accompany her to places whenever she could, wanting to see her grandmother at work and at home.

It was around 2018 when Christina slowly started to misplace objects within the house. Soon, the condition began to eat away at her mind as she gradually forgot how to do day-to-day activities such as eating and finding her way around.

Angelina would sometimes hum one of her favorite songs from years prior, despite not knowing what the name was nor any of the lyrics.

This ties in with the common trait in persons with dementia being able to remember decade-old events but being unable to recall day-to-day activities. “I start humming it with her, because it makes her happy, and it makes me happy too,” Haydee recounted, understanding that Angelina still remembers her to some degree.

For Christina, one of the most complicated moments at the peak of her dementia was when her husband died. “When we told her that grandpa was gone, she would cry, but then it would stop abruptly and she would just go on about the rice she left cooking at home,” Shane expressed. At this point, Christina couldn’t remember her own husband anymore, and this development devastated her family, knowing that it was only a matter of time before everyone else was forgotten too.

Unfortunately, Angelina passed away some time ago when the affliction rendered her unable to breathe. While Haydee and the rest of her family mourned and lamented the loss, they’re able to take comfort from the fact that her suffering is finally over and that she can now fully rest.

“I felt hurt when she got worse because she couldn’t recognize us anymore,” Shane recounted.

Eventually, her family understood that if Christina didn’t have dementia when her husband died, then she would be devastated and depressed with this knowledge. It was then that they resolved to take care of her and take time to understand her until the very end.

The later stages of dementia can be truly devastating for everyone involved. Seeing someone forget how to perform actions they’ve done their whole lives is immensely painful to watch, more so to experience. No one could ever imagine forgetting how to chew food, not recognizing loved ones you’ve known for decades, or even failing to recall how to breathe, and yet these are the final struggles that people like Christina Tepino had to face.

Another unfortunate soul that fell into the clutches of dementia, Christina is watched over by her granddaughter,

While dementia is an uphill battle, there are moments of solace to be had, from them recognizing their children for a brief moment, humming their favorite songs, or when they’re finally able to rest. Although the person can no longer remember amidst all the confusion, they still feel, know, and understand important memories to them. While the past is now an out-of-reach memory for these people, it only shows that at that moment, it’s the present that matters to them more than anything. S

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COMMUNITY

Looking back on our Lasallian golden days Memories of Lasallian pastimes, experiences, and places during face-to-face classes.

Words by PATRICK N. BILLOJAN Photos by KEILAH N. BALDOMAR Days turned to weeks and weeks turned to months, and in the blink of an eye, we are still here after a year—stuck on the same ride, waiting for this rollercoaster to stop.

Apparently, college can either be your best or worst stage in life. You will meet people that you wished you never met, experience things that will haunt you forever, and visit places that you never imagined going to. However, I am certain that being enclosed in your room only to see faces on the screen for almost two years was not the way you imagined college life to be. At least we don’t have to stand in line for so long just to have our attendance checked during Animolympics anymore, but it’s different for those who enrolled just to miss the flight they booked for.

Whether you long for it again or haven’t experienced it yet, here’s a list of Lasallian experiences that would surely touch that lost memory in you.

1. After parties Animolympics and University Week.

These events are only two of the many highlights of every Lasallian’s life. But the thing is, the real fun is at the end of the rainbow—the after parties hosted by the different colleges after the said events!

Dancing, drinks, strawberry-scented fog, and that one bebang friend surely complete that night out after a week-long bardagulan with the other colleges.

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2. La Salle jeep rides with Riverside and San Agustin students You know what’s worse than getting a low score on your quiz? It’s having Riverside and San Agustin students with you in a Shopping-Lasalle-Libertad jeep.

Those glaring eyes while the jeep makes its way near Jollibee will haunt you for days, but fret not. Just like any confident and competent Lasallian, simply say “La Salle lang ko nong Gate 1.” But if you are a scaredy cat, just drop your loser self at Bangga Shell.

3. Organization offices University Student Government, Senate, COMELEC, school publications, and other academic/interests clubs make up the college life of some who go beyond the realm of academics. Right after class dismissal, student-leaders used to go directly to their third homes to rant and break down for five minutes before going back to work because they still have an “org work” deadline to chase. Now, Discord, Zoom, and Google Meet have become their virtual offices—and they still rant about how tiring and unrewarding this online setting is.

4. Long breaks It’s not the rush of activities and quizzes that stress out and rattle Lasallians the most—it’s the long break after that first subject that drives all of them crazy. After

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It has been two years already since we started this up and down ride and we are still unsure when this will end, but this experience certainly left us with one important message: Cherish things while they last. eating their lunch for only 30 minutes to an hour, the question that even the smartest students can’t answer arises: “Pa diin ta?”

Some study for the next subject, visit go-to tambayan places near the campus, play competitive games in TNC, Mineski, or Battle Station 8, while others just can’t get over the question, spending that long break thinking of a hundred different ways to end their monumental suffering.

5. CC Chicken Skin Supremacy Friday is the best day of every college student’s life because it’s the last day of classes for the week (unless you spent your whole allowance, leaving you with a tight budget on that day). Life hack: if you’re on a budget and are looking for a student-friendly meal inside the campus, any Lasallian would recommend you to try the chicken skin in the Nursing Cafe.

Every USLS student has been saved by this P45 meal one way or another—that’s how it has cemented its name as one of the legendary meals in the campus. Chicken Skin Supremacy indeed.

In the same way as any other college student, we all wanted our college years to be filled with warm memories, but with the pandemic shaking our usuals, we are left with nothing but hopeful thoughts. It has already been two years since we started this up-and-down ride, yet we are still unsure when this will end. Certainly, this experience left us with one important message: Cherish things while they last.

Days may have turned into years and events may have turned into memories, but the list will go on—not now, but in the following years and events to come when we meet again in the hallways we once called home. S

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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Behind the Spikes: Into the looms of COVID-19 variants and mutations A layman-friendly scientific article about the underlying processes behind the emergence of COVID-19 variants and the varying degrees of danger they pose.

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Words by ZALDY MAR L. LAVADA JR. & JHUNE N. TINGSON Art by MIKEY VINCENT T. VICENTE

It is daunting to wage war against the unfamiliar labyrinth of an unknown combatant. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) variants have since protruded and drove the global death toll to unfortunate heights, yet from whence do they come from?

Alleviating the steep upsurges in the number of COVID-19 cases required immense collective efforts from both the nation and its people, resulting in massive economic repercussions, drastic sociocultural and lifestyle changes, and tens of thousands of deaths.

Peaking at approximately 190,000 active cases, the second COVID-19 wave during the first quarter of 2021 gained traction from medical and microbiological experts, and the expected yet sweeping emergence of the virus’ variants was one of the hypothetical underlying reasons on how the country’s curve was hit so hard.

Variants have gained clinical and public notoriety after foreign and national studies, remarkably those from southern Denmark, pioneered the elucidation of the huge threats that they pose. With extensive research, a network of scientists was able to monitor these emerging variants and have discovered that the virus could, in fact, develop new traits which are usually benign but could also be severely threatening in less

''Variants are inexorable as they will

continue to naturally pick up threads of mutation and further emerge as even more strapping biological threats.

likely occasions. Among these, the notoriously infectious Delta variant has been briskly spreading, highly contributing to the spikes in the statistical curve of active cases.

Delta’s rapid spread was particularly imposing, as it propagated 50 percent quicker than Alpha strain which was already 50 percent more infectious than the initial SARS-CoV-2 strain, according to Yale Medicine epidemiologist Francis Perry Wilson. This heightened transmissibility is flustering to all age groups, especially unvaccinated individuals who are more vulnerable. Particularly, the hap of this phenomena is spawned by an individual virus particle called a virion.

When a virion successfully infiltrates a living cell, it initiates a specific set of mechanisms which all culminate into one ultimate goal—to hijack the cellular machinery so the

virus can keep spreading. However, there is a slim chance that such process will have random errors during the replication of the genetic material, causing alterations in the new virion. The process is called mutation, and the progeny, or the newly formed virions with novel genetic identity, are called variants.

Mutations usually have minimal effects on the progeny. It could manifest in ways that are either advantageous or detrimental to the survival of the variant, ranging from the modification of integral structures and increased tolerance to extreme temperatures, to other attributes that increase the transmissibility of the virus.

As a strategic surveillance measure to monitor, characterize, and geographically locate different variants of SARS-CoV-2, the World Health Organization developed a classification system, composed

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of three categories. With respect to the degree of the variants’ transmissibility and their potential to negatively impact the current countermeasures against them, the following categorizations were devised: Variants under Monitoring (VOMs) COVID-19 variants categorized as VOMs have altered genetic information which could possibly pose health risks to identified communities in the future, but further evidence-based assessments are still required. An example is the Variant B.1466.2 which caused an infection spree in Indonesia, reaching the 1,000-mark within the month of identification.

Variants of Interest (VOIs) With heightened transmissibility, increased severity, and possible resistance and/or evasion to treatment, this type of SARS-Cov-2

variant has novel genetic identity which is either foreseen or identified.

A notable example is the Lambda variant, which was found to possess evasive features against autoimmune responses and vaccines alike but was generally considered as less deadly than the Delta variant.

Variants of Concern (VOCs) Variants which fall under this type have all the criterion features of a VOI but are also linked to the occurrence of one or two of the following virological characteristics on a global scale (as backed by extensive meta-data comparative analyses): (1) heightened transmissibility; (2) has caused alterations in the presentation of the infection in the clinical landscape; or (3) partial or absolute evasion and/or resistance to present therapeutic options.

