REVEILLE: END OF 2020

What kept us going? Resilience—a trait Filipinos have in common; it is a trait that’s turned up to a full, especially for 2020 when government assistance lacks in the assisting aspect. There is nothing wrong with resiliency or how citizens withstand difficult times, it does get alarming when that’s all there is for us to make do and recover—a trait.

Volumn VI, Issue I

THE YEAR IN 20/20 VISION EDITORIAL 10

The Official Student Publication of Ateneo de Zamboanga University in English

SM CITY MINDPRO CAUSES VIOLATIONS IN COVID-19 CONTROL PROTOCOLS

NEWS FEATURE 03

ZAMBOANGA CITY GOV

PNP CHIEF DEBOLD SINAS: THE MAN BEHIND THE MAÑANITA

#NasaanAngPangulo tops PH trend

BY TASHA EUGENIO

O

CONTINUE ON PAGE 5

COVID VACCINE: IS PHILIPPINES READY?

NEWS FEATURE 02

n November 9, 2020, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque formally announced that the new head of the Philippine National Police (PNP) is Police Major Gen. Debold Sinas. Chosen by President Rodrigo Duterte himself, the new PNP Chief has already made headlines prior to his appointment due to his infamous birthday celebration amidst the imposition of the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon.

Despite violating the ECQ protocols, the former National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief was defended by the President regarding the issue, stating that he has already forgiven Sinas for his actions. Furthermore, he expressed his full confidence in him, saying that he guarantees his competence and expertise in police work. However, this

SM PANDEMIC. SM Mindpro, the first ever SM in Zamboanga Peninsula, launched last November 27, 2020 drew in stoked customers resulting to protocol violations.

ADD TO CART NOW! (WISELY, OF COURSE)

FEATURES 06

CBS NEWS

U. President Rodrigo Duterte addresses the public in a televised speech about his absence during typhoon Ulysses stating that he is a night person on Nov. 30, 2020.

BY NICOLE M GAGULA

#NotAMorningPerson During the onslaught of super typhoons Rolly

and Ulysses, netizens cried #NasaanAngPangulo on the different social media platforms as a call out on the government’s substandard response to the CONTINUE ON PAGE 2

E D I S T U O LITERATURE 09

AO DAYS:

ESPORT

TOURNAMENTS CONTRIBUTIONS 13

SPORTS 14

02NEWS FEATURE

COVID VACCINE: IS PHILIPPINES READY?

FROM PAGE 1

#NasaanAngPangulo tops PH trend consecutive disasters. On November 12, the day several parts of the country were hit by the super typhoon Ulysses, the people took their rage and disappointment on Facebook and Twitter to lash out on the incompetence of the unprepared relief, and disaster and rescue operations of the government.

On the president’s televised speech, he argued that the government was ‘on top’ of the situation, therefore it is not expect ed of them to personally go the affected areas.

It was revealed that the president attended the ASEAN Summit on the morning Ulysses struck the country. Earlier this month, Duterte also implied that he was not a ‘morning person’, and his day starts at 2 pm after the #NasaanAngPangulo trended in lieu of typhoon Rolly’s damaging on several areas in Luzon.

PH VACCINE. PH Government plans on sourcing funds to avail the COVID-19 vaccines.

RAPPLER

BY FATIMA RIESA A. KARAY

O

n November 9, 2020, Pfizer a U.S pharmaceutical giant and its German partner BioNTech published their first result which they claim offers 90% percent of protection as shown in the trials made in US, Germany, Brazil, Argentina, South Africa and Turkey seven days after the second dose as each person needs two doses according to Pfizer. However, a limited number of people will only get vaccinated this year and each country is deciding on who to prioritize. The vaccine had only started rolling out to ASEAN countries and Philippines is aiming to start the vaccination originally on June 2021. But there are surfacing problems involving the covid-19 vaccination in the country which poses a question if Philippines is really ready for the Covid vaccine.

Philippines being the secondhighest rate in Southeast Asia is in great need of the vaccine, with over 444,000 total cases and 27, 781 active cases according to the Department of Health. And on November 8, Duterte announced that the Philippine government intends to borrow $300 million (around PHP 14.5 billion) to purchase COVID-19 vaccines. The statement was made during the weekly meeting of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) in Malacañang. As determined by the national coronavirus task force, the targeted population is around 25 million Filipinos to be first vaccinated led by medical

frontliners and indigent senior citizens. On December 9, lawmakers made an estimate on how much the country will be spending to be able have at least 60 percent of the total population vaccinated. In light of this, Senate Committee on Finance chair Sony Angara presented a table that estimates and compares 7 Covid vaccine including PfizerBioNTech. According to the table, Pfizer comes in fourth after Gamaleya, Astrazeneca, and Novavax consecutively. Two doses of Pfizer vaccine costs 2,379 pesos and it is more expensive compared to other brands. Also due to its deepfreeze delivery chain it is not easy to transfer because it requires the vaccine to be stored around -70C, this includes special dry icepacks and a freezer farm for storage which is are added expenses. Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel said that “Sana hindi na tayo magtayo pa ng freezers, renting freezers just so vaccines can be brought to different parts of the archipelago,” hoping that all funds will be used for buying actual vaccines instead of extra equipment and storage.

Following the executive order that allows the country’s FDA to fast-track Covid vaccine approval, Duterte has already allowed the emergency use of vaccines in the country. On December 2, the Malacanang released Executive Order No. 121 giving the FDA director-general the power to issue Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for vaccines that is safe and effective and is suitable for

the country. And on December 7, spokesperson Harry Roque called President Rodrigo Duterte as “best communication tool” in regaining vaccine confidence among the Filipinos. Roque added that the president may be the first one to be vaccinated if the vaccine is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for domestic use. The FDA has not yet issued Emergency Use Approval (EUA) for any Covid vaccine. But according to their director-general, Eric Domingo, the process could be done no longer than 21 days once the vaccine manufacturer gets approval from their home country and is able to send complete data to the Philippine government. As of now, the United Kingdom was the first to approve the vaccine by Pfizer and BioNTech. However, even in rich countries like the UK, rolling out of vaccines would not be as easy.

From being second-highest rate of COVID in Southeast Asia to vaccine availability problems or funding problems, the Philippines continue to face challenges, not to mention the series of calamities that hit the country. But if the government will follow their word and be able to achieve that all Filipinos will be vaccinated and expenses will be covered entirely by the government itself, then maybe the Philippines will not just heal as one in spirit, but also heal from the deadly virus COVID-19.

#ThePowerOfHashtags On the other side of the spectrum, Filipino netizens were able to utilize the power of algorithms in a positive way as it helped in the rescue and donation operations for the people affected by the super typhoons.

Prominent celebrities and social media influencers were at the frontline of the rescue and donation drives. Thanks to their efforts and with the help of social media algorithms, a lot of residents were rescued and aided with relief goods. #TwitterBardagulan Vice President Leni Robredo was among the progressives who maximized the use of social media platforms. The Office of the Vice President was able to conduct search and rescue operations with the help of netizens who report rescue cases on Twitter and Facebook using the hashtags such as #RescuePH #RollyPh, and #CagayanNeedsHelp among others. OVP was also able to pool funds to provide the basic needs of those affected, such as packed goods, first aid, and temporary evacuation centers.

Meanwhile, while the country was being crippled by the super typhoons, Duterte aimed a call-out to Robredo. In his televised speech, he ridiculed Robredo for making him look bad on the face of adversity. Palace spokesperson, Harry Roque also stooped low to the extent of showing screenshots of the tweets of Robredo’s daughters, as proofs that Robredo is trying to sabotage Duterte.

Netizens were quick to defend the OVP’s side, pointing out how that blow to Robredo is only a manifestation of the president’s fragile ego, uncalled for, and definitely, ‘unpresidential’. The trends #DuterteSadboi #MatulogKaNaLangDu30 topped PH trends afterwards.

ZAMBOANGA CITY RECORDS 90% COVID-19 RECOVERY RATE

BY ALFARUC ANDAS

T

he City Government recorded a total of 3,074 COVID-19 recoveries out of the 3,416 total confirmed cases since March this year, or 90% recovery rate according to City Health Officer Dr. Dulce Miravite during the virtual presser Monday, December 7, 2020.

The Zamboanga City now has 195 ACTIVE cases of which 36 are admitted at Zamboanga City Medical Center, 51 are at private hospitals, and the rest are admitted at different LGU isolation facilities.

Furthermore, with 147 mortalities the mortality rate remains at 4%, and there are cumulatively 26,217 suspected cases out of which 26,050 are classified negative – the City Government has conducted about 29,466 RT-PCR

tests and zero pending result as of Monday.

In spite of high recovery rate, Miravite urged the public to continue complying all the minimum health and safety protocols with the aim of slowing down the transmission and help flatten the curve of COVID-19 cases.

“We will still continue to have about 15 new additional cases per day, so poreso necesita syempre kita mang practice el diatun minimum health standards para abaha ya gadt el diatun kaso.” she said.

Zamboanga city remains under Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) from December 1-31. Regardless, health and safety protocols will be strictly implemented during this yuletide season in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 UPDATES (AS OF FEBRUARY 17, 2021)

SOURCE: DOH ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA CHD

NEWS FEATURE SM CITY MINDPRO CAUSES VIOLATIONS IN COVID-19 CONTROL PROTOCOLS

03

City Hall illuminates for Christmas

BY RAYE ANGELIQUE BONGABONG

A

fter its postponed opening last November 27, 2020, SM Prime Holdings opened SM City Mindpro - the first ever SM Mall in the Zamboanga Peninsula - to the public last December 08, 2020, which caused enraged netizens in an alleged stampede.

Pictures and videos shared online depicted a long line of Zamboangeños waiting outside the entrance of the mall without any social distancing.

People flocked towards the entrance and loitered around the mall in close proximity.

Netizens were dismayed at the huge number of mallgoers despite the pandemic and how social distancing protocol was not strictly enforced. The soft opening then reported in GMA’s 24 Oras with the headline criticizing the noncompliance of safety protocols.

This dismay was not in vain as Zamboanga City confirmed 195 active COVID-19 cases with a total of 3,416 cases reported in the City. With this number of active cases, citizens should take extra precautions, and disregarding health and safety protocols such as physical distancing is not exactly “taking extra precaution”. While the excitement about the firstever SM Mall in Zamboanga is understandable, the COVID-19 pandemic is still at large and complacency is something that we cannot afford to do.

