The GUIDON - March 2023

AEWU submits notice of strike amid unsettled employment terms

BY JOAQUIN BAANG AND ANA RUFA PADUA

THE ATENEO Employees and Workers Union (AEWU) has filed its second notice of strike amid a deadlock with the University administration to renegotiate terms for the 2019–2024 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)— the written legal contract between both parties.

The notice was filed on February 15 with the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB). Currently, there remains a 30-day “cooling period” before AEWU can push through with the actual strike.

“During these periods, the NCMB shall exert all efforts at the mediation and conciliation to effect voluntary settlement,” according to the Bureau of Labor Relations.

This February 21, AEWU will be holding a briefing session from 10 AM to 12 PM, which is exclusive to University students at the Union office in the Blue Eagle Gym. During the meeting, the Union will deliver updates to the CBA renegotiations and their own stance on the matter.

According to the University Marketing and Communications Office Director Matec Villanueva, the administration will share relevant details regarding these details and the 2019–2024 CBA in “due time.”

A ROCKY START

Since August 31, 2022, the Union has been unable to reach

a mutual understanding with regard to CBA article provisions such as hazard pay, benefits, and longevity increases on salaries and wages.

Going into negotiations about such issues, AEWU President Raymond ‘Mondie’ Tano believed that tensions were high since the administration was allegedly stifling AEWU recruitment by providing Union-member benefits to nonunion employees. For instance, the education allowance for nonunion employees’ children is now almost the same amount as that of Union employees.

“Ibinigay na rin sa mga nonunion kung ano ang nakukuha ng mga [nasa] Union. Kaya wala nang mga sumasali na nonunion sa union, kasi halos lahat na ibinibigay sa Union, binibigay na rin sa nonunion,”Tano explained. (The benefits received by the Union workers are also given to nonunion workers. Now, nobody wants to join the Union because they’ll get the same benefits anyway.)

Moreover, during the first renegotiation meeting in August, AEWU Treasurer Roselle Cruz said that the administration panel provided them with counterproposals to their demands, which AEWU felt were lacking in data and documents from the administration’s end.

Despite the frequent meetings that followed, Tano said that the Union could not justify their

demands since the administration usually provided verbal updates instead of financial statements. These issues have caused the renegotiations to last over five months with the Union. Ultimately, the situation remained unresolved and the negotiations entered its first deadlock.

Nirerespeto ko pa rin ang relasyon ng admin at ng union panel. Ayoko [nang] masira ‘yun eh. Kaysa maglabas tayo ng sama ng loob, […] i-deadlock ko na lang ‘to,” Tano said.

(I respect the relationship between the administration and the union panel. I don’t want to

Defining situationships

It all starts with a wellthought of, quirky conversation starter— sparking an unexpected late-night exchange.

ruin it. Rather than us voicing our dissatisfaction, [...] I’d rather deadlock this.)

It was on January 18, during this standstill period, that Tano decided to file the first notice of strike to get the administration to heed AEWU’s demands and situation.

Tano emphasized, “Hindi kami against sa admin. [...] Ang amin lang is [...] ang union at admin dapat nagtutulungan (We’re not against admin. Our side is [...] the union and admin should be helping each other).”

AEWU SUBMITS NOTICE > 2

INQUIRY

The balancing act of motherhood The Zoom recording is put on pause. “Wait. Sandali lang. My children are playing with a hose. I just have to shush them.”

PHOTO BY JHANINE CAOILE

Isa lang ang objective namin na maging maayos lahat ng employado ng Ateneo, Union man o hindi.

RAYMOND ‘MONDIE’ TANO PRESIDENT, ATENEO EMPLOYEES AND WORKERS UNION

Settled on the throne Bearing great expectations on their shoulders, the Blue Eagles managed to defy odds and establish their own dynasties.

People Power, beyond EDSA People across the country gathered in the streets for a final struggle against the Marcos dictatorship.

AEWU submits notice...

Notably, the administration continued to provide pandemic assistance called Blue Aid for employees who kept operations “steady” throughout the COVID-19 surges. Moreover a one-time performance bonus was also given to those who qualified for a performance evaluation.

As mentioned in a memo, both forms of financialassistance were scheduled to be released on May 31, 2022.

STRIKING SITUATION

After meeting with the administration panel later that year, the first notice of strike was downgraded to preventive mediation. Then, AEWU and the administration agreed to seek the Department of Labor and Employment’s assistance in progressing with their renegotiations.

However, Tano clarified that AEWU’s notice to strike

notice was initially only meant to pressure the administration and AEWU had no intentions of actually pushing through with this.

“ Sabi ko, ‘papayag ako [sa] preventive mediation. Id-downgrade ko ‘yung notice of strike to preventive mediation dahil gusto ko pa rin kayo mapagbigyan ,’” Tano recalled a conversation he had with one of the administration panel’s legal counsel.

(I told them, ‘I’ll agree to preventive mediation. I’ll downgrade the notice of strike to preventive mediation because I want to give you [administration] a chance.’”)

Furthermore, the Union asserted that they do not intend to repeat the 2018 strike and the 2019 silent protest in light of CBA negotiations in part because protesting within campus premises is a violation of the Labor Code of the Philippines.

WINDOW FOR PEACE

Emphasizing AEWU’s intentions, Tano asserted that the Union wanted cooperation with the administration in ensuring that all employees of the Ateneo are well-off regardless of their status as an AEWU member.

On the AEWU’s relationship with the administration, Tano added that the two parties conflict on their views on the rights of the workers as stipulated in Article 13, Section 3 of the 1987 Constitution. The aforementioned law grants workers the right to self-organization,collective bargaining and negotiations, as well the right to strike.

Yung rights nila bilang manggagawa na kung sakaling natatapakan na, doon lang tayo nagkakaroon ng pagtatalo, pero sa kabuuan ang gusto naman din natin ay maging maayos ang mga

Sanggu, admin coordinate with TODAs amid fare concerns

BY CHAEZIE CHARIZ CABEL AND DERRECK DE LEON PHOTOS BY JOSHUA E. CABALINAN

DIFFICULTIES IN mobility have proliferated within the University campus and along Katipunan avenue following the return to fully onsite classes in the different Ateneo units—Grade School, Junior and Senior High School, and the Loyola Schools (LS).

In particular, LS students have increasingly complained about the large number of cars moving in and out of campus every day, bringing traffic to a crawl and endangering other road users along Katipunan.

Responding to such issues during a November meeting with the Sanggunian and the

LS administration, transport advocate group Move as One Coalition raised the idea of shifting away from car-centric modes of transportation in Katipunan. Instead, they suggested that more peoplecentered alternatives like public transport and walking be promoted. The group also proposed its project entitled Reimagining Katipunan, whose end goal imagines a road that trades off car-centric travel lane space for commuterfriendly additions, such asbikefriendly lanes and pedestrian islands in the Katipunan area.

ROAD COMPLICATIONS

Given the dire traffic situation in Katipunan, Move As One Member Hya Bendaña lamented

empleyado ng Ateneo, ” Tano further elaborated. (When the workers’ rights get stepped on, then that’s when we’ll have a dispute. Although on a larger scale,

what we both want is for all Ateneo employees to be well.)

Ultimately, the Union expressed their hopes for the administration to remain fair in addressing AEWU’s

demands beyond simply coming to an agreement on the 2022–2024 CBA.

that not only do car owners get stuck in gridlock but pedestrians do, too, as cars block their path on sidewalks. Other road users such as cyclists are also endangered by the high volume of cars, which end up blocking the bike lanes along Katipunan. These problems factored in the coalition’s decision to propose Reimagining Katipunan. The proposal further reasoned, “Members of our community are trying to change things [in] their own capacity, but what we need is a coordinated systemic response.”

Thus, despite Move As One’s initiatives and eagerness to ease traffic on the campus premises, the execution of these plans is ultimately up

to the LS administration, said Bendaña.

“It’s the mandate of Sanggu and the mandate of the Ateneo admin. It’s their burden and [their] obligation for them to improve mobility in Katipunan. Move as One enters the picture to give advice and to give their suggestion[s], if they do ask,” she added. When contacted regarding current plans regarding traffic and campus mobility, the administration denied requests for interviews with The GUIDON on the matter.

STUDENT INITIATIVES AGAINST TRAFFIC

To further help mobility around campus, the DSWS has since spearheaded the carpool initiative whereby LS students can carpool with fellow students to and from the Ateneo campus.

DSWS chairperson John Tuazon explained that upon joining the initiative, students who live in surrounding areas are grouped. From then on, they must coordinate with one another to discuss the route, the time of departure, and the time they will leave campus.

While such initiatives are causes for celebration, the student are still restless to see more improvements regarding traffic.

Student-driver Mikaella Per (1 AB Dip IR) said that when the drop-off points are closed, it causes significant congestion

within the Ateneo, especially during the rush hours: 6 to 8 AM and 3 to 7 PM. Raising similar traffic woes, student-commuter

Riva Suzanne Comia (1 BS CTM) lamented that she tried to join DSWS’ carpool initiative but finds it hard to schedule and coordinate with other students regarding this program.

Now, she takes the public bus going to and from school but still faces a different problem. She has to wait an entire hour in the bus queue due to the bus system’s inefficient scheduling.

To mitigate the traffic and ease the physical and mental strain it unleashes, the mentioned students asked that the University open more gates allowing vehicles to enter and exit campus more freely, thus decongesting campus.

They also hope that the administration brainstorm other traffic-easing initiatives. However, Bendaña mentioned that Sanggunian has yet to respond to Move As One regarding their official plans for the current traffic.

Due to the need for urgency, Bendaña said that Move As One has already suggested traffic solutions to the Sanggunian and the LS administration. She stated that in terms of acting on the suggestions and actually implementing them, the changes’ effectiveness is largely dependent on

the actions of the Ateneo administration and the projects they ultimately choose to implement.

NEED FOR BROADER SOLUTIONS

Considering the need for a joint response, Philosophy Department Professor and bike lane advocate Remmon Barbaza proposed to partner with nearby institutions, namely the University of the Philippines Diliman and Miriam College.

He added that traffic has only worsened ever since his undergraduate years in 2002—seeing the poor traffic condition not just in the Ateneo but the entire Katipunan area as well.

Barbaza also mentioned that Katipunan is not the only place mired in this issue, but the whole country is languishing from severe traffic congestion problems as well since the country is car-centric. “Nobody’s winning in this. [...] If we make the city pedestrian and bike-friendly, everyone’s a winner,” Barbaza added.

Sharing the frustration of the traffic, Bendaña urges the Sanggunian and the LS administration to make fixing traffic their top priority. She says that the traffic does not only affect the students, but it affects the community as a whole.

PHOTO BY JHANINE CAOILE

AISIS online portal shut down due to redundancy concerns, student AISIS portal to remain

BY ENZO BELLO AND ISABEL CANDIDA GONZALES ILLUSTRATION BY KENDRICK W. CO

JAMES PATRICK S. GREGORIO AND CHRISTOPHER GLENN N. AÑO OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR DIGITAL INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY SERVICES END USER GROUP HEAD AND IT ACADEMIC SOLUTIONS HEAD

IN LIGHT of enlistment issues in the second semester of AY 2022–2023, the Office of the Vice President for Digital Information and Technology Services (OVPDITS) looks to enhance the Ateneo Integrated Student Information System (AISIS), starting with the shutdown of the AISIS online portal.

“The portal that we will be decommissioning is aisisonline.ateneo.edu. This is different from aisis.ateneo. edu,” IT Academic Solutions

Head Christopher Glenn Año explained.

AISIS will continue to serve the community until they find a fit replacement, according to Año.

BACKING UP THE SERVERS

Since the Intersession term of AY 2022–2023, Año and End User Group Head James Patrick Gregorio said that AISIS has been operating with a cloud-based revamp that improved overall

system stability and regular data backup.

In preparation for the enlistment periods that followed, Gregorio and Año said that the Office of Management Information Systems, Information Technology Resource Management Office, and OVP-DITS also dealt with hardware and software resources.

Moreover, they explained that the OVP-DITS coordinated with different offices like the University Registrar, the Office of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, the Office of the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs, the Cashier’s Office, the Accounting Office, the Office of International Relations, and the Office of Admission and Aid.

In spite of the offices’ coordination, Gregorio and Año said that delays still occurred during the registration process as they reached out to the concerned departments, which

had varying availability in their staff.

However, Gregorio and Año assured that the LS administration has always reminded the offices to have the personnel present to directly address these issues and help students with registration.

“To go through this change, LS offices will have to also understand that existing registration rules and regulations will have to be adjusted as well. We will need to get the buy-in of all stakeholders to push through with this,” Gregorio and Año stated.

Additionally, Gregorio added that there has been an ongoing effort to update AISIS with an advanced and general student information system for all units.

“However, because of the University reorganization, it’s taking some time to implement because we have to look at the processes of the different units as well,” he further clarified.

DISRUPTIVE SERVERS

Despite the background improvements, students still faced technical issues throughout the AY 2022–2023 enlistment periods, encountering missing class tags and pre-enlisted schedules. According to some students, such issues exacted a toll on the LS community.

For instance, despite being pre-enlisted for most of her subjects, Charm Matulac (1 BS LM) found the enlistment process frustrating. She explained that students could not see the class schedules beforehand, thus “blindly enlisting.”

Similarly, Etienne Cuvin (4 BS LM) noted that he and his fellow coursemates would be clueless with regard to the schedules of available electives until the night before their enlistment.

Furthermore, Cuvin believes that enlistment tags only served to make things more difficult for them. He and his peers waited

several hours in the free-for-all period to enlist in subjects that supposedly had lifted their tags.

These confusions worsened with a tuition bug that increased some students’ total tuition fees for amounts upwards of Php 800,000. Although it would eventually be resolved, Matulac mentioned that it initially bothered her peers as the offices concerned were unresponsive for a period of time.

SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS

When asked about improvements, Matulac asked for increased interface utility for the processes regarding enlistment. She suggests a redesign of AISIS that is aimed toward user-friendliness.

“I wish [AISIS were] more organized and that there would be better communication between the departments involved. The problem with it being [the way it is], is [the] miscommunication

that happens, and we are the ones affected by it,” Matulac further emphasized.

Upon initially using AISIS, Matulac mentioned that there were times when AISIS would lag out and be unusable for some time. Similarly, Cuvin hoped that the website and system would be given a complete update, citing its confusing and outdated interface.

Cuvin also wished that hold orders would be sent as emails instead of being stored in AISIS as he was not aware of his erroneous debt to the Central Accounting Office prior to enlistment.

Upon receiving such complaints, Gregorio and Año mentioned that these are discussed within their IT group. With greater hopes for more efficient enlistment processes in the future, the administration urges LS community members to continue reporting both past and recurring troubles in detail.

As far as IT is concerned, all concerns forwarded are discussed within the group and the stakeholders. This will be the venue for everyone to suggest the best possible solution. Most issues are process related hence the heavy involvement of the offices/ departments concerned.

Not only me, but there are some students who waited until the very last minutes for their class schedules, and their profs, and their schedules to be announced.

LS resumes outbound student mobility engagements

BY AZRA CAGSAWA AND BRIANNA DENISE TAN PHOTO BY KARL DIMACULANGAN

UPON THE resumption of international mobility programs for the Loyola Schools (LS) in AY 2023–2024, the Junior Term Abroad (JTA) program successfully sent 118 students to 40 partner universities including those in Australia, Canada, China, Czech Republic, France, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Spain, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

Since the resumption of these programs, International Outbound Coordinator Joanna Ortega announced the surplus of available slots for the JTA program. “[The] OIR [was] able to acquire more slots than the actual number of applicants, which gives students enough options,” she said.

ADJUSTED CALENDARS

In line with the lifted regulations, the Office of International Relations (OIR) Director Karen Sunico began calling students to apply for the JTA Spring 2023 Program in April 2022.

However, the months-long delay in releasing the provisional list of host universities caused an extension in the projected application timeline.

After the OIR’s nomination letter, a document sent to the students’ respective schools illustrating Ateneo’ recommendation, the applicants completed the rest of the process individually as what was done throughout the prior years.

JTA student Jannah Meriño shared that the list of universities was only released last September 2022. This is in contrast from the published calendar for JTA Spring 2023 Application which mentions that the provisional list of schools should have been published by May 2022, while

more universities would have been added by August.

Meriño also shared that following the delay in the release of host universities, the Ateneo’s provided infosessions were unable to give an accurate list of requirements early, thus making the process confusing.

Instead, students like Meriño were only informed about the application requirements by a third party named Campus France, a French government agency that handles all the exchange students for France. Campus France only announced the additional requirements around October or November, thus leaving JTA students rattled as they had no prior briefing about this despite the information sessions held by the Ateneo.

Furthermore, Meriño had problems crediting subjects to be taken abroad since JTA applicants still had to check the availability of programs that were aligned with her curriculum.

With regard to additional aid given by the University on the visa application, Meriño shared that the applicants had to “do everything on their own.” Although Ateneo does provide some guidance in the initial steps of the application, Meriño believed that the students could benefit from additional aid in the latter portion.

STUDENTS’ HEALTH AND SAFETY

Despite the aforementioned delays, the Ateneo still ensured the JTA students’ preparedness for travel through administering orientations like country briefings, university briefings, cultural sensitivity sessions, and stress management and physical health consultations.

A novel addition, an orientation on COVID-19 guidelines and other health hazards was also facilitated this year. JTA students were further required to purchase travel or health insurance in their host country.

Besides these guidelines from the Ateneo, other health and safety requirements regarding COVID-19 medications or testing were dependent on what the partner universities may have asked for.

Ortega shared that the JTA students’ health and safety are ensured through closely working with the partner universities in terms of addressing the needs of students. “Services and assistance are provided and the universities ensure that student needs, including health and safety requirements, are met,” Ortega expounded.

Despite these reassurances, Meriño particularly wished to see other initiatives that would help JTA students better adjust to a new environment.