A number of studies have found correlations between the presence of the Delta variant and the steep

surges in the number of COVID-19 cases and mortalities, making it one of the only four VOCs in the world; the other three being the Alpha, Beta, and Gamma variants.

Variants are inexorable as they will continue to naturally pick up threads of mutation and further emerge into even more aggressive biological threats. However, we can also release our own variants of action that are powerful enough to overpower the existing provocations: getting vaccinated and conventioning a well-balanced lifestyle to strengthen one’s immune response and wrestle against these disease-causing organisms.

After seasons of grim milestones and hard-to-swallow statistics, modern science, cooperative citizenry, and good governance still shine a glimmer of hope upon us all that the curves will lie low and the people will again rise—scathed but victorious. S

The World Health Organization developed a classification system to categorize COVID-19 variants according to their actual and potential negative impacts to a specific geographical location.

A COVID-19 virion is expected to mutate once every

11-15 DAYS

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SONITUS Photo by KARL BRIAN T. MARQUEZA

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SOCIETY

CONSENT FOR THE AGE OF CONSENT Unearthing the 91-year-old Revised Penal Code with the recent passing of the Senate Bill No. 2332, which raises the age of consent from 12 to 16, in the Congress.

Words by KYNAH RHEA B. FUENTES Photo manipulation by KYLE JOBE B. DE GUZMAN & MIKEY VINCENT T. VICENTE Sexually abusing a child is legally and morally acceptable in the country. At least, that’s what the Revised Penal Code (RPC) of the Philippines indirectly suggests for determining statutory rape at 12 years old.

Since 1930, children have been subjected to severe human rights violations as sexual abuse and exploitation cases continue to surge at an alarming rate. Even with numerous concerns raised, the age of consent was never prioritized by the Congress as much as other issues.

According to the lawmakers, the country already has enough laws against child abuse, so they saw no urgency in this matter. Contrarily, the establishment of those child protection laws did not take into account the increase in the number of child rape cases each year—not to mention those not reported out of fear, shame, and the lack of reliability to the people around them.

What a shame to be a Filipino and to know that the Philippines has the lowest age of consent among the

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countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)—which is also one of the lowest in the world, second to Nigeria at 11.

Yet with all those crippling and troublous events from the start of the pandemic until now, the only good thing to be considered is the recent passing of Senate Bill (SB) No. 2332 on its third and final reading—the 27th of September 2021 now marks the beginning of a new era for more efficient child protection.

Now approved by the Senate, SB 2332 or “An Act Increasing the Age for Determining Statutory Rape and other Acts of Sexual Abuse and Exploitation to Protect Children” is currently in the works to becoming a law that would raise the age of consent from 12 to 16 years old. Both chambers in the Congress—the House of Representatives and the Senate—are to convene for provision of conflict settlements before President Rodrigo Duterte’s approval will be sought for the last phase of the legislation.

With this victory for child welfare, however, flashbacks of traumatic experiences for some unfortunate little ones seem to have happened just yesterday. Real-life cases such as that of a 12-year-old who became a sex slave for a 37-year-old adult neighbor and his friends over the course of four years, a 7-year-old girl physically and sexually abused by her stepfather, two sisters who were sexually coerced by their father and brother, and a lot more cases trailing behind leave marks of trauma for the rest of the victims’ lives.

Undeniably, the Philippine government has been putting its back into implementing numerous child protection legislations. To mention a few, the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, the Anti-Child Pornography Law, and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act are existing laws that keep Filipino children from any forms of abuse and exploitation.

But perhaps the most important governing law for child protection ever since has been the Republic Act 7610 or the "Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act”, which was passed on June 17, 1992, and covers almost all cases of abuse.

But regardless of all that, the country still preferred to adopt the outdated policies of Europe in the 1200s-1800s through the presence of the Republic Act No. 3815, which defines rape as “having a carnal knowledge of a woman”.

Based on the code, rape is a private act or a crime against chastity only under a few circumstances. It is rape when a man has sexual intercourse with a woman through force, threat, or intimidation. It is rape when the offended party is deprived of reason or otherwise unconscious.

It is rape when the offended party is under 12 years of age, even without the presence of the aforementioned circumstances.

Closely analyzing these specifications in the code, it is unfortunate to discover that the aforementioned penal code that would supposedly protect Filipino children from sexual assault is ironically the same law that propels them to be vulnerable to abuse.

Flaws in the law are found through how rape is defined and the circumstances it entails, especially with the subtle exclusions of rape cases for boys and the age of consent. Rape cases involving girls are given much more attention than those involving boys. Despite not having logical bases for the identification of trauma caused by rape according to the sex of the child, the old law obviously provides biases to females as rape cases involving them have much heavier consequences.

The classification of rape against a female child carries a heavier punishment of reclusion perpetua or 20 to 40 years of imprisonment while the case against a male child would take the prision mayor or six to 12 years of imprisonment only. If anything, this existing condition could actually encourage predators to look for male victims instead since the punishment is lighter.

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Despite calls to adhere to international standards and to keep up with the new and progressive views on childhood development, carrying on with the age of consent at 12 gives child sex abusers ways to easily get away with rape. This has long been debated, especially by child rights groups, yet the country appears to be eager to follow the old European suit. Although it is signatory to United Nations agreements—the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, among others— the country disregards its international obligations by keeping the low age of consent.

With the reformation of the SB 2332, certain major changes were made including: raising the age of consent from 12 to 16 (in consideration of the discernment of the children as well as the traditional Islamic law for early marriages); amending the language of the law to be gender-responsive; and incorporating the Romeo-and-Juliet or the close-in age clause (which seeks no liability for rape if sexual relations are consensual, non-exploitative, and non-abusive and if it happens between two minors whose age difference is not more than four years).

A duration of 91 years of impunity for child abusers is beyond endurance, and it’d be the greatest shame for us Filipinos if we would not pass into law such a landmark bill which would genuinely protect the welfare of the innocents. Regardless of this, our responsibility as concerned citizens covers taking action to stand against rape culture, because after all, absolutely no one is entitled to any forms of sexual abuse, harrasment, or assault. S

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[...] the aforementioned penal code that would supposedly protect Filipino children from sexual assault is ironically the same law that propels them to be vulnerable to abuse.

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DISCUSSION

NO, YOU DON’T HAVE DADDY ISSUES

Here are some of the most popular psychological complexes and how you’ve been using them wrong.

Words by HANA PATRICIA RAJ E. HAUTEA Art by PERLYN JOY L. SUGANOB

I swear, if I see one more 13-yearold on Twitter flexing her “daddy issues”, I will actually deactivate my account.

Don’t get me wrong—psychology making its way into the mainstream is a double-edged sword. On one hand, mental health and getting therapy aren’t as stigmatized, but on the other hand, it’s honestly painful to watch people throw around terminology they don’t understand just because it’s trending. Although psychological complexes are relatively new to stan Twitter, they’ve long since been tropes in media and film, so let’s find out what these complexes really are with a few familiar examples, shall we?

The term is so often used online regarding anything remotely sexual that its inherent meaning has become blurry. When women like older men, when they’re overly clingy with their partners, or when they seem like they only care about sex—they’re automatically tagged with the “daddy issues” diagnosis.

At first glance, Dolores Haze from the novel-turned-film Lolita seems like the poster child for this complex.

This 12-year-old girl was coerced into a (very physical) relationship with a pedophilic man old enough to be her dad (and surprise: she has a terrible relationship with her actual father). In her defense, though, she didn’t really know what was going on.

But in actuality, people unknowingly link the term to someone, usually a female for some reason, who has attachment issues.

While “daddy issues” may not be a legitimate psychological term, a “father complex” is. Originally coined

by Sigmund Freud, its meaning has evolved throughout the years and is now described by medical website Healthline as someone with unconscious impulses and associations that stem from a poor relationship with their father. It really doesn’t have to be sexual at all!

THE GOD COMPLEX

THE FATHER COMPLEX Alright Gen Z babies, listen up: “Daddy issues” is not a real thing.

Now, now, who better to embody this complex if not the one and only Regina George? Hot, popular, and filthy rich—this iconic queen

had all the reason to believe that the universe revolved around her.

Before her character development in Mean Girls, Miss George could definitely be labelled as someone with a God complex. But while this isn’t diagnosable, narcissism is (it’s called Narcissistic Personality Disorder).

The former may not be a legit personality disorder, yet they both share a lot of common traits: an inflated sense of self, a tendency to gaslight, a lack of empathy, unsuccessful long-term relationships, and a tendency to disrespect boundaries, among others.

Sound like your ex yet?

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''It’s honestly painful to watch people throw

around terminology they don’t understand just because it’s trending. they actively look for flaws in other people. Doesn’t the Evil Queen from Snow White fit the bill here? She’s so insecure in her appearance that she literally tries to murder the only person more beautiful than her. The Evil Queen had an inferiority complex; no one can change my mind.

MARTYR/VICTIM COMPLEX Finally, we get to one of the trickiest ones. Now, if you had a martyr complex, you’d be big on

THE INFERIORITY COMPLEX This one is probably the least misused in this list, and it’s got to do with how common a trope it is. We’re all aware of how this is associated with low self-esteem as well as feelings of inadequacy or inferiority. As a result, you’d often compare yourself with others and seek validation from other people.

But what you may not know is that an inferiority complex can also manifest in other ways. Sometimes, people who seem overly confident or narcissistic may actually be subconsciously masking their feelings of not being enough, so

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so dangerous because you’d place yourself in situations or relationships that you know will cause you suffering.

