PROELIUM - VOL3

PROELIUM PROELIUM PROELIUM PROELIUM PROELIUM PROELIUM

VOL. 3

table of contents 01

CHINESE NEW YEAR

03

PANDEMIC LUV

07

WILD CONFESSIONS

12

MARCH DUMP

13

WOMEN'S MONTH

18

BIRTHDAY CELEBRANTS

Chinese New Year

My husband is half Chinese and half Filipino and we celebrate the Lunar New Year, also known as the Chinese New Year. Chinese people believe that what they do on the first day of the lunar year will affect their luck during that year. Each year is associated with one of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac. This year is the Year of the Tiger.

- Lovelyn

How we celebrate the Lunar New Year

Chinese New Year Don’ts

1) First we clean our home. We want to get rid of any bad luck left over from the old year.

DON'T Wash or Cut Your Hair.

2) Next, we offer sacrifices to ancestors.

3) Then, we eat! Eating with family on New Year's Eve, we prepare the most scrumptious dinner. It is believed that these types of food bring joy and prosperity for the coming year.

4) Elders give red envelopes or Âng-pau and everyone should wear something red. Actually, wear as much red as you can: socks, sweaters, caps, and underwear; for red is the luckiest color in Chinese traditions, standing for loyalty, success, and happiness.

Actually, don’t wash at all; it is believed that cutting or washing your hair symbolizes cutting or washing the prosperity away.

DON'T Sweep Your Floor.

It is believed that if you sweep your floor, you will also sweep away all the good luck that came with the new beginning of the year.

DON'T Lend Money.

Because that means you will be lending money to that person for the rest of the year. Yikes!

Don’t use Sharp Objects.

5) We set off Fireworks! It is believed that the noise from the firecrackers scares off bad spirits.

It is believed that a sharp object will cut off your wealth and success.

6) We watch lion and dragon dances.

Do not Break Anything.

It is considered bad luck!

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PROELIUM

02

DR LUV

J.V. TALAMPAS, M.D.'S DIAGNOSIS ON PANDEMIC LOVE featuring interviews with Tammy and Gio

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PANDEMIC LUV

More than two years into battling this health crisis, the pandemic has proven to be more than just a threat to ones livelihood, physical and emotional health state. It has impacted every single part of our lives, even romantic relationships for some. It was just either a relationship would thrive, or worse, suffer. There was no in-between, and it indeed became a struggle to couples.

While these negative thoughts entered their minds, others might have found hope to hold onto despite the uncertainty COVID has caused.

With this, I have asked 2 of our friends, Tammy and Gio a couple of questions to show how the pandemic affected their romantic relationships. Tammy has been with her husband, Miguel, for 6 long years, and has been married with an oh-so-cute little boy Miggy for 3 years now. While Gio, on the other hand, has been together with her partner, Rej, for almost 4 years. Let's see how they responded. :)

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PANDEMIC LUV

How have you supported each other during the pandemic in achieving tasks and goals?

How has the way in which you support each other changed as a result of the pandemic?

Marriage is full of many ups and downs, adventures, and incredible memories with the person you love. Achieving goals during this pandemic was hard because you need to re-evaluate the account for the emotional toll it can take and avoid holding yourselves to the same goals that you did in the prepandemic world. Rather than flooding ourselves with fears, we regain control by releasing the pressure on the ‘when’ and redirecting our focus onto what we can do now in the shorter term to somehow achieve the goals we had while also taking into consideration the current situation we are in, with this pandemic. We also see to it that both of us still have time and will always be there for each other and support each other’s personal tasks and goals. Being there and showing them that you love, care & support them all the way through is of great help in achieving both couple & individual goals in life.

It didn’t much change the way on how we support each other, well, it did kind of but not a big one. It somehow changed because we also need to look out for each other despite full on getting & achieving those goals we have. I guess I can say, it changed for good since we doubled our effort in supporting each other’s tasks & goals while also supporting in preventing getting sick since we are currently in pandemic. Not just having our focus on getting those goals & tasks done, but also focusing on not getting sick since we also have a family to consider.

