VOLUME LX
MAR 2021
stallion
THE OFFICIAL TRILINGUAL PUBLICATION OF XAVIER SCHOOL
11| AN INTERVIEW WITH MR. SWAPEE
15| THE COVID-19 TIME CAPSULE
An interview about his XCE experiences
Recounting the then, embracing the now, and hoping for the future
27| MY EXPERIENCE BEING AN ONLINE FIVERR COACH The experience and learnings of coaching Valorant online
CONTENTS
MARCH 2021 · VOL. 60 · OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF XAVIER SCHOOL
DEPARTMENTS FEATURES
09 | FLAWED
DEMOCRACY
FEATURES
11
AN INTERVIEW WITH MR. SWAPEE
13 | THE
CONTROVERSIAL HISTORY OF INTELLIGENCE
33 | K-DRAMA SKEPTIC’S 27 | TOUR’E DE FORCE 25 | BEING A CAST
QUARANTINEWATCHLIST A STROKE OF GENIUS MEMBER OF STAGEFX
BEHIND THE COVER 29 | MY EXPERIENCE BEING AN Illustrations by Sky Angeles Justin Chua Andreas Bautista Gabriel Tadena
ONLINE FIVERR COACH
07 | THE ART OF ACAPELLA
01
LITERATURE
37 | HOME
38 | 2020
39 | OPAQUE
15
38 | YOGURT PARTFAIT
39 | A SOUL UNFETTERED
40 | TICK TOCK TICK TOCK
40 | TINY MANIPULATIONS
CORONA VIRUS TIME CAPSULE
21 | WHAT MAKES
‘JOHN WICK’ WORK SO WELL?
27 | EDUCATION
IN SOUTH KOREAN SOCIETY
19 | LUXURY CARS:
The Problems and Why We Love Them FILIPINO
61 |KAPANGYARIHAN NG KAPANSANAN 29 | ANOTHER TURNING POINT, A FORK STUCK IN THE ROAD
Why I chose to leave the International Baccalaureate Program
64 |ANG MAG-AARAL AT ANG MOBILE DEVICE MANAGEMENT 63 | KAMALA HARRIS
EDITORIALS
36 | TO REGULATE OR NOT TO REGULATE: WHY MTRCB IS WRONG TO REGULATE STREAMING SITES
37 | A STEP IN THE 38 | WHAT EXACTLY RIGHT DIRECTION OR A IS THE PHILIPPINES’ TROJAN HORSE? DITO STANCE ON CHINA? TELECOM
Art by Jantzen Ang (G11)
02
FILIPINO LITERATURE
43 | BUKSAN ANG MGA MATA
44 | KAPANGYARIHAN AY HINDI KALAYAAN
43 | HINDI KO KAILANMAN
44 | ESPERANZA
43 | ISANG DEKADA
44 | DALAWANG TULA NG PAMAMAALAM
CHINESE LITERATURE
45 | 曲中人
45 | 天降
46 | 彼岸花
45 | 冰块
46 | 明月照我心
46 | 等候曙光
PERSONA ICE CUBE
45 | 终有一天 FINALLY
45 | 回归的微笑
DESCENT
THE FLOWER OF DEATH
THE MOON SHINES OVER MY HEART
ANTICIPATION OF DAWN
46 | 一门心思
SMILING
ONE MIND ONE THOUGHT
CHINESE
47 | 致青春 • 一本太仓促的书
55 | 焉知非福的道理
48 | 命运的轮廓
56 | 饮茶宜清浅，浮世多清欢
48 | 不管多远都可以到达
57 | 寻找个人问题的解答
50 | 人们希望的寄托
58 | 来自时间的觉悟
51 | 失落的痛苦：相应的悲伤
59 | 人生的选择权
TO MY YOUTH
THE SILHOUETTE OF FATE DREAMS ARE BEYOND LIMITS
THRIVE, HOPE IS WITHIN OUR REACH THE PAIN OF LOSS TO COPING WITH GRIEF
52 | 商业界的大起大落 RISE AND FALL
FINDING THE GOOD IN THE BAD THE STORY OF THE TEA
SEEKING FOR ANSWERS
NO TIME TO WASTE LIFE DECISION : LIVE THE WAY
60| 戴好“心理口罩
WEARING A PSYCHOLOGICAL MASK
53 | 电影观后感想：我们的少女时代
REVIEWING THE MOVIE “OUR TIMES”
Art by Marcus Apetreor (G11)
03
EDITORIAL BOARD Editor-in-Chief Anton Labos Managing Editor Kyle Tan Associate Editor Caleb Tiam-Lee Creative Director Coby Silayan News Editor Joshua Yu Features Editors Amery Atinon and Lance Dy Literature Editor Herb Tan Filipino Editor Aniceto Cajigal Chinese Editor Kevin Chen Design Director Gabriel Yu
MODERATORS Ms. Nicah Santos Mr. Jules Hernando
TALK TO US
EDITOR’S NOTE
F
or many, the beauty of the written word often is dismissed as some ancient, rundown star that has since been dimmed greatly and gradually with the introduction of advances in technology and innovation. But, despite the changes throughout every era, words have consistently afforded us all amusement, information, and imagination to illuminate even the darkest corners of our world. During this period of pandemic and paranoia, our ability to adapt just as words have throughout centuries will undeniably be necessary for us to ensure that we all survive and thrive, albeit, in a vastly different way. Comfy pajamas, glasses of morning milk, and long messenger threads will become the objects of our focus while we strive amidst difficulty to regain our stride. Yet, the baggage and backward notions of the past must be thoroughly addressed so that yesterday’s mistakes will no longer be tomorrow’s burden. Thus, adapting to the jumbled jungle of government mishaps, laggy wifi, and other issues will provide both opportunities and opposition to those who wish to maintain peace by speaking with action and acting on the words of those who speak the truth. The traditional Xaverian quest for equity, impassioned expression, and community likewise persist as we are all united in our call to step out of our respective bubbles and reach out to others. Evident in our numerous projects, activities, and academics is the signature drive that seems natural in our diverse Chinese-Filipino culture: a drive that finds its roots in our San Juan campus that we all hope to return to one day. Nearly 60 years of Stallion also serves as a testament to the need for the written word and adaptability. Generations of Xaverians have come and gone, yet our beloved trilingual student publication has stood as a safe haven for all those who wish to freely spread their ideas and shed light on the pertinent issues of the day. This first year of online distance-learning has seen the metaphorical purchase of numerous tracts of online land and projects, that we can only hope future student journalists will develop into better systems of truth and expression that are heightened in their efficacy and efficiency. I cannot accurately express how proud I am to present a magazine made by a team of diverse, creative, and thoughtful individuals seeking their own growth and that of their community. In line with tradition, we at Stallion invite everyone to read, think, and act, such that good fortune may rule over our hearts as the stars watch on in joy.
Send us an email at hs-stallion-mail@xs.edu.ph Visit our website at stallionpub.wordpress.com
Rizalino Antonio Labos Editor-in-Chief 04
FEATURES
News
• • • • • • • • • • • •
• • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Jacob Acgaoili Marcus Ang Tyler Lim Garrick Uygongco Sean Chua Kian Carreon Marco Mendoza Lance Gosiaco Matteo Santos Andrei Ledesma Jaden Lim Leonard Ang
Filipino • • • • • •
Aniceto Cajigal Elijah Louis Ng Lorenzo Miguel Jared Lumanlan Ravi Tan Russ Relucio
Literature • • • • • •
Andre Tan Gavin Go Cole Ty Owen Yu Raphael Cruz Juan Carlos Mendoza
Bryce Muñoz Justin Xu Ghabriel Tan Kyle Ching Ethan Dale Uy Nathan Ng Kevin Co Anton Go Javier Ladrido Skyeler Kho Justin Sy Johan Bondoc Jose Cochingyan Jose Caedo
Chinese • • • • • • •
Josh Daniel Cua William Dale Kohchet-Chua Calvin Steve Li Edric Branson Dy Gordon Frankson Chiang Shaun Jethro Lim Jason Young
DESIGN • • • • • • • • •
STALLION DURING OUR GALLOP NIGHT
Lin Keng Wei Andreas Bautista Jantzen Ang Marcus Apetreor Gabbie Tadena Sky Angeles Justin Chua Holi Nicolo Uy De Baron Lance Damalerio
06
De Novo
A FRESH START FOR XAVERIAN A CAPELLA By Jaden Lim (G11) In the vast sea of songs artificially enhanced with today’s technologies, the natural and organic human voice finds its place in the art of a cappella.
T
o revive its craft, people have formed ensembles composed of talented singers who have honed their abilities enough to create the entire structure of songs solely with the voice. The world famous quintet Pentatonix is a testament to the capabilities of the voice, but so is De Novo, the homegrown Xaverian a cappella group that has displayed the musical potential of young Xaverian student-singers.
The Founding of De Novo The Xavier School Glee Club closed its doors in 2015 after the unfortunate passing of Mr. San Gabriel, the club moderator. Choirs for school events and Voice of the Youth Concert (VOYC), a committee that organizes a singing ensemble to perform for the school fair variety show, then became the only opportunities for studentsingers to exhibit their vocal talent. Mr. Odoemene, the 2015 VOYC Moderator, took on the challenge of creating a new, full-time singing ensemble at the start of 2016. Having gathered three students from VOYC, he held auditions right away in February to help the small group grow. From three students and a teacher, a family of nine came to be. Forming a new group meant an eager start, with their first practice session taking place in May in preparation for the XS60 faculty lunch in June.
Legato: De Novo’s First Concert Although De Novo may have seemed like an amateur ensemble due to its sudden emergence, it was able to perform 30 times from June 2016 to July 2017. To celebrate its success in gaining support in and out of the Xavier School community, it held Legato, the very first concert organized by De Novo alone. It underwent a tight schedule, foreseeing the success of the event through advertising, selling tickets, searching for an excellent sound system, and, of course, perfecting many songs and medleys that the members arranged by themselves.
DE NOVO MEMBERS PERFORMING ONSTAGE
Come show night, the fruits of their labor showed itself through the full house and their applause throughout the 18 song numbers. Justin Lim (XS ‘18), one of the performers, felt very satisfied with how the concert transpired; “I’d say our performance went surprisingly well. The concert ran as well as we hoped it would, and there weren’t many problems with our vocals. The sound system we found was also really good. It amplified our voices really well, so I think that really helped our audience enjoy the show.” Legato ended as a successful chapter for De Novo, but something in 10 days caused them to remain focused. They, for the first time, would see themselves in Singapore for an international competition.
The 2017 Asia-Pacific Arts Festival Another avenue to showcase De Novo’s talents was laid out by the Student Activity Programs (SAP) Office through an invitation to the 2017 Asia-Pacific Arts Festival. Not wishing to waste the opportunity to join a formal competition, De Novo applied as
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a contestant. Participating, however, added to their busy and grueling schedule. While preparing their song numbers for the concert, they also intensively rehearsed their chosen piece for the festival: the OPM classic “Anak” by Freddie Aguilar. Starting May, Mr. Odoemene would meticulously pinpoint each error and polish their output to perfection. They struggled often with correcting their mistakes, but the support from one another helped them leap over hurdles. With the two months of rigorous training over, they packed their bags and departed for Singapore. After having a few final practices in their hotel rooms, they approached the stage, shaking off all feelings of anxiety. At the signal of Mr. Odoemene, their conductor, they were ready to unleash their musical talent and prowess to everyone watching. Emerging from the mouths of these Grade 11 and 12 students were resonant and harmonious voices working hand-in-hand to paint a melancholic sound. Their rich and choral sound drew the audience in an atmosphere that solemnly conveyed the remorse Aguilar sought to express through his work. Their performance took the spotlight as De Novo won the title “Festival Champion” of the 2017 Asia Pacific-Arts Festival. More than each member’s individual talent, their strong commitment to the art of a cappella undoubtedly brought them to great heights.
Continuing De Novo’s Legacy After taking home the championship title and making a legacy for their ensemble, De Novo returned to its routine procedures of rehearsing for different events. Whether it was school programs, proms, or even private parties, the group never failed
to serenade the audience. Some of its most popular numbers being “How Deep is Your Love,” “She Was Mine,” and “One Day More.” While the original members have graduated, a handful of young auditionees have been welcomed into the De Novo family and are now performing both in and out of Xavier School. Just like their seniors, they quickly became adept singers, and even managed to organize Viaggio, the club’s very first virtual concert in February 2021. The pandemic shut down their opportunity to compete abroad in December 2020, but their unwavering discipline in the art of a cappella brings hope in achieving whatever future endeavors they set.
De Novo: A Family Bonded Through Music Although being in De Novo may seem taxing, each member mentioned that he felt a sense of companionship that helped the members endure the challenges a cappella brings. Many cited the practice sessions and performances because these have always been memorable to them. Being able to cooperate and harmonize independent voices, then unleash what they have trained much for on stage was a special feeling that strengthened their bonds with one another. Mr. Odoemene shares this sentiment as he considers De Novo a home, “‘Pag nasa bahay ka, comfortable ka, you feel accepted, at mahal ka.” He highlights the camaraderie they have formed with one another through their shared passion for singing. Even though it is hard and tiresome to train and come up with a good show, the homey feeling always keeps their attention away from the stress, and enables them to show the gift of song Xaverians possess. Photos provided by Xavier Media Team
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Flawed Democracy:
A DEEPER LOOK INTO TECHNOLOGY’S INFLUENCE ON POLITICS By Sean Chua (G11) There are about 2.8 billion Facebook users worldwide, and you’re most probably one of them.
A
s you scroll through your feed, you come across a conspicuous and seemingly harmless personality quiz. A few minutes later, unbeknownst to you, a tech company now has access to your Facebook account and probably knows more about you than you do about yourself. Worse, you are now part of an algorithm that can manipulate entire elections. This is the devious plot of a man behind a small data firm who revealed how democracy itself can be flawed through manipulating individual voters during the 2016 American elections and the United Kingdom Brexit referendum. The common denominator in both the US elections and the Brexit referendum was the involvement of Facebook and a company called Cambridge Analytica (CA). Cambridge Analytica, founded in 2013, is a British firm which harvests user data from a number of sources and claims to be able to combine this data with behavioral science to target different demographics through a variety of marketing techniques such as advertising. Affiliated with a communications firm called the Strategic Communications Laboratories (SCL) group, it has used a number of strategies to potentially sway the outcome of elections. The method which CA mainly used is known as “psychographic microtargeting,” and this is the same method used for the cases in both the United Kingdom and United States of America. Its implementation resulted in the compromise and improper use of 270,000 individuals’ social media networks. So, how exactly did Cambridge Analytica (CA) manage to gather the data of millions of people? They did so through a seemingly harmless “personality quiz.” According to Karissa Bell of Mashable, “The firm partnered with a Russian-American researcher who worked at the University of Cambridge named Aleksandr Kogan, who started a company named ‘Global Science Research’ (GSR). Under GSR, Kogan launched a personality quiz app called ‘This Is Your Digital Life,’ which he touted as a research experiment
used by psychologists.” Unbelievably, Facebook allowed apps and quizzes like this since they did not have strong data privacy laws then to prevent this from happening in the first place. In a press conference in 2018, Mark Zuckerberg said, “We didn’t focus enough on preventing abuse and thinking through how people could use these tools to do harm as well. That goes for fake news, foreign interference in elections, hate speech, in addition to developers and data privacy.” The sets of data produced by Kogan’s “personality quiz” reveal things about ourselves and could be used against us; data harvesting companies such as Cambridge Analytica take advantage of this fact and use it to manipulate viewers through specific targeted ads which are often put up on Facebook. Of course, CA’s involvement in the US presidential elections was denied in the company’s statement with regards to accusations on retaining data from Facebook users: “the parent company’s SCL Elections unit hired Dr. Kogan to undertake ‘a large scale research project in the US’, but subsequently deleted all data it received from Dr. Kogan’s company after learning that Dr. Kogan had obtained data in violation of Facebook policies.” However, in a seemingly contradictory remark, CA’s involvement was actually
FEATURES 09
outrightly stated by CEO Alexander Nix, taken from an undercover recording. He even bragged about how they were the catalyst in driving Trump’s presidential campaign: “We did all the research, all the data, all the analytics, all the targeting, we ran all the digital campaign, the television campaign and our data informed all the strategy.”
worked with whistleblower Christopher Wylie in exposing the issues about CA, the primary objective of these ads is to incite fear and hate within people to potentially sway them into thinking a certain way. Poll results seem to reflect that one’s level of education, which CA exploited, gauges one’s susceptibility to misinformation as well. People who had lower education levels were more easily swayed by news which incited strong emotions, such as fear and hatred, compared to those with higher education levels. The results of the referendum were tight, with 51.9% voting “Leave” and 48.1% voting “Remain.” In response to this, high-ranking officials from the UK disagreed with the decision for the country to leave the EU due to the adverse long-term effects the vote could pose on the country. Britain’s Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said that the UK leaving the EU could have significant and adverse effects on the nation, possibly resulting in a “diminished global voice.”
