Hope Magazine - The Gold Panicles 2020

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CARAGA STATE UNIVERSITY VISION A globally-engaged university excelling in science, engineering, and the arts.

MISSION Caraga State University endeavors to produce globally competitive and socially responsible human capital toward the sustainable and inclusive development of Caraga Region and beyond.

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GENERAL MANDATE Caraga State University shall primarily provide advanced education, higher technological, professional instruction and training in the fields of agriculture and environmental studies, fishery, engineering, forestry, industrial technology, education, law, medicaine, and other health-related programs, information technology, the arts, and sciences and other related courses. It shall undertake research and extensionservice and provide progressive leadership in its areas of specialization.

CORE VALUES

C

ompetence

S

ervice

U

prightness

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THE GOLD PANICLES EDITORIAL BOARD AND STAFF Editor-in-Chief: Technical Editor: Creative Director: Managing Editor: Associate Managing Editor: Online Editor: Feature Editor: News Editor: Newsletter Editor in Chief: Photography Director: Illustrations Director:

Arvin B. Buyser Jeremiah Napone Vernon Jio Viajar Renante Tabudlong Mike Ferol Arvin John Pene Raven Daryl Mae Suarez John Aissac Cejuela Marrol Lor Miole Nicole Light Villabeto Rafaella Utrera

News Writers:

Nikko Curayag

Opinion Writers:

Kim Louis Aro Regie Mark Mansigue

Feature Writers:

Maita Angelica Arenas Milkah Lei Bungaos Kimberly Piadoche Richel Ann Abarico Ma. Jhiecel Cabatingan

Sports Writers:

Rolito Aloyon II Renalyn Torralba

Chief Adviser Techincal Adviser (English) Techincal Adviser (Filipino) Techincal Adviser (Visuals)

Enrique F. Taragua, PhD. Meldy Acabo Cristine Mae Pernito Engr. Isagani Roma Jr.

Photojournalists:

Jan Xanthe Absalon Sean Audie Buscano Weljun Gallardo

Illustrator:

David Jone Herrera

Layout Artists:

Lyka Mae Filipinas Chloe Ivy Dumanon Yannie Acompañado

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ABOUT US The Gold Panicles is the Official Student Publication of Caraga State University (CSU) Main Campus.

The office is independent by function and administration from other student organizations. It does not actively promote particular political, religious parties, and other ideologies.

The official domicile of the office is within the premises of CSU - Main Campus, Butuan City

SERVICES OFFERED The office serves as the official student publication of CSU, anchored on the principles of the freedom of the press. The office is by the students, for the students, and through the students.

The Gold Panicles reserves all rights in the textual, graphical, and other contents appearing in this magazine.

Redistribution is prohibited without expressed written permission from the Editorial Board. In compiling, and presenting the contents of this magazine, the GP has used its best endeavors to ensure that the information is correct and current at the time of publication but assumes no responsibility for any error or defect herein.

The issue may inadvertently contain technical inaccuracies or typographical errors. Further, references to any specific commercial products, process, or services by trade name, trade mark, and manufacturer or otherwise do not necessarily constitute or imply endorsement or recommendation. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein should not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes.

Furthermost, the opinion expressed herein are those of the authors. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Gold Panicles or its staffers.

The designs employed in this publication and the presentation of material thereto do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the GP concerning the legal status of any institution, area or territory, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers.

Follow us www.facebook.com/thegoldpaniclesCSU www.twitter.com/goldpaniclescsu www.issuu.com/thegoldpanicles

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Editor’s

Note

Be the light.

It’s been a few months since the pandemic started to alter the course of our lives. The majority of the people have been affected by the crisis, including us – students. We’ve been isolated to our own homes, trying not to expose ourselves to the virus lurking around the community. But inside our premises, we are already infected by something else.

As interaction and lifestyle moved to a virtual environment, current problems and issues have started to evolve, creating new variants that infect every individual’s moral, emotional, social, and spiritual thinking. Today, where misinformation, injustice, inequality, conflicts – both in virtual and real-world – disrupt the unity and stability of the society, hope becomes vague.

We are witnessing the gloomy reality in this dire time. Yet, some people take risks to give light to those clouds. Thus, stories in this issue should not just serve as motivation for the reader but to provide realization and a head start to do some action. Being able to do our part for the betterment of our family, community, and society is a simple way to ignite the hope we aim for.

Let’s hope to bring back the life we had, or better, to create a future out of what we’ve envisioned.

Stay safe, as always.

Arvin Buyser Editor-in-Chief

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About the

Cover

To hide, to express, to protect.

Mask becomes an additional necessity in our lives to help prevent the spread of the virus. In the same way, a mask was also a necessity in creating the cover of our latest issue.

The cover shows a person wearing a mask on a purple, indigo, and magenta hue – which might look simple to the reader. Wearing a mask means hiding your identity – being unsung. In contrast, it should reveal your personality by your deeds. The subject represents a wise, strong, compassionate, and brave individual – a model we need to apply to ourselves during this crisis. Behind the mask manifests our struggles, pain, and voices of those who want changes in society.

There are two ways to express those sentiments: take off the mask and shout it out loud or act to find ways to lighten the burden. Either way, they are trying to seek something – hope. As the pandemic continues to wreck our lives, we should become the wiser, more robust, and braver version of ourselves and become the new hope for others.

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What’s

Inside OPINION

Walang Mali Pero Kulang Hingin na ang Hustisya Menacing Aesthetic

NEWS

CSU: The Rise of Largest State University Library in Mindanao CSU: SUC’s Initiative Aids in COVID19 Outbreak

FEATURE

Survival Towards An Invisible War The Other Pandemic Sa Piitan Nang Bingit ng Kamatayan The Dark Side of Altruism The Colors We Pour Political Humility: The Cost of a “Sorry” Takipsilim It is the Hunting Season Pandemic Survival: Wisdom in Actions Soaring of green community through the pandemic The Do-Re-Mi of Quarantine

Movie Review

‘Fan Girl’: Fantasy Turns into Nightmare

28

p.

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42

p.

22

p.

52

p.

48

p.

40

p.

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perspective PHOTO | ARVIN BUYSER

What’s New in the

‘New Normal’?

To prevent the pandemic from getting worse, we isolated ourselves in our respective premises. Our way of work and communication changed in just a few months — probably continues to a year — the method of survival altered in what they call ‘new normal.’ Here is a few new things that we should look into.

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perspective

PHOTO | WELJUN GALLARDO

PHOTO | NICOLE LIGHT VILLABETO

The New Modality The schools, which students use as a safe haven for learning, become abandoned structures for an indefinite period of time. Thus, the schools implement new learning modalities to continue students’ teaching: online, modular, and blended learning. However, this implementation leads to several challenges for the students, including a lack of gadgets, internet connectivity, and time management.

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perspective PHOTO | WELJUN GALLARDO

The New Priority We observed the gathering of people in almost every part of the community, from family reunions, religious obligations, and even essential celebrations. Now that the pandemic has arrived being alive is their top priority – for most people. Establishment owners and authorities implemented social distancing; wearing face masks and face shields became essential. It’s troublesome to be infected by the virus, worse if you don’t have enough money to pay the bills.

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perspective

PHOTO | ARVIN BUYSER

PHOTO | ARVIN BUYSER

PHOTO | JAN XANTHE ABSALON HOPE | 13

perspective

PHOTO | ARVIN BUYSER

The New Opportunity PHOTO | WELJUN GALLARDO 14 | HOPE

COVID-19 affects the job of millions of people around the world, including those who earned minimum wage. That is why most people sacrifice their health and safety to seek new opportunities to help their families escape from the isolation of poverty. Some people utilize the social media platform as a virtual store for their business.

perspective

PHOTO | WELJUN GALLARDO

PHOTO | WELJUN GALLARDO HOPE | 15

perspective

PHOTO | ARVIN BUYSER

PHOTO | ARVIN BUYSER

The New World Sometimes it’s a bit boring being inside the house. Well, what can we do about it? While we isolate ourselves in our homes, our communications outside have been limited. That’s how the virtual world becomes the new world for most people—those who have the privilege of internet connectivity. Getting in touch with the virtual environment can be cruel and toxic. Still, in this crisis, it is an essential avenue for those people to connect, reach out for help, and rejuvenate their emotional state.

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perspective

PHOTO | WELJUN GALLARDO

The New Beginning It’s devastating to see the world suffering from a new enemy that cannot be seen. However, we should move forward as hope continuously rises over the horizon. Many new things will come to us — even new beginnings.

May these ‘new’ inspire us to become better beings as we will gradually go back from what our world is used to.

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OPINION

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OPINYON

WALANG MALI PERO KULANG Regie Mark Mansigue

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DIBUHO | RAFAELLA UTRERA & JAMES ESQUEJO

OPINYON

N

asa panglabing-anim na pangulo na ang Pilipinas at mahabang panahon nang may sariling sistema ng politikal ang bansa. Umunlad ang imprastraktura sa pamumuno ni Ferdinand Marcos habang umunlad naman ang agrikultura at ekonomiya ng bansa sa panahon ni Gloria Arroyo.Subalit, sa kabila ng pag-usbong ng bansa ay marami pa ring mga katiwaliang nangyayari sa sistema. Kaya matatanong natin kung kwalipikado ba ang mga taong pinapayagan nating tumakbo para paglingkuran ang bayan o sadyang maling-mali ang desisyon natin sa pagboto? Bagaman, walang mali sa mga kwalipikasyong naitatag para magsilbing gabay sa sinumang gusting maglingkod sa bayan, maisasa-isip pa rin natin kung bakit may katiwalian.Oo, mayroong kabaluktutan dahil lamang sa simpleng kadahilanang may kulang sa sistema.

Kung ating iisipin, nagkakaroon lamang ng kabaluktututan ang isang sistema kapag hindi akma ang istratehiyang ginagamit rito.

Halimbawa, ang kaparaananng ginagamit ng mga guro sa mga mababang paaralan ay iba sa ginagamit na kaparaanan sa matataas na paaralan, at kolehiyo. Kung kaya, kapag ipinilit na ipinagpalit ang istratehiyang ito , tiyak na mahihirapang matuto ang mga batang nasa elementarya. Mahirap ang sitwasyong ito dahil sa ito’y hindi akma sa kanilang edad, at mental na kakayahan. Oo, ito’y mahirap subalit kung ating iisipin, isa itong larawan ng noon at magpa hanggang ngayong sistema ng politikal na kwalipikasyong ng tatakbong kandidato sa bansa.

