Echoes Zine August 2021-January 2022

AUGUST 2021-JANUARY 2022

ECH

ZINE 63B

ES

EUREKA ISSUE

EUREKA ISSUE

“I have found it!”

- Archimedes (allegedly)

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ECHOES 63B Echoes Editor-In-Chief Puy Revatoris Associate Editors Cara Sta. Ana Kat Bunagan Staff Kath Tadeo Erica Flores Justine Panganiban RR De Leon Neackle Mempin Rejam Foronda

Echoes is the official publication of the UP Economics Society (UP Ecosoc), a non-stock, non-profit student organization based in the University of the Philippines Diliman School of Economics.

Yas Bastida DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT Julio Gatchalian Vian Waga Bassy Ibarretta David Catalan Reiko Ma Jewelle Lalunio Yanna Uligan

It draws its funding from a subsidy from UP Ecosoc and small fundraisers. Due to the online semester, the issue is made available online to be read freely by the members of the organization.

All errors are corrected when uploaded on issuu.com/echoes. If you spot any errors, please email us.

EVENTS AND SYSTEMS Andrei De Dios Jacob Mercado Ethan Mesina David Santiago Karenna Cueva Erika Tato Jewel Fabula Dos Gonzaga

NO PART OF THIS PUBLICATION MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT THE PRIOR CONSENT OF THE PUBLISHER.

Cover and layout: Cara Sta. Ana

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

CONTENTS

Tip: Click (or tap) on the article titles to jump pages!

5 letters to ecosoc

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Execomm Letters Adhoc Letters

19 news 2021 At A Glance The Initiatives of Team Socials and Welfare 63B Ecosoc Scholars’ Graduating Class of 2022

27 features

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Doggos of Ecosoc Art = Artists?

The Charms of Biking: Stories from Ecosoc’s Resident Bikers Consequences of Growing Up: Welcome to The 20s Club

44 arts & culture The Caffeine Connection a.m.

WWW.UPECHOES.COM 4

LETTERS TO ECOSOC

EDITOR’S LETTER Yo Ecosoc!

Thank you for rewarding yourselves the satisfaction of browsing this semester’s Zine issue: Eureka!

None of these pages would exist in a universe without Team Formal Content. You can erase anyone, even me, and they would still be able to pull this off without issues. For that, I thank them a lot for putting in the extra hours and days for this initiative.

Org-wise, I believe that we all had a blast. Echoes, as a committee, was able to continue what was started last semester and bring home the bacon, egg, and garlic rice for this semester. After a squad of creative clout chasers (Team Digital Entertainment) was assembled, it was not very hard to fulfill our quest for deserved attention. We really felt like our posts had a real connection, a supernatural traction with our fellow Ecosocers. We certainly got the feels and appreciation from them, which propelled us to do even better as the months passed by. Team Events and Systems, as master organizers, also performed extremely well both in the events and systems side of things.

Academics-wise ........ I don’t know what else to say aside from: Wow, this semester’s got hands! A lot of us, myself included, experienced UTTER defeat. This semester tore us down into crumbs until we could barely recognize ourselves anymore as if we were those papers glued in Lazada plastic bags that contain sensitive private information. It made sure we welcomed the holiday season with two plates of spaghetti, one tray of Jamon de bola, three glasses of self-doubt, a pitcher of anxiety, and a whole other table full of pending major requirements. I am in no position to tell you that it will get better because I really do not know that. What I can tell you is that — if you think you are the only one experiencing defeat during these times, then think again. I hope you realize that the members of the organization you once applied for are not just there when they need you to edit a pub or send an email, but we are here with you through every high and low. We are there whenever you want to have a drink to celebrate an Uno or to mourn a Singko. If there is anything I realized during my stay here, it is that college is too much for me. BUT, it was not really meant to be faced alone, was it? The moment you find out that the people you have beside you are willing to help you conquer the world is the moment where you can finally utter — Eureka!

With that, let us look at what the other pages have to offer and enjoy the rest of the Zine! I still have a year to go, but I am sure I’m going to miss Ecosoc!

Warmly, Puy Revatoris

FUN FACT: I stream at twitch.tv/puyrevs HAHHAHHA

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LETTERS TO ECOSOC

PRESIDENT Hi there, Ecosoc.

I’ve written a lot of loooong farewell messages the past few weeks, so all I can say now is thank you. Thank you for entrusting me to lead, thank you for helping us reboot and break through, and thank you for giving me my best college year. It sure wasn’t easy, but it was fulfilling as hell and I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything. It has been the greatest honor of my life to lead and serve you. And yes, I will conquer my next chapters with you in my heart.

Honestly, I have absolutely no regrets. Of course, we were not a perfect Execomm. And sure, we made mistakes along the way. But I know for a fact that we served in your best interests. We gave it everything we got, and did our very best even in the smallest of things. We started this term with one single agenda: genuinely uphold member welfare and maintain our socio-civic roots in the most innovative ways possible. And I sleep better at night knowing that we were able to fulfill this, subjectively and objectively.

But, let me give credit where credit is due. It was you who made all of these possible–the KPIs, the accomplishments, everything. I know how difficult it is to do orgwork in the most unconventional of circumstances, so from the bottom of my heart, thank you for continuing to serve Ecosoc and helping us materialize our vision. Each and every one of you contributed in the best ways you know how, but more than this, I am grateful for the fact that you’re keeping your passion for Ecosoc alive. You are the reason why our organization is thriving amidst such turbulent times. I hope you won’t let this passion die out.

To Execomm 63A and 63B, you are my rock. I couldn’t have asked for a better team. You made me a better person. Thank you for everything.

To my friends, special shoutout to barda-kada and EMES teams, thank you for being sooo supportive.

Nakakataba ng puso tuwing nagsasign up kayo voluntarily sa mga initiatives natin. Salamat, mahal ko kayo!

To everyone I talked to for advice and wisdom, you guys know who you are, thank you for always leading me to the right path.

I leave you the same message I wrote Gabbie during our transem: no matter how our org will progress and evolve, love will always remain constant. So do everything with and in love.

It’s been fun, Ecosoc. Thank you for changing my life.

With love, Vina

FUN FACT: Di ako marunong mag-chopsticks, mag-hulahoop, mag-jump rope at mag-open ng gas stove <3 (Vina)

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LETTERS TO ECOSOC

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Never did I imagine that I’d be serving as an Execomm member, especially in this online setup.

When things were still normal, I envisioned my term seeing all of you, face to face, getting to work with the people who I’ve treated as family throughout my stay in college. Then again, never did I imagine serving in the position of EVP. But, I guess fate had some other stuff in store for me. Despite my original plans not really coming through, I’m still more than grateful for the experiences I’ve had since I got elected.

Year 63 gave me the opportunity to serve a greater purpose within Ecosoc. Interacting and helping out our scholars gave me affirmation about what our organization is really about. Although I still see a lot to improve on in my term, I’m leaving my position knowing that we’ve done something that the org will bring in the future and I’m confident that the Scholarship Committee and Ecosoc as a whole is in good hands. The work and events that have transpired in the past year have truly humbled me and the learning experience was one of the best I’ve had.

Moving forward, I hope that, as members, you also get to see Ecosoc as a platform for your growth as I did. But most importantly, see Ecosoc as a home you can hold on to. This is what Ecosoc means to me thanks to the people I’ve worked with, the people we’ve helped and impacted, and the special people who’ve continued supporting me from my app process until the end of my Execomm term.

The future is bright for us, as well as for those who continue to depend on us. I hope we could share the same passion to serve.

See you. We ain’t done yet lmao.

- Fonso

FUN FACT: I’m slowly getting into the mechanical keyboard rabbithole. Fund me pls :> (Fonso)

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LETTERS TO ECOSOC

ACADEMIC AFFAIRS Nakakapressure na ang haba ng letters ng iba HAHA but I just want to thank everyone for showing nothing but support throughout the time that I was Acad VP. I don’t know why but I’ve always seen myself as a burnout risk when it comes to positions especially as big as that of a VP but it seemed that people were really open to having me. I know I was far from perfect especially to my THs and officers but I assure you that I will become better. Even though we did not have meetings all the time sobrang na enjoy ko yung kahit anong interaction na nagkaroon tayo. I really do hope that acad becomes a place of comfort for a lot of people and I hope that I was able to achieve even a fraction of this during my term. If you’re reading this please give yourself a bit more credit for being able to do what you’re doing after almost two years of online classes. I’m proud of you for just being here now <3 -Kyle Jureidini

FUN FACT: Nagiging kamatis kahit onti lang naiinom

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LETTERS TO ECOSOC

MEMBERSHIP Hi, Ecosoc!