For instance, Meriño expressed her dismay at the guidance session as she expected that it would brief her on other salient issues such as homesickness and what she could do about it. Moving forward, she mentioned conducting check-up sessions while the students were abroad to ensure that the University could express their support and care.

POSSIBILITIES AND UNCERTAINTIES

While the turnout of the JTA Spring 2023 displays the successful return of the program, the OIR acknowledges that difficulties still abounded.

The OIR assured that they are continually working to

improve students’ experiences with the current application process. For instance, they have begun closely coordinating with the necessary embassies. They also expressed that they are improving their information sessions to better disseminate new pertinent requirements.

In improving the overall JTA experience, the OIR said that they are expanding the list of host universities by participating in international conferences where they find partners that align with Ateneo’s values and academic standards.

Such initiatives to resume and refine the outbound mobility programs are consistent with the Ateneo’s Lux-in-Domino Strategic Plan, which ultimately seeks to strengthen the University’s mission and identity.

By bringing back the JTA/ STA mobility programs, we hope to provide opportunities for students to grow into their roles as responsible global citizens and sociallyconscious leaders in their chosen fields.

JOANNA ORTEGA INTERNATIONAL OUTBOUND COORDINATOR

Services and assistance are provided and the universities ensure that student needs, including health and safety requirements, are met.

JOANNA ORTEGA INTERNATIONAL OUTBOUND COORDINATOR

University celebrates Blue Eagle Bonfire

FOR THE first time in four years, the University celebrated the Blue Eagle Bonfire held last January 21 at the Ateneo Grade School Parking Lot. This was in commemoration of all first semester achievements: The World University rankings, debate world championships, and the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) championships.

“This is the first celebration of [such] a kind since our last championship and even a huge

gathering for a celebration of excellence after the COVID-19 lockdown,” Vilches said.

A COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING

The last bonfire was held in 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which prompted the abrupt end of UAAP Season 82 and the cancellation of Season 83.

This year, the Men’s Basketball, Women’s Badminton, and Men’s Swimming teams each secured a gold medal finish in the recent UAAP Season 85.

In celebration of these achievements, University President Roberto “Bobby” Yap, SJ said that this was the first bonfire with all teams under a single name the Blue Eagles—denoting a “stronger and more united team of athletes.”

The most notable part of the event was the lighting of the bonfire, alongside the singing of the Ateneo hymn, A Song for Mary. A captivating fireworks display then followed.

During the last stretch, the Itchyworms, Sponge Cola, and

Travis Monsod performed at the After Party Concert. Notably, the former two are Ateneo alumni.

GOING INTERNATIONAL

While the bonfire is traditionally held for UAAP achievements, the University’s recent international feats did not go unnoticed. Last October 12, the Ateneo was dubbed the Times Higher Education’s (THE) Top 1 Philippine university. According to Vilches, it is the University’s research and

publication citations that helped attain this achievement.

Moreover, the Ateneo Debate Society also bested three universities in the World Universities Debating Championships last January 4. Team Ateneo A’s David Africa and Tobi Leung were also crowned the world’s 8th Best Speaker and 2nd Best Speaker, respectively.

“With any sport, people don’t remember the titles. People don’t remember the championships. They remember the stories. They

BY

remember that you gave a great performance.” Leung shared.

EXCELLING IN MAGIS

Highlighting the Ignatian value of magis or “more,” Vilches stated that these achievements are indications that the University never stopped doing quality work amid the pandemic. Africa asserted that there is much value in trying as hard as you can, while Leung expressed that one must never go into things half-heartedly.

ANA RUFA PADUA AND ELOIZA MARIANO PHOTOS BY PATRICK ONG, RICCI PAGARIGAN, DARYL D. SY, ERRI MIKAELA G. TAN, AND VIONNA VILLALON

Chaezie Chariz Cabel, Amery C. Atinon, Joaquin Baang, Neo Elrond V. Cabrera, Juami Aizpuru SPORTS Tristan A. Abuel. Ralph Anthony Bautista, Caitlin Bernal, Mookie Borja, Sean Jhoyze L. Borres, Ethan M. Encarnacion, Jilliana Marie Gonzales, Matthea P. Lazo, Luis Antonio Licas, Vito Martin, Anton E. Mercado, Alfonso M. Navarro, Juno Ileana Reyes, Diana Mae Salonoy, Juris Salvanera, Marit Samson, Eury See. Kristen C.

Sison, Vincent Somera, Angela Tibudan

BEYOND LOYOLA Jana O. Ang, Biel L.B. Arevalo, Pioee B. Bassig, Clayton Dejillas, Angela Divina, Ram Hebron, Max S. Kang, Javier P. Mapa, Kristen R. Matias, Troi Mendoza, Justine Ramirez, Sam A. Ramos Yeo, Felicity C. Santos, Samantha Sicangco, Sohaila Angel F. Somera, Alexandra G. Yatco

FEATURES Aurelia Solaba, Katrina B. Antonio, Gab Aplasca, Aidan Bernales, Reign Iris Centeno, Gabrielle Christina A. Cortes, Ally De Leon, Riel Duque, Ariana Enriquez, Kent Lagumbay, Liam Isaiah Lao, Christianna P. Lugod, Ingrid Manuel, Odessa Julienne Rebaya, Gabby Rosales, Felicia Singson, Jacob Tambunting

INQUIRY Katharina Isabel Angeles, Marelle Bañez, Alexandra P. Elicano, Ashley Enriquez, Sophia Estoquia, Clare Pillos, Denzel Pineda Ramos, Camille Dominique (Mon) Salipsip, Kate San Mateo, Lourence Segovia, Nicole Anne Kelsy Sy, Aren C. Teodoro, Cherline Dalangin

VANTAGE MAGAZINE. Alyssa Adul, Chanel G. Ang, Martin Celiz, Tan Dela Cruz, Kris M. Fetiza, Mika Layda, Ylia Macazo, Giu Martinez, Jewel Ruther Miraña, Jules Ng, Jia Parma, Andrea G. Posadas, Bea Quinto, Ryan Reyes, Rafaela Serafica, Leila Simon, Megan Sioco, Mikaela H. Tormon, Jana Q. Torres, Libby Zorilla

BROADCAST NEWS Angeline Braganza, Allison Co, Rebecca Filasol, Yanni Jose Francisco, Fiona Gomez, Jhane Catherine Hermano, Kirsten Ifurung, Bea Javate, Beatrix C. Mamañgun, Samantha C. Olegario, Emma D. Oranza, Rina Julia, Joshua F. Pangan, Rome Saenz, Maegan Sang Tian, Aliana Solis, Alia Tuprio, Angela C. Villano

PHOTOS. Miguel Abad, Jhanine Caoile, Finomena Chang, Jonnie Cheng, Bettina Cuan, Karl Dimaculangan, Liana Fernando, Kat Guillermo, Elly Kim, Pat Ong, Ricci Pagarigan, Jesh Quiambao, Mikyla Reyes, Patrick Reyes-Santos, Jill Santos, Paulina Singh, Erri Mikaela Tan, Nina Tiburcio, Soleil Nicolette, France Vicente, Vionna Villalon, Jacob D. Yap

GRAPHIC DESIGN Jizelle M Arollado, Lukey, Hilary Capistrano, Alexis Chua, Kendrick W. Co, Alissa Co, Caitlyn Cu, Annika de la Fuente, Sam Dellomas, Val Eltagonde, Beatriz Isabella E. Espinosa, Zanti Gayares, Pau Lasala, Franz Manlutac, Kaitlyn W. Mercado, Danelle Erin Natividad, Kirsten Navarro, Chantal Ramos, AJ Raymundo, Anthea Maria B. Rey, Gerald Lois M. Roldan, Yumiko Shoshi, Bryce Garrett G. Tamayo, Viktor Valix, Julia Isabelle Yabut

VIDEO PRODUCTION. Ella L. Alabastro. Dave Antonio, Hannah

Arias, Sam Bagalay, Zach Bulatao, Jake Calingasan, Raya F. Carrillo, Ethan Cheng, Cyrus Dy-Lim, Ice Flores, Jeremy P. Fortaleza, EG Golloso, Marjorie Manguiat, Michel F. Romero. Juneau Sarmiento

DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT. Brescia V. Amandy. Katrina Victoria L.

Antonio, Jose Luis B. Bautista, Wilbert L. Chen, Jenina C. Co, Tiffany

Cu, Bea Louise M. Eleazar, Waleed Lugod, Kyla Martin, P.A. Mercado, Martina Nacion, Aidan Olarte, Frances Therese Ong, Tiffani Ong, Martina Therese Reyes, Frants Reyes, Katrina Bernice M. Tan, Chester

Tan, Razel Tan, Franco Velasco

EXTERNALS Timothy B. Bato, Silas S. Chiew, Megan M. Del Castillo

Irish Crystal Dio, Monica C. Gallardo, Marga Hernandez, Mika S. Jacinto, Amanda Moreno, Jaye Santos, Nina Sevilla, Louisa Tagulinao

HUMAN RESOURCES Julio Balagtas, Mimi Bigcas, Matthew Cañete, Christian Dwayne Co, Sabina David, Andrea S. de Villa, Sofie Fugen, Tanya Go, Julia Gomez, Dre S. Guerrero, Ashley Lumauig, Gerard Ma, Fin Mabasa, Osh T. Picache, Diego P. Quicho, Pia L. Sabado,

Yana Villanueva

THE RECENT rise of artificial intelligence (AI)-generated art has sparked debate on intellectual property rights and the proper usage of such art. People on the internet who have made AI art and gotten recognition for it have come under fire, with others saying that using this kind of art for competitions or business is essentially stealing from other artists. While this may seem like a new kind of art form that is taking the internet by storm, AI-generated art is not new at all.

In particular, one of the earliest generators of AI art was developed in the 1960s and was called AARON. The creator of the program intended for AARON to be “autonomous” and produce “realistic” work. Since then, artificial intelligence has evolved so much that it has been able to imitate photos, videos, graphics, and various other art forms. To do this, artificial intelligence takes elements from existing pieces of art, morphing them together to make a new “original” piece.

However, the real issue arises not from the artificial generation of art but in its improper use. While people may generate AI art for

EDITORIAL

Not so fine arts

personal use, the line is ultimately drawn at monetizing this work or passing it off as original art. Along with that, as AI gives people the ability to curate realistic but false images and videos, conflict arises when AI-generated art becomes a medium for online trolls to pedal false information.

fired at AI programs capable of creating art, as counterarguments center around how these programs require little skill expression compared to contemporary art.

Unlike these other mediums, AI art separates itself from photography and design programs. As these AI companies are prone to

ILLUSTRATION BY SAMANTHA ROSE RAGAZA

BY IANA PADILLA

ONE OF the first episodes of Bluey that I watched was “Camping.”

Bluey, the young Blue Heeler and protagonist of the show, meets a FrenchCanadian Labrador called Jean Luc. The surprising twist to this friendship was the clear communication barrier between the two young pups: Bluey only spoke English and Jean Luconly spoke French. The best part of it all was that neither of them seemed to care about the language difference, communicating in their own ways while playing their games.

In their make-believe game of being newly arrived settlers

instructed to utilize and copy artists seeking to make a living. While it’s true that AI art can be indicated by image warping, mismatched proportions, and unrefined limbs, technology is only getting better at a quick pace. The question is how we can differentiate AI-generated art from those done by actual

The rise of these applications has supplanted doubt and fear among many in the art community. Many wonder about the point of paying and commissioning artists when applications allow companies to generate art themselves.

Interestingly, AI art is not the first medium to be met with significant controversy. In the past, painters and artists denounced the invention of the camera, with famous poet and art critic Charles Baudelaire labeling its true duty as a “servant to the sciences and arts,” rather than an art form that expresses the imaginary and creative. Similar criticism has been

in a forest, the two were able to make their own campsite out of sticks and leaves— even decorating their humble home with pink flowers. In their pursuit of food, Bluey and Jean Luc planted a seed by the stream and, as they waited for it to grow, decided to hunt a wild boar—whom Bluey’s dad, Bandit, played— for their dinner.

However, this scene is where the communication barrier between the two took a turn for the worse as both expressed plans that were clearly not the same. In the middle of their hunt, the two kids mistakenly ran into each other, and their prey was able to escape.

So, how did they resolve their little conundrum? With the help of a large rock to draw on and some crude stick figures, Bluey and Jean Luc finally understood each other the slightest bit better and captured their wild boar. The creativity and resourcefulness

scrapping together images and pictures from the internet, programs are taught algorithms to recognize and reproduce images in existing art styles. Unfortunately, no artist who uploads their work online is exempt from unwittingly helping AI companies train their algorithms. This makes AI programs inherently anti-artist as programs are explicitly

of their solution should be applauded, but that’s not what truly captured my attention as I watched the show. After the young pups bested the wild boar, the forest grew a little bit darker and a little bit warmer with the sun beginning to set, just as it did at the end of each day of playing together. Then, the music grew somber and a sad Jean Luc hugged Bluey farewell. It was no surprise to me that the next morning Jean Luc and his family were gone, but it was a sad turn of events for Bluey.

Though the lesson in the episode is clearly the importance of communication and creativity in problem solving, Bluey sneaks in another valuable lesson about the people who come and go in our lives. Underneath a clear starry night, Bluey’s mom tells the protagonist, “Sometimes, special people come into our lives for a bit, and then they have to go.”

artists. Many AI applications do not impose watermarks on artworks making this all the more difficult. As such, what needs to be evaluated are the ways in which AI is utilized, and the manner in which AI should be employed in any artistic endeavor.

The rise of these applications has supplanted doubt and fear among many in the art community. Many wonder

“But that’s sad,” Bluey replies, so Chili reassures her that it is sad, but perhaps the good times spent together makes all the pain worth it. For the six-year-old Bluey, the idea of a passing friend is a new one but so gently and well explained that her heart, though still sad, seemed to take it pretty well.

Children’s shows carry the big responsibility of being creative and substantial, thus relying on vibrant colors, lively music, and a short storyline to give a life lesson or two. Bluey takes on a similar approach but adds a layer of authenticity that I’ve never seen anywhere else before. Yes, the show is pedagogical in that it teaches some of the simple fundamentals of what it means to navigate the world and relate to the other. But, it also gives the extra care of actually portraying who kids actually are and what they could be feeling. Thus,

about the point of paying and commissioning artists when applications allow companies to generate art themselves. While it’s undeniable that AI art can be utilized as a stimulating and creative tool, the application’s inherent structure that relies on stealing and infringing on creative work will make it a controversial and morally ambiguous tool for the days to come.

Until AI structures and systems can be fitted with safeguards against creative infringement, there will remain to be a specter of doubt and an assumption of dishonesty with regard to the use of AI in art.

Future attempts, therefore, by artists to harness and utilize the capacities and plethora of possibilities found in and with AI will need to first hurdle the challenge of harmonizing AI with human talent. Art, in this sense, would relate to an artist’s own creative expression made possible by the responsible use of AI as a tool that enhances artistic freedom, without infringing on the freedoms of other artists.

Bluey and her younger sister Bingo are imperfect, messy, bright, and cheerful children— just like any other child you would encounter.

Through the vibrancy of storytelling made for children, another story is also being told to the older audiences who find themselves watching the Australian pup’s adventures. There is a gentleness and sense of security in the everyday situations of the young Blue Heeler that maybe a lot of people are looking for.

Thus, with the end of each episode, there is a comforting and warm feeling in your heart when you happen to watch the show, even if you’re an older kid or an adult.

As for the ending of “Camping,” in true Bluey tear-jerking fashion, we see a grown-up Bluey beneath a pink blossoming tree by a stream, and, across from her, is the older French-Canadian Labrador, Jean Luc.

RESEARCH Lancelot M. Batara, Roger II M. Candari, Andre Dumandan, Rafael H. Garcia, Mawi D. Javines, Max Maquiling, Miguel H. Palmero, Kaiser F. Patawaran, Trisha M. Purificacion, Enrikko Sibayan, Riana V. Tumale SOCIAL MEDIA Liv Alquiza, Ashlee Baritugo, Regine Bautista, Daena Bigcas, Jose Angelo Buenaventura, Gabby Chrysokhou, Isabella C. Cruz, Mikka W. Dy, Maxine C. Marqueses, Noelle Paterno, Lucia A. Ramos, Achaiah Deanne Sayson, Kenzie Sy

BLUE JEANS

My new comfort cartoon, Bluey

Singularity

RYAN SUAREZ

Locked in spaces

HAVING BEEN a child wonderstruck with the worlds in fiction novels, I grew up loving the power and potential of storytelling. One of the first short stories I ever wrote featured a man who was born on the stairs, lived on the stairs, and died on the stairs. It was bizarre, weird, and admittedly a bit brutal,but who could blame a naive kindergarten student who was writing away in a notebook with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on the colorful cover? The narrative was barely three paragraphs—the standard length of the “short

stories” I had written at the time.

I had never paid much thought to this particular story, as I brushed it off as some whimsical fabrication from the peculiar and imaginative mind of a child. Upon looking back at it, however, the story started to resonate with me, as I became more aware of how a lot of us are enclosed in seemingly inescapable spaces.

I spent most of my teenage years in a public science high school, where I became friends with extremely talented people who not only had the purest hearts but also the most brilliant

minds. We shared quite similar struggles in dividing the 24 hours that we had—school, homework, household chores, practices for class competitions, and more. Days bleeding into nights were spent physically working together for projects and papers, since not all of us had the technological capacities at home to do our parts on our own.

Growing up, I realized that we had to work twice as hard as our more financially privileged peers to secure a bright future. Knowing all of this created an unhealthy sense of perfectionism and overachievement: Grade became more than just numbers on a page but powerful figures that could make or break success Thinking that I always needed to do more, I started overworking myself beyond fatigue—a mindset that I am still in the process of unlearning.