A similar concept to this is the victim complex. Someone with this feels like everyone is out to get them—they refuse to be responsible for their problems, and they’re often so overly critical of others, among other damaging behaviors. As a deeply flawed character, Bojack Horseman from the self-titled show Bojack Horseman embodies a lot of these traits. He’s stubbornly pessimistic, is as attached to grudges as he is to his alcohol, and struggles hard with holding himself accountable.

And there we have it! At this point, you’ve seen how these familiar psychological complexes manifest themselves in our behavior. Use this information carefully and take it with a grain of salt—there’s a lot more to them than I could fit into a two-page article. You now know better than to use these terms lightly, and perhaps you can take this opportunity to evaluate yourself for any harmful traits you need to address.

self-sacrifice and service to others at your own expense. It can be an unconscious thing, but you’d constantly want to feel like “the victim”. This is honestly

Trust me, there’s no shame in admitting you’re flawed. We all are.

(TLDR: Yes, you have issues, and no, they aren’t daddy issues.) S

FILIPINO

HOW TO GAIN FOLLOWERS? READ TO FIND OUT!

Isinulat ni IVEE E. MANGUILIMOTAN Obra ni TRIZIA C. HASSIM

Exposing the roots of the Pinoy baiting marketing strategy.

“TRYING JOLLIBEE FOR THE FIRST TIME!” Isa ka ba sa milyon-milyong Pilipino na minsan nang nalinlang na panoorin ang mga bidyong may ganiyang pamagat? Minsan mo na bang ikinagalak na napagtutuunan ng pansin ang arkipelagong bansa natin? Namumutawi ba sa iyong kaibuturan ang pagiging Pinoy tuwing ipinagmamalaki tayo sa mga ganitong lagay?

Kung ikaw ay napatango, tiyak na nabiktima ka na rin ng ''Pinoy baiting''.

Lubhang tanyag ang mga ganitong bidyo sa bansa kaya naman ay halos magkandakuba ang mga vloggers o influencers, na kadalasa’y dayuhan, sa paghihimok sa ating mga Pilipino upang panoorin ang kani-kanilang content sa iilang social media platform tulad ng YouTube at Facebook sa pamamagitan ng pagkabit ng mga mapang-akit na pamagat. Dahil rito, umugong ang “Pinoy baiting” o ang karaniwang paglikha ng mga dayuhang “content creators” ng iba’t ibang midyum na may layong maengganyo ang atensyon ng mga Pilipino. Pinagkakakitaan ng mga dayuhang ito ang libu-libong Pinoy para sa agarang kabantugan kahit na kadalasa’y wala silang alam sa ating kultura at katauhan.

Ayon sa pagsisiyasat ng mga kompanyang nasa linya ng social media management na Hootsuite at We Are Social’s, humigit kumulang apat na oras ang ginugugol ng mga Pinoy sa social media kung kaya’t nangunguna sa buong mundo ang mga mamamayang Pilipino bilang isa sa mga pinakaaktibo sa internet at social media. Animo’y kabalintuaanan ang ganitong resulta ng pagsisiyasat sapagkat nangunguna rin ang nasyon sa mga bansang may pinakamabagal na internet speed—ngunit heto tayo’t madalas manalo sa mga bertwal na paligsahan. Sa ganitong lagay, kung isa kang dayuhang influencer na sinusubukan pa lamang ang industriya, talagang matutukso ka’t maeengganyo na himukin ang mga Pilipino.

Hindi naman sa nilalahat natin ang mga dayuhang vlogger, ngunit sadyang kapansin-pansin lang ang iilan sa kanila na ginagamit lamang ang popularidad upang manloko ng mga Pinoy.

Bagama’t maaring ipalagay na bulag tayo sa atensyong nakukuha natin mula sa kanila kahit na mukhang walang saysay ang mga bidyong ginagawa nila, karamihan sa atin ay galak na galak pa sa tuwing naitatampok ang Pilipinas.

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Isang konkretong halimbawa ang nakaraang isyu na kinasangkutan ni Nuseir Yassin o mas kilala bilang Nas Daily. Sa kanyang paglunsad ng Nas Academy o ang pang-edukasyong inisyatiba, kasama ng iba pa niyang mga kasamahang vlogger at influencer, ipinahayag na kabilang si Whang-Od, ang pinakamatandang tattoo artist o mambabatok sa buong bansa, sa gaganapin nilang online course. Subalit sinalungat ito ni Gracia Palicas, apo sa pamangkin ni WhangOd, sa isang Facebook post na ‘i-scam’ ito at wala silang pinirmahang kontrata sapagkat hindi nagkaunawaan si Whang-Od at ang kampo ni Yassin.

Dagdag pa ni Palicas na ikinababahala niya ang harapang pagsasamantala ng dayuhang vlogger sa kultura nila.

Kung tutuusin, makakabuti sana sa tribo Kalinga at mga Pinoy ang lalong pagpapalaganap ng mayamang historya’t kultura ng pambabatok.

Dahil pasalin-salin lamang sa bibig ang pagpapasa ng kultura ng mga katutubong Pinoy, malaki sana ang maitutulong ng online platform upang dumami ang magkainteres ditong matuto at pagyamanin pa lalo.

Ngunit taliwas rito, nawari ng mga netizens na ang tanging pakay lang pala ni Yassin ay upang lumawak ang kanyang online reach; walang bahid ng interes sa kultura natin.

Marahil, dahil umiiral na kaisipang #PinoyPride at #GalingPinoy (ang pagmamalaki sa kahit na anong parangal na matanggap ng bansa sa pangkawalakang entablado), hindi maipagkakailang malaki ang naging ambag nating mga Pilipino sa popularidad ng mga content vloggers at influencers sa mga platform tulad ng Facebook at YouTube.

Ngunit kung mamarapatin, baka nga uhaw lang ang mga Pinoy sa tinaguriang “foreign validation” buhat ng paniniwalang mas nakakaangat ang mga kanluraning kultura kaysa sa sariling bayan. Maaaring bilang isang nasyon, wala tayong kumpiyansa sa sariling atin kaya’t nabuo ang #PinoyPride at #GalingPinoy upang mapunan ang ating insecurity o walang kapanatagan. Sari-sari ba naman ang napulot nating kultura sa ilang daang taong pagsakop ng iba’t-ibang dayuhan sa bansa, tiyak na maaring balisa pa rin tayong mga Pinoy sa tunay nating pagkakakilanlan.

Sa isyu ng Pinoy baiting, maiiugnay rin ang teorya ni Edward Said, isang tanyag na propesor ng literatura sa Columbia University, ukol sa orientalismo. Ang konsepto ng orientalism ay isang uri ng pagtingin sa Asya at sa Gitnang Silangan na kung saan ang parehong lugar, kasama na rin ang mga tao at kulturang nabibilang rito, ay nakikita bilang “lugar ng romansa, mga kakaibang nilalang, nagmumultuhang alaala, at tanawin.”

Maihahalina na ginagawa itong katwiran ng kulturang kanluranin upang “igapos ang mga kolonyal na subheto” para burahin ang tunay na naratibo ng mga mula Asya at Gitnang Silangan at palitan ng kanluraning pagtingin (o imperyalismong pangkultura). Sa kaso ng Nas Daily "Pinoy baiting", mabubura ang naratibong Kalinga o Pinoy habang pinagkakakitaan lamang tayo ni Yassin.

Isa itong tahasang pang-iinsulto sa ilang dekadang tradisyon ng katutubong Pilipino.

Madugo ang naging kasaysayan ng Pilipinas: puno ng kahirapan at

We Are Social and Hootsuite said Filipinos spent an average of 4 hours and 15 minutes each day on social media. In contrast, the global average for social media usage was 2 hours and 25 minutes. -ABS-CBN

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paghihinagpis sa kamay ng mga Kastila, Amerikano, at Hapones kung kaya’t mahalagang isapuso’t isaisip na ang kinaiingatan nating kultura ay hindi nararapat na maging “content for clout” lamang. Matuto sana tayong matukoy at matugunan kapag nasaksihan nating nakakabahala na ang pagtrato ng mga influencers sa ating kultura.

Panawagan ito na maging kritikal ang Pinoy sa anumang content ang madaanan nila sa internet at social media.

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[...] baka nga uhaw lang ang mga Pinoy sa tinaguriang “foreign validation” buhat ng paniniwalang mas nakakaangat ang mga kanluraning kultura kaysa sa sariling bayan.

Kakaiba’t halu-halo man ang kasaysayan at kulturang Pinoy, nararapat pa ring pakitunguhan ito ng may dangal at paggalang dahil parte ito ng pagkatao ng bawat Pilipino, saan man silang bahagi ng mundo.

Tandaan na higit pa sa kulturang Pinoy ang pagkain ng Jollibee at balut o pagpuri sa naglalakihang malls. Sa oras na may content kang makita na kahina-hinala, mas maiging kilatisin itong mabuti at isipin: Hanggang dito lang ba ang maipagmamalaki ng Pilipinas? S

FACING THE STATIC 43

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SOCIETY

Olympia’s Flame Burns Brighter In Your Chest A look into what made this year’s Tokyo Olympics so special.

Words by ELIZABETH D. FERNANDEZ Photos courtesy of Philstar & The Manila Times

With a history of fiery competition and global sportsmanship, the Tokyo Olympics 2021 had the opportunity to bridge apparent divides among people in an isolating pandemic. However, with countless pushbacks on the event itself, it became apparent that the athletic showcases alone would not revitalize the weary world.

Rather, it was the athletes themselves, who not only came with impressive physical prowess but also flames of passion within their hearts, set to alter the course of the sports industry’s future forever.

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Held in an unprecedented time, this year’s establishment of the Olympics faced more challenges than its predecessors. Conducted in Tokyo, Japan, a survey from the Asahi Shimbun publication showed that over 80 percent of Japanese citizens preferred further postponement (despite being a year late already) or even cancellation of the event.