What a year it has been. I look back on Year 63 with nothing but a grateful and fulfilled heart.

Year 63 has been the most formative year of my life thus far, and there will never be enough words to describe how thankful I am.

I started my term with absolutely no clue of what I was doing, but here I am today, a much different person from who I was back then.

More than self-growth, it is the love for this organization and its people that grows deeper each day, and for that, I will always look back on this year with love.

To my Memcomm team heads, thank you for teaching me how to be a better leader and a better friend. How I’ve learned from each and every single one of you.

To Memcomm 63A & 63B, thank you for being a part of my little family. What a privilege it has been to know and work with all of you.

To Execomm 63A & 63B, thank you for allowing me to grow and for pushing me beyond my limits. The things I’ve learned from you are lessons I can not find anywhere else.

To Vina & Fonso, thank you for guiding me from the very beginning. It was just the three of us at the start of all of this, but look at how far we’ve come. I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way, and I’m immensely proud of the both of you.

To Ecosoc, thank you for the trust. Thank you for being the constant reminder of why I do what I do, and for making everything worthwhile. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve you, and thank you for giving me another year to do so.

Thank you. The relationships and memories I’ve made this year are things I will love and hold close to my heart for the rest of my life.

Love always, Gabbie

FUN FACT: I’d eat sushi everyday if I could

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LETTERS TO ECOSOC

EXTERNAL AFFAIRS Hi Ecosoc! Year 63 went by so fast and its end hasn’t really sunk in yet.

It still feels somewhat weird that I don’t have to prepare my plans for the semester or worry about my next set of team heads and members. This year will certainly have a special place in my heart.

To my Exte THs, I hope your courage and drive to serve and to lead others remains, however, do not forget to set aside some time for yourselves. To my externals committee, I hope you will be able to maximize the skills you’ve gained for the past year and always remember that Exte will always be here for you.

To Ecosoc, thank you so much for the trust! Being your Exte VP was truly an honor.

K bye xoxo Giselle

FUN FACT: I dont like burgers hehe

FINANCE Hi Ecosoc!

I will never forget the year that passed. Being Fin VP was by far the most challenging yet fulfilling role I’ve had in Ecosoc.

Back then, I wasn’t the type of person who would say yes to something risky, but the people who believed in me pushed me to finally take a leap of faith, and now I finally have my own breakthrough story to tell :> To Shanina, Law and RJ, I’m beyond grateful for the three of you for leading the committee with me! No doubt that all three of you will go

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LETTERS TO ECOSOC places. I hope that you learned a thing or two from your stint as team heads. I leave you with this: always have courage to take on something that challenges you. It’s a way for you to learn about yourself and what you can do.

To Ecosoc, thank you so much for the trust! Will always be grateful for the opportunity to lead and serve.

Love, Patdel <3

FUN FACT: I luv farinas ilocos empanada

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT I don’t think I’ve fully processed the fact that a whole year has passed.

A part of me is anticipating another 5-hour pre-plansem in my calendar, another week of stressing over getting heads, another night of arguing in drafting, then another few months of just going through the whole process again.

Clearly, this year stuck to me. I’ll be bringing all the lessons I’ve learned, all the people I’ve met, and all the memories I made. I hope you do as well.

To my CDC heads, I hope you bring the skills you developed and continue to step up wherever you can.

To the rest of CDC, I hope you bring the experience of working for our beneficiaries and keep them close to your hearts even beyond your stay here. To the rest of Ecosoc, I hope you bring the new friends and memories you made, and keep making the org feel like a family we can all come back to.

Thank you, Ecosoc, for making this year stick to me! My heart is happy and I will always be grateful.

- Gabby Lazo <3

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LETTERS TO ECOSOC

FUN FACT: i LOVE tomatoes w salt

SECRETARIAT Hi Ecosoc!

In all honesty, this past year still feels surreal to me. I still remember the day of appointments for 63A–December 18, 2021– like it was yesterday. That whole day for me was one of change: aside from the constantly changing thoughts I had that day from panicking to relief to excitement, and deep down inside I felt that many changes were in store for me during year 63.

Year 63 was really a year of change for a lot of things. Seccom as a committee underwent so many changes from the new emails, the new mascot, and the new team project to name a few. The identity of Seccom as a committee changed beyond it being a solely "Pubbing" committee into one that handles both pubs and various internal processes within the org. On a personal note, I have learned and grown so much throughout the course of the year. I’ve gained so many new memories that I won’t be forgetting anytime soon.

Despite all these changes, what remains constant and will never change, however, is the people.

It will always be the members of this org that makes these changes possible. More importantly, it is because of them Ecosoc will always feel like home, and that will never change. So I’d like to take some time to thank some of the people who made year 63 very special to me.

To my Team Heads, Juls, Kyla, Jo, Pia, Berns, Tine, Ei & Collette, thank you for being a part of this Seccom journey with me. I’ve learned so much from you all and my growth as leader in particular is thanks to all of you. I hope your time with me in Seccom has been as value adding, fun and memorable as it was for me.

To those who joined Seccom 63A and/or 63B, thank you for taking a shot with Seccom. Everything Seccom has accomplished this past year was thanks to all of your efforts. I hope you have gained value adding skills that you can use in the future, be it within Ecosoc or outside of it.

To Execomm 63A and 63B, thank you for all the memories and (new) friendships. From pre-plansem, Execomm GAs, Execomm bondings and all other zoom meetings, to the random chats and kwentuhans sa messenger, I will always cherish all of the memories I experienced with you all.

In all honesty, there are so many things I will really miss from 63, from pre-plansem and making 12

agaw during drafting to looking forward to midsem bondings and the monthly GAs. Yet, like how year 63 was a year of change, I look forward to new things as I enter 2022 and Ecosoc’s 64th year.

Thank you Ecosoc for making this year truly one of the best. I will forever cherish the memories and friendships I’ve gained for the rest of my life. Love you all!

Cheers!

Poch Villadolid :D

FUN FACT: I spent the summer of 2013 as a Yippie Banker for Maybank (it’s basically like McDonald’s Kiddie crew but for Maybank).

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LETTERS TO ECOSOC

NES 2021 Hey, Ecosoc! S & B here! EMZ This year, we were given the chance to lead NES, an adhoc deeply close to our heart. We were able to hold important discussions, give light on elections and the economy, and influence how people perceive voting. But more than the event itself, we were also able to get to know the brilliant minds and talents of Ecosocers.

Beyond the work, we became friends and found a family within this circle. So to the whole NES 2021 Organizing Body, thank you for being part of our not-so-small family. It may have already been a while since NES, but we hope you continue to bring the experience with you, wherever you go. And wherever you find yourselves at, we believe you’ll do even better than before.

Progs, or what I can’t stop calling Prowgs, thank you for being the brain of it all, for mustering the courage to be in calls with the likes of Solita Monsod and JC Punongbayan (despite the fear & anxiety) #Felt and for organizing the nitty gritty parts of the event. Thank you, especially to Macy & Ky, for not backing down from the challenge. You’ve made NES what it is, and you’ll continue to do so.

To team Ops, when’s our next tech run? Kidding aside, thank you for being the team the whole OB could feel safe with. Thanks for taking care of each other in spite of the stressful runs and for being as stable yet flexible as bamboo. XD It really wasn’t a mistake entrusting Ops to you, Gabie & Ken! We miss our Disc sessions.

Our happy-go-lucky directors Berns & Reiko, and our sassy model, Chelsea, thank you for not making Adcreate feel so tough. It’s always a challenge, making sure things fall into its rightful place, but you never falter! To the Adcreate team, idol talaga. Please teach us your advertising & creatives ways.