SM City Mindpro is the 7th SM Mall in Mindanao and SM Prime Holdings’ 76th Supermall.

The soft opening featured SM’s retail anchors such as the SM Store, Mindpro Supermarket, SM Cinema, SM Appliance Center, BDO, Ace Hardware, Sports Central, Surplus, Miniso, and Crocs. The mall has four levels of both foreign and local brands and stores with six levels of parking space. Mallgoers are required to participate in Trace Together, the mall’s virtual contact tracing where they would scan a QR Code and declare the following information: name, city address, mobile number, and health condition status. After fulfilling this, guests are now able to enter and shop wherever they wish .

SM City Mindpro is a testament to the economic development of Zamboanga City and to the confidence of big-scale companies to invest in the region and the whole of Mindanao. However, the mall is also a testament to the unstoppable Filipino mall culture, despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

BY ALFARUC ANDAS

T

he City Government officially commenced Pascua na Zamboanga with the traditional grand ceremonial lighting that illuminates the magnificent City Hall brimmed with Christmas lights and decorations last December 01, 2020.

Mayor Maria Isabelle ClimacoSalazar led the ceremony, however, unlike the previous years, the switch-on activity was now held virtually through online channels in prioritization of health and safety protocols due to the threats of COVID-19 transmission.

Every December, the historic City Hall built during the American colonization becomes the main attraction of the event –covered in colorful Christmas lights and indigenous decorations.

For this year the City Hall displays decorations that highlight the theme “Pamaskong Pamilyang Pilipino.”

The Estrella de Esperanza (Star of Hope) viewed at the center stage symbolizes hope nd serves as an inspiration to all Zamboangueños despite the overwhelming challenges and distress as we continue battling a year-long crisis.

Also, the City Mayor never fails to remind every Zamboangueños to always practice safety procedures while celebrating the best season of the year, and whenever they wish to experience the beauty of the City Hall for themselves during the night.“ “We will have a meaningful and safe Christmas celebration his year and we remind people to always practice the minimum safety protocols,” Climaco said.

BRIGHT LIGHTS. The city of Zamboanga lit up the CIty Hall and Plaza Pershing for Christmas amidst the pandemic.

MINDANAO POLITICS

04 BASILIO SEPE

NEWS FEATURE

BLM WORLDWIDE. George Floyd’s death took place thousands of miles away but the cry for racial justice was felt deeply in other countries.

Black Lives Still Matter

BY FATIMA MARWA A. FADZLULKARIM

“It [Black Lives Matter] is still a movement going strong. Our black brothers and sisters are still being murdered in cold blood. It should continue as always. It is not just a protest. It’s our lives.

We are real life human beings.”

- Jonijah Harrison

#

BlackLivesMatter has been alive in concrete actions and in the social media stage for a while now. For what it is known, this movement is initiated in condemnation of the injustice towards the African American community. It is dedicated to fighting racism and violence, especially in the form of police brutality.

The BLM protests have cooled down after Joe Biden, who has shown support for the movement, has won the presidency against Trump with Kamala Harris as his vice president in hopes that there is a more comprehensive response to the matter. But the calm was not long after a recent shooting took the life of another innocent Black American teenager named Casey Goodson on December 4.

Goodson was shot at the back after deputy officer Jason

Meade confronted him for having a gun in possession.

However, according to the Columbus Division of Police, Goodson was an Ohio concealed carry permit holder and was legally armed at the time of shooting. Peter Tobin, US Marshal for the Southern District of Ohio, has reported that a fugitive task force was wrapping up an unrelated investigation when the deputy officer saw a man with a gun. Tobin said that during the confrontation the man “allegedly started to pull a gun and the officer fired.” Further information is yet to be released by the authorities in hopes that it might distinguish whether the shooting was justifiable. Meade’s action prior to the shooting has also not yet been accounted for.

This has stirred up the BLM activists over again as police brutality is still happening no matter the effort of the

protests going on for years.

This movement finds its roots way back to 2013 when George Zimmerman was acquitted for his fatal murder of an unarmed Black teenager. It was extended in 2014 when two different cases of killings of unarmed Black Americans by the police.

This year in May, the BLM was renewed after the killing of George Floyd by a white police officer by kneeling on Floyd’s neck for several minutes, choking him to death. Several cases have followed after that, and other unheard cases were taken into the spotlight. This has emphasized the police brutality and the higher tendency of Black Americans to be killed in comparison to the White Americans. BLM activists protested the deaths of these people at the hands of police or while in police custody also including in the movement several other Black people, including Sandra Bland, Philando Castile, Freddie Gray, Laquan McDonald, Tamir Rice, Walter Scott, Alton Sterling, and Breonna Taylor. he large-scale movement in the United States and around the globe seek to draw attention to the unfair treatment induced by racial discrimination on African Americans through such means as political and nonviolent protests. In hopes to fight police brutality, it has called for better thorough police qualifications, training and greater accountability for police misconduct. The activists also called for the decrease of police department budgets and rather investing the funds on community services. This movement has brought justice in making the murderers of George Floyd liable and other cases similar to this.

Although The BLM has won several cases and has been celebrating the Black American community giving it the attention it deserves, there is an undeniable fact that police brutality is still existing and the injustice towards the blacks is still on the run. The movement deserves consistent attention until Floyd and Goodson’s cases are not to be repeated ever again. Six months after #BlackLivesMatter rampaged the internet, people are now keeping the oath and telling the world that it will go on and stay adamant because #BlackLivesStillMatter.

BIDEN DEFEATS TRUMP IN US ELECTION

BASILIO SEPE

BIDEN FOR US PRESIDENT. Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden stands on stage after Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., spoke during the third day of the Democratic National Convention, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020, at the Chase Center in Wilmington, Del.

BY MYRON LARRACOCHEA

D

emocratic party’s presidential candidate Joe Biden has won the United States Election 2020 securing a total of 306 electoral votes against incumbent and Republican candidate Donald Trump with 232 electoral votes.

Biden, aged 77, is projected to become the 46th President of the United States of America. With Biden’s win, Sen. Kamala Harris of California also becomes the first woman, first woman of color and first South Asian American elected to the vice presidency.

The 2020 US election was nominally held last November 3, 2020.

Biden was declared the winner on November 7, 2020 after finally crossing the 270vote threshold needed after he officially won the state of Pennsylvania. Following Biden’s win, Trump becomes the first incumbent not to win a second term since George H.W. Bush in 1992.

President-elect Biden also won in the Popular vote count with 81,288,495 votes

against Donald Trump with 74,223,755 votes according to Associated Press.

The winner of the election in America is determined through a system called electoral college wherein each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia are given number of electoral college votes. The most populous states consist of more electoral college votes compared to smaller states.

Thus, there is a total of 538 electoral college votes and a candidate needs to obtain 270 votes (50% + 1) in order to win the election. California, with 55 electoral votes tops the list of states with most electoral votes, followed by Texas with 38 votes, while both Florida and New York with 29 votes.

“It’s time to put the anger and the harsh rhetoric behind us and come together as a nation.” President-elect Joe Biden said in his brief statement at the Chase Center in Wilmington, Delaware shortly after US networks declared him winner on November 7.

CHED EYES RESUMPTION OF FACE-TO-FACE CLASSES

BY AUNGUS T. ALPASAIN

D

espite the on-going cases of COVID-19 in the country, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is now coordinating with colleges for a possible resumption of face-toface learning by January 2021 specially for skill-based courses.

CHED Chairman J. Prospero De Vera III clarified that the limited in-campus learning if will be allowed next year, is optional for higher education institutions (HEIs).

However, those that want to

shift back to physical learning will be allowed as long as the institution met the guidelines provided by authorities.

Health-related programs such as Medicine, Nursing, and Physical Therapy will be prioritized. According to De Vera, these are courses that would require students an actual experience to develop essential skills in their field.

CHED also works with local government units (LGUs) to assure that universities that are planning to conduct limited face-to-face learning next year

adhere to the health and safety guidelines of CHED and InterAgency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

While the final decision for the resumption of incampus learning is yet to be announced, President Rodrigo Duterte clarified that he will only allow face-to-face classes if there is already a vaccine available against COVID-19.

NEW NORMAL. Students wears face masks to attend class in the New Normal set-up.

REUTERS

NEWS FEATURE

05

THE DESTRUCTIVE APPOINTMENT OF BACK-TO-BACK TYPHOONS IN THE PHILIPPINES

BASILIO SEPE

ULYSSES AFTERMATH. Residents go through mud and debris from the aftermath of Typhoon Vamco in Rodriguez, Rizal, a province bordering the northern part of Metro Manila, Philippines.

BY RAIHAN L. HABBI

T

he Philippines had been ravaged by a series of strong typhoons—with the most recent one, Ulysses, which so far has become the most destructive tropical cyclone to blow the country this 2020.

The successive typhoons in the country began on the 13th of October with the tropical depression Ofel.

Ofel is the 15th tropical cyclone to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) this year and the second for October after the typhoon Nika. It left a worth of ₱1,346,097.90 damage to agriculture in the areas of Batangas, Quezon, and Negros Occidental, reported by the Department of Social Welfare and Development

(DWSD). The country has an average of more than 20 tropical cyclones each year. According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), more rain was expected in the coming months due to the start of La Niña.

Four days after the departure of Ofel, on October 19, tropical depression Pepito strengthened into a severe tropical storm. Its heavy and strong winds and rains triggered floods in areas of Luzon. The 20 flooding and 12 landslide incidents monitored in the affected areas initiated an estimated worth of ₱105,817,126.00 damage to agriculture and infrastructure (school facilities) as reported by DSWD.

Quinta came a day after the exit of Pepito as a Low-Pressure Area East of Mindanao on the 23rd of October. It further intensified as it moved away, leaving a total of 209,204 families or 888,375 people affected in 2,980 barangays in Regions III, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, V, VI, VII, and VIII. National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that 27 were found dead and 40 injured. Roads and bridges were closed, communication lines were interrupted, and power and water outages took place. The successive typhoons correspond to a successive increase in damage, in which Quinta brought a worth of ₱1.5B damage to infrastructure and ₱2.7B to agriculture.

