The Bud Volume 34

theBUD

BUD

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Nadeen Dominique Valenciano

Jienne Cryzelle Alegre

Yansen Rehsya Cabalce

Christian Jehro Ulita

Yzabella Devadeb

BOARD & STAFF

EDITOR

Kimberly Anne Rin Sophia Chan, and Jermaine Dwayne Perlas

EDITOR

Jono Ragonton

SCIENCE EDITOR

Janiah Ysabelle Roc

CARTOONISTS

John Dave Dela Rosa, Enric Carl Betita, and Lourianne Joyce Pla

GRAPHIC ARTISTS

Donna Fae Jaramillo, and Marish Anne Quirapas

PHOTOJOURNALIST

Bettina Koreen Dela Cruz

Aireen Jade Ancheta, Almira Pe Benito, Avelianne Gay Pascual, Crystaline Gwyneth Quadra, Francis Faey Reyes, Gerizia Mae Clarisse Estigoy, Graciela Marie Purisima, Jeysed Denille Llanes, Kim Alexa Eirra Arce, Kryzan Zilry Sidingan, Maria Sofia Guiller Tomaneng, Raphael Gerald Galapon, Rejeane Anne Tabuyo, Sarah Jane Luczon, and Rose Angelique Foronda

ADVISER

Ms. Marielle Ann Verzosa

CONSULTANT

Aurelia Vitamog, EdD, RGC

© COPYRIGHT 2022 THE BUD

DISCLAIMER Some of the pictures in this issue are not owned by The Bud, hence copyright belongs to their respective owners.

COVER Christian Jehro Ulita

EDITOR’S NOTE

It’s as if Pandora’s box opened once again.

A WIDESPREAD WAR with an unseen enemy; a fierce fight between colors; a battle for truth and freedom; and a whole lot more. Two years ago, we entered the new decade blindly and walked straight into a trap—there was no calm before the storm. Calamitous woes cast a shadow over the already grey skies, and so they say it never rains but it pours.

For the past few years of musings, I saw perspectives of our society unlike I ever perceived before. The time in isolation entirely immersed me in something that children shouldn’t take part in—at least that’s what the grown-ups told me. They’d assume that you’re naïve, that you have no place to get critical, that muffled voices are all that they hear and all that you are. It took a lot more reasoning on why I shouldn’t, but that didn’t mean I wouldn’t. Or I couldn’t.

In these trying times, we are positioned in the frontlines labeled in crimson target. The sense of familiarity lingers, as how it was fifty years ago. It is our duty to ensure that history will not reoccur. We’ll carry on the legacy of our forefathers who sent love letters to war for democracy. Now more than ever, us, children, vow to keep our rights intact. The youth do not have to be imprisoned in neutrality any longer. By turning a blind eye to the sufferings our motherland braved will make us their marionettes, and all will be child’s play to them.

This issue holds the unseen and unheard—our years-old confined truth and narratives of incessant tragedies that have befallen us and our lands. We bear witness to the reign of terror that they brought us; above all, their empty promises, false hope, and the blatant lies they force-feed us.

Let them call us children, but never innocent. We’ll never be bystanders in a gory battle; rather we’ll be like a kid in a candy store—with words as bullets and art as guns. Our blaring wails will serve as the battle cry of this revolution. In the end, we are the hope of them all.

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Nadeen Dominique Valenciano EIC

NEWS LAMPOON

SEAYLP 2022 boosts LSian student leaders UNITOPIA

American Dream Realizations

FEATURES LITERARY

COVER STORY VIEWPOINTS

Age of Reason & Passion Homesick

SEAYLP 2022 boosts LSian student leaders

LICIA JOYCE MARIÑAS, A GRADE 11 STEM student and the Laboratory Schools Organization Governor and Kimberly Anne Rin, a Grade 11 HUMMS student and The Bud news editor, represented the Philippines at the 2022 Southeast Asia Youth Leadership Program (SEAYLP), a US-based international exchange program.

The said program focused on leadership and youth development among young leaders to encourage participation and exposure to different activities that revolve on global and cultural concerns. The participants explored and shared sets of challenges and activities faced by the United States and Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries through the three pillars of the ASEAN community which are the political and security cooperation, economic skills-building, and socialcultural leadership through the exchanges of project development, hands on activities, workshops, seminars, and site visits in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Washington,

New York, and Chicago to foster more substantial communication.

“The experience was fulfilling. All throughout, we carry the spirit of Filipino young bloods. The competitiveness was alive and burning as we soar each day. To be exposed to different Asian Culture was an eye opener for us about our edge and our differences compared to the other countries, “ remarked Rin.

Other participants include Vjay Remolacio of Ilocos Sur National High School (ISNHS), Jamila Bilgera of Divine Word College of Vigan (DWCV), and Llaera Christel Rovea of Philippine Science High SchoolIlocos Region Campus (PSHS-IRC).

The SEAYLP is an annual event hosted by the United States of America which aims to convene high school students and adult mentors from the ten ASEAN member countries. The convention lasted for almost four weeks that comprised of team building and cultural appreciation activities. The event was sponsored by the US Embassy.

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Jeysed Denille Llanes

ART. PASSION. EXCELLENCE.

Marish Anne Quirapas, a Grade 12 STEM student and The Bud graphic artist, won first place in the Coelestis Ars: Digital Poster Competition, held last October 2531, 2021, an online art contest sponsored by the University of San Carlos (USC) Physics and Astronomy.

Her winning entry, “The Solace of Certainty in the Universe at Odds with Infirmity,” was one of the 15 entries in the competition.

Moreover, she garnered second place in the Digital Poster Making competition during the UP Namnama 40th Sirib ken 13th Saririt Cultural Festival Regional Finals held online last April 2-4.

In the same event, John Dave Dela Rosa, a Grade 9 student and the Bud cartoonist, bagged third place in the Junior High School division.

Their achievements qualified them to advance to the national level, PatalaSanlahi 2022.

Quirapas was named champion during the PatalaSanlahi 2022, a national academic festival hosted by the UP Sanlahi Alliance that honors the country’s sharpest and brightest minds.

Mr. Raffy Celedonio and Mr. Jethro Panela served as mentors for their successes in the academic art competitions.

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MR. JAKE BRILLO GARNACE, a faculty member from the Laboratory Schools - Senior High School, notched first place in both the Virtual Essay Writing and Statistics Quiz for Employees during the 32nd National Statistics Month, a university-wide celebration spearheaded by the College of Arts and Sciences last October 11, 2021.

The Bud artists notch awards in creative tilts theBUD

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Janiah Ysabelle Roc

ACROSS BOUNDARIES. Kimberly Anne Rin and Licia Joyce Mariñas proudly smile while holding the Philippine flag as they represent the Philippines in the SEAYLP Program, Illinois, United States.

PHOTO SEAYLP PH Team

STEM wizards reap awards in science tilts

THREE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL students from the Laboratory Schools: Alyssa Chang, Christian Jehro Ulita , and Leo Shane Rubino notched several places in provincial, regional, and national science competitions during the school year 2021-2022.

Chang, Ulita, and Rubino composed the team in the STEM Wizards 2022 - Provincial Eliminations and finished third place. The event was hosted by the Philippine Science High School - Ilocos Region Campus (PSHSIRC) last February 4. The trio advanced to the event’s regional competition on February 11.

Meanwhile, Chang finished 10th in the 2nd Virtual Microbiology Quiz Show, sponsored by the Philippine Society for Microbiology - Northern Luzon Chapter (PSM-NL) held last March 10. The competition was organized by the PSM-NL, in collaboration with Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) Department of Biological Sciences and Department of Marine Biology.

Chang and Rubino also competed in the MET-Olympiad: Battle of the Brains, an event sponsored by the Philippine Meteorological Society, Inc. last March 25. The duo finished sixth out of 40 competing schools. The event was part of the Philippine Meteorological Society, Inc.’s METeorology for YOUng Scientists (MET4YOU) program, in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology - Science Education Institute.

Dr. Elmarie T. Rin, a senior high school faculty member, served as their coach.

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235 LSians acclaimed

Kimberly Anne Rin

TWO HUNDRED THIRTY-FIVE graduates and completers received their diplomas as the University of Northern Philippines – Laboratory Schools convened for the in-person Commencement Exercises and Moving Up Ceremonies at the UNP Gymnasium on July 7, two years after the hiatus brought by the pandemic.

One hundred twelve of the graduating class were from the Academic track which consists of two strands: Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). One student was from the Technical-Vocational-Livelihood track, and one from the Arts and Design track. Fortyfour of the graduates were from Grade 6, while there were seventy-seven Grade 10 completers. This year’s commencement and moving up ceremonies were different from the customary celebration as it was a one-

event combined for elementary, junior high school, and senior high school.

Leo Shane Rubino, with high honors from the STEM strand, led the class of 2022. “Success, like an old wine, tastes better as it endures the test of time,” he quipped in his valedictory address. He also stressed that failure is not the end, rather a redirection towards what is best for an individual. Other graduates with high honors distinction include Emmanuel Nuñez, a Grade 6 pupil, and Kia Francoise Corpuz of HUMSS.

Minerva Ped-Cabanting, a registered nurse from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and the 1991 LS class valedictorian, served as the guest of honor and keynote speaker.

“Resiliency in Adversity: Redefining Seamless Education Amidst Lifelong Learning” themed the event. •

TASTE OF SUCCESS. (Top) Ronald Emmanuel Damian, a senior high school graduate, takes a selfie with the UNP officials. (Bottom) Senior High School students await for the formal ceremony.

PHOTOS Christian Jehro Ulita and Jienne Cryzelle Alegre

Jeysed Denille Llanes

Available now on Issuu Read here

and interesting topics that would raise interest. That is the fun part in this, they ask you for the right answer but sometimes, there is none. Confusing, right? It trains the conscious mind of the endless possibilities of questions left unanswered.

As far as my experience goes, students in HUMSS have strong personalities that can deeply empathize with others. Everyone starts off timid and shy from one another but in this strand, interactions that lead to great bonds are inevitable. The struggle to make a creative story with 1,000 words or just with 10, to filmmaking, to essay writing, to executing a speech that’s formal yet captivating, the endless revisions of your work, no other student could understand better.

Come as you are and see yourself be transformed. I had just finished my first year as a HUMSS student and a lot has changed. To think that I was shaking in my chair with my dog as emotional support to introduce myself and flashforward to today, the Grade 12 representative. This strand makes you think critically and morally, reminds you that there is a balance in knowledge and integrity. Not only do they teach you hard skills but most importantly, soft skills that would help you survive in the real world. Brace yourself and buckle up, the ride with this strand is not just a roller-coaster but a whole amusement park filled with wisdom and entertainment. •

LS conducts limited face-toface classes

independence. Eventually, I latch onto the vivid light upon my thoughts that all this time… I was with myself, not alone.

From dystopia to utopia, from bane to solace, from bitter to sweet. That is how my perspective on solitary altered and how solitary itself transformed me as an individual. The excruciating thorns I’ve endured were more beneficial than I thought were destructive, for all the misery established a defined foundation within me. To be open with connections is significant in life, but to be able to stand alone is authentic power. Life is a battlefield full of unseen and unexpected opponents that would step on you until you hit rock bottom; there is no guarantee that someone will always be with you in every decline of your situation rather than yourself. Hence, it is salient for each individual to find a company and a secure connection within oneself because life told me that oneself is one’s greatest weapon, and it, too, is the only permanent refuge one could have.

AFTER TWO YEARS OF BLENDED learning, the University of Northern Philippines – Laboratory Schools (UNPLS) finally reopened its doors to welcome the learners from the Junior High School department for the limited face-to-face classes last May 2.

Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE) subjects were prioritized to provide students with hands-on training and experience. Their schedule also included intervention classes for other subjects, as well as Adviser’s Time. Senior High School students from the Technical-VocationalLivelihood (TVL) and Arts and Design tracks are also expected to have in-person classes. Students are set to attend weekly on a given day: Mondays for juniors and Tuesdays for seniors. Their classes will be primarily composed of their respective core subjects and specializations.

The Laboratory Schools have been implementing safety protocols in adherence to the requirements of the Department

NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

(Top) Grade 9 students perform their hands-on activity in Caregiving class, one of the electives offered in LS-JHS TLE subjects. (Bottom) A student fills out the log in monitor as he goes back to school for the inperson classes.

PHOTOS Nadeen Dominique Valenciano and Jienne Cryzelle Alegre

of Education (DepEd) and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRRMC) in preparation for the resumption of face-to-face classes. Aside from the safety protocols, Dr. Aurelia Vitamog, LS principal, stated that there is a contingency plan approved by the DRRMC if such COVID-19 exposure is detected among the students.

“With the return of the students, I hope that they can appreciate and enjoy life regardless of the academic setting. If the number of COVID-19 cases continues to decline, we are hoping for a swift transition from the progressive expansion of face-to-face classes to a full-capacity in-person learning modality. We believe that our faculty give their very best to enhance the academic performance and competencies of our learners. Our institution seeks to uphold the students’ intellectual and social development. However, our topmost priority will always be health and safety in the midst of the pandemic,” Dr. Vitamog remarked.

This setup is projected to continue until the end of the academic year.

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Nadeen Dominique Valenciano

LS scribes gear up in 1st online journ camp

Jienne Cryzelle Alegre

YOUNGBLOODS UNITE! AMIDST physical and metaphorical distances brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, aspiring writers and artists of the University of Northern Philippines - Laboratory Schools convened in Human Writes Lecture and Workshop Series, an online Journalism Camp held last August 5, 7, 14, 22, and September 4 via Google Meet platform.

It was reawakening. The pandemic stole and dulled our interest for a while as it took away our chances to join the annual campus journalism competitions. This journ camp was able to ignite the fire we have been preserving, and that’s what makes this experience worthwhile.

— Christian Jehro Ulita

Thirteen participants, composed of The Bud members and other interested LSians, joined the activity. Primarily aimed to boost students’ active participation in journalism, it also served as an avenue for them to develop and refine their writing and artistic skills through their exposure to the different fields in journalism and creative writing, including campus paper designing.

The first session kicked off with a get-toknow and orientation activity, facilitated by Ms. Marielle Ann Verzosa, The Bud adviser. In the second session, Ms. Mary Angeline Ponce, former New Tandem Editor-in-chief (UNP), tackled the essentials of News and Headline Writing. Mr. Noji Bajet, also a former New Tandem Editor-in-chief, talked about Writing Features with Facts, Fiction, and Fantasy in the third session. Engr. Lean Maverick Nikko Alcantara, former MLUC Voice Editor-inchief (DMMMSU-MLUC), geared to discuss the W’s and H of Poetry, emphasizing poetic

structures and literary devices in the fourth session. In the final session, Mr. Jonathan del Castillo, former The Rabbi Editor-inchief (UNP-CTE), shared his expertise in Campus Paper Design through a live handson tutorial on Adobe InDesign. Participants also underwent writing exercises and other activities where their outputs were critiqued by the speakers.

“It was reawakening. The pandemic stole and dulled our interest for a while as it took away our chances to join the annual campus journalism competitions. This journ camp was able to ignite the fire we have been preserving, and that’s what makes this experience worthwhile,” said Christian Jehro Ulita, The Bud graphic artist and one of the camp’s participants.

The Journalism Camp was sponsored and organized by Ms. Verzosa with her intention to inspire and refuel students’ passion in writing and in journalism even in these trying times.•

LS studes reap awards in the 7th Gawad Crisologo

Jeysed Denille Llanes

STUDENTS FROM THE LABORATORY Schools seized various awards during the 7th Gawad Floro S. Crisologo held at the Dr. Romualdo B. Tadena Hall, Administration Building, University of Northern Philippines, July 6.

The Bud, the official student publication of the Laboratory High School, notched the Romualdo B. Tadena Most Outstanding Student Publication in the university. They

were awarded alongside The Rabbi, the official student publication of the College of Teacher Education. Nadeen Dominique Valenciano is The Bud’s Editor-in-chief.

Licia Joyce Mariñas received Bronze Medal for the Valeriana Anunciacion Outstanding Community Service Award. The same award was also given to Kia Francoise Corpuz as a nominee. Mariñas and Kimberly Anne Rin also received nominations for the

Dedicacion Reyes Outstanding Emerging Student Leader Award.

The Gawad Floro S. Crisologo is a university-wide annual gathering at the end of the academic year to honor student-leaders, journalists, peer facilitators, and students who have represented the university in various competitions and have reflected the vision and aspirations of the Hon. Floro S. Crisologo, the founder of the university.

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VICTORY AMIDST LIMITATIONS. (Left) Christian Jehro Ulita, , Jienne Cryzelle Alegre, and Nadeen Dominique Valenciano with Ms. Marielle Ann Verzosa, receive their plaque of recognition on stage. (Right) Kia Francoise Corpuz poses with Mr. Albert Tejero and Dr. Aurelia Vitamog during the awarding ceremony of the 7th Gawad Floro S. Crisologo. PHOTO UNP Public Information Office

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AMERICAN DREAM REALIZATIONS

LICIA & KIM ON THEIR SEAYLP JOURNEY

WE ARE TRANSFORMED BY THE VERY experiences we make. Since, learning goes beyond the four walls of the classroom, our realization towards life and everything around us is shaped by how much we can bear witness with what the world has and can do to us. Unfortunately, experience these days is either based on luck or privileges. It knocks on unexpected doors. So, it was fate when two student leaders from the UNP-Laboratory Schools were able to participate in the Southeast Asian Youth Leadership Program (SEAYLP), an international exchange program for young leaders whose advocacy can sustain theirs.

It was May 2nd when Licia Joyce Mariñas and Kimberly Anne Rin, with their luggages and the Philippine flag, took the 18-hour flight to the United States of America. They were two among the five student-leader participants of the Philippines in the said international program.

The program was sponsored by the Northern Illinois University in Chicago and it was a twenty-five-day exposure and exploration to the mission and vision of the United States and the ASEAN members through a series of lectures, team building, public speaking workshops, and return project presentations.