Sometimes, though, the effort we exert is still not enough. The innumerable sleepless nights and cumbersome days did not necessarily transport us to the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Transitioning into senior high and college, many of my friends were forced to let go of their place in renowned universities because of the heavy financial demands that, for instance, an Ateneo education entails.

Chasing dreams, as we harshly realized, is a privilege in itself too; some of us have chosen to forgo our passions for a more practical career path that hopefully leads to promising financial opportunities. Although establishing security and pursuing passions are not necessarily polar opposites, we first had to feel confident that we will have food on the table

ten or twenty years from now.

Like the fictional man that spent his whole life on a staircase, we seemingly had limited options. We were wriggling in tight spaces, making the most out of the restricted floor-toceiling considerations we were born into. Despite how different and layered the experiences of me and my friends were, there remained a similar thread that weaved our complex realities together: Money consistently limited and dictated our agency.

Of course, these stories do not end with the likes of us. There are more unjust realities that we do not fully know of, and people who strive harder than us but never receive half the comfort we experience nor the opportunities we encounter. To be aware of this fact should never usher solace or contentment: Frankly, it is

Around TRICIA R. ALCANTARA

ONCE A master in pushing people away when things get difficult, I have finally come to understand the comfort in allowing my friends to offer their embrace.

From the moment I started learning how I can talk to others, I had essentially started my habit of calling strangers my best friends. Unaware of the gravity that kind of relationship holds, a kid like me never made friendship a big deal. After all, what I needed was just someone to play patintero with.

As one grows up, of course, things become a bit more complicated. Like some school organizations, friends began requiring retention points to keep the friendship going. This entailed the loss and gain of certain people in my life, even before I could call myself a teenager. Being a girl whose attitude is not her strong suit, I also recognized how so-called friends put on masks just so they could backstab me better in the end. The leaked conversations, the revelations gained from eavesdropping—it reminds me of what Taylor Swift famously said of something that happened to herself more than 10 years ago, “I remember it all too well.”

To say that my elementary days were such a rollercoaster ride is truly an understatement. Luckily, I made it clear to myself that life begins at 13 years old. I was not wrong for leaving my healing up to the people I would meet in high school and their overwhelming love.

My classmates, along with some upperclassmen and mentors, eventually constituted my support system. They became my constant companions, may it be in breaking rules or bringing the bacon home. I shared with them memories I still vividly picture. With these high school friends, I need not worry about retention points or mere facades. I felt valued and loved—only to realize that I started to become the problem.

In understanding myself, I noticed that consistency is not my strong suit, in addition to attitude. It was hard for me to maintain friendships. For every inconvenience, I could not help but choose to leave, while bottling up emotions and suffering from loneliness.

A coward is how others may describe me. Perhaps, just a really bad friend may fit the description better. After all, instead of allowing myself to lean on my friends’ shoulders, I decided to run away. I did all this for reasons I could not articulate even to this day.

In the end, I lost my friends. This time, as Taylor Swift also famously says: “I’m the problem; it’s me.” I blame no one other than myself for these fresh wounds, and I understand my then-friends for failing to keep up with this kind of friendship.

Because of these losses, partnered with the concept of maturity that comes with age, I was able to bounce back. As much as I don’t want to view these once-dear friends as mere

Coloring book

BELLA YARA

WHAT I mean is that my favorite movie is Fight Club, but I still haven’t read the novel it came from. To be fair, I feel like it would be one of my favorite books if I actually sat down and tried to read it. What’s stopping me isn’t that it’s a book, though, because I do like to read. It won’t “ruin” the movie for me either; I know exactly how it differs from David Fincher’s version. The issue—and it’s annoying—is I don’t want to read it.

A few months ago, I realized that I have a terrible case of saving the best for last. I have a list of films I want to see, but I end up watching something else. I barely wear my prettier outfits in case a

means to an end, I cannot deny their pivotal role in helping me become the better person that I am now. Losing them awakened me, to say the least.

Eventually, I managed to become the right friend. Running away is no longer my default response. I finally learned to give people the chance to be there for me—a chance I wish I could have given to those I let go of. Once uncomfortable with showing my vulnerabilities, I recognized the need to open up and allow myself to feel loved. Loneliness has been foreign to me since then.

Indeed, the gift of friendship has become one of my sites of both joy and regret. It has been paradoxically beautiful and painful, making it all the more remarkable. Perhaps, this gift of friendship is the reason why I find myself so attached to “Satellite,” one of the 13 tracks in Harry’s House.

Like satellites that guide others from afar, my friends have been supporting me despite the boundaries that I automatically set once I sense a problem coming. Like satellites that always surround us despite the distance, my friends have been there for me all along—waiting for me to finally reach out. The unconditionality that comes with these satellite-like friendships is something I now see so clearly.

I have accepted my friends’ embrace, and now, it is my turn to reciprocate. It is my turn to sing “I’m here, right here”—and mean it.

always feels like it’s collapsing into seconds.

And then what? Everyone knows being at the top means eventually dropping back down to the bottom.

WHEN I was 16 years old, I was accepted into a prestigious senior high school that was previously exclusive to boys. Having come from an all-girls junior high school, I was shocked to learn that sexism and misogyny were things that actually existed elsewhere in the world. I sustained a numb reaction for a long time, and I felt voiceless with all the sexual comments thrown at me.

It was 2017 at the time, and we were then the second batch of girls to have ever been granted admission to the school. In a class of forty students, there would only be five or six of us girls, and our teachers would constantly remind us of how special we were. According to them, we were given the rare opportunity and privilege to be educated like men, alongside men.

As time passed, we were also made to feel like our presence in the school was a commodity—an essential feature in the education of these male students. It was almost as though our purpose at that school was not to be educated, but rather to aid in the education of the male students who were there before us. Our teachers told us to help them and be patient with them. We were there to make them better men.

I heard the things these boys said about our female classmates— overtly sexual, prejudiced, and hateful. In hindsight, many of my

so I can save some for later. The same idea came with reward, with rest. To me, it was about self-discipline. Delayed gratification always did sound so mature.

a disturbing, ugly truth that continues to restrict human potential—which everyone should have the right to develop.

Choosing to tell such stories and giving a platform to stifled voices may be the first step to breaking the silence and bringing sidelined narratives of experienced inequalities to the surface.

To reclaim one of my first “short stories,” I am always emboldened by the hope that a day will come when no more individuals perish on the “stairs” that characterize their lack of freedom and agency. A day will come when the stories we have to tell are no longer those of structural grief and unwarranted tragedy, but of celebrated victory and served justice.

Beyond equality

male classmates probably didn’t realize their own misogyny. At the time, I wasn’t fully aware of it either. I was just equal parts scared and in denial that they would also speak about me in that offensive manner. It was at this point, though, that I could sense that this world I had fought so hard to enter did not favor me.

Desperately wanting to be seen as equal, I allowed myself to fall into the trap of misogyny as well. Maybe in witnessing discrimination, my gut-punch reaction was to distance myself from the very thing that made me vulnerable. If I wanted to be equal to men, I had to act more like them. But by playing patriarch and pretending that the power I sought liberated me from my own femininity, I became stuck in patterns of self-hatred and internalized misogyny.

At 22, I’ve come to realize that seeking equality alone, given the patriarchal bias of society’s values, is to assume that women want to be like men or that men are worth emulating. Even if I insisted on acting like a man to gain their favor, this wouldn’t address any deeper cause for the gender inequalities I’ve faced. Embracing masculine values was an act of self-preservation that only deepened my dependence on male privilege, and my allegiance to patriarchal thinking only hurt myself and other women.

Our patriarchal society has made it so that women can be the equals of men and power, in all its forms, can be shared among the sexes, albeit inequitably. But what it has not created is a true culture of equality. Instead, it has allowed women to participate in a society built upon masculine ideals, without questioning the extent to which that society is even worth participating in. Ultimately, it’s one rooted in aggression and competition that frames all relationships in the context of power. I look back at my teenage years and wish I had a bit more guidance and a lot more strength. It took shedding male expectations for me to grow comfortable in my own skin. Once I managed to do this, it was as though a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Both men and women are socialized into patriarchal thinking, but the patriarchy can be challenged and changed. At the risk of sounding utopianminded, I believe that attacking the foundations of the male worldview has the power to heal the traumas inflicted upon us by its oppressive and annihilating culture, and help us realize a more expansive way of being and relating. Most importantly, it would reject the idea that women should live more like men, but instead allow everyone, regardless of gender, to live how they want.

more interesting event comes up later on. It took me weeks to listen to Taylor Swift’s Midnights album because it felt like the timing wasn’t right yet.

Basically, I was waiting for the peak

All the best things begin with an ascent, an excitement from the knowledge that you’ll be partaking in something special soon. Then, you reach the peak or the pinnacle of whatever it is you’re trying out. The peak fills you with a special feeling, as if an integral part of you has changed. It doesn’t matter if you stay up there on the pinnacle for hours or days because the time there

So everything needs to be flawless when you try out these special things. You need to be in the proper headspace, where all is fine and okay. You wait. At some point, the world will momentarily halt to a standstill and the perfect moment will present itself exactly when it’s supposed to.

I know this all sounds like a pretentious way of looking at movie adaptations and Taylor Swift albums, but it isn’t just about those.

It’s about the idea of settling. It’s about feeling the need to rationalize when and why you deserve the things in life that make you happy. I often felt the need to limit my happiness to a certain level

I had a fixation on the future. I studied over hanging out with my friends in order to enter a good university. I stayed home to work over going to parties all for the goal of constructing an admirable resumé.

“This is not the time for perfect moments,” I’d think. I couldn’t peak at 21—that meant the dread of a downward slope for the rest of my life.

But this attitude twisted into an inability to be proud of anything since every accomplishment made my goals shift further. The moment to experience happiness then never felt right. It was easier to leave

things up to fate—waiting for perfect moments—than admit that my efforts weren’t enough to meet my expectations. I didn’t deserve to listen to Taylor Swift just yet. It sucked the life out of nice things, but it felt like the right thing to do.

This refusal to let myself feel happy hindered my development. I loved myself conditionally, I loved myself “only if.” I expected the future me to be better than the current one, so I loved her more. I saved and rationed all the fruits of my labor to ensure her full satisfaction.

It was as draining as it sounds, and it took so long to accept that holding out the best for last made me miserable.

Now, I’m taking baby steps to learn how to value myself.

The current me is the foundation for whomever I want to be moving forward.

She’s the only person in the universe that can empathize with me in the greatest intensity, that will work her whole life to make sure that I’m well. So it should be absolutely fine to give her little gifts once in a while, to let her know that I see and appreciate her.

Every second is a once-ina-lifetime experience. You will never be who you are again at this exact moment. Don’t let them slip away feeling like they didn’t do enough for you. What makes you think that this version is going to be any better or worse than who you’ll be next week?

Next decade? Who’s keeping track, anyway? It would be far more horrible to look back at your youth and remember nothing.

Baby steps. I’ve ordered the Fight Club book. It should be here soon.

I have never read my favorite book

Satellite ARIANNE B. MENDOZA I’m here, right here

GABRIELLE I. LOMBOS

MY FAVORITE Korean word is “sohwakhaeng ,” which roughly translates to the phrase “a small but certain happiness” in English. The word reminds me to dwell on the little things that make life bearable, especially when the negatives seemingly consume me. In many ways, K-pop has become my sohwakhaeng there will always be a “GOING SEVENTEEN” episode or an Instagram thirst trap guaranteed to distract me from the horrors of reality.

My first taste of K-pop was in my junior year of high school. There was, quite literally, no escape from it. My sister forced me to watch “Run BTS!” episodes at home, while my friends showed me BTS comeback stages during our lunch period. When I saw V performing “MIC Drop” with his gray hair in a bandana, I knew he was the one. In the midst of college entrance exams and the pressure to excel, K-pop proved to be a reliable form of escape.

I’m now in my senior year of college, and while I may no longer be an ARMY, K-pop has once again become a source of solace from my anxieties. I start my day with SEVENTEEN’s “VERY NICE” as my alarm. When I need background noise while doing thesis work, I’ll blast “OMG” by New Jeans on repeat. If my social battery’s dead but I don’t want to feel lonely while eating dinner, I’ll watch one of my biases’ Weverse lives. These minor moments can make even my worst days tolerable.

The fantasy K-pop sells is undeniably the reason why it continues to be a source of liberation for me. In a world full of self-proclaimed alpha males and Andrew Tate wannabes,

Parasocial relationships: A small but certain happiness

there are men secure enough in their masculinity to do “ aegyo ” (act cute) in front of the camera and read feminist literature. In fact, these nuances make it tempting to claim that K-pop men aren’t like other men. Take Kim Mingyu from

become. With applications such as Bubble and Weverse, idols and fans are in constant communication throughout the day. Fancalls blur the boundaries between idols and their fans, with some idols’ fanservice being openly flirting with them. Special events, such as birthdays or New Year’s, are celebrated together through lives or online video greetings.

It’s hard not to get emotionally invested, especially when idols are openly vulnerable with their fans, sharing some of their most heartbreaking experiences with them. Idols feel closer to fans than ever before, despite the fact that these relationships are very much one-sided.

Daylight THERESE GARCIA

MY FAVORITE were any fictional character that I could relate to right now, it would be Hiiromachi Station Smile Mart employee Keiko Furukura from Sayaka Murata’s novel, Convenience Store Woman

One may wonder, “What would the similarity be between a Japanese convenience store worker and a Filipino college junior?”

Simple—we both feel like a mere cog in society. There’s nothing special about us, and we’re doomed to become unremarkable members of society and of the corporate world if we don’t try to stand out.

Chasing seats

routine. Wake up, finish my work and academic deliverables, then sleep. Mealtimes are my only time to rest. It gets overwhelming for the most part, and sometimes I wish

I stopped chasing internships and work opportunities, I would get left behind.

It’s not easy to look away when I hop on LinkedIn and I see my friends and batchmates bag one work opportunity after another. It’s no surprise, though. Reports say that Gen Z’s number-one worry is their future career path, so it’s understandable that every twenty-something is trying to grab every opportunity that comes their way to secure a better future in this ruthless corporate landscape.

SEVENTEEN for example— he’s not only 6’2 with the perfect Dorito body, but he also cooks and cleans up after his members. ATEEZ’s Hongjoong participates in the Polished Man campaign to raise awareness about violence against children. SF9 member Dawon once helped save someone from cardiac arrest—and the list of these beyond impressive feats goes on.

Nothing fuels these parasocial pipe dreams more than how accessible K-pop idols have

Reflections on the Pale Blue Dot

BY BIANCA ANGELIEN

ON FEBRUARY 14, 1990, at a distance of billions of miles from the Sun, NASA’s Voyager 1 took a photo of what looks like a tiny bluish speck in the middle of a single ray of light. That tiny dust-like particle is Earth, and the photo was named the “Pale Blue Dot.”

Voyager 1 has a twin, conveniently called Voyager

2, and both spacecraft were launched by NASA in 1977, which fell perfectly within the window of a “once-in-a-lifetime” planetary alignment.

45 years and counting, the Voyager Program holds the record for the longest running NASA mission. Much to the amazement of scientists, both spacecraft are still traveling at

Fantasies are also bound to fall apart, and K-pop men can be men in the worst ways. Three of my ex-biases have been canceled (and some even incarcerated) for downright horrific reasons. NCT’s Lucas was caught in a gaslighting scandal. Seungri from BIGBANG solicited prostitution services for potential business investors. My former EXO bias, Kris Wu, was convicted for raping three women and more have accused him of predatory behavior. While these are extreme cases, they show how little we actually know about the idols we’d defend in a heartbeat.

Although K-pop may be my small but certain happiness, there are holes in the fantasy that can’t be ignored. As a K-pop fan, I feel like I’m in a constant state of lucid dreaming. A part of me clings to the reprieve that comes from my biases, but I know that my small but certain happiness might not be so certain after all.

incredible speeds and continue to send data back to us from great distances.

Installed in each Voyager was a Golden Record of humanity and the natural environment. In the creation of this Golden Record, a committee led by astrophysicist Carl Sagan selected images representing life on Earth, a variety of audio and musical recordings, and spoken greetings from different cultures—all of which were encrypted in each record. As I am a historian, the thoughts that pieces of humanity’s past and our diverse identities are currently flying through interstellar space, and that they were saved in records intended to last for billions of years,

I don’t want to end up mediocre, though. The crippling fear of ending up with a normal desk job—or even being unemployed—is my driving force to try and get ahead in the workplace. The only thing that can help with that is if I start getting work experience, be it unpaid internships or part-time jobs. This is the reason why I’m always on the lookout in Facebook groups like Ateneo Jobs and Internships. I scramble to send in applications to reputable employers in the hopes that landing a job with these recognized names will help propel me into the big leagues.

I’ve been successful for the most part. I’m currently a proud intern and part-timer at a couple of respectable agencies and companies. Now, my days are jam-packed with academics, extracurricular activities, and work.

Day in and day out, I’m bound to do the same exact

definitely stirred my interest and curiosity.

The photo of the “Pale Blue Dot” depicted the planet Earth, our home, as a tiny, floating speck in the vast and expanding universe. Reflecting on that lonely photo, I could not stop myself from making references to that tiny speck of dust on a clover in the well-known children’s book “Horton Hears a Who!” by Dr. Seuss.

In the jungle of Nool, a gentle elephant named Horton heard a faint cry of help from a tiny, floating speck of dust, and on that speck was the bustling town of Who-ville. Horton befriended the town’s mayor and made a solemn promise to protect the Whos from harm because, “after all, a person’s a person, no matter how small.”

The other animals of the jungle strongly doubted Horton’s claims that people were actually living on that speck. They even went as far as caging poor Horton and preparing piping-hot beezle-nut oil to boil the speck in!

Horton encouraged the Whos to cry out louder, so that the other animals will finally believe that they actually exist— that they too matter. “We are here! We are here! We are here!”

The Whos desperately cried out from that speck until they were finally heard. “They’ve proved they are persons, no matter how small,” Horton said.