Quinta left the PAR on the 27th while its depression remained disturbing some parts of the country.

Subsequently, a potential tropical cyclone outside PAR was monitored and was named Rolly, the strongest tropical cyclone yet in 2020.

Rolly entered the PAR on the 29th of October, two days after Quinta’s departure, as it rapidly maximized into a typhoon blowing detrimental winds and heavy rains that caused massive destruction and floods. 25 were reported dead and 399 injured in Regions I, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, and V. The residents suffered without electricity and running water, and communic ation lines were also

interrupted.

Half a million families or 2,030,130 persons were affected by the super typhoon in Regions II, III, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, V, VIII, CAR, and NCR. 170,773 houses were damaged, 60 roads and 7 bridges were affected by flooding and landslide, according to the report of NDRRMC. Rolly issued approximately ₱13B worth of damage to infrastructure, and ₱5B damage to crops, fisheries, livestock, in which a total of 65,897 hectares of agricultural land was destroyed.

From the exits of tropical storms Siony and Tonyo after accompanying Rolly, came the developed tropical depression Ulysses on November 8, which rapidly strengthened into a super typhoon.

It destroyed Luzon the hardest from November 11 to 12. Ulysses discharged violent winds and torrential rain that deprived almost a hundred lives. Parts of Manila were crippled, and residents were deluged with more misery while still recovering from Typhoon Rolly.

1.2M families or a total of 5M persons in 7,231 barangays in Regions I, II, III, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, V, CAR, and NCR were reported affected by NDRRMC. Thousands of houses, an estimate of 189,580, were destroyed as the level of water flood in some provinces reached the roofs. Almost 2 million households experienced power outages.

The Philippines Coast Guard deployed rescue teams equipped with search and rescue materials. With the prolonged disturbance of the coronavirus pandemic, residents struggled even more.

Filipino bayanihan spirit was awakened as parts of the country united to give aid and assurance to the victims. Ulysses is deemed as the deadliest tropical cycle to blow the country this year, so far, bearing a worth of ₱7.3B damage to agriculture and ₱12B to infrastructure.

The PAGASA reported to have not witnessed any LPA in the vicinity— but alerted that another unanticipated low pressure may incur. No back-to-back storms were monitored after Ulysses, but the Pacific Ocean remains in action.

FROM PAGE 1

PNP Chief Debold Sinas: The Man behind the Mañanita issue wasn’t the only controversy that the new PNP chief was involved in. He was also notorious for issues regarding harassment and unresolved killings as well as the creation of unconventional programs making him more than just the man behind the mañanita.

The new PNP chief’s rise to power drew criticisms due to his concerning track record over the past years. From July 2018 to October 2019, Sinas served as the police chief of the Philippine National Police Regional Office 7 (PRO-7) in Central Visayas. During his term, there was a significant increase in the number of unsolved killings in the said region, especially in Negros Oriental. The murders are allegedly targeted towards

communist groups and their supporters, on top of the Duterte Administration’s war on drugs. According to Defend Negros Movement, 84 politically related homicide cases were reported from 2017 to 2019, wherein most of the cases have not been investigated.

Dubbed as the “Negros Island killings”, the Commission of Human Rights expressed their concerns with the escalating number of the unsolved killings during the supervision of Sinas, eventually leading him to appear in front of a senate hearing on August 2019.

After his stint as the police chief of the Philippine National Police Regional Office in Central Visayas, Sinas was promoted as the head of the National Capital Region Police

Office (NCRPO). He began the deployment of “red teams” composed of policemen from Central Visayas where he previously worked, with the main objective of tracking down police officers doing leisure activities such as drinking and playing golf during the weekdays. He also initiated a weight loss program to combat obesity for overweight cops, stating that all police officers under the National Capital Region that are classified as Obese II and Obese III will be taught proper diet and exercise and should lose weight in 2 months.

A “summer camp” will be held for intense weight loss activities and strict diet plans for the obese cops that would fail to lose weight in 2 months.

The Philippine National Police commended their chief for the programs that he launched.

Nevertheless, these programs were not widely applauded by most Filipinos.

Recently, the PNP chief was involved yet again with a controversy right after becoming the talk of the town with the mañanita incident.

On July 18, 2020, Sinas, together with 18 police officials, stormed the house of the Delos Santos family in Taguig City. The property was an old police compound, owned by the head of the family who was a retired policeman. The group harassed the family of 10 with the goal of evicting them from the property. The incident was caught in a CCTV footage which quickly went viral on social media. In addition, the cops were seen without masks on and were not practicing social distancing, a clear

PNP CHIEF. PNP chief Debold Sinas violates the safety protocols in his mañanita mass gathering.

RAPPLER

violation of protocols under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act. An administrative case was filed against Sinas and the 18 police officials that were involved.

Sinas only has a few months left in his position as the chief of the Philippine National Police since he is scheduled for retirement at the age of 56. As the current head of the national police force of the country, he still has a huge responsibility with his remaining months in service. His entire reputation has

been shrouded with controversies and because of this, not everyone is pleased with the promotion given to him amidst the alleged violations and breach of protocols that he had over the course of his career. As he mentioned in his inauguration, police personnel should “walk the talk” when upholding the rule of law. Police Major Gen. Debold Sinas should remember that he is not an exemption. Hence, he should learn to apply it to himself because as they say, actions speak louder than words.

ADD TO CART NOW! FEATURE 06

BY RAYE ANGELIQUE Y. BONGABONG

(WISELY, OF COURSE)

L

et’s face it. Almost all of us, myself included, have been tempted and most certainly have bought items before on Shopee and Lazada on their monthly sales.

Who wouldn’t be? After all, who could resist Korean heartthrob Lee Min Ho’s adorable “Add to cart now!” and the startling Shopee notifications starring the iconic Kris Aquino?

We cannot deny how large the impact e-commerce has worldwide. Not only is online shopping very convenient and time-saving, but it also eradicates borders as customers can order from anywhere in the world as long as international shipping is delivered to their country. You can literally buy everything online nowadays which puts it a step above retail shopping. Being in an archipelagic country, online shopping is definitely an essential for Filipinos that purchase items that are not readily available in their areas. But online shopping has become an essential for Filipinos in an entirely different way during the COVID-19 pandemic. |The Prominence of Online Shopping in the Pandemic

Quarantine has paralyzed the economy and retail stores suffered as protocols prevented customers to shop leisurely. Hoarding essential goods earlier in the pandemic posed a predicament to consumers as local stores ran out of supplies. Some had no choice but to depend on online shopping for their necessities since there was almost an unlimited supply online minus the fear of catching the COVID-19 virus.

Others used online shopping as a coping mechanism for this difficult year by purchasing non-essentials that spark joy. Since then, online shopping has been patronized by consumers as Philippine e-commerce giants, Shopee and Lazada, hold monthly sales and

amusing games where you can win cash prizes. To give you a better picture of the prominence of online shopping in the Philippines, Shopee reported that 200 million items were sold and Lazada repor ted that 3 million items were sold in the first hour on both of the platforms’ 11.11 sale.

Many retail stores and brands observed the influx of online shoppers which caused them to amplify their online visibility with social media accounts and online stores. Micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) have also established their online presence with GCash, Paypal, and bank transfers as their main mode of payments. Although business is slow, having a small following and visible social media presence can make or break brands in the pandemic. |Why You Should Buy Local Local MSMEs have higher expenses in sourcing, manufacturing, and marketing their products since they do not have enough resources. This leads to higher prices and limited stocks of goods which can potentially turn off prospect customers. However, as the economy of the Philippines significantly dropped, local brands and businesses suffered the bigger blow during quarantine compared to multinational companies. Big companies may easily bounce back and continue to produce products as customer demand is ensured but local MSMEs take greater financial damage and may experience the risk of bankruptcy in the unstable market.

Buying from these local MSMEs have a significant impact on their income. A single purchase from your small local business can pay for their rent or their week’s groceries. Instead of buying from international companies, try purchasing from proud Filipino homegrown brands and make a creator or a business owner’s day. After all, local MSMEs are the

Spilling the Tea on

Generation Z

backbone of our economy so we need to support them now more than ever. |Choose Your Brands Wisely Supporting local businesses is not enough but choosing them wisely should also be done. Nothing feels much better than supporting a business that aligns with your advocacies and that also brings important issues to light. Who would want to support a company with questionable practices and harmful stances on issues? It’s 2020 and social awareness and ethics should always be talked about, especially from visible local brands. With their visibility and influence, they have a responsibility to use it wisely and advocate for the greater good.

Take Nina Ellaine Dizon, the CEO for Colourette Cosmetics, for example. Despite getting flak from DDS trolls from her vocal tweets criticizing the government, netizens stood beside her and were empowered to amplify their criticisms as well. Dizon then initiated a fundraising drive, pledging 100% gross sales from 5,800 units of their best-selling Colourtints and merchandise to donations for the victims of Typhoon Ulysses in Luzon. Colourette has raised P1.6 million from the drive and Dizon has released transparency reports on her personal Twitter account. Isn’t it good to support brands that use your hard-earned money for the greater good?

Now that the holidays are fast approaching, e-commerce platforms are holding the biggest sales of the year. Buying gifts for your loved ones has never been so convenient, time-saving, and safe. Support local brands and MSMEs this holiday season and make their holidays a little brighter and happier.

Check out brands that align with your advocacy and don’t be shy to tag them in your posts and stories! They will surely appreciate the visibility! Now you got it all covered, so add to cart now! (Wisely, of course).

THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY STAR, ELLIOT PAGE TELLS FANS HE IS TRANS

BY JILLIAN RENEE B. CALO

E

ver wondered what it’s like to be inside of a mind that has nothing but also everything in it? A mind filled with goals with voices saying “One day, I will get to make a name for myself and live life the way I want” but at the same time also echoes forlorn thoughts saying “what if I just jump out the window right now?” and while all of that is happening, the owner of the mind is still able to laugh at a video of a croissant dropping on the floor.

It is a mind of ambition, sadness and humor in the most mundane things in life, that’s Gen Z for you.

People born in the years between 1997 and 2012 better known as “Generation Z” are what you would call a character- they are eccentric human beings with views that are ever changing as the world continues spinning. Also being digital natives, this generation grew up in a time where technology has started making a breakthrough which resulted in their personalities being birthed by trends and notable personalities that were discovered through the internet.