With rising COVID-19 cases within the country, the fear of opening up borders amidst the risk of an outbreak was palpable. Protests and political scandals sprung up across Tokyo days leading up to the opening ceremony.

One such brazen act included a woman attempting to douse the Olympic torch—a powerful physical and metaphorical demonstration of revolt against the government’s decision to continue the games.

The flame persisted and with billions of dollars on the line, less than a thousand physical spectators watching, and dissent outside of the stadium, the show went on.

To placate worries of COVID-19 infection surges from incoming international athletes, Olympic officials promised regular testing and strict social distancing. The Olympic Village was established and essentially became an isolated bubble in the form of a communal space for all international visitors. Residential areas, a dining hall, and multiple gyms were provided for the athletes to ensure comfort and safety.

This seemingly worked as, despite subdued celebrations and fanfare, whatever distraction the Olympics hoped to accomplish was apparent through television screens across the world. For the first time in forever, there was mutual interest and discussions about the extraordinary feats of the participating athletes. Avid sports fans, casual spectators, and patriots hoping to see their country triumph—the reason one was tuning into the games did not matter. What mattered was that, for a while, the hearts of the people were once again connected and spirits were lifted.

But for all the awe-inspiring athletic performances, it was the dignity of the attending athletes that truly touched the audience.

Hidilyn Diaz made Philippine history by championing the country’s first-ever gold medal. Becoming an inspiring idol for the masses, she used her platform to contest sports industry oppression, exploitation, and lack of nationwide support. Diaz, a weight-lifting champion that had won two silver medals in the 2008 and 2016 Summer Olympics prior, had long been asking for financial and government aid for local athletes, who had no access to basic equipment and even fewer opportunities to realize their talents.

“They demand so much from us yet they give so little,” Diaz pointed out in an interview with Sports5, explaining a poem she wrote about hypocritical expectations and the lack of tangible help.

The prolific weightlifter actually resorted to sourcing her own sponsors via social media for her to attend this year’s Olympics. When news of this spread, it drew ire from the sports crowd, especially because it pointed out flaws like the bias of support towards specific sports in a lucrative yet niche industry.

Comments calling her ungrateful and presumptuous were the milder of the lot, and in hindsight became thoroughly redundant as, in the end, it was Diaz who was able to lift the Philippines to the first place pedestal.

While Diaz became the poster child of perseverance and success, she was not the only athlete to bring home a medal.

There was also Nesthy Petecio who bagged silver in the women’s featherweight boxing division. The fact that two women were able to win Olympic medals in stereotypically masculine sports (weightlifting and boxing) also subverted gender stereotypes, showing that everyone and anyone can be interested in different kinds of sports regardless of gender and background. Meanwhile, Carlo Paalam and Eumir Marcial won silver and bronze in the men’s flyweight and middle boxing divisions, respectively.

These advocacies of integrity and strength persisted throughout the games, overshadowing the physical performances—especially in the face of one of the greatest mental health discussions ever.

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Comments calling her ungrateful and presumptuous were the milder of the lot, and in hindsight became thoroughly redundant as in the end, it was Diaz who was able to lift the Philippines to the first place pedestal.

When seven-time American Olympic medalist Simone Biles announced that she would withdraw from the gymnastics event, fans worldwide were shellshocked. A barrage of disappointment, judgment, and anger flooded social media—all of them telling her to “get it together”. Biles, however, did not budge from her decision, citing that her failing mental health was much more crucial and would actually hinder her team’s success.

Biles’ candor brought to light the very real issue of the mind-to-body connection that athletes need to fulfill before performing. In gymnastics, this mentalphysical disconnect is called the “twisties”—a mental state where gymnasts lose their sense of space and dimension, making risky tricks and maneuvers even more dangerous.

“It’s the craziest feeling ever. Not having an inch of control over your body. [You] literally cannot tell up from down,” Biles revealed on her Instagram stories.

Others stood to defend Biles’ decision, attesting to how dangerous poor mental health truly is for an athletes’ body. From American softball pitcher Cat Osterman to swimming legend Michael Phelps, many struck a chord with Biles’ frustrations of having the world’s expectations on one’s shoulders, seemingly becoming show-horses for the audience’s entertainment.

“We also have to focus on ourselves because, at the end of the day, we’re human too,” Biles shared to The Associated Press, emphasizing that sports is both a physical and mental hurdle.

The Tokyo Olympics became so much more than a presentation of a country’s might. It allowed true discussion of the unfair expectations and abuse that athletes face. It became a stage of unity, empathy, and understanding that bridged gaps of isolation and apathy in the name of sportsmanship, showing that humanity’s flame continues to burn brighter than ever before. S

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DISCUSSION

OnlyFans: A VIP underground trade?

An excavation of an exclusive platform which supports an erotic trade.

Words by EJ NELL VOEN A. FLORENDO & ESTHER JOYCE M. LIMBAÑA Photos by KYLE JOBE B. DE GUZMAN

What first comes to mind when you think of OnlyFans?

Is it a mere haven for x-rated content creators or a global porno powerhouse? Generally, it’s known as a subscription service wherein accounts earn money through exchange by providing desired content. More than that, though, it's a platform that allows creators to produce and scatter their content while granting certain fans those premium bits they can’t get anywhere else.

But beyond the sly grins and suggestive smirks of its content creators, what really lies beneath the sheets of OnlyFans?

OnlyFans is an exclusive, subscription-based platform that lets users share multimedia posts and covers all kinds of content behind a paywall. While it carries a variety of

matters, it has gained a name for itself because of the extensive explicit content that makes most of its money.

However, there is more to it than that. Making coin from homemade pornos highlights the site’s potential for net worth; but there is so much pressure from banking associates and payment processors that the content guidelines get legitimately blurred out in the process.

Despite all that, OnlyFans has always assured sex workers a safe space to stay in their seats.

As the pandemic continued on, the increased usage of social media surged in millions of new users indulging in exclusive content. OnlyFans’ main income comes from those contents, so the widespread gain of new users made it all the more surprising when the site suddenly announced they

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'' Inhabited by over two million content

creators, the platform is not uncharted territory for Filipinos.

would be banning all Not Safe for Work (NSFW) content.

This shocked the multitude of sex workers who relied on the company to be the backbone of their income.

"The short answer is [because of] banks," Tim Stokely, the chief executive of OnlyFans, declared when he was asked for the rationale behind the abrupt ban.

But just as suddenly, the site decided to reverse their decision and undo the ban, which only brought more confusion, but the platform reasoned out that they secured the assurances necessary to support their diverse creator community.

Some believed it was only an excuse and that there’s more underneath that narrative. Others saw it as a safety measure to self-preserve and get ahead of future issues similar to the ones dealt by Pornhub, a neighboring porn site.

However, OnlyFans is not primarily for sexual interests.

It is made up of a diverse community of photographers, fitness coaches, make-up gurus, and other creatives. They may have been buried due to the insurmountable amount of sexual content, but these non-porn accounts are real and exist in fair numbers. Yet, the NSFW content continues to amass extensive demand from the fans' subscriptions.

There will always be a high demand for porn, yet the financial assurance of the individuals working for it has become questionable. The prohibition of sexual content has deprived sex workers of their rights to do their job, which is their only source for their financial necessities. Because of this, sex workers have slowly begun leaving OnlyFans, placing the company in a tight bind.

Inhabited by over two million content creators, the platform is not uncharted territory for Filipinos. With the Philippines being a third-world country, financial instability prompted some to find a new stream of income by becoming content creators. Selling a feed of thirst traps and enticing viewers to pay for even more sexually explicit content, OnlyFans has helped Filipino sex workers centralize the monetization of their nudes.

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But despite earning two to three times the monthly minimum wage online, the trade also has its drawback—the digital service's bank partners have strict requirements in terms of payment processing. Content creators from Asian countries, including the Philippines, experience payment complications since the platform can't send money directly to them. Several sex workers were aggrieved on the need to pay a middleman, who took portions of their earnings inasmuch as to route payments from Western banks to theirs.

Moreover, concerns of digital privacy still arise despite exclusivity being one of the best features of the platform.

With leaks still being possible, it is fearsome for content creators who value their privacy, especially those in countries where sex workers are taboo.

OnlyFans also encountered their own issues with underage users. Complaints about child porn were raised, likely caused by the site's insufficiency to verify their users’ age.

As a response, OnlyFans released a statement on how they take such issues very seriously, adding that they use "state-of-the-art technology" and "human monitoring" in preventing minors from sharing explicit content. Regardless, the authorities still believe the platform is only doing the bare minimum to safeguard children and those underaged from exploitation, and in worst cases, violence and rape.

The history of pornography is nothing new. Presently, it has become nearly ubiquitous in society, fueling the sexualization of almost everything. Along with porn sites with well-built reputations, OnlyFans has also popularized sex work globally. In opposition, the anti-sex-work movement remains adamant to reduce the industry to scraps, while concurrently, a movement of sex workers also propels the decriminalization of their trade and the right to continue while being given the same financial stability as others.

As if a perpetual conflict, the matter of normalizing sex work remains for generations and continues to beg the question: Should we consider porn as normal just because it’s normalized? S

PORCELAIN FACE Photo essay by PHOEBE DAIDOJI Q. JABONETE

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SOCIETY

THE METAMORPHOSIS OF COLORS: PH LGBTQ+ HISTORY Words by FERRY LYRA B. FRONDA I Photos by RODNEY A. JARDER JR.

Discussion on the history of LGBTQ+ in the country through the lens of queers who braved through such time.