To continue with its operations, CA is often funded by a political party to swing the balance in its favor, as this is what transpired in the case of Donald Trump and his election campaign in 2016. According to Federal Election Commission records, “Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.”, the main financial affiliate of Trump’s presidential campaign, paid CA about $6M which was claimed to be used for “data management or data management services’’ in an attempt to sway the opinions of millions of voters across the US. CA was able to execute their plan using these funds and exploit people’s vulnerability to false information by using one’s fears – based After Alexander Nix’s suspension and resignation from on paranoia, political biases, racism and sexism – as a catalyst Cambridge Analytica in 2018, the company shut down to drive opinions. In the months leading up to the elections, and was officially defunct the same year due to the negative publicity it was receiving from its data-harvesting scandal, which they claimed to be legal. Nonetheless, this caused a “CA was able to publish over 10,000 ads on number of CA’s clients to back out, resulting in a significant Facebook targeted to the tens of millions of users decrease in the potential profits it could earn. However, whose data were harvested and spread.” some reports have claimed that CA executives have guised The ads contained demeaning misinformation against the themselves under other companies which could still have Democrat nominee Hillary Clinton while promoting Trump copies of previous data despite its supposed liquidation. as the ideal president in an attempt to depress the number These are just speculations and have not been fully confirmed. of votes Clinton would get. CA helped pull off what many Besides this, in Mark Zuckerberg’s meeting with the European thought to be impossible, one of the most unexpected Parliament in 2018, he provided them with a number of ways presidential victories in US history, but this was just one for Facebook users to have more control over their data as well instance of political manipulation through the exploitation of as pledged to significantly strengthen its cybersecurity against misinformation attacks. He emphasized the importance of data. doing so especially in times of elections to counter future Cambridge Analytica’s controversial interference in the UK’s attacks and has worked with governments and tech companies Brexit referendum was the reason for Brexit in the first place, as against potential threats. In addition, he has committed it swung voters’ opinions in favor of it. In this case, CA worked to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation with a pro-Brexit organization known as the “Vote Leave” (GDPR), which is a set of strict data protection laws in the EU campaign, which was headed by now UK Prime Minister, Boris and dictates how companies or entities can process the data Johnson. His organization allegedly laundered around £2.7M of citizens. to collaborate with Canadian data firm AggregateIQ (AIQ) which coordinated with Cambridge Analytica and used Given that the world is transforming into a more data-driven the same information gathered in CA’s database. However, one and realizing the power that large tech and companies Johnson boldly denied these claims. Moreover, AIQ helped wield, can we ever be sure that democracy is truly free? Can create the profiling data harvesting algorithm used by CA. we ever be sure that we, the people, are making the decisions? According to investigative journalist Carole Cadwalladr, who That we aren’t ever so slightly being manipulated?
Art by Marcus Apetreor (G11)
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section of the blue moon valley
jade dragon snow mountain in the background
Mr. SWAPEE By Amery Atinon (G11) and Marco Mendoza (G11)
I
n the closing ceremony of 2019’s Xavier China Experience Yunnan, over a hundred students watched a man walk onto the stage. The trip was definitely eventful; over forty-two days, it seemed as if everyone saw the best and the worst of each other. The delegates looked back fondly at the many memories created, good mixed with bad, but the latter stood out for the strangest reasons. Several incidents took place, all of which undoubtedly put a lot of stress not only on the parties involved, but on the entire delegation. Through it all, the one-hundred-person strong team looked to the same man onstage for reassurance. On that day, he gave the shortest of speeches, but it was met with great applause. The students cheered his endearing nickname: “Swapee!”
Photo by Hart Baking (G11) Art by Sky Angeles (G9) Top Photo by Coby Silayan (G12)
Mr. Paolo Suapengco, the team leader of XCE Yunnan 2019, remains a figure well-respected by the whole delegation. In his regular Xavier School life, Mr. Suapengco is the English department chair, but he also participates in the XCE Yunnan program. In 2019, he became the team leader of the whole program. We spent time with him to find out exactly what made this year’s batch stand out against previous batches, and what keeps him coming back to lead XCE delegations year after year.
You were this year’s Team Leader for XCE Yunnan, 2019, and you have been there a number of times before. What part of Yunnan draws you to repeatedly return to the place? I think it would be the unique natural features of the place. Yunnan has very distinct locations, such as the Stone Forest, and the Blue Moon Valley. In the context of the city of Kunming, it is not as advanced as other cities, and so the local color of the place is very enticing and endearing to me. You have participated in the XCE Program a few times before. What made you decide to become the Team Leader of this year’s delegation in Yunnan? It was not entirely my choice. You are usually “tapped” to become the Team Leader, but it is ultimately your decision to accept or decline the offer. I think what primarily compelled me to become the Team Leader once again this year was remembering my past experiences with the program. I was also the Team Leader for the XCE Yunnan Program in 2017, but I chose not to go in the following year because I had to finish my Master’s Degree. At the time, I didn’t quite know if I would go back this year, and so it took a lot of reflecting for me to come to that decision. Another major factor was knowing that it was Fr. Xavier Olin’s last year, and I didn’t want to miss
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the chance to work with him one last time in XCE. Being the English department chair, I never really have the chance to interact with students as much anymore since I no longer teach in a classroom setting. However, XCE has given me the opportunity to fulfill my role as a formator of students more directly. When you were first asked to be a supervisor for the XCE Program, what were your first impressions of it? I was initially scared and overwhelmed. I was a third-year teacher then, and I would only hear about what XCE was all about from colleagues. Mr. Mike Cuepo, the International Programs Coordinator at the time, was a good friend of mine, and he was able to allay a lot of my fears and doubts. He never romanticized it, and was very transparent about its challenges and difficulties. I later learned as I went through my first XCE Program that my fears were unfounded, and it was just me worrying too much. I would attribute my involvement in the program, in my becoming the Assistant Team Leader for Academics in my second year and Team Leader in my third and fourth, to Mr. Cuepo.
You have previously described this year’s batch to be a batch of “many firsts.” What did you like and dislike about this years’ batch? In all honesty, this year’s batch was very lovable. If I were to imagine the “worst person” in your batch hypothetically, I would still say that that person has good qualities that overshadow his not-so-good qualities. I think this years’ batch consists of very good-natured and sincere people. In my interactions with students, I came to know that they can be very honest and kind. Out of all batches that I’ve handled, I would say that they were the most easy to deal with, all things considered. I think they rekindled my reasons as to why I am still in the education field. While I was at the hospital after the incident, I learned that the students, who were back at the dormitory, held rosary brigades for the affected person. Many students had also messaged me out of genuine concern for that person as well. It is not always the case that I encounter a batch that cares so much about each other in little and big ways.
I would want them to know that the real world is very messy. It’s not as organized and orderly as what we have experienced in school. But as As Team Leader, you were faced long as people genuinely care for each with a lot of responsibilities, and other, no challenge is insurmountable. subsequently, stress. May we ask what your most stressful moment was in this year’s XCE Yunnan Program?
My philosophy for XCE is that no problem is insurmountable, but what really scares me every time I go is the welfare of the students. In XCE, students and teachers are so far away from home and our comfort zones. If anything bad should happen to the students - in terms of their mental and physical wellbeing - it is always something I take very seriously. In this year’s XCE Yunnan Program, someone was put at great risk because of an accident, and that was what made it the most stressful among all XCE Programs I’ve participated in.
How have your expectations for this year’s XCE Yunnan Program been met or subverted? My expectations for this year’s XCE Yunnan Program can be categorized. In terms of the program’s objectives, I think the batch definitely met my expectations. In terms of getting to know the batch, I think this is the batch that I have gotten closest to compared to previous XCE batches. I also believe that this batch has reciprocated the time and effort that I had invested towards the program, and in that aspect, I think the batch truly exceeded my expectations.
There were also many others who have contributed to the program’s success. In your opinion, who else should be credited for this year’s XCE Yunnan Programs’ success? I would definitely give credit to all the supervisors, as each one had something to contribute in their own way, and for that I am very grateful. I would also credit the students and their parents for bringing about the different experiences that we encountered, and how they dealt with them. I would also extend my gratitude to those behind the scenes, such as the I.P.O. and the Administrative Office who, although not always visible to the students, constantly worked very hard to ensure everyone’s wellbeing. Lastly, I would say that Fr. Xavier laid down the foundation of the entire formation program of XCE Yunnan. When Mr. Joel Hawod and I started participating in the XCE Program, Fr. Xave already had previous XCE experiences. As we got to work with him, a lot of the activities, events, and formation initiatives were already in place because of his devotion. Everything that we experienced in this years’ program all stemmed from what Fr. Xavier had laid out as groundwork, and every year we would always find ways to finetune the program. But while there is always room for improvement, we have a very solid formation program for XCE. What would you want the students and supervisors that you’ve handled to take away from the program? I would want them to know that the real world is very messy. It’s not as organized and orderly as what we have experienced in school. But as long as people genuinely care for each other, no challenge is insurmountable. All problems have solutions, and all challenges can be overcome and learned from. Due to the current pandemic, XCE has been suspended for future batches. Unfortunately, this has been necessary to protect the safety of the students and faculty involved. However, it is very likely that, one day, the XCE program will return, and future Xaverians will be able to enjoy and learn all that XCE has to offer.
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The Controversial History of Intelligence By Gabriel Mallare (G11)
M
athematicians consider intelligence as the ability to efficiently solve difficult problems. We students see intelligence as getting straight A’s. Athletes think of it as being able to come up with game-winning strategies. But, with the presence of so many ideas, what is the true meaning of intelligence?
intelligence is a singular and general skill. This means that an “intelligent” person is equally capable across all types of cognitive abilities, instead of, say, a virtuoso in music who fails in mathematics.
Opposing Spearman, Dr. Louis L. Thurstone of the L.L. Thurstone Psychometric Laboratory postulates that intelligence is instead composed of eight separate skills, unlike the Just like us, psychologists do not have previous notion that musical ability is a very clear or consensual idea on what different from mathematical ability. constitutes intelligence. In general, they These eight skills include: visual, agree that intelligence is the ability to verbal, bodily, logical, interpersonal, learn, solve, and recognize problems. musical, intrapersonal, and naturalistic. However, this is where the agreement ends From the top psychologists, we Similar to Thrustone, Dr. Robert have three schools of thought. Sternberg of Cornell University proposes that there are only three factors: Firstly, psychologist Charles Spearman, a analytical, creative, and practical. The Fellow of the Royal Society, believed that analytical factor in intelligence is your
ability to solve problems. The creative factor is the ability to solve new problems using past knowledge and experiences. The practical factor, finally, is your ability to adapt to new circumstances. Perhaps the reason why the definition of intelligence is so controversial is that there are differing cultural perceptions of what, really, is considered “intelligent.” Western-oriented cultures, such as that of the Americans, perceive intelligence as analytical ability. Eastern-oriented cultures like the Chinese, on the other hand, view intelligence as the ability to fulfill your social duties. The demarcation of perceived intelligence has also existed throughout every culture’s evolution. Huntergatherer societies, for instance, view
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intelligence in terms of foraging and the ability to fulfill social duties. A more modern example can be seen in the shift from a focus on linguistic ability, among Westerners, to analytical ability; just recently in 1960, the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge dropped knowledge of Latin as an entry requirement. Now, desirable qualities in prospective students lean towards their ability to pursue their passion. Despite conflicted ideas of what intelligence is, the very nature of intelligence, depending on society’s interpretation of what it is, has played an important role in history. Such is the purpose of intelligence tests.
standard IQ test — was used to determine candidates best suited for the Army. Despite Binet’s warnings, the test was used for all types of people from differing ages and backgrounds. The test was also used on immigrants to the country, but given the differing backgrounds of the immigrants, the results were largely inaccurate and used to make sweeping generalizations about them.
While the Stanford-Binet scale was used for objectively horrible things, it has also been used to save lives. The intelligence test was used by the United States to identify criminals with mental disabilities and exempt them from the death penalty. Furthermore, intelligence tests were able to identify more gifted students from underrepresented minorities as compared to teacher recommendations, whose opinions on the students tend to be more biased.
From being a simple tool used to help struggling students, the StanfordBinet scale took a dark turn. Truth be told, intelligence is actually
Eugenicists and ethnocentrists used this largely faulty data to support their claim that foreigners are The very first intelligence test was intellectually inferior to Americans invented by Alfred Binet, a psychologist due to biology and that the reason for tasked by the French government to the decline in American intelligence identify struggling students. Binet used was caused by racial integration. a combination of question types which he determined to be the best predictors Due to the “damning evidence” of success in school. Soon, he realized supporting this claim, Supreme Courts that the test could also be used to ruled to legalize the forced sterilization identify gifted students. However, of those deemed to be inferior to the Binet expressed concern regarding standard. For 70 years, the United the limitations of the test, stating States enforced 65,000 sterilizations of that it can only be used on children individuals (a population almost as large with similar backgrounds to derive as that of the province of Tarlac) who were accurate results and is too broad to be considered to have inferior intelligence to accurately estimated by one number. Western standards. Only in 1970 did the He further stated that it often fluctuates government desist forced sterilization Despite this, Binet’s intelligence test due to a series of lawsuits made against proved to be so popular that the them by non-profit organizations. This United States of America adopted a gloomy part of history harkens back to modified version of his test into their the Nazi-era of Germany, an even darker own educational system. Eventually, the time marked by the murder and inhumane American version of the test — Stanford- treatment of millions of people, all for the Binet scale, colloquially now known as the sake of the same ideology of purification.
affected by environmental factors, not biological ones. Harmful substances, malnutrition, and even teachers’ perceptions of their students may affect how you score in intelligence quizzes and academic achievement. Learning from these past mistakes, psychologists have been attempting to formulate a more inclusive intelligence quiz. While it is possible to accomplish this, University of California Los Angeles professor Dr. Patricia Greenfield perfectly encapsulates sentiments regarding this notion, stating “it requires a deep familiarity with each culture’s values and practices.” To put it mildly, intelligence quizzes have left a controversial legacy. While it is debatable whether the quizzes did more harm than good, it has left an enduring warning against bigotry and racism.
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THe COVID-19 Time Capsule: THEN AND NOW
By Amery Atinon, Jaden Lim, Justin Sy (G11)
PART I: Then May 2, 2020
Today marks the 46th day under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), which will be lifted on May 15. The Department of Health (DOH) reports 8,928 cases, with 603 deaths and 1,124 recoveries.
Present Actions
Stimulus checks and social amelioration programs, such as the subsidy of P200 billion to 18 million families, have been implemented to help those greatly affected by the virus such as the paycheck-to-paycheck workers. As part of the ‘Bayanihan One to Act’ program and several other programs, Total cases under the quarantine have risen the government attempts to support the wellbeing of the consistently, meaning that there has been no major people while flattening the curve, with the help of several spike under the ECQ. Though the statistics seem to non-profit organizations. Assistance for small businesses has be proof of the ECQ’s success, it seems that every also been provided in the form of special loans. Filipino’s life has drastically changed for the worse. To widen the scope of data and hasten the fight against The Paradigm Shift Of Filipino the virus, mass testing is underway, with the Red Cross recently mass testing repatriated Overseas Filipino Workers Livelihood The lockdown warranting the stay-at-home policy has stagnated (OFWs). Several candidate vaccines are being tested the economy. Mass unemployment and hard-pressed citizens globally, however none have been proven truly successful at caused inadequate demand and production, which closed the moment. several industries and slowed transactions. Economic downturn leading to delayed paychecks ensued a scramble for necessities. As of May 1, specific sectors and businesses were allowed to reopen, and production will start to ramp up. With the The pandemic is nothing short of a global crisis that has affected ECQ ending soon, some people will be free to go out and the livelihoods of many. The Department of Labor and will have to adapt to their new lives. Perhaps society and the Employment (DOLE) stated that as of April 24, 2.3 million economy can achieve its long-awaited return to normalcy. workers have been displaced from work. Being unable to receive That is, if there is no second wave. their salaries, those affected continue to face substandard living conditions, some even starving on a day-to-day basis. Businesses have also suffered tremendously, which resulted in the furloughing of millions of workers. With the vulnerability of infant industries to crash, the post pandemic economy could regress by leaps.
Our Fears
Metro Manila’s ECQ was announced to be ending on May 15. This would be necessary for the many who have suffered monetary losses from the lockdown, but many fear that reopening the country too early would cause the cases to spike. There is a looming threat of an even deadlier second With people confined to their homes, companies and schools wave resulting from a mishandled approach to reopening have started to use the internet in order to resume their activities. the country, but one can only hope that the current Working from home using video communications apps such as administration has the foresight to handle this well. Zoom has been the norm for many employees and business heads alike. Online shopping has boomed. Many educational We pen these words from the perspective of people in crisis. institutions have also switched to online learning, despite We remain optimistic that, in seven months, the world will logistical problems that may arise such as poor WiFi speeds. find some resolution for the coronavirus pandemic. Others find solace through online entertainment and search for Art by Sky Angeles (G9) new hobbies, which is essential in these troubling times.
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PART II: Now December 11, 2020
China. In recent months, cases have skyrocketed again in Europe and the United States of America. The tally in the Philippines shot up from June to August, reaching a maximum weekly count of 23,000 cases, however it has simmered down to 9,000 as of late November. The total now stands at 447,039 cases, with 8709 deaths and 409,329 recoveries. Hospitals are now more suited to fight the virus, which helps in mitigating its effects.
Vaccine
The New Normal?
The Philippines has also purchased candidate vaccines from Sinovac, AstraZeneca, and Pfizer, aiming to vaccinate at least 60 million people within the next 5 years.
June 1 signaled the start of the now nationwide GCQ and the gradual end of restrictions for people and businesses alike. Like pre-COVID times, frequenting public places and reuniting with loved ones have become a common occurrence, but not without obeying the obligatory social distancing and PPE policies. Many alternatively have shifted to online means, especially for shopping and communications.
On December 8, a historic achievement in the fight against COVID-19 occurred with the first dose of the Pfizer/ BioNTech vaccine being administered to 90 year old Margaret Keenan. The UK has already ordered 40 million doses, with the US following suit. The vaccine race has finally come to fruition, with another vaccine by Moderna waiting approval.
This hopefully marks the beginning of the end for this 1 year long catastrophe, but the vaccines still have many issues to face. It will take many resources for an effective distribution of vaccines, as the current vaccines require storage in cold temperatures, at around -70C°, in a logistical chain called the “cold chain.” There have also been many claims that Despite having conquered the height of the crisis, the the vaccine has had side effects, including the death of two Philippine economy is still on the long path to recovery. people during Pfizer vaccine trials. In reality, these cases are It is forecasted to shrink by around 8.5% in the coming almost certainly unrelated, but there remain many people months instead of the increase projected last year, while unwilling to take vaccines. unemployment, despite being considerably better, is still at a worrisome 8.7%. Expectations Currently, many still fear the economic impact of the In this bleak situation, people have been forced to adapt to COVID-19 Pandemic. While some semblance of stability the new normal. Online classes, including Xavier School may be present, 2020 has been an extremely tumultuous San Juan’s XSEL Program, have become the norm for many year. The virus will undoubtedly last until 2021, but its Filipinos. Lots of those who are unable to afford necessary effects will leave an indelible mark on future society. We devices have found other ways to continue their education. hope for an effective distribution of a vaccine, along with Gadget and internet fundraisers like Project Wifi (co- wise decisions from government leaders. Furthermore, it is founded by XS’ very own Mr. David Magbanua!) have been important to always remain vigilant and follow government initiated by individuals. Several LGUs such as the Manila protocols in limiting the spread of COVID-19. City government have not failed to deliver as well, as a massive number of online necessities have been distributed It seems like we are in the beginning of the end of the to teachers and students. COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to global efforts, we are hopeful that the worst is over. Complacency, however, is an issue that will undo this. As such, it is extremely vital for people from all walks of life to do their part in preventing the spread of this pandemic.