Getting the support we need from our family did also set the drive to getting things done.

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PANDEMIC LUV

How have you supported each other during the pandemic in achieving tasks and goals?

How has the way in which you support each other changed as a result of the pandemic?

Rej and I are lucky and blessed that we did not lose our job during the pandemic. We are working at home which is kind of challenging. What we did is that we take turns in doing household chores. I'll cook, he will do the dishes. He will do the groceries, I'll do the list and so on. We talked about how we survive the day at work. We always communicate. We do our coffee at the same time. We made sure that if the other is resting, the other should be silent as calm wind. As much as possible, we avoid having fights. Both of us are very spontaneous and we love going out. Staying at home in a long time is stressful and we don't want to add more to it. When it comes to goals, we became more engage in freelancing to support our finances and make sure that are plans are at place.

I think we became more intimate and very understanding with each other. We became more open and more comfortable talking about our day. It's been great. We became more productive and patient. I think the pandemic brings out the more matured side of our personalities and we are grateful for it.

w how else I don't kno this one I can wrap nly say no up, but I ca ANA ALL. 2 words. S

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ACROSS 1. Manager 4.

6. Microsoft...

7. Payroll Bank 8. Ask for more questions 14. Ysa, Cheska, Michelle, Gisellle, Rozz 15. Tech Checkers 16. Big Program 17. Manager

DOWN 1. Manager 2. Costco TA - Last name starts with L 3. Email 5. 1 Hour Break 10. Magazine 11. Use your own PC 12.

13. Locked out :(

march dump

happy women's month!

WOMEN'S MONTH Pit Crew at Law

CIE

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RA

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ANNIE “GI V O” O I G

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Balancing work with law school

LLA TAPO

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PIT CREW AT LAW

IN LINE WITH MARCH BEING WOMEN’S MONTH,

WE INTERVIEWED ONE OF OUR HARDWORKING SPECIALISTS IN PIT CREW, MS. GIOVANNIE “GIO” GRACIELLA TAPONG.

Gio has been juggling one full-time job, a part-time job, and being a Law student.

She was taken aback, it made her reconsider her choices, her dream of all things. She was even more skeptical because of these nonetheless, she kept going.

What pushed Gio to study law? Has it always been her dream?

“I had my doubts but when they asked me these questions, it makes me doubt myself more. I ignored everything. I have my parents and Dada (Lolo) to support me anyway. I am confident.”

Growing up, Gio came from a family of Public Servants. Her parents were both College Professors at the University of Eastern Philippines, where she took up her undergraduate degree in Business Administration Major in Management. This also gave her the opportunity to study for free. Gio was born in one of the poorest provinces in the Philippines, Northern Samar.

"Most of my friends outside the province, once they’ve learned where I am from they'd say, ‘Ah, Leyte.’ I felt the need to explain our geographical location most of the time. I said to myself this is unfair. It makes me feel invisible.”

Many of us will agree that being a Law Student is difficult, as it is expensive. It will take most of your time. It will take so much time before one can even claim that Juris Doctor degree. Some of her relatives questioned the path that she took.

What are Gio’s low points of being a law student?

In 2017, Gio hit rock bottom when a tragic accident happened to his dad and grandfather.

She saw her mother screaming and crying. There were men with guns outside their house, her dad and grandfather covered with blood. Gio’s world was falling apart. For someone to witness this kind of crime, it scarred her whole life.

“Papa survived with a minor injury in his leg.

Dada died. He was my mentor. He was my inspiration. He is the reason why I enrolled in Law School. He was a Judge. Almost 5 years since it happened, we don’t have any idea who’s the person behind it. Why they did it. There are a lot of speculations, we can’t just confirm anything. I am in rage. I am angry. I am lost.”

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PIT CREW AT LAW

In 2018, she quit Law School and decided to move to Cebu to find a job. She needed that time to heal.

Fortunately, her parents were very supportive of her decision.

Many were disappointed but she promised herself that she’d go back with the right amount of determination.