Through social media, with just one simple click, you can easily be transported in their minds, for this is a generation that loves to overshare. From the simplest to the complex thoughts, it can be found broadcasted for everyone to see. And while everyone is doing that, it is not hard to subconsciously pick-up certain mannerisms and characteristics that we see people do online. This creates a storm of internet lingo and quirky hand gestures; using expressions such as “no cap”, “snatched”, “I’m gucci” - sometimes when the slang just doesn’t cut it, they turn to use a series of emojis. Not only that but Gen Z has multiple characteristics that other generations would find to be annoying and/ or concerning like projecting themselves onto fictional characters that they relate with, obsessing over people that may or may not know them, creating alternate universes that they depend on with their happiness, the list goes on but as long as it is what makes them entertained and happy, they will continue doing it.

They are innovative and creative, if they can learn to do something, they certainly will. They are also very liberated, they know what’s going on locally and internationally. Now you may be thinking that that’s not anything special because everyone is aware of what’s happening around them. However when it comes to Gen Z, they always have a knack of knowing what your soul is crying out. Their minds are open enough to have a moment to listen to anything you have to say which makes it easier for you to trust them because you are reassured that they will not judge you.

As depressing as this may sound, this is a generation that knows how to make fun of their own personal trauma but at the same time also know how to respect other people’s trauma, and they learn how to bond with each other through that. But don’t you worry, that won’t ever hold them back from running towards the future that they have strong passions for and have held on for so long. This is because Gen Z knows how to fight and even better is that they fight together.

Others may see this generation as people who are just crybabies that need a lot of attention but what they don’t see is that, this is a generation that has a hunger for change and they are not afraid of doing what they believe in in order to achieve that. Though everybody has gone through different things, they still somehow understand each other. Especially in this digital era, there are so many platforms for them to educate and see what others are going through. They were raised by so many point of views from all different kinds of people and as much as they get influenced by the childish trends, they are also growing away from ignorance.That is what separates them from the rest, they have the ability to observe, think, speak for themselves as well as amplify the voices of those who cannot be heard. The past may have been bleak, the present still is, but with Gen Z who possesses a flickering fire inside to create a change, the future is looking bright for not only them but for the generations to come.

ELLIOT PAGE. Umbrella Academy cast member Elliot Page comes out to fans about being transgender.

VARIETY

BY JAMES HAMOY

E

lliot Page is a name with many faces. He was a pregnant teen Juno MacGuff in the 2007 film Juno. He was the young mutant known as Shadowcat/Kitty Pryde in the X-Men Film Series. Currently, he plays Vanya Hargreeves in Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy. His portrayals of these iconic roles have most certainly made him a household name, albeit a different one from what it is today. On December 2, 2020, the Canadian actor took to his various social media accounts to declare his transgender identity and that he will now go by the name Elliot, writing: “Hi friends, I want to share with you that I am trans, my pronouns are he/they and my name is Elliot.”

Page publicly came out as gay in February 2014 and was married to dancer and choreographer Emma Portner in January 2018, but it was only recently that he felt he has arrived at a place to pursue his “authentic self.”

Elliot’s statement also expresses his concerns regarding the harsh realities surrounding the trans community, including harassment, abuse, hostility, and the ubiquitous threat of violence.

The Umbrella Academy star is no stranger to abuse, having alleged to being outed on the set of X-Men: The Last Stand back in 2005, nearly a decade before he would come out as gay. Now, Elliot is queer and is here, embodying the strength and bravery he has portrayed as the mutant who can walk through walls and as the not-

so-ordinary violin-wielding heroine as he sends a message of love and hope to trans people saying, “I see you, I love you and I will do everything I can to change this world for the better.”

Past and present co-stars, as well as other celebrities, were quick to wave their pride flags for Elliot’s coming out as trans with supportive comments on his Instagram post, including X-Men co-star Anna Paquin and The Umbrella Academy co-star Tom Hopper. Celebrities were not the only ones who showed their support. The trans community invited Elliot to stand under their big queer umbrella after numerous news articles “deadnaming” the actor rained on Elliot’s transgender emancipation parade. Page unintentionally sparked a crusade against deadnaming or using the birth name or former name of transgender and nonbinary individuals. This action is offensive to trans-folk because it is seen as a rejection and dismissal of a person’s chosen gender identity.

These news articles were almost instantly met with pleas by the LGBTQ community to stop using Elliot’s and any transgender or nonbinary individual’s former name as it is harmful and offensive.

Elliot’s name in film credits and other projects he is involved in has been updated across all channels, including Netflix where he will be returning as Vanya Hargreeves for the third season of The Umbrella Academy on an unspecified release date in late 2021.

FEATURE

YEAR OF THE OX:

PANDORA’S BOX

BY ALMIRA ALMIÑANA

T

he year of the Metal Ox is about to begin in a few days or so from now. It was as if everything happened and faded in a single blur. Recalling all the past dalgona coffee tutorials, trending dance routines, cooking and baking recipes; and the evolution of TikTok itself, all wrapped into one, served as our mediator therapy for all the physical, mental, and emotional trauma that we’ve been through this year.

All of these came off in a snap—not to mention that the only oxygen that we could freely breathe our noses into without the ruckus of wearing a mask to protect ourselves from are the indoor plants that we grew to call the newest member of the family.

One way or another, several netizens could agree to be labeled as a certified plantito or plantita.

From good soil to seedlings, and fertilizers, we are all waiting were for a pouring rain to cleanse our unfiltered souls with, too. Every so often, we think of a way to at least fill the void that has been creeping down our throats as we try to accept the fact that we are evolving and adapting to this new normal set-up. It was never easy.

And it will probably take us years to entirely digest the reality that we are in right now. But we have zero choices as of the moment as we are yet to discover a possible cure for this seemingly unforeseeable pandemic crisis.

What are we most anticipating in life? Is it the pages that we flip in every chapter of our book? Is it that familiar aroma of coffee that we prepare at three o’clock in the morning to surpass the level of emptiness in our chests? Or was it that old savage song that we get to hear once in a while which reminds us still of that one heartbreak that ruled out our lives as if it was meant to stay that way

for a long period of immeasurable time? Maybe it was that silence that we get to embrace once in a blue moon, was it? Nonetheless, what makes life so meaningful after everything that we’ve been through is that we’re still here.

We are still patiently waiting for a time —ours to uplift an hour or two of our lives someway.

It’s past four in the morning and what better else way to start up and juggle through these old strips of notepads but to reminisce and calculate the time and opportunities that we’ve lost along with our unmotivated selves.

What were you supposed to do in April? Were you able to work out on a new routine, last May? Did June push you to get in touch with an old lover? How was July and its unpredictable rings of packages and surprises? I bet Taylor Swift’s August made your heart sink into pieces, did she? Was it September when you realized that you should get back on your past hobbies?

Or maybe October was a mess enough that you chose to declutter your man cave, instead? What changed your entire perspective in November? And now that it’s December, were you able to fulfill that three long pieces of a bucket list that you created on the first of January? Whatever among the months it may be, we’re all going through that same old miserable fit.

I guess that we are most vulnerable at 3 AM. And while we’re at it, go grab that pen and paper, still. Pour your soul into it. Write your heart’s dilemmas, misfortunes, and tragic wishful closures. We all deserve a break from every single negative occupant that has been living rent-free in our minds lately.

While we demand a vaccine that should reach every single Filipino regardless of their socio-political hierarchy; while we are fighting for basic human rights, freedom of speech, mass testing, and for an

incompetent government to finally step down from their bloody shed thrones, it is also ideal for us to fight for our welfare and mental stability. For the year of the Metal Ox, we need to steel ourselves. We are all fighting different battles each day and we deserve to protect ourselves from the harms of burning ourselves into the idea that there is a must to hustle as if there is no tomorrow. You have to protect your sanity and inner peace at all costs. If muting, blocking, or unfollowing an old friend or a close relative would guarantee you a safe space in your social media platforms, then so be it. There is nothing wrong with protecting oneself from the negatives of the internet if it’s already taking a toll on you and your mental health, too.

If you’re living in an area where you could no longer see yourself to grow into the person that you’ve always wanted to be, then leave.

Leaving doesn’t always mean that you are incapable to handle the situation but it only shows how capable you are to save yourself from dodging unworthy bullets in your life. Were you hesitant to publish that story that you’ve worked hard for several months already? Or are you scared of the unsolicited judgments that you’ll get once you’ve released that song track? Well, 2021 is here for you to say that you should click that enter and go button immediately.

Life is too short and unpredictable at that—2020 made us realize that. You have to decide now for yourself and yourself alone.

The Year 2021 is the year for us to guarantee ourselves that whatever life may throw us into, we will be okay. We will be Ox-kay for the year of Ox. We have to be okay. And we have to stand as firm as the metal year that we are about to ride on for us to brace ourselves for the real battle that we are about to hop into the streets—2022, the year of elections.

GHOSTING FOOD RIDERS Ma’am?

BY RENZO C. TAN

W

hat could be worse than ghosting a committed relationship with a lover?

That’s right - ghosting food riders!

The very thought of ordering a large amount of food for a rider to pay, pick up, deliver, and be completely ghosted does not sit right with perhaps almost anyone. In any angle you may want to look at it, it truly is dehumanizing and unethical to burden someone’s time as well as effort, especially the ones who work for a living, just to simply satisfy their own perceived humor through this empty, insensitive ‘prank.’

Given the great ease by food deliveries have applied to our daily living, and considering how much

our lifestyle is heavily restricted with the pandemic ongoing, it is only right that we do the bare minimum and pay our respects to the food riders who make these food services successful and flourish through the rough times of today. By the simple gesture of ordering with honest intention, and perhaps even going the extra mile by tipping these hardworking drivers, we can be beams of light in their lives as these small actions would contribute greatly to their day-to-day living. It is undeniable how much difference these riders have caused in our lives, whether they may be Foodpanda, GrabFood, or Honestbee drivers, they all equally work hard for our convenience and comfort.

Fortunately, GrabFood, one of the well-known food delivery service apps, announced around last year of June that ‘no-show’ users will receive the appropriate punishments needed, such as account suspension. Furthermore, with the help of online petitions and complaints, the app removed its “Cancel” feature, making sure that users will not be able to cancel their orders as soon as they input

their drop-off address and submit their ordered items. This call for action was granted due to the mass series of cancellations of users, leaving the riders troubled with the fact that they queued in line and initially paid for the items they were tasked to purchase. However, in countering this, GrabFood has assured the concerned netizens that in cases that these fellow ‘Caspers’ act out, the riders will be reimbursed accordingly by their respective food delivery services for the unclaimed order.

These riders may be fathers, and even mothers who work for their families, or they may be working students who hope to pay their tuition, and we cannot deny the hard work and dedication that they put into their jobs every single day. These ‘bagged crusaders,’ as I would like to call them, are the ones driving through the streets in the wee hours with their uniforms and food bags, or the ones patiently waiting outside fast foods and restaurants waiting for incoming orders up until curfew hours, and they deserve every bit of our respect and honesty.

07

not so Happy

Holidays

BY ROSEN GABRIEL S. GARCIA

T

he season of Christmas has always been something to look forward to every year – it is a season to gather with our loved ones to share our joy, express our gratitude, and to be reminded of its religious context.

However, this year’s celebration has been more important than ever – the upcoming holiday serves as a light at the end of this year’s series of tragedies. The pandemic, a lot of political failures, and natural disasters have challenged our resilience for the past months – Christmas brings us the opportunity to be thankful for making it through the year. Despite the importance of this occasion, we won’t be able to celebrate it like we used to – the risks of transmission of the virus are still present and we are still expected to follow precautions against COVID – 19. As we integrate ourselves in the “new normal”, we find our “merry” in our Christmas in a blur.

The mood of this year’s season took a gloomy start – the Philippines used to be in good spirits during this season every year. We used to begin our holidays merrily - a lot of people doing their early shopping for their respective celebrations, Christmas parties we used to have with our colleagues and friends, and the carols on the streets set the usual cozy vibe of upcoming Christmas. These common sceneries have become a rare sight in these hard times because the new normal has put a lot of Filipinos in financial and social predicaments. These led to major changes in the culture we used to practice during holidays before the pandemic. We won’t be able to prepare as much of a feast like we used to have for our eves, given that we are supposed to save as much money as possible. The same goes for gift giving – it is discouraged to spend a lot during these hard times. Not everyone will be able to spend their holidays with their extended families due to curfews and stay home protocols. We are restricted from the usual things we enjoy during Christmas – making the season not as merry as it is supposed to be.

Filipinos, we always find ways to celebrate the occasion for our fulfillment. Despite the challenges we face, we always do our best to celebrate to our fullest. We use different platforms to spread the Christmas vibes – Christmas parties and carols are done online.

Given that this is a gift-giving season, we can’t stop people from going to different malls to buy their gifts – however, we still do our best to promote social distancing and proper usage of masks and face shields.

Christmas may be a time of grand celebrations to be shared with our loved ones but this has never been the essence of such an occasion. We can find the fulfillment in celebrating the event not through being able to receive gifts or being able to have a feast – it is the fact that we’re able to be with the ones we love, being able to express our gratitude to the ones who helped us through the year and being able to aspire for more as we’re about to end this year. We should also not forget its religious context – it encourages us to do everything in a positive mindset knowing that God loves us. Truly, this is a season of love and no matter how the past months have been rough to us, we should be able to celebrate Christmas as something that would give us hope as the next year is about to come.

Let’s treat this year’s Christmas as a break from all the problems we had these past few months. After all, Christmas is the perfect way to end the year in hopes and prayers for a better next year.

08

COVID ANNIVERSARY STORY BY CYBREALLE D.C. CRUZ

I

t has been a year filled with dread and suffering because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic which put a toll in the lives of millions. A tremendous threat in the human race that put a halt on everything. Suddenly, the world is not the same anymore. Suddenly, we are caged in the walls of our homes and we are forced to adapt in a new way of living.

On December 31, 2019, there were multiple reports of pneumonia cases in the Hubei province of Wuhan, China.

The World Health Organization (WHO) was alerted to these “mysterious” cases for their growing number and unidentified cause. In January 2020, there were several preventions made

by WHO. China eventually shared details on the genetic sequence of the said respiratory virus and it was compared to SARS and MERS. WHO issued guidelines and preventive measures for healthcare workers in handling patients. Soon after, the first case outside China was reported in Thailand on January 13. This was then followed by cases in Japan and South Korea. There were other measures taken as WHO experts visited Wuhan, China to observe the conditions. It was not later when this virus was declared a pandemic because of the increasing rate of cases.

In the Philippines, a local transmission has been observed around February and was confirmed later in March, following the first case which was spotted on January 30. The first case was said to be a woman who traveled from Wuhan. Days after, on March 15, President Rodrigo Duterte declared a lockdown to contain the virus. Being quarantined for months has deliberately worried Filipinos because of the dying businesses which support their daily expenses. It even

came to a point that people are more scared to die because of empty stomachs rather than the virus itself. Some are also dwelling on their personal issues because of isolation. Various mental health movements have been done to battle this. Meanwhile, frontliners have been working tirelessly in order to cater patients as COVID cases started to worsen when quarantine eased.

The main reason behind it is to sustain the economy. Although only limited people are allowed outdoors, there has been an enormous increase, hitting 6,958 cases around August which is considered the biggest rise of cases in the country. After this, there was still evident growth in numbers but it went back from a thousand cases on a daily count.

The world is still not off of pandemic. Since its beginning, no one has expected that it would robbed too much time from living the way we all used to. Because of the stretch of this crisis, we needed to improvise and established a way to adapt in this situation instead of eradicating the main problem. The “new normal” provided an alternative in means of living. Today, online platforms have played a huge role in keeping people connected and functioning. We shop online, we work online and even attend classes online. The world has become too dependent on technology even before the pandemic and now it has gone to such extremes. As a result, people have been sharing their dilemmas as we shift everything online. Everyone is a victim of this pandemic. Although we might not be directly infected with the virus itself, people are still experiencing other rising effects that are rooted to the main conundrum. Students and teachers suffer from insufficient resources and other learning materials as they try to bridge the gaps of online

or modular learning. Aside from them, many people have also lost their jobs especially those within the low-income families who solely depend on their small businesses.

Even professional workers face problems in separating their work from their personal space due to the work-from-home setup. As seen in these, everyone has been facing their own battles amidst the greater chaos. Aside from the tremendous threat of this pandemic, people are also susceptible to other subsequent quandaries. As lockdowns are lifted, people are slowly going outdoors and moving places, trying to “compensate” for their lost times during q uarantine.

Malls, restaurants and tourism places are back into business which makes people eager to live the life we all used to have.

It has been a year but nothing much has changed since the beginning of all this except for the fact that we wear this thin, piece of cloth, which almost covers our whole face as well as the warmth of hugs that cannot be felt anymore. The pandemic has surely made people more distant but definitely, it has also taught us how we should value everything that we have, to value life even more. Living can sometimes be overlooked, but it is a privilege especially in this time when millions of people have lost the opportunity to do so. The realities that we took for granted are now beyond our grasp. We could only hope that tomorrow would be better and a little less cruel to us today. There is no certainty as to when this havoc will end, but if time comes, and we were given the chance to experience life the same way, I hope that we will never forget the helplessness and grief we felt during this time and make use of this reason to appreciate life even more.

?WHO IS WHO? STORY BY HEMELYN JILIAN RENEE S. AGAYAM

Y

ou may have heard from the news that the WHO along with some partner companies are now working on a release for a vaccine on COVID-19, or you may have read an article on what to do to avoid the spread of the virus. Now who exactly is WHO? What are they doing now? Are they really relevant during this pandemic?

Currently headed by Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO was established in 1984, which stands for “World Health Organization”, its original purpose was to help with malaria, tuberculosis, and other communicable disease. It coordinates with different countries and NGO’s, and the UN, that has currently 194 member states. The WHO has no right whatsoever to interfere in a country’s response to viruses. The function of WHO is to coordinate and direct authority on international health work, ensure valid technical cooperation, and promote research.

WHO along with COVAX, they are currently monitoring people who have received the vaccine, like the first person who received the Pfizer vaccine, 90-year-old Margaret Keenan (folks, remember her name, she will soon be appearing in tests). The WHO is also in charge in keeping in track with the number of cases of COVID-19 around the world. Currently there is a total of 68,845,368 cases around the world with Philippines having over 446,000 cases.

Is the WHO really relevant this pandemic? Well yes, they are, as they keep track of COVID-19 cases, and tell people on what to do during the pandemic, and even providing a series as to what is COVID-19.

Currently it has a total of 16 episodes, explaining how the transmission of virus works, how vaccines , and more COVID-19 related content (it is accessible through this link: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/ novel-coronavirus-2019/media-resources/science-in5).

The WHO works to communicate with every country to help lessen the spread of disease and continue the search for the cure.

With the virus still around, please continue to take precautions when going out, continue on wearing masks and hopefully, we get to go back to our daily lives soon and see each other again!

DIEHARD DOLOMITE SUPPORTERS

Neither a Band-aid nor a Long-term, Not Even a Solution Photo Courtesy of Inoue Jaena / RAPPLER

STORY BY JOHN FABIAN

M

ANILA BAY, on approximately 500 meters of dolomite, Philippines — What is beauty, if your bay is dirty?

Luzon, after being hit by two major typhoons, super typhoons Rolly and Ulysses, have at least affected 24 million people in over nine regions. These typhoons have brought powerful winds and torrential rain that killed a combined total of 98 persons and around 400 people are still missing.

The combination of the two has been concluded as the deadliest storm that has hit the Southeast Asian region. But nonetheless, the duo has brought out once again the resiliency of the Filipino people (sad cliché). However, it has also opened some eyes on the government’s slack. Now, the Filipino people demand accountability from the administration’s overall fiasco in protocol, failure in communication, and negligible effort in handling both the pandemic and the calamity.

Put politics aside, the main topic of this article is the dolomite’s situation after being hit by two super typhoons. Let us be updated with the administration’s priority spending of P389 million to give Manila Bay’s polluted shoreline a million-peso facelift.

The small 500 meters stretch of black sand is now shallowly covered with dolomite hailed from Cebu province. The far stretch filled with stench which gives the famous ‘Manila Sunset’ an identity of itself, unexpectedly got a facelift of artificial white sand.