Art by Gabbie Tadena (G11)
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LUXURY cars
THE PROBLEMS AND WHY WE LOVE THEM Audi Quattro
By Lance Gosiaco (G11)
C
ars have become an important part of human society due to their ability to quickly transport people and items, but aside from that, cars also play an important role in one’s status or prestige. This can be seen in how a person driving a luxury car like a BMW or Jaguar will be viewed differently from a person driving a normal car such as a Honda or Toyota. For sure, many people aspire to be the former, with some wishing to be driven to work or school in the backseat of a shiny new Rolls Royce Phantom or MercedesBenz S-Class, or perhaps they would like enjoy the breeze by a seaside road in a convertible Porsche 911 or BMW Z4 roadster. Unfortunately, most people who dream of owning such a car may not be aware of the issues with owning such a car.
Alongside poorer reliability, maintenance is also pricier on luxury brands. Maintenance is a series of procedures done to a car after being driven for a certain distance, like replacing parts or fluids. When it comes to brands with the highest maintenance costs, luxury brands rank the highest, with the top three being Cadillac, Mercedes Benz, and BMW. Not only do these cars cost a fortune, but they also require a lot more to upkeep. This tends to be caused by complicated design, poorer build quality, or expensive parts (or a combination of the three).
Some cars have notoriously expensive maintenance costs, an example being the Ferrari F355. The majority of F355s require the timing belt, a crucial part of the engine that allows it to properly operate, to be replaced every three to A luxury car is generally defined as a vehicle that has five years, regardless of mileage, which is the number of better quality, performance, features, and status due to an miles a car has driven throughout its life. Part of the process increased price compared to normal cars. These types of involves removing the engine, a difficult and expensive cars usually come from brands such as Land Rover, Jaguar, process. Replacement can cost between 5,000 to 10,000 BMW, Mercedes Benz, and many others. While this may USD. If maintenance is not done, the engine will fail and seem quite appealing, there are some costly drawbacks. will require a rebuild that can cost up to 25,000 USD in order to work again. This is just as expensive as a new car. For One such issue is reliability. This is defined as how frequent reference, preventative replacement of the timing belt in a an unplanned breakdown is likely to happen, with reliable normal car costs between 500 to 2000 USD, and a brand cars breaking down less. Luxury brands tend to rank quite new Toyota Corolla in the Philippines starts at around low in many lists of reliability. The ReliabilityIndex notes 21,000 USD. that out of the 40 brands on the list, the five lowest are Land Rover, Porsche, Aston Martin, Bentley, and Maserati, all of One may say that these issues do not really matter since which are luxury brands. most people who can afford to purchase these kinds of cars are wealthy enough to afford repair and maintenance. The A brand notorious for its unreliability is Land Rover, a British issue with this argument is that it allows manufacturers to manufacturer most known for its off-roaders. Land Rover’s cars get away with lower standards of quality. Should we really be have been given constantly low reliability ratings for the past two letting these prestigious manufacturers get away with having decades as owners have reported multiple issues on both old such difficult and costly ownership just because buyers can and new cars. A common issue across the manufacturer’s cars is afford it? Well, this does not really matter. the axle and suspension, which is detrimental for a car that’s built for off-roading, as those parts have to be strong to withstand the In spite of these problems, most of us will continue to look rough conditions that it will undergo such as dirt, thick mud, and at these manufacturers and their cars with awe. Even if inclines. Having such an expensive vehicle break easily in the role it most people knew of these issues, it would not stop these was intended for makes the vehicle’s value questionable. manufacturers from being lauded. This is because even
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Lamborghini Miura
BMW 850
Mercedes Benz 190E Evo II
BMW E30
though these manufacturers may not represent the better and style of the 911 has not been significantly changed since quality that is expected, they still make cars that are really its inception in 1963 as its design is quite unique and attractive. darn cool. Other such designs include the Mercedes Benz CLK GTR, the Ferrari Testarossa, Lamborghini Miura, and the BMW There are many things people love about prestigious cars. 850Csi. One of these is the styling or design, which is what most people immediately notice about a car. Many luxury brands To complement the better styling on more prestigious cars, have been responsible for some of the best looking and a better driving experience is needed, whether by means of most recognizable cars ever produced. These are some of better comfort or more engagement. Comfort-oriented my favorites. cars like the Rolls Royce Phantom and the MercedesMaybach S-Class offer a lot of features like a refrigerated When it comes to off-roader vehicles, I think Land Rover storage compartment for drinks, tray tables, high quality really knows how to design them well. I personally love materials, and other goodies in order to give the passengers the look of their older vehicles like the Range Rover a relaxing and comfortable method of travel, while sportClassic and the Defender. The boxy styling and the oriented cars like the Porsche’s 911 and Cayman/Boxster, large silhouettes of these vehicles are what really gives BMW’s M cars, Mercedes’ AMG cars, and many others offer these old Land Rovers such a charming muscular look. better performance compared to normal cars. When you get into a boring old sedan or crossover, your thoughts and Boxy-styling is not limited to SUVs, as sports cars can consideration about your car end when you get out, but that is have them too. Examples include the BMW E30 M3, the not the case with these cars. They offer a much more fun and Lamborghini Countach, the Mercedes Benz 190E Evolution engaging driving experience that will keep you excited with II, and the Audi Quattro. There is something about these the quick acceleration from the increased power from the cars that makes them so nice to look at. These cars have that engine, the responsive handling from the lightweight design aggressive feel to them without having to use aggressive features and suspension, and the delightful sound of the exhaust. like angry headlights or lots of sharp edges. You look at the BMW E30 M3 from the front and know it means business. Luxury cars, while quite appealing, have issues that result in costly ownership, but they offer so much more than your On the other side of the spectrum of boxy-styling is the sleeker boring everyday car that it helps one forget about the issues. design with smoother edges and more curves. A personal No matter how problematic these cars could be, they will favorite design of mine is the Porsche’s 911. The general shape never cease to be really freaking awesome.
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What makes “john wick” work so well? By Amery Atinon (G11) The movie franchise “John Wick” has been described by critics as one of the best action films ever produced. The experience of seeing Keanu Reeves’s character, the eponymous assassin, in violent action scenes against people who have wronged him is simply unmatched by anything else. On the surface, however, it seems that nothing really separates “John Wick” from the thousands of other mindless action films. It is very clear, though, that Chad Stahelski, Keanu’s former stunt double, and David Leitch, the directors of all three installments, have done something very well in creating their masterpiece. Through its subtle worldbuilding, mysterious characters, and expertly done fight scenes, ‘John Wick’ became a franchise rivalling the greatest movies ever made. This review does not contain spoilers.
Worldbuilding Without Words Typical stories create their worlds by having a character who is the stand-in for the audience or through flashbacks. “John Wick” does both, but strays far from other films in its subtlety. An “audience surrogate” is a character in the film who experiences events that give the viewer context behind what the story is truly about. In the original “Star Wars” trilogy, Luke Skywalker’s point of view in the story gives the audience clues about George Lucas’ envisioned world. His adventures show the power struggle between the Rebels and the Empire.
In ‘John Wick,’ the Boogeyman himself, John Wick, acts as the audience surrogate. Despite this, he does not speak to the audience to explain exposition; his actions, such as giving a police officer a gold coin as hush money, show that he is part of a system where respected “criminals” are allowed impunity. The franchise is a prime example of “Show, don’t tell,” due to its effective low-key way of telling a story. More than worldbuilding, the “John Wick” series is able to create subtle, yet interesting, exposition. Over the entire three movies, there is only one major flashback which involves John and his wife. Right before his wife died of a terminal illness, she arranged a dog to be given to John Wick as somewhat of a surrogate of her. When, as a major plot point for the first film, Russian gangsters murder that dog, viewers would remember the flashbacks, making the action of the villains a lot more impactful and gives a motivation for John Wick’s actions throughout the rest of the film.
As a heavy neo-noir film akin to “Sin City,” the creators of “John Wick” must have realized the importance of worldbuilding without words.
Simple, Yet Memorable, Characters The franchise’s characters are not exactly complex. A lot of them can be summed up in a single thought or idea, yet this simplicity can also create some of the most memorable characters. The secondary villain of the first movie is Iosef Tarasov, played by Alfie Allen. His entire character can be summarized as a rich mobster kid. He is the one who killed John Wick’s dog over a minor dispute. Given the popularity of dogs, killing one, especially in today’s society, is a despicable and outrageous move. This simple act is pretty jarring to the viewer, which helps the viewer remember Tarasov more vividly.
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The movie does not give any backstory to Tarasov’s character, but he still remains an unforgettable part of the first film. For a decently long film, Tarasov is one of the many characters who barely get exposition or depth in any part of the movie. Viewers would see him as just a stereotypically evil villain, and yet it seems that Tarasov remains one of the movie’s many memorable characters.
having a red palette. This appears almost constantly, with mixed colors for uncertain events. Color palettes are just one of many cinematic techniques the directors have used to enhance the movies’ plot.
assassin ends with the assassin getting a knife in his aorta, with John claiming that had he pulled the knife out, the assassin would have bled out and died. This is definitely violent, but the realism that is still apparent among all these insane action stunts makes the More prominently seen in the second film more enjoyable for viewers. and third iterations of the franchise, many shots would show the reflections In the third movie, John fights Japanese of characters instead of themselves. ninja-assassins and ends up using melee For example, if John was standing weapons. One of them gets blades next to a puddle, the cinematography thrown into his torso, while the other opts to show his face reflecting off of has his eye stabbed. Gruesome and the puddle rather than a normal shot violent, these scenes have raised the of him. As noted by CinemaWins in movies’ age rating to R-16, but have his video series about the film series, become an iconic part of the series. having to edit out the cameramen from the shot would have been extremely These characteristics are a testament to difficult. the effort that the film’s creators have put into making the movie stand out among an oversaturated genre. It has These shots are unique and become apparent that “John Wick” has set the series apart from other a lot of important cinematic qualities action films, showing a high degree of effort and care from the going for it, from its worldbuilding, to its unspoken character details, to its filmmakers. cinematography and choreography.
Other characters such as John’s friend, Marcus, played by Willem Dafoe, Winston, the hotel manager played by Ian McShane, and even the main villain, Viggo Tarasov, played by the deceased Michael Nyqvist, remain as memorable as they are even if many of them do not get a last name for reasons similar to Tarasov’s own character. Most action movies try to add depth to their characters by giving long stretches of exposition, but the creators of “John Wick” seem to have realized through the use of subtle details to tell stories, it is possible to make simple, yet memorable, characters. In the actual fight scenes, John uses several martial arts techniques, with The clear implications these characters the bonus of straight-up shooting have in the story, adding onto the people. Keanu Reeves, who plays subtle storytelling that makes these John Wick, is no stranger to doing characters interesting without much his own stunts. He has starred in exposition, makes these characters action films such as “The Matrix” and simply memorable. Viggo, in particular, clearly has the experience to improve is seen becoming more unhinged as he a movie’s quality, even undergoing starts smoking, drinking, and taking military-esque training for his stunts drugs to cope with the movie’s events. at the age of 50. One of the main features attracting audience members Blue Light, Red Light is the series’ amazing choreography, involving several fighting styles such The “John Wick” series is littered with as Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Japanese jiu-jitsu, many subtle, but impactful, details that and Judo. serve to make the films as pleasing to watch as they are. The unfiltered, and even uncut, fights An iconic part of the series is its color have become characteristic of the palette. This is most evident in scenes “John Wick” series. In the second where John “wins” having a blue color movie, a particular fight with a fellow palette, with scenes where he “loses”
“John Wick” is not just another brainless action film; it is a series that is beloved, not just by fans, but by everyone involved in its production. When one stops to appreciate how much love and detail was poured into every individual scene, the word “masterpiece” does not seem so far off.
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Tour’e De force: A STROKE OF GENIUS By Andrei Ledesma (G11)
F
rom the depths of Xavier School’s indie-dominated music scene, Tour’e De Force is able to bring something new to the table. By bridging elements of rock with the distinct groove of funk music, the members are able to come up with their own unique sound that never fails to get the audience going. In an interview conducted over the summer, they sat down to talk about their creative direction, their experiences as a band, and prove themselves to be a force to be reckoned with. It all goes back to 2017, when guitarist John Pena met his future bandmate, Mitchell Lu, in the school guitar club. Given that they had similar tastes in music, John says they, “got along pretty quickly.”
accomplished with a high degree of ability. According to John, the band’s name was derived from the Al Di Meola album of the same title. When they pitched the idea to Mr. James The duo began making music Rivera-- one of the teachers supportive together and eventually considered of the band’s efforts, he suggested that the possibility of forming a band. The they add the letter “E” to their name to next person who joined their group make it sound more unique— just like was Joshua Chung, the sole bassist in the music the band has to offer. the guitar club. Mitchell then invited drummer Berton Baladad, who in turn found their main vocalist, Gian Tour’e De Force has been known Marcorde. to go against the grain-- expanding their work to different genres and Initially known as The Firm in their experimenting with various styles. earlier days, the band was heavily The members familiarized themselves influenced by classic rock music. The with the strong bass lines and complex group took inspiration from the likes rhythms funk music has to offer and of Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, incorporated these elements into and Pink Floyd. their rock-oriented playing style. Their versatility as a funk-rock band is clearly They eventually rebranded themselves demonstrated in their covers of “Radio as “Tour’e De Force,” a French phrase Shack’’ by Vulpeck and “Crazy Little that refers to an outstanding feat Thing Called Love” by Queen, songs
by artists the band considers major influences. This versatility is something that the band takes pride in, especially since it is one of the few bands in Xavier-- if not the only-- that plays with this unique style. This distinctiveness is what propelled the band to play on the stage of many school events. Tour’e De Force has a long list of performances under its belt, including A-Day and the annual school fair. It was also supposed to play at the cancelled XS-ICA Interaction of 2019. As a matter of fact, the earthquake which led to the event being cancelled took place while the band was conducting a soundcheck for its show the following day. But among all its performances, the band considers their Graduation Ball 2019 gig to be the most memorable-and also the most nerve-wracking. Joshua explained that unlike their
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TOUR’E DE FORCE PERFORMING AT THE XAVIER SCHOOL FAIR
previous sets where they would just play in the background while everyone’s attention was diverted someplace else, they were put under the spotlight. It was the largest audience they have ever had packed into a single room and all eyes were on them. There was no room for mistakes. To prepare for this, they rented out a studio for them to practice the same three songs they would perform two weeks prior to the event. It was moments like this that brought the group closer together despite its very busy schedules. The members of the band all agree that the Graduation Ball was a night to remember. Aside from delivering a powerful performance, they were able to solidify their friendships by making even more memories in each other’s company. Joshua even narrated how he almost broke a glass door at the events place and was scolded by a guard for doing so, evoking laughter from the rest of the band with the recollection.
was an awkward silence followed by common passion for music. They have laughter. “We were going to,” Mitchell been at it for four years, enjoying every answered. moment they play together as a band. This supports their belief that music is He explained that they had made many a force that brings people together, that attempts to write their own songs in the unites people despite their differences. past, though these never materialized. John added to this by saying that, The members of Tour’e De Force are “when songwriting comes to people’s grateful for the supportive teachers heads, they think it’s not that hard. and schoolmates who share the same You just need lyrics. But when you’re passion as they do. They believe that in a band, you have different people Xavier School has a lot of homegrown with different ideas and it becomes a talent-- something that can be struggle to come up with something. nurtured if the school provided more The writing becomes convoluted since opportunities for their students to the ideas conflict.” hone these gifts. They hope that in the future, other student creatives will be For this reason, they plan to continue given the same chances to showcase doing what they are good at while their talents the same way they did. recently deciding to focus on playing alt-rock instrumental music. At the end of the day, what matters Listen to the band’s music at Tour’e to John, Mitchell, Joshua, Berton, De Force’s Soundcloud page and and Gian is the camaraderie the follow them on Instagram at @ group fosters brought about by their touredeforce .
Tour’e De Force is known for its masterful renditions of a variety of songs but when asked if the members had plans to make original music, there
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Being a Cast Member of Stage FX’s Silver Year: A Tale of Taking Risks THE MEMBERS OF STAGE FX SY 2019-2020 at THEiR PRODUCTION: “We TELL THE STORY”
By Jaden Lim (G11)
A
t the end of ninth grade, an older friend of mine who was much more active in extracurricular activities (ECAs) made me wonder: if all I did until I graduated was go to school, watch YouTube, then cram until late at night, would I take away anything memorable or meaningful from my high school years? I figured that Grade 10 would be the time when I joined a club that was outside my realm. A club that was unrelated to math or science; that pushed me to develop untapped skills; and that compelled me to suppress my shyness was what I was aimed for. Stage FX, the drama club, sounded perfect, but I was hesitant to approach their booth in the ECA fair. I was too anxious of what could happen to me; I might even be casted for all I know! After 15 minutes of worrying and circling around the booth, my apprehension suddenly disappeared. I knew it would soon come back, so I hurried for the pen and signed my name. I would soon see myself attending club meetings in preparation for Stage FX’s silver year shows.
The Beginnings of a New Actor Kabanata, the show for the first semester, ended meaningless in my case. The actors and the core team had a tough few months balancing schoolwork with all the show preparations, but I felt unfulfilled and regretful for my lack of contribution to the production team I belonged to. I reminded myself that if I wanted to make my experience in the drama club worthwhile, then I had to take up more demanding roles. That same feeling came back in my first week of the Xavier China Experience when I was deciding whether or not to record a second take of my required audition videos for the second show. I realized that “We Tell The Story” was the finale for the club’s 25th anniversary, so the cast had to be exceptional. I believed I did not possess enough talent and courage to be worthy of a role, but I was still thrilled at the thought of being on stage. I finally encountered a transformative opportunity that I had hoped for, and I could not let this slip out of my hands. About a week later, I received a barrage of pictures while I lined up for dinner at my dormitory. Each revealed my six song and dance numbers, three of which I had a lead role in. What were the odds of being selected for one-third of the play, even more so
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being away from my co-actors who were back home? Well, I to stage fright, but I had to use these as reminders to step up could not back out anymore. I was chosen to perform, and the my game. In one week, I studied my characters even more and curtains would reveal what I had to offer in two months. mastered a whole new routine yet again. The last two shows finally came around, and I felt anxious. I wished that all my sweat and tears would make the audience applaud not because Arriving Back Home Having returned from my one-month stay in Yunnan, it of etiquette, but because of true pleasure in watching the show. was finally time to meet and rehearse with the rest of the I will never forget the words of a previous club president who cast. Stepping foot into the rehearsal venue, I saw everyone came to watch, “It was just…wow. Fantastic.” grouped up, refining the nuances of their footwork. I did a terrible job at pretending to know what to do since all I To Answer The Question That learned were the chorus and a verse of one song, so I stuck out Started This Adventure... like a sore thumb. Piling onto that feeling was hearing about If I were asked to join Stage FX before I was in Grade 10, I the others’ theatrical backgrounds. Not only was I greatly would have refused because I had ingrained into my head unprepared; everyone far outclassed me in experience and the image of the world of performing arts swallowing a shy sheer talent. introvert whole. I was fine with being in my little comfort zone, avoiding any type of challenge until that year. I figured that I would have to learn and go through everything alone since I was too shy to ask my unfamiliar co-actors. “I was dragged out from my shell, but that Watching choreographies on YouTube was no help at all, so I expanded my horizon.” had to approach one of my scene partners for the first time. It was mortifying, but it was also really relieving to finally talk to someone. She helped me get the hang of the steps and make Accepting that challenge brought me many realizations friends throughout the rehearsals. I stopped feeling alone, and about my unexplored talents. I never knew I had singing abilities that amazed people, nor did I see my dance moves became part of the crowd practicing and chatting. to be worthy of performing the hardest scenes of our play. Our everyday conversations would be interrupted for dry Listening to our moderator’s coaching and observing my runs of the show. During my first run, our moderator called co-actors perform other scenes guided me in developing my my partner and me to show her our duet of The Fantasticks’ acting. I am still far from being the perfect actor, but being “I Can See It,” even when we had not coordinated nominated for the “On the Right Track” award during our beforehand. Suddenly, I heard the moderator’s giddy shrieks year-end club ceremonies made me believe in my progress. and the others’ compliments from the get-go of our act. It was definitely a surreal moment, but I left that rehearsal with Sharing the theatrical experience with my co-members welcomed me into the family of Stage FX. Making the first a wide grin on my face. move by talking to my scene partner was awkward, sure, but broke the ice between us. She was the outlet towards many Showtime: One Hell of A Ride itnew friendships, which eventually became a new clique that When classes resumed after the Christmas break, my I came to hold dear because of all the memories we made in mundane schedule got obliterated by our four hour-long and out of theater. daily rehearsals. Practicing while maintaining my honor roll was exhausting to say the least, but two scenes really gnawed Risks are daunting because we fear the unknown. There is at me. “We Dance” from Once On This Island got heavily no sense of security in being unaware of what will take place condensed, so we had to squeeze our routine in half the time. when we put ourselves in unpredictable situations, but there “America” from West Side Story needed a ton of dry runs is also a beauty in its mystery. Challenging ourselves to escape for us to emulate top-notch tap-dancing and ballet, and we our personal comfort zones will always lead to discoveries, started practicing as a group only about two weeks prior! whether these be our unexplored talents, a trustworthy bunch More fatiguing and late rehearsals came as the days neared of friends, or simply new experiences. Failure is inevitable show night, but I pulled through until the first two shows. when diving into risks, but learnings from those defeats are hidden gems that let our character shine. Do not stick to what In my eyes, my performances were absolutely terrible; I just is comfortable; enjoy the thrill of risks because that brings out could not stop cringing when I recalled singing out of tune, the best in you and your life. blanking out on my choreography, and acting awkward due
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EDUCATION IN Korean Society By Hong Jun Na (G11)
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veryone dreams of becoming successful. Indulging oneself through wealth, fame, or social status is a ubiquitous experience regardless of age, gender, or nationality. People dream of being the prodigy who can get perfect scores without studying, the most influential person, the most attractive person, and much more extravagant lives. Most would set these dreams as life’s “end-goal” and start chasing it no matter what, but where would this journey start? There are thousands of answers, but if you were to ask a Korean parent, nine out of ten times their answer would be “어느 대학 나왔는지” which means, “which university you graduated from.” Most Korean parents and even students have this mistaken Korean axiom instilled in their minds because of a society that prioritizes social status and
credibility, and discriminates based on mentions that getting in a good the university a person graduates from. university is a lot more important than studying and actually learning South Korea is considered to have (Matthews, 2015). one of the best education systems due to the high motivation of students in This is a ubiquitous mindset amongst the intense pressure environment, the teenagers in Korea. Early on in middle consistent success of Korean students school, or for some, in grade school, in international testing programs, students learn from their parents that the involvement of parents in their the university he or she gets accepted children’s education, among others, into will probably define his or her life. characterize this system. However, This is unfortunately why lots of kids the road to success is not as smoothly and teens do not have the luxury to paved as some may think. The spend time with their friends or families. same system is also stiff, dreary, and excessively demanding. Korea has a relatively small graduating class of approximately 600,000 South Koreans say their obsession students. Consequently, those who to get their children into top-notch do not have a full grasp of the Korean universities is nothing short of “a war.” education system may think that In a documentary called “Reach for getting into a good Korean university the SKY” (2015), which tells the story is not that hard. . However, that claim of Korean high school students in could not be further from the truth. the cruel education system, a student Students dream to get into 스카이
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(SKY), an acronym used to refer to the three most reputable universities in South Korea: Seoul National University, Korea University, and Yonsei University. They are nationally recognized as the most prestigious, and admission to any of these institutions is deemed as a determinant of one’s career and social status. This level of prestige is due to most of South Korea’s influential politicians, engineers, scientists, lawyers, journalists, and many other respected professions being graduates of one of these three universities.
All 600,000 Korean students around the country take the test at the same time. The test is so important that it halts the entire country; work starts an hour later so that students do not have to go through traffic, planes are grounded during the listening portion to not disturb the students, and parents pray together that the countless hours of study their children had will pay off.
Unfortunately, just getting a high score in the ‘수능’ does not guarantee an entrance ticket into Compared to the other two, Seoul the top universities. The majority of National University is the most parents and students believe that a selective; for the Korean applicants of combination of being a top student in the class of 2019, the acceptance rate the batch, having multiple leadership was approximately 14.25% (a significant positions, winning in national increase compared to last year). competitions, and volunteering in various service activities will merit the highest possibility of an admission. As preparation for the ‘수능’ (Suneung, a college scholastic ability test) and “This adds even more workload ‘기말고사’ (Gimalgosa, semestral and pressure to the excruciating tests), Korean high school students schedule of a regular Korean usually have a 16 hour school day. They student.” generally study in school from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but most stay at school until The students’ belief that getting into 9 p.m. for ‘자율학습’ (Jayulhakseub, SKY university being tantamount to self study time), then go to a ‘학원’ a highway to a prestigious career and (Hagwon, which are private after social status motivates these students school learning programs) to study to continue persevering. This belief also even more (Park, 2017). drives students to have rivalries with
Parents and teachers often pressure students with low grades by stating that they would not be able to find a high-paying job and a place in society. Teachers also post the grades of the students to motivate those at the bottom end, but this ends up bringing even more humiliation upon those students. This atmosphere in which students are urged to study harder in order to get into SKY, humiliated and berated for their low grades, compared to everyone around them, and expected to thrive in school is like training soldiers in preparation for a war . Even if one does not get accepted in any of the three, there are numerous other alternatives. So the urge and burden imposed on both the parents and students to attend a top 3 university is disturbing.
It is harrowing how students are effectively taught the importance of universities and admissions rather than the importance of learning and finding one’s passion. Even amidst these turbulent times, half a million students have taken the notorious CSAT last December (Kwon et al, 2020). Although the authorities have undergone considerable planning to minimize the risk, the fact remains that one another and inevitably induces a the high school students have risked Students in their last year of high “survival of the fittest” mindset in the their lives, which shows the importance school have to go through much worse. educational society. of the test. Most of them would study until early morning just to go back to school, However, not all students are able Students all around the world, enduring the sleepy lectures with only to endure all the studying and and especially in Korea, are busy a few hours of sleep to prepare for the competing. Some do end up relying completing the supposed check-list of ‘수능.’ The ‘수능’ functions as a national on extreme measures to escape. activities that can help them get into graduation test, taken in November Among teenagers, suicide is the a university. What they really need, each year, which contains all lessons leading cause of death. The prominent though, is the opportunity and ability learned in high school. cause of the high suicide rate is the to reflect and discern their passion and gloomy climate of the education ambitions in life. system and the immense burden of attaining a ticket to a good university.
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MY EXPERIENCE BEING AN ONLINE FIVERR COACH By Jose Caedo (G12)
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or most of 2020, people had to quarantine in order to protect themselves and their loved ones from COVID-19. For many teenagers such as myself, video games became the go-to source of satisfaction, with several games seeing overwhelming increases in player count, the resurgence of Minecraft being a prime example. Recognizing the opportunity to seize large player bases, some companies decided to release upcoming games much earlier than anticipated. When developer Riot Games A pair of Jaguar XKEs from 1961 decided to release Valorant a few months ahead of schedule, coinciding with my summer break and the heightened Valorant to help people improve online lockdown measures, little did I know in exchange for a couple bucks. This idea how much such a game would impact my would combine my favorite hobby and summer. earning money, which seemed way too good to be true. We believed that because Valorant is a tactical, online first-person we were proficient at the game, we could shooter, my favorite genre of games. Many teach and share our knowledge and have described it as a mixture of Counter experience with other people to increase Strike: Global Offensive and Overwatch, their skill-level at a faster rate than they two highly acclaimed games of the shooter would without our help. We then joined genre. My friends and I have countless Fiverr, a service selling platform, and began hours (ranging in the thousands) playing advertising our service, coaching people tactical shooter games and have even in Valorant. We did this by compiling our achieved some of the highest ranks. Early highlights and uploading them onto our into Valorant’s release, we were able to Fiverr page, showing off our skills. We also adapt quickly due to our experience and posted photos of our ranks, proving our achieved a rank for only the top 2% of expertise. players worldwide.
customers given that people usually only play games casually, even with games as competitive as Valorant. Furthermore, we were just a bunch of high schoolers — who would be willing to buy our service, anyways? We weren’t too serious about the business, but we were not discouraged either as we were practically stuck in our homes all day. Regardless of whether someone would purchase our service, we would continue to play Valorant and other online games so it was not a big deal if nobody would purchase the service, considering nothing of value was invested.
To our surprise, after just two days on Fiverr, people actually messaged us. We were surprised because not only did we receive any messages to begin with, but By the time we had reached the top, we Honestly, we initially had very low we received way more messages than wanted to do something with our skills. expectations with how the “business” expected. People inquired about the Inspired by videos on YouTube, we figured would progress. We expected very few process of how we were going to coach that we could actually use our expertise in
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them and about our availability. Perhaps the most difficult part of interacting with customers was finding a time at which we were both available, since our customers were mainly from the United States. But we also had customers from all over the world like India, Australia, UAE, Malaysia, and even the Philippines. Luckily, our experiences with all of them were quite positive. Even though our customers came from all over the world, it was surprising how proficient they were in English, a factor we initially hadn’t taken into account until we realized it wasn’t a problem whatsoever. It was interesting to meet people from different cultures and be able to interact with them through Valorant. In a time when feelings of isolation from the rest of the world reigned supreme, Valorant turned out to be a gateway to interacting with people thousands of miles away. As much as I came into the service looking to make some money on the side, it was being able to get to know people and their diverse experiences that turned out to be the highlight of the whole endeavor. Although, there were of course people who were slightly difficult to interact with, which definitely tested our abilities to teach effectively. For instance, we had a customer who was extremely shy and barely talked. We initially thought it was because he didn’t know how to speak English fluently, but his English actually turned out to be very good. However, his responses to our questions were extremely brief, so we couldn’t figure out if our ideas were getting through to him. He would not ask questions and usually just agreed to everything we were saying, unlike some of our customers who seemed enthusiastic and responsive when conversing with us. We hoped that he understood as we wanted to give him his money’s worth, but in the end, we were never 100% sure how effective we were in teaching him. This
particular experience actually helped me relate to my teachers; I wondered if this is how they felt whenever they get dead air when asking, “Any questions?” or asking a question themselves, a feeling that I’m sure has only gotten more pervasive with the challenges of online learning.
Shameless plug: https://www.fiverr.com/ ecvalorantboost?source=gig-cards Or you can check us out on Fiverr at ecvalorantboost :)
Overall, this experience taught me so many things: marketing a service, interacting with customers, teaching others, and building and upholding a brand image. However, the most important thing I learned was to seize the opportunities available to me. In hindsight, I was undeniably lucky. This experience was made possible by a series of events that coincidentally aligned. Had people not been stuck in their homes during the summer break, or had Riot Games not released Valorant early, I would never have been able to experience working on Fiverr. To fellow Xaverians, or anyone else reading this: if there’s a venture you’d like to start, there’s no better time than right now. Seize the opportunities in front of you, for you never know where they might take you. For me and my friends, we simply wanted to make some extra money, but ended up building relationships and gaining invaluable experience that will guide us for the rest of our lives. Finally, I’d like to thank Coby Ng, Sean Ong, Tristan Tan, and Michael Yu for helping make this experience possible and as successful as it is.
Art by Sky Angeles (G9)
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ANOTHER TURNING POINT, A FORK STUCK IN THE ROAD WHY I CHOSE TO LEAVE THE IB DIPLOMA PROGRAM By Marco Mendoza (G11)
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very new school year, the swift approach of the second quarter marks a time of contemplation for Grade 10 students as they prepare for one of the most pivotal moments in their education. The school year that passed was no different for myself and several other sophomores, as we each came to the long-awaited decision of whether or not we would apply for the esteemed International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP). Having applied and made the cut into the eleventh cohort of the program, I had to make a choice -- the choice to either push through with my acceptance, or to discontinue my IB life before it even started. I ultimately decided to withdraw from it and carry on with
the standard Senior High School program. Although unpopular and questionable, I am optimistic that my decision was nothing less than what is best for me. Enrolling in the IB Diploma Program had long been a topic of discussion among my friends and family. My parents first acknowledged the idea in my latter grade school years, and grew increasingly supportive of it. After all, reaping the benefits of the program seemed to be the most sensible course of action at the time given its reputation as an acclaimed, world-class educational program. I, like many other aspiring IB students, looked to obtain the distinction and leverage that it offered when
applying to universities both locally and internationally. However, it was not until we were first oriented about the program in the first quarter when my initial apprehensions surfaced. Much emphasis was placed on the programs’ rigorous and highly demanding curriculum, and I slowly began to realize that making the program worthwhile requires exhausting significant amounts of time and energy into it, which was something I was not sure I was capable of. Though I had my share of doubts and reservations, I applied for the program in the hopes of buying more time to come to terms with its demands. The application process was, in itself, a test of commitment and endurance, as I
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found its many requirements to be grueling and time-consuming. It was also around this time when I consulted with friends from upper cohorts. The common advice that they imparted to me was that the IBDP required a great deal of time management that, if not properly practiced, would cause students to be overwhelmed. Along the same line, I had also heard of some students’ troubles in balancing extracurriculars with the learning courses of the program. This alarmed me as during the same year, I had joined three school-organized clubs that I intended to remain a part of in the following school years. Furthermore, I had hoped to join a few more committees in senior high in order to achieve a well-rounded list of credentials by the time I graduated. I feared that having several non-academic commitments while concerning myself with the daunting workload of my chosen IB courses would simply be too much for me to bear and would take a great toll on my mental and physical health. The time came for my interview with IB personnel, the last part of the application process. After being carefully assessed on my strengths and weaknesses as a student, I was given the chance to inquire about the program
itself. I was curious as to how, amid all the demands and the inherent rigor of the program, IB students were able to properly prepare for college entrance exams, which included certain concepts that were not included in their chosen set of subjects. The interviewer told me about schoolorganized weekend classes which aim to supplement students’ learning by discussing subjects other than those of their regular class days.
“It seemed, to me at least, that this was merely an extension of class hours, and a misuse of time which could otherwise be allotted for rest or fulfilling other requirements.”
with each subject offered and the mandatory IB core consisting of Theory of Knowledge (TOK), Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS), and Extended Essay (EE). By the start of the fourth quarter, we were given the chance to attend IB simulation classes of our chosen classes. A clear path was laid out in front of me, but the apprehensions I had about this choice were more glaring than ever. I began to acknowledge the underlying risks in juggling intensified schooling with numerous extracurriculars. I soon realized that if I chose to continue, there could be a possibility that my mental health and academic performance would suffer. This was not how I wanted to prepare for my college admissions.
Moreover, I found it far more Just before the deadline, I handed convenient and healthy if I were to over my letter stating my withdrawal take things at my own pace, finding from the IB Diploma Program and, time for myself, studies, and other instead, signed up for the Accounting commitments. and Business Management (ABM) course in the Xavier Standard Senior Having toiled to diligently complete High School Program. I am aware that my application, I was eventually I do not speak for everyone, and that accepted into the eleventh cohort of the path I chose to take is not ideal the Xavier IB Diploma Program. In for others. The choice was entirely the succeeding months, I and roughly mine, and while I do not know what a hundred more qualified students, the future may offer, I hold true to my attended a few more orientations, decision and trust that whatever may during which we were familiarized come of it is what is best for me.
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A K-Drama Skeptic’s Quarantine K-Drama Watch List By Nathan Ng (G9)
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was never really a big fan of Korean Dramas or “K-Dramas” for short. I would watch some dramas here and there but I never found myself hooked, turning to Hollywood blockbusters or Filipino teleseryes instead. However, if the grueling 10 months (and counting) of lockdown has taught me anything, it’s to give new hobbies a chance. In my boredom, I tried new video games, learned some recipes, read more books than I could count, and when all avenues had been exhausted, I decided to give K-Dramas just one more chance (big mistake!).
when, ominously, all hell breaks loose as neighbors suddenly transform into monsters, fueled by their hidden desires. As anarchy consumes the building, Hyun-soo meets other residents whom she must team up with to survive this new monster-filled world. Inspired by the webtoon of the same name, this drama is filled with action, suspense, and most importantly, monsters.
To me, the creatures of Sweet Home are what set the series apart from any other post-apocalyptic drama. The monsters are terrifyingly creative, varying in size, As you can probably tell from the title appearance, strength, ability, weaknesses, of this article, I found myself pleasantly and much more. One mistake could spell surprised with the entertainment the difference between life and death for K-Dramas provided me over the our survivors, adding to the tension and lockdown. Well, that would probably suspense that fill each scene. be an understatement. I had a great time (binge) watching them because of Aside from the monsters, the strong the great storytelling, and I’m willing writing allowed me to connect and to bet you will, too. Although I didn’t empathize with the characters on an enjoy them before because I found the emotional level. Such an example is with storytelling repetitive, giving K-Dramas the character Lee Eun-Hyuk. Eun-Hyuk another chance has definitely been one of is a leader that is ready to do whatever it my 2020 highlights. takes for the group to survive. During life and death situations, you have to be With that, below is a list of some of the prepared as a leader to do whatever it takes K-Dramas I enjoyed these past few months, for the survival of the group, even when it along with reasons I think you’ll enjoy means making unpopular choices. Some them too — whether you’re a K-Drama call him cold, but I say he’s just being newbie or a long-time veteran. Be warned, realistic. In desperate circumstances, he is however — you will be hooked! willing to fight for the group, sometimes even sacrificing his own ideals if it means ensuring the survival of his members. Sweet Home Starting off the list is the Netflix Korean horror series, “Sweet Home”. This If you like a survival-themed, monsterK-drama shows that you are never truly filled, action-horror series driven by safe from danger. The story follows a strong character development, give young high school student named Cha “Sweet Home” a try. Hyun-soo who moves to a new apartment
Itaewon Class Next on the list is the famous “Itaewon Class.” The story revolves around a kindhearted and well-meaning boy named Park Sae-ro-yi who dreams of becoming a police officer. Park’s father works for a mega food corporation named “Jangga”, but this job comes to an abrupt end when Park saves a classmate from a bully by the name of Jang Geun Won, whose father is revealed to be the CEO of Jangga. With the influence of Geun Won’s father, Park is expelled from school, and his dad is fired from the company. Adding to our protagonist’s woes, Park’s dad dies of a road accident, leaving Park an orphan who is then sent to prison on charges of assault on Geun Won. This makes Park swear revenge on Jangga through his dad’s dream of starting a business to rival the mega corporation. This K-drama, inspired by its webtoon counterpart, is nothing short of an emotional roller coaster ride. Though I’ve always gravitated towards action-oriented shows, I found Itaewon Class to be still entertaining. This drama shows the power of genuine motivation and passion, but also highlights its pitfalls. When a deep desire for revenge is used to fuel one’s actions and consumes one’s mind, it can get all too easy to forget one’s own identity and principles. Saeroyi is a complex character -- a damaged soul with a good heart and iron will -- and he makes this series all the more emotionally inspiring. I constantly ask myself whether or not I actually want to see him succeed! There are many more lessons and themes to learn from this series, but I will leave those to you to explore.
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Art by: Sky Angeles (G9)
Boys Over Flowers
F4 especially its leader Gu Jun-Pyo. As Last but not the least, we have the romance time goes by, however, Jun-Pyo develops K-dramas (cue the “Ewww”). Hear me feelings for Jan-Di. Unfortunately for Junout: I simply cannot forget the K-Drama Pyo, Jan-di begins to like another (Ji-Hoo). genre that inspired legions of converts This K-Drama explores the “love-triangle” to watch in the first place. The romantic kind of scenario which makes it interesting K-drama I enjoyed most is entitled “Boys to see as you don’t know who the main girl Over Flowers.” Though this one is older will end up with. than the rest of the dramas on this list (all others being released in 2020), I still Inspired by the manga of the same found it extremely enjoyable and fondly name, Boys Over Flowers is definitely one of my all-time favorites, in and out memorable. of the K-Drama realm. What can I say? This romantic-comedy starts with a The music, the actors, the storytelling... girl named Geum Jan-Di who, while everything just “clicked” to create this delivering laundry to a student (Lee Min- masterpiece of a show. Ha) at the prestigious Shin Hwa High School, saves Min-Ha from his supposed Well first, the Boys Over Flowers’ suicide and is named a hero. The averted soundtrack was sweet, melodious, and suicide caught the attention of many most importantly… extremely catchy. The Koreans as it exposed the school’s toxic intro music alone gave me LSS. When a bullying environment. To extinguish the person asks me a question, you know public’s anger, the school offered Jan-Di the LSS is bad when I no longer answer a swimming scholarship. Jan-Di declines in English. Kidding aside, the music was the scholarship but her family forces Jan- simply so catchy; I still have the songs Di to attend. On her first day of school, stuck in my head! she meets the infamous Flower Fou [F4]: Gu Jun-Pyo, Yoon Ji-Hoo, So Yi-Jung, Along with the music, the actors in Boys and Song Woo-Bin. Known for being Over Flowers are simply “G.O.D.-TIER...” I the four most popular and wealthiest don’t know how I can describe it better than students in Shin Hwa High School, they that. My favorite actor here would probably also use their power to terrorize weaker be Lee Min-Ho (Gu Jun-Pyo). Remember students and bully those they do not when I said I would watch K-Dramas like. Jan-Di is irritated by the love and “here and there”? Most, if not all, of those admiration her classmates have for the K-Dramas had Lee Min-Ho in them. This
might sound like fanboying, but if my favorite Hollywood actor is Will Smith, then my favorite K-Drama actor would be Lee Min-Ho. I give props to the writers of this K-Drama. Though built on a simple and tried-and-true premise, it was executed perfectly. I definitely recommend you give this one a try, even if the idea of watching a rom-com series appalls you at first.
Verdict Since we all have different tastes in television, my K-Drama preferences may be different from yours. If you do not agree with my list, I urge you to explore and find the K-dramas that suit your preferences. If one K-drama disinterests you, it might be that you just haven’t found the right one for you yet. I had found nothing special about K-Dramas when I would watch them before, and maybe the boredom of the lockdown was starting to get to me, but speaking from experience, finding the dramas that I clicked with was a matter of trial-and-error, and look at me now! Here are a few honorable mentions you might also enjoy: • • • • •
The Uncanny Counter Kingdom Inheritors Vagabond Arthdal Chronicles
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To Regulate or not to Regulate?
WHY MTRCB IS WRONG TO REGULATE STREAMING SITES By Anton Go (G9)
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n the 3rd of September 2020, the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, more commonly known as MTRCB, proposed to regulate videos, movies, and other media on Netflix and similar streaming platforms.
But even if we ignore that this litigation is not within MTRCB powers, the proposition of regulation remains flawed. Should the MTRCB manage to bypass its own limitations and enforce the policy, the current availability of restricted films on other media platforms renders the plan MTRCB chairperson Rachel Arenas stated futile. that such a proposal is for “the protection of the viewers.” MTRCB’s legal affairs division In fact, there is a decent-sized number of chief Atty. Jonathan Presquito even pirated movies that have been uploaded on explained that regulation is essential with YouTube. Some, like Hachman (2014), have the many “unrated” videos that can easily even made a list of some of these pirated be accessed along with the fact that more films found on the platform. Although people are viewing these videos especially this list was made over six years ago and during the quarantine, where the demand those movies could have been taken down for entertainment has increased. by YouTube in that period of time, there is a possibility that some of these videos However, these are just some factors that still exist. If that is the case, will MTRCB make MTRCB’s decision to regulate also make an agreement with YouTube to unreasonable. regulate its content? For starters, this movement does not even fall under mandated MTRCB powers. The regulation of videos, films, and others on video-on-demand platforms is out of the jurisdiction of MTRCB as stated by the 1986 Presidential Decree by late President Ferdinand Marcos, according to UST media and technology law professor Enrique dela Cruz. “Obviously, it’s not in their charter and they need to approach it with a different model, or use a different charter or model if they wish to regulate the films coming out, because their charter is filter and use.” As an alternative, Dela Cruz said, the government can restrict the ability to view these films. However this alternative is not within the powers of MTRCB. “That’s telecommunications. That’s NTC,” he said.
film may be an inefficient use of government resources and time. In addition, the senator argued that these streaming platforms already do a good job on rating these films so there is really not much need to regulate videos on these sites. Netflix, he pointed out, has features in its application that inform the viewer of the movie or show’s rating. A brief but clear description of why Netflix has rated the video as such also accompanies the rating. “If the platform is able to effectively selfregulate and has installed features through which access, particularly by certain age groups, can be limited, then there is no role left for the MTRCB to play,” Drilon said.
In situations where these limitations are unavailable, the decision of watching an unrated movie should fall under the Streaming sites could likewise regulate their responsibility of a parent or guardian. It is content without MTRCB intervention. their duty after all to guide the minor in their Some have already executed this idea. Take choices and it should be left to the adults in Netflix: the application includes parental their child’s decisions regarding this matter. controls that allow the parent to manage the access of a child to specific kinds of films. In summary, MTRCB should not push through with its plan to regulate. Though There are also others who share the same the action was made for the benefit of sentiment like Senator Franklin Drilon. its viewers, it is simply an unwise and The idea to regulate video-on-demand unnecessary move. The reasons being platforms is “very impractical,” he said. The the sheer effort of reviewing hundreds overwhelming number of movies equals of movies and the restrictions possibly to at least hundreds, and that includes only being avoided are an example. Therefore, one streaming application, highlighting the MTRCB should abandon the pursuit of impracticality of this proposal. He went on a law that limits access to movies on videoto question if MTRCB has the time and on-demand sites solely because they do not power to review all of these videos. Even if agree with the organization’s values. they plan to go through all of these videos, there would be no guarantee that they will be able to review all content: rating every
Art by Andreas Bautista (G11)
EDITORIAL 36
A Step in the right direction or a trojan horse? DITO TELECOM AND WHY THE PHILIPPINES NEED MORE TELECOM COMPANIES By Justin Sy (G11)
I
n a time of online education and workfrom-home setups, WiFi and mobile data play a bigger role now more than ever. It’s safe to say that these tools for connection have become necessities, as evidenced by the 500% increase in the use of mobile data in the Philippines during the pandemic. Thus, there is an insatiable need for a fast and reliable connection. This case is especially true for the Philippines, which unfortunately has an average mobile download speed of 8.5 Megabits per second (Mbps) as of the start of 2020. Comparatively, Singapore boasts average speeds of 40 Mbps. This is where Dito Telecommunity comes in. The company, a joint venture between Chinese state-owned China Telecom and Dennis Uy, an entrepreneur with close ties to President Duterte, has recently been allowed to build cell-site towers in Philippine military bases.
improve in terms of quality, efficiency, and pricing in order to retain their market share. Dito themselves said that they are aiming for at least 30% market share, which belongs to (or used to belong to) the two incumbents. This tri-firm rivalry benefits everyday consumers, who will not only have greater choice but also enjoy faster WiFi speeds in general. This tri-firm rivalry benefits everyday consumers, who will not only have greater choice but also enjoy faster WiFi speeds in general. Competition that leads to efficiency — as the three companies try to offer higher quality goods at lower prices — is greatly needed. Growth of the telecom industry, as evidenced by increased firm spending, is sure to come. Plus, the three companies will likely try to make more innovations, in order to create and offer products that the rest do not have to gain competitive advantage. Competition also helps the economy and can create more jobs as the companies try to increase their output in the market to seize market share.
The new entrant, which joined PLDT and Globe as a major player in the telecommunications industry in 2018, promised to deliver speeds of at least 55 Mbps to 80% of the population after 5 years. Dito also committed to covering 37% of the The fruits of this competition were already population with speeds of 27 Mbps by July 8, shown at the end of 2020, which saw record 2020. high improvements of 297.47% and 202.41% across networks for fixed and mobile Dito’s addition to the former duopoly market broadband respectively. has increased competition, and thus brought about improvements in the Philippine However, the main problem lies in data telecom industry. Prompted by Dito’s security. Dito has said that it will not perform entrance, PLDT and Globe plan to increase espionage activities and that it has invested spending to 6-year highs in 2021, mainly on heavily in cyber security. Despite this, many improving their network infrastructure. Dito remain skeptical, including former Chief itself has already constructed about 1,900 cell Justice Antonio Carpio and Senator Risa towers as of the end of 2020. Hontiveros. The concern comes from the fact that the company is state-owned by China, The presence of a new major competitor in and its cell towers can be used in espionage the market will lead to more competitive and data spying. This includes the cell pricing and increased quality as market players towers in military bases, where confidential attempt to win market share. This means that information vital to national security is stored. the incumbents, Globe and PLDT, must
However, the military has taken steps to minimize the aforementioned risks. Military spokesman Major General Edgard Arevalo has said that there is low risk of security breaches based on the military’s assessment. According to Adel Tamano, a Dito official, Chinese personnel will not be allowed inside the camps and a former Filipino General and telecommunications expert will be in charge of cyber security. If privacy issues and concerns can be mitigated, the entrance of new players in the telecom industry would be welcome additions to the market. Though no evidence of Dito collecting classified information and conducting electronic espionage has surfaced, the fact that the firm is a joint venture with China Telecom should be reason enough for the Philippine government and Filipino people to be wary of the firm’s motives. The concern is valid, considering the heightened sociopolitical tension due to ownership disputes over the South China/ West Philippine Sea and Scarborough Shoal. Although the increased competition that Dito brings to the telecom industry is a step in the right direction, it is of utmost importance that Congress permits even more telecom companies, especially ones that are independent and not state-backed, to operate in the Philippines. This will bring the same benefits and more that Dito Telecom has brought to the market, without the heightened possibility of espionage and data spying. With the need for faster WiFi, the benefits from this competition can greatly assist the Filipino people. It will not only lead to more efficiency in work and studies, but also provide a more productive and connected habitat during this pandemic.
EDITORIAL 37
What exactly is the Philippines’ stance on China? By Skyeler Kho (G11)
E
ven before his incumbency, President Rodrigo Duterte has advocated for the Philippines to hold a warmer stance towards China. He has publicly promoted stronger ties with the rising superpower, whilst pulling back on ties with the United States. Despite this, Duterte’s tone on the issue has wavered from one opinion to another, failing to communicate a firm stance on the matter. This begs the question: what exactly is the Philippines’ stance on China and on the US? We need to make clear who we stand with, so that we know who stands with us. Duterte has held a stronger stance in the past, but his recent flip-flopping throws into question our nation’s true allegiances.
has lost” and that he would work towards separating the Philippines from America “both in military, not maybe social [sic], but economics also.” Duterte has also spoken about US leadership in less than diplomatic terms, calling former president Barack Obama a “son of a b*tch” and telling him to “go to hell.” In addition, Duterte moved to cancel the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), an agreement that allows US forces to operate in the country, after the American visa of one of his associates, Senator Bato Dela Rosa, was cancelled.
muddier: he dragged his feet, for example, on a travel ban on China at the start of the pandemic. Duterte has even gone so far as to say during his most recent State of the Nation Address that Beijing was already in possession of the South China Sea, and that the US operating within the vicinity of these waters will only raise the possibility of war. Finally, Duterte has sought discounts from both China and Russia when it comes to a COVID-19 vaccine, stating that, “I will ask my friend President Putin and President Xi Jinping to give us a credit.”
The viewpoint of the president on both These shifting stances on both China and the US and China has nevertheless been the US do not help the Philippines, as unclear as of late, most notably during they do make our true allegiances unclear. We currently rely on the US to protect us It does not help to terminate the VFA, reverse that termination for six months, as our armed forces are still modernizing, and then bar the military from engaging with the US: all whilst asking China and we may be incapable of protecting for a discount on vaccines. our sovereignty even after such a program is complete. Our Super Tucanos aren’t It’s no secret that Duterte favors China the current COVID-19 pandemic. designed to take on fighters, and the BRP with regard to economic ties. As soon On June 1, 2020, Duterte decided to Jose Rizal frigate can’t take on an aircraft as he was elected to the presidency, he suspend the VFA termination for six carrier alone. It does not help to terminate planned a visit to the economic giant. months, allowing the US to stay until the VFA, reverse that termination for six During this visit, he wasted no time to get the start of 2021. Furthermore, the months, and then bar the military from on China’s good side, signing loans and Philippine Air Force’s modernization engaging with the US: all whilst asking investments worth at least $24 billion. plan includes the acquisition of new China for a discount on vaccines. We Since that trip, Duterte has also gone on C-130J aircraft through the US. Despite can either side with China or side with to visit China at least four more times, these developments, Duterte has opted the US, and any attempt to please both most recently in 2019. He has sought to remain clear of directly engaging with parties, especially when it comes to the for Chinese companies to take part in the US, barring the Philippine military South China Sea, only shows insincerity his “Build, Build, Build” program, and from participating in the South China/ to both sides. Duterte is looking for the he has engaged in military exercises with West Philippine Sea exercises organized protection of the US and the favor of the nuclear-armed power. To top it all by the Americans. China, but we simply can’t have it both off, Duterte has expressed willingness ways. This has already been demonstrated to set aside the Philippines’ victory in an Furthermore, Duterte’s allies in the when Xi Jinping urged us to let go of our international arbitration on the West Senate have accepted Department of claim in the South China Sea in exchange Philippine Sea, all for the opportunity of Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro for investment opportunities, making us a joint exploration of the area. Locsin’s recommendation to terminate unprotectable. We have to pick a side contracts with China if they continued and we have to stand firm on that side. In contrast, Duterte’s stance on the USA their land reclamation activities and the has been very turbulent. During his building of military installations in the 2016 visit to China, he told Chinese and West Philippine Sea. Duterte’s other Filipino business people that “America policies have made these stances even
EDITORIAL 38
HOME By Gavin Go (G7) They dock their shoes by the street, And stare up at this new location. Is this where they shall rest their feet, This wouldn’t be some quick vacation. A new home with a new scent, A place not in their memories. It begins to leave a dent, Pocketing several new keys. They are unable to feel at ease, The neighborhood is far too unclear The air around them filled with a new breeze, Their discomfort might disappear. This is a new chapter, A new place to roam. Unpack your adapter, As this is your home. LITERATURE 39
2020
By Juan Mendoza (G7) The pandemic has affected many people, The strong, the weak and the regal Businesses have lost money Others are alone, homeless and hungry
People engaged in new hobbies Some, strengthened their bodies All in an effort to keep their sanity And restore hope in humanity
Schools started classes online More weight onto student’s minds Meeting others is now through Zoom Offices, now in the confines of your room
The pandemic was tough But in some ways, a blessing in disguise 2020 served as a calling, a shift towards new life The events of the past year musn’t cause further strife
Everyone, marooned at home The only escape is through the phone
Instead look back And remember this year as one to immortalize
yogurt parfait By Andre Tan (G11)
Life. It isn’t complete without success or strife. Just like a yogurt parfait, You make a sourface every other day, But sweet parts come up here and there, I wouldn’t say my life is perfect, I’ve had my share of despair, And sitting on a bench in a serene park, I would like to share an impactful remark. That life is a yogurt parfait. Just like a yogurt parfait, Life will have its layer of sour. There are times you just won’t feel okay, Like a hero without his superpower. And you never know when it’s coming. “Sorry I just see you as a friend.” “I want this relationship to end.” “Oh, I don’t trust you anymore,” “I’ll take back all the nice things I’ve said before.” “You are such a disappointment.”
But every now and then, A little sweetness, Comes and hits your tongue. Despite the sourness that life brings to you, Bits of sweetness will touch your taste buds every now and then, It may be difficult to get over the sourness, But persevere and arriving will be happiness, Insults come and insults go, Right in your face or behind your back, But on some occasions you have to let go. And believe, That you are the best version of yourself, You and your satisfied tongue, After consuming the delightful cup, Of Yogurt Parfait.
Art by Keng Wei Lin(G9)
LITERATURE 40
a soul unfettered By Raphael Cruz (G9)
As the child walked alone Where cold went through the bone He gazed into the sky But knew he could not fly Raindrops softly patter Does it even matter Now that the angst and pain Have all but stopped like rain Back with a quick resolve Mind and heart could evolve A spirit trapped is free Darkness is but a forgotten memory
Opaque By Andre Tan (G11) I comfortably sit on my nook, Reading my pocket book. I look out the window, And I notice the fog that starts to form, I could barely see the objects outside, I look carefully, but they just seem to hide. The fog blocks my view of the outside world. And I sit here thinking what the future holds. I could barely see our car, What I use to travel near and far. The car I sit in everyday, The vehicle that gets me places, To go out and see familiar faces. This very car helps me go to school, Where I learn and interact with peers, And get closer and closer to becoming an adult. The place where I hone life skills, And have fun even more. I could only see the outline of the court, The basketball court that has been there for years. The very court I shed blood, sweat and tears. This court has brought joy to so many people, From the first time I could walk,
The court has been a place I hangout and talk, To my friends, visiting cousins, or just by myself. It is my sanctuary, where I can find my inner peace. I wonder how long this fog will take, So I can go back to this place. What about the garden in front, Where my mother and I bond over planting, Different fruits, vegetables and flowers, And have heart to heart talks. How can I reminisce the memories I had in this place, If the fog continuously blocks the view. The community is so uncertain right now, So many quests: what, where, why, how? The fog continues to hinder us from seeing what is ahead, But all we can do right now is sit and wait, Til we see each other again, As I sit in my room alone, I look outside and wonder, How can I bond with my family and friends, If we are miles apart. I depressingly wait as the future is still opaque. LITERATURE 41
tick tock tick tock By Andre Tan (G11)
The end is near, I could smell people’s fear, Cries of help surround me, Help! Is it only I that can see.
Blood stains on our streets, this is a mess, Is our behavior really on our best? Gunfire becoming a normal sound, Is chaos where we are bound?
People coughing here and there, We have to stop it, it’s everywhere! Hospitals closing, doctors need a break, While people can’t go to their loved one’s wake. Doctors working, trying their best, They need help, they have to rest.
Tick tock, Tick tock. Time is running out! No one is happy, upside down go people’s mouth, We need help now. Not today, not tomorrow, NOW! Make a difference, Before it is too la-...
Violence occurring in our city, People getting hurt, what a pity.
tiny manipulations By Cole Ty (G7) I situate myself upon my chair Hop into class How the time does pass How the day dies down to dusk quite fast My body leaves but my soul still sits there The trials and tests of these times uncertain Leave me broken, my freedom unspoken Of my jubilance, I give no token The day is done, draw the curtains. But every day, things go on Tiny manipulations increase my articulation Helps heighten familial relations And appreciate the coming of dawn It’s always darkest before first light The darkness creeps, how it flows and it seeps It’s granted to the world eternal sleep But we’ll wake with wonder from this hellish dream
I sit, situated on my seat, staring at the screen But something has changed Maybe it’s the way I’ve arranged Myself, it feels so incredibly strange But it’s better than the brutality of what I’ve seen I’m changing, my being, my heart, and my mind They’re all growing, change is showing My life is glowing, its river flowing Once more, I think I’ve left all my problems behind.
Art by Keng Wei Lin (G9)
LITERATURE 42
BUKSAN ANG MGA MATA
Buksan ang mga mata, paligid ay tignan Kapayapaan sa lipunan, nawalan Walang hustisya at pagkakapantay Puro barilan, labanan, at pagpatay.
ni Jared Lumanlan (G8)
Taong nakasuot ng kulay bughaw Akala’y tagapagtanggol, hindi, halimaw. Binaril ang isang mag-ina at itim Hindi ko maunawaan, parang lihim.
HINDI KO KAILANMAN ni Russ Relucio (G12) Tulad nga naman ng sabi nila, Walang forever di ba? Naniniwala ako noon Pero may nagbago ng isip ko.
Kaya’t hindi ko kailanman Makakalimutan ang mga Tawanang hanggang langit natin O ang asarang umaabot sa pikunan.
‘Yung nasa-harapan mo lang pala Pero araw-araw mo lang pinapalipas Tapos huli na para magsisi ka Kasi akala mo may bukas pa.
Kaya’t nung umalis ka, Nagdala ka ng piraso ng puso ko Na forever mong hawak-hawak At simula noon, naniwala na ako sa forever.
Isang DEKada ni Elijah Ng (G12)
Nangatwiran siyang walang kasalanan ‘Di nagsisi, takot sa katotohanan. Walang awa sa nawalan ng mahal Nasaan ang ating dangal at asal? Ang tao sa trono, ang binoto ng tao Gusto ng digmaan, gusto ng dugo. Nabulag sa sariling kayabangan Kaya’y nawalan ng kapayapaan. Pagbubulsa ng mga pulitiko Nagalit ang mga tao, tayo’y niloko. Habang ang inosente ay naparusahan Hindi parte ang mayaman sa patakaran. Kasinungalingan ng ating lipunan Huwag mabiktima, huwag paniwalaan. Masamang mga tao, mga manloloko Huwag gawing idolo, huwag mong iboto.
isang dekada isang barkada masasayang alaala naalala n’yo pa ba?
lumipas ang mga araw mga boses ay nangingibabaw wala nang hiya-hiya kwentuhan maya’t maya
Buksan ang mga mata, buksan ang puso Tignan ang mundong bubuhayan ng apo mo. Ang mundong mapanghusga sa kanya Dahil lang sa kanyang hitsura o pera.
pinagsama-sama lahat sa isang lumang silid dito namin sinimulan makulay naming kabataan
mga kalokohan at kulitan mga tuksuan at biruan mga basted at luhaan mga iyakan at tawanan
Itim o puti, mahirap o mayaman Pareho ang pinagmulan, sangkatauhan. Walang mas malakas, walang mas mahalaga Lahat galing sa kamay ng Bathala.
unang araw ng pasukan mga nagkakahiyaan tanungan ng pangalan umpisa na pala ng pagkakaibigan
ngunit, paalam muna kapatid kailangan na natin Tayo na’y lumipad Patungo sa bagong pugad
LITERATURE 43
ANG KAPANGYARIHAN AY HINDI KALAYAAN ni Ravi Tan (G11) Ano ang ibig sabihin ng baril Mahalaga ba ang pamamahala para sa ’yo Bakit ka naghihirap at naglilingkod Para lang ba sa pera o tunay na karangalan Lakas at Kapangyarihan Iyan ang inyong kayamanan Ngunit hindi kayo nilagay sa posisyon Para lang gamitin ang bisa laban sa mga tao
Marami ang nakaranas ng pagdurusa Dahil may binaril sa mukha Alam ko sila ay nakikipag-away Pero hindi ba obligasyon: itigil ang kaguluhan Nakakalungkot na ang mismong pinakamalakas Ay ang nagpapasimuno ng gulo at labanan Nailagay sa panganib ang mga buhay ng kababayan Para lang makamit mo ang kaharian
Lahat ng tao nakatutok sa inyong galawan Bawat salita’t kilos tumatatak sa isip ng kabataan Ang tama ang inyong panindigan Dahil walang katwiran ang kamalian Ang baril, pera, at katanyagan Ay hindi kahulugan ng kalayaan Imbis gamitin para sa sariling layunin Tulungan ang lipunan at gawin ang tungkulin
Dalawang tula ng pamamalaam ni Jules Philip V. Hernando
Ukol sa Paghihiwalay
Pag-idlip
Sa mundong ito at buhay Isang katotohanan Na lahat ng pagtatagpo Ay nauuwi sa paglisan
isa na namang liwanag ang ganap na naidlip
Walang naiiwan kung hindi mga alaala At mga pangako ng muling pagkikita. Kay sakit isipin ngunit kay sarap tanggapin Na may langit pa ring aasahan natin.
noong ika’y aking kapiling
naiwan akong kakapa-kapa sa dilim pilit inaaninag mga alaalang tila panaginip
para sa aking Nanay, (+) Gloria B. Valido
para kay Ate Sally Herradura
Esperanza ni Lorenzo Miguel (G8)
Akala nating ito ay magpakailanmang mawawala, Binalewala’t pinalampas ang kanilang puna’t apela. Sama ng loob at kapanglawan ang naramdaman ng madla, Congress at ang House ang nagpasyang ito’y pababayaan na. Binitawan na natin ang pag-asa nang matagal nang araw, Ngunit mayroong dumating na makapagbibigay ilaw. Representante at Senate President ang silang mga nanawagan,
Empleyado’y pag-isipan kaya’y mag-ere sila’y dapat payagan. Bill 1967 ang kanilang inalok at inihain, Opinyon nila’y ito ang tunay na nararapat gawin. Respetuhin at unawain ang anumang magiging pagpapasya, Naniniwala akong buhay pa ang agila, mayron’ pang esperanza. Art by Andreas Bautista (G11)
LITERATURE 44
曲中人 Persona 作者：Kevin Chen (G11)
浮生飘落世人心 归去来兮问余音 辗转难眠便聆听 自古以人愿唤醒
终有一天
初闻不解其中情 再听已是曲中景 恍若隔世皆宿命 一如既往亦独行
Finally
冰块
作者： Josh Cua (G11)
夕阳落山冷风吹 夜深人静似凄美 有口无声便心酸 奈何尽心乃寻思 瞧着柳树渐成阳 听水滴滴盛满杯 遥望天边越黎明 卷土重来莫失心
回归的微笑 Smiling
Ice Cube
作者：Kevin Chen (G11)
漂洗火红过夕阳 辽阔无边推前浪 漫步云端后翱翔 百合凋零遇神伤 余生伴随遮掩藏 寻觅如同冰镜墙 甚是枕边芳心香 化作永恒熹愿望
天降
作者：Calvin Lee (G11)
悲楚笼罩了天际 心跳凛凛都空虚 问世间何去何从 只盼你给我微笑
Descent
作者： William Kohchet-Chua (G11)
幽寂似云霄 空虚且不秒 忆时光飘飘 降祸万世料
静候千季到 衷心恨天高 乏梦免苦牢 却永终难逃
Art by Marcus Apetreor (G11)
LITERATURE 45
等 候 曙 光
Anticipation of Dawn 作者：Shaun Lim (G11)
季节似风过 假如阳光落 不久再升果 改变随日做
彼 岸 花
The Flower of Death
作者：Gordon Chiang (G11)
先见之明过早霞 不曾饮忘川杯茶 白昼做梦回首家 陈年凋谢像朵花
The Moon Shines Over My Heart 作者：Jason Young (G12)
一 门 心 思
One mind, One thought 作者：Edric Dy (G11)
逆水行舟渡溪涧 披荆斩棘闯江天 狂风陡在云崖边 以柔克刚登山巅
明 月 照 我 心
人生就像一座山 一座高耸入云的山 目测高不可攀 山高路险 我只好慢慢走 纵有万般狂风暴雨的场面 我仍台头仰望 不管有多么遥远 无论有多么艰难 我依然满怀希望 朝着山顶前进 人生就像一座山 一座崎岖巍峨的山 但若有幸登顶 定可俯瞰群山 豪情满怀
LITERATURE 46
致青春 • 一本太仓促的书 作者：Kevin Chen (G11)
如
果问你青春是什么，你会怎样回答？你或 许会说，青春是一首无言的歌。那一个个 跳动的音符合着心跳的节拍，奏出生命的辉煌乐 章，但它一定不会是一张永远都在旋转的唱片。 但你也许会说，青春是一场飞逝的流星，那一 个个瞬间的流星是那么的短暂，却是那么的美 丽，让人心中一动。不过你又可能会说，青春是 一朵又妩媚又娇艳的鲜花儿。春风中绽放出万紫 千红，争奇斗艳，点缀出别样景致的春天，让蝴 蝶儿陶醉。再或者还是会说，青春是一杯醇香的 酒。存放的时间越长久，香味就越浓郁。闲暇时 斟上，喝一口细细品味，浓烈而富有了激情，未 饮先醉。 正经日子总被虚度，被怀念的多是荒唐。静 静地想一想，“青春”究竟是什么？起初觉得青 春就是年龄，后来明白更重要的是心态；起初觉 得青春就是为所欲为，后来明白更重要的是永不 言弃；起初觉得青春就是跌跌撞撞地不断受伤， 后来明白更重要是在哪儿跌倒就在哪儿爬起来。 其实我们都一样，谁的青春不迷茫。青春就是不 管做什么选择都会有所遗憾。青春就是这样，转 变、承担，感恩，所以你的青春里有成长。青春 就是这样，茫然、无知、失落、怀疑，所以你的青 春里有迷茫。青春就是这样，学习、坚持、忍受， 所以你的青春里有奋斗。走过青春的你渐渐成熟， 保持着内心的淡定与从容，并活出本真自我。 青春是后知后觉的一个词。回忆只是期待的 美，期待只是假装的幸福。所谓的青春，并不是 一条直路。不论你走哪一条，那都是你的青春。 青春是属于过去的某时某刻，那时你的生活有无 限的可能性，而你也觉得你有无数个美好的未 来，你会觉得你是自己命运的掌控者。你那时才 会知道，那就是你的青春，所以从来都没有抓住 过时间，但好像只是时间抓住了我们。青春的残 酷是细微的，外表看不出来这个人身上有什么悲 伤，更多的是被自己埋起来了。我们共同进退， 互相鼓励，一起走过的风风雨雨，将会化成最美 好的回忆，永远停留在我们的心中。青春是人一 生当中最美好的东西，它给我们带来了无穷的喜 悦，但却不是永久的。 青春是一笔弥足珍贵的财富。最珍贵的拥 有，是拥有青春，最可怕的失去，则是失去青 春。现在正拥有青春的我们，要真正地把握住它 才是幸福，才会看到前面是一条阳光大道。青春 如时间，一去不会复返，是无价之宝。古语有 Art by Keng Wei Lin (G9)
云：“青春须早为，岂能长少年。”我们要爱惜 自己的青春，世界上再没有比青春更美好更珍贵 的了。发光发热充满了彩色与梦幻，毕竟青春在 书里的第一章是永无止尽的故事。如果说人生是 一本书，那么拥有青春的日子便是书中最美丽的 彩页。如果说人生是一台戏，那么拥有青春的日 子便是戏中最精彩的一幕。如果说人生是一次从 生到死的特别旅行，那么拥有青春的我们便拥有 了多彩的未来与五色的梦，所以青春必定是一场 跌跌撞撞的旅途·。 青春，不止于“少年”，有关于“故事”， 只属于“未来”。青春从来不止于少年，无碍于 岁月，却关乎心灵。青春是一个有关于岁月的故 事。每个人的生命轨迹和青春历程，旅途迥异却 各自精彩，选择不同但皆是宝藏。关于青春的故 事，被写过太多遍，却永远不可能被穷尽。别人 的故事里。我们能照鉴自己的影子，但可从来没 有人可以规定，哪样的青春就是最好的青春，怎 样的成长就是成功的方向。只有独属于你的生命 经验，才能打造出通向你人生新阶段的“钥匙” 。只有你亲历的故事，才能定义属于你自己的青 春。青春一时只属于未来。在这个快节奏、碎片 化的时代，青春似乎比任何时候，都被挤压的更 加短暂。可青春，不仅是用来怀念的，更是用来 创造的。立足当下，不留遗憾，回到过去，勿忘 初心。青春，属于永不止息的奋斗，更属于砥砺 向前的未来。青春历经变化的时时刻刻，都值得 我们倾尽一切去拼搏、铭记于心去珍惜。 当我们还在无止境地嬉笑玩闹时，年龄已悄 然增长。就这样还没来得及和童年说再见，我们 已经踏上了青春的列车。我们一群不知愁滋味的 懵懵懂懂的少年，就这样开始了我们的青春，不 知倦怠地属于我们自己的密码在时空中写下故 事，在乐谱中留下音符。青春是年轻时的张狂。 青春是少年时的憧憬。青春时 ，或变的内敛， 或变得张扬， 或变得冲动。青春就是你年老时 最想重新再过一次的时光。青春是一本书中最绚 丽的一页，需要我们全心书写，而且只有一次， 我们要认真对待，谱写最辉煌的篇章。当翻开那 发黄的扉页，命运将它装订的极为拙劣。青春就 像是一场梦，醒了很久还是很感动。虽含着泪的 自己一读再读，却始终不得不承认青春终究是一 本太仓促的书，青春未完持续。青春无限美，真 希望能它永驻人间。原来青春的多梦，浪漫，迷 惘，奋进，是多么地多姿多彩！
CHINESE 47
命运的轮廓 作者：Kevin Chen (G11)
不
同的选择，决定不同的人生——即人们常说 的“选择决定人生”。“想必大家都想知道如 何做正确的人生选择。要知道：“选择比努力重要， 努力才能有更好的选择。” 你的世界怎样，全在你 的一念之间。可以说，无论在人生还是日常生活中， 还是在你的成长过程中，时时刻刻都存在着选择。 这是无法避免的，甚至将会伴随你的一生，直到人生 的终结。选择，是随机发生而不可避免的，与任何人 都密不可分如影随形。选择，往往只是一念之差，似 乎无足轻重，然而却是很沉重的话题。因为在一念之 间，就可以化生出命运的轮廓。在两种或多种不同的 选择之间，所得的结果却是截然不同的，甚至是产生 天壤之别的差距。你的选择可能是对的，但也有可能 是错的。选择本来就像一道题，有可能是单选，也有 可能是多选的，因为人生有太多的可能性，所以就会 面临许多的选择。 选择权掌握在自己的手中，如果选择错了，可 以改变自己的一生的命运，但也可以令自己后悔一 生，所以当自己面临选择的时候，不要犹豫，根据自 己的感觉走，就算错了，自己也不会太有负担，因为 这就是自己所想要的答案。人生，就处在选择、选 择、再选择过程中，也许我们为自己的选择而感到充 实满意，因为时间会对我们证明它是对的，也许我们 为自己的选择懊恼或承担责任，因为结果不我们所期 望的，但是无论我们选择的结果如何，我们都要去坦 荡地去面对与接受它。人生答卷上的选择太多，也许 我们的选择并不完美，但用心做出的一切选择一定是 值得的。不过，其实不选择，也可以是一种选择。若 能掬起一捧月光，我选择最柔和的；若能采来香山红 叶，我选择最艳丽的；若能摘下满天星辰，我选择最 明亮的。也许你会说，我的选择不是最好的，但我誓 死我选择的权利和结果。岁月匆匆，人生短暂，美丽 的东西留不住，快乐的时刻也不会太多，懂得珍惜， 活得满足，保持着一颗感恩的心，才是最明智的选 择。 在缩小范围以后，如何做出最终的选择？一定 不要单纯地依赖认知判断，要运用多种知觉方式，做 出更恰当的决定。 一个选择之所以艰难是因为选项 之间的相对关系。一个选项在某些方面更好，而另一 个选项在另一些方面会更有优势，评价的角度和维度 不一样，所以就没有一个选项在整体上会完全优于另 一个。因此，当我们面临艰难选择时，我们不应该用 尽理性分析试图找出哪一个选项更好，因为压根儿就 没有你理想中最好的选项。与其寻找外在的原因，我 们应该寻找自己内在的原因：我要成为怎样的人？”
很多人面对选择，常常无从下手。遇到抉择，每每犹 豫不决、十分纠结。更多人在选择后苦苦思索：“我 做的对吗？”“我当初要是选了另一条路，现在会怎 样？” 当我们忍不住想要重新选择或者反复焦虑的 时候该怎么办呢？与其苦苦思索如何做好的选择，不 如通过一些方法让选择变好。选择的质量并不等于结 果的质量。选择只是一个起点，你的生命走向和质量 是取决于你的行动，你的行动取决于你是否可以集中 注意力把好的资源都倾注在你已经选择的选项上。 生活中一些简单细微的小事，虽不能决定人的 人生命运，却能够随着时间的推移和不断的选择，而 发生着相应的转变。其实从过去到现在，每时每刻都 在发生着变化和转变；任何一次变化和转变，都相伴 着选择而发生在我们的每一次选择之后。然而，很多 次的转变都是在潜移默化和不知不觉之中完成的，从 而让人逐渐随之转变。在这过程中，可以选择做还是 不做，还可以选择做事情的方法。无论如何，转变都 会伴随着一次次的选择。每次不同的选择，都会带来 不同的收获。什么是人生里关键性的一刻，是一个决 定；是一次选择；是向左、还是向右；是继续、或者 放弃；是跟过去告别的一刻；是勇敢擦拭伤口的那一 刻；是抉择未来的那一刻。要知道，人生并非都是选 择题或是非题，大部分都是应用题，要我们一点一滴 的论证，取舍的过程，做错了也没关系，所以在人生 的道路上，无论我们如何选择，都没有永恒的对错。 只是到最后我们自己是否还可以坚持回归到原本的初 心罢了，不过既然选择了，理应继续坚持到底。 人生多是无奈，一边怀念，一边忘记，一边继 续。这条路上，能走多远，能遇上谁，皆无定数。我 们能做的，就是选择后不抛弃，放手后不愧悔，把最 平淡的日子梳理成诗意的风景。放入昨天如影——记 住你昨天的挫折、教训和经历，今天如画——美好的 生活、快乐和幸福的人生要靠你自己去描绘，明天 如梦——珍惜今天、努力地为自己的明天去寻求和拼 搏。人生中的每个选择，都像一片拼图，重要的是最 终完成了一幅怎样的图画。世界很大，我们很小，世 界上的人很多，但是我们每个人却是世界的唯一。虽 然选择固然重要，但人生中的某些事情似乎是在冥冥 之中就注定的；能成为什么样的人，似乎也是命中注 定的，所以做决定还是不必太过刻意，最好随缘。刻 意的选择，有时往往适得其反。不经意的选择，有时 也会成就自己，因为其实，我们从一出生就已经是一 次选择，所以随着人生的继续，我们依然要不断的选 择下去。漫漫人生的路经过了无数次的选择，才构成 了命运，记住今日的选择决定着未明的道路!
CHINESE 48
不管多远都可以到达 作者：Kevin Chen (G11)
梦
想即是梦中怀想，是人一种基于现实而又高 于现实的想法，指人在未来想做的事情。总 有人把梦想等同于空想，当然了，梦想绝非空想。 两者最大的区别在于，梦想是需要人付诸行动的。 因此，当一个人对未来有了一个想法，并开始为 这个想法而努力，才能称之为拥有梦想。而实现梦 想是一个状态，是指最后的结果。梦想这个词很奇 怪，同时也虚无缥缈不切实际，以梦开头，却要在 现实里完成一切。在很多人的眼里，梦想只是白日 做梦，可是如果你不曾真切的拥有过梦想，你就不 会理解梦想的珍贵。那梦想到底是什么？它不是一 种实实在在地物质，也不是一种虚假的梦，更不是 一种内心欲望的膨胀，而是看不见摸不着而又最真 实的一种心灵的追求，而生命因有这种追求增添了 动力，生活因有这种追求多了几分光彩！梦想就是 你想成为的那个人。梦想是人们最美好的期望。 首先我们应该区分几个与梦想相近的概念，即 白日梦和空想，这种没有现实性基础的想法，根本 无法实现。当然也就无法比较拥有和现实的意义， 不配称之为梦想。而梦想的意义，就是对你的人生 产生或多或少的影响，让你收获幸福和快乐。不知 道你发现了吗？梦想其实也可以是你一直以来喜欢 做的事情。我们的人生一直都在寻找自己喜欢做 的事情，而当你找到了自己真正喜欢做的事情的时 候，你就会把它当成梦想在做。当我们拥有一个梦 想的时候，其实就是对我们的人生做出了规划，找 到了自己的人生方向，所以拥有梦想的迷人之处就 在于，它值得你为之奋斗，为了能走自己想的路， 这才是梦想对一个人最大的意义。即使没有实现又 能如何，梦想带给你的，不就是这种从无到有的渴 望吗？而这份渴望，就是力量。 何谓梦想？梦想是人类对于美好事物的一种憧 憬和渴望，与理想相似。理想和梦想究竟有什么区 别？梦想等于是一种妄想、一种不切实际的渴望。 而理想却是一个人对未来事物的想象，一般是有 根据的、合理的。我认为理想是方向，而梦想是彼 岸。就像在大海里航行的船，灯塔是理想，而最终 停靠的港湾才是梦想。所谓人生最痛苦的事，莫过 于不断努力而梦想永远无法实现，而我们的人生正 是如此。然而，人生最大的遗憾不是拥有无法实现 的梦想，而是没有尝试着去实现它，但梦想的意义 在于拥有。人人都说生命因梦想而精彩，梦想为何 如此重要？梦想带给人生的精彩，正是体现在这些 追求里，体现在对梦想的执着和拥有上。有人说， 人生就像一场旅行，不在乎目的地，只在乎沿途的 风景。其实梦想也 是如此。梦想往往都被现实 所束缚而无法实现，泱泱世界七十多亿人，能有多
少人真正地实现自己的梦想？到最后，在茫茫人海 里也就那几十万个比较幸运的，被上天和命运眷顾 的人，才有完成。如果梦想的意义在于实现，那么 那些无法实现的梦想就失去意义了吗？显然不是这 样的。在追逐梦想的道路上，或许你这一生真的跟 梦想的自己无缘了，但是梦想是你一生的回忆，所 以到后来，梦想到底能不能实现早不再是关键。 梦想像一座灯塔，在黑暗中带给我们方向与动 力，给予我们希望。梦想的意义不在于你取得了多 大的成就，在于你实现了多少人生的价值。梦想 的意义给予我们的不止是一个方向，一个目标，更 是一种信仰。梦想是我们每个人都应该有的，它激 励我们前进，但是坚持自己的梦想才是最重要的。 如果连梦想都放弃了，那么你的人生也失去了意 义。但是谁说，梦想是有时间限制的？梦想只要能 持久，就能成为现实。我们不就是生活在梦想中的 吗？让梦想成真的最好办法就是醒过来。更何况梦 想从未离你远去，它只是躺着记忆的角落里等待 你重新开启。像梦境般的理想世界，美好却不知该 如何靠近。对于觉得自己梦想太大的他们而言，梦 想看上去遥不可及，遥远的让自己力不从心，因为 一面沉醉在想象中的美好，一面担心自己的能力不 足而裹足不前。这样的话，梦想不仅无法实现，与 现实的差距也会越来越大，就连无力感也就越来越 大。 虽然未来想要成为的那个样子看似与我们的距 离不可思议，看似不真实，但同时它也近在眼前， 因为只要我们肯努力，它就可以实现。就像不可能 的挑战，但很多人就做到了，把不可能转变成可， 所以如果他们可以，那么为什么你就不行呢？有了 梦想，我们的心就会飞翔。可以飞翔后，我们的 梦想就不再遥远。俗话说得好：“无梦想，不人 生。” 要始终相信总有一天，未来的自己一定会 感谢现在拼命的自己。要相信自己会成为自己想要 成为的人。每个人的心中都有梦想的道路。就算我 们如今都被疫情困在家里，但是这并不能阻止我们 向我们梦想靠近，因为只要我们坚信我们的信仰， 而且一旦确定是我们喜欢的东西，就努力去征服 和追求它。只是在这一路上，我们没有地图，但我 们一直都在寻找着。。。。。。就像爱奇艺2020年 新推出的出道节目“青春有你2”的名言或宣传口 号：“梦想，不管多远都可以到达。” ，所以梦 想无论再怎样模糊，都会潜伏在我们心底，使我们 的心境永远得不到宁静，直到这些梦想都已经成为 了事实。
CHINESE 49
人们希望的寄托 作者：Josh Cua (G11)
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020年爆发的新冠病毒此时此刻正在影响着每 个人的生活。自从2020年二月份开始，新冠 病毒开始扩散到直至全球化的程度太快了，所以 政府部门决定对人们进行隔离，严禁足不出户。 在家里，每个人都需找另找别的办法来继续地在 隔离期间过原本日常生活的日子。为了在工作上 跟同事取得联系，我父母会开始用Google Meet 和Zoom会议平台与他们的同事交流。但是其实， 我也用这些会议平台来上网课和参加各种网上活 动，比如：数学训练和比赛，网络研讨会等。 由于全市封城的关系，整个城市感觉起来忧 虑孤单。人人都不在，犹如鬼城，似乎自己也会 被感染一样。因为人们都不能离家，见朋友和亲 眷，所以面对社交隔离，人们难免会觉得很郁闷 无聊。不过从三月份开始封城以来，我首先会感 觉有点儿伤感，因为在这时候，我肯定无法参与 我所报名的义务活动叫PKK(Para Kay Kiko)。 这个活动本来计划在2020年四五月如期举行，但 是后来因为新冠病毒在四月蔓延得实在是太过严 重，导致最后经过慎重的决定，也为了我们的健 康，PKK就被取消了。一听到这个信息，我就觉 得很空虚和沮丧，毕竟我好不容易等到了暑期， 也满期待参加这个活动，但到最后还是以取消告 终。可是，我并没有随波逐流，让这个负面情绪 影响我这几个月以来的身心健康，因为我有固定 时间表来填满自己的业余生活。有许多选择和时 间，可以用来做运动来保持身材，通过网络时代 存在的网上课程来充实生活，也可以在自己家园 里尝试种菜或养花的劳动精神。 允许我来讲解一下这三个活动的主要目的和细节： 第一，运动。一个星期里我至少会运动两到 三次。隔离期间时，我做的运动包括在家里打篮 球，社区里骑自行车，跑步和一些基本的健身动 作，比如：“伏地挺身”，也就是所谓的俯卧 撑，还有深蹲。这个安排会帮我自己消耗休闲时 间还会对我压力方面有所帮助。这样即使在隔离 期间，我身体的状态依然可以变的更健康。除了 减压的忧虑，运动也能让我避免自己和科技屏 幕接触的时间。其实，很多专家都统一认为过分 地接触科技的屏幕一定会对每个人的视力有所影 响，视力的清晰度会下降。并且，因为人们在疫 情，困在家里足不出户，他们都会花更多时间面 对着屏幕，但是如果避开的话，可以继续做日常 生活的事情，工作和学习。认知到这个觉悟后， 我每隔两三小时都会让眼睛休息一下，再继续。