Last but not least, Extrel, thanks for making us feel rich. EME You never failed to go far and beyond what’s expected of you, from org partners to endorsements and now even corp partners?! Wild. We couldn’t ask for a better Extrel team! HUGE thanks to Sab & Ken, rel masters 4ever, we can’t wait to see what’s next for you.

It was our pleasure being your NES Conveners, but even more so getting to know each of you. ‘till next time!

Love, S&B

FUN FACT: We weren’t friends during F2F... XD (Shaira and Bea)

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LETTERS TO ECOSOC

ECOSOC MONTH 63 What’s Up, Ecosoc, you’re so old now.

You’re turning 64 next September but still as fresh as ever <3 EM has always been a celebration of the organization for the organization and its stakeholders. We will never get tired of saying thank you to everyone for being in this org in the first place and celebrating its birthday every year while experiencing the evolution with the other members. To the EM OB, you are absolutely the best. You guys made EM so easy to execute and fun to celebrate. We’re looking forward to you guys leading EM in the future HAHA To AdCreate, we don’t know how you guys come up with the most creative outputs. Every time you show us our new releases, we don’t even have to comment a lot!! We owe our unforgettable branding to you guys. Of course kudos to Fiona for overseeing the department and working efficiently with us.

To Aya and Trix, what a duo, may your brain cells continue to bless this world with creativity.

To Externals, though we had problems early on, somehow we still found a way to get them sponsorz.

We see your regular emails and many many revisions to our deck and we absolutely appreciate them all!! Thank you Soph for not getting tired of our additional deliverables every week. It was all worth it in the end with all our publicity, x-deals, and moolah. We even have a printer for Ecosoc now, nice!

To the Operations team, all the events of EM would not be possible without your hardwork and your persistence despite all the challenges we’ve experienced. From the never ending techrun sessions (HAHA) to distributing all the donations to our beneficiaries, all of you were able to show how innovative and flexible you guys can be. And to Micah and Fiona, we are very proud of you both for doing a great job leading the operations team!

And lastly to Programs, your passion and dedication to come up with the BEST ideas has been commendable all throughout our EM celebration. It wasn’t easy to come up with four amazing program concepts but in the end, you never failed to impress us! EM will always be remembered because of you guys, and we thank you for that. It has been a pleasure working with all of you, especially to Mika and Chabs for your commitment and for successfully handling the programs teams!

May we never forget who we are as an organization. Here’s to more Septembers to Remember! <3

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LETTERS TO ECOSOC

NYC 2021 Hi Ecosoc and to our beloved OB! For the past few weeks, we’ve been missing the thrill and fun that we had while working together for NYC. Your dedication and efforts for the event really touched us and we’ll always be thankful for it!

This year, we made NYC stronger than ever and we are so proud to be able to work with each and every one of you.

Programs, our OB’s mind, thank you so much for giving NYC18 its identity. You made the event so worthwhile all thanks to your megaminds! We will definitely miss the Progs chaos.

Logistics, the hands of NYC, we’ll never get over how well you did and went over our expectations. The team worked really well together and we learned so much from you guys. Di namin kayo favorite!

ExRel, the feet of the OB. Thank you for bringing NYC18 into greater heights. We are so proud with how you connect with our partners and how you are able to represent NYC the best way possible! We love the partnerships clout and vouchers!

Pub, our eyes! Thank you so much for being able to showcase NYC to the public and for making NYC not just an event to stimulate the mind and the heart, but the eyes as well with the visually appealing pubs and videos! We love commenting on your pubs and praising them a lot!

SchoolRel, the heart of NYC, thank you so much for giving us our delegates. What is NYC without SR??

We really appreciate how hardworking yet kind you guys are to the delegates and we are so glad to have such kindhearted people in the heart of NYC. Fin, the muscles of NYC, thank you for taking care of the budget that provides the mobility that other departments need for their plans. We love how organized Fin is. You really helped ease the burden on our part.

Promos, the mouth of NYC, you never ran out of ideas and words! Thank you for your creativity and innovation for all of our pakulos and our attention-grabbing captions! We were able to reach a lot of delegates and schools with your efforts.

Lastly, we would just like to thank everyone for stepping up in this year’s NYC. We hope to have fostered ideas as inspired progress to the OB as well, and we’d love for you to continue on this NYC spirit!

With love and emojis, <3 Gabby, Abram, and Tita Luz

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LETTERS TO ECOSOC

FUN FACTS: My top 5 songs in Spotify Wrapped are just different versions of Castaway.

(Abram) I love doing laundry very much HAHA (Gabby)

RUNDOWN (2022) Hey Ecosoc!

This time around we wanted The Rundown to be bigger and better than ever, as we recognized the immense need for voter education in our current political climate, and rightfully so, we’ve perhaps set the record for the biggest BOD and OB yet! It really does take a village to work on a project just like this.

Although The Rundown is scheduled for the upcoming semester, a lot of our preparations were accomplished over 63B. The forum is yet to be done, yet the Rundown has already proven itself to be indeed bigger and better than ever, and we have the tireless efforts of The Rundown OB to thank for that!

We won’t get into too much detail now since our time together isn’t over yet, but to the Programs cluster, thank you for the constant effort you put into ensuring the realization of the Rundown’s vision. Your work is at the heart of our mission for voter’s education, youth empowerment, and nation-building, and we can’t wait to see it all come together this Feb! To the Partners cluster, the networks and partnerships we’ve acquired so far make the upcoming forum even more exciting. The work you put into networking and pitching have made it possible to amplify our advocacy as evidenced by partnerships with COMELEC, different companies, organizations, and sectors.

And lastly to the ProCreate cluster, it is really so amazing to see all our pubs and collaterals! The brand you’ve curated for our platform is incredibly refreshing, and multiple partners have already mentioned how in awe they are of the professionalism, creativity, and love you’ve poured into your work. We hope you take those praises wholly!

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LETTERS TO ECOSOC

To the rest of Ecosoc, thank you again for all the support you have given us throughout 63B! We hope you can continue cheering us on and spreading the word as we get closer and closer to our event. See you all at the Rundown!

With love, Angela & Isabel <3

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NEWS

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EXTERNAL NEWS

2021 at a glance

by Justine Panganiban and Yas Bastida

1. The Philippines wins multiple medals, including its first gold at the Tokyo Olympics After nearly a century of participating in the Olympics, the Philippines bags its first gold medal in the prestigious competition through weightlifter Hidlyn Diaz. Boxers Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam also won two silver medals, while Eumir Marcial brought home a bronze medal. This marks the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics as the most successful in Philippine history with the highest number of medals won. The athletes credit their victory to divine intervention, intense and strategic preparation, improved self-confidence and mental training, a highly professional support team, and the kindness of foreigners.

2. The Philippines rolls out COVID-19 vaccine The vaccine rollout began in the first quarter of 2021, with the arrival of 2,000,000 Sinovac doses and 525,600 AstraZeneca doses in March. In November 2021, administration of booster shots was recommended by the Department of Health for frontliners and other priority groups. As of January 2022, there are 9 vaccines given Emergency Use Authorization by the Food and Drug Administration and a total of 49,797,374 individuals have been fully vaccinated while 11,301,411 are partly vaccinated.

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EXTERNAL NEWS

3. Philippines grapples with post-holiday Covid-19 Surge Fueled by the Omicron variant, the Philippines faces its biggest COVID-19 surge yet, as the number of new cases grew at an unprecedented rate.

From 318 new cases on December 27, the number of new cases has quickly increased to 33,169 new cases on January 10, equivalent to an exponential growth exceeding 10,000% in just two weeks.

The Department of Health has attributed the rise of cases to the increased mobility during the Christmas holidays.

Currently, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has raised Alert Level 3 in Metro Manila and the surrounding provinces, setting restrictions on travel and activities.

4. ‘Odette’ slams Central PH; over 1.8M families affected Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai) barreled through the central part of the Philippines on December 16, leaving 407 dead, 66 missing, and 1261 injured, while affecting over 1,807,532 families along its wake.

According to NDRRMC, the typhoon has caused over 10.9 billion pesos worth of damages in agriculture and 17.7 billion pesos worth of damages in infrastructure as it devastated Palawan, Visayas, and CARAGA region.

Donations may be done through Philippine Red Cross.