Kung tutuusin, upang makatakbo para sa isang posisyon sa Pilipinas, kinakailangang masunod ang mga kautusang nakalathala sa ilalim ng Saligang Batas ng Pilipinas. Sa katunayan, mayroong iba’t-ibang mga kwalipakasyong nauukol simula sa pinakamataas na posisyon –ang Pangulo—hanggang sa pinakamababang posisyon—ang mga nasa Lokal na Pamahalaan. Subalit, sa kabuuang sabi, ang sinumang

mayroong interes na maglingkod sa bayan ay nararapat na: natural-born citizen ng bansa, rehistradong botante ( para sa mga representatives ng bawat distrito, nararapat na botante sa kanilang sariling distrito na tinatakbuhan), may sapat na taong paninirahan sa bansa, nasa akmang edad—40 taong gulang paras president sa araw ng eleksyon, at dapat nasa 18 na taong gulang ang mga tatakbong alkalde ng lungsod sa araw ng eleksyon—at may sapat na kakayahang magbasa at magsulat.Ang mga ito ang ilan sa mga nararapat na maisakatuparan na isang tatakbong kandidato sa Pilipinas. Subalit, sa sitwasyon ng bansa ngayon masasabi nating tila ba hindi ito nagiging sapat.

Hindi ito nagiging sapat dahil ang senado, at ang iilang mga nasa lokal na pamahalaan ay nagiging “ breeding ground” ng politikal dynasty, nagiging karnabal na kung saan maraming mga payasong naka soot ng magarbong polo at makikintab na alahas ang salita ng salita pero di naman ginagawa. Minsan pa nga naging tuta na lamang ng kanilang mga makukulay na partido—na kung anong inuuutos na sasabihin ay yun lang din ang sasabihin—at mas malala, walang sapat na kaalaman sa buong responsibilidad ng kanilang posisyon.

Kung ating isasa-isip ito ay hindi dahil sa walang sapat na “screening” o pagsala ang COMELEC kundi ito ay maaaring laro o manipulasyon na naman ng mga taong nasa posisyon na handang ibenta ang kinabukasan ng bansa para sa pansariling interes.

Kailangan itong baguhin dahil ito ang nagpapahina ng moral ng bansa at kakayahan nitong bigyan ng maayos na taga paglingkod ang bayan.

Maaaring sabihin nating hindi sapat ang edukasyon lang o iyong natapos para sabihing karapat-dapat ka sa posisyon ngunit, hindi natin maikakaila na naging “playground” na lamang ito ng mga taong may sapat na kayamanan, may sapat na paniniwala sa sarili na sapat sya sa bayan at higit sa lahat may sapat na paniniwala sa

kamay ng nasa kataastaasan na handa syang protektahan.

Hindi maikakailang teknikal na gawain ang pagpapatakbo ng isang bansa. Kung ating iisipin ang mga batas na naipatupad ay minsang pinaghugatan ng kanilang mga paniniwala, mga teoryang natutunan sa libro, at pag-aaral, at kanilang mga pananaw sa buhay. Oo, lahat tayo may pananaw, at sariling paniniwala subalit ang sapat na kaalaman at karunungan sa pagpapatakbo ng isang bansang patuloy pa ring tinatawag na “Sick Man of Asia” ay nararapat na lubos na maintindihan ng isang kandidato. Hindi kailangan ng bansa ang isang kandidatong alam lamang ang kanyang sarili bagkus kailangan ng bansa ng isang kandidatong kilala ang buong pagkatao ng kanyang sinasakupan, at ang bansang kanyang pinaglilingkuran at paano ito simulang ayusin.

Kapag hindi alam ng mambabatas kung paano remedyuhan ang sugat ng bansa hindi sila ang lubos na nahihirapan kundi ang mga mahihirap. Kung kaya, masasabi nating may pagkukulang nga sa paghihigpit sa edukasyong kakayahan ang sistema ng kwalipikasyon ng bansa.

Dagdag pa, tila hindi napapansin ng bansa na kailangan rin ng Pilipinas ang matitino at may maayos na sikolohikal na pananaw ang mga mambabatas. Dahil sa hindi ito gaanong tinatanaw at pinaigting ng mga nasa posisyon—ang kahalagahan ng kalusugang mental ng isang kandidato—ay tila nagiging mga perya at lungga nga ng mga payaso ang gobyerno.

Mayroong mga proyektong sa simula ay tila napaka aliwalas tingnan ngunit matapos ang iilang araw ay naagnas na. Mayroong iilan na kahit marami ng krimeng nagawa sa bansa simula sa kanilang kwestyunableng SALN, hanggang sa kanilang mga ghost employees ay patuloy pa ring naka-upo sa ginintuang upuan. Habang hindi maayos ang pag-iisip ng iilang mahistrado, mamabatas ay patuloy na matatakot ang sambayanang Pilipino sa kahihinatnan ng ating bansa. Sino ba naman ang may gusto na pamunuan ng mga

“

Oo, lahat tayo may pananaw, at sariling paniniwala subalit ang sapat na kaalaman at karunungan sa pagpapatakbo ng isang bansang patuloy pa ring tinatawag na “Sick Man of Asia” ay nararapat na lubos na maintindihan ng isang kandidato.

taong may malaking pananaw sa sarili, walang sapat na kontrol sa sariling emosyon, at mga taong nakapagtapos sa kurso ng “BS Manipulation major in Corruption”? Kung kaya, ang salik ng sikolohikal na kakayahan ng isang kandidato ay bagay na hindi napapahalgahan at kulang sa sistema ng bansa.

Sa huli, bagaman may kulang sa sistema ng kwalipikasyon sa bansa huwag nating isa-isip na wala na tayong magagawa. Sa katunayan, marami tayong pwedeng gawin. Sisimulan natin ito sa responsableng pagboto. Oo, masasabi nating mahirap layuan ang tukso sa panahon ng eleksyon subalit itanong natin sa ating mga sarili sa halos matagal na panahong pagkalugmok ng Pilipinas, nasaan na nga ba tayo?Ang mas masaklap rito ay habang tinatanong natin yan sa ating mga sarili ay nagpapakasasa ang mga buwaya, at payaso sa kanilang mga yaman na hindi naman kanilang pagaari. Kaya naman, huwag natin alisin ang apoy ng aktibismo, at lakas ng ating mga salita dahil habang patuloy tayong sunod-sunuran sa kakulangan ng gobyerno ay patuloy tayong mahihirapan kahit alam naman natin na silang nasa posisyon ang totoong may malaking pagkukulang.

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OPINYON

HINGIN NA ANG HUSTISYA Regie Mark Mansigue

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DIBUHO | RAFAELLA UTRERA

OPINYON

“My Father is a Policeman” “I don’t careererererer!”

Ito ang mga salitang huling maririnig sa viral video ng karumaldumal na krimeng ginawa ng isa sa mga pulisya ng Tarlac City noong nakaraang taon. Kita sa video ang pagbaril ni Senior Master Sergeant Jonel Nuezca sa mag-inang Sonya Gregorio, 52, at Anthony Gregorio, 25 na taong gulang sa sarili nilang tahanan. Naging usapin ito sa social media at umani ng samut-saring mga opinyon hinggil sa walang habas na pamamaslang ng isang pulisyang minsang nangakong handing maglingkod sa bayan. Subalit, ang tanging dapat hingin ngayon ay ang hustisyang animo’y pagmamay-ari ng mga naka-upo sa ginintuang upuan.

Noon pa ay nagkaroon na nang girian ang dalawang pamilya. Noon pa na ang mga magkapit-bahay na ito ay nagaapoy ang kalamnan dahil sa isyu ng lupa. Nangyari lamang na sa sitwasyong ito ay hindi nakapag-pigil ang pulisyang nararapat ay pumoprotekta sa kanyang kapwa. Dahil sa pagkatalo sa korte ng pamilyang Nuezca na patawan ng kaso ang pamilya Gregorio sa isyu ng lupa, naging apoy ito para magalit at magkaroon ng girian ang pamilya . Kaya naman, ang pagkamaty ng mag-inang Gregorio ay resulta ng nagmitsang pagkatalo ni Seargaent Nuezca—pagkatalong hindi nya matanggap, at pagkatalong humantong sa galit at pagkamuhi.

Bagaman may na-record na video ng krimen, nakakatakot pa ring isipin na baka muli na naman itong maging laro sa korte ng mga mayayamang may kapit sa kataastaasan. Isipin natin ang kaso ni Kian De los Santos noong taong 2016, sa kasagsagan ng giyera kontra droga ng administrasyong Duterte, na

magpahanggang ngayon ay wala pa ring naging akmang kasagutan, at hustisya. Lumipas na ang halos limang taon, subalit wala pa ring nakapiit sa rehas.Hanggang ngayon ay hinahanap pa rin ang posibleng mga suspek. Hanggang ngayon, ay para bang nag lalaro lang ng pen,pen de sarapin ang ating magigiting na mga pulisya. Kaya, hindi maiaalis sa isipan ng lahat ang pangamba na muli namang mapag-laruan ang kaso ng mag-inang Gregorio.

Dagdagpa rito, mapapansin na sa ilalim ng administrasyong Duterte ay mas pinagtibay at pinaigting ang sandatahang lakas ng bansa mula sa PNP, at AFP. Wala namang mali na mas palakasin ang mga taong nasa unang linya para depensahan ang ating bayan. Subalit, habang tumatagal, at binibigyan ng sapat na pagkakilala ang mga nasa pamunuan ng sandatahang lakas ay tila inaabuso na nila ang sistema.

Lumalaki ang utak ng iilang mga pulisya dahil nasa likod nila ang president. Lumalaki ang kanilang kumpyansa sa sarili na walang sinumang pwedeng magpatigil sa kanila kundi sila’t sila lang mismo.

Ang mga sistemang tulad nito ang nagiging dahilan ng kurapsyon ng kapangyarihan— kapangyarihan minsan nilang pinangakuan ng katapatan, integridad, at serbisyo para sa bayan. Nakakatuwa lang isipin, na ang kurapsyong pinaggagawa ng iilang buwaya ay buong-buong nahagip ng kamera. Magkakaroon na nang rason ang bayan na singilin ang hustisyang nararapat ay noon pa siningil..

Kung tutuusin, sa lawak ng Pilipinas, hindi na naibabalita ang iilang krimeng maaring dulot ng mapang-abusong mga pulisya sa kasulok-sulokang mga probinsya. Noon at magpa-hanggang ngayon lalong-lalo na ang mga nasa sentral na bahagi ng bansa tulad na lamang ng Maynila ay bakas pa rin ang pang-aabuso. Pang-aabuso ng iilang mga traffic enforcers na nagpapabayad ng hindi

akma sa ipinapataw na multa sa mga drivers, at noong simula pa nang pagputok ng pandemya sa bansa, ay pinipilit pagmultahin ang iilang drivers na maari namang bigyan na lamang ng babala, at bigyan ng libreng face masks at face shields. Munting larawan lamang ito ng pang-aabuso sa kapangyarihan at sa liit nito ay nagiging normal nalang sa marami dahil sa takot sa mga naka uniporming buwaya.

