Anong Balita Issue No. 2 · 2020-2021

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A Recap on Filipino American History Month Issue No. 2

November 1, ’20

KNOW YOUR ABCs

By Copy Editor Alexandra Manzon

Patricia Anne Babia - Editor-in-Chief 3rd Year, Luck-E Baby Major Communications, Emphasis in Public Relations From Daly City, CA IG @patriciababia Astrology Sign Virgo Favorite Food Tacos Favorite Candle Scent Peace Potion from Bath and Body Works Why did you join Anong Balita?

I enjoy designing and writing so I knew Anong Balita would be the perfect place to express my creativity!

Favorite Quote “What you create for you, no one can take from you” -Jhené Aiko

Alexandra Manzon - Copy Editor/ Designer

4th Year, Bayan-E Baby Major Food, Science & Technology From Anaheim, CA IG @alexmanzonn Astrology Sign Libra with Scorpio tendencies Favorite Food Salmon sashimi & Kickin crab, kickin style medium spicy Favorite Candle Scent Pumpkin Spice.

Why did you join Anong Balita?

I used to write for my high school newspaper and was excited to see there was something similar like that in college but this time I can write more freely!

Favorite Quote “Do whatever makes you happy, because who’s there in the end? You.” - Kyle Patrick Libramonte

Kaila Ganzon - Opinions Editor

3rd Year, Luck-E Baby Major Civil Engineering From La Mirada, CA IG @_kaila.g_ Astrology Sign Cancer (Ascending aeries & moon sign leo) Favorite Food Dim Sum Favorite Candle Scent Stress Relief from Bath and Body Works Why did you join Anong Balita?

I really enjoy writing about what I believe in and sharing it with others to read! I also love the Anong Balita team and working with them!

Favorite Quote “Grab ahold of your dreams and make them come true. For you are the key to unlocking your own magic. Now go. Let your dreams guide you. Reach out and find your Happily Ever After.” - Anonymous

Nathan Maulino - Arts and Entertainment Co-Editor

3rd Year, Luck-E Baby Major Mechanical Engineering From Sacramento, CA IG @nat.mau Astrology Sign Taurus Favorite Food Mango Favorite Candle Scent Pumpkin, Lemon, and Cherry Why did you join Anong Balita?

I joined Anong Balita Committee to promote and showcase the amazing people in Barkada and in the Filipinx-American Community!

Favorite Quote “Sometimes the best way to solve your own problems is to help someone else”. - Anonymous

John Paolo (JP) Quimosing - Sports Editor 3rd Year, Luck-E Baby Major Accounting From Cerritos, CA IG @jpquimosing Astrology Sign Aries Favorite Food Longsilog Favorite Candle Scent Eucalyptus Why did you join Anong Balita?

I joined ABC because I lowkey like writing about topics that interest me, being sports. Writing is another way of expressing myself, which is nice to have. Also, I want to support my girlfriend Patricia who leads ABC hehe.

Favorite Quote “I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good old days before you’ve actually left them.” - Andy Bernard (The Office)

Deena Martin - Features Co-Editor/ Designer

2nd Year Bougi-E Baby Major Visual Communication Design From Glendale, CA IG @deenamartin_ Astrology Sign Aries Favorite food Sushi Favorite Candle scent Champagne toast from Bath & Body Works; I get super allergic with floral scents :( Why did you join Anong Balita?

I joined Anong Balita to get more involved with Barkada and share my passions for art and design.

Favorite Quote “You cannot find peace by avoiding life.” -Virginia Woolf

Darrel Varquez - Staff Reporter 2nd Year, Bougi-E Baby Major Chemical Engineering From Anaheim, CA IG @dvarq Astrology Sign Scorpio Favorite Food Sinigang Favorite Candle Scent Lavender, or like outdoors smell.

Why did you join Anong Balita?

I like it Favorite Quote “baconeggncheese”. - Anonymous

Glen Hasta - Staff Reporter

4th Year, Bayan-E Baby Major Aerospace Engineering From Born Manila PH, raised Bakersfield, CA IG @glenmach Astrology Sign Scorpio Favorite Food Korean Fried Chicken Favorite Candle Scent Hazelnut or lavender.

Why did you join Anong Balita?

To express my thoughts in a written medium Favorite Quote “Gotta have a little sadness once in a while so you know when the good times come.” - Bob Ross

Jacquelyn Nguyen- Designer

4th Year, Luck-E Baby Major Music From Anaheim, CA IG @mizjackie12 Astrology Sign Libra Favorite Food Pad Thai Favorite Candle Scent Winter Candy Apple Why did you join Anong Balita?

I wanted experience in graphic design Favorite Quote “Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary.” - Robin Williams in Dead Poets Society

Leanna Gan - Features and A&E CoEditor/Designer

3rd Year, Luck-E Baby Major Art History From Temecula, CA IG @leannagann Astrology Sign I’m a sun scorpio, rising cancer, and moon aquarius Favorite Food Sushi/Poke Favorite Candle Scent I’ve been super into Sandalwood lately, but I just got this candle that makes my room smell like a lush store and it’s my current obsession (idk what the scent is tho it’s just called charmed LOL) Why did you join Anong Balita?

I found Anong Balita as another creative outlet:-) From the start I was super interested in what it was about/ what it had to offer. Plus I love working alongside with other creative and like minded people in order to come up with a product such as this.

Favorite Quote “The world is rooting for you, the universe has got your back”. - Anonymous

Ethan Noah Francisco - News Editor

2nd Year, Bougi-E Baby Major Biology From Camarillo, CA IG @ethanoahfrancisco Astrology Sign Capricorn Favorite Food Birria Tacos/Chicken Sandwiches Favorite Candle Scent Hazelnut or lavender.

Why did you join Anong Balita?

To get more involved in Barkada and because I heard about Anong Balita before and that Patricia was gonna make it again!

Favorite Quote “Work hard in silence, let your success be your noise”. - Frank Ocean

Alyssa-Kayla (AK) Marquez - Photo Editor/Designer

1st Year, Infinit-E Baby Major Apparel Merchandising and Management From Torrance, CA IG @akgmarquez Astrology Sign Sagittarius Favorite Food My Grandpa’s Sinigang Favorite Candle Scent Grapefruit and Mangosteen from Flo Envy Why did you join Anong Balita?

I joined Anong Balita because I thought it would be a great way to express my creativity and I’ve always wanted to design magazines! Also, I really want to be more involved in Barkada!

Favorite Quote “Speak your mind even if your voice shakes.” -Maggie Kuhn Designed By Alexandra Manzon

PAHM Recap

By Staff Reporter

Darrel Varquez

As a second-year at CPP, I have had the pleasure to experience PAHM, or Pilipino American History Month, at CPP last year with Fil-Am orgs like XPO, Barkada, and PASK. My experience was filled with fun and very insightful events that taught Fil-Ams like myself and many others a multitude of cultural lessons that I still think about to this day.