Flags are fluid in the breeze—puffing up and drawing vibrancy to the streets like colors tossed from a box of pastels. Lavender, pink, blue, white, and rainbow banners are hoisted high under a tropical sky. People are dressed in drag and some flamboyant costumes such as acid-neon hair, feather boas, and chap-boots, while littering fictitious pixie dust in their trail. In a fleeting rainbow of seasons, how did these bright colors transform into the boldest of hues?

Before globalization gathered its momentum, the country’s LGBTQ+ (an initialism for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and other disctinct groups under gay culture) had already implanted its roots to create a new landscape in our modern community, like other marginalized groups in the country that were built through grit.

The LGBTQ+ in the country have lingered long enough to be celebrated. In the 16th and 17th centuries, transvestism was a cultural feature of precolonial communities where local

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men brandished themselves with fair dresses. These men not only resembled the demeanor of women, but were also granted social recognition. Archives would color the trails of them being “married” to men whom they had sexual relations with.

When the Spaniards took the reins of the country, gender crossers were ridiculed like filthy sinners by a Spanish brand of medieval machismo. As Americans toppled the Spanish regime, Filipinos were clothed into a Western design of thinking that pieces up gender and sexual identity formation.

From that point forward, queer culture or the expressions of uniqueness of those whose sexual orientation is not exclusively heterosexual, escaped from their cocoon to undo the silence. The 1990s heard the first ring of political battlecry, and at the end of the decade, the LGBTQ+ stretched their wings in both representation and activities in the new epoch.

When asked about the previous climate of the local queers, Atty. Samantha Tan, a law professor and a 52-year-old gay, shared that the presence of the LGBTQ+ community was like a quiet breath in the ‘70s. There may have been little hums, but discussion was piped down. There was awareness in the ‘80s, but the call for acceptance was stifled; then it echoed a more concrete meaning in the community during the ‘90s. Now, in the 2000s, there is an open market of ideas, where heterosexuals are already forming an alliance to support the LGBTQ+ community.

The scarcity of information that would allow queers to introspect themselves steered them to find safe space in one another. “Once you get into a certain group of people, it will groom you. It’s [through] word of mouth, disco steps, gay bars, resto and clubs with frequent gay people—that’s how you meet the community,” Alex* expounded on how queers forged a safe space before, as a 59-year-old gay man who was raised in a highly-urbanized community.

Probing into the policies that protect the LGBTQ+, educator and 54-year-old gay Kenneth Benignos is hoping to see developments in the policies, especially on same-sex legal partnership, as he compared it to business partnerships. “During a time that you build up a relationship, you are also putting up the security of your lard [assets]. We want security, so it must be a legal partnership of [the] same sex,” he stated.

Existing policies seem to be crafted with idle words that fail to spark real change. We might have progressed quite a

lot in terms of acceptance, but in terms of legislation, there are things that still hold us back.

While Alex also awaits for same-sex legal partnerships to be in effect, Samantha imparted a practical democratic Marxist view, reckoning the legal maturity to embark into that course of action. “Before we cry for our rights, before we demand something from our government, we have to ask ourselves—if the government gives this to us and imposes obligations, can we fulfill it? Ay kung pagboto lang nga nang tama, hirap tayo (Even with just voting wisely, we are already having difficulties),” she argued.

Shards of history would illumine the fact that the queer community existed from time immemorial, but society has been lax about its presence. It has become an issue today because of the pressing standards of morality that were shaped by the community. Thus, the norms and barriers we cave in and subscribe to have the power to dim or color diversity.

We are living through the consequences of our history— the radiant triumphs and the gloomy tragedies. There will always be times where we will face unanswered questions about sexuality. This is why we try to discover and evolve to arc our own rainbow on Earth. These three individuals who braved through a kaleidoscopic time unfold a message for today’s generation: learn to love, and unlearn hate.

The struggle of the queer community may not yet be close to the finish line, but the trajectory of our past will always push us forward and onward—marching with pride and brimming with colors. S

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FEATURE

THE BEAUTY IN DISSONANCE An introduction of the niche, underground music genre and why people listen to it; what is the appeal of something so harsh and chaotic?

Words by ANGELA A. CORONEL Photo courtesy of Noisebath PH & Gen Thalz An unbearable screech of high-frequency static rings sharply in your ears. Cringing from the unexpected pain, your gaze locks to the nearby chaotic crowd on the local plaza. As you hesitantly approach the scene, their muffled voices slowly turn into audible, violent reactions: “Tama na ‘yan! Tigil niyo na ‘yan! Ang ingay niyo!” You begin to comprehend the complaints of the audience as your ears stop ringing, enough to separate the commotion of the crowd from the noise of the stage speakers. Curious, you think to yourself: How do people actually listen to this stuff?

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Revolution would give men the opportunity to appreciate unusual sounds, and so Russolo drew inspiration from the “Six Families of Noise” for his orchestra: roars, whistles, whispers, screechings, beating on metals, and voices of animals and people.

Throughout Russolo’s career, the mainstream public showed strong disapproval toward his work (as he expected). Still, he continued on, and his legacy proved itself with the rise of the “Japanoise” genre in the 1980s, which eventually paved the way for the future of noise music.

While these thoughts fill your head, a voice echoes through the speakers, competing with the vexed audience: "Magandang gabi! Pasensya na po kung na-ingayan kayo. Hindi po kami nag-iingay lang dito at hindi rin po namin kayo pinagti-tripan. Yung ginagawa po namin ngayon ay isa pong uri ng sining. Opo, sa maniwala po kayo o hindi, ito po ay art.”

Although noise doesn’t have a mainstream audience, the genre does have its own underground community. Here in the country, Filipinos have Noisebath PH, a collective of noise and experimental artists based in Metro Manila. Founded by Ryan Pangilinan, Noisebath serves as a platform for artists to share their creative ventures and enthusiasm for the said genre.

WHERE IT ALL STARTED

THE CREATION OF CHAOS

In the early 1910s, an Italian Futurist artist by the name of Luigi Russolo decided to challenge the traditional, melodic standard of music. According to him, the Industrial

Noise is still considered experimental; hence, it evolves as artists try to incorporate new sounds and layers in their projects.

''But then again, what we like about music will always be subjective; this is why we all have varying tastes.

When Russolo founded the genre, he invented various noise-generating devices called intonarumori in the early 19th century. These devices produced sounds that mimic sirens, guns, and motors incorporated into compositions. But nowadays, static, frequencies, and interference coming from different machines are commonly used in modern tracks.

and decided to enlighten them while his partner was setting up. The spotlight shone on him as his voice echoed through the speakers to cancel out the boos from the irritated crowd. He went on to explain that the simplest idea he could give the audience was to compare them to sound artists who produce soundtracks and effects in movies:

In the local scene, Gen Thalz, one of the featured artists in Noisebath PH, is a noisemaker and instrument builder based in Bulacan. Most noise artists, including Thalz, not only produce noise, but they also resourcefully create their own instruments to produce these sounds. The artist typically builds noise generators including modular synths, semimodular synths, drum machines, guitar effects, and signal controllers.

“...[ngunit] bukod sa paggawa ng mga musical soundtracks, kung mapapansin niyo po yung ibang instrumento namin ay kakaiba, kasi po [...] kami mismo ang gumagawa […] Bukod po sa paglikha ng art, isa rin po sa mga challenges namin ay kung paano makakagawa ng panibagong uri ng musika, ‘yun bang musika na hindi mo pa napapakinggan.”

In an interview, Thalz passionately described his unique favorite among the instruments: “They are all like my children, but my current favorite is the Post Traumatic Signal Disorder or P.T.S.D. It's so special to me because it is gyroscopic, which means you can tilt it in any direction and it generates or affects the sound it produces.”

UNDERSTANDING NICHE ART Every artist’s goal is to create something that inspires. For Jon Romero, a sound art practitioner based in Caloocan, he aims to keep developing and evolving to a new type of music. In a separate interview, Romero shared a memorable experience in one of his early gigs organized by the Ruthless Sound Collective in Daet, Camarines Norte.

During the performance of a preceding artist, Romero noticed the audience’s negative reaction to the noise genre

After his passionate spiel, they proceeded to perform, but this time the audience was actually listening despite the “noise” they produced. Not a single complaint was heard and some even approached the artists after the show.

Now, what makes noise so appealing? Well, some would say they enjoy the textures and layers, while others highlight how the rawness and violence sync with their emotions.

Perhaps it may be the deep appreciation of the artistry and creative expression of making noise. But then again, what we like about music will always be subjective; this is why we all have varying tastes.

Though you may think that noise is easy to replicate and would be pointless to reproduce, it actually requires a certain amount of skill and creativity to produce. Even something so violent and loud is built with passion—and that’s why it’s still art. S

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FEATURE

Unfit for the Filipino Screen

Delving into the realm of local and foreign films that were banned in the country.

Words by DREXEL JOHN N. AMIT Art by JAZIEL ANN V. SEBALLOS & TRIZIA C. HASSIM I know we are all too familiar with the adage “art is subjective.” Well, artists would conform to this by saying that one’s perception of art may be different from another. Yet, seemingly, some people’s personal opinions towards certain forms of art are so extreme that they make decisions for the general audience. How so? By censorship and banning controversial art forms.

Music and paintings get banned for various reasons, but the film industry gets the worst of it. Would you be able to watch the Oscar-winning film Brokeback Mountain in China? No, due to its homosexual plot. Do you think Lebanon would ever show the first female-led superhero movie Wonder Woman? Never, because Gal Gadot is an Israeli. Why did Malaysia prohibit the first movie of the kids show Barney? Well, because they deemed it “unsuitable for children.”

