Anong Balita Issue No. 4 · 2020-2021

B g n a o l i n t a A

CPP Barkada Issue Four Feb. 13, 2021

Love, ABC

we

barkada

Table of Contents PACN Over the Years and the Problems They Tackled

01

PACN Diaries

03

Ask a PACN Performer!

05

Which PACN Character are You?

07

Hate and Love, An Anime Review

08

Filipino Basketball’s Forgotten Trailblazer

09

Filipinx Excellence

10

Written By: Patricia Babia and JP Quiomosing Designed By: Athena Aguilar

Written By: Kaila Ganzon Designed By: Patricia Babia

Written By: Kaila Ganzon Designed By: Deena Martin

Written & Designed By: Alex Manzon

Written By: Glen Hasta Designed By: Angela Magat

Written By: JP Quimosing Designed By: Alyssa-Kayla Marquez

Written & Designed By: Leanna Gan

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The History of Barkada’s Valentine’s Grams

Designed By: Patricia Babia

12

Valentine’s Shoutouts

Designed By: Alyssa-Kayla Marquez & Angela Nicole Magat

13

Love is in Barkada… Valentine’s Collage

14

Should You Shoot Your Shot?

15

Fun Things to Do When You’re Single

Written & Designed By: Alex Manzon

17

Valentine’s Playlists

Written By: Leo Tavormina Designed By: Athena Aguilar

18

Creative Writing as an Outlet

19

Branching Out of Barkada

Written By: Nathan Maulino Designed By: Patricia Babia

Written & Designed By: Darrel Varquez

Written By: Justin Sison Designed By: Jackie Nguyen

Written & Designed By: Deena Martin

Designed by Alyssa-Kayla Marquez

PACN

PROBLEMS TACKLED OVER THE YEARS

By Editor-in-Chief, Patricia Anne Babia and Sports Editor, JP Quimosing

With PACN season starting, let’s go over some of the PACNs CPP Barkada has held and the problems they have tackled in their stories.

PACN XXIV

Title: “May Bukas Pa” Barkada Year: Sex-E Year 2005-2006 Led By: Russell Lumang and AnaLisa Manlic Problem Tackled: “May Bukas Pa” illustrates how hope, promise and determination helps a family overcome adversity.

1 PACN XXV

PACN XXVI

Title: “Kahit Kailan” Barkada Year: Bab-E Year (2006-2007) Led By: Leomar Cachola and Dominic Paragas Tuazon Problem Tackled: “Kahit Kailan” discuses the struggles young adults may face in the real world and how they persevere through it.

PACN XXVI

Title: “Lost Seconds” Barkada Year: Class-E Year (2012-2013) Led By: Emeline Allenegui and Luis “Iggy” Gutierrez Problem Tackled: “Lost Seconds” portrays two contrasting time periods highlighting the controversial topic of mental health and its role in trying to bridge the gap between two generations.

PACN XXVII

PACN XXVIII

Title: “Kailangan Kita” Barkada Year: Bougi-E Year (2019-2020) Led By: Alexa Ordonez and Jazzerine Ducut Problem Tackled: “Kailangan Kita” dealt with the stigma of mental health within the Pilipino community and how it has affected our view on it.

Aren’t you excited for PACN now? There are so m any o bstacles w e face during our lifetime, especially as young Pilipinx-Americans, and it feels so comforting knowing t hat w hat w e go through is valid and real. On top of that, it is e ven more i nspiring to see someone PACN XXIX overcome that obstacle. If you are excited to see what problems this year’s PACN will tackle, mark your calendars for April 24, 2021! It is also not too late to join. You can become a dancer or work behind-the-scenes by joining committees. Message Alex Manzon or Albert Andres to get involved.

2 Designed By: Athena Aguilar

PACN DIARIES

by Opinions Editor, Kaila Ganzon pacn 101 PACN Season is just around the corner! PACN is, at least to me, considered one of the best, yet stressful parts of the school year. What is PACN you may ask? PACN stands for Pilipinx American Cultural Night. It is a performance put on by Pilipinx American student associations to present their culture in the form of theatrics, cultural and modern dance, music, and so much more! So what better way to introduce you to PACN than taking a glance at the past! Looking back at past PACNs doesn’t only give one a great look into what goes into a PACN, but also shows what we can work towards in the future.