Sources: CNN Philippines. (2021). Covid-19 Vaccines Delivered to the Ph . CNN Philippines . Retrieved from https://cnnphilippines.com/ news/2021/3/25/TIMELINE-COVID-19-vaccines-deliveries-rollout-Philippines.html?fbclid=IwAR2R91ezGh7MHnCTI6T3mybb sCnC0wQyEGpG_JjAYv7lxZfPJk5FoP2ZrGc. Dancel, R. (2022). Philippines faces biggest covid-19 surge; omicron could be dominant strain by end-January. The Straits Times. Retrieved from https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/philippines-faces-biggest-ever-covid-19-surge-omicron-could-be-dominantstrain-by-january Jalea, G. (2021, March). Timeline: Covid-19 vaccine deliveries and rollout in the Philippines. CNN Philippines. Retrieved from https://cn nphilippines.com/news/2021/3/25/TIMELINE-COVID-19-vaccines-deliveries-rollout-Philippines.html?fbclid=IwAR 2R91ezGh7MHnCTI6T3mybbsCnC0wQyEGpG_JjAYv7lxZfPJk5FoP2ZrGc. Odette Donation Lines [Publication Material]. (2021). Philippine Red Cross https://twitter.com/philredcross/status/1473802572805079041 Robles, R. (2021, August). Tokyo Olympics: How the Philippines won multiple medals for the first time. South China Morning Post. Retrieved from https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3144297/tokyo-olympics-how-philippines-won-multiple-med als.

Situational Report for TC Odette. National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. (2022). Retrieved from https://monitor ing-dashboard.ndrrmc.gov.ph/page/reports/situational-report-for-tc-odette-2021

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INTERNAL NEWS

The Initiatives of Team Socials and Welfare 63B

By Kathryn Bunagan and Justine Panganiban Interviewees: Jam Candolada and Bricky Maristela

What did your initiatives aim to achieve?

Bricky and I [had] never been Team heads until this sem.

With it being our first times, we wanted to make intiatives different from past sems.

Sa sobrang ridiculous naming pagkatao, naabot sa kahit anong sstuff na lang maiisip namin. We can’t deny na may mga cringy talaga kaming content, but part of the experience is feeling the cringe, and better yet - using it para sa mga events. Aside from that, we really championed bonds between apps and mems. Every event, we wanted to leave a lingering thought sa mga minds nila na "Uy. ano kaya next event nila? Pupunta ako!" pero we know deep inside na 50/50 lang talaga iyan.

In general, we wanted to introduce new games and initiatives to the org to bring something new to the sem. We saw how successful TSW was in the previous semester, so we wanted to, at least, be as

successful and innovative with how we introduce the initiatives that we have planned.

How were the initiatives executed?

“We wanted to bring

There were a handful of activities such as the tambay weeks, the game night, and the scholars night among others. Pero mostly tambayan lang talaga sa Ecosoc Discord. During the planning phase, we made sure that the officers were part of the vision for each event. We wanted to have their own ideas integrated sa mga events para ma-feel rin nila that they can make the events following their interests. We also had a lot of help from the interns! Very bright-minded plus witty individuals. We really appreciated their effort and thoughts into

org with fun and

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a lot of energy to the interesting events.”

INTERNAL NEWS

“We wanted to get the interest of all the members and prioritize their welfare as we went on throughout the semester.” making the events fun and engaging.

kelangan isolve ng team during the planning and preparation, and sometimes di magkatugma ang events sa mga questions. It’s a trial and error process, which involves a lot of observation plus feedback from the people.

We had numerous activities that were pretty different from each other. We had the typical fun events where we encourage members to go to discord and interact with fellow members and apps. We also had events and activities where we sat down in a meeting and talked about the progress of each team taking note of their mental health and how they were at that point in the sem.

We also hope that the initiatives made others closer kahit na sobrang chaotic na ng mga pangyayari - there is no better feeling than being wanted. So we hope that both apps and mems wanted to befriend each other.

We received a lot of positive comments with regards to our initiatives. It was fulfilling to hear that many of the members and apps loved joining our events to interact with fellow orgmates. We had a big goal at the start of the semester. It was to encourage more members to use the Ecosoc Discord.

This was our basis whether or not we were able to make Ecosocers connect to each other.

With our events, we saw the number of Ecosocers staying in discord grow as the months went by.

What was the general feedback for the initiatives?

There [were] others who found it fun, there [were] others who were not really interested. But that’s okay! Expected naman na hindi lahat makakapunta due to prior commitments or sadyang they just want to do something else. Part of being TSW is expecting the possible scenarios when planning the events - may mga pupunta ba? magiging okay ba ang event for apps/mems?

Ma-eenjoy ba nila? These are just some of the many questions na

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INTERNAL NEWS

thing I [could] point out, it’s the process of planning and brainstorming for big internal events in hopes for [big] member turnout and seeing Ecosocers join our events. I loved being in meetings with my fellow TH and team [trying] to figure out ways to come up with fun and attention-grabbing themes for our events.

What were your favorite moments during the initiatives?

Working with the officers [was] very fun. Each person had a unique personality, and it was really fun getting to know them. May mga unexpected kaming friends din sa team, lalo na mga introverted peeps pero naging extroverted dahil kinailangan.

We also liked working with the interns, especially [since] they wanted the events to be fun for their fellow co-apps.

And I just loved seeing members and apps join the initiatives. It gave me a sense of pride [to be able] to contribute to internal events that provided a way for Ecosocers to deviate from the stress of the semester.

I think one particular highlight that struck out to me was the first tambay week. Kinakabahan ang buong team kasi first initiative na mismo for both the apps and mems, so we wanted to make it successful. We had a few mishaps, but I think we really enjoyed the pressure. Nagkakatuwaan na lang kaming lahat whenever something does not go the way we planned, but overall I think we still had fun.

Each initiative that we had was very fun for me. If there’s any-

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INTERNAL NEWS

Ecosoc Scholars’ Graduating Class of 2022

by Erica Flores and Rafael Rey De Leon

Nine out of fourteen Ecosoc scholars will be flying high this 2022 as they graduate from college. Preparing for graduation and life in the "real world", Ecosoc’s scholars are set to conquer new heights in this succeeding chapter of their lives.

The nine future graduates are part of the Economic Society Scholarship Program (ESSP), which aims to help members of the youth receive quality education through monetary, in-kind, and informational support. The ESSP Scholars have constantly been a source of pride for Ecosoc. As expressed by Ecosoc 63 Executive Vice President Alfonso Laureta: Despite not being part of the scholarship committee before my term, I’ve watched how the scholars have been an integral part of Ecosoc’s advocacies. Also, getting to interact with them even through online means has given me a better appreciation for what we do for them. Being a part of their dreams and success will always be something I will cherish after knowing their stories and motivations. They have repeatedly expressed their gratitude towards the organization, but, in behalf of Ecosoc, I would like to thank the scholars for inspiring us and giving us purpose in what we do.

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“Being a part of their dreams and success will always be something I will cherish after knowing their stories and motivations.”

- Alfonso Laureta, 63B Executive Vice President

The efforts of the graduating scholars will come into fruition in the upcoming months. To recognize their excellence, presented hereafter are ESSP’s Graduating Class of 2022:

Julio Garde: Polytechnic University of the Philippines Michelle Bandibad: Polytechnic University of the Philippines Melanie Carnaje Polytechnic University of the Philippines Carlo Delos Santos Polytechnic University of the Philippines

(Left to right; top to bottom: julio garde, michelle bandibad, melanie carnaje, carlo delos santos, mark cruzzet, roxan mateo, andrea suizo, mica borromeo, jenevieve gudin)

Mark Cruzet The Manila Times College Roxan Mateo Far Eastern University - Diliman

makita kayong maabot ang inyong mga pangarap. Padayon!

Andrea Suizo Polytechnic University of the Philippines

Gavin Remigio, another scholarship committee member, also has a message to tell the graduating scholars.

Mica Borromeo Philippine Normal University

Abram Ballesteros, former Scholarship Committee member and incumbent Executive Vice President expresses his gratitude and fervor for these scholars:

Hi, scholars! First off, big big congratulations on graduating! I know that the journey to come to this point was hard. The road was probably not just bumpy and rough, but it diverged and converged at points you never expected. Nevertheless, here you are, and we, at Ecosoc are very proud of you.

