Conexus

Theempowered,empowers. GENDER EQUALITY BODY POSITIVITY

Embracing unique bodies, fostering self-love, acceptance, and a celebration of diverse beauty.

Conexus SKIN COLORS

Celebrate the kaleidoscope of

TableOf Contents TableOf Contents

Loving every inch of you

Join us in this celebration of body-positivity and take the first step into loving your curves and shaping your minds.

see page 4

The power

of pride

Let us empower ourselves to live our truth and embrace who we truly are—let us show the world what it means to be truly proud of who we are.

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A world of equals

Ley us unite as we recognize and embrace the contributions of individuals in our society regardless of age.

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A world of colors, a world of beauty

A world of colors,

a world of beauty see page 3

Let us recognize the different shades of beauty as we celebrate the many facets of inclusivity and diversity.

Age ain’t nothing but

a

number

The world around us is aging and yet age discrimination still prevails, come with us as we dig deeper into shed some light into the reality of age discrimination

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Let us give acknowledgement for the writers, artists, and editors behind this paper.

Meet the creators see page 9

Generational dialogue

Join us as we promote understanding, empathy, and appreciation for the perspectives each generation brings to the table.

see page 8

SSkinColors kinColors

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Skin color has played a significant role

in the establishment of customs, ideals of beauty, and personal identity throughout history, so why is it such a huge deal when someone is darker or lighter in color than others?

We can be blue like the Smurfs, purple like Barney, yellow like Spongebob, pink like Pink Panther, and all of them have a function in the programs, so we are still humans with the same purpose as everyone else in this world. Having a distinct skin tone should not be an issue in our life, therefore why don't we start with ourselves and inspire others to incorporate all skin tones fairly in everything?

Accepting and supporting diverse skin tones is a testament to the richness and beauty of human diversity, as well as an issue of inclusivity and representation. We pave the road for a more inclusive and equitable society by rejecting limiting beauty standards and embracing the individuality of each individual. Let us cultivate a culture that values and empowers women of all skin tones, resulting in a society where beauty knows no bounds and self-acceptance reigns supreme.

Three goals that drove this conversation for me:

1. Create an opportunity for people experiencing colorism to openly discuss its impact –and how we are passing colorism down to the next generation, sometimes not consciously

2 Open a safe space to have this conversation

3 Begin a conversation with the hope of continuing the conversation

Alexa Manansala, Carl Michael Caisip

beYOUtiful

by: Airi Jy Uy, Franzeska Pelayo

What does positive body image mean?

A healthy body image means you feel comfortable in your body and you feel good about the way you look. This includes what you think and feel about your appearance and how you judge your own self-worth.

In the world that we live in, obsessing over our bodies and appearance has become a daily habit. People have lost sight of what it is to embrace themselves just as they are because the culture is so fixated on the image of the ideal body. They constantly want to develop themselves and strive to resemble either a Calvin Klein man or a Victoria Secrets model.

by: Airi Jy Uy

An example of body positivity is to look in the mirror and say out loud all of the things you like about your physique. It's probable to say, "I love the way my arms look in this shirt," or, "While my tummy isn't flat, it is still beautiful."

THREE WAYS TO HELP YOU PRACTICE BODY POSITIVITY:

1 Try to avoid perfectionism

2. Don't make comparisons.

3 Avoid the temptation to criticize

by: Franzeska Pelayo

Inclusion

By: Gail Sagisag, Thessa Ibarra, Xerxis Ching, and Audric Clemente

WhiletherearemanywaystodefineLGBTQ+ inclusion, at its most basic level, it simply refers to making sure that everyone in the community, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, has equal opportunities tosucceed.

People who identify as LGBTQIA+ must be treated equally with everyone else. The same chances and advantages that everyone else should have will be given to them.

52%ofLGBTQIA+studentssaytheyhear homophobic language 'frequently' at school, followed by 46% of biphobic language and 36% of transphobic language.Thishappensnotjustatschool but also at business. They experience prejudice during the employment cycle andwhenlookingforwork.