A hero’s journey I’m going to take this time to briefly spotlight my experience in PACN throughout the years. This upcoming PACN is actually going to be my seventh one (third with Barkada), so I thought this would be a great opportunity to help shed some light on the experience, from the goods to the bads, and all of the inbetweens!. Each PACN had a unique journey that was like a little personal character arc for me, so join me on a journey into the past.

PACN #1, I joined about halfway through the rehearsal period with no knowledge or true drive in the PACN process. Honestly, I may have joined out of peer pressure, being the formerly introverted self I was, but it was one of the best decisions I have ever made in high school. I only did the modern suite and choir with no interest in learning the cultural dances. Thanks to sitting through many runs of the acting portion and falling in love with the dance suites and I was absolutely dedicated to being a part of something as fun and unique as a PACN. The title was “Reflections,” which can also sum up my arc of that year. I was struggling to find something to get involved in that was not academically related, tried my hardest to please everybody and do a little bit of everything, but it seemed that after my first PACN, I felt like I was able to find a group.

I used to seclude myself from all social activities to just bury myself in my own schoolwork, but thanks to “Reflections,” I was able to find myself outside of being a cog in the academic machine.

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PACN #2, welcome to “Family Matters.” I finally stepped beyond the border of my comfort zone and decided to do my first cultural dances in Maria Clara and Traditionalist Suite. I didn’t mention the plotline of my first PACN, because in all honesty, I don’t remember it, but “Family Matters” hit really close to home. The story was about JD (I actually forgot his name, but we’ll call him JD for now) who lost both of his parents in a car accident and had to be sent to the Philippines to his not so accepting grandfather, who held a grudge against JD’s father for moving to America instead of staying at home. There was always a saying that went around in this club: “Family stands for forget about me, I love you.” It resonated with me throughout the years. Without saying too much, this year I learned

my best college memories through this show and I never regret it. This did set me up for one of the most important lessons to come in the events of 2020.

to love myself. Thanks to finally learning to love myself, I stepped even further out of my comfort zone and decided to run for Public Relations officer, which I won. This was such a big achievement for me, being someone who barely had any friends or an ounce of popularity, but this was when I really started to take PACN seriously and boy was this a turning point for me and my journey.

PACN #3 and #4 were just as momentous as the other two. I got some fun plot points in there, like becoming choir director and finally getting to be on the Tinik Team, but there are way more important lessons to be learned. This is just the abridged version (feel free to talk to me if you want the uncut). Now, we are going to zoom on over to my first PACN with Barkada, “Huwag Kalimutan!” This was my absolute favorite one to be a part of. Being a seasoned PACN veteran, I didn’t really expect to learn much more, but I was so wrong. I always took myself very seriously as a performer and a person, always built myself up to do the absolute most, even if it tired me out. And that’s how I was for the first part of PACN. I was a dance coordinator, I did Tinik, I decided to do 20 units that semester for some reason, and so much more. I was overworked, but I refused to believe it. There was a point in rehearsals when I decided to reorganize everything and just BREATHE for once. Despite having so much work, I decided to get closer to the people I was surrounded by. I finally learned to have fun with everybody and not take myself too seriously.

Living through moments like these are important rather than just blatantly observing them. Huwag Kalimutan told the story of a girl reuniting her lola and her long lost lover who were driven apart thanks to a war, a move to America, and a manipulative mother. Moments throughout the show reminded me that one should appreciate the time you have with your loved ones before it’s too late. This was the first time I actually liked talking to people and putting effort into making closer friends. That made the journey so much sweeter. If I told you stories of PACN, they would mainly be from late night practices and rehearsals never really the show, despite how exciting it all was. I made some of

PACN #6 was … different. I had struggled through a lot mentally that year. I did significantly better than I had my freshman year academically, but something felt off mentally March 13th, 2020, we were about to head into what we called “hell week.” I did not feel ready. I was getting anxious and easily irritable, but that dreaded email of the transition to online was sent out. I was honestly a bit relieved that I would not have to go through balancing my job, PACN, and midterm season. But this one took a lot of reflection. “Kailangan Kita” was centered on a girl entering her 3rd year of college, struggling with her mental health and not approaching anyone for help about it. The year obviously took a toll on many students’ mental health and I was one of them. I lost a job, my sophomore year, and even some connections due to the pandemic. It is tough, but I eventually got through with it thanks to not bottling it up for once. I guess “Kailangan Kita” was kind of my turning point in my arc as a person and despite all the conflicts and struggles I went through. Although this chapter of the PACN journey was not particularly pleasant like everything else -thanks to underlying problems the year brought me - it was such an important step in my journey to my final form as a character.