Always remember that we are here for you, and no matter how old any of us gets, I hope we’ll still get to see each other. I wish you all the best of luck! Never shy away from showing the world everything that you’ve got!

Sa ating mga graduating scholars, kapit lang. Kaunti na lang at maaabot na rin ninyo ang finish line.

Nagpapasalamat kami na inyong pinapahalagahan ang biyaya ng scholarship mula sa Ecosoc sa pamamagitan ng inyong pagsisikap at pagpupunyagi na makapag-aral nang mabuti. Excited na kaming

With more than half of the ESSP scholars graduating this semester, Ecosoc accepting new scholars is imminent. Although 64A EVP Abram Ballesteros has expressed high possibility of this occurring, plans for it are still in the works.

Jenevieve Gudin Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Marikina

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COMPILED BY KATHRYN BUNAGAN GRAPHICS BY CARA STA. ANA

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Meet some of the doggos of Ecosoc!

Baobao ( short for Xiao Long Bao ) Hooman: Gia Jovellanos Breed: Bichon Frise Age: Almost 5 months (Birthday’s on Aug. 20, 2021) Baobao is a super smart, friendly, and playful puppy!

He looks and feels like a cloud and you will want to pet him all day (which he would absolutely appreciate). He will also eat practically anything you offer him and will always, ALWAYS, ask for seconds. He especially enjoys belly rubs, running in circles around the house, and taking long naps on his Mama Gia’s lap! (Fun fact: he’s a Leo.)

Dustybun ( but you can call him Dusty! ) Hooman: Giselle Garcia Breed: Corgi Age: 2 years old He is really one of the sweetest and clingiest doggos ever. He will really stay beside you 24/7 even if that includes going to the bathroom to pee. He loves car rides so much that he will be the first one at the door when he knows you’re about to go somewhere. He loves going on walks but hates the sunlight so it’s best to walk him during sunset hours #vibes

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Mino Hooman: Angela Lopez Breed: Great Dane x Belgian Malinois Age: 4 months Mino may be a lot of things but he’s sure not mini! His favorite activities include play biting (cos he’s still technically a puppy despite his size), sunbathing in a very specific position, and playing with his water bowl (he takes one sip of water and plays with the rest HAHA).

Momo/Tamomo Hooman: Dianne Catap Breed: Lhasa Apso x Japanese Spitz Age: 11 months old (Birthday’s on Feb 20, 2021) Momo is actually named after my Twice bias! <3 She used to be a shy kid until she grew up and became a bully. She loves wrestling with Oreo (bro’s doggo) and playing with Yuki (siz’ doggo). Chimken is Momo’s favorite food tho she literally eats EVERYTHING and even joins our samgyup nights. She had parvo when she was 4 months old and fortunately, she survived! I love Momo so much and I’d do anything for her. We eat and get scolded by my mom together, bark at each other— she even waits for me to finish my schoolwork before sleeping and comforts me when I’m sad. Momo is my bestfriend and I’m so lucky to have her in my life!! <3

Skills: high five, sit, turn around 30

Pablo, Pancho, Packo, and Pintxos Hooman: Poch Villadolid Breeds: Fawn Pug (Pablo), Black Pug (Pancho), Grey American Bully (Packo), B&W American Bully (Pintxos) Pablo is the most cuddled/most spoiled. After dinner, when one of us leaves the table, he always jumps/sits on the seat of the person who left and tries to eat food from the plate. Pancho is the most hyperactive, if you walk him down the street he will run a zigzag path (not walk in a straight line). Packo is the toughest dog; [he] barks when there are guests but [is] a softie. When he’s laying belly down and sees me approaching he’d turn on his side (or back) as a way to say "rub my tummy".

Pintxos [is the] youngest but [also the] heaviest eater. Even before training, he’d shake your hand when prompted to.

Timtam, Froyo, and Lilo Hooman: Dana Sambajon Breeds: Havanese x Japanese Spitz Ages: 5 (Timtam & Lilo) and 6 (Froyo) years old Timtam and Lilo are twins.

Timtam is the sweetest dog out of all our dogs.

Timtam and Lilo don’t mind sharing their food bowls with each other.

Froyo loves making tambay at the CR xD Lilo is a shy-type kind of dog hahahaha. Always behind his Ate (Timtam) all the time

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Dara Hooman: Giselle Garcia Breed: Corgi Age: 11 months old Dara is Dusty’s daughter but they don’t know that : ( Anywayy Dara is also the sweetest. She’s always asking dor hugs, cuddles and belly rubs!! She’s also soo smart and athletic like she can run rlly fast na it’s so hard to catch her

Felix ( Felix Mendeldog or Felix Felicis) Hooman: Cara Sta. Ana Breed: Jack Russel Terrier Age: 4 years old Felix is a smart and energetic Jack Russel Terrier that loves going on walks and barking at other dogs (he probably is the loudest dog in my neighborhood) >:((( The first vaccines I got on lockdown were actually the ones for tetanus and rabies because of him. xD His favorite foods are chimcken and monggo, and he likes hiding in cozy places. His name takes after both a German composer and the liquid luck potion from Harry Potter!

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art = artists? by rafael rey de leon

I wrote this article after watching Sky Ladder on Netflix. This is an analysis on whether art can be separated from the artist.

In Journalism, we are taught about the "myth of objectivity" - that when a journalist writes about a news or an article, in choosing an angle or which side of the story will be the main focus, there is already some bias in play. No matter how objective they or their readers want them to be, they will always fail due to the complexity of our emotions. That is why more often than not, journalists are subjected to attacks by people who mostly do not agree with how they display a story.

And sometimes through the lens of their story, people can rush into thinking about the writer’s personality. And that is also the case for artists, when they do art, we get a peek of their life, whether they like it or not as because in the creative process already, we see how their emotions affect their judgement and their decisions in developing their own kind of art. In this way, we see the humanity of the artists that is eventually embodied in their final art. And that is where the saying, "the art cannot be separated from the artist" comes into reality.

I would like to make an example of Cai GuoQiang, a renowned fireworks artist in China with his intentions and goals of his own.

He was drawn to art because his father was a calligraphy artist, and although he didn’t become a calligrapher, most of his artworks can be compared to calligraphy— the compulsiveness and the subconscious insertions of social realities that are not really meant to provoke but still, facilitates

a discourse. Over time, he turned to use of fireworks- a known commodity in his area and tried to incorporate it into his art. And then here comes the 1969 Apollo landing, which inspired him to make a sky ladder that in his own words "not meant to enter the space but spark a discourse."

We also see how the air pollution in China made him develop the Ninth-Wave inspired fireworks display which shows the elegy, remembrance, consolation or in short, the stages of grief. Even the fireworks are made of biodegradable materials. In this way, I propose that we see the quality of an art through the artist’ visions/goals, skills and his creative process. That although one might judge that his art might just be for entertainment, when we try to contextualize the art through the background of the artist, the weight of skills that he puts into it to achieve the goals, the materials that he harnessed to realize his art, and being an individual- the uniqueness the comes forth from the art, we can gauge the true value of art itself because of the artist’s integrity.

Moreover, in the documentary, we see the rawness of Guo-Giang in making art especially during the creative process. We see him let his emotions and principles in life dictate what type of art he should create and present to the public. We see him let the events surrounding him and his judgment about it affect the value of his art. And that is where his statement about commercial art comes from. His own experience working with the Chinese Government and the popularity that he experienced abroad affected the way he produced art- that has

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Cai Guo-Qiang’s "Elegy" in Shanghai, 2014 become some type of commodity being sold and made to please the public instead of his usual art that calls people into action or at least makes them aware of concerning situations. When people feel that they are emancipated, they will sincerely identify with themselves, causing them to be selfaware. In turn, this will allow them to openly express their thoughts and even listen to others without an ounce of prejudice. And here is another proof that the quality of art can only be judged if there are no constraints inhibiting the artist, as well as when they are allowed to express their thoughts according to their own. This will eventually be represented by their art.

challenging the status quo. Art is after all, the soul of our humanity and soul is not just a representation but the very essence of our collective selves.