The abovementioned instances may have occurred internationally, but the Philippines also has its own set of banned films for reasons as trivial as nudity to something as significant as territorial disputes. Now, get your popcorn and soda ready as we roll the reels of some recently banned films in the country.

INNOCENCE OF MUSLIMS (2012) In a country that has Islam as their second most predominant religion, it would be no shock that a short film which ridicules the prophet Muhammad and tags him as a fraud, womanizer, and child molester would be banned. Innocence of Muslims,

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a low-budget movie written and produced by Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, was deemed as a blasphemy of the Islamic prophet.

After two versions of the 14-minute motion picture were uploaded via YouTube, violence sparked across the globe, leading to injuries and even death for some protesters. In September 25, 2012, the Supreme Court coordinated with the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) to preclude the showing of the said film—but no ruling was done to ask YouTube to block the anti-Islamic videos.

ABOMINABLE (2019) Yes, icy creatures like Olaf are adorable, so how could a country ban an animated family-adventure movie about a yeti? Add nine dashes of a line to the equation and you got a movie that mocks the territorial battle of the Philippines against China.

Abominable, produced by DreamWorks Animation and Pearl Studio in 2019, tells the story of a Chinese teenager on a quest to reunite a Yeti to its family. The film sparked controversy after a map depicting the nine-dash line—a policy used by China to claim ownership over disputed seas—was shown. The film was off the Philippine market just two weeks after its release.

METAMORPHOSIS (2019) For the LGBTQIA+ community, J.E. Tiglao’s Metamorphosis is a pioneer in intersex representation. However,

'Unquestionably, '

art is not just made to be appreciated; it is also created to open the eyes of many toward the realities of the world.

MTRCB saw the film as too graphic and sexual, giving it an X rating (aka “not suitable for public exhibition”) on November 6, 2019. Tiglao’s debut film features 14-year-old Adam and his battles on identity crisis and religion as a person born with both the male and female genitalia.

In a Facebook post, Tiglao refuted the board’s claims, saying that the daring scenes were not just about lust but rather about humanizing the character who is intersex. Eventually, the film was reviewed once more and got reclassified as R-16 with no re-edits or cuts applied.

Unquestionably, art is not just made to be appreciated; it is also created to open the eyes of many toward the realities of the world. Even so, some art forms may go overboard, and it is in these circumstances that art should be regulated. Now, the question remains: Which controversial films do you think should be censored or banned? S

MADSHA

CK

With clenched fis ts and razor-edg ed eyes, these survivors faced th e unrelenting stat ic head on.

Individuals who eclipse the dron ing fissures of noise and ground their convictions to achieve a stalemate exist as testimonies to en durance. An axiom beats am id the chaos: the only way out is through.

Nothing is more

certain than our ability to persist and resist.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Pumped-up Clicks: Speedrunning Subculture Exploring a niche way to blitz through demons, save princesses, and become an epic gamer.

I may not spend three straight hours playing Minecraft anymore, but back in elementary school, I tried my best.

I remember playing with the person sitting in front of me as they fished out their phone during vacant hours and we began chopping down trees, or oh—hiss!

Running away from Creepers. When I said I tried my best, I meant I enjoyed building houses in creative mode and giving up after five minutes. Unlike me, though, others do the real thing—from crafting wooden swords, making portals, and finally, facing the ender dragon.

Consequently, it will take an average player hours—even days—to finish a sandbox game like Minecraft. There are, however, gamers who defy gaming standards and finish an entire playthrough in a matter of minutes.

STARTING LINE This competitive gameplay is called “speedrunning”.

At its simplest form, it involves accomplishing the game’s goals in the shortest time possible. While the term may sound somewhat modern, the first documented speedrunning activity actually dates back to 1993, when id Software released a first-person shooter (FPS) game called DOOM. This FPS allowed in-game recordings coined as “demos”. Through capturing these gameplays, FPS fanatics were able to brag about their skills and most especially how fast they were to finish the game—leading them to collate playthrough demos in an online hub, where a community of speedrunners began to thrive.

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Words by SHAINA MARRIE DAYON Art by JAZIEL ANN V. SEBALLOS

As DOOM enthusiasts continued to flock to the website, the community was able to identify two speedrunning styles: Any% and 100%. The former highlights speed—how much of the game you complete is not the most important. Conversely, 100% obligates players to complete all levels—defeating monsters or winning all minigames—in the shortest time possible. Disclaimer, though: playing at a much quicker pace than normal can affect the software system, or in gaming terms, the game can glitch. Either way, it’s part of the challenge.

In Minecraft, Any% could involve slaying the ender dragon with lightning speed while 100% could mean bagging all achievements in one playthrough— depending on the seed or mod used by the player.

THE (GAME) ROOM WHERE IT HAPPENS Gaming is a brain workout laced with fun, and it has its own arena: digital devices. From mobile devices such as smartphones to gaming consoles, and if your computer or laptop can handle it, those can be utilized too.

Whichever device gamers use, what makes it doubly interesting is how this type of gameplay has revitalized the communities of games we now call “the classics” like Super Mario Bros and Sonic the Hedgehog.

With new updates and

“There’s just a different kind of buzz and satisfaction that a person can get from digging deeper into a game’s crevices as one develops new strategies to beat it in faster times.” features to the games, it gives a new thrill to going through loop-de-loops and escaping from Dr. Eggman or saving the Mushroom Kingdom with Mario and Luigi. Other than that, remember Among Us? Speedrunning this party game would mean completing tasks before the Impostor’s betrayal beats the crew— who knows, maybe you’ll be able to beat the top Among Us speedrun record time of 3m 55s 583ms.

THE ART OF RACING IN-GAME If one may ask, why speedrun? One word: validation.

Similar to actual race tracks, speedrunners feel to be at their best when they have the shortest gameplay to be recorded. Also, it actually has a good implication to one’s brain activity. According to the American Psychological Association (APA) in 2014, video games generally increase an individual’s resilience, critical thinking skills, and creativity—attributes useful in facing real life toils.

On top of that, speedrunning allows players to unravel a game’s intricacy through uncovering every nook and cranny, giving an entirely new perspective of the game. “There are other people like you doing speedruns for the same game—thus, you can research for routes or ways of completing that speedrun through understanding and researching the progress and walkthrough of your other peers,” University of St. La Salle freshman Rolando Dela Cerna said.

Other than skills, the subculture has also bridged communities

through the internet. In recent years, Minecraft speedrunning has paved the way for the rise of popular YouTube gaming channels such as Dream.

Not only has this Minecraft Youtuber inspired his fanbase to create online communities with the same interests, he has also paved a path for aspiring content creators. Charity events have also been made possible with the profits off of speedrunning streams, as demonstrated by a group called Games Done Quick.

I don’t think I’ll ever spend hours playing a game—my attention span could never—but I do watch speedrunning videos, only proving the point that speedrunning has enthralled gaming enthusiasts and non-gaming audiences. There’s just a different kind of buzz and satisfaction that a person can get from digging deeper into a game’s crevices as one develops new strategies to beat it in faster times.

Speedrunning gives a good knock to our rusty brain gears; plus its community allows us to gain friends. If you’re on the lookout for refreshing ways to play your favorite games, all the while gaining skills and friends, then maybe speedrunning is for you. It can be intimidating when it gets too competitive, but with proper moderation, it can serve as a great pastime and learning experience for everyone. S

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ENTERTAINMENT

Of X-splits and Aspect Ratios Words by KRIZZIA RICCI T. NEPOMUCENO Photos by MA. MICAH DEARIELLE V. TRAJERA Beneath the confines of a 1080p rectangle on the internet is a human trying to build a legacy. A biography unraveling in each second of a video, ticking along a journey through keyboard clicks. Headphones strapped in, a chair just comfortable enough, and lights dimmed down to a strobing set of LEDs—a cursor hovers over a set of letters in red: GO LIVE Twenty years back, no one would have ever imagined making videos on the internet could make them a living.

Not when the shift to the digital age continued to give such prominence to college, graduating with a degree, and getting a job. But today, with the prominence of streaming bolstered into a booming industry, stability and earnings are just a mouse click away.

With a global pandemic putting a deadlock on physical workplaces, streaming has become a whole new option set in a neon font. As thousands of creators venture out to websites like YouTube, Twitch, or Mixer, it isn’t anything new to see a friend live streaming their gameplay for fun.

Streams, however, are not just bound to games. Anything under the sun such as art, chatting, woodworking, cooking, scambaiting, and even bounty-hunting is possible.

But more than the actual content, what draws people in are the streamers themselves.

In the country, more and more people have started to tune in to streams, with names such as Alodia, GLOCO, and ChoOxTV ringing in the scene. But back in 2019, before streaming became popular locally, 19-year-old Sanny Rey Jover was

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on a ruse to pursue an adventure down an unfamiliar path. With the overwhelming support of his parents and friends, he decided to turn on his camera and dabble in the scene under the moniker “Th4nny”.

Like most local streamers, his early days started with a computer running the latest game as he broadcasted on Facebook Gaming. Whether it was because of his luck, his skills, or his endearing personality, he was able to build a name for himself. As opportunities came by, he chose to switch down a purple road to Twitch, the biggest social video platform for gaming worldwide. But with the international concentration of the website and a wider range of audience, trying to succeed became an entirely new experience.

“Knowing there are thousands of eyes on you, possibly watching from different parts of the world, is quite overwhelming,” he said.

For Sanny, streaming does not only come as mere entertainment; it is building connections with different people through a screen. To a certain point, his viewers see him as their friend who they can confide in during rough times. They trust him with a lot of things, even stuff as simple as how their days went.