So, what’s next? An epilogue? A peek into the next chapter? Well I can say that I have no idea what’s ahead, but that’s what makes a story good, right? I am absolutely livid for this next chapter and can’t wait to live through it with everybody. Chapter 7, “Sonder,” here we come.

DESIGNED BY PATRICIA ANNE BABIA

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Ask a PACN Performer!

by Opinions Editor, Kaila Ganzon Now, participating in PACN sparks A LOT of questions. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions that general members have asked and my personal tips to help you power your way through PACN season!

How do I balance PACN, classes and all my other responsibilities at once?

First off, analyze your priorities. I learned this trick in I-Board where I list out my most important responsibilities to my least important and take everything one step at a time. Keep a planner! It does not have to be a fancy bullet journal or anything but just something to list important dates! And if anything gets too harsh, let your coordinators know! They were picked by their board because they know they’ll care for you.

I’m scared that I won’t get on the Tinikling Team because I have had no experience. Any tips?

There is less than a 10% chance that the people you are auditioning with have any background in Tinikling. To be honest, I got better at it by practicing and listening to the song. Heck, I listened to it on the way to my labs. Practice, practice, practice! Also if you get nervous, basic move your way through it and don’t forget to smile and look up! (The clacking of the ankles is not as bad as you may think).

Can you break down the cultural dance suites? I know the background behind them, but what type of style is there to offer in each one?

Absolutely! Here’s some insight into all of them: Maria Clara - If you want a basic but great introduction to cultural dances, this is the suite for you! If you’re a beginner, this suite often has rhythmic dances with the same moves so memorizing isn’t all that bad! Also I would say this is one of the tamer suites that don’t involve a sad or intense storyline. If you wanna smile and meet a good friend, MC is the one for you! The costumes are really pretty and often you have a great time smiling and dancing around all gracefully.

Mindanao - This is my favorite suite. I do have to say that this is probably the hardest suite out of all of them, but it is absolutely doable. Facials are probably the most important when it comes to this suite. The dead faces only increase the intensity of the dance’s mood. This suite often includes stunts like having a prince and a princess stand on bamboo sticks to balance on, rhythmic stepping through bamboo sticks to avoid your feet getting caught, and did I mention jumping on other people’s shoulders? This suite is what I love to call: INTENSE. Don’t take that in a scary way though, Mindanao is a whole lot of fun. This suite often has some of the nicest costumes whether you’re the ensemble or a lead role. Speaking of which, if you want to try for a lead in a dance, this is the suite for you! It does take a lot of dedication to be a lead, but it is so much fun if you are! Inspired by the culture of the Filipino Muslims, this suite offers a lot of beautiful history and lore into the Mindanao Region. Some of the best stories come from this suite!

Rural - Rural is the definition of good vibes. The great thing about rural is that all of the dances range from fun and easy to difficult and adventurous! All of these dances are an instant serotonin boost and mark of happiness in Filipino culture! The most popular of them is Tinikling! While not as intense as Mindanao, a lot of these dances do have props to work with that can get difficult from flower arches in Bulaklakan, fish net hoops in Pasigin, balancing cups of wine or candles on your head, and most infamously, bamboo sticks.

Rural is basically a summer day put on stage, a whole lot of fun with just the right amount of intensity.

Eskrima - Eskrima is one of the more unique suites that doesn’t initially really seem like a dance, but rather a different performance. I personally never got to perform in the Eskrima suite because it never fit into my schedule, but IT LOOKS REALLY COOL. Wanna fight like in Avatar the Last Airbender? I feel like this is the suite for you. The martial arts moves are beautiful, and I always found it to take place during a great moment in the plot. Also, this suite should really hype you up for Raya and the Last Dragon!

What experience do you need to be a part of PACN?

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NONE. None whatsoever. 10 years of theatre? BAM PACN IS FOR YOU. No experience performing?

BAM PACN IS FOR YOU. Know nothing about the culture but want to learn? BAM PACN IS FOR YOU.