In this way, the viewers or the consumers will see art as the artist themselves- who they are, what their purpose is, and what made them pursue art. Another thing is that they will start perceiving art as the result of an artist’s daily interactions with people and observations from their environment. Their new reception of art is that it is the product of our day-to-day lives, our culture, our human living, and most especially our humanity. Because of the "sincere and compulsive" qualities in the art, this will inevitably put art back into its purpose- provoking our emotions that leads to a stream of discussions if not altogether

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The Charms of Biking: Stories from Ecosoc’s Resident Bikers

by Erica Flores

Photo taken by Harvey Sañga

Rough roads, insurmountable heights, and exhausting rides —

QUESTION 1:

How did you get introduced to biking?

biking seems to be a physically demanding and risky activity.

Despite its seemingly stressful nature (especially in a traffic-filled country), bikers will tell you that it’s one of the most meditative and relaxing experiences one can have.

Andrei: Actually late na ako natuto mag bike. I learned to ride it when I was already 9. I learned on a Japanese folding bike na rinegalo lang sa akin, pero naikot-ikot ko na rin ‘yon around my part of Bulacan. But to be honest, yung longdistance biking ngayon ko lang na take-up talaga because of the pandemic by repairing my father’s old mountain bike.

A number of Ecosocers have shown their love for cycling. We’ve seen them conquer long trips and post about the ups and downs — both literally and figuratively — of biking.

In knowing more about the charm of the sport, Echoes interviewed four passionate cyclists in the org.

Geremee: I learned how to ride a bike back in my elementary days but I started to bike regularly back in early 2021. Hindi ko maalala how exactly but si Harvey yung nagbudol sakin into biking and ‘di ko na lang namalayan palayo na nang palayo yung napupuntahan namin. Also, naging new hobby ko rin ‘to during the pandemic.

Harvey: I’ve been cycling since I was around 6 years old. This was one of my father’s hobbies and he was adamant about having me learn to ride a bike. I started cycling with him and my siblings on actual roads around Metro Manila when I was 11. However, I started seriously

Andrei, Geremee, Harvey, and Jeri share with us their adventures and reasons for loving this activity.

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FEATURES getting into it around the latter part of 2019.

be addressed when more-and-more people see biking as a viable mode of transport

Jeri: Because of a horrible crash when I was a child, I learned to ride a bike later than other people. I believe I learned to ride a bike when I was in seventh grade. I was ecstatic when I learned to ride a bike since I was quite interested in the sport of triathlon. In my neighborhood, it’s a popular sport, and many of my friends and neighbors participate. That same year, I asked my parents to buy me a road bike complete with all necessary accessories.

When they did, I joined a local team in my province and began training.

G: Siguro at the very least is hindi siya flexible kapag maulan. Kaya mahalaga din na you plan your trips especially if they’re long rides.

H: The only thing I don’t like about it is that lagi kang pawis at amoy usok when you do it.

To be fair, all you have to do is bring some baby wipes and an extra set of clothes. Other than that, biking is near perfect.

J: There are two things about biking that I despise. First, I hate having to get up early in the morning for it. I’m not a morning person, and doing activities like riding when I’ve just had a few hours of sleep is quite tough for me.

Second, I hate long rides because they cause me to become irritable. "Are we getting near to the end?" I repeat to myself as I ride my bike.

However, as I aforementioned, the sense of accomplishment you get after you arrive at your objective compensates for this. Not to mention the bond you form with your family and friends when you ride your bikes together is always a plus.

Jeri biking in Clark, Pampanga

QUESTION 2:

QUESTION 3:

Biking seems to be such a daunting activity. What are some of the challenges you’ve experienced while biking?

Biking can sometimes be rough and stressful. What’s so special about biking that you continue to power through those struggles?

A: To be honest, cycling is a very fun activity but cycling in the Philippines can be very stressful.

In the city, bike lanes are often blocked o kaya kasama mo mga motor sa bike lane, while in the countryside walang bike lane and may mga truck ka rin kalaban sa kalsada. I ride around on my bike because it’s just a very fun activity and a practical mode of transportation, and the ills of poor cycling infrastructure can only

A: There’s a lot to love about biking! It’s some solid alone time to ride around in a bike because you can’t really be doing anything else when you’re biking around. Second, I get to go to new places that I didn’t even know about.

You’ll just be stunned in

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a way like "Paano ako napunta dito?" More importantly, "Sh*t paano ako makakauuwi?"

minimizes your carbon footprint.

I’ve gone on five long rides (bike rides more than 100km). I went to Tagaytay twice, went around the entire Metro Manila, went around Bulacan (San Jose Del Monte, Santa Maria, Malolos), and most recently, went to Pililia Windmill Farm. For me, all of them are very memorable as they have one thing in common. Usually, the exhaustion and strain would really be felt around the last 10-20km of your ride, but that feeling kinda gives me an idea of what my limits are. It feels AMAZING to know that you managed to pedal your way home with your strong willpower keeping your already fatigued body together.

Lastly, you get to meet new people when you bike; you’ll be surprised just how friendly ka babatiin ng mga cyclists pag sinigawan mo sila ng "Ride safe, idol" o "Good morning, boss!" sa daan.

G: I love that biking is an outdoor activity kaya nagagawa ko siya madalas during the pandemic. Physical activity din siya kaya nagseserve as exercise.

J: For me, biking is a form of meditation.

Biking is one of the few sports that has a low impact on your body, making it a wonderfully relaxing activity. I remember how, when I was stressed and couldn’t sleep at night, I would simply get my bike and ride around my village.

When I bike, I love feeling the breeze and not having to worry about other people. It’s very fantastic when there’s no one forcing you to go fast and you’re free to travel at your own pace.

But perhaps my favorite thing about biking is when you reach your destination. You feel a sense of fulfillment after finishing a long journey, and seeing so many beautiful places is incredible.

Geremee and his bike

H: I love how it brings you so many benefits.

I like seeing great places. The experience is made even more worth it when you ride a bike.

It’s amazing to know that you can go to places far and wide with just your own strength and willpower. I also love how I can manage to travel so far with very little cost. On a side note, I love to eat and cycling kinda gives me the permission to eat as much as I want because I’ll burn it all off anyway. The exercise always feels great, too! Sarap ng tulog mo afterwards!

QUESTION 4:

What are some of your most memorable trips?

Can you tell me more about them?

A: A memorable trip was my first long ride after my injury when I went to the infamous manilabaywalkdolomitebeach from Bulacan.

I literally just woke up early one day and decided I wanted to go there on my own, ‘tas ayun nagpabless rin ako diary sa Santo Niño

Also, once cycling becomes natural to you, you get to save so much money if you make it your main mode of transportation. Tipid na nga, madali pang mag-navigate around the horribly-congested roads of the metro. Plus, it feels great that you’re doing something that

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FEATURES de Tondo Parish (and sinama ko Echoes ELC sa special intentions din dun yieeee) kasi madadaanan ko from here. Another memorable was when I climbed Mt. Balagbag in Rodriguez, Rizal. I did this one with friends from Bulacan, and it was the hardest thing I did to that point dahil puro paakyat tas dirt road pa. I like to think na naiwan ko galit ko sa enlistment process habang paakyat ng bundok. Lastly ofc, Triple Antipolo Climb Climb (Sumulong, Tikling, and Cabrera) with UPSE bikers. First time ko makakita ng mga people from UPSE ulit, and first time ko umakyat ng Antipolo (‘tas nabudol pa ako na inakyat yung Antipolo tatlong beses, noh?).

Like I’ve said, I’ve gone on quite a few long and challenging rides, but this was the most challenging among all of them because imagine the feeling of having to climb steep stairs for more than 12 hours. That’s how it felt. Literally, we thought that we’d never reach the windmills, but we eventually did. And boy, the view was amazing! It kinda made all of the *suffering* worth it.

J: In Fontana Clark, Pampanga, it was my first time competing in the adult age group category for 16-18 year olds. I put forth a lot of effort for that competition, training from 4pm to 7pm every day. I even missed a few days of school because of it. I was quite apprehensive, but I wasn’t expecting much because it was my first time competing against adults. However, all of my hard work paid off, as I finished second in my age category. I was extremely proud of myself, and having my parents there to support me was the icing on the cake.