Unfortunately with the circumstances at hand, our CPP Fil-Am orgs had to look for different ways to emulate the PAHM experience into an online experience.

pahm recap

Starting off with CPP PASK, they decided to use their social media presence to continually pump out informative posts about Fil-Am culture that were digestible and interesting. Postings about OPM, Barongs, and Historic Filipinotown were just some examples of the nice posts they have made throughout PAHM so far! This shows just half of the effort though because they also had general meetings discussing different Filipino American moments that should be documented in history. Examples of this would be like the Delano Grape Strike, which was a huge moment for Filipinos who migrated from the homeland to America. PASK overall has done a great job displaying and putting our culture in a spotlight especially in the month of PAHM. Be sure to check out their Instagram at the handle @paskcpp to see when their events are and also some of their PAHM posts!

Next up we have CPP XPO Eta Chapter. XPO has taken a similar approach to PASK by using their social media to spread info and culture. They called this approach “Buwan ng Kalinangan”, which translates to Month of Culture in English. They have an array of interesting and essential facts about Filipinos and their history displayed in their IG Highlights. With topics that leave you asking for more, like the Battle of Mactan or the Mano po, CPP XPO has done a great job at translating their previous approaches of PAHM into an online setting. CPP XPO has also shown its proactiveness by hosting a care package event called “Care Package to the Pinas”. This event was XPO’s way of giving

Lastly, we have CPP Barkada. Barkada took the normal events they would usually have in-person and they expanded on it! With there being no chance for an in-person Lumpia Night, they extended it into a week of cultural celebration called Lumpia Week!

Spearheaded by their Culture Chair Alex Manzon, Barkada held a week of virtual events to spread their culture while also trying to keep it interactive. Throughout the week, events like lumpia cooking, IG Challenges, and Webinars of the history of lumpia were held for general members to attend. The attendance of these events led to entries in their raffle, which held some very cool prizes like a hydro and a tote bag. Congrats to the winner, Edward Encarnacion! Other than Lumpia Week, Barkada continues hosting its general meetings, which always include a segment called Culture Corner. These segments are always filled with a wide range of topics like the Women’s Health Crisis in the Philippines. You can check out some recaps Barkada has on their IG, which is @cppbarkada.

Overall with the circumstances given, celebrating PAHM in this setting has been very fun and educational. All the Fil-Am orgs on campus have done an amazing job at adapting and creating fun, digestible events and posts that encapsulate the history of the Philippines, the history of Fil-Ams, and overall, why we should be proud of being FilipinxAmericans.

Designed by Jacquelyn Nguyen

Friendship Games by news editor Ethan Francisco What Is Friendship Games?

Games?

35 Years. Friendship Games is about to celebrate its 35th year of S.P.U.F. If you do not know what S.P.U.F. is, it is what Friendship Games thrives on: Spirit, Pride, Unity, and Friendship. In honor of Pilipinx-American History Month, Friendship Games occurs every October in Fullerton and is hosted by CSUF PASA Kabigan. Usually, Friendship Games includes a fun-filled day of competitive picnic games, roll call dances, artists performing for the participants, interactions with other organizations, and chants while competing to see which organization has the most S.P.U.F.The school that shows the most S.P.U.F is awarded an 8 foot tall trophy. However, with the ongoing pandemic, COVID-19, Friendship Games takes on a whole new platform. To keep the tradition of S.P.U.F, CSUF PASA Kabigan introduced Friendship E-Games.

friendship games

Barkada History and Traditions in FG

Since the creation of Friendship Games, Barkada has taken home 1st place 5 different times. We take pride in our late-night Friendship Games practices and being known as that club screaming in the quad at 1am. These practices help members bond with each other and help create friendships, the most important pillar in SPUF to me.We have an annual tradition of the cow. The cow is hand-selected by the current board or SPUF Masters and goes to the first year who has shown the most SPUF-iness so far. They are awarded with a cow costume in which they wear the whole day at Friendship Games. it is constantly passed on year after year.

Friendship E-Games Recap

With Friendship Games turning into an online setting, a lot has changed. This year, the games consisted of Donation Wars, Like My FG REP, and Show Your Spirit. This year, Barkada raised over $100, which will be donated to the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns. Our Friendship Games Representative this year was our very own SPUF Grandmaster, Kayley Ong. Barkada was able to collect over 500 likes, points, and placed 8th out of over 30 schools for the Like My FG Rep Game. Throughout the week, organizations were asked to Show Your Spirit�with a spirit week where they could gain points when members post photos for the theme of each day that week. During the livestream, over 300 viewers had the chance to listen to one of our Barkada members perform. Luck-E Baby, Albert Andres, blessed our ears by playing Officially Missing You�. His performance gave Barkada another 100 points.

A Thank You From Your SPUF Masters

All five of your SPUF Masters would like to thank all the members for participating in this years Friendship Games even though it was online. Barkada is looking forward to seeing you SPUF again next year!

Who Are Your SPUF Masters?

Kayley Marie Ong (SPUF Grand Master) 3rd Year Computer Information Systems SPUF, to me, is that special energy you can only feel at Friendship Games. There is not a feeling you can compare to when you are cheering with your friends in an environment where it is only positive vibes, surrounded by people who all share a common interest with you. You can be as loud, as enthusiastic, and as silly as you want and nobody judges you. To me, SPUF, is this positive atmosphere where you can show what spirit, pride, unity, and friendship mean to you through Chanting and Singing.

Ethan Noah Francisco (Spirit) 2nd Year Biology Spirit is just something you bring into whatever you are doing. It is all about being positive, energetic, lively, enthusiastic.

Friendship Games lets you feel all of that with the energy you give off and the energy other schools give off. There is not any other place you could feel spirit like the way Friendship Games does.

Tyler De Jesus (Pride) 4th Year Accounting Pride is being proud of the school that you come from! At friendship games there are so many universities representing what their organization stands for and representing their Filipino community from their respective areas, so being able to represent your own is honestly one of the best experiences to go through When we’are spuffing, we are showing other schools who we are as Barkada!

Andrea Cunanan (Unity) 2nd Year Psychology Unity means finding a community where you feel your best. It is being around people that know what you’re going through and who push you to be the person you want to become. I am grateful that I’have started to discover my best self with Barkada and I’am excited to see what else is in store for me here :))

Robert Aceret (Friendship) 3rd Anthropology F in SPUF represents the starting point of a long lasting connection. Yes, beginnings are scary, awkward and (sometimes) weird but they’are also really exciting. That’is where the Friendship from SPUF stems from: It’is the connections that are built when sharing your spirit, your pride, and your unity with the communities who reciprocate the vibes.

designed by jacquelyn nguyen

KAA Pairing Spotlight

by Features Editor Deena Martin

Similar to a mentoring program, Barkada’s Kuya/Ate/Ading program allows experienced members to help others feel a sense of belonging within both the club and school. Kuya means older brother, and ate means older sister. Adings, younger siblings, often form very strong bonds with their kuyas and ates.

Below, past and new members alike share their experience with the KAA program and its legacy for future participants.

Favorite Barkada event together? Why? “Barkada’s Got Talent. My performance was right after Jake’s and I was super shy to go on stage after him. He knew how shy I was, and he gave me a shoutout and a couple words of motivation before starting his cover of Daniel Caesar’s Japanese Denim.”

Favorite memory together? “When I first picked Jake up, I remember our conversations that night were very organic and didn’t seem forced at all, despite us meeting for the very first time. He was so nice and I was so happy to have found an ading who has very similar values that I carry as well. We discovered that we’re very compatible for a KAA relationship.”

Favorite Activity to do together? “He tries to get me to sing with him and many times I’m shy, but when I do sing he never fails to hype me up. Fyi he is a way better singer than I am, He’s just incredibly humble about it.”

Moment you first felt like their Kuya? “When we got boba to watch the Laker’s game.”

If you could say anything to your ading right now, what would it be? “Stay in school. Forever. Don’t graduate.”

Who does your ading remind you of? “My ading, for whatever reason, embodies the caring and passionate soul that I can only try to mimic. I see a better version of myself in him.”

Any advice for those looking to pick up? “Don’t force your friendship on them. Even though you get paired with each other, let the friendship and sibling bond grow on its own.”

Ading Jacob Vitug

Bougi-E Baby/Wholesome Line

KuyaZachary Furtado

Bayan-E Baby/Wholesome Line

Adings: Sydney Neikirk + Jacob Vitug

Favorite Barkada event together? Why? “BGT, where both of us performed, and Zach had an absolutely unforgettable stand-up comedy bit. I remember seeing him so nervous right before the performance, but he owned that stage the second he took it!”

Favorite memory together? “Before quarantine, PACN practices were super fun to bond amongst each other, as well as learn and grow in culture alongside friends as we participated in acting & dance workshops together.”

Favorite Activity to do together? “Vibin’ to new music on our boba trips!”

What are 3 words to describe your kuya? “Charismatic, Scintillating, & Insecure” If you could say anything to your kuya right now, what would it be? “Thanks for being awesome and supportive! FaceTiming and staying in touch with you during quarantine had made pandemic life much more bearable! Can’t wait to see you again, listen to more music, and run smash soon!!”

Who does your kuya remind you of? “Any good looking person who thinks they’re not for some weird and senseless reason.”

Any advice for those looking to pick up? “Trust the process!”

Favorite Barkada event together? Why? “My favorite Barkada event together was KAA Reveal because it was so exciting to see my adings for the first time. I didn’t meet any of them prior to KAA Reveal, which honestly made it even more exciting, and it was fun curating a basket of things they like.”

Favorite memory together? “My favorite memory together is seeing my adings enjoying hobbies/activities they are interested in. For example, I remember attending one of my ading’s soccer games and attending another ading’s preview dance night.”

Favorite Activity to do together? “My favorite activity to do with my adings is trying new restaurants with them. All of us enjoy trying out new places and are always up for grabbing food or boba.”

Moment you first felt like their Ate? “The moment I first felt like their Ate was when my adings would come over to me for advice about school or personal matters. I’m grateful they confide in me and feel comfortable opening up to me. Even though I’m the Ate, they are helping me just as much.”

If you could say anything to your adings right now, what would it be? “I miss you so much and I can’t wait for us all to be reunited again! Please continue to work hard and don’t let the little distractions get in the way of that hard work.”

Who do your adings remind you of? “My adings remind me of some of my closest friends from back home as well as some of my closest friends I’ve made at Cal Poly. Also, I feel a sense of comfort whenever I’m with my adings because of how supportive they are and how much they have helped me as well.”

Any advice for those looking to pick up? “If you’re interested in picking up an ading, 100% do it.

Being an Ate is one of my favorite things that has come out of my experience in Barkada, and it gave me an opportunity to mentor them in any way that I can as I was once in their shoes.”

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Ate Karyn Carreon Bayan-E Baby

Silver Line; Red Ribbon Line; Ohana Line; + Finesse Line

Adings: Kyla Geraldo; Deena Martin; + Isabel Manalo

Favorite Barkada event together? Why? “KAA Reveal Fall 2019 because it was my first time picking up an ading.”

Favorite memory together? “Lumpia Night 2019 because I had a fun night hanging out with my ate and we had omomo boba :)” Favorite Activity to do together? “Getting food together” What are 3 words to describe your ate? “Sweet, Amazing, Artistic” If you could say anything to your ate right now, what would it be? “Hi Ate!! I miss you so much and can’t wait until we get to hangout again <3” Who does your ate remind you of? “The big sister I never had but always wanted” Any advice for those looking to get picked up? “Put yourself out there and always try to hangout with your fam because they’re so much fun!!”

What orgs do you want to join in Barkada? “I-Board, E-Board, Basketball Team.”

What Barkada event are you most excited for? “Friendship Games, KAA Reveals, & PACN.” Name 3 qualities you would like in an Ate/Kuya. “Energetic, Funny, Caring.”

What is an activity you hope to do with your Ate/Kuya? “Go on a road trip to somewhere interesting and have some fun.”

If you could say anything to your future Ate/Kuya right now, what would it be? “1. Please make me finish my work before going out. 2. I hope we can help each other grow as people.”

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Designed By Deena Martin

Relationships Among Quarantine

By Opinions Editor Kaila Ganzon quarantine romance, is it happily ever after?

Ah, summer romance. The most anticipated cliche of your entire teenage life. Were you going to have your first kiss on the ferris wheel like in Love, Simon? Were you so excited to share a Dole Whip at Disneyland while watching the fireworks? Well, ever since the diseased elephant in the room showed up, your summer romances may not quite turn out to be a fairytale like you have imagined. For those seeking romance in the pandemic, many have turned to online dating or just sworn off of romantic getaways for a while because they fear that their relationships may fail.

But that’s not what we are here to focus on. How about the couples who are already in a relationship prior to the pandemic?

long distance relationships

A relationship in quarantine, assuming you’re not living with each other, can be best compared to a long distance relationship. Long distance relationships typically have most of their interactions exist over the realm of digital media rather than meeting up for dates due to living outside of each others’ radius.

Long distance couples are not necessarily a new thing as of 2020. Online dating is probably the pioneer of long distance relationships. Someone meets someone on a dating website, they chat for months, and eventually try to meet up in person.

While it is possible to be in a healthy and stable relationship in a long distance setting, thanks to mainstream reality TV, we quickly realize that long distance dating tends to not end up in Happily Ever After. Studies in Relationship Psychology have also demonstrated this. The International Association for Relationship Research (IARR) actually did a study where they interviewed a series of couples on their experience with long distance relationships. This study displayed the dangers of both being constantly apart and rarely together. To me, the most significant part of this data was the take on how couples think that being “apart” enables “being together.”

Couples discussed how their time apart had a positive impact/force on their time together. Partners reported several different manifestations of how being apart enabled being together (Table 3). The five most frequently discussed characterizations of how time apart enables time together were: ‘Fosters quality time’ (27.3%), ‘Segmentation’ (18.2%), ‘Excitement’ (16.5%), ‘Appreciation’ (14.9%), and ‘Openness’ (10.7%). Each of the two remaining categories was less than 10% of the thought units coded in this scheme: ‘New things to share’ (9.1%) and ‘Other’ (1.7%). (Sahlstein, 2004)

The excitement of romance does not seem to go away when it comes to how near or far you are from each other. But it can be difficult when you’re far from each other and don’t see each other often. I know a lot of Barkada couples don’t have the luxury of living together during quarantine, even countries or states away sometimes. Finding time to bond can be difficult.

References Sahlstein, E. M. (2004). Relating at a distance: Negotiating being together and being apart in long-distance relationships.

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 21(5), 689-710. doi:10.1177/0265407504046115

FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES IN QUARANTINE A great way to strengthen your relationship from my advice, is to identify your love language as a couple.

Not every couple is the same when it comes to what they want.

Physical Touch

Words of Affirmation

Acts of Service

Bond Touch Bracelets - A slightly more pricey way to fulfill Physical Touch, but it does a trick for those who miss their partner’s pulse when they hold hands. These are often bought in a pack of two for $98.00, or even cheaper depending on the provider of your choice.

Send a Daily/Nightly Text - Making this part of your daily routine is a basic improvement for dry texters.

Don’t limit it to only a good night or good morning, but make sure you state your appreciation to them, it often helps them with their health and even mentality.

Be Their Tutor - Zoom Academia is not the easiest thing in the world, unfortunately, but any assistance you provide is so useful. It doesn’t matter whether you’re their personal cheerleader or Chegg plug, but helping them with school or work is a big sign of dedication and kindness.

Scent Gifts with Your Perfume or Cologne! - Though it is technically not fulfilling the absence of touch, it’s very similar to having your partner physically there with you. Buy a blanket or cozy scarf, especially with cold season at foot, and spray it with your favorite cologne to remind your partner of your presence.

Write Some Letters - This is a fantastic way to show your appreciation as well as shed a bit of old fashioned romance. Who doesn’t like getting a personal letter to them? Letters are a special way to express yourself in words that you can keep forever. See, Lara Jean knew a thing or two about romance!

Ask What You Can Do - The best advice I can give for this love language is of course, communication.

Communicating with your partner usually fixes a lot of problems and lessens quarrels. A simple “What can I do for you?” is the best start to serving and building your relationships.

relationships

Quality Time

Movie Nights - Zoom and Discord are definitely a blessing for sharing moments with your friends and family. A really fun activity to do is to alternate with suggesting movies/themes for videos to watch every weekend! Like one week, you can suggest watching Disney movies and the next week, they can suggest marathoning We Bare Bears! It is a really fun and simple way to bond, plus you can pause the movie anytime to talk and discuss the movie with them without interrupting others!

Game Time - Alright, so you don’t need an expensive Switch for Animal Crossing or need a double monitor Twitch setup to have a good time.

Free multiplayer games are a fun way to double date on a digital platform. Play a game of Among Us, play online with Skribbl.io, Jackbox Games, the list can go on. Gaming is a great way to bond with others!

Gifts

Flowers - Who does not like flowers? Try and see what month your partner was born in, maybe you can find a specific flower that connects with them! If not flowers, get them a nice plant from the Bronco Farm Store! You get to give them an extra friend for their room, plus they’re typically inexpensive.

Get Creative - If you’re artistic, drawing a picture for your partner or even dedicating a song cover to them is a really personal and romantic thing to do! If you’re not artistic, try your hand at it! The effort you put into it is a gift enough.

Pick Up A Pen - As written in my Words of Affirmation recommendations, letters is a great way to connect with your partner on a personal level! Other than sending letters, writing poetry and even stories are great ways to express love through the magic of words!

SO IS LOVE WORTH PURSUING IN THE PANDEMIC?

All in all, having a relationship during quarantine is definitely not a downer. If you and your partner are great communicators and strong, then you should survive and thrive during this pandemic! But know this, a few disagreements here and there will definitely not discourage or hurt your relationship. If you are both mature enough, then your relationship will remain stable or even grow stronger throughout this pandemic!

So get out there, meet some people in your classes and get acquainted! Swipe right on Tinder at your own risk! Just remember to remain safe, distanced, and smart, you deserve love!

Designed by Patricia Anne Babia

Pilipino American Student Association

Gaming Tournament

By Sports Editor JP Quimosing

Man down, man down, I’m going to

need some backup here! On September 26, five of Barkada’s members participated in CSUF PASA’s gaming tournament for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. The team Anti-Sweat Squad showcased five members who were CJ Banawa, Darrel Varquez, Glen Hasta, Joshua Regal, and myself. In a best of five series, the stakes were high and the expectations were even higher. Coming out of retirement, Darrel and Glen looked to regain their previous status as top fraggers. Meanwhile, the other three looked eager with something to prove.

Starting off was a classic Search and Destroy match. Widely known as SnD for COD players, this game mode is a race to win six rounds where the attacking team must successfully plant and detonate the bomb on one of the two bomb sites or eliminate the entire enemy team. Early on, signs of struggle could be seen. The team quickly fell behind into a 0-4 deficit. Despite this, Darrel reminded us that all we needed was one round to get us back into the game, and so we did. In an intense next round, we fought off the opposition to take a four to two man advantage and sealed the round we so desperately needed. We all shouted in excitement as we had finally gotten on the board. Yet, this excitement would quickly disappear as we found ourselves losing the following two rounds, ending in a 1:6 defeat. Even in such a crushing loss, the team showed promise as we headed into the next match.

After shaking off the previous match, Josh and Glen gave a little pep talk firing us up for what was to come. This match was Hardpoint, a game mode where players must hold a certain area from the enemy team to secure points to win the game.

The team came out quickly with a few kills from the get go and were able to get on the board first. In our minds we thought, this could be our chance to even the series. However, the opposition once again caught us out in every corner and angle as we slowly became more frustrated. We didn’t want to dig ourselves in a 0-2 hole in the series. Unfortunately, we were outmatched in this one and the enemy team utilized the momentum to defeat us 250:107 in a blow out.

The next match was a must-win.

Even with our backs against the wall, we recollected ourselves with a few words of encouragement and were determined to force a game four. The third match was another classic, Domination. The objective in this mode is to secure and hold three flags: A, B, and C. The team with the most points when time expires wins the match. With

everything to play for, my team started out with a clean capture of two flags. Points racked up as the enemies couldn’t get a hold of the A flag. CJ and I cut the opposition off at every corner and building to ensure that A was ours to hold. The others were focused on B and C. After the first round, Anti Sweat Squad took a commanding lead heading into the second round. Even with this, Darrel reminded the team that the job’s not finished. Building on the previous round, we came out even stronger to ensure a victory. However, just moments into the second round, Josh abruptly disconnects. Our team was now down a player and especially one of our best ones. Despite the circumstance, Darrel stepped up and communicated even more with us to make sure we didn’t lose this game and get swept. The opposition attempted to use the situation to their advantage, yet we sweated our way to a close 161:158 victory. Surely, we were on the board now and this could be a series to watch.

With the series 1-2, we eagerly looked to even it up in another match of SnD. The enemy team more than ever desperately wanted to end the series as a game five wouldn’t be in their favor. With this said, we headed into the battlefield eyes set on tying the game. The first round is the one that usually sets the tone for the match and we were sniped one by one as we quickly found ourselves losing the first round.

Just like that, the momentum shifted to their side as we again, found ourselves in a 2:5 round deficit. We weren’t going to allow ourselves to be defeated that easily as we clutched the following two rounds to give ourselves a shot with the rounds tallying up to 4:5. The next round was a must-win for our side or we would sadly be sent home. The team aggressively pushed and secured a four to one man advantage and in our mind we thought, so there’s a chance.

The dead teammates communicated to those alive to play together and take it slow. On the other hand, I was taken out trying to reload my weapon and Glen shortly after was eliminated. Trying to defend the bomb site, another one was killed leaving it down to one man, Josh. Footsteps were heard as Josh fired his weapon but to his disbelief, he too was eliminated ending our chances of victory. The match ended in a loss of 4:6 but Anti Sweat Squad put up a great effort, especially towards the end. We congratulated our opponent for their victory as they advanced to the next round defeating us 3-1 in the series. One last time, we conversed amongst each other giving props for all of our efforts and surely we would come back even stronger than before.

Designed By AK Marquez

Fly High Karasuno!!

By Staff Reporter Glen Hasta

Anime is a fascinating medium that can encompass many genres and cater to many different audiences. This form of entertainment was developed in the mid/late 20th century in the country of Japan. There have been many series that have been adapted to an animated format since then, and the medium began to evolve. The production quality has always been improving since the early days, and more developed stories have been animated.

One anime in particular is able to portray many things at the same time, and that anime is Haikyu!! This series is about a young boy, Hinata Shoyo, who dreams to be a volleyball ace, but his lack of height can draw some doubt. The series follows his journey in highschool, participating in his highschool volleyball club, the camaraderie he builds with his teammates and the development of pinpoint synergy with prodigy setter, Kageyama Tobio. Haikyu!! features comedy, sports, and some drama, in a high school setting.The sports and action featured in Haikyu!! make it classified as “shōnen”, which is a Japanese term used to describe its demographic (typically young males).

Shōnen manga/anime is a prominent demographic, as these types of anime can reach wider audiences, and become mainstream icons (e.g Dragon Ball, Naruto, Attack on Titan, My Hero Academia).

Both Neil Medrano and Kyle Balmonte were both volleyball players prior to the rise in popularity of Haikyu!! and I was given an opportunity to ask them a couple of questions how much much they enjoy the show: Q: What do you like about Haikyu!!?

Kyle Balmonte: I like it because it’s really interesting and exciting to watch, all while explaining most of the rules and what happens during some of the plays, so it helps people who have never played or watched Volleyball before understand the sport. It also shows the emotions that players go through when they win and/or lose, and that’s something that I can relate to as a volleyball player as well!

Neil Medrano: I like the anime because it involved a sport that I have been passionate about since HS. Volleyball before the anime did have a stigma of being a feminine sport, and I really disliked that.

Volleyball has always been a fun sport to play as a casual or enthusiast, and I am glad it was brought out to the spotlight.

Q: What about Haikyuu makes you enjoy watching it?

Kyle Balmonte: The journey is what makes me enjoy watching it! Watching each player, from Karasuno and other schools, develop their abilities, mentalities, and emotions over the course of the four seasons is really intriguing to watch.

Neil Medrano: Not only is it a great hype show, it’s also more realistic than some other sports anime, *cough* *cough* Kuroko. It uses real terms and concepts from the sport that can easily translate into real life volleyball! Besides the freakish duo, a lot of the players and the gameplay you watch can easily be real life HS volleyball or collegiate. Some of the moments that resonate with me are like Tsukki’s block from S3. The feeling of getting that block that makes you love the sport you’re in has happened to me, and it almost made me tear up from the pure joy I got from it.

Q: What do you think of the new season?

Kyle Balmonte: I think the new season is very exciting to watch! I can’t say much without spoiling it, but I’ve been on the edge of my seat during the last few episodes that were released!

Neil Medrano: As a manga reader, To The Top P2 will have some of the best moments in the Haikyuu series in general. It includes one of my favorite matches in the show (and possibly the best match if there is room). It is hype af, and make sure to keep watching because you do not want to miss out.

Many members in Barkada are avid anime fans, and you can always find someone who can recommend something worth watching. As mentioned earlier, the vast range of anime can provide multitudes of entertainment. You can officially watch the first two seasons of Haikyu!! on Netflix and Crunchyroll, and Season 3 and To the Top! (Season 4) exclusively on Crunchyroll!

DESIGNED BY PATRICIA ANNE BABIA

Quarantine Friendly Fall Activities

By Staff Reporter Darrel Varquez

With the month of November starting, fall is in full swing! Unfortunately due to COVID, things will look a lot more different this time of year. Instead of normal things like going out to the pumpkin patch, or having big family functions, we are faced with a dilemma on what to do this year. But don’t you worry too much cause I’m here to give you 4 different fall activities that are Quarantine Friendly!

Fall Picnic with Masks and Social Distancing

Fall is home to some of the most beautiful leaves and skies that seasons have to offer. What better way to capitalize on those than with your own socially distanced picnic! Having a picnic is more than just the destination, it is also really fun to put time into making fun and cool decorative foods and putting together some fun music. Some examples of cool ideas would be making some pumpkin pie at home before your picnic or maybe buying some canvases and paint so that you can capitalize on the beautiful colors that you’ll see outside.

fall spread

Online Pumpkin Carving

Of course, meeting with people in person is very dangerous right now, but one thing we have at our disposal is the ability to meet online! Because we are separated from friends, it might be hard to find ways of having fun with them through online settings but pumpkin carving through an online setting can be very fun. How this would work is for you and all of your friends to get your own pumpkins individually and meet online through programs like Zoom or Discord. You all can carve on video chat and maybe have a contest on who can make the best looking one. Even though we might not be able to be with each other, fun activities like this can still be very memorable.

Virtual Game Night

For many Filipinxs and I, fall is a time where family gatherings are a big part of what we are excited for.

Meeting with your cousins and bonding with them can be really heartwarming and fun. To get your fix of that fun and love, virtual game nights can be something that can really emulate that feeling. Games like Among Us, Jackbox, and many others can be a great way of catching up with your cousins and having fun with them like it’s a normal fall. Don’t be afraid of sending that first message or making that group chat because it is the first essential step of creating that bond with your family and friends.

Fall Movie/Show Marathon

Lastly, one of the most fun things to do is to just get some food and to watch some movies with friends/family. A fall movie marathon can be really fun, and it does not lose any of its value from being online. With apps like Zoom, Discord, and even Netflix Party being at our disposal to watch with friends, there are a multitude of opportunities for you and your pals to go on a fall binge with each other. To see some shows/movies you can have marathons for, check out Nathan’s mega playlist of Thanksgiving episodes!

Thanksgiving Specials Playlist

by Arts and Entertainment Co Editor Nathan Maulino

Having trouble getting into the Thanksgiving spirit? Along with trying some of Darrel’s Fall Quarantine Friendly Activities, add these Thanksgiving specials filled with various TV shows and movies throughout the years to your “Must Watch Playlist” this holiday season. Everything mentioned is currently available on Disney+, Netflix, and Hulu, so you can watch them at your own convenience and comfort. You can view it by yourself, with family, or with friends through Zoom.

Whichever you prefer, you can guarantee you will get in the Thanksgiving spirit this holiday season!

fall spread Movies 1.

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Free Birds (Hulu) Mary Poppins Returns (Netflix) Set it Up (Netflix) Frozen I/II (Disney+) Charlotte’s Web (Netflix) The Lorax (Netflix)

TV Shows Disney 1. “Boston Tea Party” - Suite Life of Zach and Cody, S2E9 (Disney+) 2. “It’s A Charlie Duncan Thanksgiving” - Good Luck Charlie, S2E29 (Disney+) Other 1. Ultimate Thanksgiving Challenge (Hulu) 2. “Slapsgiving” - How I Met Your Mother, S3E9 (Hulu) 3. “The One With All The Thanksgivings” - Friends, S5E8 (Netflix) 4. “Thanks for the Memories” - Grey’s Anatomy, (Netflix)

Designed By Patricia Anne Babia

Francesca Evangelista

“Spending a lot of time with my dog which is something I really missed when I was at school.

Also FaceTiming or calling friends everyday to stay connected to them!”

Drake Du

“During this time at home I’ve been working on learning Japanese and improving my German. I’ve also been working out so that I can have my post quarantine glow up. Along with this I’ve finally caught up with the years of anime I didn’t have time for!!”

Gabbie Concepcion

“During my time away from school, I’ve been at home most of time. I’ve been working out and watching lots of Netflix. I literally only go out for work and for boba. ”

What some of our general members been up to..

By Copy Editor Alexandra Manzon

Philip alfonso

“Well since quarantine and online school has started, a lot of my friends went home. There really isn’t much to do during these times so I’ve just been spending it online, playing video games with some friends, and doing anything I can to entertain myself. I guess the occasional food from outside is nice too haha.”

Kyla Geraldo

“Spending a lot of time with my dog which is something I really missed when I was at school. Also FaceTiming or calling friends everyday to stay connected to them!”

Aaron De Castro

“School during quarantine has been ruled mostly by routine: wake up, go to class, do work, sleep, wake up again, etc. etc. As mundane as it sounds, this routine isn’t really a problem for me since I like to have structure to my life.

But what makes quarantine life 1000% better are those rare moments spending time talking to old friends, classmates, and ppl i’ve just met through Barkada and elsewhere!”

Designed By Alexandra Manzon

fall and online school edition

ASK BOARD

@cjbanawaa asks...

Any advice for people balancing both school and work full time? kp says...

Make sure to have good time management, get good sleep, and write out your schedule patricia says...

^ Use Google Calendar and Notion to keep yourself on track glen says...

Form good habits

@joshua.cepeda asks...

did you know ****** can save you 15% or more on car insurance? kp says...

Sorry, we can’t put brands that don’t pay for our advertisement

@alexmetapod asks...

can I have another feature? albert says...

We are ignoring that one darrel says...

@d.varq asks...

favorite sonic drink? darrel says...

Cheesecake Shake (I asked this for myself) glen says...

Change this to favorite Sonic order justin angeles says...

New York G L I Z Z Y alex says...

Alright, this guy again

@gabsteeezy asks...

Thanksgiving or Halloween? albert says...

Neither, I hate Halloween… actually Thanksgiving because FOOD kp and glen say...

I like Halloween everyone else says...

Cherry Limeade

@dayumdarren asks...

In your opinion, what is the ideal date spot in the fall? justin angeles says...

In Justin Sison’s arms jane says...

Picnic by the water near the city landscape during golden hour justin sison says...

View with a sunset mavie says...

Picnic by the beach

Christmas

@stephryd13 asks...

Is mavie a certified freak? darrel says...

What should we say? everyone says...

7 days a week. anong balita committee says...

To be featured on our next Ask Board column, be sure to check our Instagram stories and send in your questions!

Designed by Patricia Anne Babia

Is Online School Worth It?

By Editor-In-Chief Patricia Anne Babia

I never expected to spend one of my college years in an online setting, but here we are. My third year of college consists of looking at a laptop for days on end - to working on assignments, attending my classes and meetings, and socializing. And it is all for the same tuition price as if we were in person. This is nowhere near the same as experiencing school on an actual campus. So is online school actually worth it?

Let’s talk about how challenging it is to find the motivation to attend all of your classes and hold yourself accountable for all of your assignments, projects, and more. It is so easy to get up from bed, grab your laptop, turn on Zoom, and slip back into those comfortable sheets. And those due dates?

They don’t seem to matter as much because you know you can do it the day of since you are stuck at home.

In the beginning, I thought everything was fine. You create your schedule and do all your work in the comfort of your own home. CJ Banawa, a second-year at Cal Poly Pomona, says, “It was good because I got to do my own thing and have my own time.” But as we got deeper into the school year, all of that drive slowly faded away especially once spring was announced to be online. It became such a hassle keeping track of everything in each class as the workload grew bigger and bigger. Banawa continues, “I have to constantly double and triple check my emails and Blackboard every day to make up for the in-person communication.”

It is fair to say that teaching and learning virtually are completely different from being in-person. Listening to lectures from your professors is more confusing and easier to forget, talking to your classmates in-person is not the same as being in a breakout room with them; and assignments and essays are constantly popping up out of nowhere every week. Of course, some professors have done everything they can to make this transition as smooth as it can be. Many tailored their entire course and teaching style to help students learn in a better manner, but some have overcompensated for everything being virtual by adding more work.

No matter the course, retaining information in an online setting is much more difficult. Hearing and watching lectures from professors through earphones is not as effective as it is in person. It quite honestly feels like I am not learning to my fullest extent. Alexa Ordoñez, who is in her last year at Cal Poly Pomona, mentions that her labs are completely different because it is mainly consists of watching videos. She says, “Our slogan is learn by doing, but we’re not even doing. We are sadly paying to teach ourselves.”

For full-time students this school year, we pay over $3,700+ per semester ($2,800+ for tuition and $840+ for other fees). That means if you are enrolled in 15 units, you are essentially paying $570+ per course. In comparison to community colleges, the average tuition price is $1,600+ a year, which is already half the cost of our first semester (Community College Review, 2020). But even with that, some can attend for free (varying on the college) if they are firsttime students who attend full-time.

Justin Santos, a first-year at Cal Poly, believes tuition should’ve been lowered since we wouldn’t receive the same resources if we were in person. He adds, “It kind of puts all of us students in a predicament - like why pay so much for an online class when we can go to a JC for free and knock out our GE’s there.” Even

though Cal Poly Pomona is still determining how to go about the different fees, I still wish they were able to lower the costs of tuition overall. The education we are receiving now is not the same education we would be receiving in-person.

If I knew this entire school year would be online before going into it, would I have stayed at Cal Poly Pomona? I am exactly not sure. If I were a first or second year, I would have taken a gap year to focus on working or transferred to a junior college. But since I am already halfway through college, all I could tell myself was to keep pushing through. Alexa Ordoñez agrees, saying, “I’m dealing with it because I’m graduating.” As for CJ Banawa and Justin Santos, both say they would attend community college to help their parents save money.

With all of that being said, I ask this question again: Is online school actually worth it? Of course, every situation is different for each individual. Some people may love being online, while others may hate it. Everyone I have interviewed says that it is not financially worth it. Some also say it is a hard no mentally and physically. There may be several cons, but I will admit that there are some pros. For example, Ordoñez brings up that students no longer have to allocate time for things like getting ready for school and finding parking. In the end, it truly depends on how you are and how you view it as a person. Although it may be difficult for some right now, hopefully universities will establish a better system for students learning virtually in the future.

References California Community Colleges By Tuition Cost (2020). Retrieved October 17, 2020, from https://www.communitycollegereview.com/tuition-stats/california

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Designed By Patricia Anne Babia

ONLINE STUDY TIPS

Online school is not easy or accessible for everybody, but here are some important and helpful tips that may make it a bit more bearable!

BY OPINIONS EDITOR KAILA GANZON

#1: TIDY AND CLEAR UP

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If you are feeling overwhelmed or loaded with work, try cleaning up a bit! A clean space equals a clean mind! Take some time to declutter yourself in some way! It can be as simple as cleaning your work space, sorting through your paperwork, taking a shower, or even as simple as drinking water! Usually when you work in a classroom, the desk space is typically cleared and cleaned, home life is not necessarily the same as on campus! So cleaning is a simple way to make it a little closer to campus.

#2: CALENDARS GALORE

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You don’t necessarily need a pretty $30 Passion Planner to sort your due dates out or be a bullet journal artist! It can be as simple as inputting them in a Google Calendar or an Excel Spreadsheet. But if you do want to go the Passion Planner route and you do have a tablet, Passion Planner offers FREE pdfs of their calendars to download to your computer or tablet! It’s a pretty and affordable way to stay on track for your due dates and assignments.

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#3: STUDY MUSIC

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Do you need good background noise for your work? My advice? Do not put on songs with lyrics or spoken word because your mind may not be able to focus with so many words in your head. So what should you listen to? Here are some tracks that have helped me focus!

I often like listening to lo-fi and ambience music because it makes me feel like I am in my own headspace and world. The visuals that are usually used for Lo-Fi are also really peaceful to watch, so if you have a second monitor or a TV to play it on, it makes great visuals!

I do admit that I got this hack from TikTok, but listening to Mario Kart music, or in fact, any other does WONDERS for your productivity, especially if you are writing long projects. **Editor Note: I suggest any fast-paced game music, Cuphead is another great option** Here’s a little more niche music type. Do you miss Disney Parks? Here’s the website for you! ALL the music from parades recent to opening day! Really great option if you want a mood boost!

#4: FOCUSING

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Hey! Stop checking Tik Tok for memes to send to your Discord chat when you’re supposed to be doing your lab work. A great way to take focus away from your phone is downloading a focus app! My personal favorite is Flora!

Flora is a free app that grows little gardens on your phone for the amount of time that you set where you are not using your phone! I’ve gotten a lot of work done thanks to this app! If you are willing to pay, you can also place money on your timer so you can be absolutely sure that you do not lose focus! Another great addition to the app is you can pay for a membership to help plant your focus trees in the real world in underdeveloped areas!

#5: GROUP PROJECTS

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This is probably one of the most dreaded parts of the academia life. And with the remote learning situation, it does not make projects much easier. If you only meet for the project in Zoom breakout rooms, which may lead to Zoom burnout, here is a great way to break that routine. Make sure you have a valid group chat with your project members. No, that does not mean a Snapchat group or an Instagram DM. Make a chat with them through GroupMe or Discord. Try to get short meetings over video/voice weekly rather than a long meeting every 2-3 weeks for long term projects.

#6: HOBBIES

tips

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You must probably be tired of school by the weekend or on days where you barely have any classes, but probably do not want to do another derivation of another math problem or write another discussion board post. So you might want to do something to take your mind off of school that isn’t school related!

My suggestion? Pick up a hobby that does not involve you sitting at the table watching videos all day! It’s definitely healthier to pick up a hobby where you can create something or exercise your mind. It can be reading, shifting realities, painting, baking, or even playing strategy games like League of Legends or Genshin Impact!

#7: TALK TO OTHERS

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This last tip is a bit more personal. I understand that the remote learning medium can be draining, especially with the want to go out or lack of motivation. But the best thing that you can do is to take a break whenever you need and/or reach out to colleagues if you can. Reaching out to your friends and talking to them is a great sense of relief from the world of online learning, even if you may be an introvert. Being clear and honest with yourself about what you want is the biggest step to recovery you can make! You have to be kind to your body first before tackling your next big task!

DESIGNED BY PATRICIA ANNE BABIA

Self-Care: Beyond the Face Masks and Bubble Baths

By Features Editor Deena Martin References Clay, Rebecca A. Self-Care Has Never Been More Important. 1 July 2020, www.apa. org/monitor/2020/07/self-care.

Markway, Barbara. “Seven Types of Self-Care Activities for Coping with Stress.”

Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 16 Mar. 2014, www.psychologytoday. com/us/blog/shyness-is-nice/201403/seven-types-self-care-activities-copingstress.

Just like people, self-care presents itself in a variety of ways. Self-care is all about knowing personal limits and what you need. Especially during such tense times, finding balance in our lives is vital. Don’t get me wrong, I love face masks just as much as the next person, but self-care goes far beyond physical health and aesthetics. I have broken up self-care into 5 different categories according to different types of methods. It is important to ensure you are finding your personal balance between all of them. With that being said, I have also included a variety of different methods of selfcare in hopes that this article will resonate with every person. Even I forget to prioritize myself during quarantine and I often find myself getting lost among my stress and responsibilities. I hope reading this article helps you as much as it helped me while writing it. Make yourself comfortable, put your face mask on, and learn how to be kind to yourself!

PHYSICAL SELF-CARE

The most common form of self-care that comes to mind, physical self-care involves maintaining bodily health: exercising regularly, sleeping at least 7 hours per night, drinking water, and upholding a nutritious diet all constitute physical self-care. This also includes going to the doctor, taking medicine, and resting when physical health runs low. During quarantine, physical self-care can seem hard to achieve. However, it is a great time to try online workouts and dance classes, swimming in the pool, or staying active in the backyard.

SPIRITUAL SELF-CARE

Spiritual self-care is anything that connects the true self and personal meaning of life. Regardless of individual beliefs, everyone can practice spiritual self-care by meditating, executing mindfulness and gratitude, and immersing oneself in nature.

Engaging in activities of self-expression also allows personal identity development. Self-evaluation is very healthy but it can be overwhelming when quarantine keeps people feeling stuck within this chapter of life. Figuring out short and long-term goals promotes a positive outlook on the future.

PSYCHOLOGICAL/EMOTIONAL SELF-CARE

Often overlapping in self-care practices, mental and emotional well-being are just as important as the rest! Before moving forward, acknowledging past and current emotions is essential. Talking or writing through feelings allows appreciation of both the good (and bad) that emotions provide. For some people, finding professional help through resources such as virtual therapy is the best option. However, psychological and emotional self-care can easily be achieved at home. Self-soothing by engaging all 5 senses is an effective method to acknowledge present sensations. For example, when watching a movie, engage all senses by using a fuzzy blanket, lighting a scented candle, and eating a delicious meal as well. Fully immerse yourself into every activity you partake in during quarantine.

After learning to appreciate emotions and thoughts, we can begin to grow.

When feeling bored or unmotivated, set up a routine. This will create a sense of purpose even when the world seemingly moves too fast. Additionally, find something new to do, such as becoming a plant parent. In need of a change in scenery? Take a safe walk around your neighborhood or spend time in the backyard. Perhaps one of the most stressful factors of quarantine has been the news. Maintaining awareness of the world we live in is extremely important, but it is also okay to take a break from news consumption. The world can be stressful, and mental health always comes first. For those who enjoy helping others, remember that it is difficult to keep giving when you run out of energy to give out.

PROFESSIONAL SELF-CARE

Work and school life are often stressors on daily routine, so it is necessary to maintain a healthy balance between work and play. Prioritize and separate work from recreational activities; try to keep workspaces isolated from distractions. Since many people are attending work and school from home, take the opportunity to keep your workspace clean and personalized. If it is difficult to stay focused at home, schedule specific times for getting work done.

Subsequently, breaks and downtime become more enjoyable. Take breaks if needed because listening to the body prevents overworking. Lastly, maintain financial self-care by avoiding monetary risk during these tumultuous times.

Many people love online shopping but remember to ensure financial stability by budgeting.

SOCIAL SELF-CARE

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Enjoying time with others is also key to self-care, especially amidst quarantine.

Staying inside does not mean you have to stop interacting with people.

Virtually reaching out to people and forming supportive relationships in both work and school can help with social stability and productiveness. Do not be afraid to reach out to old friends or lean on someone else for support. As a starting point, many people enjoy activities such as playing online games, visiting virtual escape rooms, and participating in school organizations like Barkada. However, logging off of social media is important as well. For some, scheduling electronic use allows for engagement in other activities like reading a book or picking up a new hobby.

Designed By Deena Martin

Artist Spotlight: - Erin Leigh Borja -

Erin aka Sacred Hatreds is a multidisciplinary artist and BA Studio Arts candidate based in Long Beach, CA. What got you into art?

“Art was initially a hobby to me. It wasn’t until 2018 that I decided to pull myself by the bootstraps and take it seriously!

I’m a Pomona native and the city is known for legendary music venues like The Glass House and The Fox. My work is heavily derivative of this, and it takes a lot of inspiration from DIY/punk culture. A lot of my friends threw DIY shows in their backyards, and I would table there and sell my merch.

Eventually my work spread by word of mouth and I was getting invited to table at a lot of different shows!”

Black Eyed Son (2020)

When did you start drawing?

“I started drawing as a kid! I loved making comics of my favorite TV shows, my dogs, and my Neopets. Once I got to middle school my style shifted towards a more gothic approach because I was really into anime like Death Note, Hellsing, and Baccano!. I continued making art until 2013 during my junior year in high school– I took a hiatus because I thought I wanted to study Computer Science in college (no offense if you’re into CS but it’s a no for me). I got back into art in 2018 and the rest is history!”

Tips for any aspiring artists?

“Just do it. The fear of failure stops us from creating work and we gotta stop that sh*t! I know a lot of young people (including myself) are afraid of others judging us, but you gotta remember: people are going to judge you no matter what you do whether you choose to be an artist, stay at home parent, desk jockey, or whatever; so you might as well do what you want.

If someone takes it a step further and tries harassing you, then they need to like, drink water and pet a dog or something.”

Follow her social media! @sacred.hatreds on IG and check the link in her bio to view her store and more.

By Features and Arts and Entertainment Co-Editor Leanna Gan

What was your first serious piece?

“My first serious piece is I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts (2018)– it’s inspired by the song of the same name by the LA punk band, X. It marked a turning point to where I began combining my illustrations with scraps and thrifted pieces, thus marking the beginning of my art thesis I call “the dialectics of Derrida and DIY”. My thesis is the combination of Jacques Derrida’s pessimistic concept of hauntology with the optimism of punk.

I do this by creating work reminiscent of vintage aesthetics while upholding a punk sensibility through my use of repurposed materials. It’s also serious in the sense that it has meaning behind it– it represents my headspace, filled with intense feelings of anxiety from living in an unsafe environment at that time.”

I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts (2018) Designed By Leanna Gan

ABC BOPS

By Copy Editor Alexandra Manzon Here are some playlists made by Anong Balita Committee to fit that ~mood~ you’re in.

Scan these spotify codes to be taken to the playlist!

you’re the main character in a movie that just ended greatly, the credits roll..

you’re feeling sad and want to wallow in self pity

it’s a lazy sunday but you feel productive

Designed By Alexandra Manzon

Shop Small, Shop Local

Here we’re featuring some small and possibly local shops. Come check them out!

Founded by Danielle Nagtalon, Sunkissed Jewels is a “LA based handmade jewelery brand that specializes in pieces for the modern it girl.”

“Our mission is to empower our communities to embrace femininity and to make our customers feel one of a kind and shine as bright as the city of angels, without breaking the budget.”

Peep their socials: Sunkissedjewelsla.com, IG @ sunkissedjewels.la, Tiktok @sunkissedjewels.la ALA is a small sticker business run by two best friends named Allyra and Lazer, hence the name “Allyra Lazer Always.”

“What makes us unique is that we created the brand to completely reflect our relationship as best friends, our Filipinx-American culture, our shared interests, our hobbies, etc. You won’t find products that we ourselves don’t identify with in some way...”

Peep their socials: IG/Twitter/ Tiktok: @alacreates, etsy.com/shop/ ALACreativeDesigns

As their motto goes: “Lil charcuteries so good it’ll make you a lil cheesy”. Lil Charcuterie is a cute little business down in SD created by Lillian Nguyen.

“It’s essentially the best of both worlds, sweet and salty foods! I base my boards off cheese then meat, crackers, and fillers like fruit, nuts, chocolate, etc. ... No box is ever the same! They’re made to order and overall, a great experience to share with others.”

Peep their social: IG @lil.charcuterie

With the holiday season approaching quickly, we hope you all found interest in some of these businesses featured for this issue, whether it be a gift for someone else or even yourself! Also thank you to the businesses mentioned for letting us share your work and help promote your products. It’s always a nice feeling to shop small and support your local artists!

By Features and A&E Co-Editor Leanna Gan and A&E Co-Editor Nathan Maulino Designed By Leanna Gan

Anong Balita CommitteE 2020 - 2021