I have no interest in dancing or performing because I’m stage shy, is there any other way that I can get involved in PACN? There is so much awesome stuff you can do that doesn’t involve dancing! I can go on and on about how awesome our tech crew and stage crew are, but ask me about that later when we’re postpandemic! If you don’t like dancing, the other committees are open to your interests! Are you a business student or love working with marketing? Business and Marketing Committee is great for you!

Do you like graphic design or overall media arts? Join Programs and Promotions Committee! Also if you are interested in the music portion of the show, be sure to check out P-Notes (hehe that’s me), Barkada Band, or even Rondalla!

What is one thing you regret doing or not doing during PACN seasons?

Sometimes I regret taking the show a bit too seriously sometimes. Not like the intensity of the show, but more on the lines of, hey, these people are still here for you and want to watch you succeed. Something that I should’ve remembered is that it’s all about the journey of PACN, and not really the destination. Most of the stories I can tell you never really involve the show, but rather the rehearsals that precede it. Have more fun!

Since PACN is online, what am I missing as opposed to pre-COVID PACN season?

I can say that PACN is 100% better in person. But should you NOT do it if a chunk of it is virtual? I still suggest you do it! Rehearsals are a bit easier to manage since you are probably not running like crazy from class to the CLA Building. It’s a wonderful opportunity to meet new friends and get to know more about the culture and the performing arts, even if you are a newbie. You are definitely missing the whole experience, from the goods of eating I-Board Food Run Orders while you wait for your On Deck call to the not so goods of freezing your feet off while scuffing your heels. PACN will forever be an experience, whether in person or online.

I am not Filipinx, but I am still part of Barkada, should I still do PACN? Yes, absolutely. But I do want to make something clear. Filipinx Culture is something open to everybody. What does that mean? It means that it is open for everyone to learn and experience. It is not an opportunity for people to find something else to appropriate or make fun of. PACN is one of the best opportunities to learn about the struggles and the beauty of the culture through performance and listening. From someone who has been doing this for a while, I often come across people who don’t understand that PACN is a learning experience, learning about your friends, the world, and even yourself. They would often do it just because they feel obligated or to simply gain a credit for their resume. PACN is one of the best experiences to learn and grow as a person.

So, in all honesty, what is your least favorite part about PACN? I mentioned that I witness people who often take the learning for granted, but I’m not going to get into that. I get this stress pre-Runthrough week where I sometimes need a break from all of the social interaction and I do notice that from some people. But the stress is pretty much normal to be honest.

It’s like doing tech week in theatre. It’s stressful, but you get over it with the adrenaline and serotonin running through your veins as you perform.

Why should I do PACN? Again, it’s a wonderful learning experience that one should not pass up. This isn’t a normal “sitting in your Asian American Studies class” learning experience, it’s the actual “Learn By Doing” at its best.

Not only do you learn about the culture, but you learn more about who you are and the people you perform with. It’s a fantastic way to get involved with a community. I have never seen anybody do a PACN and regret it, but I have seen a lot who haven’t and regret not doing it. Take the chance and learn something about yourself, it is so worth it.

Designed by Deena Martin

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WHICH PACN 31 SONDER CHARACTER ARE YOU?

By Designer & Copy Editor Alexandra Manzon

SCAN TO FIND OUT!

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Hate and Love

By Staff Reporter, Glen Hasta

The medium of Japanese animation is amazingly vast, there are many releases that receive hype, and many more that fade into obscurity as time goes on. However, one series is able to stand the test of time as something I would consider a classic. With the season of Valentine’s around the corner, an anime that is able to capture the essence of youth, young love, and high school drama is Toradora.

Toradora, which mixes the Japanese words for tiger and dragon, depicts the life of Ryuuji Takasu, a clean freak with an intimidating face but gentle nature. Growing up, his appearance often mistakenly mislabels him as a delinquent, and he wants to use the opportunity of being a new high school student to make a new name for himself. On the other hand, is Taiga Aisaka, who is a small, cute girl, but underneath is found to be an abrasive and sassy spirit. These two find themselves in a situation where they discover that they have a crush on the other’s best friend, and plan to help each other out.

Anime Review:

Toradora was one of the first series I binged in my early days of watching anime. I had always had a soft spot for romance stories back in high school and considering the 25 episode length, it was definitely something worth watching. It is definitely easy to get invested in a series about normal people living normal life, as viewers can relate to the characters. The show was released in 2008-2009, but hasn’t seemed to have lost its charm more than a decade later. I can’t say much without spoiling the story but if you enjoy or are curious about the genres Toradora portrays then you should really give it a shot. I would rate this anime a STURDY 4 out of 5. There is really nothing else like this series since its characters and plot make it unique.

This anime is regarded as one of the staple romance-comedy, but like I already mentioned, it includes themes of drama, youth, and ordinary day-to-day life. The story progresses by showing the friendship between Taiga and Ryuuji as they try to help each other get with the person they have a crush on. Certain events unfold and it just seems like a wholesome ride the entire way through. Many of the characters fulfill known anime tropes, such as Taiga being a tsundere (somewhat mean/cold person who gradually becomes nicer), and Ryuuji’s friend (who is the token anime friend with glasses). This anime is great to watch with an SO, or by yourself if that is how you enjoy anime. Toradora is centered around Ryuuji (the dragon) and Taiga (the tiger), two natural enemies of each other, whose personalities are complete opposites of each other.

But, you know what they say about opposites.

Designed by: 8 Angela Nicole Magat

Photo from Dat Winning

Photo from Wylieones’ Sportscards

By Sports Editor, JP Quimosing

Photo from San Jose Sports Authority

Filipino Basketball’s Forgotten Trailblazer

legacy. Hopefully now, when you think of basketball, you will also think of the often forgotten yet immense impact of Raymond Townsend, Filipino Basketball’s forgotten trailblazer.

PG #

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Designed by Alyssa-Kayla Marquez

FilipinX Excellence Written and Designed By Features and A&E Co-Editor Leanna Gan

Filipinos often get called “the minorities of the minorities”. With little representation amongst the media, it is no doubt a powerful feeling to see someone that looks like ourselves and proudly representing our culture succeeding. Here are just a few icons that are breaking through today’s pop culture:

Olivia Rodrigo is a 17 year old singer whose rise to fame started after appearing on hit Disney shows such as “Bizaardvark” and “HSMTM: The Series”.

After her latest single drop called “Driver’s License”, she has become the first Filipina singer to hit #1 on US Billboard Hot 100 and officially becomes the third Filipino artist to top the chart after Enrique Iglesias and Bruno Mars.

An immigrant from the Philippines, Manny Jacinto (33) graduated from the University of British Columbia with a degree in civil engineering before pursuing a career in acting. Nowadays you can catch his presence on popular shows like “Once Upon a Time”, “Supernatural”, “Bates Motel”, and arguably the most notable, “The Good Place”.

Ginger Lim-Dimapa sok is a pastry chef and also the owner of an ube centric bistro called Cafe 86. Back in March 2020 she competed on national tv on the show “Chopped Sweets”. Throughout the show she proudly showcased her Filipino heritage throughout the entirety of the competition within the dishes she served and ended up winning 1st place overall recieving the $10,000 prize.

Social media sensation Bretman Rock (22) first went viral back in 2015 from his og meme content and beauty tutorials. Since then he has reached many milestones such as being featured on the Pride Months cover of Gay Times, winning the Beauty Influencer award at the People’s Choice Awards, and currently releasing his first episode of his own MTV reality show.

Here are some celebrities you might not have known were Filipino:

Dominic Fike (Musician)

Salem Mitchel (Model)

Guapdad 4000 (Rapper)

Valkyrae (Streamer)

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THE HISTORY OF BARKADA’S VALENTINE’S GRAMS

By A&E Co-Editor, Nathan Maulino Designed by Patricia Anne Babia

Candy, flowers, gifts–what’s there not to like about Valentine’s day? Spreading love on this special day is celebrated in various parts of the globe, across the United States, and also among Barkada members.

Aside from the couples in Barkada who celebrated together, there were members who wanted to spread the Valentine’s Day spirit with everyone in the club. These members were a part of the Barkada subgroup, Pilipino Notes, or P-Notes. Inspired by their tradition of singing Christmas Carols in nearby neighborhoods, Adrian Manila, Bonnie Yoon, and John Francisco thought of the idea of incorporating singing for others during the February holiday while also fundraising for P. Notes. This idea came to fruition during the 2017-2018 school year, or Bayan-E Year, and was called “P. Notes Valentine’s Day SING-A-GRAMS.”

SING-A-GRAMS was available for anyone in Barkada who wanted to send that special someone or close friend a present on Valentine’s Day. Pilipino Notes shared Valentine’s spirit all over campus, from the API to the residential village. For $5, the singing group would sing a song of the buyer’s choice to anyone they requested to sing to and also include a Valentine’s greeting from Bayan-E Board. The choices of songs included “Count On Me” by Bruno Mars, “Red Roses,” by AJ Rafael, “Can’t Help Falling In Love,” by Elvis Presley, and many more. For an additional $3, they offered a rose, a bag of chocolates, and 3 balloons along with the gram for the recipient to enjoy.

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Bayan-E Year was the only time P. Notes hosted Sing-A-Grams, but the desire to celebrate appreciation for others did not go away among Barkada members.

During Luck-E year, members from P. Notes and Tinapa-I board, who heard about Sing-A-Grams, did not want the tradition to be forgotten. At the time, I-Board hosted a Valentine’s grams fundraiser which featured E-Board and I-Board trading cards. On Valentine’s Day, Robert Aceret, Albert Andres, Nathan Maulino, and Michael Nguyen came dressed up to the API with a guitar and their voices to sing love songs before giving the grams to recipients. Today, Anong Balita Committee continues the tradition in ways that were thought to be impossible. ABC offered the opportunity for people to shoot your shot or simply send words of appreciation to that special someone in the midst of quarantine. The following page is dedicated to Valentine’s shoutouts to and from our very own Barkada members!

Valentine’s Day Sing-a-Grams Graphic from Bayan-E Year

To: Patricia Babia

From: JP Quimosing

To: My Ate Andrea

From: Heather B andrea, you’ve been a hella reliable and cool ate and im super grateful to call you one! you already know I appreciate the heck outta ya and i hope we can keep makin fun memories. stay simping !

I just wanted to say how thankful I am that you are in my life. I appreciate not only everything you do for us but also for Barkada. I see how much time and effort you put into this club and it always amazes me. ILY hehe

To: Justin Angeles

From: Anonymous Hello Kuya! It’s you’re ading but you have to guess which oneeee hehehahhah :-))) I love and appreciate you for every thing you’ve done for me ever since I joined Barkada.

You’re the most warm hearted and kindest person I know. I’m thankful to have you as a kuya <3

To: Blobsprat

To: Blaing Songo

From: Blaine’s Boyfriend you are a wonderful man

To: Alex Manzon

From: Glen H. Thank you for being the greatest person ever.

Thank you for being my bestest friend and biggest fan. I appreciate all that you do for me and letting me be myself. I am proud of the work you have been doing and it inspires me to be better everyday. You deserve the world, ILY<3

From: Blobfish Hey Blobsprat! Happy Valentine’s Day and 1 Year Anniversary... kinda.

I miss you and I love you so much!

Here’s to another year!

To: Alexa Ordonez

To: Chaos Coast Line From: Oh?

I know we haven’t met in person yet but I love you all :))) I’m extremely lucky to have this fam. I promise I’ll make it up to all of you 10x, 20x, 100x over when we get to be in person again, oh the adventures that await!

From: Asawa

Happy Valentine’s Day asaaawa I love you more and more, every day, always, and forever c:

To: Danielle Yceres

From: Chathurya Happy Valentine’s Day ATE!!! I love you and can’t wait to see you irl! :))) To: Lauryn Richard

To: Lean Beanzz From: AleXXxx~

I would drive thru the Temecula suburbs with u. U don’t have to drive thru Ynez alone

To: Kevin Daria

From: Teana haiiii kuya ;) U GOTTA post up on ig like a model and GO FOR IT ily<3 happy feb 14!!!!

To: Holly Bernardino From: Benjamin Villa

From: Holly Bernardino Hi Ellie thanks for being the friend that I never knew I needed in Barkada and in life! I love and appreciate you very much! I can’t wait until the pandemic is over so we can study together for one of our STEM classes or watch some anime in person !❤️

From: She knows :)

To my literal sunshine in the rain, Happy Valentine’s day. I miss holding your hand and slow dancing with you.

I miss the early morning movies and the late night adventures to Sonic.

When a trip to see you didn’t take 8 hours. I can’t wait to see you again. I love you.

To: Adrian & Marjorie

From: Jayson Pacio

hi ate i just wanted to say i lab u thank u for inviting me to join barkada and being one of the first cool peeps i met in this virtual school year, i really hope that we get to see each other after the pandemic is defeated <3

To: Frenchesca Dela Pena

To my best friend, my princess, and my darling flower. I love you with all of my heart.

To: Renard Pascual

To: Gabbi Lizares

From: Julia Sevilla

From: Leanna Gan my love for y’all is bigger than the distance between us, I can’t wait till we can all see each other in person!!:’)

Hi Renard I know we are both gonna be single on Valentine’s so lets be each other’s Valentine <3 Much love, Jayson

To: Albert Andres

From: Alexa Ordonez hi asawa! i just wanted to say that i love you and that you mean SOOO much to me! like who would’ve thought after calling you the love of my life/asawa for like two years it would lead up to this! i’ll always love you NEVER FORGET THAT!! i love you more than niall and taehyung <3❤️

To: Head Empty Line From: Caelyn

Hi adings, grands, & gg!! I hope u all are having a v good Spring Sem & I hope u have a good February 14!! if u need a friend/date that night hmu tho, I gotchu ;)

To: Angela Magat

To: Kyle Go

From: Anon are u the Soul Stone bc i’m falling for u

From: Verenna Denina

I’m sorry that my parents call you kale, but you’re my favorite vegetable anyway! :) Happy Valentine’s baby!

To: Whitney Augustin

From: Anonymous ayo you must be a photographer the way you captured my focus

To: Infinit-E Board

From: Darrel yall been my closest friends fr. love yall and can’t wait for the first day we meet as 13. popeyes on me <3

To: Christian Chie

From: Anonymous We haven’t spent much time but I am glad to have met you, I appreciate everything that you are keep on keeping on.

To: Tianna Ramos

From: Anonymous

i was told to follow my dreams so what’s your insta?

To: Andrea Cunanan From: Ma Vien Hey wassup bbygirl <3

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Love is in Barkada...

Kuya Ethan Noah &

Ading Angela Nicole

JP & Patricia

LITtle Line

Happy 1 year Aureo!

Ate Lalaine

Mailiwak unay kenka!

Ay-ayaten ka unay :)

Rhea, Pia, Selena, and Yssa

Designed By: Alyssa-Kayla Marquez & Angela Nicole Magat

Holly 13

Ading AK

Kimi No Na Wa

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Fun Things to Do on Valentine’s Day When You’re Single By

Justin Sison - Spend it with Yourself

- Invest into what you like to do or treat yourself out

- Explore sites around the city

- Museums, Views, Restaurants, Landmarks - Huntington Library - Griffith Observatory - Vista Hermosa Park - Norton Simon Museum - The ROW LA

- Order food out and watch some movies

- Pursuit of Happiness - Croods 2 - Love, Rosie

- Kick it the whole day and just relax

- Take up a new hobby!

- Sewing

- Drawing/Painting a meme - Journaling

- Reflect on yourself

- What did you do well this past year/ what didn’t

you do well?

- What do you love about yourself?

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- Spend it with Friends

- Zoom or Discord games - Backyard.co

- Tabletop Simulator - Minecraft - Valorant

- Watch movies through netflix party

- Or if you’re safe or live with them

- Explore with Friends

- Mini road trip - Photoshoot

- Cook and watch some movies

- Literally anything in the world to do with friends

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late night drives with bae

right person, wrong time

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CREATIVE WRITING AS AN OUTLET

By Staff Reporter, Leo Tavormina

For many of us, 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic have introduced a lot of stress into our lives. It evokes many negative emotions and unpleasant feelings that may make our day to day lives feel more depressing or challenging. I find that I can better cope with my personal situation by making use of various creative outlets. One particular method that I’ve been doing longer than any other is creative writing.

find that creative writing allows someone to take the process even one step further.

Creative writing allows you to construct a setting or even entire world completely of your own design. If there’s any sort of idea you’ve had in your head that you feel may be silly, outlandish, or embarrassing, you could write about it. I find a blank Google Doc to be a great way to get those ideas out in a judgment-free way. Even if that idea or draft or document never gets published, there’s a great amount of satisfaction that can I’ve always enjoyed how televibe gained from creating your sion, movies, and books have the own little work even if it’s pripotential to make me feel like I’m vate. in a different world. Suddenly, I’m no longer at home trying to keep A fun way to directly address busy during quarantine. I’ve been negative emotions through transported to a different setting this medium is to journal your with unique and engaging charthoughts and feelings about acters. While these experiences your day. This can be done are fun and cherished by many, I

easily by simply typing whatever comes to your mind the moment you are typing. While it may seem like a strange idea at first, I find that I always have things on my mind. This can range from venting about people that frustrate me, discussing a positive event that occurred that day, or imagining future possibilities that I am excited about.

Creative writing is an incredible medium partially because of the flexibility that it allows for. Any of the ideas that I’ve discussed can be combined or expanded upon in a single work. For example, you can choose to vent by writing about a character that represents you or someone you know. You may even want to develop an entire narrative to discuss how a particular situation or conflict in your life affects you.

The possibilities really are limitless and that is what makes me want to keep writing for the rest of my life.

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Branching Out from Barkada!

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With the semester newly begun, ABC wants to put a spotlight on other CPP organizations Barkada members also participate in!

Patricia Anne Babia, Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), Director of Communication @prssaatcpp What the club’s about: PRSSA focuses on professional development, networking, & underst&ing of the public relations/communications field.

Why people should join: You should join PRSSA because it’s a good way to learn about the public relations field & enhance your professional skills in the workplace.

April Nimmo, Inner Essence Dance Company (IEDC) President & Executive Director @inner.essence_ What the club’s about: Inner Essence is about community, family, & exploring dance to find one’s own creativity.

Why people should join: People should join because we are a diverse group of dancers, of all levels, looking to share & grow our passions.

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Kaila Ganzon, Themed Entertainment Association @ CPP (TEA @ CPP), Vice President @tea.cpp What the club’s about: Themed Entertainment Association (or TEA) is a student-run club at Cal Poly Pomona that connects students with the themed entertainment industry & allows fellow peers with similar interests to enjoy themed activities. Some of these include guest lectures from companies like Disney & Universal, behind the scenes tours, & even just nerding out about theme parks, theatres, & so much more!

Why people should join: It’s a great opportunity to connect with people outside your major with a common interest & professional growth! We also hold a wonderful community over a virtual format with plenty of events & opportunities to advance in the industry no matter your major!

Nadia Urbina, #GrrrlSquad, Vice President @cpp_grrrlsquad What the club’s about: #GrrrlSquad is meant to provide unity, empowerment, & encouragement for Womxn on campus & other students who are interested.

Why people should join: It’s now more important than ever to find a community on campus #GrrrlSquad welcomes all who are interested. We host meetings through zoom every Wednesday at 1 pm & talk about issues relating to college & issues faced by all students. We also have gaming days & offer an open safe space for students to talk. Strong connections can be made even through an online environment.

Kristen Ayap, Global Public Health Brigades (GPHB), President @gphb.cpp What the club’s about: GPHB aims to empower under-resourced communities in developing countries to meet their health & economic needs.

Although we’re part of a larger organization, GPHB aims to prevent disease & common illnesses by implementing in-home infrastructure. Some projects we would do include building latrines, eco stoves, & water storage units to help these families live a more sustainable future.

Why people should join: Members would have the opportunity to make a tangible impact on these families. As a club, we will travel to different counties to build these projects. I think what makes this club special is that we can actually see the difference we’re making. Personally speaking, we always say we want to make a difference in the world, but rarely go through with our efforts (or make the efforts but within a comfortable setting). By going to these countries we step outside our comfort zones, & experience what may seem inconceivable to us (mostly in regard to the aspects of poverty like lack of water, sanitation, electricity, etc). You actually see the difference we could make in the world & realize these efforts don’t have to be big, it’s just about taking the first step.

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Anong Balita Staff Patricia Anne Babia............Editor-in-Chief Alexandra Manzon..................Copy Editor Kaila Ganzon.......................Opinions Editor JP Quimosing.........................Sports Editor Deena Martin................Features Co-Editor Nathan Maulino..................A&E Co-Editor Leanna Gan......A&E & Features Co-Editor

Staff Reporters: Glen Marc Hasta, Justin Paredes-Sison, Leo Tavormina and Darrel Varquez Designers: Athena Aguilar, Leanna Gan, Angela Nicole Magat, Alexandra Manzon, Alyssa-Kayla (AK) Marquez, Deena Martin, Jacquelyn Nguyen, Darrel Varquez and Patricia Anne Babia Cover designed by Patricia Anne Babia If you are interested in joining Anong Balita Committee or have any comments/concerns regarding this issue, please feel free to contact us at pr@cppbarkada.org.

2020-2021