Here are some ways you can be more inclusive with the LGBTQIA+

1. Familiarize yourself with current terminology

2. Know general definitions

3. Avoid assumptions

4. Be mindful of pronouns

5. Be an ally

6. Use inclusive language at all times

An individual's pattern of romantic, emotional, and/or sexual attraction to others of the same or opposite genders is referred to as their sexual orientation. It has to do with who you find attractive and who you want to be close to. Four categories are typically used to categorize sexual orientation.

The attraction of the opposite sex is heterosexual.

Same-gender attraction is a sign of homosexuality.

Both genders are attracted to bisexuals.

Asexual: Lacking a sexual arousal for others.

It's critical to realize that sexual orientations don't merely include heterosexuality and homosexuality. These four categories encompass a wide variety of sexualities.

Sexual preferences are mutable and subject to change. Your preferences are likely to evolve over time if you ponder and think for yourself.

GenderEquality GGenderEquality enderEquality

by: Margaret Valencia, John Santos

The gender equality situation in our country is a 50/50 split between the women who experience prostitution, physical abuse, economic exploitation and the women who experience great advancements in politics, academics, and in legislation.

Didyouknowthatthegovernment passedlawsthatcombatswomenand genderconcerns?Lawssuchasthe:

GenderDevelopmentLaw

Party-ListLaw

Anti-SexualHarassmentLaw

Anti-RapeLaw

BarangayDayCareCenterLaw

WomeninNation-BuildingLaw

AntiMail-Order-BrideLaw

RepatriationLaw

Non-DiscriminationLawinLabor Code

ComprehensiveAgrarianReform Law

MilitaryTrainingEquality

Sexual Identity Expression and

Avery was walking fast in the hallway, embarrassed to see the judging faces of her schoolmates, then she suddenly bumped into a guy who was wearing a feminine outfit

“Oh my god! I am so sorry.” Avery said to the guy, scared

“It’s alright! I’m Gavin by the way ” He introduced while smiling at Avery who was looking down and tugging the hem of her dress.

How I wish I had the same confidence as Gavin. If only I could wear a more masculine outfit instead of a feminine one without thinking of other people’s opinions.

"This might be a sensitive subject but…How do you walk so effortlessly despite their disgusting gazes?” Avery questioned.

“Oh is this about my choice of clothing? They don’t really bother me that much. It’s so not me at all if I just let people dictate how I’m supposed to be in front of them. Why’d you ask?” Gavin replied, wondering if the girl was experiencing the same issue

“

It’s just that I really don’t find my current outfit comfortable. If only I could just wear what I really want ” Avery admitted her conflicting thoughts to the curious boy

We should all keep in mind, that we all are equally made. No matter what sex, no matter what gender.

If we just work hand in hand, we'll definitely create a world, that will be each one's home forever.

“Self-expression knows no bounds. If not now, it’ll come out eventually. But are you really going to torture yourself by waiting?” Gavin reached out his hand, inviting Avery to take it and come to terms with her true self.

In the end, it was up to her.

by: Yasmien Cornito, Celine Parane

ANTI-AGEISM

by: Mikayla Gay-ya, Alexxa Flores

Hear Us Out!

Invalidation is common in our society today, especially in the youth. This is something that most youths, including teenagers, still experience to this present day. As a person who has experienced such thing almost daily, it can get tiring, make you question to how and why you have to experience that, and other feelings that may come with it. Tendencies, because of this, you feel like you can’t get the comfort and encouragement from your parents, so you decided to find comfort with other people; mainly, our friends

To be honest, we may have felt this way more than once, since we have that mindset of “Oh, my friends understand me more because they know what it feels like to feel invalidated”. Sadly, this is the reality we all face, as they say: “Teenagers are the most misunderstood individuals; They are treated like children but forced to act like adults”.