From an insignificant pale blue dot suspended in space to just a tiny speck of dust floating in the jungle of Nool, these unconventional views of humanity and our world compels us to reconsider the

I’m only in my third year of college, but, at this rate, I feel like my time’s already running out. A good number of people around me have already achieved so much in very little time, so why is it that I can’t do the same? Is there something wrong with me?

I am plagued every night by the thought that by the time I gain enough knowledge and skills to join the big leagues, there will be no seat left at the table for me.

that this madness would be over soon. However, I can’t help but feel like I’m bound to repeat the cycle—subjecting myself to look for more internships after my contract expires and the semester ends.

I’ve tried to take a breather by refraining from actively seeking internships—believe me. I just feel like if I stopped to rest, if

countless instances in the past (and arguably in the present) when we have let hubris, injustice, and senseless wars, destroy the lives of innocent people. No matter how strong they cry out “We are here! We are here! We are here!” their desperate pleas were always drowned out by selfish desires for power— and for what? For control over just a miniscule part of that tiny pale blue speck of dust?

I quote Sagan, “Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that, in glory and triumph, they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot.”

As a historian, I am haunted by these narratives of violence, destruction, and death. I find it very troubling that cries for help continue to be heard in our country and other countries around the world. History already presents to us the numbers and the facts. But, what astounds me are the blatant attempts to distort and whitewash the bloodstained pages of our past for a misleading present and a rose-tinted yet untrue view of the future.

More often than not, we have decided to ignore the recurring calls for justice and truth-telling. Or, just like the proud yet ignorant animals from the jungle of Nool, we dismiss those who hear and respond to those calls as fools.

I guess the silver lining in this personal reflection is that fortunately the Golden Records do not have any information on our wars, hatred, and greed. Because if they were included

I still feel anxious about this early-stage, cutthroat job hunt, but I remind myself from time to time that I can take it slow. It’s not going to be the end of the world if I set my own pace and only take what I can handle at the moment. I shouldn’t have to give up my “me” time for work opportunities that I can do later on in life. When I feel ready, I’ll get to where I want to be. I’ll find an empty seat at the table of all these well-known companies that I would love to be a part of.

If not, then so be it. I’ll make my own table.

in the Golden Records, and let’s say (hypothetically) an advanced spacefaring civilization intercepts them, I’d be very ashamed to say that I am from that pale blue dot.

Bianca Angelien Aban Claveria is an instructor at the Ateneo de Manila University’s History Department. Claveria is also an Editorial Assistant for Philippine Studies: Historical and Ethnographic Viewpoints.

CLAVERIA

In many ways, K-pop has become my sohwakhaeng— there will always be a “GOING SEVENTEEN” episode or an Instagram thirst trap guaranteed to distract me from the horrors of reality.

It’s not going to be the end of the world if I set my own pace and only take what I can handle at the moment.

I shouldn’t have to give up my “me” time for work opportunities that I can do later on in life.

I guess the silver lining in this personal reflection is that fortunately the Golden Records do not have any information on our wars, hatred, and greed. Because if they were included in the Golden Records, and let’s say (hypothetically) an advanced spacefaring civilization intercepts them, I’d be very ashamed to say that I am from that pale blue dot.

As a historian, thoughts that pieces of humanity’s past and our diverse identities are currently flying through interstellar space, and that they were saved in records intended to last for billions of years, definitely stirred my interest and curiosity.

DESPITE BEING deprived of play on the collegiate stage for over two years, the Ateneo Women’s Badminton (AWBT) and FAST Ateneo Men’s Swimming (FAST) teams were successful in defending their championship titles for consecutive seasons. Bearing great expectations on their shoulders, the Blue Eagles managed to defy odds and establish their own dynasties in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) during Season 85.

WEATHERING THE STORM

Both of these teams witnessed an extended layover due to lockdown restrictions, leading to their non-inclusion in the UAAP’s 84th Season last June 2022. As a result, both teams’ title defense hopeswere put on hold for a few more months.

Settled on the throne

BY LUIS ANTONIO LICAS

However, both squads weathered through multiple hurdles in order to maintain their skills in the absence of formal competitions and prepare for their inevitable return. For instance, the AWBT returned to collegiate-level competition in the Philippine Badminton Association Intercollegiate preseason tournament. Meanwhile, the Men’s Swimming Team competed outside Ateneo in their own club tournaments.

Aside from training under their independent club team, the Harpoons, FAST Team Captain Rian Marco Tirol noted the consistency of their training during the pandemic as key to maintaining their skill. “Our coach still gave us workouts to do. The good thing there is tuloytuloy pa rin ‘yung training (there is continuous training), so it never stopped per se,” he said.

As for Women’s Badminton Team Captain Mika De Guzman, being part of the national team greatly benefited her skillset.

“I was able to still train and compete internationally despite the pandemic. For the rest [of my team], they still trained through Zoom. Though it was tough, I believe the struggles and sacrifices were all worth it,” she said.

SUSTAINING THE LEGACY

With six years of championship pedigree behind them, the Men’s Swimming Team were under immense pressure to outlast the competition for their seventh consecutive title.

The early days of the FAST Men’s Team’s dynasty were characterized by pure dominance, which they used to sweep the competition. Tirol even recalls that he idolized the collegiate team back when he was still in Ateneo Senior High School.

“Pumasok ako sa [high school]

team na fourth championship pa lang [ang FAST]. Naabutan ko sina Jessie Lacuna, si

Aldo Batungbacal, so these were the guys I was looking up to when I was getting into the UAAP experience. Sila ‘yung mga idol ko,” the captain shared.

(I entered the team during their fourth championship, when I was in Grade 11. I got to see Jessie Lacuna and Aldo Batungbacal, so these were the guys I was looking up to when I was getting into the UAAP experience. So they were my idols.)

Tirol recognized that such success only comes through hard work. Thus, he realized that FAST’s culture of dedication and perseverance were key factors in the development of their team. These characteristics then played a major role in their sixth-straight title back in 2019, when the team had to defend the title without Lacuna and Batungbacal.

Entering Season 85, FAST faced immense pressure to sustain their legacy in spite of all the hurdles they faced during the pandemic. Tirol adds that he felt everyone was out and gunning for the Blue Eagles, being six-peat champions. “I think that it showed the character and spirit of the team that we’re able to perform even under pressure. It showed in training, the guys were there not only to participate, but to compete, and ultimately, they were there to win,” he said.

Upon winning the championship in Season 85, it was clear that Ateneo’s dynasty was here to stay. Apart from clinching the gold, Joaquin Santos was named Season 85’s Most Valuable Player (MVP), while Joshua Del Rio was awarded the Rookie of the Year title— all showing promise for the continued success of the FAST Swimming Team.

As a fourth-year student, Tirol shared his own thoughts on what their latest championship meant to him. “I’m at the endpoint of my college UAAP experience. I’m very honored

and at the same time very privileged that I didn’t just get to compete in the UAAP, but also to compete representing the Ateneo. There’s a lot of prestige bearing that name,” he said.

ESTABLISHING SUPREMACY

Coming off back-to-back championships in Seasons 81 and 82, the Women’s Badminton Team sought to establish their dominance as the premier squad in the UAAP and chase their third title.

Team Captain Mika De Guzman shared that the team thrived off the pressure and used it to fuel their title defense. “Everyone was eager to defend the title, which was a very good mindset from the team. It also added that most of the [other competing] schools [were] also eager to take the title from us,” she said.

Parallels from their previous championships were evident in their latest title. Facing a familiar foe, the Blue Eagles sought to replicate their Season 81 mastery against the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons en-route to their third crown.

Throughout the rest of the season, the Ateneo community made their presence felt, with De Guzman emphasizing how their support in the Finals became her most memorable experience in their campaign.

“Half of the [arena] was pure Ateneans and I was shocked that a lot of people came to support us,” she said.

In recalling the lead-up to the championship, De Guzman also noted the immense responsibility she had as team captain. Her mantra throughout the final match—“in it to win it”—served as the driving force for her performance, which she hoped her teammates would emulate.

However, unlike their first two championships in Seasons 81 and 82 which ended in 3-0

sweeps, the Blue and White had their backs against the wall going down 1-2 against the Fighting Maroons in Season 85. Ultimately, the one constant that proved to be instrumental in their three titles was backto-back Finals MVP Chanelle Lunod, who continued her dominant display in their title-clinching singles match. In a poetic finish to cap off their third consecutive title, the Season 82 Team Captain secured the final team-tie to secure the championship for Ateneo.

According to De Guzman, the larger culture of family cultivated within the AWBT throughout the years also played a huge role in defining their championship season: “Of course you have to have that certain bonding for you to be able to feel the fire and desire of each player for it to pass on.”

DYNASTIES RENEWED

Having successfully defended their titles, the consecutive titles of FAST and AWBT are testaments to the winning culture established by their programs. Now, both captains assert that although they established their respective dynasties in the UAAP, their journeys are far from over.

De Guzman shared her thoughts on raising the bar for all succeeding Ateneo sports teams. “I don’t want to feel that it’s about setting a standard because there will come a time that someon else will far exceed whatever I may have accomplished now,” she said.

The captain added, “At the end of the day, what matters most is that I did my best and we offered it back to the Lord.”

Meanwhile, Tirol identified key aspects to work on moving forward. “To a certain extent, we can say that we’re renewing the dynasty kasi iba-iba na

‘yung team members na pumapasok. But we’re also continuing the dynasty of the last decade because it’s still the same team. It’s still the same culture of excellence that started with them and continues with us today.”

As both teams prepare for the future, the dynasties they cemented are reflections of how their culture provided the groundwork for winning programs and will ultimately serve as their lasting legacy.

I’m very honored and at the same time very privileged that I didn’t just get to compete in the UAAP, but also to compete representing the Ateneo.

CONTINUATION. These are the leaders behind the success of the Men’s Swimming Team and the Women’s Badminton Team. They have helped maintain the championship status of their respective teams despite their hiatus from the UAAP in the past two years.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GEIA DE VERA

PHOTO BY JACOB YAP

RIAN MARCO TIROL FAST ATENEO MEN’S SWIMMING TEAM CAPTAIN

There will come a time that someone else will far exceed whatever I may have accomplished now. At the end of the day, what matters most is that I did my best and we offered it back to the Lord.”

MIKA DE GUZMAN

ATENEO WOMEN’S BADMINTON TEAM CAPTAIN

Thanya Dela Cruz: Through the current

BY ALFONSO M. NAVARRO

THANYA DELA CRUZ took a deep breath as she stepped foot on the starting platform for her University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 85 200-meter Breaststroke event.

Locked in, she began a series of swift and precise strokes,overtaking all the opponents that swam alongside her. Behind the thunderous drumsand electrifying cheers from the stands, the freshman finished the race in first place, also bagging her third national record in swimming.

However, before her impressive debut in UAAP Season 85, FAST Ateneo Women’s Swimming Team’s Thanya Dela Cruz had to overcome her own uphill battle— making her success for the Blue and White even more significant.

FACING THE CURRENT

Prior to the groundbreaking records set by the breakout rookie, she was tasked with journeying through a road focused on self-redemption.

Thanya faced the biggest obstacle of her career in 2019 when she was selected to represent the Philippines in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. The 17-year-old Thanya back then was assigned to participate in only one event: the 200-meter Breaststroke—the longest distance in that category.

Despite the countless hours put in to prepare for the event, her bid for a podium finish was put to a halt when she suffered an anxiety attack during the race. Because of the overwhelming stress and nervous tension she felt, Thanya had to stop in the middle of the pool to calm herself down.

Afterherexperience,theswimming stalwart was convinced that the 200-meter Breaststroke was an event she could never race again. However, just like any swimmer of her caliber, Thanya knew deep down that she needed to do whatever it took to bounce back from the aftermath.

As her love for the sport weighed greater than her self-

doubt, Thanya entered the 2021 Philippine Swimming Incorporated (PSI) National Selection Bubble, despite admitting that she had no expectations of winning.

Without putting any pressure on herself to win in her first competition— slated after almost two years into the pandemic—Thanya still dominated the national competition. In the end, she was able to add four gold medals to her name. She also smashed a pre-pandemic national record in the 50-meter Breaststroke race with her 32.89-second accomplishment, adding to her first-place finishes in the PSI National Selection Bubble.

In the following year, Thanya impressed the swimming community again with two more gold medals in both the 50-meter and 100-meter Breaststroke events of the 2022 PSI Grand Prix National Championships. To her own surprise, the breakout swimmer managed to beat her own previous 50-meter Breaststroke record of 32.89 seconds with a new finish of 31.35 seconds, setting another impressive national record.

Thus, all seemed well for the Marikina-born swimmer. However, the emotional and mental baggage from her previous SEA Games experience still haunted her.

Upon entering Ateneo and the UAAP stage, Thanya was given an opportunity to rebuild her self-esteem. She had the chance to unleash her potential in the sport, as well as help her new team find success. There, she was given the opportunity by Head Coaches Archie Lim and Candice Esguerra-Federiso to materialize all the hard work she put in prior to her collegiate career—and showcase to everyone her remarkable talent.

JUST KEEP SWIMMING

In her first chance to make an impact for the Blue and White, Thanya definitely did

not disappoint. The rookie delivered by earning herself three gold medals and one bronze medal—significantly contributing to Ateneo’s overall second-place finish in UAAP Season 85. What topped her already astounding performance in the races were her three new national records in the 50-meter and 200-meter Breaststroke events.

Thanya’s historical streak began when she broke her own national record in the 50-meter Breaststroke with a precise time of 31.11 seconds. The following day, Thanya then set a new national record for the 100-meter Breaststroke event with a time of 1:08.64. Showing no signs of stopping, she surprised everyone when she broke that same record during the category’s finals later in the afternoon.

Finally, Thanya set her third national record in an event she never imagined swimming in again—the 200meter Breaststroke. There, the swimmer valiantly finished with a flying time of 2:30.42.

Amid Thanya’s jaw-dropping performance in Season 85, the unfaltering rookie believed that her finish in the once-feared 200-meter race was the most special among the three records. She admitted that she was more focused on adding another gold medal to Ateneo’s tally, thereby eliminating all her hesitations towards that race.

“Well, that time, parang gusto ko talaga ‘yung best ko like, makuha ‘yung gold to give the points to Ateneo. But then, ‘di ko talaga expect to get that record. So I think it’s a good start for me coming in my rookie year,” the swimmer shared in an interview with the Tiebreaker Times.

(Well, that time, I just wanted to do my best, to get the gold to give points to Ateneo. But then, I didn’t expect to get those records.)

The Ateneo Women’s Swimming Team may not have been able to defend the championship crown they held for the past three seasons, but

Thanya remains optimistic in her squad’s ability to bring the title back.

“I’m proud [of] what my teammates are showing this season. Everyone’s supportive, but giving this honor to my school is everything,” the star rookie emphasized.

Thanya’s recent successful Season 85 campaign was only one part of her year-long swimming ventures in 2022. Thanya closed off the year by representing the Philippines again in the 16th International Swimming Federation (FINA) World Swimming Championships in Melbourne, Australia. There, she competed in the 50-meter and 100-meter Breaststroke events, where she finished 26th and 33rd place, respectively, in the heat stages.

THE JOURNEY AHEAD

Later this year, Thanya is set to compete in the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan. She will be bannering Philippines in the alltoo-familiar Breaststroke affair. Following her outstanding introduction in the UAAP and her recent participation on the international stage, the sky’s the limit for the rookie. With her first year behind, Thanya is now focused on the rigorous path ahead, while maintaining the same mindset she has always possessed. “No expectations. I’m just gonna give my best throughout my whole stay in Ateneo,” she expressed.

Through her courage and unwavering determination to face her fears, Thanya made history in Season 85. Beyond the UAAP, the accolades she has made throughout the past two years have forged a path for the young competitor to lead the next generation of Filipino swimmers. The tides ahead may be unpredictable, yet the breakout star’s proven ability to bounce back from adversity can give her the confidence to overcome anything that comes her way.

I’m proud [of] what my teammates are showing this season. Everyone’s supportive, but giving this honor to my school is everything

THANYA DELA CRUZ ROOKIE STAR

GALLERY OF EAGLES

BROKEN RECORDS. Thanya Dela Cruz makes the FAST Ateneo Women’s Swimming Team proud by winning three gold medals and one bronze medal this UAAP season.

PHOTOS BY DARYL D. SY AND JHANINE CAOILE

The numbers game

BY LANCE BATARA AND VINCENT SOMERA

PHOTOS BY JASON MARIANO AND PAULINA SINGH GRAPHIC BY JEZZYRAE B. MAGLENTE

should capitalize on the benefits of sports analytics to ramp up their game. Teams like the AMBT have become living proof of a successful data-driven squad given their accomplishments both locally and internationally.

Clearly, their championship in UAAP Season 85 and the World University Basketball Series (WUBS) last 2022 in Japan are testament to this rising need.

IN TODAY’S digital age, numbers are your best friend— even in sports.

From the box scores of players to the projected winloss percentage of teams, data analytics in sports has emerged as a key determinant for coaches, athletes, media, and fans.

Having data analytics in sports provides viewers with an indepth look at how teams perform and how players can make an impact in a certain game. Moreso, numbers allow teams to make strategic decisions and elevate their performances in games— not just to improve but to win as well.

NUMBERS WIN GAMES

It is undeniable that the world of sports now revolves around numbers. For instance, we look at the team’s collective points, assists, and rebounds in basketball; goals and tackles in football; and the digs, kills, and blocks in volleyball. The statistics also determine the recipients of individual accolades like the Mythical Five and the Most Valuable Player, signifying the top-performing athletes for a given game or season. When donned by a superstar, these stats are impressive—but scores and basic data points are just the tip of the iceberg.

We have witnessed the jawdropping hat tricks of Pelé in the FIFA World Cup and the unbelievable triple-doubles of Russell Westbrook in the National Basketball Association (NBA). However, more advanced statistics like true shooting percentage, offensive and defensive rating, and assistto-turnover ratio are further examples of the data points that

analysts look for to accurately assess the performance of a player or a team.