The Bud conducted an interview with the two participants. Here are their responses— a testament that encapsulates both their realizations about leadership and what makes one a leader.

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WORDS AND INTERVIEW Francis Faey Reyes, and Crystaline Gwyneth Quadra PHOTOS SEAYLP PH Team / Project Makita

BUD: How did this event change your leadership perspective?

LICIA: In all honesty, my perspective on leadership didn’t change that much. However, the event gave more fuel to my burning passion of serving and helping. One of the activities during the event was the packing of food for countries with malnourished children. What hurt me was that the Philippines was one of the top 3 countries that badly needed help. I was ashamed for a moment to see that there were no other Southeast Asian countries in the list. Nonetheless, everyone made an effort to pack food to give to the starving children, and there I realized that a leader is not alone in a battlefield. There will always be people willing to collaborate and co-create solutions with you to achieve a sustainable life.

BUD: What are your most unforgettable experiences from SEAYLP?

LICIA: Aside from the team-building activities that we had, I must say that what made the program unforgettable was the cultural exchange among the ASEAN countries. It promotes inclusivity and diversity among us 21st century youth leaders. I felt immensely grateful to have been able to discuss with them prominent issues in Southeast Asia.

BUD: What is the edge of a Youth Leader?

LICIA: The edge of a Filipino Youth Leader is the eagerness to challenge your capabilities as a part of the youth and lead by example to the fellow Filipino youth. Staying curious and always asking questions. Inspiring the youth to achieve greater things than what they thought was possible.

BUD: What is your message to the aspiring student leaders and the youth?

LICIA: Being a leader is a huge responsibility. I remember when I was younger, I never really knew my purpose in serving others. I remember myself trying to get rid of my duties because I felt like it was too early for me to be given a big responsibility. There were many times I told myself to stop being a student leader. I believe that it is a calling to serve and be a leader. The first step is just always the hardest part—deciding to be a leader. Dear aspiring leaders, as youth, we create our own future. Youth are the backbone of economic development. The power is in our hands, and it is up to us to decide whether to use it for good or not.

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BUD: What are your takeaways from the exchange program that help you improve as a student leader?

KIM: Through SEAYLP, I’ve learned that in leadership, your people are your power, not your title. Leadership is a little payback for what the community honed you for. You are not just carrying your skills as a student leader, but also the name of your nation. So whatever you do, represent us (PH) well. Never underestimate the art of listening as it is one of the grass roots of the community that we need to learn.

BUD: What are your most unforgettable experiences from the leadership camp?

KIM: I think my unforgettable experience would be our trip to Philadelphia, the birth of America, and the rebirth of our characters as leaders. Philadelphia was the second to the last state on our Calendar of Activities that we

need to visit. I have no clue of the state but I was excited to wander. When we finally reach Philadelphia, I was stunned.

BUD: How did this event change your leadership perspective?

KIM: As a product of leadership who grew and is still growing from experience, SEAYLP made me dream bigger and wider. When you are 17, you fear failing, jumping off, digging, and taking risks. Because the society somehow exposed me to the idea of “papunta ka palang, pabalik na ako.” Making a difference and having choices and actions has always been so hard for me because I’m just a leader, so “young” and not so “experienced,” they say. But through SEAYLP, I was able to amplify my voice and stand for my actions as I shoot my actions despite the “ubing kay pay” voices inside me.

BUD: What were the challenges you faced during the exchange program?

KIM: My whole team and I hopped into a new place with a dream and numerous visions. Imagine five young leaders from a surviving country combined together to build and make a change. We all differ from one another. As I’ve said, leaders have different characters and insight, they were not born carrying the symptoms of a director. One of the challenge I faced during training was maybe the indifferences of ideas and opinions from my team. The whole sense of the training was to come up with a solution on how to combat certain issues in your country, so the whole planning was a risky thing because we are five and we have to choose which issue we are going to prioritize among the five choices we’ve come up with. This challenge I know for sure is petty but somehow calmed me, knowing that we still have lots of bullets to fire.

I realized that a leader is not alone in a battlefield. There will always be people willing to collaborate and co-create solutions with you to achieve a sustainable life.

...through SEAYLP, I was able to amplify my voice and stand for my actions as I shoot my actions despite the “ubing kay pay” voices inside me.

Baluti ng Kalayaan sa Pamamahayag ng Ating Tinubuang-Bayan

MARIA RESSA

ANG MGA TAO AY NATATAKOT SA katotohanan. Hindi sila handa para tanggapin at marinig ito, kaya naman pinipili nilang tumakas, pinipili nilang patayin ito. Kung sabagay, sa mata ng mga taong mapanlinlang, ang pagpatay at karahasan ang kailangan para patahimikin nang tuluyan ang sangkatauhan. Ngunit ang hindi nila alam, ang panulat at isang papel lamang ang magpapatiklop sa kanilang mga matatalim na espada. Maaari silang magtago, ngunit hindi nila matatakasan ito.

“Nakarating ako sa New Jersey, kung saan halos hindi ako makapagsalita ng Ingles, at kailangan kong malaman kung ano ang gagawin ng isang maliit at kayumangging bata sa malaking puting mundong ito”. Ito ang sinabi ni Maria Ressa sa kaniyang panayam sa BBC. Si binibining Ressa ay isang tanyag na mamamahayag ng ating bansang Pilipinas. Siya ay ipinanganak sa Pilipinas, ngunit lumipat siya sa Estados Unidos noong siya ay musmos pa lamang matapos ideklara ni Ferdinand Marcos, ang ika-sampung pangulo ng bansa, ang batas militar noong 1970s. Nag-aral siya sa Princeton University bilang isang pre-med student at nakakuha ng degree sa Ingles na may sertipiko sa teatro at sayaw. Pagkatapos ng kaniyang kurso noong 1986, bumalik siya sa Pilipinas para sa isang Fulbright scholarship at nag-aral sa Maynila.

Nang lumipat ang bansa mula sa awtoritaryanismong pamamahala tungo sa demokrasya, nagsimula na ang buhay ni Ressa bilang isang ganap na mamamahayag. Una siyang nagtrabaho sa ABS-CBN bilang isang tagapagbalita at entertainment broadcaster, at PTV-4, ang punong istasyon nito sa telebisyon. Sumali noon si Ressa sa CNN bilang isang investigative reporter at foreign correspondent, pati na rin ang paglilingkod niya bilang bureau chief sa Maynila (1987–95) at Jakarta (1995–2005). Sa kaniyang panunungkulan sa CNN, nag-ulat siya ng mga pangunahing kaganapang pampulitika sa buong timog-silangang Asya. Kabilang dito ang anim na pagtatangkang kudeta sa ikalabing-isang pangulo ng Pilipinas na si Corazon Aquino (1986–87), ang unang halalan (1992) kasunod ng 1987 ratipikasyon ng konstitusyon ng Pilipinas. Siya rin ang nag-ulat ng pagbagsak ng dating pangulo ng Indonesia na si Suharto (1998), ang karahasan kasunod ng referendum on independence ng East Timor (1999), at ang impeachment trial ng ika-labintatlong pangulo ng Pilipinas na si Joseph Estrada (2000).

Noong 2012, kasama ang tatlong babaeng kapwa niya mamamahayag, sama-sama nilang binuo ang Rappler, isang online news

platform. Ito ang una sa uri nito sa Pilipinas, at bagamat sa una ay nakita lamang ito bilang isang site na para sa mga batang mambabasa lamang. Ito ay lumago hanggang sa ito ay naging isa na sa mga pinakamalaking news websites sa Pilipinas na may higit na 100 na mamamahayag. Nagtatrabaho rin ang Rappler bilang isang fact-checker para sa Facebook dito sa ating bansa upang malabanan ang disimpormasyon.

Ang Rappler ay hindi nakalagpas sa mga mata ng dating pangulo ng Pilipinas na si Rodrigo Duterte, sapagkat isa ang Rappler sa iilang news organization sa bansa na bumatikos sa kaniyang mga patakaran. Malawak na nailathala ang kaniyang digmaan kontra droga kung saan libu-libong extrajudicial killings ang naganap. Ang iba pang mga balita ay naglantad ng katiwalian sa gobyerno at mga paglabag sa karapatang pantao sa ilalim ng administrasyong Duterte. Noong taong din iyon, inanunsyo ng dating pangulo na pinagbawalan niya ang mga mamamahayag ng Rappler na mag-cover ng kaniyang mga opisyal na aktibidad, at binawi pa ng gobyerno ang operating license ng kanilang site.

Ngunit patuloy na susubukin ng mundo ang ating lakas at katapatan. Siya na mabubuhay at makakabangon mula sa pagkawasak, ay magiging mas malakas pa. At tunay na ito ay kaniyang ginawa. Itinanghal na Time’s Person of the Year si binibining Ressa noong 2018 para sa pamumuno sa Rappler. Pinuri siya sa paggamit ng kalayaan sa pagpapahayag upang “ilantad ang pang-aabuso sa kapangyarihan, paggamit ng karahasan at lumalagong awtoritaryanismo sa kaniyang sariling bansa.”