Dagdag pa, sa sobrang tagal ng iilan sa posisyon ay tila ba Diyos na ang tingin nila sa kanilang sarili. Kaya nga, isang malaking katanungan kung bakit sa kay rami ng mga nagawang violation na naisulat sa ilalim ng pangalan ni Seargeant Nuezca ay patuloy pa rin syang naka upo sa pwesto, at dinadama ang pagsamba ng kaniyang mumunting naka uniporming alipin.Iilan sa kanyang kasong kinaharap subalit ay pinagwalang-bisa na lamang ay pagpatay, droga, curfew at iba pa. Isipin natin na noon pa pala naging masahol na sa kanyang posisyon si Seargeant Nuezca ngunit ay para bang wala lang nangyari. Ang mga taong tulad nito ay nararapat na sibakin sa pwesto hindi dahil sa hindi sya epektibo kundi dahil sa kawalang hiyaang pinapahid nya sa pangalan ng higit na maraming mabubuting pulisya. Hindi lahat ng mga pulisya ay singkatulad ni Nuezca ngunit ang kamaliang ito ay muli’t muling babalikan at maihahalintulad ng marami sa mga pulisya.

Sa kabilang dako, hindi lahat ng pulisya ay masama at hindi lahat ng mga pulisya ay singkatulad ni Nuezca, pero sa bansang kinatatayuan natin ay hindi maikakailang magiging punterya ang mga pulisya ng mga kritiko ng Pilipinas—ang mga mamamayan mismo. Kinakailangang ayusin, hulmahin, at bigyan ng sapat na seminar, at training ang mga pulisya at kung maaari, ay sa loob ng apat na buwan sa isang taon ito isasagawa. Ang sistemang ito ang magiging daan para

“

Ang mga sistemang tulad nito ang nagiging dahilan ng kurapsyon ng kapangyarihan— kapangyarihan minsan nilang pinangakuan ng katapatan, integridad, at serbisyo para sa bayan.

maibaliktanaw ang kanilang responsibilidad sa bayan.

Pangalawa, mas mianam na lahat ng pulisya ay rerekomendahing magsagawa ng neurological test bawat dalawang taon nila sa serbisyo.

Pangatlo, ang mga kabataang kumukuha ng kursong ito ay nararapat bigyan ng mga interbensyong magliliwanag sa direksyon ng kanilang responsibilidad balang araw. Higit sa lahat, ikulong, at tanggalin na sa pwesto si Nuezca, at ang mga pulisyang umaanay sa sistema ng sandatahanng lakas ng bansa.

Sa huli, hindi na maikakaila pa ng sinuman—kahit pa ng mga nasa kataastaasan, ang karumaldumal na krimeng ito. Sapat na ang videong nakita para tuluyang sibakin si Nuezca at simulang ayusin ng PNP ang mga baluktot nilang kaparaanan.

Hanggang walang hustisyang nahahain sa mesa ng bayan para sa napaslang na magina ay patuloy na mumultuhin ng hiya,pagbabatikos, at kritiko ang mga pulisyang dapat ay mismong unang tumutulong na hingin ang hustisya ng mga naapi.#

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OPINION

MENACING AESTHETIC Marrol Lor Miole

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ILLUSTRATION | DAVID JONE HERERRA

OPINION

H

ere we go again being audacious and condemnatory.

The government opens to the public its new and improved, white-sanded Manila bay. The said beautification is a vital part of the bigger Manila Bay rehabilitation project spearheaded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

But like any other controversial projects, the move was not without any refutations.

The rhetoric of the Manila Bay rehabilitation was like that of the usual fairy tales we read. An ugly, polluted, inhabitable stretch of water and beach suddenly metamorphosed to a conventional postcard beach resort. Thanks to the millions of pesos poured to the realization of the project, the Manila Bay has now gained the prominence it so desired.

However, the clout was not for the better; it is more accurately seen as for the bitter. People living in that area just like every single Filipino who are now experiencing involuntary hunger for the long period of community lockdowns in the country who are needing the same essential things from the government.

The meager “ayuda” that families received has long dried up. Aside from the rising cases of COVID-19 in Baseco, many are suffering from other illnesses due to poor access to water and sanitation. Instances like that proved that not a bucket of white sand can provide any help such as cash or food to the people there.

The said rehabilitation spent P389 million for a crushed dolomite—an anhydrous carbonate mineral composed of calcium magnesium carbonate that was transported from Cebu province to Manila to fill Manila Bay’s gray shoreline stretching 500 meters.

The UP scientists explained that there are more efficient and less expensive option; however, being fond of replicas, the government chose those artificial sands.

Mangrove rehabilitation is a cheaper nature-based solution that can contribute in biodiversity conservation and in climate change adaptation. “Having ecologically healthy mangroves will also help lessen heavy metal contamination, a condition that beset Manila Bay for a long time,” the group said. Restoring and protecting key habitats, reducing pollution and managing invasive species could be the things that the group could have done however, the highness already settled on tampering the bay side instead.

This beautification project is nothing but a damsel in distress. This project was made without the consideration for the bigger picture but just with the idea of beauty alone. “Just because it’s white it doesn’t mean it’s clean”, said Lia Mai Torres, executive director of the Center for Environmental Concerns Philippines.

“It’s just a waste of precious resources,” Torres added.

Torres and others believe that the best way to clean up Manila Bay is not to add anything, but rather remove trash and pollution.

Despite of many controversies this project is facing, the ones responsible for the project are robust on their defense. Just like saying that the photo people flocking to see the “white sand” was proof that the project was a “right decision.” “Naintindihan po natin ‘yan dahil talagang ‘yan naman po ay nagpapatunay na tama ang desisyon ng DENR at ang siyudad ng Maynila na lalo pang pagandahin ang Manila Bay,” Palace spokesman Harry Roque said in a press briefing. A massive number of people going in such place that is crowded already in times like this is not worth celebrating, rather, alarming.

The opening of the project to the public has garnered a massive influx of people visiting the place to get a chance for a photo opportunity. Unluckily, the hopeful crowd was seen to be disregarding the basic safety measures.

Many were seen without a mask and so little to no social distancing. Given the already horrendous situation of the pandemic in Baseco, the event was considered by the experts as a super spreader.

This project garnered widespread criticism from civil society groups, environment watchdogs, netizens and politicians alike.

Knowing that the composition of the dolomite, even a young preschooler could tell that it could cause harm primarily on the health. Just like a woman’s face that is soaked with some low-quality fake cosmetics daily, it could easily predict that such skin would be damaged in just a short time span. No wonder it was called as “Department of Environmental Cosmetics” by one of the senators and one also said that, “It is not

a beach resort developer”, isn’t it?

Being a naive is one of the characteristics of an infant; but with all of the experiences that our country had we can no longer consider ourselves as one. Beauty is such a powerful weapon that can lure anyone yet one must have a good eye that is able to see beyond what looked like a dollar to avoid the edge of the cliff.

“

The said rehabilitation spent P389 million for a crushed dolomite—an anhydrous carbonate mineral composed of calcium magnesium carbonate that was transported from Cebu province to Manila to fill Manila Bay’s gray shoreline stretching 500 meters.

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NEWS

CSU: CSU

The Rise of the Largest State University Library in Mindanao John Aissac Cejuela

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PHOTOS | ARVIN BUYSER

NEWS

Read. Learn. Discover.

L

ibrary is the core of a school’s academic activities. The instructional platform of a school is extremely swayed by the quality of its library. The teaching-learning process will be lack lustered without a decent library.

School libraries offer more than just books, workstations and other technology, databases of truthful information, e-books, plus fun and educational activities. School reference library provide a harmless haven enabling students to reflect, generate, share, and nurture their potentials.

In groundwork development, CSU have to finish and mark the rise of state university library that will soon be cast-off for all students as well as mentors in upbringing the highest quality of instruction and learning.

In an interview, CSU Librarian Maria Corazon L. Tercera highlighted that a library is the heart and soul of an educational institution.

Even if now, students opt to patronize e-copies of the library materials, the eagerness for the new space is increasing by phase of minute even when it is immobile and logistically impossible to be in school in this time of a global pandemic.

As of this time period, the inauguration of the ER Ochoa Learning Commons is still not final and yet to be announced but possibly be launched by the year 2021.

Dubbed as the biggest state university library in Mindanao, the E.R. Ochoa Learning Commons is approximately 6,800 square meters in total floor area. This can house over 2,100 students of library patrons at a time. The library is equipped with customized library fixtures and aesthetically made furniture. It mainly targets to cater the different types of learners. The design aims to inspire creativity and innovation, and promote critical thinking.

The university library is exclusively intended to make available an encouraging haven optimal for learning, studying, instructional productivity, and research. The CSU administration’s goal is to reinforce critical thinking, enhance educational vitality, creativity, innovation, and unity to strengthen the growth and learning of students. Besides, it fosters the safety, security, and comfort of all learners.

For the moment, the Office of Planning and Development Workforce and the Office of the Physical Plan and General Services collaborate in facilitating the realization and implementation of the design as well as to monitor the day-to-day progress of the infrastructure.

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NEWS

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PHOTOS | ARVIN BUYSER & WELJUN GALLARDO

NEWS

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NEWS

John Aissac Cejuela

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NEWS

HOPE | 33

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FEATURE

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FEATURE

Hustle Amidst the Hassle Rolito Aloyon II & Nikko Curayag

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GRAPHICS | YANNIE ACOMPAÑADO

PHOTO | WELJUN GALLARDO

FEATURE

P

andemics have been challenging human lives since time immemorial.

It has culled millions and has changed the landscape of human understanding. Worst, the solution is not something you pull out of the pocket; it requires time– a lot of it.

And while the world grapples with this invisible enemy, the question of a better tomorrow has always been asked.

The world is already experiencing one of its darkest moments in history as Covid-19 continues to spread—affecting the workforce, the economy, and even the small-scale businesses that are barely making ends meet. Despite all these bitter realities, the need to shut doors has become the most rational way to combat this war against an unforeseen enemy.

Working during a pandemic is never as easy as it looks, everyone becomes conscious about their surroundings as they may never tell whoever is infected or not. Paranoia has been the usual feeling of most of these workers as they venture out to make a living. From the early grind of congested transportation to the hectic and draining rush hour, the fear of being infected with the virus has never departed the minds of these people— and being sick in times like this may cause people a few meals off the table.

The employees might find it hard living in this condition, but employers are also on the same boat. Managing finances during a pandemic is as hard as earning money for a living. The different quarantine protocols have greatly affected an already volatile system of exchange. The prevention of personal contacts has forced businesses to close due to bankruptcy.

While there are others who are still operating, the fate of their business continues to hang in a question— “what will we do next?”. Along with the fall of some of these businesses is also the demise of other people’s hopes of earning a living wage—and if you think that losing one’s job is painful, laying off one’s workers is like receiving a bullet in the heart.

The blue-collar jobs are probably the most hit by this pandemic. Lockdowns and protocols have made the lives of these workers a living hell. With their jobs needing face-to-face interaction, they are most vulnerable to infections and worst, death. No matter how humble their job is, these workers are actually the ones that make the most work to perpetuate the economic system of the country.

Despite this recognition, the irony is that they are the ones that are becoming more disenfranchised; being contractual workers have backfired, and in this pandemic, the damage has been doubled.

COVID-19 has also had an adverse impact on OFWs but it would not stop them from working hard. At the very start of this pandemic, most of the OFWs were in countries that had become the epicenters of the COVID-19 virus. In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared that Europe was replacing China as the epicenter, with Italy having the most cases of interaction outside of China followed by Spain.

At that time 81% of OFWs deployed or 1.78 million were in Asia and of these 1.12 million were women while a little over 660,000 were men.

The DOLE claims that

by December 2021, at least one million OFWs will be displaced. This seems to be a realistic claim, given that

by October 2020, DOLE figures showed that 486,466 OFWs had already been displaced due to the pandemic.

Of these, 275,619 had been repatriated, 131,047 were preparing to be repatriated while 79,780 were displaced but decided to stay in their host countries. Of those who stayed, the majority 41,581 were in the Middle East.

About 50,000 to 80,000 more OFWs are estimated to be repatriated this year based on reports from the various Philippine Overseas Labor Offices of DOLE.

they are far away from them; the struggle they bear is incomparable as you perceive their sacrifices for their families that even the enemy that we are incapable to see, are still brave enough to move along and face the pandemic. Today, OFWs’ homesickness is not the only sickness they can acquire but also the COVID-19 virus.

All these unfortunate events have poured out a great deal of burdens toward these people. In their daily odyssey, some have fallen victim to the uncertainties they face and decided to take their own life. The Philippine Statistics Authority reports that the Philippine suicide rate has notched a 57% increase in the year 2020; that is relatively higher than that of the preceding year. Worst of all, some of these statistics are workers.

“

All of us are affected, we are striving hard to survive.

Some people have already surrendered but some are still eager to live.

Knowing this sub-issue, the need for mental health services has become more integral in the battle against this pandemic. UNICEF and the Philippine Red Cross have established a partnership to provide mental health services to the suffering Filipino people by strengthening support mechanisms by providing different services such as webinars and telecounseling especially among workers. The government has also been in the grind to provide these much-needed services.

Workers are nothing but mere victims of this pandemic. We may have a long history of pandemics but one thing is for sure—it never chooses its victims. If there’s something that we have to learn from our history, it is to empower and protect those who are keeping things afloat for the society. Workers are literally our last hope to maintain the only system that puts money in our pockets. If we protect the workers, then we protect our tomorrow.

All of us are affected, we are striving hard to survive. Some people have already surrendered but some are still eager to live. OFWs working hard to make a living and at the same time made twice as much the worries for their family’s safety because

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FEATURE

The Other Pandemic Milkah Lei Bungaos

T

hrough the years, information has played the role of dictating the progress or retrogress of a society. During the COVID-19 pandemic, people had solely been reliant to the information they get from various sources while disregarding the content’s reliability. Since the virus was relatively new to everyone and its effects in Wuhan, China were fatal, the public had been blindly gathering all available materials just to have an idea about the disease, which in turn, had created different interpretations about COVID-19. The constant rise of the number of positive cases in different countries had significant effects to the anxiety that the general society had felt.

Having zero knowledge about a disease that was reported as deadly and highly contagious, the immediate effect would be global panic. Adding to that fright was another version of a ‘pandemic’ that was created by misinformation.

THE DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD

W

ith people stuck at home, the pandemic has shifted the public’s focus to virtual communications which can easily connect to other people inside the safety of their own homes while avoiding faceto-face contact. Information outlets had also turned to social media to report current events and news that could reach the common folk conveniently.

The ‘new normal’ changed the perception of social media from day-today intrusion to a part of an everyday life. From a mere medium for communication to a reliable source of information… or is it?

During the pandemic, the role of mass media and social networks was to disseminate information and guidelines that is critical for dealing with

the infection. With the free access of all online materials regarding the new virus, people may find themselves in an unfortunate situation by being overwhelmed by the data they have gathered whether it was scientifically proven or not. The situation caused confusion and in many cases, it influenced statements from public figures and politicians which had further brought even more misunderstand-

ings regarding COVID-19.

In the eyes of the general population, the thin line that divides facts from fake news is a blur. As social platforms had become the source of legitimate information, it has also became a haven of fake reports and misinformation which can be quite complicated to digest and differentiate for those without the right skills.

THE MIS - AND DIS - OF INFORMATION

O

ne thing that confuses the public is the meaning of both misinformation and disinformation. When faced with both, it is quite difficult to tell them apart without prior knowledge. Nonetheless, its true definition lies solely on the

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intent of the purveyor of the news.

Misinformation can happen when one shares false information that they believed is true whereas disinformation is when the person spreads those false news

while having the knowledge that it is not true for the sole purpose of harming others.

People who share information for the sake of enlightening others about a certain matter is entirely different from those who share

or create news just to harm a person or a community. In the event of this pandemic, both spread like wildfire. Despite the impending harm of disinformation, during COVID-19 pandemic, the public is more vulnerable to believing misinformation.

FEATURE

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

W

hile it is important for everyone to distinguish mis- and disinformation, it is also equally essential to be critical in everything you absorb online, especially in social networking sites.

Here are some guidelines to keep yourself from spreading and believing fake reports. When encountering a material that is frequently shared online do the ABC’s to spot the difference.

How to spot FAKE NEWS for DUMMIES

Remember to:

Ask Bias Check

First, ASK, begin to question everything that you have read. Who wrote the news, is he/she reliable?

What are their qualifications and background? When was the article or material published? Is it updated? Where was the article/material published? If it is a web address, does it seem correct? If it is an account, when was the account created? Does that account publish current events day and night? What is the purpose of the article?

These are some of the questions you can begin to ask

when you encounter news materials in social media.

Next, BIAS, see to it that the material you are reading presents different viewpoints and informs you of all sides of the topic. Any news articles from trusted sources would provide you with facts from various points of the subject at hand. If it only supports one argument, the reader should be critical and assume that it may have some biased arguments and the whole truth is not apparent.

Lastly, CHECK the overall material. As a consumer of the news, it is vital to check the content and read beyond the headline. A 2-5 minute read of the information can spare a lot of people from being misinformed. Check the grammar as well since it adds to the reliability of the source or the writer. Any valid news outlets would never publish information that goes unchecked, they would never ignore basics of grammar.

Despite having zero knowledge about the recent pandemic during the beginning of COVID-19, more people could have been spared from panic if these ABC’s are applied. Knowing the basics of spotting misinformation could result to a more collected and effective approach in dealing with the virus and those who are infected.

Begin to question everything that you have read.

the material presents different viewpoints and informs you of all sides

it is vital to check the content and read beyond the headline.

ILLUSTRATION | VERNON JIO VIAJAR

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LATHALAIN

Sa Piitan ng Bingit ng Kamatayan Richel Ann Abarico

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GRAPHICS | VERNON JIO VIAJAR

PHOTO | WELJUN GALLARDO

LATHALAIN

H

anggang saan ka dadalhin ng mapinsalang pandemya?

Kagimbal-gimbal kung maituturing ang pinsalang naidulot ng pandemya. Agos ng hindi mapigilang suliranin ang siyang sabay-sabay na umuusbong. Gutom, kawalan ng pangkabuhayan, pagsara ng mga pagawaan, pagbabawal ng pagtitipon ng masa at pagsara ng mga bilang na establisyamentong kalakip ang sektor ng edukasyon.

“

Dahil sa malawakang pagbago ng Sistema, mas pina-usbong pa nito ang mga suliranin’g matagal nang naka-ukit sa buhay ng mga Pilipino.

Kaakibat ng mga pagbabagon’g ito, umusbong ang mas nakakakilabot na mga pangyayari—ang nakakatakot, nagaganap ito sa mga bahay; ang mismong lugar na akala ng karamihan ay siyang sanktuwaryo mula sa kalupitan ng buhay.

Gutom—nangungunang sanhi ng pagyanig ng pamilyang Pilipino. Nakapinta sa mga mata ang takot, pagkabalisa, awa at hindi mawangis na paghihinagpis. Iyan kung ilarawan ang pinsalang dulot ng mapangharing pandemya.

Sa kasagsagan ng unos ng pangkalahatang kalusugan ay ang mga nagpupursiging makaahon at maitawid ang gutom kahit man lamang sa isang araw ay mayroong maihain sa hapag. Dahil dito samu’t saring paglabag ang hahamakin at lalagpasin mapatahimik lang ang mga kumukulon’g sikmura.

Isa sa mga kwentong dulot ng gutom na natatamasa ay ang 72 anyos na si Elmer Kordero na siyang hinuli ng mga pulis sa kalagitnaan ng paghahanap ng pagkain sa naghihintay na asawa.

Huni nito ay “malungkot ako, dahil akala ko makakauwi ako kaagad sa aking asawa, subalit hindi ko inasahang huhulihin ako ng mga pulis”.

Isang kuwento naman mula ni Joseph Hemeda isang fish vendor kung saan sa kanyang paghahanap ng isdang maibenta ay hinuli ito ng mga kawani ng bayan sa kadahilanang paglabag ng ordinansa, ani pa nito ay “bumili lamang ako ng isda upang makabenta at may maipakain sa aking pamilya”.

Makabagbag damdamin ang mga istoryang bulalas sa totoong karanasan na kung susumain ay wala namang ginawang krimen subalit kailangang hulihin dahil sa kautusang batas.

Isa sa mga tinuturing na masalimoot na kaganapan sa panahon ng pandemya ay ang mga insidenteng pang-aabuso sa karapatang pantao. Ayon sa Joint Task Force COVID Shield lagpas 40,000 na ang mga naarestong indibidwal mula ika-17 ng Marso habang nasa enhanced community quarantine. Isa sa mga kinikilalang nang-aabuso ay ang kamay ng mga awtoridad. Mapanghari kung iisipin, ayon sa Human Rights Groups ito ay waring kahalintulad ng mga nangyayari laban sa ilegal na droga ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte. Isa sa mga nangungunang laman ng balita sa kasagsagan ng lockdown ay ang Philippine National Police o PNP na kilala sa pagmumulistya at pagbigay ng mabibigat na physical activities na siyang dahilan ng pagkaranas ng fatigue ng ilang lumalabag sa batas.

Ayon kay Rambo Talabong isang police reporter “walang isang paraan para maayos ang PNP, ito ay dapat pagtulungan ng mga nasa nation-

al at local government units, kasi ang pulis ay sumusunod lamang sa batas at sa mga taong kasama nito”.

Kaugnay ng mga kinilalang paglihis sa sistemang nakasanayan ay ang sapilitang paggawa, at pagtatrabaho ng mga bata. Ayon sa UNICEF halos milyung kabataan ang nasapilitang magtrabaho sa kalagitnaan ng krisis na dulot ng COVID-19.

“Habang ang pandemya ay sumisira sa mga kita ng pamilya, nang walang suporta, marami ang maaaring gumamit ng paggawa ng bata,” ito ay ayon sa sabi ng General Director ng ILO (International Labor Organization), Guy Ryder.

Isa rin sa mga kinikilalang paglabag ay ang pagkawala ng mga pundo sa ahensya ng gobyerno hinggil sa walang tigil na korupsyon, laganap pa rin ang pagkagahaman sa salapi at tungkuling sana ay para sa mamamayang Pilipino at bansang Pilipinas.

Ilan sa mga insedenteng nagdulot ng karahasan at pagkagahaman nang kapangyarihan ng tao sa likod ng hamong mapanglaw ay mga indibidwal na lumalabag sa karapatang pantao. Maraming dapat isaalang-alang sa panahon ngayon lalong-lalo na’t mas pinapahalagahan ang pagtutulungan ng bawat isa.

Bagkus, mayroong bilang mamamayan pa rin na naglilingkod sa mga ahensya na patuloy na nangangalaga sa karapatang pantao at upang maprotektahan ang karapatang ito.

ugat ng paglabag at mga nakukuhang pribileyiho sa bawat naaapakang tao- ito man ay gamit ang kapangyarihan o kahinaan ng isang indibidwal. Anu’t ano man ang katotohanang hindi maisiwalat, sa batas man o sa karapatang pantao- ang mali ay mananatiling mali at hindi kailan man magiging tama kahit na paglipasan ng mahabang panahon. Ito ang kakayanang taglay ng tao, ito man ay sa kawang gawa, mabuti at makataong balak o naaayon sa sariling interes lamang.

Samu’t saring dahilan, mga ugat ng kaguluhan o simula ng kapayapaan.

Sa kasalukuyang hamon, sinu-sino pa ba ang hindi lumalabag, walang nilalabag at hindi kayang lumabag?

Kung ang pinag-uusapan kaligtasan ng pamilya at kabutihan sa bayan hanggang saan aabot ang iyong pakikipaglaban dito sa piitan nang bingit ng pandaigdigang kamatayan?

Para sa mga naapakang karapatan-hahamakin ang lahat, para sa mahal sa buhay.

Marahil ay maraming naapakan sa pag-angat ng isa, maraming karapatan ang naalipusta at hindi nabigyan ng pagkakataon, maaari ring may mga karapatang hindi maipaglaban dahil sa kakulangan ng sapat na kaalaman sa isang aspetong dapat nilang pinapaglaban.

Napakaraming posibleng

HOPE | 41

FEATURE

The Dark Side of Altruism Jeremiah Napone

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PHOTO | WELJUN GALLARDO

FEATURE

T

he year 2020 was a year that Mang Severino, farmer, wouldn’t forget.

It was the year where he was forced to sell his only remaining carabao that helped him till the land where he used to plant corn and rice—all destroyed by the successive ravaging of typhoons Quinta, Rolly, and Ulysses. His carabao was one of the only few assets that he had barely secured from the storms—one that was later on sold to earn a few pesos to start-up his livelihood. With the pandemic in his midst, Mang Severino was barely surviving.

It was the likes of Mang Severino that people like Angela Abrau and Kurtnhy Love Maderal sought to help.

These young people have hosted different donation drives and volunteer works to help those who were severely affected by the storms that hit parts of Luzon. Despite being in Mindanao, their altruism is one that knows no bounds.

There are a few people who have made the same initiatives that Angela and Kurtnhy did. To some extent, the spirit of volunteerism has reached the people who needed the most help.

However, amidst the display of the bayanihan spirit, there are people who are preying on other people’s kindness; one that caused others to question the motives of these programs, and one that has made things more difficult for these volunteers.

Angela Abrau, a Cebu student, is not to volunteer work. As a Cross Youth member,

UP new Red she

has learned to exercise the spirit of volunteerism and has influenced her friends to do the same. One notable kind act that they hosted was when they collected unused wardrobes to be sent in some affected areas in Luzon that were ravaged by the successive storms. Similarly, Kurtnhy Love Maderal is no stranger to helping others.

Together with her colleagues at the organization they’ve built, they have conducted donation drives to help the same people that Angela did.

Since the start of the pandemic, different humanitarian works have steppedup to fill-in the gaps in the society; forwarding different programs addressed to a certain cause. The efforts these people organize vary: from conducting donation drives, online selling for a cause, and even crowdfunding. Movements like #AyudaPangSkwela and #PisoParasaLaptop have been foisted out to the public and are already making the headlines. Donation drives have also been carried-out to aid those victimized by the storms.

However, in the midst of all this altruism, bogus movements copying the same advocacies have also made their way to the donator’s news feeds; prompting the Office of Civil Defense to launch a warning to people who ought to donate in one of these drives.

For Angela, scams like these are a hassle. This is particularly one of the reasons why she and her friends opted out not to conduct cash donation drives and

settled on collecting unused clothes. For her, if one wants to conduct a cash donation drive, it is best to do it with a credible organization to assure that accountability and transparency will be served.

Kurthny can attest to Angela’s claim. For her and her colleagues in the organization, they are not afraid to conduct cash donation drives because they know that they can provide their donors a breakdown of their money—a feat that credible organizations can easily pulloff. In an interview, Kurtnhy said that the most struggle they face is more on the “how” of gaining donations and managing people. Angela said the same.

However, donation frauds, for both these volunteers, is an issue that has to be quelled. Kurtnhy described such as “disheartening” with Angela actively denouncing such an act.

Though the impacts of donation frauds haven’t really crossed paths with both of them, they believe that donation frauds lessen the credibility of volunteer works.

A case that shouldn’t be tolerated especially in a time of crisis.

to a random organization, always remember to check the source and the validity of the drive. If one has a website, you can know what they’re up to in the “About” section of the page. You can also ask for reviews or do a little research about the organization before giving donations.

Sometimes, that extra minute you spend researching can literally spell the difference between giving and being stolen.

“

The likes of Mang Severino needs all the help they can receive in this crucial time.

For Kurtnhy and Angela, there might be bogus drives out there, but they will never stop these volunteers in lending a helping hand.

The act of fraud should never be normalized. It is these kinds of acts that make people question the credibility of the purpose. Though it is efficient to show reluctance, the willingness to give should prevail—that is after you confirmed the credibility of the organization or the group.

Before you send some of those important donations

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FEATURE

The Colors We Pour Maita Angelica Arenas

An outstretch of nothing but gray.

The whole pandemic fiasco has gotten nothing but worse since its onset in 2020. For an average person, the setbacks were reduced to staying at home until restrictions ease back. Slowly and leisurely embracing the pitch black setting-- except for the forerunners of the young generation who refuse to settle for less than the colors of the rainbow.

Last year we saw a parade of truths about how the country is very unprepared and bootstrapped to the core. As the authorities try to contain the spread of the virus, every non-essential department of the government has suspended operations including the Department of Education. For months, students were laid off from school and had to stay at home. Everything and everyone seemed to stop but Alexandra Pates, KD Pineda, Lianna Benigay, and Nina Tungul chose to start.

“

I hope that Tudlo BXU will leave behind invitations to future generations to be creative, compassionate, and resourceful in creating feasible solutions for the community,”

I

t was May of last year when Alexandra Pates received her admission letter from the University of the Philippines Diliman. She got in but the anxiety and stress of going

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Primary Hues into college in the middle of the pandemic made schooling something she is not looking forward to. To cope, Pates has openly expressed her reservations about remote learning to her friends and later on realized that the only way to solve their frustrations is by taking actions.

Together with her friends Michael Piencenaves, Kurthny Maderal, Anessa Tiburon, and with a drive and passion, Alex has launched Tudlo BXU, a non-profit project determined to assist Butuanon schools and learners by providing school supplies, equipment, kits, and services. With the help of social media, the organization was able to pool in donations for their initiatives. Further, they continuously raised funds by

hosting events such as the Online Concert for A Cause, E-sports Tournament, and EdukaSINING: An Art Exhibit for a Cause showcasing and selling artworks made by local artists as well as opening art commissions. The organization also conducted the Padayon Open: The Tudlo BXU Charity Online Debate Competition participated by 92 teams and 44 judges representing colleges and universities in the country and abroad.

Observances and participation in government-led projects such as the 2020 National Children’s Month and giving away educational flyers to the beneficiary of the Department of Health Caraga Region Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity were also carried on by the group.

Aside from this, the youth-led organization was also able to get assistance from both private and public sectors such as SK Butuan and SSG Butuan Federation.

As of December 1 last year, Tudlo BXU has supported a total of 41 schools by giving away laptop units, computers, WIFI adapters, reams of bond papers, scratch papers, face shields, thermal scanners, printer ink, school kits, bleach, alcohol, face masks, and other office supplies. Aside from helping schools, they were also able to give load assistance to deserving students through their initiative LoadEd. Today, Tudlo BXU is now on hiatus after completing a series of their initiatives last

PHOTO SOURCES | ALEX PATES, LIANNA MARIE BENIGAY, NINA TUNGUL

FEATURE year. The organization had established their own executive board as the founding members set themselves to achieving their own goals.

Pates expressed in an interview that Tudlo BXU is a

“

volunteering for the organization has helped her a lot in connecting to other people and sharing their experiences together to lift off their extra baggage.”

T

UON Butuan is a non profit youth organization founded by KD Pineda endeavored to create original and educational booklets to continuously expose local students to art and design, written works, and local history. According to Pineda, she wanted to start something in-

“

Our initiative is not as extravagant, however, we find comfort in the fact that we were able to ensure that even a portion of the city’s population are able to protect themselves and those around them,”

T

he country is not absolved of the gray areas in the government’s response to the pandemic. In fact, it has gotten bigger than it ever was and Nina Tungul

substantial proof that having an idea to change and help the community and making it happen does not require a fancy position in an office and a huge sum of money.

“I hope that Tudlo BXU

will leave behind invitations to future generations to be creative, compassionate, and resourceful in creating feasible solutions for the community,” Alex stated. “Lastly, I hope the project (has shown)

A Sketch Plan spired by her passion and interest for art. The organization started out with six members all of whom are KD’s friends who were writers and artists as well. Eventually, through social media, TUON Butuan started getting popularity amongst the members of the community and started getting volunteers from different places. What started as a group who developed colouring pages for kids became an organization that created educational activity books for low-income students in the local community.

students. The booklets are composed of materials about History, English, Filipino, and Music, Arts, Physical Education, and Health (MAPEH).

Several donation drives were spearheaded by TUON Butuan in order to give in kind donations to their beneficiaries namely Teen Missions Philippines, Solid Rock Shilo Mission Academy, Mountain View Assembly of God, and Zion Hill Assembly of God. Aside from the booklets, they were also able to provide the students with books, clothes, and school supplies.

Lianna Benigay, the current executive director of the organization following Pineda, said in an interview that last year alone, 400 booklets were distributed to out-ofschool youths and Alternative Learning System (ALS)

“The transition from the previous to the current administration – to me – was pretty abrupt, a reason why I really felt overwhelmed (the continuous inflow of assessments did not help much either), and pressured,” Benigay

Tint of Change can see right through. At the start of the pandemic, the people were forcibly made to believe that stocks for face masks and face shields were running out. This caused an immense worry for the masses that caused hoarding of the said “scarce” supply. In a typical capitalist setting, the prices skyrocketed but the stocks continuously ran out anyway.

It left behind the middle to low income families who were greatly paralyzed by the effects of laying off jobs.

Nina and her team saw this situation in a better light and found a way to reach out and help. With a growing interest in alleviating the current situation especially for people on the margins, Nina launched Project MASKS. A youth-led program aiming to

that it is possible to work with our local government and we should be all proud to see the youth taking progressive steps to improve society.”

added. Furthermore, TUON Butuan has also initiated webinar projects that centered on prioritizing mental health in the midst of these difficult times. Benigay expressed that volunteering for the organization has helped her a lot in connecting to other people and sharing their experiences together to lift off their extra baggage. “Their [board of directors] guidance has and is truly helping us in staying directed and productive,” she added.

Today, TUON Butuan has colorful hopes for the future of the organization. Benigay expressed that they are in talks about future programs that hopefully will entail more productive initiatives that will help more learners and aspiring artists.

supply COVID 19 safety kits to tricycle and other public transportation drivers as well as the homeless individuals in the city. In an interview, Nina said that “it is a fact that despite being on lockdown for almost a year, many individuals still fail to properly follow standard and basic health protocols.” This encouraged her to not only provide safety kits but also educate and spread awareness amongst the members of the community who do not have access to these basic needs.

drives to help the typhoon victims in Bicolandia, Catanduanes, Caloocan, Cagayan and Tuguegarao in collaboration with Akbayanihan sa Butuan.

Since the launch of Project MASKS and with the help of collaborators and other individuals, 144 drivers have been provided with face masks and face shields. Aside from this, Project MASKS has also conducted donation

“Our initiative is not as extravagant, however, we find comfort in the fact that we were able to ensure that even a portion of the city’s population are able to protect themselves and those around them,” says Nina.

Although making the initiative come to life did not come easy for the team since restrictions prohibited them from implementing and making the projects happen, the members of the organization were able to deliver and surpass the challenges that they faced.

These passion-led youth organizations have been completing projects and helping those who are struggling with no less than their compassion and heart to make even little changes. As the black ink dot progressively seeps through every corner of the nation, the hues of colors that the youth continue to pour out will hopefully neutralize the mess that our country has become. Having heard the stories of these young leaders makes our unified hopes and dreams about having a future of bright colors not too far-fetched after all.

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FEATURE

POLITICAL HUMILITY:

THE COST OF A "SORRY” Jeremiah Napone 46 | HOPE

Technical Editor, The Gold Panicles ILLUSTRATION | DAVID JONE HERERRA & VERNON JIO VIAJAR

FEATURE

T

here are many things to describe a politician, “honest” is the least of them.

Politics breeds a culture of “It’s not my mistake; if it was mine, I was probably forced by others’’. It’s a game of “don’t admit it at all cost” or lose the only name that keeps you in this golden seat of influence. Sometimes, the only things to describe the unfathomable ignorance and pride of some politicians in not admitting their mistakes can take a toll on the people they’re serving. This is the rhetoric of politics: pride over people.

We all make mistakes.

Even the most known great leaders have their epic times of failure—one that can literally change the course of history. In politics, however, a “sorry” is a trade-off of one’s reputation. When your work is always in the plate of public scrutiny, where the people’s support is the actual fuel that feeds one’s influence, admitting a mistake is a bargain over one’s decorated name. And when the mistake is hidden or thrown at others, accountability becomes nothing but a mere Twitter trend. Worst, when the public clamor is not heard, another mistake is yet again put on the archives—and the cycle continues.

The real test of political leadership is seen when critical issues arise. It is hard not to make a mistake when remedying a conflict. Politicians were once citizens—they also have their own bias. But when the bias plays a skit in the political play, public scrutiny is always swift (and annoying at times). This is, of course, reasonable. Politicians are obliged to lead with impartiality—representing all walks of life and respecting all political stands. When one favors the other, then it is always rational for that politician to get public backlash.

The Disaster of NonAdmittance

The pandemic has stirred-up the perfect recipe for a political blunder. For most parts, it has revealed the worst of all the worlds.

Issues such as racism, insufficiency in healthcare, and even the revelation of incompetence in leadership have been in the menu for most media stories out there.

China’s president, Xi Jinping, has long been criticized for his form of leadership.

The noise has become more unsettling when the emergence of a novel coronavirus emerged from Wuhan, China that ended-up to be a catastrophe. Xi and his administration have been criticized more for lying about the existence of the virus; even more so going to the extent of praising how “good” they managed the situation right after it became a pandemic.

President Trump is not new to backlashes at all. He’s known for being audacious and he adores conspiracy theories. Since the start of the pandemic, Trump has downplayed the existence of the virus saying “it will magically disappear”. And as of this writing, the USA now has 27.8 million cases and more than 488,000 deaths. Instead of saying that he and his administration have made a mistake, he lauds the work they have done and later prioritizes his campaign for reelection by which he ended-up losing.

President Rodrigo Duterte also has his fair share of public crackdowns. The political warfare against the Duterte Diehard Supporters and the Dilawans have been the most common headlines in news sites. You’ll probably read quite a few exchanges from firm Duterte supporters against his critics in some random politics-related social media posts. The most recent of all his controversies was claiming that the presidency is not a woman’s job. Of course, it will receive angst from people who think otherwise. After all, no political criterion hampers any

sex—or any SOGIE—to run for a political seat. The rhetoric that PRRD has forwarded has created more divide among his people.

Weakness and Apologies.

The fear for most politicians when admitting their mistakes is losing their support because the popular culture discredits any apology and equates weakness of any forms thereof. Worst, it’ll always follow some degree of punishment; where the punishment will come is anyone’s guess.

It is reasonable though, when we were kids, mistakes always lead to some form of retribution. Politics is no excuse. When you work in an office where the public is both your boss and prosecutor, it is not a joke to admit a mistake—especially when reputation is at stake.

The political initiative when mistakes arise is to maneuver your way out of it.

Graham Steele said that the real test of political character is not the ability to avoid a mistake, but what the politician does when it happens.

How they do it is a question that a layman can’t answer.

When the Party Supports the Blunder Of course, supporting a mistake is not the right thing to do, but if it means retaining political influence, these leaders won’t mind playing the lie.

“

Politics breeds a culture of “It’s not my mistake; if it was mine, I was probably forced by others’’

candidate can’t persuade the target audience, the party steps in to take the job. However, in cases when the candidate has some controversies in his/her name, a feat that diminishes voter confidence, the party will always do what it takes to make their candidate take the bacon— even if it means riding a hoax.

This is why politicians should have a concrete moral compass. When there are forces that will lead them to downplay the power of admitting a mistake, one’s personal and moral values should assume the role of doing the right thing. Generally, we must promote a culture that equates strength and valiance in admitting a mistake and revoke the stigma towards such acts. We have to embody a political environment that sees the value of a mistake and learns from it, not acting like it never happened.

Politicians should strive to be known as honest and dignified, not a liar.

The Republican and Democratic parties in the United States are the two major political parties in the country. The former represents the conservatives; the latter, liberals. Nevertheless, these two parties have their own agenda and will do anything to forward those to a legal standpoint.

The thrust of partisanship is most vivid in elections.

In any country, there will always be a huge number of undecided voters. When the

HOPE | 47

LATHALAIN

Takipsilim Richel Ann Abarico

“

Isang kahig, isang tuka. Kinakalaban ang bawat gutom, kawalan ng pinansyal na suporta, walang trabahong mapasukan dahil sarado ang mga pabrika at pagawaan, mga posibleng trabahong takbuhan ng mga taong nasa laylayan ng kahirapan.

S

a kasagsagan ng pangkalusugan’g unos, sa bitag ng paghihiganti ng kalikasan, mayroong mga sugat na natatakpan, mayroong mga ngiting natatabunan, mga pag-asang nilamon ng karimlan. Sa kalagitnaan ng digmaang pangkalusugan at pagsugpo ng daluyong na dala ng pandemya sa sanlibutan, minsan ang pinaka-matinding kalaban ay ang laman ng ating isipan.

Batid ng marami na ang isipan ay mayroong dambuhalang huni. Ang kalusugang ito ay nasusubok sa samu’t saring unos na hatid ng buhay sa aspetong pisikal, emosyonal, sosyal, moral at ispirituwal. Kapasidad ng utak ang kakayahan’g maghatid at tumanggap ng mga signal sa katawan ng tao; isa na rito sa kung paano bigyan ng kahulugan ang mga kaganapan’g nasasaksihan sa panlabas na konteksto.

Umabot na ng dalawang

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taon ang tinagal ng pandemya, kasabay nito ang pagbago ng takbo ng sistema.

Tahimik ang lansangan, sarado ang bawat silid paaralan, balot ang mamamayan na kahit isang ngiti ay napakahirap nang masilayan. Kasabay nang paglubog ng inang bayan ay ang digmaan ng pansariling kaisipan. Dulot ng mga nakasaradong tahanan, himpilan ng kaalaman at mapagkukunan ng kita ay ang mga mamamayang lugmok sa bawat sulok ng krisis ng kalusugan.

Sulok kung saan pinapalooban ng mapanakit na laban. Laban na walang katapusan. Unang pinunterya ay ang mga taong nabibilang sa pinakamahirap na sektor ng lipunan. Isang kahig, isang tuka. Kinakalaban ang bawat gutom, kawalan ng pinansyal na suporta, walang trabahong mapasukan dahil sarado ang mga pabrika at pagawaan, mga posibleng trabahong takbuhan ng mga

taong nasa laylayan ng kahirapan. Ayon sa Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) abot 5 milyong Pilipino ang nawawalan ng trabaho dulot ng paglaganap ng pandemya sanhi kung saan natatamasa ang pagsubok nang kalasugang pangkaisipan. Sa pag-aaral 53 pursiyento kataong nawalan ng trabaho ang mayroong sintomas ng anxiety ayon sa panukalang nanggagaling sa Symptoms of Anxiety or Depressive Disorder During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Dahil sa pagsubok pinansyal, pangkabuhayan, at pangkalusugan ilang mga magulang at mga kabataan’g nabibilang sa low socioeconomic status ay nakikipagsagupaan sa digmaang patuloy na lumamon sa aspetong pangkaisipan.

Dagok rin sa mga kabataan ang pagsara ng himpilan ng paaralan. Ayon sa UNESCO, mahigit 90% na naka-enrol na mag-aaral

MGA LITRATO | NICOLE LIGHT VILLABETO

LATHALAIN

o 1.5 bilyong kabataan sa kasalukuyan sa buong mundo ay wala na ngayong edukasyon. Sa biglaan’g pagsara ng mga eskwelahan ay siyang paglaganap ng maraming suliranin na naging dahilan upang makaranas ng matinding pagkalugmok sa aspetong pangkaisipan ng bawat nakikidigman’g kabataan sa makabagong normal. Ayon pa ni Audrey Azoulay, Direktor-Heneral ng UNESCO, walang kapantay ang laki ng dagok sa edukasyon na natatamasa ngayon ng mga kabataan. Halos tatlo sa sampu o 29% na mga kabataan ang nakakaranas na ng pahamak at pinsala sa kanilang emosyonal o mental na kalusugan. Kaakibat pa nito ang 14% na nagpapahiwatig na ang kanilang mga anak ay papalapit sa mga limitasyon na maaaring ikapahamak sa kalusugan ng isip. Kawalan ng balanse sa pagproseso sa mga nangyayari sa paligid, pagkaagnas ng tiwala sa sarili, nahihira-

pang sumabay sa usbong ng makabagong sistema ng online class, walang aksis na mapagkukunan ng tulong pangkaalaman, pinansyal na suporta, moral, sobrang pagkakalantad sa mahabang oras na iginugol sa social media, kabilang pa ang mga nawalan ng mahal sa buhay dahil sa walang piling pambi-biktima ng pandemya at ang biglaang pagkaulila-- ilan sa maraming puno’t dulo ng pagkalumbay (depression) at pagkabalisa (anxiety) na nararanasan ng mga estudyante sa pandaigdigang hamon.

Sa ibang dayo, sa likod ng mapangahas na ganti ng kalikasan at mga namumuong pag-asa ng mga taong nakaligtas sa COVID-19 ay ang kalusugan ng mga frontliners kung saan nahaharap sa hindi inaasahang mga stressors- ito ay isang ahenteng kemikal o biyolohikal na sanhi ng pagkapagod o pampasigla ng isang organism.

Maarin’g ito’y nasa isang ka-

ganapan o paligid na siyang magpapahamon sa indibidwal o magbabanta sa kanilang kaligtasang sikolohikal.

Maraming kadahilanan na siyang nagbabanta sa kalusugan ng kaisipan ng mga manggagawa sa pangkalahatang pangangalaga ng kalusugan. Isa sa mga kinikilalang ugat nito ay ang panganib ng impliksyon, pinsala sa moral, kakulangan ng suporta sa lipunan, sense of helplessness, pagkawalay sa mahal sa buhay sa mahabang panahon upang pagsilbihan ang mga taong hindi naman nila kakilala. Gayunpaman, kasabay ng pagpatak ng kanilang pawis nagdadala man ito ng pangangamba, pagkatakot, pagkabalisa, matinding lungkot at pag-aalala, bitbit pa rin nila ang pusong handang maglikod sa sambayanan 24 oras.

Sa kasalukuyang pakikidigma sa hamong ganti ng kalikasan, ito ang takbo kung

saan walang nanglalamang ni nang-iiwan. Mapangasiwaan ng mga institusyon ang dagok sa nanglalagas na lakas ng kalusugang pangkaisipan, malabanan ang mantsa (stigma) kung saan humahadlang upang ito’y mapag-usapan, mabigyang pansin, mapagtuonan ng atensyon at mabigyan ng solusyon hindi lamang sa kanayunan kung hindi pati na rin sa kinasulukang bahagi ng lungsod ng bayan kung saan lahat makabinipisyo, pantay pantay na mabigyan ng sustintong siyang magliligtas sa kanila sa bingit ng masalimoot at mapinsalang taglay ng hindi matapostapos na pandemya. Sa pagagaw nang dilim sa liwanag sapat na ba ang manahimik, maghintay sa kawalan at hayaang patahimikin ang mga maiingay hanggang sa mabigyang pansin upang ang kalasag ng mamamayan laban sa hamong pangkaisipan ay mapagtoonan at mapahalagahan? Hanggang kailan?

Kayo na ang humusga!

HOPE | 49

FEATURE

Maita Angelica Arenas

50 | HOPE

ILLUSTRATION | LYKA MAE FILIPINAS

FEATURE

“

The main point of the cancel culture is to educate but if it entails potentially harming people, that is a different story.

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ontrary to our history’s bloody revolts, the royal blue and rich red of the Philippine flag continues to be waved today but this time, in a different arena.

Online is the new battlefield.

Those who are woke are the new army and one click is all it takes to make or break a soldier.

The times are quickly changing and along with it are new perspectives on issues that surface and resurface in time. The power that one holds in calling out a person for a behavior or statement made online has never been this pronounced in the midst of a community centering on backlash.

Cancel culture originated from a slang term “cancel” which means breaking up with someone or calling off an event or an idea. It evolved into a deeply contested thought and racks up debates on whether or not it is a call for accountability or censorship and punishment.

In the Philippines, #Cancelled started out as a Twitter trend to call out infamous influencers on their bent views and takes on politics, entertainment, and the government.

Anything put online suddenly constitutes public ownership and those people who favor those in power who do not seem to have much care on more pressing issues in the pandemic response are the common subjects to public scrutiny.

To better understand the concept of cancel culture, let us take for example the infamous Tiktok star Andrew Luis Lapid better known for his handles as Buknoy Glamurrr.

Buknoy is nothing but a teen queer just trying to make it at the top of the industry.

Unfortunately, he is often caught between the traps he sets for himself. In his videos, the language and thoughts he spews is what made the citizens very concerned and

alarmed about the things he puts out there. On top of that, his constant squabbles with other influencers also made people believe that he ought to be cancelled.

Another example is multimedia star and celebrity turned vlogger Toni Gonzaga in her recent sit down interview with son of former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Bongbong Marcos.

The video garnered a whopping 7.4 million views despite being seen in a bad light.

However, giving the seat to the son of the person who implemented martial law and tortured thousands of Filipinos in 1972 did not sit right with the public. Features on different news centers and reaction videos flooded the mainstream in disbelief. Their belief? She is a Marcos apologist. And without any hesitation, Toni is cancelled.

It is not crystal clear to most the standards set in order to be able to cancel a person and the underlying reason behind it. For some, it all dates back to history but for the most part, it is just straight out political. Undeniably, important points can be taken into account when somebody gets cancelled.

Truly, a display of a wrong mentality can immensely affect those who watch the content but the main point of cancelling is to spark online discourse that engages the public. When a person gets cancelled, a lot of people talk about it even more and in a way dig deep into the why.

This promotes awareness and enlightenment to the public. It creates opportunities of immense greatness and provides a platform for the minorities to voice out their concerns and experiences. The culture also forces those who remain neutral to assess their stand in a more critical way given the empirical bases they provide.

negative repercussions.

Since no one can control the type of speech we put online, the person who got cancelled can be very vulnerable to ad hominem remarks and bullying all with a seemingly common intent- to kill. In some cases, people often cancel each other in the comments or in the threads and end up fighting about who is right and wrong. Not only is it a moral concern, it can also be very taxing on the mental health of people. Stress can trigger bullets which may lead to the development of anxiety or depression.

The main point of the cancel culture is to educate but if it entails potentially harming people, that is a different story. Just because someone gets cancelled, it does not give a person a free pass to exclusively attack him/her in ways that are not even vital in the argument.

Cancel culture exists and its mere existence creates a very ironic duality on its purpose.

Educating people online does not need to be very brutal and taxing. It should always be the cause more than the person. Going beyond the argument reveals that if this culture continues, it is only going to get worse.

The battles people face online is a revolution but it does not have to leave scars and bullet holes. Although acting upon a certain situation is not easy, the principle of thinking before posting or responding to a post is.

Nowadays, the line that puts respect and weight on a person’s thoughts and ideas has seemed to be crossed in more ways than one-whether it is for the good or bad is totally up to you.

On the other hand, canceling definitely has some

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FEATURE

Pandemic Survival: Wisdom in Actions Ma. Jhiecel Cabatingan

A

s Covid-19 cases are getting higher day by day, our economy has been striving to fluctuate. Inflation rates are increasing, and necessary products are depleting. A sad reality today, some people do not die with the pandemic, but due to starvation. In moments like this, it seems life is becoming like a game; the longer we live it, the harder it gets.

For a working mother like Jenny, saving and strict budgeting are the principal actions to survive. According to her, the company she had been working at is undergoing a severe loss. Because of that, sustaining her child’s needs is difficult.

Motivated by these reasons, she minimized their expenses and started saving about 200-500 pesos per month. She also restricted herself to commit unnecessary purchases at online shopping platforms. This financial discipline goes gradual yet consistent. Eventually, it made her and her family manage their financial struggle.

How did Jenny cope up from the adversity? Simply be-

52 | HOPE

cause she is a wise consumer. Musthak (2014) defined Wise Consumerism as a process in which a consumer organizes efforts or activities in order to achieve satisfaction from problems or frustration. A wise consumer practically buys the basic needs, knows how to manage and use it effectively. According to a study conducted by Michael Luch, a wise consumer has five characteristics; intentionality, contemplation, emotional mastery, openness and transcendence. “They have learned how and when consumption promotes their well-being and values—and when it does not.”, Luch said in the article.

Our purchasing decision entirely depends on us. However, we should be mindful to our purchasing behavior and master the art of wise consumerism. Whether we face crisis or not, saving allows us to be financially capable during inconvenient times. Listed here below are the easiest tips you need to do to survive during the pandemic. Follow these tips and you’re ready to go!

PHOTO | ARVIN BUYSER

FEATURE

INFOGRAPHICS | LYKA MAE FILIPINAS

HOPE | 53

FEATURE

Soaring of green community through the pandemic Renalyn Torralba

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he Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has brought wondrous sentiments towards the society. A lot of things had happened and one of it was the conversion of plants as a home-based hobby and the turning point of plant business. An immense growth of plants can be seen on different social media platforms exhibited by their owners dubbed as “plant parents.”

54 | HOPE

“

This gardening craze has expanded all over the country and became the trendiest pastime.

There are certain places in the country with growing population of gardening enthusiasts. According to Philippine Information Agency such as in Ilocos Region, Kamula-- a developing online group for cultivation devotees as well as in La Union namely the Elyu Planterium.

There were also gimmicks in the same manner with rankings according on how many and how expert they are

when it comes in taking care of plants.

Requests stayed robust the way numerous Filipinos are discovering this new trend a type of revenue is certainly an invite advancement in the midst of rising unemployment. Gugs Pabon, the proprietor of SucculentsPH-- an online-based business which also have a physical store located at University of the

FEATURE Philippines said in their email interview with The Manila Times that they have noticed the outpouring about a week after Enhanced Community Quarantine began and come behind March. The situation was all about purchasing through the internet frantically with the differing order of their clients all through the pandemic particularly for soil mix and garden tools.

As well, Instagram-based plant and equipment Jayson Cainglet said that he saw an increment in the demand of plants in the pandemic as individual’s way of coping. In three years of business with the experiences from the agricultural sector, he said that he currently has the mastery on managing the business they began in 2017. They have their own contact for providers of plants, composts, and pesticides, and in any event, for pots and other equipment required for taking

care of plants. Notwithstanding, with the pandemic, they had a trouble sourcing and pricing the plants. The interest expanded yet sadly they experienced issues sourcing plants with the reasonable cost. Because of the increment of interest, a few costs of plants expanded to 200 to 300 percent or more.

This trend likewise has natural outcomes that might want to raise. Sending plant costs taking off and starting an ascent in poaching from public parks and protected forests. A portion of the plants on sale are sourced from the mountains and other remarkable environments, upsetting territories and conceivably further threatening plant species and the wild fauna that rely upon them for food and sanctuary. With scarcity and being valued in plant collecting, this fever may drive corrupt business people further into the forest

PHOTO | NICOLE LIGHT VILLABETO

looking for plants that will order excessive costs in both neighborhood and global business sectors. This only happened during lockdown.

Fortunately, Department of Environment and Natural Resources workplaces in numerous parts of the nation are detailing encroachments driven by the interest for these plants.

Plants have been the quarantine companions of the plant parents. Norma Karasig Villanueva, former president of the Philippine Horticultural Society said that the safest way to make one’s self happy is through growing little things. It gives them the most internal peace and assist them with staying positive in the course of the pandemic.

Intuitively, continually seeing and being around plants aid individuals with feeling calmer and relaxed, subsequently decreasing levels of anxiousness. Furthermore, in ABS-

CBN News, Psychologist Renz Argao said that dealing with plants is a method of engaging in positive activities that help individuals adapt with the pandemic. Taking care of plants have benefits with people’s prosperity likewise permit them to adapt. It may have similar advantages as other methods for dealing with stress but taking care of plants can improve the mental and physical aspect of a human.

Soaring of green community is still snapping up until today. The COVID-19 pandemic has influenced a greater part of viewpoints in many individuals’ lives. It has persuasively pushed people to make a type of bargain to firm themselves. People even now making progress of their plants and continue seek comfort from it. Nevertheless, being mindful of what kind of species they are buying is a must for their safety.

HOPE | 55

FEATURE Kimberly Piadoche

DO-RE-MI OF QUARANTINE From a carefree outdoor time to a prison-like downtime - out of the blue, it all changes.

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ho could have foreseen the scenarios we only witnessed in films taking place in real life? Doors are shut, streets are silent, and the whole world literally face covered. With the genesis of this pandemic, the lifestyles that we got used to are slowly becoming part of history books. In these days, the need to form a new lifestyle that suits this changing time is becoming more of a need—a safer one at that regard.

To look at the bright side of the spectrum, this quarantine period has given us more time on our hands than we ever had. Instead of spending it in worries of the long list that we cannot do outside, we can use this downtime to do the things we missed out and start forming a healthy lifestyle and for recreations.

To make worth of this period, here is a do-re-mi-fa-so-la-to-do list of productive yet simple ways to stay safe and healthy.

DO

MI

RE

FA

vegetable gardening

As the world gets easier, our everyday foods also turns handy from the malls or markets. Just an instant of shelling out money from your wallet and there it goes in your palms. It is during these days where it’s best to live the adage that goes “Growing your own food is like printing your own money.” It is also true to add that growing your own food is an investment to your own health and your family.

ad books

A growing body of research indicates the advantage of reading an actual book than e-books. To name a few, here are some benefits of reading that you would definitely need for yourself:. Reading books can build vocabulary, prevents cognitive decline, reduce stress, alleviate depression, boosts sleep and enhances imagination and empathy. If you are looking for ways to pour your time with entertainment and knowledge all at the same time, why not grab some book and be productive?

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nimize social media consumption

Staying informed about the development of the pandemic and communicating to the world is not bad, however, psychological dependence on social media could lead to anxiety and depression. If you think you have these conditions, put down your phone for a while and reflect. What are the things you failed to do due to excessive time on your phone screen?

mily quality time

When was the last time you got the chance to cuddle with your siblings in a marathon of your favorite movies?

Or bonding together without holding your cellphones?

Or just a long actual conversation with your mother and father? Now that you are stuck at the four corners of your house, it is time for quality moments! Indoor games like Mafia Game, Simon Says, Chinese Whisper and Hide-and-Seek is a great deal of time with your family. These simple home games can bring the sense of “home” in your family.

GRAPHICS | VERNON JIO VIAJAR

FEATURE

SO

TO

This is the best time to bring out the perfectionist in you.

DO

rt things in your room

One of the best views in your room is your things well-ordered. You have to array your things in accordance to your likes and interest. Like classifying your books by genre or by height. Pulling out the clothes in your closet and serve them a new set of arrangement. Or moving your study table to the other corner you desired for a fresh look. Placing your notebooks and other stationary in their proper places would also give you some kind of satisfaction.

LA

vish time on health

Health is always your wealth, especially in these times.

And to be healthy is a choice you could do to yourself.

Advice from doctors always includes drinking minimum of 8 glasses of water a day, getting enough sleep, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables and to be physically active to maintain a healthy body and well-being. Now that we are in this new kind of normalcy, washing hands, taking vitamin C to boost your immune system and putting mask on when going outside are added to the list.

p-up your piggy-bank

In these unprecedented times, being financially prepared makes all the difference. Like it or not, being wise on dealing with money is a must - pandemic or not.

Whether you are an employee, unemployed or a student, the loss of job and reduction of incomes has heavily affected your economic side. Now that we are facing this crisis, every penny you spend must be well thought of.

Apart from topping up your savings, it is also essential to prioritize your needs over your wants.

not just sit back

It would be such a waste to spend a lot of time writing these tips to maximize your time just for you to end up being a couch potato. Here’s the gist of it all: Get yourself out of that seat and start breaking some sweat! The comfort of our seats and bed may be the best things that we have in this new normalcy; but it is also in your comfort zone where you become most vulnerable to the attacks of your worst enemy— yourself. Don’t just sit there, at least do something fun.

Indeed, there are so many things we can do to maximize our time this quarantine period. And the good news is, it needs not to be expensive nor needs luxury materials to be productive. You can add yours to the list. The time on our hands is too lengthy to be spent on nothing.

Now, how about taking the list into action?

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‘Fan Girl’: Fantasy Turns into Nightmare Kimberly Piadoche

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ntoinette Jadaone’s Fan Girl made its way to the Tokyo Film Festival garnering positive reviews from the audience. The dark cinematography concept and atmosphere of the film remarks Jadaone’s career as one of the top romance director in the Philippines along with her works Never Not Love You, Love You to the Stars and Back and Alone/Together. Being in the field of romance-comedy genre for the past six years, her Fan Girl offers a new wide side of Jadaone to her regular audience.

Also deserving for the remarks is the new comer in films, Charlie Dizon, 24, who convincingly played the character of a precocious teenage girl while maintaining its naivety and susceptibility. Dizon did not show any nerves in her audacious performance which includes matured scenes along with her co-star Paulo Avelino.

The co-actor Paulo Avelino, gutsily plays himself, putting his name and body on the line, trusting the viewers to distinguish him from the Paulo Avelino in the film. Avelino, as expected from his previous projects, did not hold back to pull off the challenge of playing the rascal ,drug-addict and foul-mouthed role - an exact contrast of his character’s showbiz image.

The story gets off to an anticipating start with the obsessive psyche of the 16-year-old high school student Jane (Charlie Dizon) over her long-time idol.

Paulo Avelino. Eager to skip her class, she went to a mall show where Paulo and his screen partner Bea Alonzo promoted their latest film.

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Seeing her chance after the show, she impulsively stows away at the back of Paulo’s pick-up truck and hides under the posters. Paulo drives off unaware into a remote barrio until he reaches an abandoned villa. Following behind him in the dark is a scared and excited girl Jane up to inside the house. The scene becomes more suspenseful at this point raising multiple anticipation.

When Paulo found out her presence, he cursed a hostile welcome to the teenager. Feeling sorry Jane burst into tears, protesting she is her number 1 fan. After a few drinks of beer and casual conversation together the actor let the teenager stay the night. Jane, her close encounter with her hero takes a turn she has never expected.

adoration to his idol is her way of escaping her cruel truth but now her fantasy is completely over and gone.

This is arguably a nonconventional plot considering Jadaone’s obsession in sweet and romantic endings as shown in her most prominent movies. However, the plot may not be the usual plot we see in one of her masterpieces, but this movie surely delivered.

The final scenes disclose a dark side to the star and bring the fan girl back to reality. When her reality was shown - a poor and narrow neighborhood, a mother with her abusive boyfriend and no love for her - Jane had the viewer’s sympathy. It was revealed in the end that Jane’s

IMAGE SOURCES | NETFLIX

COMICS

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COMICS | RAFAELLA UTRERA & DAVID HERRERA

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DIBUHO ENGR. ISAGANI ROMA JR. RAFAELlA UTRERA VERNON JIO VIAJAR

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THE GOLD PANICLES - EDITORIAL BOARD AND STAFF 2020-2021

Jeremiah Napone - Technical Editor

Arvin Buyser - Editor in Chief

Vernon Jio Viajar - Creative Dir.

John Aissac Cejuela - News Editor

Marrol Lor Miole - Newsletter EIC

Renante Tabudlong - Managing Editor

Kim Louis Aro - Assoc. Man. Ed.

Arvin John Pene - Online Editor

Rafaella Utrera - Illustrations Dir.

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Richell Ann Abarico - Writer

Nicole Light Villabeto - Photography Dir.

Sean Audie Buscano - Photojournalist

Maita Angelica Arenas - Writer

Nikko Curayag - Writer

David Herrera - Illustrator

Milkah Lei Bungaos - Writer

Rolito Aloyon II - Writer

Weljun Gallardo - Photojournalist

Yannie Accompañado - Layout Artist

Lyka Filipinas - Layout Artist

Chloe Dumanon - Layout Artist

Mike Ferol - Writer

Jhiecel Cabatingan - Writer

Kimberly Piadoche - Writer

Renalyn Torralba - Writer

Regie Mark Mansigue - Writer

Xanthe Absalon - Photojournalist

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END

artists’ nook

DAVID HERRERA 64 | HOPE

artists’ nook

RAFAELLA UTRERA HOPE | 65

artists’ nook

RAFAELLA UTRERA 66 | HOPE

artists’ nook

JAMES ESQUEJO HOPE | 67

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