Ultimately, sports analytics is used for teams to secure an edge and gain a competitive advantage over their opponents. It has been used to look at the internal production of a sporting organization, helping the people in charge to arrange in-game plays that maximize their strengths.

Given all the possibilities data presents, the sky is the limit in sports analytics—giving teams the liberty to be as creative as they want in order to amplify the power of numbers. Endless strategies can be formed using this tool, and the technological advancements that continue to surface make it easier to innovate statistical tools, paving the way for even more comprehensive analyses.

SIGN OF THE TIMES

While these statistical tools are available, the Philippines still lacks an awareness of the benefits that data analytics in sports can bring in both the professional and collegiate scenes.

For instance, the country’s premier professional basketball league, the Philippine Basketball Association, has a website dedicated to player and team statistics. However, it only shows the basic statistics and information that are common in basketball, such as points-per-game and field-goal percentage.

Collegiate leagues like the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) also only provide basic statistics.

Admittedly, there is no medium

to track the numbers in real time since these are only released after every round of the preliminaries and after the tournament itself.

Regardless, recent years have recorded notable changes when it comes to the awareness of how sports analytics can be beneficial. In UAAP broadcasts, for example, analysts utilize statistics in their pre-game analysis to show how a team or a player is performing or has performed in the last game or season. This way, they excitingly engage with the audience by giving them more in-depth and informed analysis of the game at hand, while not overwhelming them with complex information.

Aside from its usage in broadcasts, data in sports also helps teams scout their opponents well. The Ateneo Men’s Basketball Team (AMBT) has particularly utilized this strategy all too well in the recent UAAP Season 85. AMBT Team Manager Miguel Asis explains, “We evaluate the shooting percentages of our players so that we are able to fix their shooting mechanics and routines before games, which are more crucial.”

Asis also shares that the AMBT follows statistical systems that determine the opponent’s strengths and weaknesses, and identify the best lineups that can be used for the different matchups. With the AMBT’s recent triumph in UAAP Season 85, Asis continues to stress how remarkably sports analytics contributed to their success on the hardwood.

“Information like this was pivotal in how we prepared and approached each opponent

because each of them had varying styles that needed to be accounted for,” he emphasizes.

Moreover, fellow AMBT Team Manager Zachary Cui also believes how critical stats were in forming in-game strategies, adding that sports analytics helped the team identify what areas of play need improvement.

“Based on the information we get from sports analysis, the players can improve [and] the coaches can make better and more well-informed decisions,” Cui states.

RISING NEED

As the local collegiate scene beefs up its level of play, teams

“Coach Tab [Baldwin,] being a basketball savant—he is a firm believer in data, given how it has transformed the game today and how the best international teams utilize analytics,” Asis says.

Now, it’s high time for the country to fully embrace sports analytics. If we look at the United States’ National Collegiate Athletic Association, we see one example of a collegiate league that fully embraces the importance of data in sports. Similar to the NBA, they keep track of various traditional, advanced, and other categories of statistics, which allow teams and fans alike to stay informed and elevate their own insights.

In this era characterized by a bevy of young talents throughout

the country, sports analytics could be a useful tool to track players’ performance during games and practice sessions. Coaching staffs can also finetune their tactics, having sports analytics as their foundation underneath it all. With these applications, the collegiate scene would heighten their competitiveness and push all the universities involved to strive for greatness—refining the competitive landscape of collegiate sports in the Philippines.

“In the long run, if we indeed trust in the numbers, our collegiate leagues will become more competitive and in doing so, it will make our national teams more competitive as well, which is all we could ever ask for,” Asis emphasized.

For Cui, sports analytics also allows the Philippines to adapt to the ever-changing world of sports, from the collegiate ranks to the professional leagues. He concludes, “Every season, there is a different way we need to go and a different way we need to win. It can definitely help us get a better understanding of what we need to do to win.”

In the long run, if we indeed trust in the numbers, our collegiate leagues will become more competitive and in doing so, it will make our national teams more competitive as well, which is all we could ever ask for,

MIGUEL

ASIS

ATENEO MEN’S BASKETBALL

TEAM TEAM MANAGER

From the box scores of players to the projected win-loss percentage of teams, data analytics in sports has emerged as a key determinant for coaches, athletes, media, and fans.

FROM BEING cellar-dwellers to finishing on the podium in University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 85, different Ateneo teams underwent tremendous recalibrations to reach what was once only a dream. Even though the Ateneo Men’s Table Tennis Team (AMTT), Ateneo Poomsae Team (APT), and Ateneo Women’s Chess Team (AWCT) had varying paths, all of them share the same drive and passion that allowed them to reach momentous heights.

DIFFERENT STORIES, SAME GOAL

Out of the three teams, the AMTT went through one of the most drastic changes in standings. Prior to Season 85, Ateneo witnessed winless seasons from Season 75 to Season 80 and registered only one win in Season 82. In fact, they were set aside in UAAP Table Tennis. However, the Blue Eagles worked double time during the pandemic, which resulted in a silver medal last 2022—the first podium finish of the team in its history.

The APT achieved this same feat when the team claimed its first medal in team history during Season 85, claiming overall second runner-up. Although the young-blooded Poomsae Team also started out at the bottom of the ranks, the Ateneo Jins began showing signs of improvement after rising to a fourth-place finish in the shortened Season 84.

“[The bronze finish] was really unexpected, but, to be honest, we would not have gotten that without our team captain Joaquin Tuzon because he got the first ever gold medal in the Poomsae Team here in Ateneo,” said Ateneo Women’s Poomsae Captain Elaine Borres.

A season to flip the script

BY TRISTAN A. ABUEL ILLUSTRATION BY SAM DELLOMAS

After securing a bronze medal in Season 85, the AWCT was finally able to get over their own slump after consecutive fourthplace finishes in previous years. Similar to the Ateneo Poomsae and Men’s Table Tennis Teams, this is also the first podium finish in AWCT history.

“Last season, umiyak kami kasi parang sayang —10 years na nung last na magka-trophy ‘yung Chess Team. Kaya nung nagka-trophy kami sa Women’s Team, super saya,” shared Ateneo Women’s Chess team member Kristine Flores.

(Last season, we cried because it seemed like a waste—it had been 10 years since the Chess team won a trophy. So, when the Women’s Team got a trophy we were super happy.)

In previous UAAP appearances, these three teams used to be ignored in their respective competitions. Now, the AMTT, APT, and AWCT have risen to the challenge, beginning their work towards the establishment of a winning culture in their programs.

SHIFT IN RHYTHM

Before achieving great feats in their own UAAP tournaments, each of the three teams had to optimize their programs holistically. This included not just intensified training regimens but also stronger recruitment efforts to improve the status of their teams. Eventually, Men’s Table Tennis stalwarts and high school-standouts Mahendra Cabrido and Andrew Uy joined the fray to help the Blue Eagles earn the historical silver medal.

In addition to bolstered recruitment, the coaching staff and the players of the team showcased intense dedication unlike before. “[During the pandemic, about] 60% of our

team did not have a table at home, so they depended on the online training and our program,” noted AMTT senior Jamie de Asis.

The big difference between the pre-pandemic period and Season 85 time for the AMTT was their program’s novel features and flexible scheduling. The team had incorporated mental training, like meditation, with the hope of improving the players’ mental fortitude in preparation for the strenuous season-to-come.

Coaches also worked double time by opening two practice sessions, one in the afternoon and one in the evening, in order to accommodate the athlete’s varying academic schedules. Despite jumbled timetables, de Asis attests to how crucial the AMTT’s coaches are to the overall development of the athletes. “Both coaches [are] on hand sa pagtuturo sa amin (in teaching us). Talagang they focus on our strengths and weaknesses, and add some techniques that we can use in playing in the UAAP,” he shared.

Similar to the AMTT, the APT also continued their training during the pandemic, which ramped up during the bubble for preparation in Season 84. In light of their fourth-place finish last May, the APT recognized the need for adjustments and began incorporating weight training in their practices with help from their new coach, Ardee Landrito. Courtesy of their augmented program, as well as the esteemed tutelage of Coach Landrito, the Blue Eagles returned to the mats with an upgraded level of both strength and dexterity.

Being the most accessible sport during the pandemic, the Ateneo Women’s Chess Team continued their daily training, dedicating five hours everyday in solving different puzzles and

Last season, umiyak kami kasi parang sayang—10 years na nung last na magka-trophy ‘yung Chess Team. Kaya nung nagka-trophy kami sa Women’s Team, super saya.

understanding chess strategies. However, the team was caught off guard as they were only given a month to prepare for the Chess tournament when it was time for Season 84. Given the short gap between Seasons 84 and 85, the team decided to lessen their training to twice a week in order to lessen the fatigue and burnout of their members. This worked wonders for the AWCT as they secured third place last December for Season 85.

In order to make these progress more sustainable and lead to greater success, these Ateneo teams continue to strive in their bid to stay at the top.

MOVING FORWARD

After having a taste of a podium finish, the teams immediately shifted their focus on their Season 86 campaigns. In order to sustain their winning momentum, teams are planning to participate in different competitions outside of the UAAP this year—all on top of their continuous training regimens. Especially since members of the teams are fairly new to the UAAP scene, exposing players to competitors beyond the UAAP can boost their confidence and tenacity.

According to Flores, the AWCT are already preparing to join competitions in between the season. “‘Yung next season namin December [2023] pa, pero pine-prepare kami nung coach namin na more on exposure pa, at sasali sa tournaments outside sa school para ‘yung third place namin umangat pa,” said Flores.

(Our next season is in December, but our coach is preparing us to have more exposure and join outside tournaments so that we could improve our third place finish).

Looking back, the AMTT, APT, and AWCT teams made incredible strides in the past years to become competitive programs. The seeds were planted during the pandemic, and, now, the teams are slowly reaping the rewards of their efforts. Even though the three teams have different stories of perseverance and sacrifices, all teams have the same goal of bringing home titles to the Blue and White.

Finally achieving a podium finish last Season 84, all teams have completed their shifts in rhythm by turning around their programs from consistent bottom finishers to serious contenders. In spite of their varying circumstances, each of the teams have made apparent that their dedication to both individual skills and collective goals are what afforded them these medals.

As the teams have produced great results and are on an upwards trajectory, their next goal is to finally clinch that much-desired UAAP championship title.

In addition to bolstered recruitment, the coaching staff and the players of the team showcased intense dedication unlike before. “[During the pandemic, about] 60% of our team did not have a table at home, so they depended on the online training,

KRISTINE FLORES ATENEO WOMEN’S CHESS TEAM MEMBER

JAMIE DE ASIS ATENEO MEN’S TABLE TENNIS TEAM SENIOR

Beyond Loyola

the regularity of violence in his community. He recalls, “Arawaraw may patayan. Ilan na rin ‘yung estudyante namin na… absent. Tapos, ‘yun pala, ‘yung pamilya nila [ay] nangibang-bahay na dahil sa takot.”

(There were killings every day. Some of my students would go absent, only for me to learn that their families moved away out of fear.)

Even his coworkers, Alejo says, were traumatized by the killings. He particularly noted one of his co-teachers who witnessed a murder inside the jeepney of their daily commute.

The regular violence in Davao pushed citizens to start the Yellow Friday Movement. Alejo places two personalities at the center of the group: Rodolfo “Rudy” Malasmas, SJ, then the AdDU high school principal; and Soledad “Nanay Soling” Duterte, teacher, activist, and mother of

However, the potential loss of the local radio station would throw Davaoenos into the dark about the national situation.

Urgently, Alejo and his companions rushed to the site of the alleged bomb threat and stayed to protect it. As this happened, they followed new information coming from across the country—until a reporter brought startling news: the Marcos family fled Malacañang, and the length of EDSA was flooded with peaceful demonstrators.

Then, Alejo and his fellow Ateneans were moved to call for a demonstration in their own area. The reporters of Bombo Radyo soon began to advocate for a gathering of the people of Davao.

They broadcasted: “ Mga kababayan! Mayroon pong mga Atenista rito […] nagdesisyon sila na pupunta sila sa plaza!

[…] Nagdadasal na po sila

suddenly thought of visiting the military camp. There, they were greeted by rows of heavily armed soldiers. “Walang gagalaw, […] walang gagawa ng kalokohan, walang mambabato ng kahit [na] maliit na bato (Nobody move, […] nobody play any tricks, nobody throw even the tiniest rocks)!” the companions cautioned each other. With their hands clasping each others’ and some of their eyes pressed shut, Alejo and his fellow Ateneans serenaded the armed forces with the song “Bayan Ko.” The group prayed for their hymn to finish without anyone getting harmed at all. Nobody did.

When the group returned to the plaza, the solemn mass they had left was vibrant with festivity. People were dancing to music that blared from speakers around the vicinity. Tears poured as strangers

embraced in thanks that the years of trauma and violence would finally come to an end. Across the party, the most breathtaking sight of all was the sheer number of Davaoenos that packed the plaza—communing that midnight just as they did each Friday afternoon every week for over a year prior.

PRESERVING THE MEMORY

Beyond Metro Manila, the Filipino people created a picture of hope.

As Alejo notes that no revolution is ever complete, he calls to mind the success of the People Power Revolution in securing all Filipinos’ democratic capacity. He says, “Dumami ‘yung mga pagkilos para sa kababaihan, para sa indigenous peoples (There came more spaces for women and indigenous peoples). That movement really expanded the democratic spaces for civil society. Also, it demonstrated the power of peace over violence.”

As he reminisced about the daring and joyous People Power in Davao City, however, Alejo lamented his solitude in preserving its memory. He remarked that his recalle events in Davao lacked any accessible documentation, as he had struggled to find any reportage to capture the moment. Alejo noted that this shortcoming, coupled with the conflation of the People Power Revolution with the EDSA Revolution, marginalizes the stories of Filipinos from beyond Metro Manila who similarly struggled for freedom.

To complete the common memory of the People Power Revolution, Alejo advises those interested in understanding the national nature of the revolution to gather information about it from key informants and original news sources. Although the overlooking of narratives from beyond Metro Manila cannot be undone, Alejo advocates for the creative preservation of these regional stories today. In the storytelling of Davao’s People Power in particular, Alejo emphasized the essence of his narrative that ought to be highlighted—Davaoenos’ consistent persistence to organize as a community in the face of violence.

“[The people of Davao] held [their] ground in front of the military in a place where bloodshed was ordinary–

minus the international attention, minus the cameras, minus Cardinal Sin,” he recounted.

“But, we had the Ateneans,” he continued. Alejo praised the students who were active in Davao’s resistance against state suppression. Alongside the youth, Alejo heralded other figures he regarded as leaders of Davao’s People Power. These narratives, among other experiences of People Power around the Philippines, stand witness to one of the many Martial Law histories that parallel those in the nation’s capital. Without the memorialisation of these stories, the national memory of People Power is incomplete.

,, Lumawak ang lugar para sa NGOs . Dumami

‘yung mga pagkilos para sa kababaihan, para sa indigenous peoples.

ALBERTO “PARING BERT” ALEJO, SJ ATENEO DE DAVAO UNIVERSITY THEN-REGENT AND HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER

Beyond Loyola

In it for the long haul

BY JANA O. ANG AND ALEXANDRA G. YATCO

ILLUSTRATION BY JEZZYRAE B. MAGLENTE AND SAMANTHA ROSE RAGAZA

THE ADVENT of COVID19 overwhelmed the nation’s transport sector, with lockdown restrictions forcing public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and service operators to search for alternative income sources. Commuters were then directly affected by reduced transport supply as cost inflation exacerbated the inaccessibility of trips.

Almost three years later, it has only become more apparent that the design of Philippine public transport—as measured by traveling experiences in the postCOVID landscape—is outdated. Weighed down by crowded facilities, long queues, and rising fares, the system remains in dire need of a demand-responsive and sustainable revamp. As such, the accelerated return to the city hustle and bustle amid these inefficiencies today raises the question of whether the vision of equitable mass transit can be realized in the new normal.

ACUTE SYMPTOMS

At the height of the pandemic, government efforts to bolster the resilience of public transport ranged from health protocols to fare-free transit to a service contracting program. However, these decisions had to contend with a dominant car-centric culture and a myriad of logistical challenges, which hindered sustainable change at large.

For instance, social distancing guidelines such as limited rider capacity rendered transport operators unable to sustain pre-pandemic levels of revenue and demand. As such, transport economist and Move As One Coalition Co-Convenor Robert Siy amplified the call for proactive measures that protect both public transport operators and commuters.

Refitting roads

BY ANGELA DIVINA AND SAMANTHA P. SICANGCO ILLUSTRATION BY BRYCE TAMAYO

GIVEN THE Philippines’ increasing rate of urbanization, interconnectivity through seamless transport systems has become crucial in the sustainable movement of goods, services, and people.

In an attempt to realize this, a car-centric view has been the dominant paradigm in Philippine transport planning, often to the detriment of the millions who rely on sidewalks, priority lanes, and public transport. Although a majority of Filipinos depend on public transport, most road-based projects such as road-widening and elevated highways cater to private automobile owners, which only account for 6% of the population.

Transport advocate group Move As One Coalition emphasizes this disproportion in their study, stating that merely 1% of the 2010-2021 Php 2.8 trillion budget for road-based infrastructure was allocated for public transport. Meanwhile, the remaining 99% was allotted for road maintenance, widening, and construction.

He also explained that passengers need reliable and predictable public transit, which can be achieved by insulating public transport operators “from the variability in revenue and passenger numbers.”

Attempts to fulfill that need took shape in the service contracting program under the Bayanihan to Recover As One Act. Initially targeting 60,000 drivers, the policy offered both gross cost and net cost service contracting to cushion the impact of sustained operating costs amid lower vehicular capacity.

However, late or no payouts, delayed subsidies for drivers’ smartphones, and inaccurate data monitoring methods continue to plague the program’s execution and threaten its sustainability.