Naparangalan siya bilang Nobel Peace Prize Winner noong 2021—bilang kaunaunahang Filipino Laureate. At imbes na ito’y ipagbunyi kasama ng kanyang pagtatanggol sa press freedom laban sa pamumuno ng nakaraang administrasyon, siya’y napagtawanan lamang.

Siya, ang baluti ng kalayaan sa pamamahayag ng ating tinubuang-bayan, ang kumakatawan sa pagmamaltrato at pagkawalang-bahala ng mga Pilipino sa mga mamahayag.

Hindi takot, hindi pipi, at lalong hindi nagbubulag-bulagan. Siya si Maria Ressa, laging tumitinding para sa demokrasiya kahit dumaan ang lagim, magmula man sa kapwa Pilipino. Ni minsan ay hindi siya nagpatinag at patuloy pa rin sa paghawak sa linya. Kasama niya kami, mga kapwa mamamahayag, at hinding-hindi kami bibitaw kailanman.

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KATHA DISENYO NG PAHINA

Sophia Chan Jienne Cryzelle Alegre

I HAVE READ SOMEWHERE THAT memory is not a choice. If you were God, you’d know it’s a flood. It comes rushing, flowing – like how water remembers everything it touches, like how water flows inevitably. She owned the narrative; she claimed and embraced her pain. By doing so, she was able to yield something that cuts deeper than a sword. A song, a film. She sang to keep herself from falling, to get herself back, and she remembered all of these all too well.

On June 18, 2021, Taylor Swift announced that her much-awaited re-recorded album entitled “Red” is expected to be released on November 12, 2021. A few months later, the leaves wilted; it was a Friday, and the 12th of November. Taylor finally dropped her Red (Taylor’s Version). Her album contains a myriad of her best songs to date, such as “22”, “I Knew You Were Trouble”, and the fan-favorite breakup anthem “All Too Well”. However, a surprise on the project was also released the same day, which is “All Too Well: The Short Film.” This short film is rumored to be inspired by Taylor Swift and Jake Gyllenhaal’s 2010 breakup. The album also marks the end of Taylor Swift’s Country music era and shift to Pop music. All Too Well is a ballad of bittersweet reminiscence of a love she cherished, not merely a wonderfully penned song.

The All Too Well: The Short Film was directed by none other than Taylor Swift herself. The film showcases the extended version of All Too Well (Taylor’s Version), with Sadie Sink playing “Her” and Dylan O’Brien as “Him”. There is no such thing as minuscule or irrelevant when it comes to Taylor Swift’s famous Easter eggs and symbolisms, which can be both seen and analyzed in her song lyrics, music videos, and in her short film. An example is the similar age gap between the cast, and Taylor and Jake. The subtle recurring of the number 13 was also in the film. The film is divided into 7 different chapters. The first chapter of the film is entitled “Upstate Escape”, “The First Crack In The Glass” is the second

chapter of the film, followed by “Are You Real?”, the third chapter. Then the inevitable fourth chapter came next, “The Breaking Point”, and the fifth chapter, “The Reeling”. We then move on to the sixth chapter, “The Remembering”, and the final chapter, “Thirteen Years Gone”.

The appearance of colors is also an essential detail in Taylor’s short film. It can also be called the “Color Theory”. The Upstate Escape expresses warm tones, such as yellow or tangerine, to give off a warm feeling which mirrors the first scenes in the film. The First Crack In The Glass becomes a bit darker, as the shadows become more evident. There is also a tint of blue, highlighting the loneliness and coldness that is becoming apparent. As the film progresses, The Breaking Point’s colors become more muted as it signifies their relationship becoming dull. Like the thunderclouds ready for the downpour. The warm yellow and red are still illuminated on Sadie’s face, signifying that she’s still not over him. There is a shift in perspective in The Remembering, as Dylan’s face is strangely colored by yellow hues. This only means that he reminisces about their mellow relationship. The last chapter, Thirteen Years Gone, returns to the warm, initial tone of the film. However, this color now symbolizes Sadie’s love for writing, as what we’ve seen in the ending scene of the film. This signals to us, that she’s now able to move forward and utilize her pain and passion in something that is tragically beautiful.

The sad, beautiful, tragic short film of Dr. Taylor Alison Swift, touched and clenched every beating heart that was able to witness her groundbreaking masterpiece. She’s one of the many female artists that were thrown bricks at, for being open and vulnerable. For being human. They stole the fragments of her identity, she was taken advantage of, and got crucified by those hunters with cellphones. Yet, she knows how to play the game better than anyone.

She’s now taking back what is hers. One lullaby at a time. •

WORDS Sophia Chan

A

DOWN THE

MAIMED LOVE AFFAIR

“Love is so short, forgetting is so long” -Pablo Neruda

I AM A YOUTH. I WALK WITH EYES ALL on me I am naked. As every time I speak, I am being stripped off by my very words which they later use against me. As every time I move, I am becoming the enemy. They see my idealism as the greatest flaw; my bravery as a doubleedge sword that has killed egos including my own. They still say though that I am one of our country’s hope.

Our history has accumulated piles of bodies, masks, and personas. It embodies the aftermaths of incessant bloodshed gambling between who is right and who is wrong. Sadly the truth never survives, it stays silent after the fight. But it becomes a whisper of the dead, buried under unmarked graves, whose restless spirits resurrected within my fragile body. When I was born, I felt them. As I was being whiplashed to death by the figures who birthed me. As I was lapping up the unwritten rules of the world which I mistook for a sacred gift from a god. As I was keeping quiet under the bed, hiding, from a figure who would molest me every night. Tucked within me was the vilified truth and its mortality. The duty came with scars, wounds, and trauma which have been prompting me to look forward and unconsciously release the colored balloons of youth for a future that killed my childhood.

Many thought-provoking mind games were schemed in the pursuit of “changing” the world—the world that kept running and revolving even before my birth, that needed fixing after countless innocent and hopeful dreams tried and died in the process. I suckled the fingers of those who grew sensitive of the macabre past that fought for us and I’d draw the blood from it. There were ill-conceived

Reason & Age

WORDS Jienne Cryzelle ILLUSTRATION Christian Jehro

refusals, but they only demanded to keep sweet, pray, and obey. Somehow, the gore, the carnage, the smoke-filled air, the smell of iron and blood were enough to sew their mouths tight that it became afraid to lift a lip. From that, words are all that’s become of it and I’d weep before I could spell the letters of “evil”. It costs a pounding per mumble of repressed history lesson and an up-down finger notion per pitter-patter of an idealistic heart—the very same which my figures used to incriminate me for morals and values.

Our desperation to follow what has been culturally and traditionally right beseeches my moral courage that was fortified by the worth of my atonements in early life. To be blind, deaf, or mute are monumental sins which I’d never dare share interest, that’s been a stifling commotion to endure. I’ve been blessed with a liberation, certifying my erudite explication and to deny me catharsis amidst catastrophes is a clear retrospection of the betrayals that once almost compromised the freedom of our country. In this era of indifferentism, brave and brazen voices are not to blame, but the vast differences in between our generations that continues to stigmatize them because then,

All who’ve raised a amidst all I’ve proven, to die for their country, sell their honor and a relived utopia. This anger that keeps me me on the inside, but to live and fight

& Passion Age of

WORDS Cryzelle Alegre ILLUSTRATION Jehro Ulita

a hand against me proven, who’ve sworn country, were ready to and dignity to reenter This fuels my anger— me awake, that kills but gives me the will fight anyway.

it broke the chains of successive childhood torments.

My life’s chapter has been a beguiling odyssey lullaby of my figures, but it contests with the red-stained tapestries of our heritage. The chronicles of passed and passing time ailed the shame of embodying the wise spirit of a young Filipino—which was to always remain virtuous. Always remain virtuous

You see, I have ideals. It lies where everyone had tediously built from bottom to top, but my conscience, however, haunts and murder these ideals as I am very much aware that the bad prevails over what is deemed to be right. These days, I am a regular witness to crimes being committed under the sun. Where everyone, even those who I looked up to and trust the most, line up to the perpetrator to receive their portion from the benefit. The silence between those times uttered forsaken lies. My frustrations come with the grief of a tormented youth—one that could never be undone. All who’ve raised a hand against me amidst all I’ve proven, who’ve taken sworn to die for their country, were ready to sell their honor and dignity to reenter a lived utopia. This fuels my anger—anger that keeps me

awake, that kills me on the inside, but gives me the will to live and fight anyway.

My little footsteps are alike to those men who call themselves great and powerful, yet I do not have the extravagance of protection, only promises. Yet I find myself aching to march on the streets, barely blocking the bullets of mockery and cowardice, to find justice in this gilded land of ideals. To find justice for the butcher of my youth, where traumas turned out to be a lesson for nothing. These, I demand, to claim a future at the expense of a childhood that was destined for greater things.

For all I know, I served them my childhood, my innocence, and a lifetime of learning; when I could’ve enjoyed it all. Thus, I do not deserve to be silenced, to be forced, unseen, and unheard, especially when my future depends on the decision of the majority—whose belief is to abuse inorder to gain the respect they think they deserve. At my behest, I deserve everything my ancestors have fought and died for, but it seems like we never even won.

Blindness itself is an abomination to our motherland. It is an archipelago of heroic carcasses, hidden and decomposed; where buildings stand in all their glory. In this borrowed life, I cannot afford the vice of ignorance for I’ve endured the beatings of the past for a fraudulent future. But, I have the beating of my heart, one that could only survive in a land of rhythmic havocs. And I’m already here.

After all, I am the hope you’d kill for passion and love.

•

Of a Heart Shared Under the Stars

A NEW JOURNEY OF THE SAME heart embarks to seek reflection as stars align to a mountain of internal and external discovery. Based on the book “A Tale of a Thousand Stars” by Bacteria, a similar name for a masterpiece arises. The Thai series “A Tale of Thousand Stars” showcases a new and refreshing approach to romance stories amidst modernity. The series’ essence captures how love conquers social class differences along with fate-driven experiences as an eye-opener to a diverse spectrum that would develop an in-depth understanding of life.

Tian, a wealthy brat boy requires an emergency heart transplant, and fate provides him with the heart of a volunteer teacher. Tian began looking for answers after learning that Torfun was his heart donor. He found her diary, which contains her life story that led Tian to the mountain village of Pha Pun Dao. To continue what Torfun left, he takes over her, courageously facing the frugal life while struggling to adapt to the environment. However, the difficulty was reduced as Tian met Phupha, the village chief and a forest ranger looking after him. He then wonders if his feelings for Phupha are his own or the result of Torfun’s heart beating in his chest

As Tian gets close to the villagers and chief Phupha, the truth chasing him for revelation also comes closer. Everything that he built to have a stable condition in the village was shattered when he revealed to everyone that Torfun died because of him, and he has her heart. The villagers despised Tian, but they still managed to forgive him. After a lifethreatening encounter, Phupha forced Tian to leave the village, acting on orders from Tian’s father, his military superior. At the resolution of the story, Tian returned for Phupha, who was waiting for him on the Phapandao cliff, where it is believed that if one goes up the hill on the last day of the year and counts one thousand stars to wish for love, one’s wish will come true—this was Torfun’s goal, which Tian aims to achieve for her, to wish for Phupha’s love. Although Phupha prevented Tian from doing so, he claimed that Torfun’s wish had already been granted when Tian entered his life.

A Tale of Thousand Stars delivers a “good old romantic story.” Although it is not the best of the best, it encapsulates a unique plot wherein the Thai countryside setting brings the audience on a retreat-like journey along with the story’s protagonist, unlike other Thai BL series commonly situated at a university or college. In connection, the series also stands out because of new characters, such as a volunteer teacher and a forest ranger, far from the familiar characters, such as wealthy business people. Tian and Phupha’s characters were deeply understood because there was only one main couple in the story, compared to other Thai BL series with two to three side couples in one series. With that, the two protagonists’ character development was vividly displayed and captured with ease through the help of their supporting characters, who served as their advisers. Aside from that, the story also discusses myths and legends, evident in the villagers who believed in ghosts and the legend of thousand stars. It was, therefore, a display of Thai culture and traditional beliefs as one factor that amplified the charm of the series to allure viewers.

On the other hand, the actors’ play and plot weaving had a drawback in some particular aspects of the story, such as the villagers didn’t have any dialogue at all; they were pictured as uneducated—precisely when they haven’t had an idea that the tea buyers were cheating on them—and only knew about tea. And when the reason for Tian leaving the village was redirected to the orders of his dad, when it could have been the disappointment of the villagers at what he did. However, the tiny flaws were dominated by the naturally smooth acting of the main cast and the series’s main idea, which I consider forgiveness. It was evident that Thai culture values forgiveness; in several scenes in the series, like when Tian told the truth about Torfun, he was later forgiven by the villagers even though he was the reason for Torfun’s death.

Tian and Phupha’s blossoming love was hampered by social class differences and the consequences of Tian’s heart transplant. Knowing Tian comes from a wealthy and powerful family, Phupha is skeptical of his

feelings for him because he is only a forest ranger who believes they are incompatible. And Tian’s feelings for Phupha are being questioned, since it is possible that the feelings are coming from Torfun’s heart rather than his own. Nonetheless, their love stood strong—witnessed by the stars. “But we cannot do good things to pay for the bad things we have done”—the series conveys that to be forgiven for our wrongdoings, we must first accept responsibility for our actions and forgive ourselves before seeking forgiveness from others. If we have done bad things in the past, it can only be changed by the past itself because the present is a different story. We ought to leave the past behind, but its lessons should always be carried for the future’s sake.

Overall, A Tale of Thousand Stars is a charming and invigorating series with a setting that is uncommon in modern romantic films, making it a great film. As a result, I recommend this series because all of the characters were well-suited to their roles, everything in the series was realistic, and it was chock-full of life lessons. Aside from love, it has a lot more to offer viewers of all ages. It’s setting a new standard for Thai dramas, standing out among a thousand stars.

•

We ought to leave the past behind, but its lessons should always be carried for the future’s sake.

“

THE TRANSITION INTO WRAPPING UP the chapter of our childhood and youth through making our way to adulthood can be overbearing. Everybody seems to have their niches intact unlike Hyewon, who was on the verge of breaking down, failing her college board exam due to her scarred fate. This was the main lead’s last straw that triggered her to move back to her hometown in the countryside. It has the symbolism of how little things can invoke contentment within us which gives us a chance to connect to our past and lend us a hand to move towards the future, towards changes no matter how big or small. This movie felt like a warm embrace that emphasizes how taking a break, letting go, going back to our roots, and indulging in a simple life can bring us the serenity we all crave for. Watching it when I was at rock bottom during the second semester of 11th grade was a profound epiphany. I hope you can also heal and find your little forest, too, through watching this film. – Sofia

ART FOR HE ART ’S SAKE

**Screengrabs used belong to the films that have been acknowledged.

MUSIC AND POETRY ARE SOME of the many good things life can offer. A mixture of these two can result in, for the lack of better word, a remedy to a listener’s “broken” soul. Reflections on Moonlight & Poetry is the manifestation of indulging oneself in the middle ground of romance and angst. The songs’ lyrics exude a certain type of fondness the listener can relate to, yet hint at the slight melancholy hidden beneath each song’s upbeat rhythm. This album offers 13 songs you can listen to, revolving around sentimental admiration, patience, understanding, and acceptance. Each song is a story in itself, yet a narrative will reveal itself once you connect these stories. Whether you are single or already taken, The Ridleys’ album will surely indulge your yearning for an ideal romance and, at the same time, engulf you in warm comfort. – Yansen

Tennessee Williams wrote, “the world is violent and mercurial—it will have its way with you.” Generations have come and go with the passing of time and the advancement of all sciences. But there had been really no guarantee that things are and can be easy. William’s acknowledgement offers a comfort as it is true, the world has a way of inflicting pain we often chose to romanticize. It makes us more resilient, yes. It makes us braver. It makes us work harder. But let us admit, at the end of every day, we can get tired.

With this recognition, he also took note of the cure to all of these as he also said, “We are saved only by love—love for each other and the love that we pour into the art we feel compelled to share.” And so we curated arts in all its forms— from music, to books, even tv series and movies, the very things that prompted us to survive anyway,hoping that it can ease and slow down the days you consider hard.

Enjoy, LSians! •

LITTLE FOREST movie music album

REFLECTIONS ON MOONLIGHT & POETRY

encapsulate Anne’s free-spirited behavior portrayed by Amybeth Mcnulty in this Netflix series. Based from the beloved children’s book series entitled, Anne of Green Gables, we follow the story of an enthusiastic girl named Anne and her way through the world with her unusualness and penchant for stories. She came from an orphanage after being adopted by two unwed siblings. She has an “eye” for things that can transform the perspective of people around— for them to be much more compassionate and optimistic. From winning the love of Marilla to building a strong friendship with Diana, she also changed a lot of obsolete beliefs of people in their community. Anne defied conventions, and when life eventually took over in their old town, Avonlea, as even her could not be spared by the hands of time, her acts and stories will always remind you that there is so much scope for the imagination. – Jienne

READING CAN BE EXCRUCIATING WHEN we have enough of it—academically speaking. This book might be the “cure” in a way because of its simplicity. It is a collection of the author’s musings as he traverses life and adulthood while he confronts unproductivity, the feeling of aloneness, anxiety and depression, and the overall wonder of whether one will ever be happy. He made good points about taking a rest, connecting to others, doing passion projects, loving, and trusting the world’s way of teaching us. Most entries are reflective, they make the reader acknowledge rather than invalidate what they feel. Sometimes, life is just as hard and heavy and this book might be the “conversation” you need when you have no one to talk to. – Ann

THIS SERIES IS AN EYE OPENER FOR everyone who is planning to enter a relationship, a family, or have kids; especially at a young age. Before doing things that you’re not yet capable of on your own, this series will make you realize how hard it is to handle a family, especially the financial stability and kids. You must be ready and stable. It will lead to divorce and mess when it can’t be handled by the parents anymore. And in that, the kids will be the ones to suffer most. This series will show you the consequences once you choose to enter things you cannot handle yet. So, if you think of planning to, at a young age, you better watch this first. – Gerizia

SADLY, IT IS VERY RARE TO SEE OPM rise to fame. Little do we know they are our very treasure as they can highlight both our talent as well as the social issues we go through as Filipinos, like this specific band named Bita and the Botflies.

One of their biggest hit is called Sisikat ka Iha, it reveals a lot about how the society we live in still objectify women. Despite this, the majority of their songs have descriptive and eerie lyrics, just enough to tickle our mood for the day. But, yes, they are more than that as they have songs we could be awoke from, like the “Peklat Cream”, that talks about domestic abuse, “Chop-chop Blue”, that shows the destructive effects of cheating, and “Annie and Ricky” that has a message on drug abuse. – Jehro

BITA & THE BOTFLIES

GOODBYE, AGAIN

Band

SLOWLY INTO THE DARKNESS wandering the gory streets of the country deemed to be in its golden age, the infamous thief stalks the night. He admires his kingdom born out of the blood of helpless slaves kept in a 20-year captive—but no one has to know that. His Midas touch quickly covered the crimson threatening to pour out—no one needs to see that. Those same swift hands buried the treasures and shredded the map, the same hands that embezzled bills and bling, the same hands that pulled the trigger, then continued to grasp diamond encrusted glasses and shake hands with VIPs. Royalty is what he thinks he is, but a crown was missing from the top of his head—what kind of king is he? Was he even one? The crown, the glory, wasn’t his to own to begin with, as he was the jester dressed up as king.

Then, word got out one morning. The townsfolk met in the streets and stood in front of the gates. They filled the realm with clamour. The knights donned their bloodstained armours and fearfully faced the people, still shielding the king, who was trying to escape the chaos he had brought on himself. He fled as he watched his kingdom fall to pieces.

Soon after, the people rejoiced, elated that they had defeated their worst nightmare. After years and years of brutality and anguish, finally, they were freed from the chains of tyranny. The townspeople painted the town red to honour the courage of those who battled darkness and the blood spilt all for freedom and independence. They are remembered for how they fought, not how their crimson stained the streets.

Then, a new kingdom was born. The people relished the serenity, inbreathing the tranquil air. Though it was quiet, they were still met with hollers from the dethroned king’s loyalists. They attempted to march through the gates, but they were obstructed by the warriors of democracy. “Never again,” they said. Never again will iniquity befall the land. And so, they raised the white triangle flag, symbolizing liberty. That was all they did; the warriors knew that the loyalists would cower away. They feared the power different from the

“

The stories shall be remembered, never burned and buried, as the past is the foundation of the future, for us to progress and to never replicate the same mistakes, especially those that left many scared and scarred for life.

power they knew of. The power their king held was harnessed from atrocities, but they were too blinded by their idolatry to perceive that. They were full from the lies fed to them, and as the old saying goes, don’t bite the hands that

Years have passed; a jester yet again sits on the throne. He disguised himself as a knight in shining armour that would carry the kingdom to triumph. The townsfolk were entranced by his words of honour, not sensing the venom laced in them. Then, the bloodshed

In his palace of bones, red pools around his feet. His six-year reign of terror is coming to an end, and he believes he led the nation to its best yet. He stands in front of the mirror, grinning victoriously. But he isn’t smiling at himself as the reflection is not his. There, in the mirror, is his precursor—the jester prior. The ruling king is reminiscent of him, a reincarnation of his evil, a sense of déjà vu. History repeats itself, as they say, thus we know what transpires next. A sinister kingdom crumbles, and a new one shall rise.

The selection of the successor has concluded—the heir of the former king prevailed. His ascension to the throne didn’t come as a surprise as their kin’s devotees remained through thick and thin. The kingdom shall be theirs once again, and we hope that the new ruler will reign the land more disparately than those who came before him—without the blood and bruises and with peace and veracity. The townsfolk shall never again face what was 50 years ago. The stories shall be remembered, never burned and buried, as the past is the foundation of the future, for us to progress and to never replicate the same mistakes, especially those that left many scared and scarred for life.

It is to be hoped that the kingdom will live in prosperity, harmony, and unity. It is only the beginning and we are wishing that the chapters leading to the epilogue will be as divine as vowed. The plot thickens from here. For the time being, we will wish and dream.

We will hope, till kingdom come.

Nadeen Dominique Valenciano / Lourianne Joyce Pla

haiku

autumn, summer, rain look at how each leaf changes and the two of us

falling even if

seasons have told me how everything is not always the way it used to be one day you bloom the next day you’re young one day you let go the next day you’re dead in snow yet once, under summer’s scorching sun the leaves began to fall at first, it seemed like a glimpse of peculiar incident that perhaps it just did and soon enough will it end, but turned out otherwise

in the winter, they fall in the spring, they fall in the summer, they fall leaves kept falling despite incongruity to every happening they were falling even if they shouldn’t have they were falling even if they weren’t caught and it will stop just let them fall, for a new will always blossom when the right spring comes along.

The Change in seasons

And just like that. The seasons have changed From the soft summer breeze in August Comes the sudden fall of leaves in autumn Each with a story A different tale to tell

Unlike the changing seasons, Weather is not here to stay It comes in a moment and changes in a blink

But what makes them different, What makes them contrast? What sets them apart? Why is one quick while the other Begs to stay?

Why does it have to end? Why does it have to end? I repeat and cite again For at least the words were consistent Unlike time that is constantly moving Running, and chasing all that is left

Soul of the Leaves Fell Down

Soul of the leaves fell down, As I fall down to my knees, When they broke the news That you didn’t succeed.

Gunshots and screaming, Trees burning within a second, I can’t imagine what’s like, To be there with dripping red.

I thought that when it would be done, Everything would be the same, But it never did.

The leaves feel like they were shot, Soul was not there, neither was death. And I wasn’t too, Because I was waiting for you, With open arms and fruit grown, But you weren’t coming home.

WORDS Jermaine Dwayne Perlas, Francis Faey Reyes, Jeysed Denille Llanes, and Sylvia

literary

the wounds which were sustained by time got drenched today; this rainwater which has always been your prayer. i tell you, the summer is not over. you toil more than your strength to forget while the fools celebrate but i tell you—it can’t. nothing cures everything. they can’t. neither can the apologies you tell yourself, the war is long over and the warrior in you, half dead, never forgives.

the night would ask for a blanket and you would envelop yourself with the enduring blackness of above, of the should have’s, and the recurring nightmare the slumber could have been your only escape but you could not put yourself to sleep and you could not ask for more more rainwater in this endless summer.

As water pours from the clouds and sheds its tears down How sad it is to watch the skies smile turn to frown I watch as the bright colors of the sky became dull and gray Nothing more to do other than frown on this lonely day

Funny how it seems that rainy days make me feel alone Looking out the window seeing raindrops clone Funny how it seems I always wind up feeling blue Like someone took away life’s bright hue

Nothing seems to fit in this weather of immense sadness As I watch as time passes by in this day consumed by loneliness I’m always feeling trapped, seemingly running in an endless hallway Oh how I miss the warmth and sunshine on a sunny day

But I know beyond this cold and gloomy weather Beyond the vast fields of gray clouds as thick as thousands of leather Is the sun hiding, covered by darkness, waiting for its moment to shine again Ready and prepared for a new day to begin

a sunny day to feign as though a gift unforeseen like a gust of searing wind blow dropping off its spirit to cease a gray of torpor upon the shadows peeking behind glistening afternoon tint but really I, on my palm, was fate to bring

it was blue of tranquility amidst scorching spree of a lemonade that soothes aridity’s choke of a fan that reliefs bane sweat soaked of cool clarity to enhance such mirage appearance that goes beyond in between lust and love

with all the downhill rides and staircase climbs to the dry and wet of green and blue, where the land ends under sol, it all began we were the only one yet there was everyone we were indifferent yet everyone dipped every moment this expanse of layered glitter beaming under the sun’s power of deemed favor upon soon had washed the shore’s imprints from yellow day one what came made me at B I was you as you were me until the sun, with you, didn’t stay but never went away

it was when I really lived and that summer was my whole life.

three L under S O L

the rain gets me down everytime

in days of rain (again)

UNITOPIA

ILLUSTRATION CONCEPT

Christian Jehro Ulita

Nadeen Dominique Valenciano, Chrsitian Jehro Ulita, Yansen Rehsya Cabalce, and Jienne Cryzelle Alegre

HOMESICK

Jienne Cryzelle Alegre

COFFEE IS ALL I EVER ASK, COFFEE and the sun. These I demanded under the heavy weather while sitting outside. I almost can feel my body starting to crumble. We just moved again from a room to another because a family member is showing symptoms and with that, we just lost another. It is that crucial to observe COVID protocol in our home. Though it took away our inner peace, there is nothing more we could ever do.

This is the 13th day of our home quarantine and our friends still do not have a clue. My Mom has been posting on her social media and yet those subtle bread crumbs seem to not be enough, or at least they appear to ignore it. It feels pensive to know that one of my parents is under critical condition, surrounded by nurses, and in the same room with other COVID patients. Meanwhile, Mom is in a quarantine facility with all these asymptomatic people. They are staying in a camp that both sexes share. She says it is even dangerous to go to the comfort room because people will sneak in alcoholic beverages. One would think it is safe because it is controlled by the government, too. They go away to get treated, and yet more problems arise. All we could do was wait this one out and take precautions while they patiently slept in unsafe rooms.

Even though we all promised to keep our situation confidential, I mustered the courage to uncheck my inactive status, in hope that friends would reach out. A part of me wants to be distracted from this unfortunate reality we are in, while another part of me wants to

TWEET TALKS*

@attygideon

The danger of the Anti-Terror Law has been demonstrated by its Principal Author. May nagchismis lang, naniniwala na agad ang isang opisyal ng gobyerno.

stay focused on the present and continue to feed our spirits with joy. However, I cannot do both.

I am supposed to keep my sleep in check, but I couldn’t. We are all cramped up in this tiny room. With my phone on my right hand and my thinning patience on the other. I cannot sleep because I feel sick. Feverish with a slight cold and dry cough. I started to panic. I used my idle phone to check health surveys on the internet. In the end, by four in the morning, Mom was the only one who called me. They tell me to not be so downcast because I am the only hope in the house.

That morning, it zipped my mouth and stuffed all my emotions inside of me, but still kept moving around with them. A few friends checked in, but slowly, guilt started to take its toll on me. I realize I am just a person trying to disturb their peace. I am just like any other friend to everyone. They have their own lives and girlfriends and boyfriends, and are probably doing important things with them, and I feel as if I am bothering them. However, we have to get moving and leave behind what I felt yesterday to give importance to the present. It is honestly so hard to be kind to others because, in the process, you will lose yourself in it.

Everybody told us to just pray, take vitamins, and everything would be alright. I hoped for the black void to disappear—the void that keeps tearing holes in my heart—but in the meantime, I’ll cling to prayers, advice, and words of encouragement. I am not against my Christian faith, but I honestly need more than prayers, something more direct, and something that evidently works. I had a few compassionate hearts, but I managed to bore them with my words, and so they left like the falling leaves on a tree under a heavy storm. I feel that way in our home, where the wind keeps trying to get in, wishing for this to be over.

Days have gone by and my human heart is craving for compassion. All this quarantine and COVID stuff is making me feel lonely. Depressed is a word banished from my dictionary, and I refuse to let it come out of my mouth. It is just a heavy and painful word to be used, more so to act as a label for my emotions. I forbid myself from using it, no matter how it ticks how I feel inside. I appear to be as hard as a rock, but even people notice that rocks crumble at a certain period. It takes time to reach the breaking point.

No matter how much I long to be heard and seen, I have no other choice but to drown myself in chores, scenery, words, and conrete walls. Tending to whatever I had within reach distracted me from the painful realizations and threats that were lingering inside my home. But then, I still need to pay the price.

I became a black cat, seemingly forgotten and neglected, as if they could catch the virus virtually. I do understand, but the silence is deafening here. I am desperate to explode. I am desperate for my parents to come back home. I am desperate for everything and everyone to go back to their normal state and to have friends again. although I might not be the same person they befriended. I stitched myself to the four walls of this room, isolated myself, and figured out how to escape it all by myself while everything around me was crumbling down—and they stood watch. But truly, I understand.

I am starting to wonder if it is selfish to even ask for human compassion. At this moment, this whole quarantine journey uncovered so much about society, about people, and about me. Surely, I would not want to reminisce about what is happening here. I know I am strong, but I will not be for any longer. Home is where I am most comfortable, but it is also where solitude is too much peace for one person, so much that people do not feel the need to help you or see you.•

Journalists who would want to leave, the country or the profession, should be able to do so free of guilt. We all deserve our peace. Everyone staying has duty to improve it for both the new and returning ones. It’s a duty in exchange of the privilege—not everyone can afford to.

When your first resort is to censor thought, you already know how weak your counterargument is. When you are so afraid of ideas that your first instinct is to ban books, then you really have a lot to be afraid of.

Lian Buan

Ted TeGideon V. Peña

@lianbuan

WHY MY STORY MATTERS

Francis Faey Reyes

PROLOGUE, CHAPTER ONE, THESE are the first things you see on the first page of a story, but mine? Well, it’s the epilogue of a tragic fairytale. Where everything starts to fall apart and you can’t do anything because it’s already in its last chapter. I guess all you can do now is to start a new one.

My story starts here: In the seventh grade, third quarter, our adviser tells us that face-to-face classes will resume after a week, but this turned into weeks, months, and now years. It was tough. When you open your phone, it’s about the virus, people are saying their condolences in the comment section. When you open the television, the news of how awful it has become and how many people have been affected and killed because of it. It was a never-ending cycle. I got sick and started to do something to get my mind out of it. I started to write.

I’m going to be honest with you; it wasn’t hard to write. My fingers typed naturally on the keyboard, and I always wondered why, until now. The words just sprout out of my fingertips and onto the blank electronic page. Every single day, at six in the morning—for some reason, I woke up that early, I sat on a small chair, placed my laptop on another wooden chair, and started to write a brandnew chapter, rinse, and repeat, until finally, after four months, I finished my first novel.

I was so happy that I didn’t want to jump back to the reality of the virus, I wanted to stay here—in the world I have created. Where happily ever after’s come true, where you’ll be able to accept yourself because there is a person who is willing to give you a magic mirror in order to do that.

The fresh air on the farm; the mooing of the cows; the sound of the birds singing to each other. The tiny drops of rain from the leaves of the mango tree, the stomping of the feet of the farmers, stepping on some puddles caused by the rain, are such a peaceful way to clear up the mind of my dear protagonist, trying to think of a plan to rescue her friends, as I tried to rescue mine, and we both succeeded. It was a very hard time for everyone, but I know it

was for the best and as I can see now, even if the universe gave me a hundred times to redo what I have done, I would do it over and over again. Why? Well, because if I did not, who knows, maybe I’m not even invested in writing a single paragraph.

As time went by, I have written about two other novels of my series and suddenly, I started to question if my stories are even worth reading. I started to ask myself why am I writing in the first place. My pace of writing started to slow and the words were really hard to dig out, unlike before. They say hobbies end to a certain extent if nothing valuable happens, if it doesn’t root inside of you. I thought it already had, but I was wrong. As hard as life is, I pushed my limits on writing two more books in my series, and then there it was, my worst nightmare. That the world I created through my words is no differ of the world that I am trying to run away from. I am basically ruining my life by pushing something I am not even sure about anymore. One question ran through my mind: why does my story matter, to me and to the people I am trying to reach? to break their hearts? To make them realize something? I am not even sure of myself anymore. •

“ We are standing on the rubble of the world that was, and we must have the foresight and courage to imagine what might happen if we don’t act now, and instead, create the world as it should be—more compassionate, more equal, more sustainable.

— Maria Ressa

CEO

theBUD

CHOOSING HUMSS: AN ADVICE

YZA Yzabella Devadeb

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED OR HAVE enrolled as a Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) student for your senior high school, this is a must read! (Spoiler: it’s not scary)

Who is for HUMSS? This strand is geared towards individuals who are inquisitive about what lies beyond the surface. In other words, those who live outside the box. It enhances learners’ social, language, reading, and writing abilities. It will investigate and deepen one’s understanding of self, culture, and society. So to answer the question, everyone is fit to be a HUMSS student as long as they would want to. There is no certain requirement to join but a learner’s optimistic endeavor for knowledge.

What you must know! My mistake with choosing a strand during my enrollment was not being informed enough about what happens after it: college. For the Senior High School strands under the K-12 curriculum of the Department of Education, non-STEM strands receive a major disadvantage when it comes to support, monetary or not, by the institutions and the government. In some circumstances, just by being a STEM graduate, you can already be eligible for scholarship grants whereas, students from other strands need to be in the top 5%-10% of the class depending on which program. In addition to that, some colleges also favor STEM graduates when it comes to admissions and to top that, the college entrance exams that are stemcentered. These are the issues to be dealt with by all non-STEM students due to the unpolished education system—but I digress. That is a story for another day.

A part of being a HUMSS student is the surprise of the polarizing reaction other people give to you; it’s either you’re super smart and an achiever, or a lazy student who

chose the ‘easiest’ strand. Most people know this strand as the one without a Mathematics subject, they are incorrect. Though it does not specialize in it, we still go through the horrors of finding what x is. The word lazy and easy often comes from the idea that we are not taught Mathematics and all that’s done is write and talk. To put it simply, some look down on this strand because from their perspective, it’s easy.

What you should be: You do not have to be exceptionally great at public speaking, formal writing, and social awareness as these are the skills that will be taught to you. It is expected however, to have passion among these things; passion will be your driving force. What people do not tell you is that confidence can be trained as long as you allow yourself to be. When you are in the HUMSS strand you get to look around the room and experience every student trying their best at their own pace. It is not a race to WHO will be best but to become the best version of yourself. Psychology, religion, and culture, all complex

WINNER

VESPERTINE

SECRETS OF THE SUMMER SUN

Sophia Chan

MY BODY CAN’T STAND THE SUMMER heat. Sweat trickling down my spine, melting ice cream on my hand, and the sun bathing me with its searing glow—as if it’s telling me, “you are seen.”

I remember fanning myself idly, as I watch the trees dance to the tune of Helen of Troy. It was a lazy, summer afternoon. Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami was beside me, as I touch its pages and feel the words with my delicate fingers. At that certain moment, one could paint me and hang it in the Louvre. Anyway, I thought about life, too. I was in a daze, and just wanted to go inside and blast the air-conditioner, but I thought about the sun and the cicadas listening to me. Perhaps even the other way around. I decided to stay.

It was Lorde’s Solar Power album that inspired me to appreciate and enjoy the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual gifts from my environment. I ditched my phone, leaving it in my room to ping messages and notifications. A much-needed serenity. Finally, I thought, I have the solitude I want and need. When I sat outside our front lawn, I sketched my dog who was becoming old. I thought that I must preserve his beauty while I still can because he’d have to leave us soon. I also painted the flowers in my mom’s garden. The sunflowers were as pretty and bright as her. They too would wilt soon, but the sun told me that there’s just no point in dwelling in the past or the future. I am here. I am present, with my dog and the fresh flowers. That’s the only thing that matters.

When I suddenly got sick, I asked my mom to go to the beach. We sat along the shore with our lemonades, the sun almost setting. I thought about catching the sun on my palm, to stop it from “falling”. I love sunrises more than sunsets. Although I still quite love sunsets, as well. Maybe I don’t really like sunsets sometimes because, when the sun sets, we’d have to go home. It signals that the day is over and it’s time to pack up and leave. I don’t want to leave, but just like how life is, it doesn’t wait

for you. You have to keep up with its pace. As I grow older, I came to love and accept the presence of nighttime. The comforting embrace of the cold breeze. The time to rest our souls and hearts, and surrender ourselves to the faint glow of the moon. The necessary darkness of life.

Although I am not built for the sweltering heat, and although I can never get used to it, I’d come to accept it. To appreciate it. In Sweden, they even celebrate the summer season which is called Midsummer. One of my favorite movies, which is Midsommar, took that celebration as its inspiration – but that’s another story to tell for another time. I learned that the secrets of the summer sun can only be heard by those who are willing to listen. Who are willing to learn. That’s something I will continuously work on. Selfcontrol and discipline. The courage to heal and grow. The ability to strip oneself and surrender everything to solar power.

Seasons come and go. Just like people, just like our feelings. There’s no such thing as thunderstorms for eternity nor summertime sadness forever. Eventually, it will have to stop. Maybe it will come back around, maybe not— but the point is, nothing is ever constant in this world other than change. The irony of it all. •

OASIS UPON A WALLED ISLAND

WISAGEAN Jermaine Dwayne Perlas

BURGEONING THROUGH THE LEAPS

of time is not as standard as it seems when a chromatic palette of perspective brushes onto the lens of one’s view about existence. Once, I reckoned life to be a bewildering scenery of flawless portions as a part of a whole perfection with unceasing bliss for eternity, where everything was as it was—like a pastry with a general recipe to be followed, as easy as that. However, the waves I’ve surfed on, the waves I’ve swam through, and the ones I’ve succumbed to provided hostility towards a sugarcoated apocryphal pulchritude. There is none to expect, blinded by the spontaneity of tomorrow’s waves that I need to ride whether I like it or not, for sometimes the end is far more pleasing than the beginning, grasping on blandishments to pique or, more likely, deceive myself.

I look back at the footprints of my past. As a single fruit bared by a tree, I was a loner. In

a four-cornered closed space, I grazed—a soft clay molded according to where it was situated. I was always timid and barely uttered a word. To crawl for advancement on the pavement of life’s uncertain tracks, the one [to be alone] I presumed customary with a dim view of what’s beyond has been tainting every setting into a dystopia exclusively for me. I didn’t have friends, just superficial and momentary associations taken for acquiescence of social obligation. I lacked and feared interaction at the same time. I kept everything I knew to discuss with myself in my head. Every moment I stepped outside, lacerating through concentrated, overwhelming entities, it felt like drowning in terrain—suffocated by the real world— with no one but yourself.

Being alone crippled me. I was an outcast where anxiety dangled around my presence like thorny vines that would radiate a searing poignancy every time I was in motion. I became a sponge that absorbed joy, fun, wrath, agony, and fear, not having someone to share it with. And for once, I tried to tell my story to people who didn’t know how to listen—taking the risk to step out of the railed pavement only to perceive the ground as wet concrete as soon as it caught my feet, thickening the walls built in between my link with the milieu as I was sucked deep downward. That would be the

first and the last, I’ve declared. The wind of time passing solidified where I stood stuck. In a glimpse, the trust, the courage, the mere idea of spilling the cup became a distant star, unattainable from where I am, for even the closest to my heart only know a portion of my whole.

The path I’ve trod was anything but a kaleidoscope sight. I’ve always been reserved, but countless times, I’ve tried my best to open the lid—to free everything inside—but it never really felt a hundred percent for a tinted jar to bring off trenchant transparency. Now, as I glance in front of the mirror, each negativity from the shadows of the past is replicated with positivity like a strike of lightning that kindled the seemingly irreversible dusk. It never caressed me before to fathom that such a perceived weakness could carve a path towards the strength of individuality. After several years as a closed book, with tight-lipped but open eyes and ears, I’ve more likely mastered the art of being alone. With only having my mere presence to lean on during both light and dusk or up and down of my voyage, I’ve been through a myriad of self-reflection, which inculcated me to be a better individual, guiding me on a path of self-discovery and

GAMIT ANG ISANG PANULAT, NAKAKABUO tayo ng mga hukbo ng salita na maaaring makakapagdulot ng ikasisira o ikabubuti ng isang bagay, ng isang tao, ng isang kaisipan. Mga salita at napuno na ng tintang mga kamay, ang siyang makakapaglaya sa atin sa disinpormasyon. “Hilahin na ang gantilyo”, sabi nila. Ang baril ng mga mas nakakataas, laban sa mga salitang mas malalim ang naaabot kaysa sa kanilang mga bala. Isang tunog ang umalingawngaw. Tahimik o pinatahimik? Ito’y isang katanungan, tama, ngunit hindi ito isang desisyon.

Hindi lahat ng mga bayani ay nakalibing sa libingan na naitalaga para sa kanila. Ang iba ay nakahimlay sa kailaliman ng kayumangging lupa, matagal nang nakalimutan. Sila ay naninirahan sa puso’t isipan ng mga taong hindi bulag at bingi, at ang mga imahe ng kanilang mga bangkay ay mananatili sa memorya ng mga kamay na kumitil sa kanilang mga pangarap at nagliliyab na mga puso. Minsan na silang nangarap ng isang bansa, ng isang mundong hindi nakapiring ang mga mata sa diskriminasyon at kawalan ng katarungan. Hindi ba tayong lahat? Sa pamamagitan ng kanilang katapangan at kagitingan, tinig nila’y ating narinig. Ang kalayaan at katotohanan ay hindi dapat ipinagdadamot, hindi dapat ito itinatago.

Tila napaghahalo ng sambayanan ang pamamahayag at pawang sabi-sabi lamang. Tila napaghahalo nila ang terorismo at aktibismo. Ang trabaho ng isang mamamahayag ay hindi upang makipag-away. Ang trabaho nila ay ang ipalaganap ang katotohanan. Ang katotohanang pilit itinatanggi ng mundo sa atin. Ang kalayaang hindi natin makuha-kuha. Sinasabi nila na ang katotohanan ay siyang magpapalaya sa atin. Ang mamuhay sa mundo ngayon kung saan ang kalayaan sa pamamahayag ay tila nanganganib muli, ang pag-alam sa katotohanan ay tila hindi na susi sa kalayaan. Ito na ay nagiging isang dahilan nila upang igapos ka, sapagkat kinasusuklaman nila ang mga taong nagsasalita ng opinyon na salungat sa kanila.

Ngunit ang kalayaan ay isang paru-paro, ito’y dumarating at ito’y umaalis. Kapag sa tingin mo ay nakuha mo na, ito ay lilipad palayo sa iyo. Ngunit ang kalayaan ay isang paru-paro, ito ay nabubuhay sa isang maikling sandali lamang, isang magandang sandali. Pagkatapos, ito ay namamatay. Ang mga paru-paro naman ay nabubuhay hindi para mabuhay nang matagal, ngunit para magbago. Ang pagbabago nang hindi nakakalimutan ang nakaraan, ay nagbibigay-daan sa atin na lumikha ng mas magandang kinabukasan para sa ating henerasyon at sa mga susunod pa. Darating din ang panahon na kung saan hindi na natin kakailanganing sumigaw para marinig, dumugo para makita, at mawala para maalala.

AGE OF REASON & PASSION

I cannot afford the vice of ignorance for I’ve endured the beatings of the past for a fraudulent future.