She enrolled at the University of San Carlos after she earned and saved money in 2019. The amount of pressure with fitting in was unbearable, more so when you’re an irregular student in Law School. Gio needed to think everything through, from her 9-5 job to her 6-10 classes down to her late-night scanning of thick law books sessions. Sounds easy, right? With all that planned out, she still failed.

“I blamed myself for not doing enough. I cried. I started to lose hope. I questioned myself if this was really what I want. I got depressed…. All I felt was that I am a failure. I failed. I was afraid to let my parents know because they will be disappointed. Little did I know, they received an email notification about my grades. My Papa called me that night. He said it was okay. I have all the chances I need. I just need to work hard and be more focused. No matter what, they’re always proud of me and Dada. Then, I realized from that very moment, I don’t have time to be depressed. I don’t have time to cry. I need to get back on track. I am destined to be a lawyer.”

How do you handle having a part time and a full time job while being a law student at the same time?

Having jobs while being a student is hard enough. Gio had her fair share of failures and breakdowns. She got scolded by her professors, she had work problems, conflicts in schedules, and a tight budget. In 2020, the pandemic happened. Classes were suspended. All those things but still she managed to finish Law School.

“Technical issues, internet outage. All of these makes our life as a student hell. I managed to ace my subjects despite these challenges which I am very proud of. 2021, 2nd semester, I said to myself, one last push and I’ll make it. And yes, I did.”

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PIT CREW AT LAW

Now, looking back to all of the questions her relatives had before, one struck her the most: 'Why do you want to become a lawyer? It’s hard. Expensive. It will take time. Are you sure you can do it? When you become a lawyer, you will never be safe.’

“I wanted to be a lawyer because I know I can be a lawyer. It’s hard, yes. Not easy at all. It breaks me but it fills me up. It’s very expensive that’s why worked hard. I save, a lot… It takes time.

Everything that we want, takes time. It’s not an easy journey. Nothing is easy…. Watch me get that JD and then that Atty. This is my safe haven.

This journey taught me to be brave, strong, be bold, relentless, and resilient.

Don’t think about what everyone else is doing.

Do your own thing. Focus on what you want to be. Your goals, how you can achieve them. Your dreams, how you can make them come true.

Believe in yourself, doubts will just tear you down.

Be prepared, always have a game plan. Know that you experience obstacles but always believe that you can make it. Keep your eyes on the prize. It will remind you of what you are working for. And above all these, celebrate every single success, be it small or big. You deserve it!”

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PROELIUM

Aquarius Birthday Celebrants Symbol: Water-bearer Element: Air Ruling Planet: Uranus Birthstone: Amethyst, Garnet, Sugilite, Opal, Moss agate, Jasper Aquarius people are advanced, self-reliant, clever, exceptional, and optimistic. Air is their elemental sign. Aquarians, like air, lack a distinct form and appear to resist classification.

Others are enthusiastic and active, while other Aquarians are calm and sensitive.

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Aquarius Birthday Celebrants

Lovelyn Sala

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Pisces Birthdays Symbol: Fish Element: Water Ruling Planet: Neptune Birthstone: Aquamarine, bloodstone Pisces people are known for being emotionally sensitive, gracious, and emotionally aware. Pisces characters are regarded for being among the most sympathetic of the zodiac signs, and they will go to great lengths to ensure the happiness of those around them.

They're also creative and imaginative.

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Pisces Birthday Celebrants

Enrico Baisa

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Pisces Birthday Celebrants

Jenardenne De Leon

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Pisces Birthday Celebrants

Jay Balading

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Pisces Birthday Celebrants

Dyanne Caladiao

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Pisces Birthday Celebrants

Jasmine Gales

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Pisces Birthday Celebrants

Dach Gapuz

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PROELIUM

Issue No. 3 | April 2022

PROELIUM PIT CREW MAGAZINE Editor-in-Chief - Ara Joy Nera Managing Editors: Princess Bayabos, Patricia Tomas, Giselle Malmis Writer: JV Talampas Layout Artist: Dach Gapuz Graphic Design: Andrew Uri, Dach Gapuz Photos by: Michael Eric Rivera