Nicole Cobarrubias, a sustainable transport advocate at AltMobility PH and Move As One Coalition stated, “I think it’s good that the government started to recognize [service contracting], but… it’s not really felt on the ground.”

Additionally, Siy warned against enacting fare-free trips carelessly, which could lead to increased financial risks. He stated that paying for reliable services from transport service providers, alternative revenue sources such as advertising, funds from traffic violation fines, and land value capture are all successful in other countries.

CONTEXTUAL MIRRORING

However, while transportation infrastructure continuously develops, it fails to sustainably address public transport demands, such as safer roads and timely arrivals for commuters.

As the region attempts to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the transportation sector, several SEA countries have shown progress toward achieving sustainable urban mobility.

To alleviate traffic congestion and carbon emissions, Singapore discourages owning more cars by requiring citizens to have a Certificate of Entitlement, which represents their right to vehicle ownership, and to pay yearly road taxes.

Additionally, Jakarta’s TransJakarta, the first bus rapid transit in SEA, has successfully integrated with bus and paratransit operators to expand transportation options, which resulted in Jakarta citizens being more reliant on public transport.

Analyzing these international transportation trends highlights the need for the Philippines’ institutional framework to encourage decentralized agencies and flexible transportation options.

According to Siy, this can be realized by creating metropolitan transport agencies and integrating a holistic approach to multi-modal transportation. Ultimately, ensuring efficient and sustainable urban transit trends requires proactive risk management and consistent stakeholder involvement in transportation discussions.

Urban mobility trends in Southeast Asia (SEA) countries reveal how growing populations and rapid urbanization directly impact mobility levels. Rapid global population growth is often accompanied by demands for diverse transportation. ,,

THE ROAD AHEAD

The experiences of public transport drivers and commuters with long waiting times, rising oil prices, and traffic congestion

underscore the need for feasible transport modifications to be implemented in the Philippines.

Communication, both in traditional and social media, is needed to convey the urgency of addressing transit challenges.

In this regard, Siy stated that both local and national officials can have a better grasp of the root problems of the Philippines’ transit system when media platforms showcase the experience of today’s commuters.

Multi-sectoral collaboration is also necessary to identify and address the pain points of the transit sector. In particular, consultations between the transportation industry and stakeholders, such as civil society and the government, can foster a safe environment for active participation, feedback, and dialogue. According to Siy, through such creation of multisector advisory committees, people would be able to develop a common direction and perspective.

In the end, this common perspective should shift the sectors’ focus away from vehicleoriented approaches to ones that put individuals at the center. Ultimately, vehicle-oriented approaches focus on the rapid construction of non-sustainable infrastructure, which leads to more traffic congestion. However, to break this cycle, sustainable mobility must be realized and maintained.

“Wherever you have roads or infrastructure, the objective should be to facilitate the movement of people, rather than vehicles,” Siy stated. By prioritizing pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport, the Philippines’ existing roadways will be utilized more efficiently.

In a survey of 60 populous cities worldwide, the Urban Mobility Readiness Index 2022 ultimately deemed the

Metro Manila. As such, the bulk of the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) Php 167-billion budget for 2023 will be utilized for building the North-South Commuter Rail and the MMSP—with the latter slated to begin operations in 2028. However, Move As One Coalition policy researcher Katreena Chang still believes that the MMSP is unresponsive to the City of Manila’s “urgent” supply shortages. “The subway may be an effective solution but just doing that will not get you anywhere,” Chang adds. While no single solution would resolve the country’s transportation woes, the catalyst for more optimal transport systems and policymaking lies in identifying the people using these systems and meeting their needs accordingly, according to Chang. Preliminarily, she urges the government to analyze transport supply and demand. In conjunction with this, she states that service contracting is the key to providing satisfactory services as this incentivizes transport workers to prioritize commuters’ needs. Chang also stresses the importance of maximizing the budgets

City of Manila a “lagging city,” with the fifth worst public transport system.

Motions to diversify transport priorities were present in the Duterte government’s flagship “Build, Build, Build” (BBB) program, which heralded the construction of the LRT-2 extension and Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP), among other projects. Framed as an “expansion” of the BBB, President Marcos introduced the “Build, Better, More” program which plans to continue the MMSP, implement rail projects, and improve connectivity outside

granted to the Department of Public Works and Highways and DOTr, as current underutilization makes it difficult to secure adequate funding in the succeeding years. Alongside these concerns, shifting the car-centric perspective remains a primary prerequisite to rectifying the transport crisis. By restructuring transport systems to cater to the needs of all demographics, transport planning may grant citizens reprieve from the troubles of congestion, public transport crowding, and limited mobility.

Wherever you have roads or infrastructure, the objective should be to facilitate the movement of people, rather than vehicles.

With car-centric biases still deeply entrenched in Philippine transport planning, the Philippines moves into an era of ambitious and untested infrastructure projects.

The onion phenomenon

BY KRISTEN R. MATIAS AND SAM A. RAMOS YEO ILLUSTRATION BY ALEXIS CHUA AND SAMANTHA ROSE RAGAZA

THE PRICE of onions has reached an all-time high, with the cost of one kilogram skyrocketing to Php 700. The recent shortage in the country is a result of varying factors, such as weather, import restrictions, and the economic effects of the pandemic, among others.

However, the rising onion prices are but a symptom of the country’s faltering agricultural sector with many industries failing to meet local production quotas—unveiling the need for more long-term economic solutions.

LAYERED ISSUES

Testament to the sector’s multilayered issues, the Philippines’ agricultural industry has suffered uncountable natural disasters, accruing billions in losses. Consequently, such erratic weather conditions led to the decrease of different types of produce, including onions.

As early as August 2022, the Department of Agriculture said that onion production would not meet market demand. Calls were made to import onions and cushion supply but the Marcos

administration held close to import restrictions. While climate conditions may be the simplest suspect for the price hike, it is not the sole cause for inflated onion prices. External forces, including cartels, hoarding, and price manipulation, have also permeated markets. For one, the Philippines has experienced more onion smuggling across regions, with the Bureau of Customs seizing over Php 153.6million worth of onions earlier this year. Officials now blame cartels for sky-high prices caused by artificial demand.

Another contributing factor is the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced about 73% of smaller merchants to close shop.

Ateneo De Manila University Economics Department former Chair Leonardo A. Lanzona, PhD contended that this crisis pushed bigger merchants to manipulate prices and create market inequities.

“Apparently, some merchants have some market control, meaning they could impact [and] manipulate the prices. I think that would be the more reasonable explanation,” Lanzona shared.

Over the past year, onions have been just one staple that spiked

in price. Other kitchen essentials are also affected by the farming sector’s current dire state, l eaving Filipino households to swallow steep prices.

UNEARTHING ROOTS

Mirroring the onion crisis, basics such as sugar and salt are among the items facing shortages and inflated prices.

Sugar supplies suffered from delayed imports during the annual sugar scarcity period. Meanwhile, salt shortages were exacerbated by the local supply’s inability to meet demand despite geographical advantages in salt production. As these issues unfolded, import barriers such as sanitary restrictions and the tight window for permit applications share responsibility for higher costs.

In response to such inflation, the government proposed importing thousands of metric tons of onions, sugar, and salt. This intended to calm prices, albeit temporarily. However, this ultimately risks harming farmers, as incoming imports lower prices while failing to target the root causes, namely the disappearing small retailers, and the costly produce delivery process.

In the end, this solution leaves farmers to endure losses as their yields are left untouched on shelves. Pointing to the struggle of farmers to deliver produce to urban markets, Lanzona says that capacity-building—ranging from technological capital, skills training, to entrepreneurial literacy—is vital. Over the years, Filipino farmers have struggled as different sectors grew weaker, needing more competitive advantage. In addition, the country’s agricultural landscape continues to see a lack of capital, subpar productivity, low diversification, and high production costs.

“[The problem is] not the lack of production. It is more the lack of capacity for local farmers to deliver [to the market]... and the ability to create more competition—empowering the smaller producers,” Lanzona said. While short-term efforts to ease inflation are being made, the number of struggling farmers and unstable prices suggest that sustainable solutions must be found to address the sector's woes.

CULTIVATING INDUSTRIES

The struggles in agriculture reveal the larger need for more

sustainable solutions that support long-term growth.To address the need for capacitybuilding, support mechanisms must focus on improving productivity and trade activities for smallholder farmers. Lanzona asserts, “We need to set up a productivity program intended to help poorer sectors. It’s crucial for the government [to provide] enough resources to farmers so that they can start competing.” Such support includes incentivizing agricultural investments—technological, infrastructural, and technical. Likewise, central to selling local produce is the support for farm-to-market road (FMR) network plans. These FMRs could improve distribution channels and develop local competition. Coupled with long-term productivity plans vis-a-vis improved inputs and outputs, these investments would boost the Philippine value chain and open up pathways for market competition. By unearthing root issues, planting seeds for industry growth, and cultivating fairer prices, the interests of farmers and consumers might be achieved.

,, [It is] not the lack of production; it is more the lack of capacity for local farmers to deliver [to the market]...and the ability to create more competition— empowering the smaller producers,

LEONARDO A. LANZONA, PH.D., ECONOMICS DEPARTMENT, ATENEO DE MANILA UNIVERSITY FORMER CHAIR

Beyond Loyola

SOUTHEAST ASIA is described to have entered another era of “strongman politics.” For every charismatic and authoritarian man-of-the-people persona seen in President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., a similar style is seen in the recent leaders of Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, and Indonesia.

Their similarities both in political style and timeline to power form a regional trend which is supported by previous populist waves embodied in former leaders. Now, as Southeast Asia retraces its populist steps, political progress in the region might also face the return of challenges once thought thwarted.

PAST AND PRESENT

The idea of a “return” to strongman politics hinges on certain political terms and styles as well as how these mirror leaders of the past.

Nearly all current leaders of Southeast Asia employed populist tactics in their campaigns—ultimately securing the trust of the people, vilifiying opponents, sowing distrust in institutions, and positioning themselves as the spearhead of the people’s will. These strategies are embodied in Marcos Jr., former Burmese Prime Minister (PM) Aung San Suu Kyi, and Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra, who each

The populist predicament

pursued populist campaigns as they ascended to power.

Former Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad—a former strongman pioneer from the 1980s—also used the same decades-old campaign style to secure another election to the Prime Minister’s office in 2018.

The promises of swift,genuine, and pro-people leadership are often paired with authoritarian methods to keep those goals firm. Near total support from bureaucrats, businessmen, and the military allowed leaders such as Indonesian President Suharto, Cambodian PM Pol Pot, and the Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. to remain in power for decades in the past.

As they did this, the leaders often enabled a stagnation of national progress, manifesting in the form of mass corruption and economic downturn. The resulting corruption and economic inequality that followed each of their regimes are direct products of centralized and consolidated power that allowed for the domination of single-party rule, unquestioned leadership, and undeniable authority in the region. With increasing nostalgia for Southeast Asia’s past

Making sense of the Maharlika Fund

BY PIOEE B. BASSIG AND JAVIER P. MAPA

PHOTO BY PAULINA SINGH

PRESIDENT FERDINAND

“Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.’s and his economic team’s latest major proposal, the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF), has raised more questions about the administration’s economic plans. Proposed as a sovereign wealth fund (SWF), the MIF is intended as a vehicle for government investments to bolster growth. However, concerns about the fund’s management are plenty, and its proponents’ economic case has been heavily scrutinized.

UNDERSTANDING SWFS

SWFs are governmentowned investment funds that consist of money generated by the government. These funds are often financed by two major resources: commodities exports—such as oil and gas— and non-commodities—such as foreign exchange reserves, government budget surpluses, and privatization revenue. Unlike a central bank that manages the value of a country’s currency, stimulates the economy, and prevents inflation, a sovereign wealth fund focuses simply on earning a high return. This implies highrisk investments.

Singapore has the largest and most established SWFs in the Southeast Asian region—

BY CLAYTON DEJILLAS AND RAM HEBRON ILLUSTRATION BY ALISSA CO

neopatrimonialism, and even authoritarianism. All of this makes Southeast Asia particularly susceptible to populist practices.

In the case of the Philippines, a lack of accountability towards the state meant inadequate investigations on the war on drugs. This enabled former President Rodrigo Duterte to launch an anti-drug campaign that claimed the lives of over 12,000 Filipinos, while maintaining an 82% satisfaction rating among Filipinos, in 2019. This approval for democratized violence is a case of penal populism—the people’s belief that criminal behavior should be harshly punished under the law.

More recently, the populist wave that swept through the 2022 national elections heavily relied on what Political Analyst Richard Heydarian refers to as “nostalgic populism.”

While this kind of populism draws from the people’s sentimentality of the past, Malaysian populist leader Mahathir carried out his government’s policies with the rationale of protecting Islam, their nation’s official religion. As such, his rule was characterized by a series of policies attributed to digital authoritarianism. Such laws restrict Malaysians’ access to the internet, including content that is harmful under Islamic law. However, these policies also add restrictions on religious minorities.

The rhetoric of “us” versus “them” exhibited by Malaysia’s safeguarding of Islam is not new in populist practices. Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi used similar xenophobic language that differed from her inclusive populist charisma as an opposition leader.

leadership, the region’s former political challenges may now be poised for a comeback.

OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW Southeast Asia is set apart from other populist-dominant

regions—like certain parts of Europe and South America—by its weak established political parties. Without strong parties, populist leaders are easily able to dominate and abuse the political arena by impairing democratic institutions and practicesthrough clientelism,

In an interview with CNN Philippines, Heydarian notes the nostalgic comparisons that Marcos Jr. presented in his speeches—including the “glory days” of academics, the supposed “golden age” of his father’s rule, and his campaign tagline, “ Sama-sama tayong babangon muli (Together, we shall rise again).”

Today, Southeast Asia’s experience with strongmen remains one of the region’s persisting themes in politics. Time has proven that this pattern of politicking often results in weaker democracies, greater social divides, and even institutionalized violence, which impede any political progress in Southeast Asia. As old challenges return to face the region, the need to revisit the consequences of past populist governance persists.

Temasek Holdings and the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC).

Temasek was set up to manage the Singapore government’s investments in crucial local firms and to branch out into international markets. The fund is financed using cash distributions from its portfolio companies, other investments, and debt financing sources.

Distinct from Temasek, the GIC was set up to source its funds from the government’s budget surplus and use these funds to invest overseas, generate profit, and increase foreign reserves.

Unlike the GIC, the Philippines lacks a current account surplus with which to fund its MIF.

Additionally, the MIF is not set up like Temasek to be financed by investments in private companies, nor does it replicate the Norway and Timor-Leste model that finances SFWs with revenues from natural resource windfalls.

MAHARLIKA AT THE MACRO

Currently, the source of funding for the proposed MIF are equity contributions from the Land Bank of the Philippines, Development Bank of the Philippines, and national government appropriations.

Recent redesigns to the MIF bill changed the source of

funding, from governmentowned and -controlled corporations to government financial institutions.

However, as Ateneo School of Government Dean Philip Tuaño pointed out, the objectives of the MIF may conflict with the interests of these financial institutions which need to be more strategic with managing risk.

In spite of myriad concerns, the MIF bill was swiftly approved in the lower house. Marcos Jr. has already paraded the MIF in the World Economic Forum, claiming that it was designed optimally for the Philippines.

However, macroeconomic conditions and the nation’s finances indicate otherwise. Economists and research institutions, among others, have stressed that the choice of sourcing the MIF’s funds from government banks and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) dividends comes as precarious given pandemicinduced volatilities.

For one, the government continues to run a large budget deficit to finance pandemic recovery. Adding pressure are struggles with a weak currency and high inflation. Repaying loans denominated in dollars, for instance, has become more costly.

Furthermore, the public is increasingly in need of relief from rising prices. An SWF that requires the government to make longer-term and more risky investments may take away resources from more immediate priorities.

CORRUPTION COMPLICATIONS

Political issues plaguing the MIF further contribute to the uncertainty regarding its timing and appropriateness. Historically, cases in other countries have led to concerns over the potential for SWFs in general to be used as vehicles of corruption.

In Malaysia’s case, the country’s 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) SWF was set up to promote economic

development. However, an investigation found that $4.5 billion was diverted to offshore bank accounts and shell companies linked to the person who helped set up the fund.

Additionally, the country’s former prime minister Najib Razak was sentenced to prison for criminal breach of trust, abuse of power, and money laundering in relation to 1MDB.

Given that the Philippines currently ranks 117th out of 180 countries in the most recent Corruption Perceptions Index, doubts persist over the potential for similar mismanagement of a SWF.

Deakin University Research Fellow Jayson Lamchek, PhD studied SWFs in countries neighboring the Philippines and found that accountability

mechanisms are key to effective SWFs.

Lamchek highlighted that direct benefits to the public, a provision currently missing from the MIF, is imperative. The Alaska Permanent Fund, for example, guarantees dividends to the public. Direct benefits would promote public engagement— an added layer of checks and balances for the fund.

The absence of such a provision in the MIF highlights the major design flaws of the MIF. It represents uncertainty around the fund’s management and susceptibility to elite interests. Even if political independence were assured, the economic merits of the MIF requires further consideration and review of its management’s makeup for the public to accept such a policy.

Historically, cases in other countries have led to concerns over the potential for SWFs in general to be used as vehicles of corruption.

Defining situationships

In this situation, there are no terms and conditions— until one wants more and the other refuses.

BY REIGN IRIS CENTENO AND INGRID MANUEL ILLUSTRATION BY RYAN SUAREZ AND KAITLYN W. MERCADO

IT ALL starts with a wellthought of, quirky conversation starter—sparking an unexpected late-night exchange.

Every response is full of rizz, so you’re enthralled: You’ve never had a chat like this. What are the chances that you’ve watched the same TV shows? Who would have thought that you both listen to that one indie underground artist that no one knew and has less than a million listeners on Spotify?