G: So far, the most memorable for me is yung year-end long ride ko w/ other ecosocers (Harvey, Jeremy, Andrei).

QUESTION 5: First 100+km ride ko yun and super worth it niya since ang ganda ng destinations and whole day ride yun. Dami rin naming firsttimes na naachieve during the trip, and it served as a break din from acads stress.

It seems like the biking community is extensive and very supportive. How is the experience of being a part of this community?

H: We went to Pililia Windmill Farm for our most recent long ride.

A: You’ll learn so much from the biking community!! There are FB groups na nagsshare ng tips, routes near you, modifications sa bike, reviews ng monuments na madadaanan, and there are even dedicated vlogging channels na puro bike lang pinag-uusapan. As for being part of Ecosoc cyclists, I can definitely say na masaya at puro kalokohan rin.

If interested [ka] sumali sa UPSE bikers, ‘wag ka Harvey at Pililia Windmill Farm

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matakot sumali boss. Kahit hindi ka sumama sa rides na malayuan, sharing lang ng mga rides and challenges mo masaya na kami.

QUESTION 6:

Finally, do you have any message or tips for anyone who wants to try biking?

A: Get some tools!

G: It is actually surprising how easy it is to mingle with your fellow cyclists. When we ride, may mga makakabatian kami na kapwa bikers even though we do not know them. Masarap din sa pakiramdam na you get to know more of your fellow Ecosocers thru biking.

H: So far, the experience is great. First and foremost, it’s always reassuring to know that there’s someone who has your back in case anything goes wrong during a ride. While solo rides have their own charm, group rides make everything a bit more fun. Isipin mo, sabay-sabay kayong naghihirap, pero once na narating niyo yung destination niyo, ay sinasabi ko talaga sa’yo, sabay-sabay din kayong mapapasabi na ang ganda ganda ng world haha.

J: Being a part of the bike community is a lot of fun. It’s critical to have a support structure that encourages you to improve as a rider.

There are times when it is difficult to get out of bed in the morning and ride, but having that community around you makes it much easier to relax and enjoy the sport. It’s also fantastic that the Ecosoc community bikers are so welcoming. Some of the Ecosocer bikers had already messaged me and invited me to ride with them as soon as I posted about my riding experience. Although I was unable to join them, it was really motivating to see people who share the same interest come together to provide a wonderful environment for us to engage and bond.

Andrei’s tools

A hand pump, tire levers, patch kit, and a multi tool should get you through your first 1,000 kms. You’ll need the pump to check your tire pressure before every ride, the tire levers to remove the tires should you need to get to the inner tubes when you have a flat, the patch kit to seal any punctures, and the multitool to adjust your wheels, your seat post (para mas comfortable ka), and racks kung meron yung bike mo hehehe. Ayun, if you have these things, you can do basic repairs at home para tipid ka na rin. Also, if ever lumayo-layo ka na sa pagbbike, I sh*t you not that having these things will get you out of 90% of your unexpected problems sa kalsada (e.g. flat tire, mag nag loose na screw, mababa upuan mo etc). Get to know your bike!

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G: Tara!!! Just message us if you wanna try or gusto ng kasama magbike :DD

ako, pero ngayon kita mo naman. Kung kaya ko, kaya mo rin! Try niyong gumawa ng Strava account. Huwag mahiyang magrecord and post ng bike rides there. Ang sarap sa feeling na nagsimula ka sa less than 5km, tas over time madali nalang sayo ang 50km pataas haha. Ang number 1 rule lang talaga LAGI, safety first. Huwag magbike na walang suot na maayos na helmet..

J: A wonderful recommendation, in my opinion, is to seek a good support system. It will significantly improve your enjoyment of the sport. It’s crucial to be consistent when biking, yet it’s tough to be consistent when you’re alone. You will feel more driven if you have friends who will be there for you. You will work harder as a consequence of the encouragement, and you will get improved results.

(From the left) 1st: Harvey Sañga, 3rd: Andrei De Dios, 4th: Geremee Vasquez, 5th: Jeremy Co

H: Just grab a bike and pedal! Okay lang yan kahit ‘di ka masyadong nakalalayo, just keep on trying because you’ll eventually get the hang of it.

I was an asthmatic, wheezing kid back then, but now I can manage to conquer challenging bike routes on a regular basis.

It’s crazy!

Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Everyone was a newbie too at one point. Also, huwag matakot na sumama sa mga mas malalakas sa’yo minsan kasi the experience will reveal the things that you should improve on and ang laking tulong nun! Huwag mahiya kahit less than 5km palang pagod ka na. Just keep on doing it. Ako nga before, Taguig to Mandaluyong palang parang mamamatay na

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Consequences of Growing Up: Welcome to The 20s Club

by Kath Tadeo

If you had asked me a few years back what being in your 20s meant, I would have answered something like: bills, stock exchange, pie charts, home furniture, sipping martinis, arguing in pantsuits— old adulting stuff, basically. In retrospect, I have experienced some of what I said, but of course, there is so much more under the surface of this, and it involves a lot of emotions and probably, self-doubt too. I believe Taylor said it best when she said, "How can a person know everything at 18, but nothing at 22?"

For some reason, the 20s feel like the peak and precipice of everything: you’re finishing college, starting your first job, (possibly) moving out of your home— allnew exciting beginnings until the anxiety of independence kicks in and you realize that you are ill-prepared and uncertain of your decisions. Maybe this is the reason why the concept of quarter-life crisis exists; the insecurities, what-ifs, and uncertainties are now finally catching up.

It’s also a wild ride. Apart from being in charge of your life’s steering wheel, you also have to navigate new environments and

distinguish conflicting emotions. It feels like the entire journey when you look at the ups and downs, but in the grand scheme of things, it’s probably just a pit stop in our lives— a transitionary period on who we’re gonna be for the next few years.

Perhaps, it hits more that we are in a global pandemic, and we feel our lives being wasted and stolen away. "Coming of age" soon becomes "coming of rage" due to a quick turn of events. So now, with nothing to do, we hold on to the idea of who we are to tether our identities to the now and not get swayed by the what-ifs. Yet, it is scary to think that we will also lose a lot of who we are in this period. Not to mention, who we will be won’t ever be the same as who we are in our early 20s. Combine this with the pandemic too, it’s surreal to go through your 20s and the pandemic at the same time because nothing feels real with the routinely mundane task of staring into your computer. You see, 18 is the sweet spot for hopeful encounters and youthful promises we make during our 20s. Before the pandemic, I had been 18, and now I feel like I never left that period, still hoping for serendipitous meetings and fulfilling my promises.

Our 20s are a paradox too.

We tell ourselves that this is the time for independence, so we can live as an adult.

Weirdly, we’re all at the same timeline but at different points in our lives.

I’m sure that most of you even have batch

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FEATURES

mates who are already out of college, married, or even have a child. In a way, we’re all alone together but not really; we meet other people who might be on the same track as us. Still, there’s no guarantee that they’ll be in our lives forever, they’re just a footnote in a chapter of our life, and we’re probably the same for others too.

Nevertheless, to be part of stories other than your own is a privilege. It reminds us that we’re not always the main character, but it also helps us see a side of us that we haven’t known yet— it opens us up to new people and new experiences.

happen. I say this as someone still figuring things out, but as cliché as people say it, you just have to go on through your own pace.

It does suck to have your life put on hold especially when everything’s not in your control, and you’re at a point when you’re supposed to get a hold of your life. It is frustrating to live vicariously through other people in better living conditions. Still, it makes you want to fight for something. I’m not about to tell you to see the beauty in the downside of now because we have to see it as it is. We need this to connect with other people and to remember that wherever we go to various points in our lives, we do not just do it for ourselves, but for others too.

Without a doubt, this will be a series of firsts, and we’re bound to mess up. Though, funny enough, there’s actually fun in dwelling in this inevitability. You are not sure whether the heightened energy is a panic or excitement, but it’s a thrill— an adventure!

P.S. Re: quarter-life crisis, just a tip from a counselor: don’t try to solve it, just see things through and explore it (and journal too!). As you wade through your roaring 20s (or rawring 20s, I dare say), sit it out, enjoy the hot mess that is our country and our lives, and have a cup of coffee too while you’re at it. It’s going to be a fun story to tell your kids, and when that time comes, you’ll wonder why you ever even worried.

Maybe it’s the newfound independence, but you’ll start to wonder why you haven’t dabbled in painting, tried pottery, or even went kayaking. There is a sense of invincibility one can feel in this stage of life, and at this point, it sinks that this is what life is for: for trying and seeing everything through. You’ll soon find out that the hopeful encounters and youthful promises you make have no deadline. You don’t necessarily have to do them in your 20s, and in and of itself, that’s what keeps you going because you have to make them

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ARTS & CULTURE

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THE CAFFEINE CONNECTION compiled by: Cara Sta. Ana

Andrei De Dios Andrei’s ideal cup of coffee:

Very bright and acidic, and a cup of coffee that feels well earned.

For preparation:

1. Dose 30 grams of coffee beans of your choice.

Have fun with it! Experiment with different types of coffee beans, source from different local roasters, and try coffee from different regions.

You can go dark, medium, or city roast. Robusta, Arabica, or Barako for the beans. If you’re intimidated, some roasters offer sample (100g) bags or smaller doses so at the very least you can taste the coffee before committing to larger bags.

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2. Grind your beans and begin boiling the water.

“Mad hacks. After heating the decanter, I pour that same water into my mug as I begin to brew the coffee so the mug is also hot when I finally pour my coffee.”

4. Pour the ground coffee beans.

Not the most uniform grind, but the grinder I use was a gift and I’ve been using it since hehehe. Also, try to appreciate the smell of freshly roasted coffee.

While you’re grinding the beans, you can also begin boiling the water.

3. Rinse the paper filter with the hot water.

Pour the ground coffee beans into the waiting brewer and tare the scale. We will be doing the Tetsu Kasuya Method for brewing coffee. So in my case, I like my coffee strong and acidic. I do five 100 g pours. Each pour lasts fifteen seconds with another fifteen second wait in between each pour.

1st pour: + 100 g coffee (100 g total; 30 seconds have elapsed) 2nd pour: + 100 g coffee (200 g total; 1 minute has elapsed) 3rd pour: + 100 g coffee (300 g total; 1:30 minutes have elapsed) 4th pour: + 100 g coffee (400 g total; 2 minutes have elapsed) Not only will this remove some of the papery taste, but it also serves to heat your decanter.

5th pour: + 100 g coffee (500 g total; 2:30 minutes have elapsed)

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You can play around with this method if you like, or you can use other techniques to prepare your coffee – whichever provides you the best cup for your liking.

“Don’t immediately discard the hot coffee beans afterward. Instead, let it cool in the sink so it won’t smell. You can even use it in compost or just plain fertilizer if anyone in your family is into plants."

5. Discard the hot water.

Discard the hot water that has been heating your awaiting cup, and pour yourself a nice cup of coffee.

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Erica Flores Erica’s ideal cup of coffee:

The perfect cup of coffee for me is black, no cream, no sugar — brewed through pour-over method.

I love all things local, but beans from Benguet just hit the right notes for me. Best enjoyed when it’s cloudy or rainy, like a warm hug from the people that matter the most.

For preparation:

1. Heat some water until it reaches boiling point.

2. If using a mesh filter, rinse with water.

I pour some [water] on my mesh filter just to kind of rinse it beforehand! I use a mesh filter mostly because I don’t like wasting paper for paper filters. Although paper filters may have a better taste sometimes, I think this one is still good! You just have to figure out how you pour the water.

3. Throw out the water in the mug and wait for water to cool.

I throw out the water in the mug and wait for my water to cool down to around 91 degrees Celsius. I don’t really measure it, but I have a good indicator of how long it rakes to get to my ideal temperature! Tantsya lang.

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4. Scoop 1/8 c. of coffee, place it on the filter, and swirl water into the cup.

I scoop 1/8 c. of coffee (I prefer medium grind) and place it on the filter. I swirl my heater and swirl the water onto the cup. I try to control the release of water onto the filter since doing it too fast or slow changes the taste of the coffee! I use approx. 500 ml of water btw!

A R T S A N D C U LT U R E

Niño Macababbad Niño’s ideal cup of coffee:

I like enjoying it black most of the time, but I’m also slowly experimenting on other ways of preparing it.

Coffee has been a great companion in good times or in bad, and even when I’m alone or with friends. It’s been a nourishing activity for me since it signals the start of the day for me. Allow me to share with you my way of brewing coffee in the pourover method.

Preparing coffee is both an art and a science. Good preparation is key to a flavorful and excellent coffee. Grind size, water temperature and decent gear are key; no need to rush to get them immediately. Coffee making is a journey, so we work towards where we want to be.

For preparation:

1.

Pick your favorite coffee.

It can be whole beans or ground to your liking. Arabica, Robusta, Liberica, or any varietal you want to have. Side tip: It’s best to be an ethical buyer. Know your roaster and where your coffee came from.

Buy from reputable and trusted sources to help our farmers out.

Support local too!

(Right) Here’s my setup! For today’s brew, I chose Brazil Cerrado from The Good Cup Coffee Company in Cebu. This is my first international coffee. Luckily, I got it on sale (buy 1 get 1) for 11.11 HIHIHIYEHEY. Notice that there is a small spray bottle. Read more to find out why. ;)

2. Weigh your coffee.

Coffee to water ratios depend on personal preferences. A 1:15 ratio is a good start. I use whole beans, so I need to grind them first into consistent grounds. On my Comandante grinder, I go for 16 clicks – right in the middle of "medium-fine". Grind settings vary depending on your grinder; measurement-wise, it would be 500-600 microns.

Just a word on grinders: Getting a good grinder doesn’t necessarily mean you get the cream of the crop immediately. Great, but cheap grinders are out there, just like the 1zpresso line for manuals, and the Baratza line for electric grinders. Again, there’s no need to rush. Tatanda pa tayo, so there’s more time to save and drink more coffee.

Relaks lang!

(Left) My Comandante grinder. I got this as my birthday gift from friends, since ako lang umiinom ng coffee as a hobby. I never thought na gagastos sila ng ganito para sa akin. I only had a generic ceramic burr grinder from March 2020-August 2021. What an upgrade.

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3. Heat up your water to your desired temperature.

Different roast levels require different temperatures. The darker the roast, the lower the temperature you need. 88100ºC is a good range. Note, your water doesn’t necessarily need to be a “specialty” water. Regular drinking water is definitely fine.

4. Preheat your vessel, and your brewing device.

If your device uses a paper filter, rinse it too! It takes away that "paper-y" taste as well. Discard your rinse water afterwards. You can use it on your plants para ‘di sayang!

5. Load your coffee into your brewing device.

Load your coffee into your brewing device, making sure to shake your device from left to right to ensure a level coffee bed.

6. Pour your water onto the coffee bed in slow, concentric circles.

Blooming (the process of pouring a little water to pre-wet your coffee and release the CO2) is optional. For a 1:15 ratio, I recommend having 5 pours in total – 4x of 50g and a final pour of 25g.

Tip: A little agitation helps! It allows more contact with the bed and a better release of the soluble compounds from your grounds.

7.

Enjoy your coffee the way you like it!

Pair it with your favorite snack or your breakfast.

Remember: Coffee chooses no time or day. Drink to your heart’s desire. Happy brewing, home brewer!

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a.m. by kath tadeo tonight, i don’t write that i’m running from home — instead, i am running out of things i call home. i know that home doesn’t have to be a place, because i always find them in books, music, even in a person; all tucked in a jar of memory. it shines brighter when things are dark. curious of the light, i take a peek inside only to find it changing to a rose-colored tint; an effect of fading dreams and wasted youth. a memory in disguise of a home, everything is dark and the light is gone. somewhere near, another light calls to me only to find myself in a field of roses. fragrance fills me in, like an apology to empty words, silence, and burned bridges. everything withers but the moonlight above me. i made a friend out of it, whispering secrets into the dark grey sky. but it will leave soon. in a jar of memories i hold, i take moonlight and stardust. a solace to my thoughts, a guidance to my memories. i have become a keeper of the night. tonight, i lay with the skies, trace words in the stars, dance on the clouds, and find a friend in myself. perhaps tonight, i will find home.

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