The spontaneity of this facelift garnered criticisms pertaining on how the government prioritizes its funds amidst the pandemic.

Furthermore, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), as the proponent of this initiative, was once again condemned by their ignorance of the dolomite’s hazardous characteristics on the natural biota.

Experts and researchers in the field of environment from the University of the Philippines (UP warned the DENR of the hazards of inhalation of fine particles of dolomite may later lead to respiratory problems such as chronic chest pains and shortness of breath, as well as other respiratory hazards. The biodiversity in the bay has been affected ever since the dolomite initiative. Erratic movements in fish, and a lesser number of migratory birds have also been noted. Also, experts were quick to point out the possibility that the dolomite sand would wear away easily by the tides and be carried out to sea, essentially being washed

away. In the same direction, scientists nationwide have come to dispute the government’s plan; that this is nothing more than a facelift, than it is a rehabilitation.

What they proposed instead was rehabilitation and preservation through the planting of mangroves. What the authorities are expected to do however, is to focus on protecting and conserving biodiversity, with local and ecofriendly solutions.

The DENR clarified from time and time again that the white sand project is more than just for appearance.

DENR Undersecretary Benny Antiporda, who stands as the project’s spokesperson has said that the P389 million spending aims to bring back the bay’s immaculate beauty after decades of pollution.

The development focused on how to make the bay beautiful, and did not even consider how to save the bay’s ecology and the wildlife. The administration has also been very vocal of the positive effects that dolomite brings. In one interview, Spokesperson Harry Roque praised the project and went out as far as to state that the dolomite helps the Filipino People by miraculously improving people’s mental health.

Yet again, the administration has ignored the facts from the scientists and chose to pray on their own pseudo-science.

Moreover, the Malacañang turned a blind eye on the country’s COVID-19 situation and focused on the white sand initiative as the “right decision” to allocate our funds to. The Malacañang is compelled to believe this as the right decision as people are seen flocking in the bay, notwithstanding of pandemic distancing protocols, when it was opened for the public’s sneak peek. Tweets regarding dolomite trended, and Facebook was flooded with both dolomite lovers and haters alike. The government then picked this signal as the masses’ approval of the dolomite initiative.

After the storm, Manila bay has trended again on social media.

From the photos shared, it was obvious that the white sand eroded and the government’s efforts to beautify the beach has failed.

The University of the Philippines’ Marine Science Institute has taken the initiative with a grain of salt by stating that “the aesthetic initiative is, at most a beautification effort that is costly and temporary.” And apparently, totally unnecessary.

Regardless of the controversies, the DENR stood by the President and said that the program will continue amid the flak, concerns such as a possibility that maybe, just maybe, a strong tropical depression will easily blow artificial white sand away. And when Ulysses and Rolly made

HERE their landfall in early CREDITS November, clear signs of erosion were spotted.

The then white sand bay, was now bare, black, and pathetic. When the “wash out” issue reached the palace, Antiporda quickly refuted the claims, stating that these claims were propaganda of the opposition – that there was no wash out, but a wash in. Antiporda further explained that the dolomite held its ground but the strong waves caused the black sand to topple the shore thus resulting in the bay’s current pitiful appearance.

Once more, another pseudoscience and a questionable logic coming from a person of high position.

Undeniably, the government has failed to achieve its goal of the bay’s rehabilitation. The issues of pollution were not addressed by means of covering it up with artificial sand. It has also failed to restore the bay’s biological functions. The polluted waters were not treated, floating debris still floated as usual. And all the government has achieved was to misappropriate the P389 million on unfounded science to a project that should not even be a priority. Now all that’s left is a bare beach and a few specks of dolomite.

Well, there goes the taxpayers’ money.

4, 2020 Ma rch 1

09

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LITERATURE

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L SE AN

O GN MA

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OPINION

Editorial Board A.Y. 2021

Editor-In-Chief Sharmaine Canama Associate Editor for Reveille Sophia Therese Del Castilllo Associate Editor for Sinag Mickaella Joyce Dumayag Associate Editor for Website Zacharee Masamayor Ayesha Tulete Managing Editors Vinz Harrold Basilio Renz Marion Suarez News Editor Wisey Democrito Sports Editor Yusrhina Usman Feature Editor Shariful Mansul Copyreader (English) Yves Joey Flores Communications Officer Kelly Cassandra Teja Head Cartoonist Karl Onayan Head Photojournalist Teriez Michove Bokingkito Head Layout Artist Neil Ericsson Miro Adviser Mrs. Leah M. Panaguiton

EDITORIAL

WRITERS Hemelyn Jilian Renee Agayam, Almira Almiñana, Alfaruc Andas, Aungus Alpasain, Paula Alexis Ando, Jefferson Aray, Clairizza Arcillas, Fadzrati Asarud, Raye Angelique Bongabong, Jillian Rene Calo, Patricia Calinawan, Cybrealle Cruz, Vina Espejo, John Fabian, Fatima Marwa Fadzlulkarim, Sheriemike Gadin, Nicole Gagula, Rosen Gabriel Garcia, Jehanne Hassan, Raihana Habbi, Fatma Shaheen Hadjirul, Shariefa Jadji, Fatima Riesa Karay, Myron Larracochea, Kristia Ken Mabalot Annsel Magno, Kiana Mae Morgia, Shifa Naeem Erika Jenn Quisil, Patric Dale Angelo C. Rivera ,Kristine Segayo, Chrizelle Jane Sicat, Rolly Songcayauon, Renzo Tan, Alyssa Tubilag

CARTOONISTS Jonie Alaban, Ayana Dawn Atis, Ma. Sofia Carro Falcasantos, Crystalane Hagonoy, Shamy Jailani, Francis Jae Oliveros, Maria Reolyn Pilones, Allysa Marie Ramiso, Gwen Toribio

PHOTOGRAPHERS Rochelle Elaine Bautista, Denzel Bautista, Jean Clarice Bue, Sean Vincent Del Castillo, Christianne Denise Ebreo, Zefanie Fernandez, Lance Kirby Gigante, James Hamoy, Charlene Laran, Jerecho Salinel, Danielle Joen Mercado, Gian Dominic Pareja, Shannen Semil, Edweena Saipuddin, Deanna Toledo

VIDEOGRAPHERS Kezzia Jeiel Luzon, Peter Valmonte

LAYOUT ARTISTS Martha Bernaldez, Ann Jucylle F. Ellorin, Charlene Lizardo, Jan Angelo Tan Belda, Rashid Ian Taupan, Abeer Uri

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BEACONPUBLICATIONS@ADZU.ED.PH

THE YEAR IN 20/20 VISION

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he year 2020 is an exceptional year. For starters, a year where the first two digits match the second only happens once in a century—a once in a lifetime year that will fill up history books in the making. As the year is coming to an end, saying that a lot has happened during the twelve months is an understatement; “a lot” can’t measure up to the weight of events that caused the Earth to stand still. Looking back and facing 2020 without resilience-colored glasses, we expose ourselves to the bare reality of it all.

The world was taken by surprise as the year 2020 crept into our lives, as if it was bombarding us with nothing but bad news. January greeted Filipinos with a bang—literally—as thick gray ash enveloped the skies of Batangas when the Taal volcano erupted. Fast forward to March, the month when the country entered into a lockdown was no doubt the longest month of the year. The community quarantine kept getting extended since there were no signs of the COVID cases to flat line—crippling the society, the economy, and our well-being.

Logging into the 3rd quarter of the year, students joined in their online classes with the unstable internet connection and power outages hand in hand to make learning much more challenging than it already is. Same goes for the teachers. The last quarter of 2020 didn’t hold back when the country was swept away by the series of typhoons. Affected areas haven’t even recovered from one typhoon and the next one, ironically, added fuel to the fire. These events highlighted the flaws of our system such as the lack of disaster planning, government incompetence and corruption, and the citizens’ lack of discipline in following important protocols. All of these aren’t even everything that had happened but all of us are witnesses— survivors—nonetheless. Good things were also sprinkled here and there throughout the year, the little things that somehow rewarded us and kept us going.

What kept us going? Resilience—a trait Filipinos have in common; it is a trait that’s turned up to a full, especially for 2020 when government assistance lacks in the assisting aspect.

There is nothing wrong with resiliency or how citizens withstand difficult times, it does get alarming when that’s all there is for us to make do and recover—a trait. It gets us to places but how long until we’ve exhausted ourselves of the thing that keeps us going? On an optimistic note, it might not be extinguished but it certainly won’t be enough all the time. The people need its government to solidify the so-called resilience.

It’s no secret that the current administration is lacking whenever it comes to actually helping out its citizens, they seem to have their priorities mixed up—too focused on proving a point, proving authority and power, consequently, ignoring what needed the most attention is its people. We don’t give in to this ridiculous system that’s why we speak up, we properly lay our arguments, we protest on these borderline tyrannical decisions. We come up with these actions for we are resilient, we won’t let a self-sabotaging administration force us to ruins. But unfortunately, we can’t wait for things to change immediately and let the problems be solved by themselves, and that’s why we innovate, and craft ideas and plans to keep progressing. These types of acts have been evident, as people start new businesses, activities and campaigns that are aligned with the new normal. Now we can clearly see the resilience being manifested in all shapes and sizes—the bittersweet reminder of a tragedy.

Slowly closing 2020’s curtains, a fusion of hope and uncertainty dwell in us; a mixture of hoping that this year would be the upward slope of our lifestyle, and an uncertainty of what’s to come. With one foot in, we unconsciously brace for impact, becoming wary has been a default state of mind, and like it or not, 2020 has changed us—drastically. And the shift in our perspective of the world and everything in it has allowed us to mature, hopefully. There is a fair share of good news for the coming year, rewarding us a quick sigh of relief seeing how COVID vaccines are being up for distribution soon, bringing us one step closer in ending this pandemic; the pandemic that dictated every movement and every decision that led us to where we are now. Sure, putting uncertainty and fear at the back of our minds would be close to impossible as we welcome 2021 but it’s human nature—it keeps us alive.

Now, stepping out of the door with masks and face shields on, we breathe in the filtered air of 2021. We turn back to 2020 and apply the things we’ve managed to learn. All of those unavoidable yet controllable experiences have brought out the ugly of the government and society. But it also shined the beauty of resiliency, no matter how controversial it may be.