Conversation is effortless, and you’ve never met anyone like them. You curate a playlist for the both of you. You schedule movie nights, meet-ups, and you were right—the

connection was just as good, online and in person

As you fill in your friends with the juicy details, you can’t help but think about what you both are to each other— and you’re confused. Sometimes you talk all-day, but on the other days, they just won’t respond.

Your conversations used to have no intervals, but now you are just staring at that blue checkmark on your screen. Sent 24 seconds ago, it says—until those 24 seconds become minutes, hours, days, weeks, and even months.

Suddenly, they’re gone, and you’ve never even talked about what you really were.

You then realize that you weren’t in a relationship, but rather a situationship —the consolation prize you get when your partner couldn’t give you real commitment.

SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT NOT REALLY

The pandemic has forced many people to rely on virtual communication and physical distance, thus making it difficult to form and maintain traditional relationships. As a result, these pairs may have found themselves in a state of limbo, where they are not quite friends, but not quite romantically committed either.

Blossoming from being high school acquaintances, Emma* (2 AB MEC) and her partner Tin* rekindled their relationship during senior year of high school and eventually ended up together in a situationship. Often finding comfort in each other’s company, Tin and Emma would alleviate their boredom with fun conversations. Both of them cherished these moments, strengthening their bond through their shared interests and humor, even though they weren’t able to pinpoint what they really are. “We both had a mutual understanding naman that we weren’t looking for anything serious,” Emma states.

Deeper into the pandemic, however, the two began drifting apart. Unfortunately, what served as the catalyst for their connection also caused their separation.“Eventually, it fizzled out because [the pandemic rendered us unable to meet], and then eventually we stopped talking na rin for a while,” Tin says.

Typically, a situationship is defined as a connection between two people determined by a level of intimacy and commitment less than what would be expected in a traditional romantic relationship.

If it’s what you need at the moment, then that’s okay. It can still give people the feeling of being connected with others, the sense of belonging without the pressure of labels.

Defining situationships...

Situationships can take many forms and often involve regular communication, shared activities, and a level of emotional intimacy that is not typically found in a friendship.

An integral part of this set-up is having less commitment, which seems more enticing to today’s youth. Most people are now undeniably embracing this gray area of relationships because of its convenience and flexibility. This comes with a caveat, though: People in nolabel relationships need to make sure that both parties are on the same page about what it actually means.

The thrill of not knowing where it goes may feel addicting— yet it is that unpredictability that can soon manifest into confusion, anguish, and anxiety. Indeed, it can be difficult to know when to put your guard down once the lines are blurry and the terms and conditions are not so clearly defined.

SO, WHAT ARE WE?

Certainly, situationships offer the highs of both passion and companionship. However, this relationship—or lack thereof— may seem murky and too unclear

in the long run. This has even been emphasized with Tin and Emma’s experiences on dating.

In trying to make sense of situationships, Katrine Bunagan, RPsy—a psychologist specializing in family and relationship therapy—deems it important to understand personal experiences of situationships in modern dating.

In particular, Bunagan stands by the relevance of initiating discussions regarding situationships to help people reach their personal potential in the dating scene.

Initially, these discussions begin with recognizing that people may expect certain things from each other. These must then be communicated upon diving into the uncertain waters called situationships.

When a party wants more and the other refuses, personal intentions—such as one’s level of commitment— eventually prove to be fundamental in defining the connection. Bunagan also shares that people determine their terms and boundaries differently, with others being more open to the idea of fully committing. Some, however, do not share

the same sentiment about taking the risk on relationships and commitment. This growingly prevalent belief, according to Bunagan, can be attributed to the present culture, with

unique definitions of romance and intimacy.

the youth typically going against traditional practices. In an age where the value of individuality and selfexploration has sharply increased, the youth may begin to set their own

“With kids, there seems to be a push against the established norms. Although it is normal for the youth to be experimental, parang hindi automatic iyong pag-subscribe to the traditional norms (...it seems that subscribing to the traditional norms don’t seem automatic),” Bunagan shares. She delves into the subject by comparing the consequences of

situationships. On the positive side, situationships can be advantageous depending on one’s goals. “If it’s what you need at the moment, then that’s okay. It can still give people the feeling of being connected with others, the sense of belonging without the pressure of labels,” Bunagan recalls.

However, engaging in situationships requires careful discernment. In clearing the fog of ambiguity, she then highlights that defining the relationship by yourself is as crucial as defining it together with your partner. From there, constant communication should be prioritized so as to minimize possible pain and disappointment.

THE NEXT STEP FORWARD

Many good things must come to an end—so when they come to a close, what happens next? Some may have simply moved past their experiences, but, for Tin and Emma, there surely is a lot to learn.

Emma’s previous encounters with situationships gradually helped her gain a more nuanced outlook on dating.

“Right now, I’m only going for uplifting and empowering relationships, and I kind of made a promise to myself that I would never stay in a position or situation where I feel undervalued and unhappy,” she reflects.

Tin, on the other hand, shares a slightly different approach to dating as influenced by her experiences. “I’d rather choose to be not engaged [in situationships] rather than to be in a talking stage with someone,” says Tin. Through these formative experiences, both Tin and Emma show a certain extent of readiness for new beginnings as they move forward.

With people beginning to start anew, Bunagan reminds that situationships are completely acceptable as long as they rightfully serve one’s purpose. Nevertheless, caution should always be practiced. “The love for others is aligned with the love for self,”she imparts. After all, the right balance in enjoying the company of another and of the self may just be the ultimate answer to embodying power amid the tricky strings—or lack thereof—in dating.

The love for others is aligned with the love for self.

KATRINE BUNAGA RREGISTERED PSYCHOLOGIST ATENEO BULATAO CENTER

When mourning comes

Grief is the continuation of love, persisting and evolving even in the face of death. A bereaved widow’s grief for their departed spouse is a testament to their enduring love.

BY RIEL E. DUQUE AND ARIANA ENRIQUEZ

PHOTO BY FINOMENA CHANG

THE GHOSTS of the dearly departed refuse to be buried into oblivion.

Every time there is a storm, Sam* wishes Michael*—her late husband—was beside her. Despite the passing of time, the emptiness and pain caused by loss stubbornly stay. “The grief is eating up your body… your organs, the cells in your body, your heart,” she remarks.

In some cases, “‘til death do us part” is not always the end for the people who hold onto the love they have for their late spouses. A widow’s grief attests that amid a loved one’s passing, true love transcends the physical realm. The meaningfulness of life and love does not cease after death—in fact, it goes on and grows.

THE MOURNING AFTER Sam had always prayed that she would marry a partner whom she could spend her life with. When she met Michael—the person whom she eventually married and made a lot of fond memories with—she believed he was “the one” she would spend the rest of her days with.

As a father, Michael showed much love and consideration for his children. When his work required him to travel out of town, not a day would pass that he would not wish his family a good night. His colleagues also affirmed that as a leader at their workplace, Michael was well loved by the people around him.

A few days after Michael’s 56th birthday in 2019, the family went to a steakhouse where Michael and Sam had their dates back when they were a young, budding couple. While strolling around, Michael started feeling a bit unwell and nauseous. When asked if he wanted to pass by the hospital, he assured his family that he could handle it.

Upon reaching home, Sam prepared a foot spa and advised Michael to lie down and rest.

Soon after, Michael complained about a pounding in his head and asked for medicine to relieve the sensation. Throughout all this, Sam was insistent that they head to the doctor’s before his condition worsened.

However, before they could get any medical attention, Michael fell to the ground, unable to stand. Frantic, Sam dialed the nearest ambulance service but to no avail. With the help of a security guard, they were able to hail a cab. Michael was unconscious during the ride to the emergency room, his head leaning on Sam’s shoulder in the middle of the heavy traffic. In the midst of shock and devastation, the doctor broke the news that he did not make it due to cardiac arrest.

Despite having experienced the feeling of losing a loved one before, Sam was still confused with what to do. Grappling with complex emotions, Sam grieved with her two children. Sleepless nights and days without eating

went by. She asked her daughter, “What will I do next?”

While Sam found the courage to cope, the remaining journey to healing remains erratic, even after all these years. Michael’s passing has provided countless challenges for the family, but she remains hopeful that life will get better as time passes by. In delicate moments such as these, questions tinged with guilt and doubt may surface, leading the bereaved to ask in moving on would mean forgetting and abandoning the love they have for their dearly departed.

INDELIBLE SCARS

Grief is one of the most difficult emotions a human being can feel. “We couldn’t mourn that time, but we could feel the pain in our hearts,” Sam shares. She recounts that in moving on, the pain never goes away: It remains there whenever she remembers her husband.

Avegale C. Acosta, a faculty member at the Ateneo de Manila University’s Psychology Department and a psychologist for the Ateneo Bulatao Center, states that there is no one way to describe an individual’s way of processing grief or mourning. “People tend to process grief differently,” Acosta says.

Some may allow themselves the space to experience their feelings, while others may hold

back from confronting or experiencing their grief in any way. Some may think that they have completely healed already, but may suddenly burst into tears upon seeing the photograph of a loved one. “Bonds with the bereaved don’t end with death. You carry it with you, and it impacts you as you carry on with life,” Acosta explains.

Acosta shares that the process of grief has no defined timeline. She recalls the ball-in-a-box metaphor used to describe grief: In the metaphor, the ball feels heavy and fills every space and crevice of the box. There is a pain button within its walls that is large enough to be ignored. However, as the ball moves and touches the walls of the box, it presses this pain button.

However, our ability to contain grief may become bigger as time passes. The box may even be filled with more items to cushion the ball—perhaps a new relationship, identity, goal, or method of selfcare. Ultimately, the grief never entirely goes away; it becomes something a person carries as they continue to live. The pain button remains, but this time, the individual possesses more tools in their toolbox to deal with grief.

According to Acosta, conducting therapy sessions with the bereaved can be safe spaces where they can “experience” grief and mourning. These may help

bereaved spouses to recognize that the reality of death will be a normal part of life moving forward.

Moving on while continuing to carry memories of the deceased requires practicing self-care and establishing reliable support systems. For instance, it helps to be more prepared and mindful of key dates—such as the birthday of a loved one, Christmas, New Year, and Anniversary—as these key dates may evoke overwhelming emotions.

“You will have ‘soft spots’ within you,” Acosta says. “Each time you remember that person, it may trigger tears and sadness, and a lot of that—that's okay.”

TO LOVE (YOU MORE) AGAIN

Almost four years after her spouse’s passing, Sam shares that she has discovered new love. New activities fill her with purpose— cooking, taking care of the pets, gardening, fixing the house, and watching movies.

At this stage of her life, she is not actively looking for a partner anymore. If romantic love arrives and gives her purpose in life, perhaps she would gladly embrace it. “If it will give me a problem, maybe tama na muna ngayon (maybe not for now),” she jests.

As of now, Sam is happy and content as a plantita and a housewife with her two children. “Love just comes,” she adds.

Not even death can cut love short, as it grows and evolves into various forms. Her memories

of her husband linger—in the butterflies fluttering by his grave, in the food places he used to bring them to, and in the cards they played fondly. She remembers him during Fathers’ Day celebrations, through the habits their children learned from him, and in every living remnant of his love. Standing as both the mother and father figure for her family, Sam believes that her ultimate purpose is to help her children succeed in their respective endeavors. She continues to express her love for her late spouse by looking after her children. “Without love, I won’t be able to be strong like this,” she claims. At times of hardship and struggle, Sam could still feel Michael, tapping on her shoulders as if comforting her. Such is the type of love that never runs out—a love that overflows, yearning to be shared with other people. Sam took long, deep breaths, fighting back tears and gathering her thoughts. Slowly, but surely, a bittersweet smile formed on her lips. Sam concludes, “Behind these thick clouds, the sun will always shine, so you will be able to love again. [Being able to love] again doesn’t mean I didn’t love, [it means] I can love more.”

*Editor’s Note: The interviewee’s and her late husband’s name has been changed at her request to protect their identity and privacy.

‘‘

‘‘

3 The GUIDON | March 2023

You can’t spell “revolution” without love

BY ALLY DE LEON AND LIAM ISAIAH LAO PHOTOGRAPHS BY THE GUIDON GRAPHIC BY DARYL D. SY

MANY BELIEVE that the revolutionary spirit is primarily fueled by hatred towards unjust systems and corrupt people in power. This notion, however, could not be further from the truth. Key Cuban revolutionary Che Guevara said it best, “A true revolutionary is guided by a great feeling of love.”

Activists fervently fight for and against various causes because of the love they have for their movements and the people affected by the issue. Eventually, it has only become natural to see both romantic and platonic love bloom within and beyond battlefields.

PET NAME? ‘LEK.

In Filipino activist spaces, ‘lek is short for “kolektiba,” a term used to address fellow comrades in collective fights.

University of the Philippines

Diliman’s (UPD) Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo and Social Watch Philippines’ Co-Convenor Marivic Raquiza are among those who call themselves ‘lek. Nemenzo and Raquiza are also accomplished academics, passionate activists—and loving spouses for three decades and counting.

The couple met during their college years at UPD through Math class debates and a mutual friend. Both were equally impressed by each other’s social involvement and insightful participation in profound discussions. Talking about movies, food, and especially politics served as a strong foundation for a decadelong friendship, eventually withstanding separate paths and significant others.

Nemenzo and Raquiza attribute their activist roots to their involvement in student government and the political climate at the time—it was the 1980s, the peak of resistance against Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s martial law. “You were always risking your safety. But you know the zeitgeist—the atmosphere of UP in the ‘80s was incredibly rich, diverse, and there was an explosion of ideas,” Raquiza explains.

Nemenzo himself was no stranger to risking safety when he took “a bullet for freedom” during protest action in September 1984. In this awestriking experience, Nemenzo said he knew he was going to die as he was shot in the back, with the bullet even exiting his

chest. Many thoughts cycled through his mind—but despite how gruesome the life-ordeath situation was, Nemenzo was thinking about his secret “biggest crush” at the time. “When it felt like I was dying, it was Marivic [who] I thought of and wanted to be beside me,” he says.

As expected, this secret eventually came to light when Nemenzo and Raquiza started dating after more than ten years of friendship. “It felt like incest,” Raquiza jokes due to their sibling-like affinity. Nevertheless, their long-time friendship served as a great foundation for their romantic relationship, marriage, and familial life with their son, Anton.

At present, Nemenzo and Raquiza channel their activist roots in academia as professors at UPD, remaining attuned to and immersed in revolutionary discussions and matters.

Moreover, Nemenzo is eyeing another chancellor term at UPD after falling short of securing the spot for the UP System’s new president. He nevertheless earned the support of the university’s current generation of student activists

as well as underrepresented communities within UP.

“When you talk about activism at its core, it’s really a set of principles and values that you hold dear about yourself, your relationships, and life expressed politically. At its core, it’s about beliefs. Those are something we want to [live out]—whether we’ve actually lived those out is something else. But we still share those ideals, and that has helped to promote a meeting of the minds, hearts, and spirits,” Raquiza says.

THE “KA” IN “KAIBIGAN”

While romance is definitely not out of the question for activists, a far more common type of relationship cultivated in activism is friendships. Whether it be among the activists or the communities they serve, forming platonic relationships are at the heart of collectively fighting for a brighter tomorrow.

Kelsey Hadjirul, an activist studying International Studies at Miriam College, stresses that building relationships is at the heart of activism. Having been engaged in the urban poor sector for two years—among various other causes—she recalls her

first experience in the national democratic space through the Save San Roque Alliance.

She shares,“I think immersing in communities and really getting to know the people really taught me a lot in terms of [the] sense of community and sense of working together.”

This idea of community enabled Hadjirul to build many friendships close to her heart. Through shared principles and experiences, she expressed that friendships within activist circles transcend their work—making the larger fight for justice all the easier.

‘Yung pagiging kasama, ‘yung pagiging comrade, hindi lang siya natatapos sa activism. Friends din kami, at nagshe-share din kami tungkol sa [personal lives namin,]” she states.

(Being a companion and being a comrade—it doesn’t just stop at activism. We’re also friends and we share things about our personal lives too.)

However, being an activist carries its own set of woes, as Hadjirul shares her fear of losing more friends in light of recent state abuses against activists. Among the friends she lost is the late Chad Booc—a human rights activist, Lumad teacher, and her closest friend. “If there’s one person that I look up to in the movement, it’s my friend Chad,” she says.

She recounts her memory of Chad, who graduated cum laude in Computer Science from UPD. “He could’ve lived a comfortable, lavish life, but he chose to serve the people,” she shares. His service, however, was met with imprisonment, red-tagging, vilification by the state, and, eventually, death. “He was so passionate about teaching and volunteering that this terror and looming tyranny couldn’t stop him,” she recalls about her friend.

Despite the danger faced by activists, Hadjirul remains steadfast in fighting for her

cause as she finds inspiration in Chad, among many of her other friends who choose to devote themselves to their activism. “

Hindi kasi biro piliin ‘yung gan’ong path . Nakaka-proud kasi nakikita mo talaga ‘yung passion ng mga tao to strive for a better future, still remaining steadfast in the fight for genuine social transformation,” she shares.

(Choosing this kind of path is no joke. It makes me proud because you really see the people’s passion to strive for a better future, still remaining steadfast in the fight for genuine social transformation.)

Through her career as an activist, Hadjirul remarks that the value of community and comradeship has never been more apparent to her. “Mahirap kasi talaga ‘yung fight for genuine social transformation, so you really appreciate everyone na tumutulong—na kasama mong lumalaban ,” she explains.

(The fight for genuine social transformation is difficult, so you really appreciate everyone who helps out—everyone who fights alongside you.)

In spite of all the difficulties and fears she may have, Hadjirul maintains that her friendships continue to push her forward through the fight.

LOVE FOR A CAUSE

Whether romantic or platonic, love is found at the very heart of activism.

It is what plucks activists from their places of comfort to advocate for better conditions. It links advocates together, forming lifelong bonds as they fight together hand in hand.