This is also a result of teenagers keeping most things to themselves, since they knew their own parents won’t understand. Teenagers are also human, they are just simply individuals transitioning to becoming responsible adults that are simply enjoying their prime years, finding their identity in the world and feel that they belong in it. That is why, many aspire to be the opposite of what their parents treated them when they are older and want to protect the younger children from all harms of the world

There is nothing easy in this world, let alone the silent battles we have encountered doesn’t change the fact that we can be a better person. We all have our own identities, and us teenagers are starting to make the known into the unknown in our own simple ways.

“Whenyoudon’tknowwhattodo,justtake thefirststep.Therestwillfigureitselfout naturally.”

–Beidou,GenshinImpact

GENERATIONAL BARRIERS! B R E A K

by: Sophia Bantugan

In a world of varied cultures, attitudes, and experiences, it is critical to validate every opinion across generations Recognizing the fundamental worth of each individual's opinion, regardless of age, is required to embrace generational diversity.

Each generation possesses a distinct collection of experiences, knowledge, and perspectives. By acknowledging and honoring the range of viewpoints, we cultivate an atmosphere that fosters open dialogue and understanding. Validating opinions from diverse age groups provides a wider lens through which to examine various matters and facilitates a more comprehensive understanding of different issues

Joey De Leon then went on to say: “Yung depression, gawa-gawa lang ng mgataoiyan.Gawanilasasarilinila.”(Depressionisjustsomethingmade upbypeople.Theydoittothemselves.)(Rappler,2017)

Older generations often misunderstand youth in regards to their mental health due to generational gaps and differing experiences Stigma surrounding mental health and limited exposure to modern challenges can contribute to this misunderstanding. Communication barriers and a desire to protect youth can also hinder the understanding of their mental health struggles.

A B O U T U s

Journalists: Journalists: Editors&Artists:

Pelayo, Franzeska

Uy, Airi

Caisip, Carl

Manansala, Alexa

Cornito, Yasmien

Parane, Celine

Ibarra, Thessa

Sagisag, Gail

Clemente, Mathieu

Ching, Xerxis

Santos, John

Valencia, Margaret

Bantugan, Sophia

Flores, Alexxa

Gay-ya, Mikayla

Photographers:

Ibarra, Thessa

Lures, Jastin

Bantugan, Sophia

Singson, Febbie

Valencia, Margaret

Uy, Airi

Macapagal, Ariel

Gay-ya, Mikayla

Flores, Alexxa

Salvador, Migs

Models:

Bantugan, Sophia

Models:

Valencia, Margaret

Manansala, Alexa

Sagisag, Gail

Cornito, Yasmien

Vasquez, Princess

Uy, Airi

Pelayo, Franzeska

Clemente, Mathieu

Ibarra, Thessa

Macatangay, Aryhana

Parane, Celine

Conexus Theempowered,empowers.

2 1 Body Positivity Skin Color Diversity

Equality for Men and Women

NADINE LUSTRE TAUGHT US TO LOVE OURSELVES

3 Inclusivity in Age Break Generational Barriers

SAY 'YES' TO CROSS DRESSING!

Court found that, under Article 30 of the Thai Constitution, all persons were equal before the law and enjoyed equal legal protection. This protection extended to individuals who dressed in a manner contrary to their gender, or, in the Court’s words, “persons who have sexual diversity”. Their right to cross-dress was thus viewed as an integral aspect oftheiridentity.

Nadine Lustre is a stunning morena beauty But people have actually said that she’s ugly because of her skin color She even lost a few projects because of how she looked

But despite that, Nadine is proud of her skin color and is not afraid to deliver scorching burns to anyone who thinks otherwise Don’t let society tell you that lightening your skin color is best.

Rafael Bautista, 2022 7 Times Nadine Lustre Taught Us to Love Ourselves Nylon Manila

Chapter seven: Gender Expression and Crossdressing International Commission of Jurists