Nothing is set in stone, the world will heal, people will change, we just have to act on it and not against it. The year’s end will be a beacon of hope, and so, a standing ovation for whatever 2020’s last hurrah may be.

OPINION YOUNG BLOOD

BY KIANA MAE A. MORGIA

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EDUCATION FLATLINERS

OVID-19 isn’t the only thing capable of causing an ECG machine to let out successive beeps. The Philippines’ beloved educational system has stepped up to match pace with the battle fought by healthcare professionals and other front liners in the field—on the other side of the war turning the coronavirus pandemic into an educational crisis.

When the reigns to adapt flexible online learning were given to schools and universities all around the country despite the healthcare and financial issues taking place, education-related incidents quickly followed. On June 16, a grade nine student in Albay allegedly took his own life due to the financial burden imposed by online learning according to a testimony by his mother recorded by the Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (SPARK). Earlier than that, a criminology student from Capiz died in an accident allegedly searching for a signal to submit a report on May 16. Just recently, on November 21, a grade seven student in Quezon was found dead without clothing and with stab wounds. She was searching for a mobile phone signal to talk to her teacher about a module.

Although the Department of Education (DepEd) Education Secretary Leonor Briones recognized the challenge of ensuring mental health for both teachers and students, cases of suicide continue to take place despite the DepEd strengthening its psychosocial support program. Furthermore, while modules were originally designed to cater to individuals who have little to no access to the internet, a mobile data signal proves itself to be necessary to make learning even more efficient.

The Philippines' educational system plunders itself into a quagmire of its own making. Unyielding the clamor of students asking for an academic freeze led to this succession of events being put into place. The turtle-paced internet connection in the country is not the only factor to blame for the backfiring system of flexible online learning. A multitude of factors proves to contribute to the declining educational quality the Filipinos receive.

Despite priding itself to be training 21st centuryready and globally competitive individuals, students and teachers alike still lack the digital literacy needed to quickly cope with online learning. Although

teachers may have gotten a certain amount of training and students are expected to adapt because of their ‘techy’ minds, the sudden switch to digital forces each individual to a plethora of information and communication technology (ICT) skills to learn. While the basic student may know how to perform certain ICT tasks such as the creation of word documents, the problem takes place on the comprehension of the information provided digitally and even through the different module alternatives.

Each individual carries a certain learning style that allows one to efficiently understand lectures.

With the distance learning presented, students are forced to adopt a reading/writing, visual or auditory learning style that caters only to an exclusive set of learners. Instead of learning effectively, students are coerced to develop a new learning style on their own or submit modules and other works for the sake of getting through the school year instead of accomplishing the purpose of school—education.

In December 2019, Malacañang itself declared that the “poor reading comprehension of Filipino students is a reality.” This was done after the release of the 2018 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) Report which stated that Philippine high school students got lower scores in reading comprehension, mathematics, and science than most of those surveyed from other nations. With this knowledge, DepEd continues to release modules dependent on a learner’s reading comprehension. To add to this, some modules handed to students for independent learning contain errors that can hinder learning.

Alongside these, the Philippines suffers from power outages which pose a problem on the TV and radio program learning that DepEd offers and an even bigger problem for universities and state colleges dependent on the online set-up. For synchronous sessions, students in universities need updated gadgets or at least ones with the latest applications installed. While this may be easy for some, students in marginalized areas face a struggle in both connectivity and gadgets. Some students such as Franz Berdida need to hike a small mountain in the middle of a pandemic to send a class requirement to their professor. The challenge presents itself not

LOOKING BACK

BY ROLLY M. SONGCAYAUON

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WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED SO FAR?

achelor of Science in whatever course major in online classes. Indeed, the pandemic has brought us to the new normal mode of education— utilizing the internet and technology for academic purposes and just like that, the first semester of the school year has come to an end. Who would have thought the home isolation would last for 8 months?

Thanks to the ‘recent’ realization of our president regarding the importance of free testing for COVID-19 detection, DOH now braces for free COVID-19 tests.

Well, that wasn’t a very ‘prompt’ recognition after all.

Now that we have to confront the consequences of the administration’s negligence in the face of online education and its associated struggles, you might as well ask yourself, “What have you learned so far?”

Learning in the middle of a pandemic is definitely a challenging task. Poor internet connectivity always plays a huge barrier to the success of online classes, the mental condition always affects the performance of the students, and the level of understanding the students possess always impedes the progress he or she can give in matters of online requirements, and yet here we are now—starting the second semester of the school year. Of all the many lists of obstructions to online learning, the upsurge of students’ mental health issues has become one of the dilemmas most schools and universities are experiencing the most. With the recent news last September 2020, three students commited suicide and these cases have all been allegedly linked to pressures brought upon by online classes. As these incidents were reported, many of the netizens questioned the educational system and cried out for justice and called for utmost considerations of educators in this online learning system. On the defense of the Department of Education, “Suicide is a sensitive and complex issue. We would like to appeal to everyone to stop directly connecting such to modules or distance learning.” This kind of predicament, even if it’s proven to be misguided or factual information, is telling us the irony of the situation many students fittingly experience. Isn’t it ironic that many of us disdain online classes because

of the aforementioned reasons yet most of us are still continuing to study in this mode of education?

It absolutely is! It’s completely paradoxical that we enrolled for the second semester knowing that we cannot really comprehend the piles of PDFs and PPTs. It’s clearly unacceptable to insist on learning and passing multiple requirements given by teachers from various subjects in due time recognizing that we also have other chores and responsibilities at home to accomplish. And it’s certainly an incorrect system to give an examination to students with only having minutes to comply perceiving that the internet connection among students is weak.

Isn’t online education putting so much pressure on students to learn?

Students have a lot to say about pressure. One is pressure for compliance. “We need to graduate” and “we don’t want to be left behind” are the bleak reasons why many choose to continue studying amidst the difficulty, hence, dispelling the goal of ‘studying to learn’. On the other end, teachers have also encountered much hurdles as students do. The transition to virtual learning left teachers no choice but to build a new and improved model of teaching where its effectivity is analogous to that of faceto-face classes. Even with several seminars and conferences, in reality, some teachers have trouble in adjusting the teaching style and design because of deficient resources and limited access to the internet thus, resulting in inadequate opportunities to learn for both parties.

But the significant question here is, why risk learning when you are pressured? Aren’t we all pressured? On regular face-to-face classes, we can also feel the tension whenever the teacher is lecturing in front of us or when the professor calls us for recitation—either way, it gives us an anxious reaction. But what makes this pressure different and unique in approach? Values. It’s a pressure that creates values and develops character. This kind of isolation pushes us to work and to study well on our own—to embody self-discipline in our studies; committing oneself to learn and comprehend

11

only to students but to teachers as well. To make sure their students are well-informed, some teachers encounter difficulties in having to contact students as well. Although the problem may not present itself to each student and teacher, the fact that these are experienced by a single student increases the holes in the fearless declaration of “no learner left behind” by DepEd. Signing up in the online and distance learning setup also indicates being ready to submit oneself to insurmountable workload alongside health and financial issues. With the amount of time allotted to a subject online being the same as the amount of time given in face-to-face lectures, students are forced to balance between tasks at home and in school. In a platform where the results of quizzes and activities are delayed, students also find themselves submitting an average of three requirements weekly for the sake of simply passing. Education then works alongside the problems that a student faces in their own household.

It functions under the assumption that once a student is at home, they can and will allow all of their time for their lessons. Because of this, students face mental health problems in dealing with the academic workload thus the increasing suicide cases due to pressure brought by managing all these.

The amount of time spent dedicated to schooling does not guarantee effective learning. The 2018 PISA survey served as enough proof for that by showing that the country received measly scores of 353 in mathematics, 357 in science, and 340 in reading—all below the average. These results are all backed by years of development in teaching strategies in the faceto-face setup. How can we expect a better or at least a decent performance when we're faced with greater technical hindrances due to the sudden change in the learning mode backed by little experience?

Those at the helm of our country’s educational system need to remove their earplugs and listen to the deafening beeps caused by the cries of suffering students. Taking a step back is not always a bad thing. The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission of Higher Education (CHEd) must come to actualize the impact brought by their demands of outputs from students. Re-strategizing and re-mapping the current system to better suit the conditions of the country alongside the demands of the students should be the top priority. There’s no point in continuing the system when it becomes ineffective and anti-poor.

Until then, the number of continuous beeps caused by the incompetent educational system will increase.

more; and realizing one’s liability in terms of time management. Since the start of the pandemic, we have been surrounded mostly with negativities; from the issues of our own government and our educational system down to the problems within our respective families—all of these battling with our minds and physical health. But as we advance in time, we need to grasp the brighter side of this online setup. We need to understand that more than the knowledge and skills that are shared to us by our professors whether online learning or the regular face-to-face classes, there is also ‘character’ which determines what you can be in the future.

Studying is preparing students not only for their designated fields but it is also a stage of learning where students cultivate values that produce knowledge. The degree we yearn for is achievable without a doubt. The impediment in the way of making virtual classrooms and learning successful is dependent on both parties—the teachers and students, the ability of the students to engage in classes, and the teachers’ method to sustain motivation. Henry Motte-Munoz, the CEO and Founder of Edukasyon.ph, advises, “the closer you mimic the digital consumption of students the more you will engage them. Short content, games, and lots of visuals tend to do better. Going to the level of what students consume outside of school, will be more appealing to them.” Undeniably, this learning setup has been tough on both sides and definite revisions and redesigning of the teaching structure should be developed to be able to generate quality education.

The new normal mode of learning has brought us changes, shifting from the more familiar medium to an unaccustomed zone of online learning. Eight months of isolation could also mean excelling in new subjects and rediscovering one’s skills that were never unraveled. Separation could also mean growth and independence, and above all, online learning could also mean character development and progression—all these depending on how we view certain things. The first semester was definitely a tedious battle but we made it through!

People would say we are major in online classes but perhaps we are now at least specializing in selfdiscipline, persistence, and growth.

12 ENTERTAINMENT 2021 63RD ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS NOMINATIONS:

NEW NORMAL CHRISTMAS by Maria Reolyn Pilones

HITS AND MISSES STORY BY JAMES HAMOY

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he holiday season is looking a little different in 2020, but some things never change. For example, the nominations for the Grammy Awards are always, without fail, announced during this time of year. To the unfortunate enough to be uninformed, the Grammys is an annual awards ceremony held at the beginning of the year. It is a night where the world’s favorite artists are awarded a glamorous gilded gramophone for achievements in the music industry. One might say that the Grammys is like the Oscars for the music biz. The 63rd Annual Grammy Awards will recognize the best artists, recordings, and compositions within the eligibility period between September 2019 and August 2020. The nominations for the 2021 Grammys were announced on November 24, 2020 and it is apparent that while some artists are up for more than a handful of awards, other artists have been totally snubbed.

The “irreplaceable” Queen Bey is not known as The First Lady of Music for nothing. With that in mind, it is no surprise that Her Highness is in the lead with 9 nominations, bringing her grand total up to 79. This makes her the 3rd most nominated artist of all time, right behind her husband Jay-Z. Beyoncé’s Black Parade is up for the coveted Record of the Year award along with the hit head-banger Don’t Start Now by Dua Lipa, who closely follows Beyoncé with 6 nominations. Both tracks have also been nominated for Song of the Year, up against the quarantine anthem Cardigan by Taylor Swift. Miss Americana also snatched up 6 nods, including Album of the Year for her surprise album folklore.

The viral Tiktok song Say So by Doja Cat is also up for Record of the Year as well as “WAP” rapper Meghan Thee Stallion’s Savage featuring Beyoncé.

The two breakout female artists are also nominated for Best New Artist, the one-way ticket for the success train to the music industry as evidenced by its past winners Billie Eillish, Dua Lipa, Sam Smith, Adele, and many artists of equal calibre.

Now that the pleasantries are out of the way, it is time to address the big fat elephant in the awards venue. To say the least, the upcoming awards ceremony will be one of the biggest artist snubs in history. The likes of which have not been seen since the 1996 Grammys where Mariah Carey lost all six nominations, a shock to critics and the Queen of Christmas herself.

Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, professionally known as The Weeknd, was completely ignored by the Recording Academy and was shut out of all nominations. A fact which may not have been so scandalous had The Weeknd’s record-breaking hit song Blinding Lights not spent 40 weeks in the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. On that account, it took no time at all for the Canadian singer’s fans to rally behind the “Starboy” and bring on an onslaught of tweets accusing The Grammys of snubbing the artist and being corrupt. The Weeknd himself later tweeted, “The Grammys remain corrupt. You owe me, my fans, and the industry transparency…”

Selena Gomez is also absent from the 2021 Grammys list of nominees despite peaking at no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time in late 2019 with the song Lose You to Love Me. Other Grammy snubs include Harry Styles and Time Magazine’s Entertainer of the Year BTS, who are both absent from the major categories.

Justin Bieber also had a bone to pick with the 2021 Grammy nominations, posting a message on his Instagram saying he finds it “strange” that his album Changes is not being acknowledged as an R&B album, when that was what he set out to make. Instead, Changes was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album alongside Lady Gaga’s Chromatica, Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia, Harry Styles’ Fine Line, and Taylor Swift’s folklore. It’s no wonder that Bieber should find that it “feels weird” to be in that category but is nonetheless flattered to be acknowledged and appreciated for his work.

Regardless of who had the most nominations and who were snubbed, the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards will be held on the 31st of January 2021, rain or shine, COVID-19 vaccine or no, at the Staples Center in L.A. and can be live streamed via CBS.

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE by Sofia Falcasantos

STAY-IN STUDENTS VS QPASS STUDENTS by Miso

CONTRIBUTIONS

WRITTEN BY: MANILYN DELOS SANTOS, BLANCHE MARIE GANUB, ANTHONY GODWIN JANDUSAY, MARY ELAIN LIM, AND LEA VANESSA MONTIGO

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efore knowing what strategies AdZU did to adapt to the new normal, let us know what challenges did the administration faced due to the crisis. According to University President Fr. Karel San Juan, SJ, one of the primary concerns that they have to address was the instability of the finances. How can a private school, one that is heavily dependent on tuition payments to survive, cover for its utilities expenses especially when face to face learning is not possible?

This led the institution to shift to online platforms to conduct classes but the preparation for it was also another problem.

The teachers as well as the students were not ready for the set-up and the budgeting for the school year is being affected by the idea that fewer students will enroll in the university due to the current situation.

Accordingly, they were expecting a 10-15% decrease in the average number of enrollees for the coming school year. With these factors, the administration was challenged on how to budget the tuition per student without increasing it to make the education still affordable.

The president noted that despite incurring fewer expenses on utilities, the school needs a budget for load expenses for the teachers, Wi-Fi hotspots in the campus, and for the improvement of the server to facilitate online programs.

As for the holistic aspect, there is also a constant challenge for the university and the

administration on how to help in the community and provide assistance to the government in battling the coronavirus.

As early as the second week of March, AdZU lent the Lantaka Campus upon the request of the City Government and the Regional Office of Department of Health for an isolation facility as they were preparing and anticipating a lot of COVID cases.

Furthermore, Ciudad Medical and West Metro City Medical Center also requested to borrow buses from the university.

AdZU gladly lent them and the hospitals had been using it for 3-4 months and have been returned just recently. Aside from that, the university also helped the city take care of the poor and unemployed during the lockdown. They donated food to the poor communities of Zamboanga City, including Limpapa, Patalon, Simariki, Tumaga, and Zone II, through the efforts of the ADZU community to collect funds from friends and supporters, as well as the active participation of social development offices.

With the shift to online learning, AdZU is one of the first private universities who prepared for this new model of providing education to the youth. With the use of expertise from the School of Education and College of Science and Information Technology (CSIT), they launched the “AdZU Forte Program” for the faculty and staff, organizing a crash course for them on how to conduct online learning and teaching.

Fortunately for the school, in terms of budgeting, only an actual 6-7% decrease in enrollment occurred which gave

the administration allowance of funds than what they expected to have. For the payment of the tuition fees, the AdZU offered some payment schemes and made sure to be very understanding when it comes to payment. For the scholarships and assistance, the university retained the scholars and is also raising funds to overcome the latter’s difficulties regarding the new mode of learning. Recently, they changed the Pan Cada Dia Program to Load Cada Dia Program. Lastly, the president emphasized that continuous evaluation and adjustment to the strategies and programs will be done by the administration for the improvement of the overall operating and learning experience.

“I’m still praying for a miracle; I believe in Miracle,” a statement of President Fr. Karel San Juan, SJ. The administration also discussed the possibility of allowing students, of at least 20 years old, to access the campus for certain school-related events, such as laboratories and examinations, strictly observing the requirements for proper distancing and wearing of face masks and face shields. However, the president noted that if ever the problem persists until next year, the administration will improve the online learning delivery systems as well as help the teachers and students who are having a hard time.

Amidst everything that is happening, AdZU and other institutions as well still try their very best to go through this the best way possible while considering everyone who is

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affected. Despite everything, let’s take a moment to be proud of ourselves for being able to survive the year. It is in times like this that we can see how innovative and resilient we Filipinos are. As Fr. Karel told us, it may be hard to be positive in times like this, but we need to stay positive and influence others who might be struggling because it is in these moments that we need to be there for each other. Just as the quote says, “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning how to dance in the rain.” Thus just like our alma mater, we need to adapt and grow through this storm that we are experiencing because only then we will learn how to stay positive and be able to share positivity with the people around us.

DISCLAIMER: THE AUTHORS OF THIS ARTICLE ARE NOT PART OF THE BEACON PUBLICATIONS; THEREFORE, THE PUBLISHER DOES NOT ASSUME ANY LIABILITY. THE AUTHORS CONTRIBUTED THE ARTICLE AS A FINAL REQUIREMENT FOR A COURSE SUBJECT.

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Volumn VI, Issue III

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The Official Student Publication of Ateneo de Zamboanga University in English

AO DAYS: ESPORT CHAMPIONS

TEAM WAR ANGELS NURSING ACADEMIC ORGANIZATION

HOUSE 1 - WIZARDS MANAGEMENT ACADEMIC ORGANIZATION

HOUSE FOUR (4)

ACCOUNTANCY ACADEMIC ORGANIZATION

DOTA 2 TOURNAMENT. NAO held a DOTA2 Tournament for nursing students last February 12, 2021 and February 13, 2021.

NAO FB PAGE

AO DAYS: ESPORT TOURNAMENTS

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hen the pandemic took everyone by surprise, the eSports and gamestreaming industry reaped the benefits. Throughout the Academic Organization (AO) days of the Ateneo de Zamboanga University students, eSport tournaments were on the roll such as Call of Duty, a 2003 first-person shooter video game developed by Infinity Ward and published

by Activision; Mobile Legends, a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game designed for mobile phones and; DOTA 2, a multiplayer video game (MOBA) online combat arena, in which two teams of five people are fighting to jointly kill and destroy a huge building protected by the opposing team called the “Ancient” while defending and protecting their own.

On November 2, Nursing Academic Organization’s The Hyperlinked: Connect NAO was held, an event where the nursing students can enjoy and build a stronger bond by interacting virtually. One of the highlights of the event was the Call of Duty Battle Tournament, where 7 teams participated in the said tournament. In the championship game, Team War Angels bagged first place garnering 43 kills. Team NM came in second with 28 kills, followed by team VF gaining 26 kills.

Management Academic Organization held their battle of the MAOgical Forest for DOTA 2 on November 27, 2020. Among the 6 teams who competed, only 2 teams were left to fight for the championship. House 1- Wizards snatched the victory against House 4- Enchantress in the championship game.

The Accountancy Academic OrganizationJunior Philippine Institute of Accountants held their MAO-JPIA Days from November 25-27, 2020. Call of Duty (COD) Tournament was one of the eSport games of the event. Four Houses competed in the COD Tournament as House 4 stole the crown in the championship game.

House 3 grabbed the second spot, House 2 as the 2nd runner up, and House 1 ended up as the 3rd runner up.

With this pandemic, eSports is continuously thriving. Even on this virtual set-up, students can enjoy sports in the company of their homes during the lockdown and interact with other people even through online sports.

AO’S ESPORT TOURNAMENT. Duty calls for a good game well played scenario.

NAO FB PAGE