Through building a concrete connection with the viewer, streamers rise to the top because of audience retention. What guarantees this is the personality and character of the streamer, like in Sanny’s case. Even if the technical quality isn’t the most high-end, it’s the comfort and kinship that the audience feels that keeps them staying.

On that note, streaming isn’t as easy as simply talking to a camera. While many people treat streaming as an easy shot at fame and fortune, Sanny digresses, saying that those reasons prohibit longevity and happiness in the industry. “If you get into streaming just because you want money, every time you don't get it means spending more time feeling horrible about yourself.”

Really, to him, extraneous factors such as money and fame are just bonuses. However, stress always arises when the numbers don’t look too good. Add to this the spotlight brought by the platform, and it can take a huge toll on one’s mental health.

While Sanny is no stranger to the ups and downs in the industry, this became a hurdle for him.

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As the numbers blurred, it started to affect his daily life—barely being able to sleep made him too tired to do anything at all. After taking a wellneeded break, Sanny backpedaled in realization: “I know that I should not let the numbers define me.”

Nevertheless, throughout his journey down the road of streaming, his achievements still outweigh the troubles he faced. At 21, one of the triumphs he holds close to his heart was getting his mom to understand and accept what he was doing. This is an especially important success for him, knowing the difficulty of overcoming the Asian parent mentality of textbooks and classes. With that, Sanny became assured of his choice to become a streamer. Recently, he even managed to accomplish his biggest milestones yet—gaining a thousand followers and celebrating his oneyear anniversary on Twitch. One of the things he did to give back to his supportive community was organize a 12-hour charity stream where he was able to raise $350 for the Stop Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) Hate organization, a feat that he is grateful and proud of.

“Ever since I was a kid, I've always wanted to at least do something that can make an echo towards the world.

And that is one of the small steps that I'm going to take to make that impact happen,” he remarked, hoping to raise awareness in a greater way in the future.

Today, even though the concept of streaming still runs peculiar, the number of home-grown streamers has expanded in a network of buzzing clicks and keyboard noises. For most streamers, there is no actual prediction as to how far they’ll go or how taxing their roads will be. Some may get famous in an instant, some may have to climb over mountains, others may give up before they’d even started.

A streamer is not defined by the amount invested in quality cameras and computers to produce HD content, but more so the mark of one’s character behind the camera. Like Sanny, it is the personality that drives one’s legacy bigger than a computer screen. S

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ENTERTAINMENT

The Joys of Copium A look into one of the most addicting game models that currently exist.

Words by GABRIEL M. LEZAMA Art by PERLYN JOY L. SUGANOB & GERICO T. GUANCO

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Gambling can be quite the rush—daydreaming the win of a lifetime and rewards of grandeur. For a gambler, nothing can beat the feeling of following your gut, leading you to a big score, massive returns, and a huge dopamine rush. On the flip side, nothing can beat the despair of following that same gut, only to see all your savings melt away in one go.

Now, what happens when this feeling of near-victory is exploited by something as innocent as a game?

A well-practiced and time-tested activity, gacha games have existed for a while now, originally from toy vending machines found in arcades. The player would pull from the “gacha machine” which functions like a traditional slot machine and would get a random reward. If the player is eyeing a certain reward there, they would be inclined to keep pulling until they get it. That’s where the addiction starts.

This system has recently bled into the world of video games, where people now spend real world money to pull for virtual items or characters with better stats and rarity.

As of now, the leading examples are Genshin Impact, Arknights, and Girls’ Frontline, which lure players with the initial no-cent-spent experience, then tempting them to spend via new content or the promise of increased chances to get a certain character.

An early human concept that has existed for a long period of time is the reward-punishment system, where being rewarded means the individual performed a good act, while being punished means the opposite. This concept is directly tied with most gacha games, as players are rewarded when they invest more time or money into the game and are punished or left behind if they don’t spend.

This keeps the players hooked because of the dopaminetriggering chance of getting something of extreme rarity, similar to winning a jackpot in a casino after losing numerous times, essentially simulating the thrills and chills of gambling.

A prime example of this is Genshin Impact’s “pity system”, where a player is guaranteed to get a high-tier character if they accumulate enough “pity” via rolling lowertiered items. However, this guarantee is only effective if the player has invested enough time or money into the game or if they get really lucky. There are even mild examples of this system in other non-gacha games, such as League of Legends and Overwatch’s “lootbox” system where opening a box grants you cosmetics or currency. For gacha systems, however, they usually lack the ability to give players the

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means to roll again, forcing the player to keep buying and pulling until they get what they want.

This spirals players into the sunk cost fallacy. Upon investing time, effort, and—Godforbid—money into the system, their mind tells them to follow through and to stick with it. This ends up going into a cycle of pulling from the gacha in hopes of finally getting something of value, and the gacha scene exploits this to profit from their dopamine-addicted player base.

That’s not to say that this system is entirely bad. In the hands of a good company, gacha only serves to further that fun experience by giving the player incentives to continue playing (or spending) if they really enjoy the game. Sometimes, one may genuinely want to get a certain character that is lower-tiered than most just because of how well-designed and well-crafted they are. If the player is willing to pool their own money to get better rewards, then that’s a completely justifiable way to enjoy the game.

Of course, there are also options for those that opt not to spend anything. In most gacha games, a free-to-play option exists so players can potentially compete at the same level as those who spend money on it, as long as they invest time in exchange. For the casual consumer, this may be an issue if they don’t have much free time, but for those that do, then they can reap the benefits of the gacha system and enjoy the game’s content without spending a single cent.

Realistically speaking, it’s entirely up to the person on how they choose to enjoy gacha games. One can’t deny that some games are already great on their own, which is why some players opt to choose the free-to-play experience. If they resolve to spend money on it and derive enjoyment from the game, then it’s a completely valid experience for them. But like with any gambling addiction, be careful not to spiral into the pitfall of hopeless spending, because as the saying goes: “The house always wins.” S

comics by PSALM JULES D. SABANDAL

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CLASH

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comics by PERLYN JOY L. SUGANOB

Invincible (Series Review) Words by LANCE CHRISTIAN M. JUAREZ | 4.5/5 We all associate some part of our childhood to superheroes—whether it’s Toby Maguire’s Spiderman singlehandedly stopping a train or that glorious team shot of the Avengers way back 2012. It’s this association with our childhood innocence that makes us forget that our bones are more fragile than the countless buildings destroyed in these stories.

focal point for the season’s themes— does the end justify the means? Does our life matter 500 years from now?

But how dangerous would it actually be to live in a world with superheroes?

Though the show may have hit its mark with Omniman and his son in the heated final episode, it seemed to have bitten off more than it could chew with the character arcs it tried to juggle. An argument can be made that it built a foundation for future seasons, but the viewer can be left overwhelmed with its varied storylines.

Released on Amazon Prime Video last March, Invincible is an animated series based on its comic book—both of which were created by esteemed comic book writer Robert Kirkman. The eight 45-minute or so episodes of the first season revolve around typical teenager Mark Grayson and his not-so-typical superhero father, Nolan (or Omniman).

That aside, Invincible proves that its top selling point is not its gore factor alone. The series boasts quite the voice acting cast with JK Simmons as Omniman, Steven Yeun as Mark Grayson, and Sandra Oh as Mark Grayson’s mom, Debbie Grayson—all of whom are remembered for their iconic lines which even became memes online.

It’s only after Mark accidentally hurls a garbage bag to the sky that he trains with his father to master his newfound superhuman abilities and to learn the sacrifices that the superhero life demands.

Needless to say, the animation maintains its quality throughout the whole show with absolutely no holding back on the aforementioned gore. The fight scenes aren’t just blurry jump-cuts and sloppy editing but jaw-dropping entertainment. The hype, coupled with the precise sound design, talented voice acting, and the killer soundtrack championed by John Paesano, creates a viewing experience that leaves its mark on the audience.

The first episode paints the picture of the usual superhero narrative and baits the viewers to dismiss the show as “just another superhero series”—right up until Omniman pops a superhero’s eye out of his socket and brain matter gets pulverized in slow motion. Silence follows after a slaughter, and the audience realizes the true nature of Invincible.

Having the viewer be the only witness to the unexpected bloodbath invites a looming sense of dread whenever Omniman interacts with anyone else in the show, effectively establishing him as an excellent twist villain throughout the season. Mark Grayson’s denial of his father’s true intentions serves as the

Invincible represents the superhero genre's potential in its storytelling— and though it isn’t the first of its kind, it certainly won’t be the last.

As the kids who grew up on the old “good guy vs. bad guy” narrative, we now seek more compelling stories that are capable of pushing existing boundaries and propelling underrepresented variants of its genre.

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Doom Eternal (Game Review) Words by GABRIEL M. LEZAMA | 4/5

“Rip and tear.”

At first glance, those words seem inherently absurd, maybe violent, as it can mean a multitude of things—a piece of paper being torn apart, a pair of pants ripping, or maybe even the mindset of a person crumbling. Putting it in the most extreme context, however, it can mean bathing in the blood of your enemies as you relentlessly chain kill after kill to heavy metal-infused adrenaline coursing through your veins.

That is Doom Eternal.

A sequel to 2016’s Doom by id Software, Doom Eternal—released in 2020—once again places players in control of Doomguy, a rather angry space marine with a talent in killing demons and the unquenchable bloodthirst to back it up. The game is more enhanced in terms of gameplay compared to its 2016 predecessor and even from its start in the 2000s.

Serving a nostalgic trip to its old fans, it is a reminder to the gaming industry why video games have age ratings for excessive violence in the first place.

To reiterate, the game induces and builds on the idea of raw, unhinged adrenaline. Movement is rapid as the player jumps, dashes, and hooks towards enemies, and the glory kill system—a mechanic where health and ammo are gained through melee executions—is nothing short of satisfying. These effects are achieved through the many modifiable weapons at the player’s disposal, from plasma nukes like the BFG 9000— canonically meaning “Big F*****g Gun”—to a sword called The Crucible that feeds off hell energy.

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The player is also able to upgrade their suit or increase their passive stats like health and armor by exploring the map, finding collectibles and easter eggs.

Another sublime aspect that complements its already violent nature is the game’s heavy-metal soundtrack.

Composer Mick Gordon returns from the 2016 game to once again spice things up with his tension-inducing style of music as it matches the intensity of bloodsoaked combat. With all the gore and viscera present in the game’s hellish landscapes—with areas like the super gore nest, which is exactly what its name suggests—the soundtrack serves as a good way to further immerse the players into the gore-filled environment they find themselves in.

Perhaps its weakest point—aside from a rather stitched multiplayer function—is that the story of Doom Eternal doesn’t quite catch the attention of players. It’s a simple scenario of demons successfully overtaking the Earth, which is rather tame when compared to the game’s regular absurdity. Keeping in mind, however, that since Doom Eternal is firstly a runand-gun shooter, the developers were aware of this and decided to focus on the game’s testosterone-filled gameplay instead.

In bite-sized terms, the game is a wonderful experience in the art of savagery, demonic entities, and said entities being washed away in a red tide of blood as the player relishes in the fervor of brutal momentum. So while most people probably see it as a vicious over-exaggeration, it is damn good at being the embodiment of what its creators wanted it to be—violence in video game format.

Bo Burnham: Inside (Movie Review) Words by ELIZABETH D. FERNANDEZ | 5/5 Trainwrecks, car crashes, and oneman musical comedy productions. The latter may seem misplaced and yet Bo Burnham’s Netflix comedy special, Inside, is perfectly sequestered into the hall of beautiful tragedies you cannot look away from.

Written, produced, directed, and starred by Bo Burnham after a halfdecade hiatus, Inside is a self-portrait of the manic wonderland of a tortured artist. The title itself reveals that the special is no simple comedy, but rather an invitation to the absurd genius of Burnham’s thoughts and emotions about the current state of the world at the height of internet culture and pandemic isolation.

Viewers are made to feel astonishment, shock, and morbid enjoyment as the special cuts from snarky commentary about Bezos’ finances to existentialist sock-puppet shows criticizing white supremacy, baring Burnham’s views to the world.

All of this, of course, is sandwiched by arguably the most memorable thing about the show—its soundtrack.

“Unpaid Intern”, a jazzy upbeat number about corporate exploitation, and “All Eyes On Me”, an electronic ballad showcasing Burnham’s painful performance anxiety, are two out of the vast selection of songs that somehow summarize depressingly comical realities, with catchy lyrics and even catchier tunes. Burnham, who is already a great comedian, somehow transforms into a one-man spectacle of musical ingenuity for the joy of his viewers.

These bits across the show are hilarious and already beat most comedy specials available on Netflix; however, the best part of the show is

not its comedy, but rather, its honest desolation.

At its core, Inside is a metacommentary about Burnham’s depression, anxiety, and fears after years of prodigious performance and subsequent expectations. Throughout the special, songs and comedic performances are jarringly cut to images of Burnham alone in his messy guest house where the entire production was shot. The space itself is small, and while it is beautified with lighting and camera angles during song performances, reality crashes down when the cameras shift to Robert Burnham, the person, and not Bo Burnham, the performer, isolated and surrounded by his artistic passion and frustrations.

These sentiments are echoed in meticulous details like changing aspect ratios, whereby performances filmed with smaller frames are aesthetically pleasing yet suffocating for Burnham, highlighting themes of claustrophobia.

When documenting the creation process, the frames are larger and provide a clearer view of Burnham’s physical and, by extension, emotional distress throughout the filming process— begging the question of whether his performance is for enjoyment or a cry for help.

Overall, Inside is an intimate glimpse into a young man’s mind trying to defeat and process the world through the power of comedy and music. Viewers are naught but voyeurs of Burnham’s intimate nakedness as the special jumps from one errant thought to another, making Inside not only one of the best comedies out there but also one of the best presentations of a pained psyche.

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Visions of Bodies Being Burned (Album Review) Words by CHRISTIAN DOMINIC L. LEDESMA | 5/5

Eminem, Nas, and Slick Rick, to name a few. Yet one story genre rarely depicted in rap is horror.

While there are tracks that do fit the horror genre, not many rap albums have been released with great success. Not until experimental hip-hop group Clipping dropped their recent horrorcore industrial album last October 2020, switching up the traditional rap formula through experimental sampling and noise.

Amidst the appeal of catchy beats and technical skill found in rap—a highly popular genre of music—one often overlooked component is its storytelling elements. As the genre exploded onto the music scene, story-focused rap eventually reached mainstream audiences through iconic artists like

With 16 tracks in total, Visions of Bodies Being Burned is Clipping’s fourth album and is also a follow-up to their previous work, There Existed an Addiction to Blood. Both albums share the same horrorcore theme and are supposed to be a “diptych”; however, the former is thematically tamer than the latter. Even so, Clipping improves their style in the current record.

Visions could best be described as a grim horror story-turned-rap album.

Much like its counterpart, it gives homage to classic horror films; an example being the track “‘96 Neve Campbell'' which is a reimagining of the Scream films. The album emulates the feeling of horror and dread through its music enhanced by excellent storytelling.

Although both albums share the same vibe and theme, Visions builds up on that foundation sonically and lyrically.

As usual, rapper Daveed Diggs manages to impress with his performance on the album—skillfully rapping while maintaining cohesiveness in his storytelling throughout the tracks.

He succeeds in clearly narrating these chilling stories through experimental beats, smooth flows, and creative switchups which are present throughout the album. Artists Cam & China and Ho99o9’s features on the record

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definitely add to the experience and do a great job fitting into Clipping's style.

Sonically, the album wouldn't have its dark tone without composers Jonathan Snipes and William Hutson. Sounds that encapsulate fright and terror to the listener are achieved by the production, which range from catchy beats and distorted noise to avant-garde tones— exploring unique and creative sound designs.

The beats and ambience enhance the immersion for the story each song narrates, as the production samples the sound of banging, ambient cricket noises, and even a car revving to the music in the background. An early example of this is evident in “‘96 Neve Campbell” where you’ll hear sounds of banging in the background integrated into the beat, which also relates to the story narrated.

Additionally, tracks like "Make Them Dead" give the feeling of dread and suffocation through the bombardment of noise-heavy sound. It must be said that the unconventional and experimental nature of the album truly shines on the track “Pain Everyday” as it combines noise and harsh tones with a beautiful string sample that, when paired with a unique flow, manages to blend exceptionally with each other.

Looking at its core, Visions executes what it intends to do outstandingly; it expresses feelings of unease to the listener while being sonically experimental and lyrically rich through its stories. This is definitely an album you could just vibe with in the background if you're into experimental and noise music, and it serves as a great gateway into the subgenre. Of course, to get the full experience, it’s highly recommended that you pay attention to the stories being told.

Trese (Series Review) Words by ADRIANNE H. SAPLAGIO | 3.5/5

While people now thrive in the solace of knowledge that science and technology bring, it remains near impossible to rid us Filipinos of our beliefs and superstitions. Ingrained in our culture are stories of deities and beings whose mere existence falls out of this realm—monsters of unfathomable forms and unimaginable abilities. These stories have been used to scare children for generations, but that fear might just be fended away when they see the Netflix series Trese featuring a strong, independent woman who protects both humans and those that go bump in the dark.

Trese, released last June 11, caught the eyes of people from all over the world. The protagonist of the series, Alexandra Trese, is a detective who works towards solving crimes of supernatural origins.

Coupled with the Kambal—Crispin and Basilio—Alexandra makes both allies and enemies as she walks down a path of adventures littered with questions from the present and her dark past. The young Trese stands in the center of a scheme created without her knowledge, and with her circumstances come betrayal and danger. As the heroine slowly progresses towards the answers she thinks she wants, she soon discovers that things are rarely as they seem, especially in the world of the occult.

The pros of Trese aren’t limited to the actual series alone. The advertising for the show was ingenious, putting up billboards only to have them destroyed by “creatures of the night” soon after. It is also to be noted that the voice actors for the series were mostly of Filipino descent, though it would have been better if the characters’ lips were synced to the Filipino dub rather than English to make the movie increasingly immersive

and true to its culture. Appreciation must also be shown not just towards the animations but also to their depiction of Manila, which successfully captured its grit, showing its flourishing commerce and exciting nightlife as well as the slums and malfunctioning transit systems.

Though the original Filipino comic series by Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo only left more to be desired, the same cannot be said for the Netflix series, unfortunately. Crammed into but six episodes of about 30 minutes each, the pace is not ideal for those who are not familiar with Filipino mythology. The characters all have their charm, but the audience could have formed a stronger attachment to them if they were given more screen time or in-depth backstories.

The screen time was hogged by either flashbacks or fight scenes, which were amazing animation-wise but did leave the people wishing for more. It didn’t help that the villain reminisced through most of the final episode to explain what was really happening. To add, Trese’s Filipino voice actor Liza Soberano has received a lot of criticism as people regarded her performance as flat and monotonous.

Trese could have been better executed if there were more episodes to grasp the complexities of Filipino folklore, but all in all, seeing our culture represented in an international series was a great experience.

If you want to start getting in touch with the supernatural parts of Filipino culture or if you just feel like dabbling with tales and myths of the unknown, then Trese just might hit the spot.

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YOU ARE IN MORE CONTROL THAN YOU THINK.