As Hadjirul put it, “Revolutionary love is very powerful because it’s not just selfless and liberating, but it’s powerful [such] that our love and passion in serving the people is our greatest weapon against vilification, looming tyranny, and dictatorship.”

In fighting for their cause, activists find that a deeper love can bloom in the battlefield through the relationships that blossom along the way.

When you talk about activism at its core, it’s really a set of principles and values that you hold dear about yourself, your relationships, and life expressed politically. At its core, it’s about beliefs. Those beliefs are something we want to [live out]—whether we’ve actually lived those out is something else.

The balancing act of motherhood

BY KATHARINA ISABEL ANGELES AND ALEXANDRA P. ELICANO PHOTO BY PATRICK ONG

THE ZOOM recording is put on pause. “Wait. Sandali lang. My children are playing with a hose. I just have to shush them.”

This is the reality for English Professor Frances Perez and other working mothers in the University who must balance their work and parental responsibilities. Unlike their nine-to-five jobs, being a mother requires 24/7 supervision.

For Perez and Chantal Corpuz, a psychologist working at the Loyola Schools Office of Guidance and Counseling, the Ateneo has played a significant role in their journey throughout motherhood.

Although a trove of employee benefits exist, some working mothers still attest that they struggle to take care of their children while making sure that they are able to fulfill the demands of their professional responsibilities.

GOING ON LEAVE

The University provides its female employees with maternity benefits such as a milk subsidy, and an option for an extended insurance coverage for their children.

However, its support to date is best exemplified by the Ateneo maternity leave policy, which grants a 105-day leave to its female employees to ensure their physical well-being and welfare postpartum. Regarding other employee benefits, the University grants its regular employees with 15 paid work days for a sick leave, and another 15 paid work days for a vacation leave.

With clear-cut instructions provided in the University’s Office Of Human Resource Management And Organization Development (OHRMOD)

Policies And Procedures Manual, both Corpuz and Perez found the process of filing for maternity leave a breeze.

They simply had to submit some documents such as the Leave Application Form and the Absence Report Form, as well as declare the starting date of their leave, to OHRMOD. However, having to undergo the same process online due to the pandemic, Corpuz found it somewhat difficult to communicate with HR as it was only through email exchange.

With no updated official document released since 2004, she strongly suggests having a more detailed memo explaining the maternity policies and an annual orientation for new mothers or female employees who plan to have a child. For Corpuz, this orientation would hopefully ensure that everyone thoroughly understands the process, the scope of their health insurance coverage, and other maternity benefits.

On the other hand, the Ateneo now follows the 105-Day Expanded Maternity Leave Law— or Republic Act 11210—which extends the benefits to every instance of pregnancy, miscarriage, or emergency termination, regardless of frequency. This is in contrast to RA 8282 or the Social Security Act of 1997, which only covered the first four deliveries or miscarriages.

Perez, who already took two maternity leaves before RA 11210 was passed, said that the extended leave would be helpful to other female workers given the difficulties of giving birth. From her experience, she felt like she had to make do with the seemingly insufficient 60-day maternity leave which she spent finding a household helper before going back to work.

BEYOND CHILDBIRTH

Working parents like Perez who had to bring their children to school, on the other hand, found the Loyola Schools (LS) Childcare

In our society, parang by default, it’s the mom who has to think about these [domestic work]. If hindi naalagan nang maayos ‘yung child, anong klaseng ina [siya]? Hindi mo naman sasabihin, uy, anong klaseng ama [siya]?

Place—located on the 2nd floor of the Social Sciences Building— to be of great help. Managed by two childhood educators and a pediatric nurse, the free-of-charge daycare was open daily from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM for LS employees children aged 0-10.

Prior to its establishment, Perez explained that some employees had to sport babywear to carry their infants to work while some had to conduct inperson work-related consultations with their children in tow.

However, the Childcare Place ceased its operations during the COVID-19 pandemic and has yet to return despite the University’s increased onsite operations, as of the time of writing.

Since the closure of the LS Childcare Place, Corpuz found it challenging to find someone to take care of her son while she and her husband were working at the University. “It is a day-today concern. Okay today, he is with the in-laws, but tomorrow

kanino siya? The next day, kanino siya? ” she shares.

The difficulties do not end there. Both Corpuz and Perez agree that there is much societal pressure and expectations on working mothers to shoulder all domestic work on top of all their work responsibilities. “In our society, parang by default, it’s the mom who has to think about these things. [...] If hindi naalagaan nang maayos ‘yung child , anong klaseng ina [siya]? Hindi mo naman sasabihin ‘Uy, anong klaseng ama ka?’” Corpuz adds.

(In our society, it’s like by default, it’s the mom who has to think about these things.

[...] If the child isn’t well taken care of, [society asks], ‘What kind of mother is she?’ Society doesn’t ask, ‘What kind of a father is he?’)

Given all these concerns, maintaining a work-life balance is often easier said than done.

For Corpuz, this sense of harmony is achieved when she is able to fulfill all her obligations to her family, her career, and herself. Perez also thinks she is able to strike a balance when she simultaneously meets her responsibilities as a professional, mother, wife, and friend. Indeed, Perez regards motherhood as an important part of her identity. However, she also thinks that there is so much more than just that. “I feel like I’m not just a mother. I’m my own person and it’s not just my children who define me,” she says.

TREADING THE FINE LINE

Corpuz finds that the Ateneo treats its female employees “really well,” especially those who are mothers to infants and young children. She is hopeful to see the LS Childcare Place open again, especially if employees would return to their original setup next year: reporting for work every Monday to Friday, from 8 AM to 5 PM.

If the reopening of the LS Childcare Place would not be feasible, Corpuz believes that extending the work-fromhome setup would “definitely help moms like [her] go day by day.” Working remotely would allow them to look after their children personally while still performing their professional responsibilities well—a sentiment that is shared by numerous working mothers worldwide.

Corpuz also suggests that the Ateneo organize support groups for working mothers in the University. This would allow them to exchange ideas with one another which would prove to be important, especially for first-time mothers like her.

In terms of maternity coverage and benefits, Ateneo still provides prenatal check ups to its female employees.

However, this excludes the laboratory fees and regular ultrasoundswhich Corpuz describes as “the bulk of the fees.” Still, she greatly appreciates the maternity benefits they are given, such as the milk subsidy and the extended insurance coverage for her oneyear-old son.

It should also be noted that working mothers in the University may also have separate sources for their maternity benefits, such as from health insurance, which may complement Ateneo’s maternity package.

On the other hand, Perez says that she was happy her sons experienced the support that the Ateneo community offered to working mothers like her. She shares that the Ateneo, during pre-pandemic times, also conducted programs for the children of LS employees such as Halloween parties. Overall, she believes that the University provided her with a “progressive” and “supportive” environment that goes beyond work.

“Here, it’s really with the view of enabling women to balance at work, at home, and progress with their career in the university [because] we’re not just a company, we’re a community. In a community, we’re not just a set of employees, we’re [...] human beings. It’s nice that they recognize that,” Perez says. Being all at the same time, working mothers juggle several responsibilities as a professional, a parent, and an individual person of their own. Thus, the University must continue to provide adequate support and enforce an inclusive environment as they continue to tread the balancing act of motherhood.

CHANTAL ELLIS CORPUZ

LOYOLA SCHOOLS OFFICE OF GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGIST

PRIOR TO the existence of the Ateneo Integrated Student Information System (AISIS), Ateneans had to line up and enlist in the department of their preferred class. Then, enlistment days witnessed students running from one department to another, manually verifying the availability of classes, and hustling around campus to ensure that they met the required number of classes for the upcoming semester.

Thus, the introduction of AISIS in 2005 ushered in a more efficient enlistment process for students. Since its inception, the website has undergone several revamps and updates to better accommodate students during the enlistment season.

However, reports of website crashes, enlistment glitches,

AISIS through

BY KATE SAN MATEO AND

PHOTO BY NINA ILLUSTRATION BY

and technical difficulties in recent years have raised questions about AISIS’ seeming difficulty in keeping up with the demands of modern times.

MANUAL WOES

During the enlistment for the first semester of AY 2020–2021, given the transition to online classes, issues with AISIS caused an influx of load revision requests. Likewise, the return of onsite classes this school year witnessed the addition of online class options and substantial difficulties for students during the enlistment period for the first semester of AY 2022-2023.

Joachim Regalado (5 BSM AMF), already in his fifth year enlisting, shared that “not much has changed” with regard to

the enlistment process using AISIS. As a fifth-year student, he has experienced manually registering onsite and online.

During his second year, he spent “about four hours” in the Matteo Ricci library to manually enlist for his classes. This was in contrast to the convenience of online registration, where he can enlist from the comfort of his home. In this remote version, his load revision experience was “easier” compared to his onsite experience as the digitized process of using the load revision website and submitting a request online made it quicker.

The Office of the Registrar has similarly done its part to ease students’ burden, having improved its services over the years, according to Regalado. For example, two weeks of waiting were cut down to two

days with regard to the load revision requests.

Despite these strides forward, however, there remains a litany of systemic issues that trouble Ateneans during the enlistment period.

One of these is the limited number of slots allotted by departments, leading students to undergo the tedious load revision process after the prescribed enlistment period. For Regalado, this issue has constantly occurred since his first year.

In light of this, Regalado thinks that an even distribution of batches during the enlistment period—similar to TALAB’s own enlistment system—will benefit all parties.

“There are four batches [in the TALAB system]. Let’s say it’s a hundred slots. So, [in the current system] if you’re batch

‘‘

If the enlistment is based on luck, a lot of your grades will still be based on merit.

JOACHIM REGALADO 5 BSM AMF

through the years

AND NICOLE ANNE KELSY SY

NINA TIBURCIO

BY ANTHEA REY

one, all 100 slots are available to you. So, people are asking why can’t they do that [TALAB system] for AISIS?” Regalado asks.

Ultimately, he highlighted that the professors and the class sections that a student can secure during enlistment play a huge role in their grade. Thus, fixing AISIS malfunctions along with the registration process itself is integral to Loyola Schools (LS) students’ academic experience.

TWO-DECADE OLD SYSTEM

While the enlistment process has been known to be everchanging, the existence of AISIS has remained constant since the 2000s. The first version of AISIS was already in the works in 1998, yet it was only integrated into the enlistment process in 2002. At that time, AISIS was only

available via Intranet, a private network only available within a limited area, which meant that students still had to wait in line to utilize the computers within the campus. This posed great challenges in maximizing efficiency. Thus, random number assignments were implemented soon after to manage both the foot and digital traffic that came with the process.

Three years after its debut, AISIS version 1.0 was enhanced into 2.0. By then, students were able to access the system from the comfort of their homes with the help of the Internet. Various features were also incorporated into the system, including evaluating professors and viewing a student’s class schedule, the individual program of study, and grades.

Although little to no changes to the overall interface of AISIS were made, there were some developments implemented in the other aspects of enlistment. For one, the number of random batches was minimized from four to two in 2012 to address concerns regarding the luckbased system, which students deemed to be unfair.

Another improvement was made in 2021 when AISIS was transferred to a cloud-based system. This shift lessene issues with AISIS access during power and technical interruptions.

However, beyond these technological advancements also exists a more humane side of enlistment.

In particular, the Office of the Registrar was placed in charge of the blocking of students, the pre-enlisted schedules of first-year and second-year

students, and Load Revision requests. Meanwhile, the Office of Management Information Systems became responsible for the random batch generation and the maintenance of the AISIS website.

“The registration is actually… a shared effort between all academic departments, [the] MIS office, ADAA, Central Accounting Office, Cashier, and my office,” then-LS Registrar Joaquin Agtarap explained in a previous story for The GUIDON.

ERA

A DIGITIZED

With the complexity of the enlistment process, there persist concerns of the LS students that have yet to be resolved to this day.

This concern echoes the sentiments of many LS students and resulted in a number of student-led initiatives including

the creation of the Ateneo Profs to Pick group and AISIS mirror websites. The Ateneo Profs to Pick group was created for students to share their experiences with certain professors and subjects so that others may glean a better understanding of what to expect. AISIS mirror websites, on the other hand, aim to assist students by giving them an alternative site to look at the availability of slots during the enlistment period when AISIS is inaccessible for some students. However, these are only stopgap measures that further highlight the urgency of the situation. Nonetheless, the efforts of the LS offices in the development of both AISIS and the enlistment process throughout the years remind the

students that they are not alone in their pursuit.

As then-Ateneo Registration Committee Public Relations Officer Lorenzo Bitong said in a previous story, “With [...] thousands upon thousands of students, it’s very hard. It’s even outside OMIS’ control that AISIS and the load revision site would have lags, delays, and even crashes. But [...] we can push for those concerns to be alleviated, so they are no longer a concern to begin with.”

Although much can still be worked on, its digitalization served as a major turning point and the beckoning of a new era. The shutdown of the AISIS Online Portal precedes the beginning of a revamped AISIS system that can better serve the LS community in an era of a digitized Ateneo.

Eagle’s nest

BY DENZEL PINEDA RAMOS AND AREN TEODORO ILLUSTRATION BY JIZELLE AROLLADO

FOR MANY, being a college student means living away from home. Finding a home away from home, students often resort to campus dormitories for housing accommodations.

Within the Ateneo campus, the University Residence Halls (URH) stand proud as the school’s official dormitories. Comprising several buildings such as Eliazo Hall, Cervini Hall, and the International Residence Hall (IRH), the URH has housed student dormers for over 15 years.

However, with the onsite hiatus brought by the pandemic, the University’s dormitories are only recently getting flocked again with residents. As such, Ateneo’s dormitories remain unfamiliar to many students—more specifically, its culture and community.

UPPING THE UPKEEP

Amid this veil of ambiguity, there are Ateneans who have experienced first-hand what it is like to live in Ateneo. Their stories implore remarkable insights into the livelihood that exists within campus walls.

Yandor*, a former Eliazo Hall resident, regards dormitories as a “place for motivation.” Despite having been a URH resident for only a semester, he believes that the quality of a student’s living conditions is crucial to ensuring their well-being and performance in school.

Filled with various meeting rooms, offices, andvcommunal halls, Ateneo’s dormitories serve as a student hub for academic excellence. They also serve as a place for reprieve away from the hustle and bustle of University life.

“I think a lot of people do not realize how peaceful

Ateneo is during the night. There’s just something about Ateneo at night that helps you focus,” he shares. Yandor also recalls taking late-night walks around campus to help him unwind from academic stress.

Other campus residents also find solace in the University’s dormitory halls. Ari Tanglao (3 BS ME), a resident at the IRH, appreciates the convenience that comes with living at school. Tanglao shares that living on campus grants her the opportunity to recharge at any moment, especially in between classes.

Like all homes, however, Ateneo’s dormitories house its very own bulk of complaints and recommendations. Yandor recalls that although he enjoyed his stay at Eliazo Hall, he wished that the amenities and facilities were more up-to-date.

With many students residing at the URH for onsite classes, addressing its concerns is relevant in ensuring positive formation among its residents.

CLOSE-KNIT COMMUNITY

With Ateneans occupying dormitory rooms, the URH community has begun springing back to life. Residents have started to build connections with each other within the shared space they call home.

To support the dormer sector in its reactivation, residents coalesce to form a new central board for the Ateneo Resident Students Association (ARSA). This year, leading them is ARSA President Precious Sweetlene Puspus (4 AB POS) from the IRH.

As of writing, the ARSA central board is preoccupied with its transition from its previous and long-inactive batch of members. However,

Puspus mentions that their prospective plans revolve around rallying University stakeholders in communitybuilding efforts to improve dormitory facilities.

“I think what makes ARSA really specific with its services is that we’re not just trying to service a sector. We’re trying to service a home where people live—and this should be their most comfortable and pleasing place that they would stay in,” Puspus emphasizes.

Looking ahead, Puspus and the other central board members plan on ensuring the sustainability and continuity of ARSA even when their terms are over. However, what worries them is the challenge of fostering camaraderie between different batches as most of the current dormers are first-time residents.

Puspus is optimistic about the future of the dormer sector, now that residents can actually practice living as a community. As a testament to this, ARSA has recently grown even larger. In the first semester of AY 2022-2023, for instance, residents from the IRH were integrated into ARSA. They were previously considered as “Associate Resident Students,” who could avail of studentresident services but had limited participation in the sector’s activities and events.

Such integration of IRH dormers into ARSA spells greater diversity in the sector. Puspus mentions that one of the central board’s goals is to foster deeper interaction among residents. For her, what sets the dormer sector apart is the shared space that facilitates closer interaction between residents.

She mentions that the URH, with its lounges and recreational areas, helps students find friends and integrate better

into the University. With a lot of them already acquainted with each other, residents could easily ask for assistance from fellow residents.

Additionally, Puspus mentions that the dormer sector’s unique situation made it develop its own distinct culture. Away from family, residents rely on each other for social support. With their arrival into the dormitories, residents now find themselves becoming accustomed to a new lifestyle.

SECOND HOME

Dormitories are more than just a place to sleep in. For many Loyola Schools (LS) student-dormers, the URH is its own community with a culture distinct from that of the rest of the LS. For them, the URH opens up the opportunity to experience the Ateneo in a unique way. Thus, development plans for the URH are integral in enriching the LS dorm culture.

For Puspus, the quality of life in a dormitory goes beyond its amenities and has a lot to do with the culture being cultivated in the community. She finds camaraderie to be the very essence of ARSA.

Tayo-tayo lang dito. Tayotayo lang din ‘yung may alam kung how exactly we are with our current situation (It’s only us here. It’s only us who know exactly about our current situation),” she shares.

As such, the need to preserve the unique culture within the URH calls for a developmental approach to building favorable conditions for those who have chosen to make Ateneo their home away from home.

*Editor’s Note: The name of an interviewee was changed to protect their identity and privacy.

We’re not just people living together side by side on either ends of the building, but we’re a community of people who wants to look out for each other.

PRECIOUS SWEETLENE PUSPUS ATENEO RESIDENT STUDENTS ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT