The GUIDON - March-April 2021 Year in Quarantine Special Issue: Finding recourse

Finding Recourse YEAR IN QUARANTINE SPECIAL

LAYOUT BY DANA LEE ILLUSTRATION BY JAYCOB BUSTAMANTE

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Finding recourse ILLUSTRATION BY ANDY GRANDA PHOTOS COURTESY OF JULIA CARPIO, JIM DASAL, AND NATE BOSANO

An ailing democracy

BY VINCENT HALOG AND FELICITY C. SANTOS

THE COUNTRY finds itself besieged on two fronts: Facing the COVID-19 pandemic and a government imputed to cripple democracy. Attempting to rescue this ailing democracy, student political organizations (SPOs) seized the frontlines of dissent amid threats from the government.

The passage of the Anti-Terrorism Law (ATL) and the abrogation of the University of the PhilippinesDepartment of National Defense accord further placed SPOs in peril of unjust arrest and red-tagging.

Amid these dangers, SPOs managed to survive and endure a year in quarantine. Be it on the streets or online, they continue to redefine the face of student dissent and the exercise of freedom.

STRIVING TO SURVIVE Free speech is one of the hallmarks of democracy. For SPOs, educational discussions provide space to reach more people and tackle political issues with them.

However, public health restrictions pushed these discussions to online platforms. “It’s so hard to organize events, to get people to attend [them], and to get the message across,” Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (SPARK) National Spokesperson John Lazaro notes.

For some other SPOs, however, building an online community was the challenge. Akbayan!

Youth - Loyola (A!YL) is among the political organizations that launched its online presence during quarantine. A!YL Chairperson Eddie Jolongbayan shares that their organization still tries to build rapport through weekly discussions among their members.

Despite the operational adjustments these SPOs had to make, Jolongbayan says they are committed to continuing their protests and educating their members online even if quarantine restrictions have already eased.

Aside from these physical limitations, SPOs had to grapple with the passage of ATL in the midst of a nationwide lockdown. “[The government wants] to suppress students’ rights and academic freedom,” says One Big Fight for Human Rights and Democracy (OBFHRD) Convener Heather Andres of the ATL. Amnesty International AsiaPacific Regional Director Nicholas Bequelin also said that this law

attempt to intimidate and discredit the youth. “[Red-tagging] certainly puts pressure on educational institutions, thereby threatening their academic freedom and institutional autonomy,” she states.

This threat is not without an example. Kabataan Party-List Youth - Katipunan Chairperson Marco Miguel Mañaol shared with The GUIDON that one of their members was red-tagged and harassed online by a trolloperated Facebook page. He noted that this constituent took time off from their organization activities after the incident.

Despite this experience, Mañaol asserts that their members are

a phenomenon explained to plague activists after consistent participation in demonstrations.

Aguirre also notes that online protesting has yet to reveal its “real potential.” He observes that these online engagements only inform audiences of what they already know, as online infrastructures are bubbles shared by like-minded users with similar political sentiments. These bubbles, also referred to as echo chambers, further shrink the spaces for productive discourse and growth among SPOs. Apart from fighting echo chambers, Jolongbayan highlights the importance of time management among student activists. He cites

priority for activist organizations as new issues come to light.

HAND IN HAND With safe spaces for discourse and demonstrations decreasing, SPOs turn to Ateneo as a stage for protest. Vice President for Social Development Rizalino Rivera emphasizes that the Ateneo will continue to welcome all political ideologies and practice academic freedom. Together with the Associate Dean for Student Formation Leland Dela Cruz, PhD, Rivera recommended a maximum tolerance policy to the Loyola Schools administration, which will allow student activists to mobilize on campus.

"We rely on the power of our unity and commitment to never allow ourselves [to be] intimidated and…cowered into silence."

SARAH ELAGO KABATAAN PARTY-LIST YOUTH - KATIPUNAN REPRESENTATIVE may ease the government’s efforts to arrest even its mildest critics.

The passage of the ATL is also complemented by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict’s red-tagging of several universities in the country, including the Ateneo. Red-tagging poses grave threat to persons and groups accused of being left-leaning, communists, or terrorists, says the Commission on Human Rights.

Kabataan Party-list Representative Sarah Elago maintains that red-tagging Philippine universities is an

not fearful, and are instead more driven to their cause. “I am part of the masses and they are one with me. If I am to be affected by the Terror Law, I’ll gladly accept it,” Mañaol says.

DISCORD AND DISSONANCE With these threats at hand, Political Science Instructor Arjan Aguirre fears that there may be an exhaustion of youth activism as demand for manpower in mobilizations increases. He explained that the enticement to dissent might lead students to experience mobilization fatigue,

this in light of other priorities such as family and academics.

Moreover, Mañaol amplifies that their mental health is also at risk as socio-political issues become more frustrating to deal with. While SPOs have been making efforts to address this through kumustahan nights and workshops, Lazaro sees that the mental health crisis will continue as the pandemic drags along.

Despite these internal struggles, SPOs still persistently move forward with their own principles and advocacy. Versatility, above everything else, has become a

On a University-wide scale, Rivera notes that efforts and partnerships with the Ateneo Law School and the Ateneo Human Rights Center are ongoing. This collaboration aims to provide free legal aid for Ateneans who find themselves in conflict with the law as they participate in protests.

Moreover, Rivera also states that Ateneo is in full cooperation with Congress in drafting policies concerning educational institutions and their academic rights. For bills related to redtagging and academic freedom, Rivera has attended congressional

"I am part of the masses and they are one with me.

If I am to be affected by the Terror Law, I’ll gladly accept it."

MARCO MIGUEL MAÑAOL KABATAAN PARTY-LIST YOUTH - KATIPUNAN CHAIRPERSON

hearings on behalf of University President Roberto Yap, SJ. With all these efforts and more, however, SPOs wish for more support and solid stances from the administration. SPARK and OBFHRD, among others, wish for the LS administration to shorten the process of raising concerns as national issues are becoming even more pressing. While the interviewed SPOs recognize that their actions and statements may not gather full agreement from the Ateneo administration, they remain willing to coordinate with the University.

Rivera states that they are determined to keep communication lines open with Ateneo SPOs. “I think it’s important to keep on talking and to keep on listening to one another,” says Rivera.

As the Duterte administration continues to cultivate a culture of red-tagging and suppression, Elago reminds the youth to protect the freedom of speech especially on issues concerning their future.

She sounds the alarm on the need to continue building a culture of empowerment in the opposition, as well as establishing safe spaces for dialogue.

In the end, movements such as those initiated by students and the youth are at the very center of upholding democracy especially in the face of suppression. Despite all the hindrances that come into play because of the pandemic, persistence remains the key in dissent. “We rely on the power of our unity and commitment to never allow ourselves [to be] intimidated and... cowered into silence,” says Elago, reaffirming the value of organizing.

The GUIDON | March - April 2021

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EMPTY. Jeepney drivers around Katipunan struggle to get a steady stream of passengers as quarantine restrictions continue to be in place in Metro Manila. PHOTO BY JERRY FENG

Shortchanged

BY RUSSELL LOUIS KU AND ROMULUS JATHNIEL DC CRUZ

WITH THE hustle and bustle of Katipunan, jeepneys play a pivotal role in students’ commute.

However, with less passengers flocking jeepney terminals due to quarantine restrictions, BalaraKatipunan Jeepney Operators Drivers Association (BKJODA) President Limuel Banta is struggling to earn decently even after driving up to 17 hours a day.

“Mas nahihirapan [ako ngayon] kasi lumiit [ang] kita ta’s sobrang mahal ng bilihin… tsaka kailangan mag-ingat nang sobra sa katawan para ‘di magkasakit (I am having a hard time right now because I’m earning little despite the expensive necessities. That's why I need to take care of my body so that I don’t get ill),” Banta shares.

Although Banta was able to return to work last December 2o2o, his sentiments represent the jeepney drivers’ persisting livelihood concerns and their struggle to support themselves in the long run.

ADJUSTING BOUNDARIES Even before the pandemic, an existing boundary system charged drivers a fixed amount of their income for vehicles’ rental fee from jeepney operators. The system forces competition as drivers rush to fit more passengers in seats and work longer hours to get decent wages.

The COVID-19 pandemic only aggravated drivers’ woes as the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine banned jeepney vehicles for at least four months as part of the suspension on mass transportation services last March 2o2o.

Beyond pandemic-related concerns, the Department of Transportation remains steadfast in its bid to “modernize existing transport services” through the Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) modernization program. The plan has long drawn the ire of

jeepney workers due to the high costs required to purchase modern jeepneys.

Despite the drivers’ opposition, the La nd Tra nspor tation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) was pushing for operators to consolidate their fleets by March 31 as part of its initial steps towards a gradual jeepney phaseout. The move to form cooperatives that will oversee the operation and maintenance of vehicles has been delayed twice from the original June 2o2o deadline.

Although some jeepney drivers temporarily returned to the roads last November 2o2o, their source of income remains unstable as they continue to rely on the volume of passengers. BKJODA Board Member Neil Jamelarin shares that the lack of passengers and boundary fees could mean having little to no profit for the day compared to his daily wage of Php 8oo prior to the pandemic. “Sa [operator] ko Php 15o… sa’kin Php 15o, Diesel pa na Php 15o (Php 15o for my operator, Php 15o for myself, and Php 15o for Diesel),” he adds.

These low wages, spanning from Php 15o to Php 2oo a day for two trips, forced Jamelarin to extend his working hours and get an additional round for a decent income. He shares that drivers in the association would randomly decide at 3 AM on who gets the needed extra trip.

Even with the jeepneys’ temporary return, drivers such as UP-Katipunan-K-Mart Jeepney Operators Drivers Association (KKJODA) member Jermin De Guzman are still unable to get back on the road, forcing some drivers to switch jobs.

“Malaki po ang epekto sa akin ng pandemya kasi po napipilitan akong lumayo sa pamilya ko para sa ibang trabaho at may [nababalitaan] pa kami na tuluyan na raw i-phase out ang aming jeep na ikinabubuhay [ng aming] pamilya (The pandemic has

a big effect on me because I had to move away from my family for another job. We heard that the jeep that our family relies on [for livelihood] will be phased out),” De Guzman explains.

SUPPORT FROM THE HILL As a response to the worsening plight of jeepney drivers in Katipunan, Vice President of Social Development Rizalino Rivera shares that the University donated at least two rounds of food packs to jeepney drivers from BKJODA and KKJODA. Rivera also adds that the Ateneo Center for Educational Development (ACED) has hired jeepney drivers to help deliver relief goods to their partner communities during quarantine. He emphasizes that they will continue to tap them for future efforts.

Alongside this, concerned Atenean students and alumni created initiatives such as Para: Online Ukay for a Cause and Kilos Kapwa at the height of the enhanced community quarantine to provide immediate relief for jeepney workers. Both initiatives gathered donations through fundraising efforts and posting their stories on social media to raise public awareness of the jeepney drivers’ plight.

Kilos Kapwa co-founder and Office for Social Concern and Involvement formator Juin Ancha says that they chose the jeepney drivers to build collective solidarity among the Ateneo community by responding to the sector’s long-standing issues.

In an effort to improve drivers’ long-term welfare, the Move As One Coalition—a collective of advocates fighting for a humane transportation system in the Philippines—pushed to replace the boundary system with service contracting. The policy guarantees public transport drivers fixed income from the government

based on kilometers driven on the road and has been implemented nationwide by the LTFRB last October 2o2o.

However, De Guzman is distrustful of service contracting given the government’s strict implementation of the PUV modernization program. “Hindi po ako pabor sa jeepney modernization… tapos, kontrolado pa nila ang kita naming mga driver (The government will be controlling our wages despite the fact that I am against jeepney modernization),” he says.

In light of this, Move As One Coalition Secretary-General Hyacenth Bendaña recognizes that more work needs to be done to convince drivers to establish trust towards the government, especially with paying them on time.

STANDING IN SOLIDARITY Despite the emergence of community fundraising efforts, some drivers may not be able to wait for additional temporary relief to support their families.

Bendaña questions the impact of Atenean-led donations efforts, noting that they bear little effect in addressing the sector’s needs.

Beyond engagement, Bendaña adds that although it is important to bring awareness to the jeepney sector, she asserts that the Ateneo community needs to take bolder action to influence the debates on these concerns.

“Iba kasi iyung kilos na talagang nakikiisa ka sa sektor at sa pinagdadaanan ng sektor and a lot of Ateneo students have yet to do that (Being in solidarity with the struggles of the sector is really different and a lot of Ateneo students have yet to do that),” Bendaña explains.

Never theless, Ja mela r in expresses that although he is thankful that the fundraising efforts helped his family survive during quarantine, he asserts that donations are not sustainable.

“Kapos pa rin kasi sa mga bills namin sa araw-araw, dito sa bahay, bayarin namin sa tubig at kuryente. Hindi sapat. Iba pa rin kasi yung may biyaheng araw-araw (It’s not enough because of our water and electricity bills at home.

Having a daily working job is still essential),” he shares.

Likewise, Bendaña affirms that jeepney drivers deserve long-term assistance from their fellow countrymen such as social security and health insurance, among others to ensure a sustainable and secure life for themselves and their loved ones.

“Let our voice add up to theirs in demanding for better rights…for better welfare… [and] to be treated [humanely],” Bendana adds.

In the meantime, jeepney drivers such as De Guzman continue to hope for things to go back to normal when they could earn enough to sustain themselves. “Excited kami na makapasok sa Ateneo tsaka po… ‘yung turing [ng Ateneans] sa amin ay hindi iba, parang kapamilya iyun turing nila sa amin (We’re excited to enter Ateneo once more.

They make us feel like we’re not different, like we’re part of their family),” De Guzman shares.

Let our voice add up to [theirs] in demanding for better rights… for better welfare… [and] to be treated [humanely].

HYACENTH BENDAÑA MOVE AS ONE COALITION SECRETARY-GENERAL

CONTRAST. Empty jeepneys remain parked inside the terminal along the bustling streets of Katipunan. PHOTO BY JERRY FENG

“Malaki po ang epekto sa akin ng pandemya kasi po napipilitan akong lumayo sa pamilya ko para sa ibang trabaho at may [nababalitaan] pa kami na tuluyan na raw i-phase out ang aming jeep na ikinabubuhay [ng aming] pamilya.”

JEEPS FOR RELIEF. Some jeepney drivers were hired for relief operations when needed. However, this is only temporary as many of them remain displaced due to the pandemic. PHOTO BY JERRY FENG

JERMIN DE GUZMAN UP-KATIPUNAN-K-MART JEEPNEY OPERATORS DRIVERS ASSOCIATION (KKJODA) MEMBER

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Finding recourse

Settling scores

BY PIOEE B. BASSIG, PATRICIA NICOLE M. MEJIA AND DERYN VENTILACION

WHILE THE discovery of a COVID-19 vaccine may have ushered a more promising end to the pandemic, questions regarding the Philippines’ road to economic recovery abound. Totalling Php 9.79 trillion at 2o2o’s tail end, the large increase in government debt due to the economic recession has raised concerns regarding its sheer size. With this, the government’s use and management of debt will be consequential in relieving Filipinos of the pandemic’s economic blows.

In contrast to public confusion on debt, several experts have repeatedly argued in favor of the government increasing borrowings to fund economic efforts that relieve lower socio-economic strata. Before the 2o21 budget was crafted, economists noted that there is fiscal leeway to maximize loans in order to further encourage consumer spending.

FEARS FROM THE PAST Although the last decade witnessed a relatively stable and prog ressive economy, public unease surrounding debt persists. This anxiety is rooted in the country’s turbulent and painful past, when government borrowing sprees in the mid1970s to the early 1980s signaled a troubling time for the nation.

At the height of his power, the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos increased public debt from 3o million USD in 1962 to 28.3 billion USD in 1986. While the money funded many government projects such as the San Juanico Bridge,

the country barely reaped the economic rewards as debt thrice exceeded the average gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate. As international reserves dwindled, import-reliant industries shut down—forcing Filipinos to suffer from the high cost of goods.

Meanwhile, Marcos granted loyal cronies command of key industries to create a monopolized private sector. Rampant corruption in public infrastructure projects such as the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant further hindered economic development.

The mismanagement of debt, along with the inf luence of external factors such as rising global interest rates, plunged the country into the 1983 Debt Crisis, where Marcos requested a moratorium on foreign principal payments. The three-month postponement extended for more than a year, straining the country’s relationship with international creditors. During this period, the economy took a downturn as the manufacturing sector went into distress, investment plummeted, and underemployment rose.

To this day, the Philippines is still reeling from the Marcos administration’s f ina ncia l missteps—along with citizens shouldering the burden of interest payments from its loans until 2o25.

PRIME INTERESTS 35 years after Marcos’ martial law, President Rodrigo Duterte claims the country is sinking “deeper and deeper” in debt. With mass vaccination estimated to

"The capacity is there—it’s you and me and everyone else. We are the capacity of the economy to pay. If we are not doing anything, then the economy will have a problem."

begin in the third quarter of 2o21, the Philippines finds itself in a deadlock—seemingly between public health and the economy.

With this, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted both monetary and fiscal problems within the country. According to Ateneo Center for Economic Research and Development Director Alvin Ang, PhD, pandemic conditions have disrupted regular relations between producers and consumers, inflicting heavy tolls on income and mobility.

32% or Php 2.864 trillion out of the Php 9.8 trillion worth of debt amassed since the pandemic’s onset originate from international non-governmental organizations.

For a country with a history of foreign debts, the sizable amount of this figure may appear alarming.

However, these foreign loans were mostly sourced from the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank—both international organizations that do not lend money to countries without a sufficient investment grade. “They have rated us as investment grade, meaning we are a country that can borrow… and can repay all our debts,” Ang stated.

Ang added that the Php 9.8 trillion figure was still less than 2o% of the country’s GDP. The bulk of the dues consisted of domestic debt, which is amassed when the government borrows from citizens through bank treasury bills. Ang noted that because of this, the state would

encourage higher spending in order to collect taxes and repay the accumulated domestic debt.

Balancing foreign and domestic debt are both highlighted as strategies for financial management—especially amid emergency situations. In a public health crisis that has caused rapid economic decline, and even overwhelmed and spread the working sector thin, financial limitations have become sidelined.

“These limitations, generally you have to set them aside to pumpprime the economy,” Ang stated.

A mid shock ing f ig u res aggravating the countr y’s economic burdens, Ang clarified that the country customarily repays its debts and would therefore not borrow without the capacity to repay its creditors. This is reflected in the Philippines’ investment grade and creditor nation status under the International Monetary Fund.

Presidential Decree No. 1177 or the Automatic Appropriations Law also automatically ensures that a portion of the national budget is allocated for debt servicing. This highlights financial safeguards and stable economic patterns that may provide a source of relief to the concerned Filipino citizen.

A BALANCING ACT As far as any visible effects incurred debt may have on Filipinos, Ang stressed that F i l ipi no s will

not be severely affected by the eventual process of paying off loans. What concerns Ang is how Filipinos, producers and consumers alike, will respond to the government’s efforts to stimulate the economy. If such efforts are unsuccessful, Ang noted the government may need to borrow more—however, this might not be a viable option. “... the government [has already] set targets—[they] only borrow [up until this] point. They have to raise the rest through other means,” Ang says.

A holistic understanding of debt in the economy, then, is necessary. As Ang suggested, debt cannot be seen in isolation; it must be considered relative to the nation’s capacity to pay its dues.

“The capacity is there—it’s you and me and everyone else. We are the capacity of the economy to pay.

If we are not doing anything, then the economy will have a problem.”

Given the slow pace of the economy’s recovery, Ang stressed that it will be imperative for the government to maximize its options in stimulating economic activity.

While consumer confidence is currently on the upswing, Ang remarked that it is not rising at an ideal rate. To supplement the government’s efforts, he regarded that a good public communication campaign is necessary in the current context in order to further build economic trust.

Ultimately, the economy’s recovery cannot be seen as separate from issues concerning

public health. As Ang emphasized, producer a nd consu mer confidence will not be restored if the virus still lurks, stoking fear and preventing Filipinos from participating freely in economic activities. If the pandemic is not contained, then efforts to relieve economic misery will be for naught.

Apart from strengthening its vaccination program, the government also bears the responsibility of letting Filipinos know where their money is going. While incurring debt is necessary, it remains to be seen whether the borrowed funds are spent correctly, and this is where Filipinos must demand transparency from their leaders.

This anxiety is rooted in the country’s turbulent and painful past, when government borrowing sprees in the mid1970s to the early 1980s signaled a troubling time for the nation.

ALVIN P. ANG, PHD ATENEO CENTER FOR ECONOMIC RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

ILLUSTRATION BY FELIZIA TIBURCIO

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Protecting student activists Sanggu drafts Socio-political Safeguarding Bill to address students’ safety concerns

BY ZOEY C. ATILLO AND ELLY ADLAWAN

IN A bid to protect Loyola Schools (LS) students from “socio-political harassment,” the Sanggunian School of Social Sciences (SOSS) is drafting the Socio-political Safeguarding Bill with the Council of Organizations of the Ateneo - Manila (COA-M) and the Sanggunian Commission on Socio-political Development (CSPD).

This development came at a time when recent red-tagging incidents occurred in the LS due to a mass student strike protesting the government’s response to the 2o2o typhoons and the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to these incidents, the Bill will include a Socio-political Harassment Helpdesk and the appointment of the Sanggunian’s own legal counsel.

SOSS Representative TJ Alcantara added that the Bill is currently in its early drafting stages, but they expect to file the Bill in April and implement its initiatives

by May. As of press time, the Bill is still undergoing consultations with the University administration, legal experts, and numerous student activist organizations.

PROGRESS AND PROCESSES Alcantarafirstintroducedtheideaof theBilltoSOSS,theSanggunianCentral Assembly, the Ateneo Assembly, and the CSPD before the first semester of AY 2o2o-2o21 began. He then officially announced the creation of the Bill in Novemberfollowingthegovernment’s poor response to the recent calamities.

“I think that’s the main essence

RIGHT TO FIGHT. Due to the recent news of red-tagging within the Loyola Schools community, the Sanggunian’s Socio-political Safeguarding Bill was drafted to provide safety for student activists. PHOTO BY PAULINA SINGH

of this Bill—to politicize people, to encourage people to become more political and in a sense, to cultivate the true Atenean in us, to become men and women for others,” Ateneo Assembly Executive Director for Politicization Ryan Gorospe stated.

Sanggunian Commissioner on Socio-political Development Jannele Jimenez added that the Bill is currently in its early stages—its implementation with the University administration and student organizations is still being discussed.

To gather insights regarding the Bill, the technical working group consulted with Vice President for Social Development Rizalino Rivera, LS Legal Counsel Atty. Nina SisonArroyo, Associate Dean for Student Formation Leland Dela Cruz, Kabataan Partylist - Katipunan, One Big Fight for Human Rights and Democracy, and the Akbayan Youth - Loyola.

“Basically, what’s going on right now is a series of consultations about what the Ateneo can do and what kind of help activists would need. [...] So, what the Bill contains isn’t necessarily set in stone yet, because we want the Bill to be grounded, like the realities on the ground,” Alcantara explained.

PRIMARY INITIATIVES As part of the Bill’s initiatives, Gorospe said that the Socio-political Harassment Helpdesk has three major goals: Establish an efficient support system for student activists, respond to student complaints, and coordinate issues on students’ socio-political engagements.

Alcantara said that students who experience socio-political harassment may approach the Helpdesk, and then the Sanggunian can file a case report to the appropriate University office.

Jimenez also mentioned that

“We really need consultation, research to supplement this. Ayaw rin naman namin na gumawa lang ng Bill na very vague, or gumawa lang because of pressure.”

TJ ALCANTARA INTERIM SANGGUNIAN SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES (SOSS) REPRESENTATIVE

Class of 2o21’s graduation to be held virtually in October

BY JUANCHO BELISANO

LEAVING THE NEST. As the country remains in quarantine due to COVID-19, plans for Ateneo de Manila University Class of 2021’s graduation ceremony are currently still being discussed. PHOTO BY RANZ D. SANTOS

SPORTS

PERIODization training

COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES for the Class of 2o21 will be held virtually in light of community quarantine restrictions, Vice President for the Loyola Schools (VPLS) Maria Luz Vilches announced during the Seniors Forum in December 2o2o.

According to Universit y Physician Dr. Norman Dennis

FEATURES

Reinventing the local limelight

Marquez, on-site graduation will be “a high-risk event” given the significant number of COVID-19 cases in the country. Associate Dean for Student Administrative Ser v ices a nd Graduation Committee Chair Ma. Joy Salita added that holding an on-site graduation will depend on the guidelines of the Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases and Commission on Higher Education.

BEYOND LOYOLA

Beneath your nose

students can acquire permits for on-campus socio-political engagements and mobilizations through this Helpdesk.

Alcantara added that the Sanggunian is still deciding on how students can access the Helpdesk through online platforms. “We’re still deciding what [online platform] is easier. Do we make a page that is devoted to being a Helpdesk like Regcom, or do we just create multiple entry points?” he said.

Moreover, he ex plained that their legal counsel will advise the student on the best legal response against the harassment. He noted that the legal counsel will also review the Sanggunian’s socio-political statements and documents to ensure that these comply with the Sanggunian’s mandates and functions.

Meanwhile, Gorospe said that the BluePrint for Socio-political

Engagement and the Bill is a “perfect combination” because they can assist each other in fostering greater socio-political engagement in the LS and protecting these student engagements from politicallymotivated harassment.

Given these limitations, Ateneo AEGIS and the Ateneo Seniors’ Alliance (SA) 2o21 are currently planning online graduation-related initiatives to ensure a proper send-off to seniors.

stated that offices need to i m med iately pre pa re for intersession classes after AY 2o2o-2o21 ends in June. Likewise, departments now have more time to handle graduation-related activities such as appeals for change of grade and selection for class valedictorian.

However, Banzuela clarified that seniors will already be considered graduates in the first week of June, given that they pass all their academic requirements. Once deemed graduates, they may already request for their diplomas and Transcript of Records.

COMMENCING THE CEREMONY Ateneo SA 2o21 Chairperson Gideon Banzuela said that the tentative date for the Class of 2o21’s graduation is on October 1o.

He explained that seniors typically end the second semester earlier than the other undergraduates, but they cannot adopt a similar setup this year due to the quarterly system.

Salita and University Registrar Joaquin Agtarap, MBA also

INQUIRY

Stepping towards immunity

HURDLES AND COMPLICATIONS In the process of formulating the Bill, Alcantara said that the technical working group has encountered challenges with regard to the Sanggunian’s capacity to provide socio-political as sistance. Similarly, Gorsope added that specifying the Bill’s definitions and provisions is challenging.

“Importante talaga malaman kung anong pwedeng sakop nitong Bill, anong pwede natin gawin with our resources, with our mandate, SANGGU DRAFTS › 5

CLASS OF 2021 › 5

OPINION

Spare change

2

News

OPTIONS PROVIDED. Given the pandemic and the suspension of on-site internships, alternative practicum opportunities will have to be proposed in order for students to experience a work environment. PHOTO BY DAISY LINGAHAN (SOURCED FROM ATENEO LSOPCS)

Alternative programs to be implemented in lieu of on-site practicum

BY JILLIAN LOPEZ

THE OFFICE of the Associate Dean for Student Formation suspended on-site practicum until December 2o21 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, prompting practicum coordinators to prepare alternative online programs for graduate and undergraduate students.

According to the Loyola Schools Office of Placement and Career Services (LSOPCS) Director Ronald Rodriguez, these alternative programs will prepare students for careers in various industries through online classes, webinars, and work-from-home internships.

PREPARING FOR PRACTICUM Associate Dean for Student Formation Leland Dela Cruz, PhD explained that the Loyola Schools (LS) administration suspended on-site practicum until December 2o21 as nationwide herd immunity might not be achieved this year.

“I remember asking [LS administrators] whether we should have the [suspension] until intersession only or just do it for the entire year. We just thought we should do it for the entire school year. Anyway, if, by some miracle, things improve after intersession, we can always just withdraw the policy,” he said.

Dela Cruz added that the LS administration hopes to prepare

PHOTOS BY DAISY LINGAHAN (SOURCED FROM ATENEO LSOPCS)

students for online practicum by immediately informing them about its policy and procedures.

Rodriguez said that they have already begun disseminating relevant documents such as the memorandum of agreement and the training contract to help students secure their practicum courses this intersession.

The University will also host an online job fair in April to give students more company options for their internships. To inquire about student internship offers, the LSOPCS contacted different partner companies that have previously joined Ateneo’s career fairs or requested job postings.

“So hopefully that would make the process a little bit easier rather than cramming ever y t h ing by June. So at least as early as possible, we have identified host companies and students can already initially apply. At least they will have an idea whether they already have a place where to go,” Rodriguez said.

ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS Rodriguez claimed that regular office hours will still be followed by students, but host companies may adjust the work hours given the remote environment. Since they are still student interns, he added that working overtime is not allowed even with the current online set-up.

“Just the same in an office: You won’t be talking to anyone straight from 9 [AM] to 5 [PM], ‘di ba? So companies and the students and the internship coordinators can look into these details,” he shared.

According to Dela Cruz, the LS administration consulted with the Sanggunian and practicum coordinators in AY 2o19-2o2o to craft academic guidelines in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said that last school year’s policies on remote internships will also be carried out in 2o21.

For example, he said that the Political Science Department conver ted its intersession internship to an online class discussing career experiences with speakers such as Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto.

Additionally, the Department of Information Systems and Computer Science contacted different companies that gave practicum students project assignments to work on under the faculty’s supervision. Dela Cruz also said that some School of Science and Engineering departments decided to redesign their internships into online laboratory classes.

“The practicum is actually handled by the different departments and programs, except that we felt like [the LS administration] had to come up with the policy last year with respect to how internships or practicum will be managed. So I think, essentially, [the policy] would be the same,” he shared.

In terms of adjustments, we need to prepare for the possibility that companies might not be able to accommodate internships in a remote format because some industries were affected, and their need for interns [was] not available.

RONALD RODRIGUEZ LOYOLA SCHOOLS OFFICE OF PLACEMENT AND CARRER SERVICES DIRECTOR

INTERNSHIP CHALLENGES Despite making the necessar y adjustments for online practicum, Rodriguez shared that it was still difficult to look for host companies accepting student interns. “In terms

of adjustments, we need to prepare for the possibility that companies might not be able to accommodate internships in a remote format because some industries were affected, and their need for interns [was] not available,” he said.

He also added that poor internet connectivity would make the work-from-home arrangement difficult for students since they may be required to regularly attend online meetings and work on projects.

According to Dela Cruz, the high number of junior students required to take practicum this year is also a challenge. He added that more degree programs such as those under the English Department are now required to take practicum due to the new curriculum’s requirements.

With this, both Rodriguez and Dela Cruz said that simulating a work environment similar to on-site internships would be difficult to do online. However, they both hope that students can still learn from the program despite the online adjustments. “[Online practicum] would still be helpful because [students] would get an opportunity to work with professionals from different industries, hopefully to be mentored by them and gain insights on [...] the world of work [...],” Rodriguez said.

EDITOR: LEIKA GOLEZ | LAYOUT ARTIST: NEIL R. REYES

3

PHOTO BY LORENZO CORRO

Online Learning Exchange Program launched as JTA alternative amid safety concerns

BY ANNA PINEDA

THE OFFICE of International Relations (OIR) launched the Online Learning Exchange Program (OLEP) to maximize internationalization opportunities given the suspension of the physical Junior Term Abroad (JTA) program for AY 2o21–2o22.

A n on line a lter nat ive to the JTA program, the OLEP includes Inbound and Outbound prog ra ms for Inter nationa l Exchange Students (IXS) and Loyola Schools (LS) students respectively. However, while OL E P O u tb o u n d w i l l b e arranged for local students, Vice President for University and Global Relations Jose Cruz, SJ and OIR Director Karen Sunico mentioned that it is currently u nava ilable because t he University’s partner institutions are not offering online courses for AY 2o21–2o22.

“However, while vaccines are a potent tool, they do not guarantee resolution of the pandemic.”

JOSE CRUZ VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY AND GLOBAL RELATIONS

Cruz and Sunico also said that the University is one of the few institutions in the country that opened their regular online courses to IXS. They added that the OLEP aims to provide students with an “international academic experience” in view of safety concerns amid the pandemic.

OLEP INBOUND Regarding the IXS application process, Cruz and Sunico said that OLEP Inbound’s requirements, ad m ission schedu les , a nd appl ic at ion pro cesses a re identical to the regular mobility program. They added that the registration processes, student services, and policies are also similar to the face-to-face setup of LS students.

They said that OLEP Inbound’s applications for the Fall Semester will remain open until April 3o, while nominations a nd applications for the Spring Semester 2o22 will open from July 15 to September 3o.

Currently, there are 16 IXS from Belgium, Brunei, China, France, Italy, Japan, and Spain enrolled for the Spring Semester. “Launching [...] the Online Learning Exchange Program will help our [...] local students interact w ith the exchange students and kind of get a better idea of what is going on outside the local context,” Ateneo St udent E xcha nge Council (ASEC) President Hannah Co said.

However, Cruz and Sunico also noted that the IXS faces drawbacks in the online setup due to varying time zones. To address this, Sunico said that the OIR guides IXS to choose “friendlier” class time slots during registration.

Meanwhile, Co said that ASEC continues to introduce IXS to Atenean culture through various culminating activities.

For example, the OIR and ASEC launched the International Member Orientation Seminar for

IXS on January 19, which is similar to its local counterpart, Freshmen Orientation Seminar.

JTA CANCELLATION Despite the administration’s ef for ts to prov ide online internationalization opportunities, Co commented that the OLEP is not a fulfilling replacement for the physical JTA. “If I were in the shoes of the JTA students, it’d be nice to still interact with students from other countries. [...] But at the same time, there’s that challenge [...] to adjust to the time that they’re taking their classes on top of everything that’s going on right now,” Co said.

The administration initially prepared for the JTA program’s resumption in 2o2o, but they still decided to cancel the program due to current health and safety conditions such as the emergence of new COVID-19 strains. Co added that the administration’s decision ultimately prioritized students’ safety.

Sunico also shared that partner institutions were “poised to resume student mobility” for LS students in November 2o2o, but they insisted on suspending mobility programs due to health and safety concerns worldwide.

She explained that partner u n iversit ies a re c u r rent ly expecting to resume nominations for delivering programs on-site for Fall 2o21.

“Partner universities are understandably careful too in committing to the delivery of mobility programs given the volatility of health situations and attendant border control issues,” Cruz and Sunico added.

In the meantime, the OIR said that they are coordinating with the Commission on Higher Education, partner universities, and their respective embassies to receive updates on available student exchange programs.

Sunico added that the OIR

constantly monitors advisories regarding international travel and their partner institutions’ exchange programs.

NEXT RESUMPTION While Cruz said that JTA in its physical mobility may resume in AY 2o22-2o23, they may still call for another suspension depending on government restrictions. Upon possible resumption, students w ill undergo the sta nda rd application process.

A dd it ion a l l y, C r u z a nd Sunico said that these outbound opportunities will be hosted only by partner institutions that have adequate protocols that address health concerns.

Ultimately, Cruz and Sunico said that the resumption of the physical JTA program depends on vaccine distribution and efficacy. “Vaccines are an important component in multi-pronged responses to COVID-19. However, while vaccines are a potent tool, they do not guarantee final resolution of the pandemic,” they stated.

Launching [...] the Online Learning Exchange Program will help our [...] local students interact with the exchange students and kind of get a better idea of what is going on outside the local context.

HANNAH CO ATENEO STUDENT EXCHANGE COUNCIL (ASEC) PRESIDENT

JUNIOR TERM ONLINE. Ateneo Student Exchange Council “Buddy Mixer” participants met their international partners for the first time last January 19.

4

News

PHOTO ESSAY

Loyola Gaming builds virtual campus LSCampusCraft amid quarantine

BY PATRICIA YAP SCREENSHOTS BY JASON T. MARIANO

AFTER QUARANTINE guidelines rendered the Loyola Schools (LS) campus inaccessible to the LS population, Loyola Gaming built LSCampusCraft—a detailed recreation of the college campus that LS community members can virtually roam.

To enter LSCampusCraft, LS students and alumni must use their OBF emails to answer Loyola Gaming’s registration form. Upon receiving a confirmation email with the necessary login details, users can enter the virtual campus free of charge.

Loyola Gaming Chief Communications Officer Lorenzo Bonifacio said that they also admit faculty members on an ad hoc basis. He revealed that they are working on a secondary form that’s accessible to faculty members and “easy-to-maneuver” for less tech savvy members. The form should be out within March.

Bonifacio shared that the v irtual campus was built from October to December 2o2o. This building process was divided into three phases: Construction, administration negotiations, and launch.

During the first phase, 53 student volunteers and alumni aided in the construction of LSCampusCraft.

A f ter wards, the organization approached the Universit y administration for the project’s approval, and the Department of Information Systems and Computer Science and the University Marketing and Communications Office offered their endorsement.

The Office of Student Activities and the Office of Student Services also implemented rules and reg ulations to ensure a secure virtual environment.

Upon completing the first two phases, Loyola Gaming officially opened LSCampusCraft sign-ups on January 18. 47o students registered to be included in the server. Loyola Gaming later launched the server on January 22, and there were already 89 active users in the virtual campus the following week.

Bonifacio also said that Loyola Gaming hopes the virtual campus will be used to host traditional events such as the Freshmen Orientation Seminar, the Council of Organizations of the Ateneo Recruitment Week, and graduations.

To ensure a comfortable online campus experience, Loyola Gaming regularly updates the server. Additionally, Loyola Gaming invited more LS students to volunteer in improving the server and handling LSCampusCraft social media posts.

Sanggu drafts... 5 The GUIDON | March - April 2021

with our powers right now,” Alcantara said.

(It is important to know the feasible scope of the Bill, what we can do with our resources, and the powers and mandate we have as the Sanggunian.)

He also said that some Sanggunian members found it difficult to balance their academics alongside the drafting of the Bill, especially because recent redtagging incidents pressured the members to finish the legislation more quickly. Gorospe also said that because they started the drafting process late, the Bill might be “shelved” when the new set of officers end the interim term.

To address these issues, Alcantara claimed that they will continue consulting with the University administration a nd yout h org a n izations regarding these problems.

“We really need consultation, research to supplement this.

Ayaw rin naman namin na gumawa lang ng Bill na very vague, or gumawa lang because of pressure.”

HIGH HOPES Despite these limitations, Gorospe stressed that the Bill is even more important with the upcoming 2o22 National Elections,

as political polarization might cause the number of socio-political harassment cases to rise.

Gorospe also added that he hopes the Bill will effectively protect students’ political rights and inspire them to be more politically participative. “People say that we’re apathetic, maybe in how they define it, but [...] politics should be personal. Your politics [...] must come from how you understand [it],” he said.

On the other hand, Alcantara hopes that this Bill will prompt the University administration to “lead the charge” on socio -politica l initiatives.

Similarly, Jimenez said that this Bill will ideally help the Sa ngg unia n mobilize a nd empower g rassroots i n it i a t i ve s i n t he L S , as well as provide spaces for future socio-political initiatives to flourish. “[Our] hope is that it kind of assuages the fear that’s kind of woven into not just the Atenean community but like the Philippines at large, [...] that [it] doesn’t just get to help people in a technical way but [...] also shift the sentiment and the feeling of the Ateneo community towards a more conscious politicization,” she said.

Class of 2o21...

To ensure proper representation of the graduating batch, Banzuela assured that they aim to hold frequent consultations with seniors. “We would [want to] make the final months [of the year] and our graduation as meaningful, as exciting, and as fun. And we would think of creative ways and try our best to do that,” he said.

Banzuela added that they already gave the Board of Trustees a list of preferred commencement speakers, Baccalaureate Mass homilists, and graduation themes based on the results of the seniors’ survey in January. SA also plans to give seniors a proper send-off through a batch video or memory walls.

Salita said that other specific plans for the commencement exercises will still be announced by the Office of the VPLS as the Graduation Committee h a s not ye t convened .

“It’s frustrating sometimes that we can’t do the usual things seniors do, but I assure everyone that you are consulted from time to time.”

GIDEON BANZUELA SENIORS’ ALLIANCE ‘20-’21 CHAIRPERSON

ADJUSTING THE PROCESS According to Ateneo AEGIS’ yearbook schedule, graduation pictorials will begin in April.

Ateneo AEGIS Editor-in-Chief Enzo Pisig shared that it is difficult to find a venue for on-site photoshoots as the Seniors’ Pulse responses revealed that many seniors are currently not in Metro Manila.

“Hindi naman siya limitation pero it’s more of an additional consideration for us [because] they are still part of the batch that we serve and [...] we also have to think of ways that we can still cater to them,” he said.

Pisig also clarified that on-site photoshoots will not necessarily be conducted on campus due to its strict safety protocols, so their current priority is to find the studio most accessible to seniors.

“We want a studio that will be able to cater to all our requirements.

We want a studio that will be accessible to the students and give us flexibility in terms of the options that we offered,” he said.

Pisig added that those in other provinces or countries may take their photos at home. Ateneo AEGIS’ chosen studio will direct students in taking their photographs and edit the pictures for visual cohesiveness. “[For] those who would want to take their photos at home, we want to [...] give them guidelines in terms of how to pose, ano yung lighting, ano yung angle,” he added.

Ateneo AEGIS hopes to release photoshoot guidelines and sign-up processes mid-March. Pisig also said that they plan to digitize some parts of the yearbook depending on the final Seniors’ Pulse results.

Pisig reassured that they are consulting with both the student body and the administration to establish thorough planning for yearbook-related matters. “We had to prepare our team to have that mindset [that] whatever it was before, it doesn’t necessarily have to be how it will be this year,” he said.

BIDDING FAREWELL Amidst all the setbacks, Pisig commended the students’ patience in adjusting to the online setting.

“We’re rooting for you. [...] Even with all of [the restrictions], we still understand the importance of a toga photo [...] which is why we really want to make this whole process accessible to everyone,” he said.

Similarly, Salita said that they will continue finding ways to conduct a momentous graduation ceremony despite the online set-up. Banzuela added that SA is doing its best to conceptualize ideas that will make the seniors’ final year special.

“It’s frustrating sometimes that we can’t do the usual things seniors do, but I assure everyone that you are consulted from time to time,” Banzuela said.

6

Opinion

VOLUME XCI, NO. 5 MARCH-APRIL 2021

EDITORIAL

Spare change Founded 1929 by Rev. Frank O’Hara, SJ First Editor-in-Chief, Manuel C. Colayco, AB ‘30

PURPOSE To serve as a record of Ateneo history in the making; to serve as an organ of journalistic expression; to serve God and country.

Danielle Margaux R. Garcia, BS CTM ‘21 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Tatiana L. Maligro, AB COM ‘22 ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Bryce R. Rubi, BS ME ‘21 MANAGING EDITOR

Carmela B. Masiglat, BFA ID ‘22 DESIGN EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Leika Mae A. Golez, AB COM ‘21 NEWS EDITOR

Mercede Calista S. Crespo, AB DipIR ‘21 Gerrick Spencer C. Limsiy, BS ME ‘21 SPORTS EDITORS

Raphael Patrick C. Dela Cruz, AB LIT (ENG) ‘21 BEYOND LOYOLA EDITOR

Keziah Maru Z. Pasion, AB COM ‘22 FEATURES EDITOR

Jeanella P. Mangaluz, AB COM ‘22 INQUIRY EDITOR

Andrea Mikaela B. Llanes, AB COM ‘22 Beatriz Ysabel C. Reyes, BS ME ‘22 VANTAGE MAGAZINE EDITORS

Kathleen Rae U. Yap, AB COM ‘22 BROADCAST NEWS EDITOR

Maria Victoria P. Tenido, AB IS ‘23

W ITH THE COVID-19 pandemic causing a maelstrom of national crises, several officials have recently proposed drastic economic and political amendments to the 1987 Constitution. While attempts to amend the Constitution date back to former President Fidel V. Ramos’ term in 1997, the push for Charter Change (Cha-cha) warrants closer public scrutiny.

The pandemic pushed the country to its worst recession since World War II with a steep 9.5% drop in the gross domestic product (GDP). With 4 million Filipinos unemployed as of January, the country now confronts pressing livelihood and health crises. To temper these, Congress aims to amend econom ic constit utiona l policies in order to ease foreign investment restrictions in the country. However, the amendments stipulated in the latest House resolutions include the insertion of the phrase, “unless otherwise provided by law” in select economic policies, leaving the Constitution open to interpretation.

Considering the government’s poor pandemic response and its continuous attempts to stifle dissent, any attempt to propose changes to the Constitution should be met with vigilance.

CAPITALIZING ON CHANGES The Philippines wrestling against the health crisis and reeling economic effects does not merit constitutional reform.

While loosening restrictions on foreign investments may seem beneficial to the economy, Cha-cha remains a highly divisive issue that will shift public focus and national resources away from the threat of the pandemic.

Since the plebiscite for economic amendments to the Constitution will coincide with the 2o22 national elections, this entails serious delays in ushering economic relief to ailing citizens and enterprises alike. The COVID-19 pandemic requires an immediate response—one where stimulus relief payments such as the social amelioration fund and the continued development of micro, small, and medium

enterprises are at the helm of Congress’ priorities.

Although financial aid is crucial in addressing the pandemic’s devastating effects to the economy, the Philippines is also in dire need of a strengthened medical response to combat the COVID-19 virus. The government aims to inoculate 7o million Filipinos within the year—however, due to the slow vaccination rollout, the World Bank lowered its 2o21 growth forecast for the country from 5.9% to 5.5%, short of the government’s 6.5% to 7.5% initial GDP growth target.

Additionally, while Congress has proposed an additional Php 72.5 billion in the national budget for COVID-19 vaccines, this may only cover about 25% of the population—failing to reach the 6o% needed to achieve herd immunity.

Beyond ongoing efforts to amend the constitution and confronting mounting pressure to improve the national response against COVID-19, officials have lobbied for the abolishment of the party-list system in order to

eliminate the alleged infiltration of communist insurgents in the government. While the partylist system is flawed and prone to manipulation for political advantage, it remains crucial for sectoral representation in governance. Removing this system altogether poses a threat to our democracy as it narrows down room for dissent—the proposal merely hinges on the reckless cases of red-tagging and affirms unverified claims of a growing insurgency within the government.

DELINEATING FROM DEMOCRACY In a time of heightened national i n s t a b i l it y, constitutional reform is a dangerous proposal to prioritize.

As more citizens are forced into poverty—a circumstance that will likely persist even after President Rodrigo Duterte’s term—placing focus on drastic constitutional amendments in lieu of implementing measures that directly combat the pandemic may only perpetuate corruption and gross neglect.

Given the country’s dire situation, the push for Cha-cha reveals the government’s misplaced priorities—a violation of their role as the governing body of the Philippines, whose sole mandate is to uphold the welfare of all Filipinos.

As Congress deliberates Chacha, the Filipino citizenry must remain vigilant of any attempts to change the foundation of this country’s democracy, especially in a timeline riddled with uncertainties. The government must continue to propose longterm solutions that address the country’s most pressing issues without investing much of its energy, resources, and attention to amend the constitution at the cost of citizens’ lives.

BROADCAST NEWS PRODUCER

Kaye Elizabeth P. Veneracion, BS ME ‘22 Raya Ashaunti H. Barreiro, BS DS ‘21 PHOTOS EDITORS

Neil Christian R. Reyes, BS CH-MSE ‘23 Tiffany Kate C. Ng, BS ME ‘22 GRAPHIC DESIGN EDITORS

Mariana D. Gardoce, AB COM ‘22 VIDEO PRODUCTION EDITOR

Beatrice R. Bacason, AB COM ‘22 VIDEO PRODUCTION DIRECTOR

Bea Katrina S. Sison, BS MIS ‘21 DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT EDITOR FOR DESIGN

Davin Sean Cuaso, BS MIS ‘21 DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT EDITOR FOR TECHNOLOGY

Katrina Bernice M. Tan, AB COM ‘23 EXTERNALS MANAGER

Regina Mae C. Yu, BS ME ‘23 HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER

Jose Angelo A. Buenaventura, BS CTM ‘23 Enrique Benjamin B. Halili, BFA CW ‘22 SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGERS

Azequiel Lexander P. de Luna, BS ME ‘22 RESEARCH MANAGER

NEWS Allianza O. Pesquera, Anna Pineda, Billie Asuncion, Elly Adlawan, Jillian Lopez, Juancho Belisano, Mina Mata, Moira V. Cayabyab, Patricia Yap, Zoey C. Atillo SPORTS Adelene Ha, Astrud P. Castro, Augusto Cruz, Gap B. Estrella, Ira Nepomuceno, James B. Gavina, Javier P. Mapa, Jeremy L. Chua, Joachim S. Melo, Juliana L. Ong, Juris Salvanera, Kristen Sison, Kristen R. Matias, Kyla A. Algarra, Lei P. Macaranas, Miguel A. Dimaiwat, Neal R. Beltran, Noah M. Imson, Ra Solomon, Selina A. de Dios, Tristan A. Abuel, Vito Martin, Xavier C. Bautista BEYOND LOYOLA Alexanda L. Grantoza, Derick M. Gabrillo, Deryn V. Ventilacion, Felicity C. Santos, George D. Kho, Jerika P. Uy, Justine Ramirez, Kiana Alvoteros, Kris M. Fetiza, Pioee B. Bassig, Patricia Nicole M. Mejia, Troy G. Tarriela, Zachary C. Gonzales FEATURES Adrian Jesper C. Cea, Aisha Said, Chloe Ruiz, Eala Julienne P. Nolasco, Enzo Lagamon, Gabrielle A. Cortes, Genesis Jacinth Tan, Jacob S. Tambunting, Jullia Chen, Liam Isaiah Lao, Nina S. Gopaldas, Ryan Suarez, Yves Lazaro INQUIRY Christianna P. Lugod, Denise C. Marcelo, Francis Caiga, Gerard Ignacio, Justin B. Jimenez, Kara Angan, Malaika E. Paculan, Manolo G. Soliven, Paolo Buenaseda, Renz Miciel M. Trovela, Romulus Cruz, Russell Louis Ku, Sean D. Carballo, Vincent Halog VANTAGE MAGAZINE Ann Domingo, Anya Nellas, Caitlin C. Young, Dani Capinding, Danielle H. Ramos, Daniela Lorenzo, Gabrielle I. Lombos, Gabriel V. Saulog, Jana V. Codera, Justin Ginete, Leilah Simon, Lyrah Lapid, Natalie R. Gavino, Patricia Villora, Therese Garcia, Therese Hipol, Zoe Andin BROADCAST NEWS Elian Dominguez, Hannaniña T, Mantos, Iana Padilla, Joaquin Salazar, Maegan Sang Tian, Martin Ramos, Rebecca Filasol, Samantha Onglatco, Shawn Vincent G. Nagrampa, Teo A. Ricaforte, Una Garcia PHOTOS Alexis Wang, Bettina Cuan, Bruce Ong, Casey Mateo, Daryl D. Sy, Eirenne A. Lumasang, Gabriel J. Medina, Jamie Go, Jason Mariano, Jerry Feng, Jim Dasal, Joshua R. Dy, Julia Carpio, Kevin Sornet, Laura Limsenkhe, Lorenzo Enrico M. Corro, Nate Bosano, Paulina Singh, Ranz D. Santos, Soleil Nicolette, Stella Arenas, Trisha Corn, Zoey Ignacio GRAPHIC DESIGN Andy Granda, Cameron Polintan, Cecilia Datiles, Dana Lee, Felizia Tiburcio, Fidess Bisnar, Frances Lopez, Geri Puno, Janis M. Villavicencio, Jay Bustamante, Julia J. Santos, Kaitlyn W. Mercado, Kurt Tan, Maiden Mirabueno, Mika Medina, Mikhaella Norlin Magat, Sam Dellomas, Sam Sacluti, Tiffany Cu VIDEO PRODUCTION Abigail M. Chua, AJ Bagapuro, Alexis Nicole Ferreras, Alissa Evangelista, Bea Pangandigan, Ethan Cheng, Ella Alabastro, Ena Algopera, Hannah Arias, Jaf Tumale, Jan Ong, Julian Michael Maiz, Justine B. Tiongco, Matthew V. Samson, Lou del Rosario, Patricia Corpus, Seve Vargas, Therese Macasaet, Yanna Estrellado DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT Abby Moreno, Anton Benitez, Apa Cruz, Cobbie Quintos, Dani del Rio, Eli Tan, Franz Taborlupa, Giddy Garcia, Harvey Sison, Jacob A. Juinio, Jonathan Talbot, Keith Bartido, Miggy Pinaroc, Pat Ramos, Pauline M. Baterna, Prezil Ong, Zekie Ordoveza EXTERNALS Aaron Christopher L. Gapuz, Helena Lorenzo, Ivan Bueno, Marina Patricia Penerya, Matthew G. Yuching, Nikki Macaraig, Sofia Sanchez, Tricia R. Alcantara, Zheinna Lozano HUMAN RESOURCES Anicia Guanlao, Ashley Lumauig, Cielo Regalado, Diana Rivera, Dre S. Guerrero, Em Enriquez, Gerard Ma, Isaiah Limpin, Julia V. Quizon, Kassandra Patrice I. Sanchez, Kendji Tuazon, Kyra Ingrid A. Mallari, Margaux Arcinas, Matthew Cañete, Micah Avry Guiao, Romeo Arches Descalso III, Tris Almeida, Wira Dosado RESEARCH Aga E. Villaroman, Angela San Juan, Frances Realda, Jake de Jesus, Joseph Garay, Justine Sarsuelo, Kaye L. Cortado, Kiara Rodriguez, Lander Pua, Lenz A. Dagohoy, Miguel H. Palmero, Trisha M. Purificacion SOCIAL MEDIA Abbey Palomo, Belle Medalla, Cloie Pino, Gia Crisologo, Joaquin Querido, Katherine O. Go, Piper Berbano, Rei Jamola

Luz R. Rimban MODERATOR

For comments, suggestions, and contributions, email:

desk@theguidon.com

While attempts to amend the Constitution date back to former President Fidel V. Ramos’ term in 1997, the push for Charter Change (Cha-cha) warrants closer public scrutiny.

The GUIDON | March-April 2021

CHALK MARKS

Americano

BY BIANCA MAE R. ARAGONES

I FELL accustomed to the deafening silence of mornings.

The cold air nipping on my skin makes me rise from the night’s restlessness, I sit upright and curl up my legs such that they meet my chest. My eyes tightly shut as they try to squeeze in more time into ‘rest,’ or what was left of it. Fingers danced across my phone as I startled it awake, and it replied by streaming rays of light into the darkness of my room. I drag myself off the comfort of

Blank Canvas CARMELA B. MASIGLAT

Out of sync IT HAS been almost a year since the initial announcement of the Metro Manila lockdown due to the pandemic. Although restrictions have eased and some normalcy to people’s lives have returned, it’s easy to feel like life has been wasted being stuck at home doing nothing. However, to an extent, being in quarantine for almost a year has offered a rare opportunity for many to reflect on the meaning of life or even resetting it—including mine.

The hustle culture became a buzz word for many during the first months of lockdown. People were getting in shape, doing all sorts of passion projects, or even trying out the latest trends they’ve seen on TikTok at home.

I could not help but feel guilty for wanting to keep up with the same activities and trends. I was drawn to a productivity high every time I realized I have worked throughout dawn and it’s already morning the next day.

We owe it to ourselves that we keep our minds a good place, so if you ever feel like you’ve given into the speed of life, slow down.

BLUE JEANS

Making your mark

BY MATTHEW G. YUCHING

AS A freshman, it was exciting to see the hustle and bustle of org life. There were many oppor t u nities to be pa r t of dif ferent organizations and t hei r projec t s . T he y were avenues for me to see what

my bed with the little energy I obtained from the night.

Coffee seems to be the only thing that is consistent with my previous life, but it no longer had the same function that it had before. I used to think of coffee as a companion, but now I think of it as a commodity and a reminder that I have to push myself to go to a job that I do not necessarily want to work in. I order on my phone a couple of meters away from the shop.

Contactless. I pick it up from the counter after checking the label for my name. No exchanges of speech with anyone.

I was told of the concept of post-graduation blues, but I never thought I would go through it. I had it all planned out, more or less, not in detail but the gist of It’s easy to overwork because we’re convinced that if we pressure ourselves enough to meet deadlines or work demands, we could fulfill this heroic complex that we can do anything even if it damages us. Until we can’t do it anymore.

When I was first confronted with a physical impairment and was forced to unlearn old habits, it was frustrating to begin with.

There were opportunities to decline, projects to postpone, and goals to place on hold. I always liked being busy, but when you’re conditioned to believe that you had to be someone by the age of X, it can be difficult to accept the reality that you cannot rush through life. Many young people are just as addicted to the speed and rush of life as I am. Yet, if it were not for my physical condition, I would still be chasing the next big goal I had in my quarantine to-do list.

T he world h a s b ecome surrounded by a lot of pressure to be successful earlier in life and it can be tempting to give into that. However, we need to start destroying the idea that we have to constantly be working or striving to be something just to f ind some sor t of order or worth.

Instead, we should embrace this mindset that we can do more if we just choose to sleep or practice good habits. When the term self-care was first introduced in 2019, we all assumed it meant doing physical activities to consider ourselves cared for. The reality is, selfcare can be just as simple as not doing everything everyone else is doing.

Not h i n g g r a nd iose h a s come out of my quarantine, and that’s okay. Embrace the asynchronicity of life and the importance of rest and recovery.

We owe it to ourselves that we keep our minds a good place, so if you ever feel like you’ve given into the speed of life, slow down.

It doesn’t mean you’re behind everyone else. Sometimes, being unrushed lets you pay attention to the smaller, sig nif icant experiences. You’ll realize that in the stillness of life, time never ran out to begin with.

I can g ive and contribute to their advocacies.

I immersed myself in the different org activities that were offered. I even took positions as soon as I had the chance to.

Those experiences gave me a lot of insights into how these orgs functioned, taught me how to deal with problems with empathy and perspective, as well as introduced me to friendships that went beyond our work.

To put it simply, the org life was fun. It became a source of enjoyment for me, thinking that I would continue doing this until I graduated. But there came a

how life would look like through my 2os. Then, just like the rest of the world’s plans… a startling halt. Ever y thing happened unexpectedly, the world became even more confusing, and life became more messed up than it was before.

I no longer wait at the table in my corner of the coffee shop since I am over 2,355 km away from it, but I still do wait for familiar people in front of my screen. I can no longer reach out and hug them if they are in tears, or shush them if they scream excitedly and disturb others who are working around us. All I can keep constant from that old space was that I provided my time.

Right before graduation, a friend of mine talked about time slowing down so that we can

enjoy or figure out the things that were happening at a pace that we can understand. The concept of time is something that a lot of people have played with, tried to grasp but never could master. I have labeled the past year as, “the year when everything happened but where nothing happened.”

In this case, we have postponed many of our plans to ‘next time,’ but a year into this whole thing and we are no longer sure when it will come.

The thing that is amusing about time is that it strikes a balance between predictability and spontaneity. One can predict or estimate a certain occurrence to happen at a certain time frame, but one could never foreshadow an unprompted sequence of events. So in the span of the year,

some may have found solutions to continue plans, while others may have had to completely tear their blueprints and start from scratch. In this situation, I am the latter and am learning to take a few steps backward due to feeling stagnant by forcing a blueprint with the wrong dimensions into a new space.

The understanding that I am now working towards a different reality and moving in an unknown space terrifies me. With this comes the human tendency to compare oneself with peers and frustrating yourself that you’re being left behind.

However, in reality, we could be stuck in a gap of time, just to take a moment to be still. Each one has their own blueprint in life, never can we know where those gaps

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are and we could be moving as much as the next person—just on a different path. So whilst being immersed in our every day, where life feels so similar and dull, it actually changes us secretly.

So again I come home and toss my mask in the bin. I jump in the shower and after, trudge my way into my room. This is now the reality of my everyday life. I pen down how I feel in my journal and I guess it was different even if it was as monotonous as the day before. I crawl back into the covers and slowly figure out the next step to take.

Bianca Mae R. Aragones (BS PSY ‘20) was The GUIDON’s Human Resources Manager for AY 20192020. She may be reached at aragonesbianca.rcy@gmail.com.

KEZIAH MARU Z. PASION

Uncertainty amidst uncertainty MY DREAMS have changed a couple of times.

Early in elementar y school, my dream was to become a teacher. Both my mother and grandmother were educators; naturally I thought I would be one too. In fifth grade, I wanted to become a mathematician. It was the first time I got into the top 10 in class and, according to my mother, I have just unlocked my u ntapped potent ia l i n mathematics. That dream was immediately replaced, however, when I discovered One Direction in seventh grade. I loved the boy band so much that I thought it would be nice to be a pop star like them—possibly meeting H a r r y S t y le s a nd f a l l i n g in love.

You could say that these were products of childhood wonder and f ickleness—of external stimuli inf luencing what I

thought would be a “cool” job to do in the future. As I entered high school, my goals started to become products of introspection and careful consideration of viable careers according to my skill set.

Later in seventh grade, I realized that being a writer might be more suitable—not to mention, feasible—for me than being a pop star and becoming the f ut u re Mrs. St yles. In eighth grade, however, I went past writing and discovered that I had a knack for holding the camera and setting stories into motion—and so I wanted to become a filmmaker. This pattern of chang ing career plans went on for the entirety of high school. I also wanted to b e a neu rosc ient ist , a computer programmer, and an accountant within the span of six years.

Come college, I settled on a plan and a career path. I held on to this plan for the duration of my college life, until recently.

My dream has changed once more. Unlike before, however, no new dream replaced it. After a year in quarantine, I started to feel how it is like to fear for an uncertain future and to be unsure of what I once thought I was already sure of.

Under normal circumstances, I would be frightened of what this means for me as someone in her 2os and about to finish undergrad. Normally, this would make me feel behind my peers who seem to be all set for their career plans—and it actually did. But as I think about my indecision more, I come to realize that much of it was brought by the uncertainty of a pandemicridden reality. I needed to be easier on myself.

I wouldn’t say that I have no plans anymore, but I would say that it feels like going back to zero. I don’t have the external inf luence of my childhood nor the passion I had pre-pandemic to latch a new dream onto.

However, I am still traversing the path I had set for myself before college, in hopes of figuring out where to eventually position myself onto.

In situations like this, some people f ind comfor t in the famous cliche quote, “You are exactly where you are supposed to be.” While that may be true, it doesn’t feel like it—not to me nor to anyone else who might be experiencing the same thing.

I still think it is most ideal to be certain of one’s goals. But if you find yourself in the same position I am in: It’s okay to be uncertain amidst uncertain times. We will figure it out.

As I think about my indecision more, I come to realize that much of it was brought by the uncertainty of a pandemic-ridden reality. I needed to be easier on myself.

I realized that I had joined orgs to prove something to others, and no longer to myself.

I had struggled accepting this as fact, and had learned this the hard way.

point that the enthusiasm I had at the beginning no longer translated to what I was putting out, w ith complacenc y on deliverables, half-baked outputs, and overall lack of passion. It would have been obvious to someone that my org life was no longer a happy place, yet I continued to ignore the many red f lags that have appeared down that road.

It had come down to the quarantine that made me realize that I no longer enjoyed what I was doing. A question always kept coming to mind: Was I doing it for the genuine betterment of

the org and its projects, or was I doing it just so I could say that I did? I realized that I had joined orgs to prove something to others, and no longer to myself.

I struggled to accept this as fact, and had to learn this the hard way.

As much as I told myself over and over that I still had a lot to give, I knew that there would be others who were much more capable of giving the same passion and drive as I did. I’ve already had my time to give and to give, now it’s the turn of others to do so.

As a senior in Ateneo, I tried giving the freshman in me another chance at enjoying the

or g l i fe w it hout muc h responsibility. I never thought that I’d say that I once again enjoyed being part of orgs, with the perspectives and experiences that I was still able to apply. To anyone who doubts that they have not made any real impact with their efforts, know this: Whether you’ve made the smallest dent or the largest impact, know that you did something, and that is something you should be proud of.

Matthew Yuching (4 AB COM) is an Externals Staffer for The GUIDON.

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News

Ligaya KELLY VENERACION

In progress A NIM AL CROSSING: New Horizons broke Nintendo Switch sales records after its release in 2020 and became a place of tranquility for many during the pandemic. I found out, however, that the game did not offer me the same peace as it did for others. As someone who always wants to get things right, I found the task of designing my own

virtual island to be a source of stress rather than relaxation.

After weeks of fixating on every single detail of my island and comparing my progress to that of others, I had to ask myself why I have spent so much time stressing out over the game (even if I already knew the answer). It’s not the first time my need to do things perfectly has detrimentally affected me.

For as long as I could remember, I’ve had this internal pressure to do well in literally everything I do. Whether it was for better or for worse, it has been a key player in forming who I am today.

On the one hand, my need to do good is a major source of my determination and drive.

It has made me meticulous about the things I do and it has

taught me to be more cautious and sensitive when interacting with others. On the other hand, the internal pressure has been a source of many insecurities and stressors for me. It has caused me to be unreasonably harsh on myself, to be impatient with my own growth. I have broken down in the past due to singledigit mistakes on quizzes. I have also spent many days and nights unable to be productive iron ica lly because of my frustrations towards myself for not being productive enough.

I know, however, that I am not alone in my struggles of trying to be perfect. Though you may never have studied your penmanship letter by letter to improve it like I have, you have probably also broken down due

to the feeling of not being good enough. It’s quite unfortunate that many, including myself, show more patience towards others’ mistakes than to their own.

Back when I was in the f if th g rade, my homeroom adv iser told me something that shook my world. She said, “Practice makes progress.” I was astounded hearing those rather cliché words. Despite its simplicity, it’s a message that has stuck with me for the past 1o years and it’s an important reminder for all of us who feel the need to be perfect. We have a tendency to focus solely on results rather than the process of things, and as cliché as it sounds, but life should really be about the journey and not the destination.

It’s hea lthy to pressu re yourself to succeed, but once it prevents you from enjoying the process of growing—or, in my case, enjoying a life simulation game—it’s time you take a step back and reconsider your attitude towards imperfection.

It’s time to practice having more patience with yourself. Practice determining what is actually worth your time and energy, what is worth stressing over.

And practice allowing yourself to enjoy things even if they aren’t perfect. May it be about an unfinished virtual island or your actual growth as an individual, allow yourself to go through the process without feeling that you have already failed.

Syntax

Footprint

DAVIN CUASO

DANIELLE R. GARCIA

To the moon IS CRYPTOCURRENCY a valid long-term investment?

It has a notorious reputation for being extremely volatile— facing major price swings at any given second. Recently, Bitcoin, the largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, dropped 28% in value from a whopping $58,ooo to $46,ooo in just two days. People wonder if this is even worth investing if you could get liquidated just as fast as you put your money in.

As we transition towards a digital world, cryptocurrency should be deemed a long-term investment due to its promising technolog y and imminent acceptance. Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency, for example, serves as a global computing platform. It allows for the use of smart contracts, whose terms are coded directly and executed automatically. In the future, this could disrupt how infrastructures work such as real estate, banking, or even make up new markets entirely.

Digital currency such as Bitcoin also combats inflation since banks cannot simply increase the total amount of cash in the system.

There will only ever be 21,ooo,ooo bitcoins in circulation—unlike paper money, we can’t just keep mining bitcoin. Bitcoin is limited, therefore it is a valuable and in-demand asset. However, Bitcoin aside, one can argue that cryptocurrencies are infinite, as they can be generated by anyone.

T h rou g hout t he ye a r s , cryptocurrency has been on a general uptrend. If one were to have invested in Bitcoin a year ago, they would have already seen a sixfold increase in value; and it is only just beginning.

Cryptocurrency, in general, is cutting-edge technology. While that makes it exciting, it also increases the risks for investors, as much of this technology is still being developed and is not yet proven in real-world scenarios. However, innovations such as fraud control, flexible transparency, and automation control are just around the corner.

Cryptocurrencies are not going away, especially since we are transitioning more and more to the digital world; transactions are fast, secure, and worldwide.

Cryptocurrencies are secure because it allows the maintenance

Practice determining what is actually worth your time and energy, what is worth stressing over.

Night light

of records without the risk of piracy, thus minimizing fraud.

Decentralized ledger technology, or blockchain, allows any transaction capable of being recorded to operate and it is impossible to change, hack, or cheat those transactions.

Hence, its usefulness in enabling cryptocurrency to succeed, eliminating the middleman within transactions. No one is in charge of the transactions on the blockchain because it is run by the people who utilize it.

W it h t he adopt ion of cryptocurrency by big institutions like PayPal, Tesla, and Square Inc., we are clearly going in the right direction for worldwide acceptance and a more stable market environment. Market capitalization is continuously increasing, Bitcoin alone broke through the 1 trillion dollar mark as of late—with companies like Microsoft, Alphabet, and Apple having achieved this feat. There is so much potential in this technology to enable economic and communal growth by easing access to capital and financial services, so get it while it’s cheap.

Transactions are fast, secure, and worldwide.

I HAD always been afraid of the dark as a child. I’d leave a night light turned on in the corner in my room in the hopes of driving the monster under my bed away.

Sometimes, when I chanced upon my family watching a film of horror genre, my bathroom light would take that little night light’s place.

While I lost touch with those fears as I came of age, little did I know that it would wear a new face and follow me all those years later. Enter one night early in 2o21, when a friend of mine checked in on me minutes after I blurted out a self-deprecating joke. “Dani, how have you been lately?” They asked.

“Are you alright?”

A deafening silence followed.

“My father firmly decided to stop his chemotherapy treatment,” I shared with what felt like a lump in my throat. “I’ve been struggling to process this. I wish I knew how.”

My father was diagnosed with an aggressive type of cancer late last year. Stage four: A twosyllable phrase that only took one second to utter, but it was a bullet that tore right through my family. There was no exit wound, only shock.

The night I confided in my friend, I allowed myself to be vulnerable. I named my worries one by one: Will he be there to witness graduation or my first paycheck? How will I teach myself not to look away when the weighing scale tips lower than the last time we checked?

But, a much larger truth revealed itself: I’ve been filling the nooks and crannies of my life with the noise of senior year—thesis, internships, and endless meetings—because I was silently grieving. The monster under my bed, it turns out, has a name: Grief. I unknowingly believed that as long as I kept myself busy, I wouldn’t need to greet Grief hello.

But Grief, I discovered, can also be my friend.

Sometimes, Grief tells us that the future is one we can never predict, but it gently pulls our feet to the ground to show us what we can do today. Other times, it grabs us by our collars to lift us from spaces of denial and frustration.

Most importantly, Grief places its hand on our shoulders to tell us that we don’t have to cope with

loss on our own. It whispers in our ears that forward is the only option, it is the only way through.

It opens our palms to uncover joys in the heartaches, too. Amid impending loss, I am witness to my father’s smile even in the most painful of days. His trademark laughter continues to fill quiet hallways. He puts one foot in front of the other with me when staircases seem to grow into taller hills.

Grief offers us a pillow for our heads to lie on when loss becomes far too difficult to bear, but the same Grief hands us the sword we need to keep fighting—even if it means opening our doors to unknown tomorrows.

What about that monster under my bed, you ask? It stays there, of course—and that’s okay.

For now, I will keep getting out of bed and draw the curtains open to let the morning light peek through. I will maximize the days my father and I have left to relish.

To just be.

All it takes is to keep the night light turned off. I will look Grief in the eye. I must.

Amid impending loss, I am witness to my father’s smile in the most painful of days.

Glimpses SCODI conducts gender sensitivity training in line with Code and Rules

Ateneo launches GASFI Scholarship

The School Committee of Decorum and Investigation (SCODI) attended a Gender Sensitivity and Onboarding Training on January 16 in compliance with the University Code of Decorum and Administrative Rules on Sexual Harassment, Other Forms of Sexual Misconduct, and Inappropriate Behavior (Code and Rules). The training covered topics such as the effects of sexual and gender-based violence, an overview of the Code and Rules, and University processes and guidelines for handling sexual violation complaints. Gender and Development Focal Point Chair Maria Elissa Lao, PhD served as the host and moderator of the training session. Meanwhile, University Gender Hub representatives Angelique Villasanta and Mira Alexis Ofreneo, PhD served as resource speakers alongside Loyola School Legal Counsel Atty. Nina Patricia Sison-Arroyo and Employee Relations and Engagement Head Atty. Alma Pavia. ALLIANZA O. PESQUERA

On February 8, University President Roberto Yap, SJ, signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Marissa Oca of the Gig and the Amazing Sampaguita Foundation Inc. (GASFI) to launch a new scholarship program. GASFI is a non-profit organization founded in 2009 to honor Ambrosio Gregorio “Gig” Oca Robles IV, an altruistic student set to enroll at the Ateneo de Manila University for a legal career. Although the organization began as a book donor program to encourage and promote reading, GASFI has since expanded its advocacy to provide various scholarships for a number of students across the country. With the GASFI scholarship, one Loyola Schools student will be able to study full-time at the Ateneo for four years. The recipient must come from a seafarer or street vendor family, as well as enroll in a pre-law course such as Philosophy, Sociology, Economics, or Legal Management. MOIRA V. CAYABYAB

Ateneo Tulong Sulong aids marginalized communities with entrepreneurial development initiative

Ateneo expands partnership with Boston College

The Office of the Vice President for Social Development and the Ateneo Magis 2020 Grand Alumni Hopecoming Committee, in collaboration with four social enterprises from the Ateneo Graduate School of Business, launched entrepreneurial development initiative Ateneo Tulong Sulong on November 6, 2020. This program aims to provide livelihood opportunities for the select marginalized communities whose sources of income were disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, the groups plan to train community members to start their own micro-enterprises. On February 7, the groups reached out to their first beneficiary, the members of Jesus Lord of Divine Mercy Church in Mapayapa Village 1, Quezon City. Alongside the training, the groups have also organized a donation drive that seeks to raise Php 15 million for the communities. As of press time, they have garnered a total of Php 2,608,300.00. MINA MATA

University President Roberto Yap, SJ signed the Memorandum of Understanding with Boston College (BC) President William Leahy, SJ to expand the Ateneo’s prior partnership with BC. The expanded agreement was established in an effort to provide new educational and research opportunities for students of both academic institutions. The partnership currently includes enriching both universities’ Theology, Environmental Science, and Education departments. Along with this, joint programs for the universities’ respective Global Public Health and Entrepreneurship programs are also in the works. Yap shared that he is confident the programs will succeed in improving students’ formation. “Both Ateneo de Manila and Boston College are grounded in a Jesuit upbringing. [...] It is this shared thread that connects us, and through the years, has allowed us to help mold the lives of our students for service and meaning” he said. BILLIE ASUNCION

The GUIDON | March - April 2021

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PHOTO BY KEVIN SORNET

Atenean Voice What are your thoughts on the upcoming 2022 elections and the potential candidates who have shown interest in running?

Cecilia Cancio Interim John Gokongwei School of Management Representative

The upcoming 2022 elections supposedly demonstrate that, despite our current political instability, democracy [persists]. The Filipino people may continue to exercise their responsibility of voting for the right leaders that uphold and protect the state.

However, most potential candidates for the 2022 elections have consciously made decisions that contradict the very essence of our Filipino democracy.

Adelle* 3 AB POS

Considering the way vote buying is completely normalized in this country and how corruption is still apparent in every candidate, I’m not exactly optimistic. Whoever wins may very well just be winning through backhanded means. For voters, choosing which candidate they want to vote for is just a matter of choosing the lesser evil.

Despite this, I am still optimistic for change in the future of the country’s politics.

JD Navarro 2 AB MEC

While I feel empowered by how the young adults in other countries are exercising their rights to vote, I am skeptical on how the upcoming 2022 elections would play out. Here in the Philippines, I think that any presidential candidate may appeal to gain support through disinformation campaigns and appeals to the military and police. Their focus is to have great political power, rather than serving the greater good. [...] I am troubled in believing [if] there is someone who can rightfully represent my beliefs and my rights in the current political landscape.

Rina* 2 AB DipIR

The previous year witnessed all kinds of attacks on democracy: Cases of human rights abuse, attacks on the media, and charges on academic freedom. [...] With the 2022 elections coming up, I only hope that the country elects more competent and selfless leaders. A number of politicians with dubious track records, however, seem to have expressed interest in running and have started campaigning for the upcoming elections. This is, for me, a downright terrifying sight.

Gwyneth Royce Camelon The Ateneo Assembly President

From what I know, we all have one goal to fulfill this upcoming election: To not repeat the mistakes of our recent past. As such, from the potential candidates running, we must consider their character, from the actions that they took to the policies that they passed—or lack thereof. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown various politicians’ true colors. The only question that remains is whether people will still vote for them, and what we can do to ensure we choose someone who does serve our best interest.

Frances* 1 BS BIO

It’s no secret that to some extent, elections are just popularity contests. It does not matter if the reason for one’s fame is controversial, people can still use that to their advantage. Over the next few months, we will see candidates waving from our TV screens or touring the country like some celebrity in an effort to increase their popularity with the masses. Those who have shown interest in running as presidential candidates and the recent poll results incite fear that perhaps 2022 is not the year for the Philippines.

Samantha Escobar 1 BS LM

I personally think that more people will be mindful in choosing who to vote for this upcoming election. Especially now that we are experiencing the wraths of an incompetent government in the midst of a global health crisis, this serves as an epitome of how the government’s decision-making greatly affects everyone. But for now, I still don’t have a person in mind just seeing the potential candidates. It will be my first time voting, [and] that is why I’m becoming cautious about it.

Georgie* 2 BFA ID

Well, it’s trapo season. Manny Pacquiao is already doing photo ops and ‘charity’ work, and Sara Duterte is already printing out tarpaulins, albeit with considerable backlash. It’s disappointing, but not surprising. [...] We know that none of these early contenders truly have the welfare of the country in mind. Is change really going to be brought about by our broken democracy, or will we have to do something else to finally secure a better future for ourselves?

KL* 1 AB POS

[I’m] honestly really looking forward to the 2022 elections! Though I’m not that happy with the potential candidates, especially knowing that Sara [Duterte] might run for President [is] something I’m not really comfortable with. As someone whose family voted for [Rodrigo] Duterte, I came to understand how this was a horrible choice and I’m not keen on repeating this.

Cam* 3 AB COM

The upcoming candidates for the 2022 elections terrify me. I know it is my duty as a citizen to vote but seeing the options that we have right now make me want to decide against voting. Though I obviously will vote, I hope that there will be candidates who show promise and have a cleaner record compared to all the other candidates.

*Editor’s Note: An interviewee’s name has been changed upon their request to protect their identity.

Like us on Facebook facebook.com/TheGUIDONSports Follow the happenings in Ateneo Sports @TheGUIDONSports EDITORS: ALLY S. CRESPO AND GERRICK C. LIMSIY LAYOUT ARTIST: KURT TAN

QUEEN BEHIND THE HEADLINE While she dominated the waters of UAAP Swimming, Chloe Daos also displays her skill and versatility in both academics and her most recent business venture.

Sports

ILLUSTRATION BY MIKA MEDINA

Year of the longest off-season Across the nation, most of the sports programs are put on hold.

But Ateneo, tinuloy niya (it continued) even from the grade school and high school level.

So that’s our advantage.

Even with the pandemic, nakita ng university (the university saw) that this is something important also.

EM FERNANDEZ UAO DIRECTOR

ON JANUARY 3o, 2o2o, the first reported case of COVID-19 in the Philippines was announced.

In a matter of weeks, the virus ballooned into a full-f ledged pandemic, altering every aspect of normalcy. As of writing, nearly a million COVID-19 cases have been recorded locally, subversively lessening the chances of a normal near-future for the Philippines.

Consequently, the crisis charted a new course for the country’s sporting scene as its activities took a backseat by necessity–leagues shut down, entire seasons were put on halt, and face-to-face training became a rare luxury.

With sports indefinitely put on pause, performance metrics were scrapped and wellness checks became the new normal.

For athletes whose lives were defined by competitive calendars, the cancellation of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines’ (UA AP) games drastically impacted the routines they once held dear. With nothing but a dormant timetable ahead of them, Ateneo’s athletes and coaches have been forced to reckon with the prolonged offseason of abandoned goals and ambitions– issues far more alarming than the nuisance of online Zoom training.

HALTS AND HURDLES The UAAP is oftentimes poised as the one event where the Blue and Lady Eagles are able to fulfill their hopes and dreams—an avenue for them to represent Ateneo. It is here where the fruits of their labor come to life, whether in the form of an elusive UAAP trophy, a broken record, or a personal best. However, due to the ongoing pandemic, the league’s athletes have been left without a tangible goal in sight and a reason to continue training.

“Sometimes it’s harder kung walang katapusan (when there’s no end). Walang katapusan sa (There’s no end for) athletes

BY IRA NEPOMUCENO AND JULIANA L. ONG

because there is no tournament.

It’s hard for coaches to plan kasi (because) you’re just doing general fitness, and you’re not preparing for a tournament. Ang hirap nung timetable (the timetable is hard),” University Athletics Office (UAO) Director Em Fernandez said.

This was the case for the Ateneo Chess Team and the FAST Ateneo Swimming Team (FAST), whose training attendances subsequently dipped after the cancellation of UAAP Season 82.

For both teams, the dormancy of the UAAP has demotivated the athletes whose competitive drive is primarily satisfied by joining tournaments. “Minsan nawawalan na ng gana yung players kasi wala nang season. Minsan yung mga graduating students bumababa yung willingness nila to train (Sometimes the players lose motivation because there’s no season. Sometimes the graduating students’ willingness to train decreases),” Ateneo Chess Program Head Jem Garcia lamented.

Eventually, traces of motivation from the athletes vanished after the official announcement of UAAP Season 83’s cancellation last December 2o2o. “The seniors started not showing up. Others would follow, asking the same question: ‘Why are we still doing this?’ As an athlete, it’s frustrating training for nothing,” Ateneo Swimming Program Director Archie Lim exclaimed.

SHIFTING NORMS In order to reinvigorate FAST’s morale, Lim sought to make team camaraderie his topmost priority.

The Program Director addressed the team’s earlier dip in attendance by employing activities that the team could do together like a donation drive for the victims of Typhoon Rolly. Until there is a certainty of the next UAAP season pushing through, Lim’s

focus will remain solely on the team’s wellbeing.

“As of now, the team’s performance isn’t exactly the goal. [We’re] looking at small goals, trying to be personal with them, letting them answer a survey per month, just making sure that everyone is okay,” Lim said.

In the same way, Garcia is always on the lookout for online tournaments that the team can participate in to boost their morale. Despite the virtual setup, online training has not been a hindrance for the Chess team as it has been easy for them to mimic their onsite training.

Apart from the feasibility of online training and competitions, the athletes’ progress in the sport can also be remotely gauged by the chess ratings a player earns when playing. “Mas dumali kasi online. Parang nandoon ka lang sa classroom. Sa training room namin meron chess board tapos sabay sabay sila nag-aaral dun (In our training room, we have chess boards then we study together),” Garcia explained.

UNRAVELLING PATHS Aside from the different teams’ efforts to address their growing pains, the UAO ensured the continuous activity of Ateneo’s sporting programs online.

“Across the nation, most of the sports programs are put on hold. But Ateneo, tinuloy niya (it continued) even from the grade school and high school level. So that’s our advantage. Even with the pandemic, nakita ng University (the University saw) that this is something important also,” Fernandez shared proudly.

At the onset of the pandemic, the College Athletics Office provided all Ateneo teams with premium Zoom accounts to aid them in their online training. To further adjust to the athletes’ struggles with poor internet connection, the individual

teams also adjusted their programs by training in smaller groups at a time Beyond the University, the UAAP and all its member-universities are working closely with the Commision on Higher Education (CHED) and the Department of Health in formulating policies that allow limited face-to-face training for athletes. This will allow teams to train on campus while maintaining zero contact among them.

Furthermore, the UAAP and the member-university presidents a re look ing into hav ing tournaments implement the bubble set-up wherein the matches are conducted in a more controlled environment. There is also a possibility of having Olympic-style tournaments with shorter tournaments that happen simultaneously in concentrated but highly-regulated venues.

In the meantime, the UAAP’s efforts to procure vaccines for its member-universities coincide with the league looking into allowing vaccinated athletes to participate in onsite sporting events.

While the presented solutions benefit the Ateneo sports scene’s resumption, all decisions are ultimately subject to the approval of various governing bodies.

“Hopefully, by next school year, matuloy si UAAP (UAAP will resume), but of course that’s pending. [It needs] the university president’s approval. After that the approval of CHED and of course the approval of the [Inter-Agency Taskforce on Emerging Infectious Diseases],” Fernandez said.

THE SILVER LINING Despite the uncertainty of the UAAP’s future, the Ateneo sports community continues to be resilient in the face of the pandemic. From the UAO’s multiple contingency plans to the coaches’ resolve to keep their athletes’ motivation in check, the Blue and White’s spirit is determined to prevail throughout this pandemic turmoil.

The seniors started not showing up. Others would follow, asking the same question– ‘Why are we still doing this?’ As an athlete, it’s frustrating training for nothing.

ARCHIE LIM FAST PROGRAM DIRECTOR

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Sports DEEP DIVE. Chloe Daos was awarded as UAAP Season 82 MVP, which is only one of the many awards she has received in her UAAP career.

PHOTO BY AGA OLYMPIA

GALLERY OF E AGLES

Queen behind the headlines

BY KRISTEN C. SISON

EXEMPLIFYING TREMENDOUS grit and determination in the water, three-time University Athletic Association of the Ph ilippines ( UA A P) Most Valuable Player Chloe Daos extends her reign beyond the pool, showcasing success in other areas of her life.

Overcoming challenges that greatly tested her commitment to swimming, Chloe built her momentous career from the desire to improve her skills and be an everyday inspiration to others. With her versatility, she continues to assert her dominance in academics and explore her entrepreneurial spirit prior to concluding her collegiate years.

PHOTO BY AGA OLYMPIA

Growing up, my main motivation shifted to being an inspiration to others.

Knowing that I get to motivate them to pursue their dreams and improve every day makes me wanna swim even more.

DAWN OF A PHENOM Initially afraid of the water, Chloe overcame her fear at three years old and eventually became fond of swimming.

When she began taking formal sw imming lessons, Ch loe decided that she wanted to follow in the footsteps of her uncle who swam competitively. Possessing a natural talent for the sport, she began joining international competitions at seven years old and topped the Southeast Asian (SEA) Age Group Swimming Championships at the young age of 12.

With her increasing commitment to sw imming, she persevered and continued competing throughout high school where the sport slowly became a passion. In 2o14, Chloe faced her greatest challenge as she aimed for the opportunity to swim in the Youth Olympic Games where she had to notch a qualif ying time A or B to participate. Despite successfully obtaining the qualifying time A , Chloe watched another swimmer represent the country as the Philippines was only given

one slot. This took a toll on both her mental and emotional wellbeing and affected her ability to train.

A lt ho u g h m i s s i n g t he competition was disheartening, it inspired Chloe to charge across the swimming pool.

A fter the tournament, she continued to train and even garnered the Athlete of the Year recognition twice in her final years at the Immaculate Conception Academy.

STRENGTH IN WEAKNESS Coming into Ateneo in her freshman year, Chloe went through various adjustments within the University’s athletic and academic systems. Joining the FAST Ateneo Women’s Swimming Team (FAST) a year after their failed attempt to nab the championship in Season 79, Chloe immediately had to step up during her rookie year. She learned to be f lexible both as an athlete and an individual, sw imming in other events beyond her specialties—freestyle and butterfly.

Consequently, Chloe’s efforts were recognized as she took home multiple individual awards while leading the Lady Eagles to a championship in Season 8o. In her debut season, Chloe was named the MVP, Rookie of the Year, UAAP Athlete of the Year, Ateneo Lady Eagle of the Year, Makabayan Awardee, and The GUIDONMoro Lorenzo Sportswoman of the Year.

However, amassing multiple recognitions in her debut season came with massive pressure as the expectations from her teammates, coaches, and the Ateneo community heightened.

Even now as a veteran, Chloe admittedly feels the weight of having to maintain her flawless individual record and surpassing her previous ceiling. “[I am] very pressured. There were times that I get really super

anxious and super nervous just thinking about it ‘cause I knew that a lot of people were sort of expecting me to perform and were on the lookout for me,” she explained.

Hoping to keep inspiring people, the Queen Eagle learned to embrace the pressure as she set her focus on improving her time and strokes. “Growing up, my main motivation shifted to being an inspiration to others.

Knowing that I get to motivate them to pursue their dreams and improve every day makes me want to swim even more,” she said.

Apart from her ability to contribute to the team’s points, Chloe saw how she became a source of strength to her teammates by encourag ing them to continue swimming even when they wanted to quit. Realizing her impact to the Lady Eagles, she became more persistent, f inding a greater purpose to pursue her athletic career. With the added motivation, Chloe led FAST to two more UA AP titles while also bagging two more MVP honors, an Ambrosio Padilla Athlete of the Year award, and another The GUIDONMoro Lorenzo Sportswoman o f t h e Ye a r c i t a t i o n .

While the UA AP has been the highlight of her career, the cancellation of Season 83 took away the possibility of another spectacular run for her.

Despite this, Chloe sees it as an opportunity for her to continue bonding with her teammates and a chance for her to pour more energy into academics and her entrepreneurial ambitions.

FINESSE OFF THE POOL With more time on her hands during the quarantine, Chloe decided to begin her venture into a baking business called All About Bread PH. Growing up with a passion for baking,

Chloe normally shared her baked goods with her family and friends who often expressed their approval. Earning the support of her loved ones, she was encouraged to turn her passion into a business that sells pastries and a variety of other baked goods.

However, just like any other sta r t-up, C h loe’s big gest challenge was gaining customers.

Eventually, All About Bread acquired more attention and expanded its reach with the help of social media platforms.

Because Chloe is considering a professional career in marketing after graduation, she has become determined to succeed in her venture since it also serves as her training ground for the future.

Currently, her business continues to thrive with more customers and daily bulk orders.

Establishing her commitment to endeavors beyond the pool, Chloe has become a well-rounded woman who proves ready to dominate even in the face of difficulties.

ESTABLISHING A LEGACY Despite being in the water for most of her life, Chloe has grown both as an athlete and an individual. By overcoming numerous hurdles, she has humbled herself and grown stronger as a person. Although she has nothing left to prove in UA A P sw imming, Chloe continues to improve herself in a ll aspects of her life, making her forever deserving of a name that echoes the identity of a true Queen Eagle.

The GUIDON | March - April 2021

3

S P O R T S O P I N IO N

PERIODization training

BY KYLA A. ALGARRA AND KRISTEN R. MATIAS

THROUGHOUT SPORTS history, female athletes have faced numerous challenges— from objectification in popular media to inequalit y and underrepresentation in daily sports coverage. While the past decade has seen an improvement in the perception and treatment of women in sports, there is little to no discussion regarding a female athlete’s menstrual cycles. This is a result of the mostly-male coaching ranks, a lack of sports-science research on women, and public silence on the topic.

With the absence of discourse on the matter, many university sports programs have been ineff icient in catering to

their athletes’ menstr ual profiles. In Ateneo, the sports programs’ lack of knowledge regarding periods and its impact on an athlete’s performance has ultimately caused inconsistent training regimen across its female varsity teams. In order to create a more conducive sporting environment for female athletes to thrive, the University should place more emphasis on i ncor p or at i n g men s t r u a l awareness in its sports programs.

THE FEMALE EXPERIENCE A lthough it is common knowledge that the menstrual cycle causes changes in a woman’s body, many coaches and trainers fail to address its effects on an athlete’s physical condition and motivation in sports. When women menstruate, a drop in their estrogen and progesterone

levels causes them to experience physical symptoms such as abdominal pain, reduced energy levels, and nausea. In particular, these hormonal imbalances imply fluctuations in their strength, metabolism, and injury risk.

Aside from these physical nuances, psychological effects such as rapid changes in mood to concentration difficulties also affect athletes on their red days.

These erratic changes in both mind and body usher in difficulties for women in executing high-intensity workouts, leaving some professional athletes to opt for lower-volume exercises during their periods.

While these symptoms remain inescapable for even the world’s top-level athletes, there are several ways to alleviate a monthly period; this includes the heightening of discourse and modification of training programs to support menstruating athletes.

OVERCOMING RED DAYS In the intercollegiate scene, members of the Blue and White continue to struggle against the lack of proper discourse regarding a

woman’s period. For instance, some athletes choose to stay silent due for fear of not being taken seriously.

“When I get my period, I always take painkillers before training because I feel like [my coaches] wouldn’t understand. They might think I’m faking it,” shared Ateneo Women’s Basketball Team Senior Jhazmin Joson.

Another challenge that female athletes struggle with is the expectation to fulfill their coaches’ demands despite their menstrual woes. “If ever I have [menstrual cramps], parang my coach doesn’t want me to stop swimming, so I still have to train. I think they’re trying to establish mental training as well,” voiced FAST Ateneo Women’s Swimming Team Sophomore Rona Lalimo.

While some coaches and staff members in the University seem unaware of the inner battles that these Lady Eagles face, other teams with female coaches are more empathetic towards those who bring up their period-related symptoms.

According to Nica Navarro, a former Physical Therapist (PT) and Strength and Conditioning (S&C) coach at the Moro Lorenzo Sports Center, many athletes have openly come to her to address issues concerning their menstrual cycles.

During her time as a PT for the Ateneo

Women’s Football Team (AWFT), Navarro included menstrual hygiene products, ointments, and over-thecounter painkillers in the team’s medical kits.

Meanwhile, former AWFT S&C Coach Dox Delos Reyes adjusted his training regimen to cater to athletes’ menstrual-related needs.

“Careful lang ako with exercises na magbibigay ng low-back stress.

Kung kaya i-maintain muna or lessen the weight para lang walang pain (I’m careful with exercises that may give low-back stress— whether the athlete can maintain the weight or not, just so it won’t cause pain),” Delos Reyes shared.

While some coaches and trainers continue to create more conducive spaces for women, other teams still have a long way to go in developing awareness and knowledge regarding women and their monthly struggles.

FROM TABOO TO DISCOURSE To yield a progressive training environment, athletic personnel must be willing to address their athletes’ problems and initiate healthy dialogue with them.

However, this all boils down to the understanding of coaches towards their athletes’ woes.

“You can make a conducive environment for women by understanding the difference between male and female bodies.

You have to accept that women’s hormones are always fluctuating [unlike] men,” Navarro stated.

Apart from acknowledging the key physical differences between the sexes, coaching staffs should educate themselves on the relationship of the menstrual cycle and athletic performance.

By doing so, coaches and physical therapists could further modify

individual S&C training to optimize their athletic load.

Studies have shown that adjusting a workout regimen and diet around an athlete’s menstrual cycle could aid in achieving optimal performance as this could maximize muscle performance and recovery while avoiding orthopedic-related injuries.

Finally, it should also be understood that each woman possesses a unique female physiology. This means that athletes’ cycles and symptoms should be taken into consideration on a case-to-case basis. While some athletic staff may overlook receptiveness toward menstrual effects, better rapport between athlete and coaching staff would aid in catering to each member’s menstrual profiles. Likewise, it is essential to encourage female athletes to talk about their underlying conditions to their coaches to create a more seamless training program in light of their menstrual cycle.

THE VEIL While there have been valiant efforts to address the concerns of female athletes, a handful of these continue to inch along the narrow space for discourse. Instead of receiving empathy for their menstrual woes, female athletes are still exposed to microaggressions surrounding their period.

Although fostering a culture of excellence is vital for sports programs, providing female athletes with a healthy environment to thrive is just as important. “At the end of the day, I’m not just an athlete, I’m a woman as well. It’s more understanding [that I want from the program],” voiced Lalimo.

If the Ateneo sports program truly wants to empower its athletes, the University should recognize the need for a more progressive outlook on female athletes’ woes. The first step in aiding women in both their athletic and corporal battles is to pierce the hostile veil surrounding their monthly period.

ILLUSTRATION BY KURT TAN

Inquiry

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EDITOR: JEAN MANGALUZ LAYOUT ARTIST: TIFFANY CU

WRITINGS ON THE WALL

With its popularity on Facebook, the Blue Katip Freedom Wall continues to draw comedic and polarizing opinions. However, posts coursed through the platform may also bring discomfort to individuals.

Stepping towards immunity The GUIDON looks into the University’s efforts to participate in the national pandemic response.

BY JUSTIN B. JIMENEZ AND RENZ MICIEL M. TROVELLA RECENT STUDIES show that the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on the country’s educational, healthcare, and economic systems.

While these pressing issues hamper the government’s response to the pandemic, additional problems and intricacies emerge such as the surge of COVID-19 cases driven by the new variants of SARS-CoV-2 in the country.

The public health crisis became more challenging to overcome in the hands of the national government alone. For this reason, higher educational institutions, including the Loyola Schools (LS), step forward to assist in combating the crisis that goes beyond delivering quality online education.

In fact, the LS administration is assisting the local government’s COVID-19 vaccination roll out in Quezon City (QC). Such exertions make it imperative to determine the roles of universities in the national and local response against this global health crisis.

FACING FORWARD In a press briefing last January 28, QC Mayor Joy Belmonte listed Ateneo de Manila University as one of the 24 inoculation sites for the city’s COVID-19 vaccination program. “At the moment, these sites were approved by DOH. And these are the ones with sure staff and personnel available,” Belmonte says.

“Obviously our campus is huge and so we have facilities that can accommodate the inoculation of activity,” University Physician Dr. Norman Marquez says. Aside from the QC government, Marquez also notes that Ayala Health is interested in utilizing the University as an inoculation site.

Marquez remarks that the inoculation will begin when the

AstraZeneca vaccines secured by the QC government are delivered some time in June or July. He also mentioned that the vaccination rollout will be done for about six to eight months with 7oo individuals estimated to be vaccinated on campus daily.

Although vaccination efforts will be done within the University, Marquez stated that the inoculation will be administered by the QC government and the LS will only be used as a vaccination site.

“The entire process from the manufacturer, storing, distribution, delivery, and the inoculation will be done by the Quezon City government,” Marquez says.

In terms of the students and LS staff, Marquez says that University President Roberto Yap, SJ is trying to secure vaccines for the community. As of press time, Marquez notes that the University administration will soon be meeting on this to prepare for the specifics.

In the event that the University secures its own vaccines, Marquez emphasizes that the prioritization set by the government will still be followed. In this case, he notes that frontliners will be the first to receive the vaccine followed by the elderly and the general populace.

Marquez notes that since students are “relatively healthy,” they will not be on the priority list for vaccination. “We would have to follow the prioritization rationale that has been set not just by the Philippine government but by [the] global community,” Marquez shares.

If the government’s vaccination rollout goes well, Marquez believes that the University may soon resume on-site operations.

“If there is good coverage of the vaccine, then maybe at best we can do hybrid, which means some classes are still online, maybe a few classes, maybe laboratory classes... will be on campus,” Marquez says.

However, he emphasizes that this will depend on the national situation and the success of the national vaccination efforts.

IN RETROSPECTIVE VIEW To date, the University continues to coordinate with the QC government for the preparation regarding the vaccine rollout as one of the contributions for the response against COVID-19. Months prior to this, the University facilitated relief operations for sectors badly affected by the pandemic through the Ateneo Disaster Response and Management (DReaM) Team, alongside Tanging Yaman Foundation and Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan.

During the early months of communit y quarantine, Marquez says that the University, through the DReaM Team, sourced personal protective equipment and distributed them to different hospitals and health facilities nationwide.

Marquez also mentions that the Blueplate for Better Learning Feeding Program of the Ateneo Center for Educational Development donated food packs to public school children and their families. The program also benefits displaced farmers from Central Luzon and Mountain Province who were the source of rice and vegetables for this program.

Aside from conducting relief operations, University researchers also devised programs to assist in the national response.

Among these innovations is the Feasibility Analysis of Syndromic Surveillance using Spatiotemporal Epidemiological Modeler for Early Detection of Diseases (FA S S STER) from the Ateneo Center for Computing Competency and Research (ACCCRe).

FASSSTER is a web application that collates electronic medical records and reports on symptoms to produce a model that will map the clusters of a particular symptom, visualizing a potential disease emergence in certain areas.

Furthermore, it forecasts the spread of a disease and simulates scenarios based on interventions and healthcare capacity to guide local government units in policy making.

FASSSTER Project Lead Dr. Maria Regina E. Estuar says that the program is more than 2o years in the making before it was redesigned for COVID-19 surveillance. “In [the ACCCRe] lab, what we have been doing since 2oo3 was to develop web and mobile solutions, initially focusing on [private] industry needs.

But then we shifted sometime in 2oo7, we said, ‘Let’s do research for nation-building.’”

Estuar also mentions that FA SSSTER is the of f icia l platform of the country for monitoring COVID-19 for over a year now. Since then, the team adjusted the program through adding scenarios on guidelines and stages of the pandemic and strengthening the model with more defined risk classifications and socio-economic data on the recovery phase of the LGUs. “That’s why the work continues because [partner government agencies] trust us. They know and we promised, and Ateneo promised that we will not leave them until this is over,” Estuar says.

BEYOND THE CONFINES In line with Ateneo’s efforts against the pandemic, Estuar believes that educational institutions such as the Ateneo play an important role in the national response to COVID-19.

She cites how other members of the Ateneo community, particularly those in the science and medical fields, are continuously aiding in researching and studying the spread of the disease.

“Dr. [Fabian] Dayrit’s team has been studying the efficacy of the [virgin coconut oil] for those who are recovering from COVID-19 or to improve your immune system,” Estuar says.

Both Estuar and Marquez stressed the necessit y of collective effort in responding to the pandemic. Additionally, Marquez notes that everyone should be consistently doing their part in mitigating the spread of the disease.

“If [Filipinos are] all confident that everyone is responsible for doing their part then we all know within our community at the very least, we’re keeping everyone safe.

Not just ourselves, but everyone,” Marquez says.

“

If [Filipinos are] all

DR. NORMAN MARQUEZ UNIVERSITY PHYSICIAN ILLUSTRATIONS BY JAYCOB BUSTAMANTE

02

2

lnquiry GRAPHICS BY MIKHAELLA NORLIN MAGAT

Writings on the wall

BY PAOLO BUENASEDA, MALAIKA PACULAN, AND GERARD IGNACIO

INSTANCES OF data protection violations have been prevalent prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, but as lockdown forces people to operate in the online sphere, privacy infringement has been on the rise. With social media usage at an all-time high in the country, netizens continue to search for outlets to air their grievances on personal and academic matters. On Facebook, freedom walls— anonymous forums moderated bvy unnamed administrators— have become channels for students to share their experiences, tips, opinions and more.

Inspired by pages like The Diliman Files, “freedom wall” formats began as an avenue for individuals to write anonymous posts online. Upon The Diliman Files’ inactivity in 2018 emerged Ateneo Rantbox, which is now a dormant Facebook account.

Since then, the freedom wall formula was soon modernized into university freedom walls such as ADMU Freedom Wall (FW) and DLSU Freedom Wall.

With the original ADMU FW taken down, the Blue Katip Freedom Wall (BKFW) has since emerged as the newest freedom wall for the Ateneo community.

Following in the steps of its predecessor, the page draws

both comedic and polarizing opinions on almost any matter under the sun. Comments on the posts are made public, bringing to fore narratives ranging from heartwarming anecdotes to divisive opinions on other universities. However, as divergent as the BKFW’s posts may be, so are the freedom wall’s effects on Ateneans.

FUN AND GAMES With posts published on BKFW public domain, there are freedom wall users who frequently comment on such posts, thereby garnering more attention than others. Noey Silva (2 AB AM) and Benedict O’yek (3 BS ITE) are among these active users.

As well-known users of the platform, O’yek and Silva share similar experiences. “Seeing all those posts saying nice stuff about me—it really lifted my spirits. It always made my day,” Silva states, referencing posts of admiration on the page. Both students admit that in most cases, they do not find posts bothersome.

“As long as you’re not really attacking me or anything. I mean, it’s okay with me cause I’m a pretty chill person,” O’yek states.

Nonetheless, their main concerns lie in the accusatory and harsh backlash to their comments.

“ ATTY. EUGENIO VILLAREAL ATENEO LAW SCHOOL CHAIRPERSON OF ATENEO LAW’S DEPARTMENT OF LEGAL ETHICS, PHILOSOPHY AND THEOLOGY

Amusing anecdotes and polarizing opinions aside, BKFW is also well-known as a platform where messages to crushes are published. Both O’yek and Silva have expressed that they have occasionally been the subject of posts of this nature.

Despite their popularity on BKFW, both O’yek and Silva remain subject to negative posts.

They have both been explicitly accused of clout chasing, the colloquial term for attempts to gain popularity and influence.

However, both Silva and O’yek deny this claim.

RAISING CONCERNS A platform that initially seems like an innocent space for fun and games, the freedom wall can pose concerns to the individuals mentioned in posts. While Silva enjoys the humor of freedom wall posts, she acknowledges the discomfort it may bring to people.

“I guess there was this one post that kind of irked me, which is the ‘bored freshie girls’ who made a whole list of these [handsome] people [that] they were ranking them or something.”

Allen*, who is frequently mentioned in freedom wall posts, expresses his worries over mentions of his name in the BKFW and ADMU FW. “Don’t get me wrong, it was very flattering.

It does great things to the ego, but it became really repetitive to the point that it just made me kind of uncomfortable,” he says.

Allen also narrates a specific moment where he was described in uncomfortable detail on the ADMU FW. “One time I was buying flowers for my girlfriend for Valentine’s day and someone posted, like blatantly describing my outfit,” he shares. “I’m a hundred percent sure that people get flattered by it, but I’m also sure that there are people who kind of feel uncomfortable about it.”

These stories point to the reality that anonymous posting and messaging online can bring individuals real-life consequences that verge on both positive and

the negative effects. Regardless of intention, this public “selfdisclosure” in individuals continues to be a reason behind these posts’ popularity. With such an open-access platform in their hands, users are afforded moments of catharsis through the posts, anecdotes, and opinions they are free to publish.

At the same time, regulating these platforms may prove to be a gruelling task as the world transitions to the digital sphere. Due to the anonymity that surrounds freedom wall submissions, there is little accountability demanded from the sender—thus, the question on whether such posts infringe students’ rights remains.

LAWFUL GOOD Chairperson of Ateneo Law’s Department of Legal Ethics, Philosophy and Theology Eugenio Villareal classifies BKFW as an Online Social Network (OSN).

He explains that every OSN, regardless of affiliation, must have their own set of guidelines to prevent major libel cases.

Recently, a number of BKFW users criticized the LGBTQ+ and the feminist community. Due to the increase in posts of contentious nature, the BKFW moderators** announced that revisions have been made to the page’s rules. The moderators have also stated that while they acknowledge that posts occasionally slip past screening, they are ready to take them down right away.

With situations like that of Allen, Villareal explains that students should take up their concerns with the BKFW moderators. He asserts that the experiences of the moderators should not be discounted, and that they are also entitled to a good name and reputation. “It is far more easy to type and click compared to seeking out people, hearing [others] out in the same way that you want to be heard out,” he adds.

Additionally, Villareal advises caution towards interacting on freedom walls. He asserts that with

freedom of expression, the line must be drawn when it violates the rights of others. He also references Article 353 of the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines, which describes libel as destroying another’s reputation or crimes of similar manners.

Although he is adamant regarding the obliqueness of the BKFW, Villareal believes that it can be a positive force. “The freedom wall should be a positive thing. It should not be an instrument to destroy or hurt feelings,” he says.

O’yek shares similar sentiments, reiterating the benefits that freedom walls can bring. “It’s a fun place to be. I get to learn stuff there. I get to sympathize, empathize with people there. People who complain, people who give advice, people who share their life stories sometimes—[it] helps me,” O’yek shares.

Members of the Ateneo community—as well as frequenters of the BKFW wall—must carefully consider the posts they upload to the page. “As Ateneans, we have been taught that there is what is called responsibility. It is responsibility that makes us authentic persons,” Villareal explains.

Likewise, Silva urges potential posters to think before they post.

“You never know how it could affect other people especially if you’re bluntly saying something that could negatively affect a person…It always helps to put yourself in another person’s shoes,” she says. *Editor’s Note: The name of the interviewee has been changed at his request in order to protect his identity and privacy. **The BKFW moderators’ identities have also been withheld upon their request.

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Beyond Loyola

THE PANDEMIC'S SCRAPS The COVID-19 pandemic has caused hospitals to generate an unprecedented amount of waste. Serious concerns are raised as public health and biodiversity both depend on the proper handling of these hazards.

02

ILLUSTRATION BY M. MIRABUENO

Beneath your nose

BY KIANA R. ALTOVEROS, DERICK M. GABRILLO, AND ALEXANDRA L. GRANTOZA

AN ESTIMATED 28o metric tons of healthcare waste per day was produced in Manila alone last April 2o2o, according to the Asian Development Bank. This starkly exceeded their pre-pandemic estimation report, which stated that hospitals would generate approximately 47 metric tons of medical waste per day. In addition to the high waste volume, data on healthcare waste showed that approximately two billion face masks were used in Asia alone.

Hospitals across the globe have formulated guidelines to lessen the volume of waste. However, it is quickly becoming clear that the responsibility does not fall solely on their shoulders. According to the United Nations Environment Programme’s research, countries must take a multi-sectoral approach in dealing with the COVID-19 waste issue.

ACTION-REACTION The accumulation of healthcare waste was first considered inevitable by the Department of Health (DOH) in the COVID-19 pandemic’s early stages. However, according to Plastics in Healthcare Project Officer Raphael Lopez, the waste management policies put into place by hospitals prove otherwise.

L opez ment ioned t h at hospitals were prepared to efficiently manage healthcare waste because infection control officers and policies were already in place prior to the pandemic.

Examples include color coding waste bins, disinfecting waste before disposal, and designating specialized areas for medical waste. However, Lopez mentioned that these policies are not always enforced due to ineffective dissemination of information within medical institutions and varying hospital leadership styles.

Lopez also cited several innovative hospital initiatives, f u r t her emphasizing t he

significance of hospital leadership in add ressing hea lt hca re concerns and policy enforcement.

For instance, sustainable fabrics are used to make personal protective equipment, while chemicals and plastics are replaced with sustainable alternatives.

Lopez stated that these innovations were initiated by some hospital administrators in line with the DOH’s Healthcare Waste Management (HCWM) guidelines.

The accumulation of healthcare considered inevitable by DOH in the early stages of the pandemic.

While some hospitals chose to innovate based on the HCWM’s prov ided g uidelines, other hospitals followed the traditional methods stated in the HCWM manual.“If hospitals can improve upon what the healthcare waste management manual of the Department of Health is saying, then this is highly encouraged,” Lopez stated.

RULE OF THUMB To augment the healthcare institutions’ fight with COVID-19, the DOH updated and published the HCWM Manual last April 2o2o. According to Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Chief of Hazardous Waste Management Section Geri Geronimo Sañez, the HCWM Manual acts as the

primary guide for hospitals’ waste treatment and disinfection prior to Treatment, Storage, and Disposal (TSD) facility transfer.

The updated HCWM Manual specifies several options for hazardous waste disposal. One example is the use of smallscale incinerators, a practice that is exempted from the Clean Air Act of 1999’s incineration ban. Given lenient incineration policies, Sañez said that the HCWM Manual supports DENR Administrative Order 2o13-22, which further authorizes the use of both burn and non-burn waste disposal technologies.

While hospitals are expected to diligently follow HCWM procedures, Sañez detailed that the DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau has also made necessary administrative adjustments in the health care waste collection process.

These include special permits to transport, waived fees, and extended permits to ensure the smooth transfer of waste to TSD facilities during the enhanced community quarantine.

Furthermore, Sañez asserted that the waste volume received by TSD facilities does not go beyond its capacity due to permit policies that ensure volume regulation.

In addition to monitoring health care waste transport, Sañez said that the DENR and the DOH have been in contact to address possible waste management issues that may arise during the nationwide vaccination prog r a m . A m id r igorou s planning and measures made to confront the environmental demands of the pandemic, the uncertainty surrounding this health crisis still threatens to overwhelm the country’s current waste management system and healthcare facilities.

PILING UP Hospitals’ waste management efforts, Lopez said, can only go so far in alleviating the vast quantities of infectious waste generated during the pandemic.

“Visionary leaders have huge

ambitions for their hospitals... [but] they don’t have all the resources needed to be able to do that,” he added.

The loosened restrictions by government agencies and novel solutions by medical institutions are not enough to holistically tackle HCWM. Further support from government agencies and LGUs through policy and public information campaigns is crucial to improving current HCWM practices.

These public information campaigns can best promote how waste management practices can play a crucial role in solving the country’s healthcare waste woes. As face shields and masks become a public necessity, households now produce a bulk of the new and unsegregated healthcare waste. A lthough medical facilities produce vast quantities of waste, Lopez says that their waste—when treated properly—is often cleaner than those from households. This is due in part to the steps medical practitioners take to reduce risks of infection, but also to the lack of proper management by households.

The improper disposal of infectious wastes adds risks to the already hazardous work of waste collection. In order to uphold public health and cleanliness, DENR officials have asked the public to properly dispose of their face shields and masks by putting them in separate labelled bags. Measures as simple as segregating waste, Lopez said, would effectively cut the risks to the frontliners in waste management.

The responsibility of HCWM does not only belong to healthcare facilities and waste collectors.

To temper the country’s waste generation for the long run, proper HCWM from the hospital to the household level must be taught and implemented.

2

Beyond Loyola a

Under Control

BY JUSTINE RAMIREZ AND TROY G. TARRIELA ILLUSTRATION BY GERI PUNO

AS COVID-19 spreads, the healthcare waste produced to combat the disease continues to mount. Personal protective equipment, medical utilities, and excreta waste aggravate the longstanding garbage crisis in the country. With over a hundred metric tons of waste produced daily, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases urged local government units (LGU) to intensify waste management programs.

In response, LGUs raced to improve local health care waste management (HCWM) systems to temper the accumulating mounds of waste. However, only a fraction of the waste produced has been treated and disposed properly. Waste from hospitals, in particular, must undergo thorough treatment and careful disposal lest it enable infection via cross-contamination. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has attributed the delay to treatment and disposal facilities’ state of under-capacity.

Although the pandemic has largely contributed to overloading the country’s HC W M system, the u nder f u nd ing a nd lack of maintenance thereof could have been avoided with earlier preparations.

A 2o15 report from the World Health Organization found administrative gaps despite the country’s prior experience with HCW M. This assessment underscores the government’s lack of solutions to address the garbage crisis. Instead, the HCWM burden has been relegated to the individual

management of hospitals and private companies. Only in November 2o2o did LGUs create and have their HCWM plans approved by the DENR. While the urban centers of Luzon somewhat manage the hordes of healthcare waste, the DENR pointed out that communities in Visayas and Mindanao continue to struggle. With only six out of 26 registered Treatment, Storage, and Disposal (TSD) facilities found outside of Luzon, the remaining six administrative regions of the country are left to fend for themselves. To compensate for the lack of TSD facilities amid the exponentially increasing levels of waste, the DENR reiterated its call for LGUs and hospitals to double down on the issue of health care waste.

Aside from the mismanagement of infectious healthcare waste, the sheer volume of single-use plastic waste could damage the environment. Surgical masks, for instance, take nearly five centuries to decompose and have been increasingly polluting bodies of water.

However, even properly disposed plastic harms the environment by releasing potentially toxic chemicals and microplastics as a function of its decomposition.

Although the pervasiveness of COV ID -19 currently necessitates the use of single-use materials, the precautionary habit brings rise to irreversible consequences.

As hospitals continue to use disposable protective gear to contain the virus’ spread, LGUs and the national government must strengthen its HCWM to keep the consequent public health and environmental risks under control.

Although the pervasiveness of COVID-19 currently necessitates the use of disposable materials, the precautionary habit gives rise to irreversible consequences.

MARCHING AWAY Gone are the days where

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EDITOR: KEZIAH MARU Z. PASION LAYOUT ARTIST: JANIS M. VILLAVICENCIO

womanhood into tiers, as two powerful women assert that the true essence of women empowerment is seeing them for who they are and what they choose to be.

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ILLUSTRATION BY SAM DELLOMAS

Piecing the puzzle of womanhood essence of women empowerment is seeing them for who they are and what they choose to be.

BY AISHA C. SAID AND EALA JULIENNE P. NOLASCO

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT comes in many forms. Genderfair structures and systems such as the Magna Carta of Women and the Reproductive Health Law potentially enable a gender-inclusive societ y.

However, tr uly celebrating women for who they are begins with listening to their stories.

Two women who turned their passion into reality challenge the dualism logic surrounding various gender discussions.

As they share their journey to fulf ilment, one thing is made clear: A truly gender fair society is one where women are celebrated not by their categor ica l successes, but because of their effort, courage, and perseverance.

TO BUILD A HOME: FRANCE CHUA Mot herhood is a wonder hardly ever articulated enough.

From mothers at home, at work, a nd be yond , t he d i f ferent realities these women confront a re cer ta in ly not a wa l k in the park.

France Chua, now in her 37th week of pregnancy, reminisces that—of her many hopes and passions—becoming a mother w a s one t h a t s he lo oke d for ward to growing up. “It has really been my mindset even as a teenager na magiging mother din talaga ako someday (It has really been my mindset even as a teenager that I w ill be a mother someday),” she shares.

More than subtle thoughts of mot herhood i n her m idt w e n t i e s , h o w e v e r, C h u a hoped it would ar r ive in due time. Finally, exactly one year into tr y ing w ith her husband, a p o sit i ve pre g n a nc y te s t t u r ned out to be a blessing amid the pandemic.

As the current health protocol classif ies her as high-r isk, Chua took a temporar y leave as a senior ser vice associate banker and remained home throughout the nine months to ascertain her and her baby

daughter’s health. Nonetheless, she shares plans of returning to her profession in June—in discernment of her personal and familial circumstances.

Chua further shares the many woes that come with the bliss of nurturing another life within her own body. “Scary ka s i ‘di mo alam kung anong klaseng mom ka sa anak mo… Ang daming question kung paano mo [iyon] ga gampan an (It’s scar y not knowing what kind of mom you’ll become for your child. There are many questions of how you’ll live up to it),” she remarks.

The past six months have also been emotionally challenging for her, as she had to endure bed rest a nd occasiona l bleeding. Nonetheless, she feels ultimately relieved to manage a full-term pregnancy in the midst of a pandemic.

T here a re m a ny more str ug gles—li kely u ntold andfelt in silence—that come w ith pregnancy and childbearing. With the strength she shares with her husband, Chua perseveres through this new chapter of motherhood. Moving forward, her hopes as a would be mom remain stronger than ever. She carries the vision of cultivating a deep mother-child relationship, having closeness and openness at the heart of her bond with her daughter.

For Chua, finding the balance of her career and her long-held passion for a home is certainly not without hurdles, but is ultimately one worth taking.

“Very worth it ‘to… dinala mo siya, iisa yung circulation ng blood niyo, yung heart niya... lahat yun na-de velop sa loob ng tummy mo... so parang miracle lang talaga (It’s really worth it... you conceived her, share one circulation, and her heart—they all developed in your womb… much like a miracle).”

OF MULTIFACETED ROUTES: INEZ PONCE DE LEON Molecular biologist by training, researcher and Communication Instructor by profession, and licensed belly dance instructor, Inez Ponce de Leon shares what it means to explore various passions and

share fulfilment by empowering her students.

Growing up fascinated by the sciences, Ponce de Leon shares spending most of her college years in the laboratory testing genetic samples. Yet when the opportunity to communicate scientific developments to the youth came, Ponce de Leon discovered her true passion lay with building connections through science communication.

“I felt as though I was in a space where I truly belonged, could help people, and could bring joy,” she says. Soon after, Ponce de Leon applied for her PhD in Science Communication in Purdue and came back to the Philippines not just with a PhD, but another passion: Belly dancing. She shares that, more than just choreography, teaching belly dancing as a culture is a way to combat the stigma of hypersexualization around it.

Having tested the waters in various fields, Ponce de Leon shares it is not a matter of settling for one profession, but finding joy in what one does. She shares that the road to seizing her passions was remarkably an inclusive and empowering one.

Recalling her undergraduate years, Ponce de Leon argues that contrary to popular belief, the sciences is not always a maledominated arena. In fact, gender disparity was unobservable in the University of the Philippines Diliman, with the ratio of males to females in a class at a stark contrast of 5:4o.

However, this does not eradicate the fact that the systemic and cultural issue within and surrounding the gender gap still exists. Systemic gender inequality can come in the form of economic income disparity, while cultural stereotyping can disguise itself in the most conventional remarks.

Recalling an experience during her PhD years, Ponce de Leon shares, “I was once asked why I wasn’t married yet, and I encountered students who were panicking if they weren’t engaged by their senior year of college.”

Despite this mild stereotyping, Ponce de Leon assures they were nothing severe enough to

discourage her road to personal fulfilment. In fact, she insists abandoning the categorical logic of celebrating women’s accomplishments on the basis of their gender. “If I take the ‘as a woman’ qualification into account, then I am holding myself on a pedestal, which takes away attention from my work and its fruits. I’m not at the center here,” she explains.

Hav ing found f ulf illment in br ing ing joy to people through her work—whether in the classroom, danceroom, or laboratory—Ponce de Leon only has one advice for women who believe a future in the sciences or communications awaits them. “Ask questions... do your best to f ind out... listen to the answers...and the world owes you nothing.” More importantly, Ponce de Leon imparts a challenge to celebrate people ’s accompl ish ments for what they are, and not an achievement based on gender.

UNBOXING YOUR TRUTH As there is no one true way to honor womanhood, embracing the various and often personal ways women find and seek fulfillment for themselves requires a more inclusive direction. Chua and Ponce de Leon remind that it is crucial to perceive womanness on a spectrum, devoid of absolutes, as there are as many ways to embody womanhood.

Their stories are only two of the many stories of women who have braved and triumphed through their own vocations.

Thus, they remain testament that there is hardly a one-sizefits-all for women and their diverse passions. A fter all, empowerment is best felt within spaces they are impassioned and committed to.

In the end, whatever pursuit that may be, Ponce de Leon advises women to recognize the difference bet ween an unjust and oppressive system from a merely challenging one.

She reminds, “If [your passion is] just difficult? Time consuming?

But something to learn from, to know more about, to help you grow? Then keep going.”

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Life through the eyes of a synesthete

BY NINA S. GOPALDAS COMIC BY SAM SACLUTI

The GUIDON | March - April 2021

Reinventing the local limelight industry amidst local recoil.

ILLUSTRATION BY LIA DATILES

BY CHLOE RUIZ AND JULLIA CHEN

PL AY I NG WOR LDW IDE sensation BTS’s Dynamite on repeat, blasting fanchants, and calling dibs on a bias influenced the eventual rise of Philippine Pop or P-pop. The genre dates all the way back to the 197os, when Original Philippine Music (OPM) was its central brand. However, with K-pop’s influence landing in the country, P-pop has evolved into troops of passionate Filipinos who weave K-pop elements and Filipino lyrics into their music.

Along with their music, P-pop groups are taking notes off K-pop’s book on fashion, and choreography, causing some to f lock to their music as SB19’s A’TIN or respond with the words “irritating” and “unoriginal.”

Under the pressures of the Philippine music industry, three aspiring P-pop idols reveal their group’s struggles and aspirations.

STANDING ON FOREIGN LAND In coming up with a group’s brand, establishing the sound and getups are key to catching the audiences’ attention. Liway,

Wonderland-Hiraya’s manager and “bright yellow member,” describes their group’s music as the assimilation of K-pop and J-pop with OPM. On stage, however, the music is complemented by the idols’ costumes and sets. P-pop Generation member Vianne Cayangyang explains that their fans are drawn to their ensemble.

“We have cute and shiny costumes din kasi when performing live [kaya] nakaka-attract kami (We also have cute and shiny costumes when performing live, so we were able to attract the audience),” she says.

While K-pop and J-popinspired Filipino groups have been greeted with enthusiasm by some, others have differing opinions. Wonderland-Hiraya’s leader, Likha, shares that like many other P-pop groups, they struggle to be acknowledged as a K-pop-inspired P-pop group. “[They are] implying that they are mere copycats of K-Pop,” she says.

She adds that the performance quality of Filipino idols is always perceived as inferior to their K-pop counterparts. Likha explains that long exposure to these foreign idols has cultivated an unreachable

standard, leaving the Philippine culture and Filipino identity as their only unique components.

These qualities, however, do not guarantee survival in the music industry. For Liway, what exemplifies a Filipino idol is not only one’s inclination to music, but also perseverance in the Philippines’ cutthroat entertainment industry. Amid varying preconceptions on the essence of P-pop, idols venture into a wearying undertaking as they bring their talent and individuality to the limelight.

AS THE STARDOM UNFOLDS Behind the cutesy costumes and upbeat songs is the long and difficult journey towards the local music scene. As Filipino idols enter the local industry, they hope to entertain audiences with their novel performances.

To further improve their performances, they train hard to hone their singing and dancing skills. According to Likha, being juxtaposed to foreign groups impels them to strive for competence.

Another expectation imposed on P-pop idols is maintaining a fit and appealing physique commonly observed in K-pop artists. “Bawal talaga [kaming] tumaba and sobrang hirap [nito] dati kasi hindi naman kami sanay sa training ng ilang oras. [Kailangan din na] may disiplina ka pa sa mga kakainin mo (We are really not allowed to gain weight, and this is extremely difficult because we’re not used to this many hours of training. We also need to be disciplined with what we eat),” Cayangyang says.

While P-pop groups have shared similar toils with foreign groups, they still experience being cast in a negative light by their own countrymen.

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OUTLINING IDENTITY Although P-pop groups have endeavored to underscore their talents as localized groups, many Filipinos still view them as an inferior counterpart to foreign acts. According to Liway, this perception can be attributed to Filipinos’ colonial mentality. “We have this notion that whatever the foreigners or our colonizers [like Japan] do, it’s way better than what we produce as a country,” she explains.

Amid the public’s opposing views, Liway and Likha stand their ground on P-pop groups’ unique blend of music, as local idols are also eager to weave together lyrics that capture the Filipino identity.

According to Liway, one key aspect that distinguishes P-pop groups from K-pop and J-pop groups is their style of writing. “[The] way we write is very kundiman,” she explains. She adds that incorporating this traditional Filipino music genre into their songs enables them to better spotlight the Filipino culture.

Furthermore, P-pop songs contain lyrics that are unique to the experiences of Filipinos. This is illustrated by WonderlandHiraya’s songs about traditional Filipino values and societal pressures that they want altered.

“A lot of [the] songs [we are currently writing] are very socially relevant,” Liway says.

Past all the flak received from fellow Filipinos, P-pop group members yearn to be heard and appreciated for their craft. “I hope [the Filipino public] would be more open-minded when it comes to new P-Pop groups. P-Pop is just starting in the Philippines, and there's a huge opportunity for them to be successful,” Likha shares.

Unexplored universes scene faces obstacles that greatly limit its cosmic odysseys.

BY RYAN SUAREZ AND YVES LAZARO

SPACESHIPS ZOOM I NG through galaxies, rebels battling oppression in dystopian futures, and heroes traveling through time—these are familiar scenes to many. Along with the digital age phenomenon and continuous technological advances, the science fiction genre appears alive and thriving—that is, until we look locally.

While there is a considerably vast bank of local sci-fi short stories, the genre has yet to completely penetrate the Filipino film and novel industries. As foreign creators explore the limits of speculative fiction, long-form Philippine sci-fi remains to be largely uncharted territory in the sea of mainstream media.

Nevertheless, more local creators in recent years have set their sails on a mission of introducing long-form Filipino sci-fi to local audiences.

WRITTEN IN THE STARS While the genre’s history in the country traces back to the 194os, it was only until 2o13 when the first modern Philippine sci-fi novel was published—Eliza Victoria’s Project 17.

Even on big screens, English Department professor Roy Tristan Agustin III notes that local sci-fi movies are drowned out by melodrama and are often passed to the niche audiences of microcinemas and film festivals.

“Mas mainstream ‘yung romcom

or kilig for movies (Romantic comedies and kilig movies are more mainstream),” Karen Perez (1 AB SOS), a sci-fi fan, adds.

Recently, more local sci-fi films have sprung up in festival circuits.

For instance, Midnight in a Perfect World (2o2o) directed by Dodo Dayao was released through QCinema. While touted as a horror film, Dayao shares that he “diffused” the sci-fi elements and influences throughout the film, which made its political allegories more effective. “[Sci-fi] gives you a more cleareyed and potent voice when it comes to making comments on whatever it is you want to comment on,” he explains.

W it h t he e ve r growing body of local sci-fi works since the 2ooos, Agustin shares that more diverse na r r at ives of t he genre have started to surface as Filipino writers find a voice to write in. “We still run into the problem of, unfortunately, for the writers, readership, and for filmmakers, viewership,” he explains.

RUNNING ON FUMES Despite the consistent and creative e f for t s of local

writers and filmmakers, sci-fi remains distant from the spotlight.

According to Communication Department professor Gershom Chua, the shortage of local sci-fi may be attributed mainly to a lack of budget for production.

“The industry is not keen on or excited about producing science fiction,” he explains. “As a business, they still want to make sure the risk is very low.”

Due to the lack of resources, Dayao notes that local sci-fi creators also face difficulty in keeping up with international productions. He adds that as a

ILLUSTRATION BY JULIA SANTOS

result, Filipinos tend to compare local films to what Western film industries produce.

Aside from the need for financing, long-form sci-fi also requires creators to dedicate an immense amount of time to finishing their craft. “Will you be able to take time away from earning your keep in order to finish a novel? A novel that will have a small print run, that will be consigned to the teeny-tiny Filipiniana shelf in a dusty corner of t he bookstore? ” Victoria says.

Moreover, sci-fi creators face a greater risk of not earning enough due to the preferences of loca l aud iences.

Agustin believes t hat F i l ipi nos lack an appreciation for science itself, and this tends to reflect the general attitudes of audiences towards the subject matter of sci-fi.

Furthermore, Perez suggests that these attitudes towards science reflect in how the government treats science institutions.

These are seen in Senator Cynthia Villar's comments against agricultural research and the slashed 2o21 budget for the Department of Science and Technology.

"[These government statements] re vea l popu la r at t it udes in scientif ic thought and scientific development,” Chua adds, concluding that these attitudes reflect in audiences’ media consumption.

To further encourage sci-fi w ithin the countr y, A g ustin calls for an enhanced quality of science education. “For your average Filipino who may have not had as much exposure [to science], and therefore, as much appreciation, there really isn’t a chance for [science fiction] to grow,” he shares.

TO INFINITY AND BEYOND E ven w ith the obstacles faced by v a r iou s sc ience fiction creators, the hope for the genre is not lost. With empowering voices like Dayao and Victoria at the forefront of loca l sci-f i ex ploration, each story contributes to the depiction of our collective realities in alternate universes.

“There [are] so many stories we can tell as Filipinos—I’d like to play a small part in representing o u r l i v e d e x p e r i e n c e ,” Victoria says.

A s creators continue pioneer ing loca l sci-f i, audiences are encouraged to detract from their notions of the genre and give their works a try.

It is in these crafted narratives where Filipino storytelling can be further explored. A fter all, one small step—in embracing the science f iction scene— can lead to a giant leap for Philippine media.

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Features ILLUSTRATION BY CAMERON POLINTAN

Marching away essence of women empowerment is seeing them for who they are and what they choose to be.

“

My friends remind me that they’re still there.

Knowing we’re all going through the same thing and that no one’s alone in this helps a lot to know.”

TAMIA FELICIANO 4 AB COM

BY ENZO LAGAMON AND JACOB TAMBUNTING

WHILE A learn-from-home arrangement remains to be the defining reality of Ateneans today, the Loyola Schools’ Class of 2o21 is now well into the final semester of their college lives. A year into an online setup means that so much has changed since last year: In classes, in career plans, and in the way Ateneans are preparing for the future that lies ahead.

In light of these changes, a common sentiment pervades many Ateneans: A prayer to return back to campus and restore a degree of normalcy once more.

This prayer especially resonates in the students nearing the end of their college journey. In the midst of their senior year rush, three seniors share their Ateneo experience and what marching away soon would mean to them.

STORIES OF MEMORIES AND LASTS The expectations this year’s seniors have for their graduation vary. Some have not yet thought about preparing for the ceremonies, while others have already resigned to the inevitable online graduation.

However, a common expectation can be seen in the idea of finality: Dealing with many significant ‘lasts.’ The COVID-19 pandemic has effectively taken away opportunities to savor these experiences—from planning the final org event of the year to having the last meal in Gonzaga with friends.

With the Loyola Schools graduation in October to be held online, three seniors face the tremendous task of choosing what to make of the final stretch of their college lives.

A EGIS Managing Editor Frances Concepcion (4 BS COMTECH) shares how she and her team are hard at work, trying

to make the “best yearbook possible” as she goes through her last semester in college.

“The yearbook [serves] as a remembrance of your four years in Ateneo...It is [our] deliverable for the end of the year, but then you realize that you are carrying the journeys of so many different people,” she says. For her, the finality of a yearbook helps people better reminisce about their graduation in the future which, online or not, is a major milestone in a college student’s life.

Beyond AEGIS and other organizational work, Concepcion admits that she has been preoccupied with thesis work and has not quite mentally and emotionally prepared herself for an online graduation. However, she shares that she will miss some of the small experiences that come with being Atenean: Immersions in different communities and the nerve-wracking feeling of waiting outside De la Costa Hall just before an oral exam. She also shares how she has talked to her peers and discovered that everyone has their own story to tell—from their experiences in the past year to their entire stay in the University.

On a similar note, Sofia Guanzon (4 Dip IR) ref lects that seniors may not feel as though they are truly preparing for graduation. In her eyes, the COVID-19 pandemic and online school “[slow] everything down” and keep students preoccupied with various tasks.

Guanzon shares that on a personal level, she is doing everything she can to rearrange some of her life plans. Initially planning to pursue law after college, Guanzon has decided to postpone it for the time being due to the pandemic. “I realized I needed to focus on my wellbeing… I guess the plan right now is to rest and figure out what I wanna do,” she says.

As COVID-19 continues to smudge out crucial points in people’s lives, Tamia Feliciano (4 AB COM) tries not to mull over what could have been.

“A huge part of [preparing] is just accepting,” she states.

Like Guanzon, she chooses to focus on accepting what comes her way. This acceptance, however, does not mean resignation.

Feliciano has also taken the initiative in talking to people more online, emphasizing how community continues to be an important source of support during these tough times. “My friends remind me that they’re still there. Knowing we’re all going through the same thing and that no one’s alone in this helps a lot to know,” she says.

This support within the batch may prove to be vital as online graduation comes with many sacrifices on graduates’ part.

Feliciano notes that moments like walking up the stage or taking a picture with her parents holding the diploma are irreplicable experiences. “I’m going to look back at it seeing that I was just at home, staring at a screen. I think it’s just sacrificing the whole experience; [a] right of passage into growing up,” she shares.

With graduation being the last time she would see her fellow batchmates, Guanzon initially looked forward to “being as obnoxious” as she could. “Hug that random seatmate I had when I was first year, take pictures with my old block… I wanted those experiences,” she shares.

Guanzon believes that these little experiences are what make graduation a ceremony truly worth remembering.

The sa me is t r ue for Concepcion, who shares how the little things she took for granted are the ones that will occupy her mind come graduation day. An all-online setup, she says, means sacrificing physical memories

that can no longer be lived. Such memories include spending time with classmates, catching up with friends she has lost touch with, and walking around campus grounds.

Today, the graduating seniors continue their efforts in coming to terms with sacrificing these moments—found only in a senior year and graduation spent on campus. Despite having to do so in isolation, a sense of unity can be found in the toughest of times. “[Despite all of us having different experiences] I could say that we all know we are all on this together,” Guanzon expresses.

BETWEEN THE EARTH AND SKY The lack of a shared onsite senior year experience has evoked varying degrees of emotions within the graduating class. With everyone going through different challenges and victories in the previous year of quarantine, a single senior’s experience of graduation cannot encapsulate Batch 2o21’s sentiments towards marching away online. These three Ateneans strive to meaningfully contribute to their community by making the most of their final year—not just for themselves, but for their batch as a whole.

Concepcion shares that while their batch will have to go through online commencement exercises, one can still always view it in a positive light. “It is still the end of a big milestone we have been able to complete,” she shares.

As seniors spend their final months revisiting souvenirs of their days in Ateneo and offer support to their friends in the online setup, it seems that not all hope is lost. These three graduating Ateneans’ decision to savor their final months in the University, in whatever way they can, reveals how their batch can still uncover hope and joy in times of loss.

“

Everyone has their own journey on how they have dealt with the past year and the past four years of college."

FRANCES CONCEPCION 4 BS COMTECH