Art by Lance Damalerio (G12)
第二，图书表和网上课程。XSEL之前的暑期 时，我会在我的休闲时间内，读一本小说或几本 课外书还有一两本商科书籍。读这些书时，我不 但学到新知识，我还能放松精神和休息眼睛对屏 幕的接触。除了读书，我也浏览网上有新冠病毒 和别的最新当地国外事件的信息。谁是随地关 注媒体的内容会让我了解世事，这样即使待在家 里，也可以获取或收到最新消息。 第三，与家人邻居的互动。如今我们的家人 好不容易要在家做事，这是个难得的互动机会。 我会跟家人在一定的时间一起吃午饭和晚饭。吃 饭时，我们每个人都会分享各种各样的想法，比 如最新的新闻或日常生活的经历等。吃完饭后， 我会约家人会一起在社区里走走。这些机会和经 历或许能把我变得跟以前一样保持积极的心态， 因为无论我面对什么困难，我的家人都不会离开 抛弃或忘记照顾我。在这段日子里，我想了很 多，于是每个礼拜，我都会主动帮爸爸买送虾仁 给邻居们，同时也参与了我们家园的种菜活动。 这些都可以是跟邻居们很好的互动体验。 总而言之，尽管新冠病毒会让我胡思乱想， 但是我从中找到了让自己排除这些负面想法的办 法，例如运动，读书，上网课与维持家人邻居互 动的关系。这些都多多少少都帮助了我放松，并 存有良好的思想。最后，我希望这篇文章能让跟 自己感同身受的人们寻求到安慰的心境。在疫情 期间，从迷失的方向中找到适合自己的规律和健 康是很重要的，因为这个疫情就现在看来不会在 短时期内就结束或完全消除，不过只要以开朗地 去面对生活中赋予我们的挑战，那我们就都有很 好的机会在疫情中充实地成长学习。
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失落的痛苦：相 应的悲伤 作者：William Kohchet-Chua (G11)
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今大众会遇到各种各样的问题，但是自从 2020年的到来，世界和民众都面对了多种 悲剧和难度，例如：新冠肺炎、政治问题、经济 危机、或者个人问题和变化。所有的问题都可能 从私人延伸到社会，但是它们都可以造成某种程 度上的伤害。一部分人能抱正确的态度来应对他 们的悲伤，这是值得称赞的。虽然有些人懂得如 何应对他们的悲伤，但是大部分的人还是有时候 会迷失在伤痛的情绪里。如今现代城市带来的难 度和压力，很多人一定很容易就会感到悲伤，所 以人们战胜困难会比较难。不过无论是谁，人人 在他们的生活总有一天要应对悲伤，因此众人需 要的是了解悲伤的来源和情绪。只有清楚悲伤到 底是什么，才能抱正确的态度解决。
为什么人们无法理解或体会悲伤是什 么感觉？ 简单来说，舆论对普通的人的影响很大。悲 伤两字体里表示的是哀痛忧伤之意，伤心难过， 也可以理解为因心情不好而导致的伤感。由于大 众经常通过社交软件，接触到媒体，所以他们理 解成的悲伤会有点不同，并且他们也会觉得悲伤 与抑郁症的关系很大。现代的青少年可以接触 许多信息，通过：电影、音乐、故事、诗歌、电 视剧、真人秀节目，和新闻等多种类型的媒体 方式。由于舆论界的影响，大众或许会不清楚或 者误解悲伤的意思，所以除了媒体带来的诠释以 外，它们也会把悲伤时间变成又浪漫又风流的故 事。如果总是讲述一些不切实际的故事，那么媒 体就可以运用这种方式来洗脑人们的思想。媒体 会运用普遍人对他们信息来源的依赖来编织动人 的故事，把个人经历演化过于夸张的报道，让人 们信以为真。人们也会在社会上歧视憔悴的人， 所以这会把他们的真实情绪隐蔽起来。尽管一个 人了解了悲伤的情绪，但是很少人会拥有应对他 们的能力和勇气，因为如果这个社会无法接受他 们的感受，于是大众总就误解和鄙视那些情绪低 落的人，带着有色眼镜去看待他们，例如：同性 恋人，某些工作上的性质。
人们为什么很难调整或适应所谓的变 化？ 除了外界对悲伤情绪的看法感到失望以外， 一想到战胜困难的艰辛，人们动不动就会下定 论。根据大多心理学家的研究，他们说一个人悲 伤会停留在五个阶段之间变幻。悲伤有五个阶
段：第一否定自己、第二怒气冲冲、第三幻想如 果、第四情绪低潮、第五接受现实。因此这以上 的五个阶段都是悲伤情绪中的过程或许也有可能 是永生都无法面对的恐惧。由于这众说纷纭的解 决办法，因此每个人一定对面对挫折都有不同的 看法。一个人在每个阶段都会体验不同跟感情相 关的一个难题。例如：一个人的妻子去世了，他 可能会处在第四阶段，所以他会很伤心又抑郁。 为了逃避现实，他或许会借酒消愁、养成一些不 良嗜好，导致自杀等悲剧行为或结果，因为他承 受的痛苦已经远远地超过了他的负荷能力。其他 的就可能会停留在第一阶段，因为无法接受的事 实，所以尽管每个人都可能身处在不同的阶段， 但是他们都时钟残留在悲伤的情绪走不出来。现 代社对悲伤群体的歧视是来源于因为悲伤背后其 实有很多负面影响。既然是这个原因，那么人们 在现实中会很难当面又坦荡地面对所要承担的压 力和后果，所以他们的恐惧只会持续发展，并且 没有在根本上完全解除。
那么应该如何应对悲伤？ 概括地说，每个人应该勇敢地面对困难。 只要有勇敢的信念，每个人就可以应对他们的难 题。为了成为乐观的人，人们更需要习惯，而且 不怕社会对他们偏见的看法，因为不是所有的东 西都可以如你所愿，而且要学会珍惜所当下的一 切。有句话说得好，“人若是想要真正地自由又 快乐地生活，那么首先就应该要拥有被讨厌的勇 气。” 人们总是不想化解他们的忧虑，因为他们 害怕被社会排挤。 由于人们强烈的畏惧感，每个 人的健康状况会渐渐地退化恶化，并且有时候会 发展各种各样的症状。除了社会影响以外，新冠 肺炎也会给社会增加新冲突，因为这个事情会让 人人回想起他们的生活方式和健康，所以他们就 会更加担心忧虑。不过如果一个人想要走出他们 的伤感，那他们就需要回想到他们生活的本质。 自从新冠肺炎的到来，有些人学会了如何放下他 们的顾虑，这样他们才能成为乐观的人。尽管人 们还对社会和社交还心存忌惮，但是有越来越多 人会愿意敞开心扉地来诉说他们的问题，所以如 果大众能挺身而出，并愿意帮助有需要的人们， 就有助于别人早点放下，从痛苦解脱。只有回想 生活的点点滴滴和勇于面对世事难料的灾难，或 许他们会找到他们心理所想的答案，但是如果连 大众也不曾做任何改变或接受，那么他们的努力 和付出就会付诸东流，因为在每一逢悲剧里，一 个人的精神情况和态度对解决办法最为关键。
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现在新冠肺炎的爆发让人们更加恐惧了所以 导致个人的问题也越来越多了，因此要放慢生活 的脚步来舒缓压力，不过通过群体隔离，人人也 能有机会仔细地回味他们的生活，并且发现性格 方面上的欠缺。不管怎样，人人应该以活得乐观 开朗自由为主。或许如果让大家更加了解你，理 解你，才能做调整和改变，或许就能解决他们的 不幸，可是这是极其复杂又困难的。如果我们允
许自己的情感和情绪来来吞噬自己的逻辑思维， 那么这悲伤的情绪就可能会危害我们个人的心理 健康，然而从根本上改变我们。我始终相信我们 所有人的命运都掌握在自己的掌心里，所以如果 希望走出这个状态，那就要学会只记住美好回忆 的一切，因为过去发生的是无法重新来过，所以 放下抛开过去的枷锁和抱负来迎接自己理想的未 来，毕竟我们是为了自己而活。
商业界的大起大落 作者：Calvin Li (G11)
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在疫情中的人们真的是拥有了很不一样的 体验。人们会随着自己的行为，情绪和思 想以及最重要的日常生活方式而改变。但是， 在当前形势下，经济方面受到的影响应该算是最 大的了，因为世界各地的政府和经济学家都在努 力寻找从经济下滑中复苏的方法。数十年来， 我们通过工业和产业结构的活动不断扩大了侵占 这稀有的地球资源，但是近几年来，这所谓新崛 起的数字时代可算是越来越发达，有更多人开始 使用，并接触这一类新的科技发明，而这如今也 是唯一可能在避免传播病毒的情况下，能让经济 回归到以前的办法了，毕竟旧时代也需要被更新 了，所以科技时代里权威的改革统一和转变已是 近在咫尺，近在眉睫。因此，这篇文章会提到受 到经济影响的方式，如何可以挽回这个情况的一 线生机以及如何可以缓慢地回到或发展到全面复 苏的状况。
至都不离开家。 这将改变这些实体店的行销模 式，以前一大批人群都涌向购物中心，但是 如今，由于消费者都足不出户，所以就必须开启 无需离开房屋就能买到商品的捷径或便捷方法， 便开始送货上门。刚开始，很多人还不太适应， 因为还没有像现在那么多人用，不过现在大家都 适用的绰绰有余。这样既能让其销售至少恢复可 以维持的状态下营业，并在隔离期间依然正常地 避免一些肢体接触或者直接的关系。对我自己而 言，我现在也对网购非常着迷，以至于超市或零 售商店的产品。 因此，在疫情期间还有之后的 生活，我会继续使用在网上购物的形式，而不是 外出购物，因为它确实真的更方便，毕竟它可以 帮助我减少出门购物的时间和压力，而且几乎所 有的东西都可以在线购买，只要是你想得到任何 物品，网商肯定有卖，要啥有啥，可真算得上是 应有尽有。
第一，电子商务行业在未来的蓬勃发展。众 所周知，现代的很多商品都已经在转变成为在线 商品，以网购的形式来售价。自从疫情的影响和 社会里的疏远，隔离期间的许多实体零售商店和 购物中心都被迫关闭，因为都没有营业，而且还 没有顾客的资源，所以肯定没有任何收入。这样 的情况如果还继续开着，那就是亏本，因为根本 就维持不了，得倒贴钱，所以大多的实体店都已 经转成网商的方式继续营业。虽然这还没有完全 拓宽这市场的原来的样子，但是这已经为数字时 代的市场资源提供了一个最终能有吸收又赢得客 户的机会，这会令商家都充分依赖于这种形式来 拯救如今全球的经济状况。隔离期间后的生活也 大有变化。 对于实体店来说，他们从前可以正 常地营业运用，但是在新冠病毒爆发后，餐厅， 超市和零售店的客户量一定会大幅度地下降。这 是因为人们的生活方式或习惯发生了变化，他们 在隔离期间会习惯于依靠人们为他们购买商品甚
疫情隔离期间的生活确实很艰辛困难。 人 们在外出时，寻找朋友和亲人都是客面临无数困 难和隐患。 不过即使消费者可能因为疫情的关 系，而避免亲自购买某些物品，所以他们一般都 在网上购买，直接送到家门口。这新的生活方式 都是每个人都需要适应的，所以经济从某种意义 上经济依然在流转，并没有完全停止，只是换了 一种形式。因为在隔离期间，我们其实还可以从 外面买东西，所以并没有限制我们的购物能力。 如今的大众已经在生活中融入了在线购物的习惯 和电子商务的报价。疫情期间，人们更对饮食方 面的健康非常注重，尤其是对肉类的需求都频繁 下降，因为人们仍然相信这场病毒来源于肉质的 影响。到最后尽管世事如此，无论遇到什么事件 或形势，经济延续发展仍将是绝对不可避免的因 素，除非政府和经济都腐败了，就像十几年前的 经济大危机一样或者这世界已经完了或结束了。
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电影观后感想:《我的少女时代》 作者：Edric Dy (G11) 这次即将跟大家分享的电影是2015年出“《 我的少女时代》”。这是由台湾顶级制作人、导 演、编剧陈玉珊女士执导，宋芸桦、王大陆、李 玉玺、简廷芮主演的青春校园爱情电影。这部是 陈玉珊导演创作的第一部电影或处女作。这个电 影的故事环绕于现代女主角林真心（由台湾艺人 陈乔恩特别出演）旧时代的回忆。如今三十岁的 她，这个人对待人生很努力，但是她的公司上司 和她现代的男朋友都没有很好地对待他。在又一 次加班后，她无意中听到了同事在背后探讨她活 得如此狼狈糟糕。这使她突然回想了上高中的 时光，并最终受到启发，想让自己的生活变得更 好，于是选择了从公司辞职，并且跟她不爱又不 爱她的的男朋友分手。后来去追逐自己的偶像， 香港四大天王刘德华的演唱会，机遇巧合下遇见 了当年错过的人。 该片以90年代的台湾高中为背景，讲述了平 凡的高中少女林真心（饰宋芸桦）和校园霸道黑 老大徐太宇（饰王大陆）的初恋故事。 林真心偶 然发现欧阳（饰李玉玺）和陶敏敏（饰简廷芮） 交往的秘密；在喜欢敏敏的流氓学生徐太宇的胁 迫下，两人组成“失恋阵线联盟”，誓言拆散这 对金童玉女，帮彼此倒追心上人。这部电影主要 讲述她回忆她高中时期一些刻苦铭心的经历以及 她最终在这从中学到的东西。我认为她从她经历 所学到的经验和教训对现在正在上高中的任何学 生群体或正在回忆高中时期的成年人都会产生剧 烈的影响和共鸣。
曲，同时也是电影《我的少女时代》的主题曲。 通过田馥甄本身的声线起伏和歌声的穿透力，当 他们在一个充满情感的场景中展示这首歌曲时， 就肯定会取到巨大的成功和反响，因为这使它更 加令人难忘，更是触及了许多人的心灵。伴随着 电影《我的少女时代》的上映，《小幸运》在内 地和台湾都掀起了一轮全民翻唱的潮流，那一年 里被翻唱的次数位列第一 。由《小幸运》引发的 青春回忆让各大高校的学生纷纷回忆大学时光， 因为只要这首歌，一播放，就会很自然地就勾起 许多人满满的青春时期和爱情里的刻苦铭心，就 像是诉说一段过往逝去的悸动诉说过往悸动，重 燃年少感动。 这部电影的口碑和观众缘，无论是国内外， 评价都是极好的，可谓是深受大众的喜爱，不过 能够达成如此的成就不是没有原因的。这可是纯 良心的制作，触及生情的真实剧情和演员带来饱 满情绪的演示，才换来的剧烈反响和冲击力。这 部电影在能第一天上映后就受到如此热烈的欢 迎，并且都受到个个海外粉丝的好评和推荐，这 是有原因的。那么除了歌曲本身亮眼的成绩以 外，这个电影能够如此成功地穿透到海外，甚至 全球市场的魅力来自于哪里，而且我们能从剧中 的故事何经理学习到什么？
本片真的是在众多的台湾电影中创造了突破 天际前所未有的成功。在全球的票房共计新台币 25亿元，是继《那些年》之后，另一个成功的海 外输出国片。本片也被多伦多亚洲国际影展选为 焦点影片，于2015年11月8日及9日在安省美术馆 AGO Jackman Hall剧场展映，且创下此影展创办 20年以来，史上第一次24小时内座位完售的秒杀 纪录。同时也在全球各个地区为台湾电影创造了 惊人的票房销售纪录保持者。这部电影和群体演 员都获得了许多电影节或颁奖典礼的提名，在第 52届金马奖的最佳女主角，最佳新导演，最佳电 影原创歌曲，第35届香港电影金像奖的最佳两岸 华语电影，第27届金曲奖的最佳年度歌曲，这些 都仅仅只是所有的一小部分，仅举几例。
首先，林真心让我们意识到有些人并不是他 们看上去的那种人。其实只是我们没能好好地了 解他们，便定义他们的一种假象。一个典型的例 子就是徐太宇，因为她在剧中的角色是学校的黑 帮，但是后来欧阳曾透露徐太宇之所以会变成现 在这样暴力倾向是因为他一直在为当年自己无意 间玩游戏让他的朋友不幸溺水而怪罪惩罚自己， 不过正因为如此，林真心决定帮助徐太宇变回以 前的样子。每个人都有他们这样做的理由。仅从 你所看待的一面来判断他们，并不能让您真正 了解他们是谁。这就会让我们学会从不同角度来 试着理解别人，给他们一个机会。正如徐太宇所 说：“有时候人们对你很卑鄙，是因为他们想与 你更近，更了解你。” 有时候，所有人需要的就 是一次机会，允许别人来了解他们，就可以让他 们有所改变，才会变得更好。《我的少女时代》 教会了我们要给每个人一次机会，因为他们所需 要的只是社会的关心和给于。
”《我的少女时代》” 这部电影能够红到 海外的主要原因之一是剧中为这部电影所制作的 原创歌曲里动感的旋律和歌词。”《小幸运》“ 是前期台湾知名女团S.H.E.成员”田馥甄“演唱 的一首歌曲。由徐世珍、吴辉福作词，JerryC作
其次，《我的少女时代》告诉我们每个人都 可以为自己而改变自己，即使最坏的人也有能力 改变。剧中的徐太宇被别人认为是无法改变的的 校霸，永远都不会成功，但当他依靠自己的努力 和天赋，在一项非常重要的测试中获得了前十名
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的成绩。这证明了他能够从过去的暴力性格转变 为一名勤奋的学生。这全是因为林真心功劳，来 自于她的不懈劝说和鼓励，所以并不意味着他们 会永远那样。每个人都可以改变，这取决于是好 是坏。这可能会激发学生，尤其是那些似乎无望 的学生，因为只要你下定决心，一切皆有可能。 再来，学习不是人生的全部和终点。虽然 拥有良好的学习习惯合成固然很重要，但你不应 将一生都奉献给它，把他当人生在过，因为归根 结底，校园生活只是人生的一部分。如果你只关 心成绩，那么你将一无所获，因为重要的不是成 绩， 而是你所累计学到的生活道理和日常知识， 以及如何在以后的人生中运用它。这部电影通过 徐太宇都一直不断地告诉林真心，“如果不这样 做，将来会后悔的。”尽管徐太宇告诉林真心他 做的事情不好，但他确实是在享受生活。对于学 生群体来说，我的观点是不建议学生逃学或喝 酒，但是校园生活和校外生活必须要保持平衡， 不要过度倾向于一边，因为结果一定不会好的。 我们不能不休息地不断学习，应该找时间和亲朋 好友相聚一起玩，但也不要陷入不良的嗜好，因 为这些都是短暂性消遣的方法，不会长久，而且 对你不管是身体健康方面或精神健康方面都是非 常不利。 最后，《我的少女时代》要每个人（但主要 是针对学生群体）都应该成为自己而活。不要轻 易让他人影响或利用你。有帮助的批评和侮辱是 有性质上区别的。尽管你应该听取别人对你的评 价，但你只要接受和理会那些可以帮助你改善自 己的批评和建议，就好了。那些对你没效益的批
评或侮辱就不用介意理会，因为在这世上根本就 不可能做到没有人讨厌你，就算你是零负评的明 星。在《我的少女时代》现代生活里，林真心让 她的上司和男朋友利用，把他当一个道具，这就 是为什么她的生活看起来很混乱又糟糕的原因。 但是在她决定为自己站起来后，她会感到更加幸 福，并且能够再次找到生活的平衡，所以我们每 个人都要靠自己又相信自己，不要随便道听途说 而影响生活。 如果要总结我为什么很强烈地建议所有人 来观看这部《我的少女时代》电影，那将是林真 心向这社会的不公和刻板印象叛逆时的那一场长 话：“分数和校规都不能定义我们，成绩好的学 生也会犯错，曾经犯错的有一天也会变好，只要 我们自己知道我们是谁，只有我们自己能决定自 己的样子。” 这真的是这剧中的名场景了。， 那句台词真的是看完后会永世难忘，后劲很有 感触。这部电影为观看者总结提供了许多人生的 经验和教训，可以帮助他们在未来成长为这个社 会贡献的社会人士，更不用说故事本身了。即使 这部电影是华语的，而且学生通常不太喜欢看华 语电影，但是这为什么并不能限制海外观众被吸 引，只是因为这电影的剧情拍的太过出色，所以 我还是敦促他们尝试看一下。我可以保证看完这 部电影的观众都不会后悔，而且会对观众产生某 种思想方面的影响。这部电影不仅仅诠释的是一 人的故事，而是代表了又演出了所有人都会在人 生中共同拥有的一段最难忘的青春时期里的回忆 和爱情。
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焉知非福的道理 作者：Gordon Chiang (G11)
由
于大流行爆发一开始直至现在，一年三百 六十五天一眨眼就都过去了。因为冠状病 毒，整个世界都陷入了隔离；整个世界的经济 都在严重下滑。人们不想感染到，就会很自然 地呆在家浪费时间。因此，我敢肯定实际上， 我们每个人都已经厌倦了呆在家里的生活。我 们大多数人可能都在考虑我们应该在哪里购 物，因为疫情期间，购物中心肯定没有生意， 所以有打折优惠，又或在考虑隔离结束后出国 旅行，但是，我个人认为这不是正确的思维方 式，因他们都没有利用隔离期间，时间给我们 创造的机会来做更有意义的事情。 呆在家里自然有它的优缺点：优点是你可以 学到新的知识找到自己想做的事情，但缺点在于 是你会在家里无聊得漫天睡觉无所事事，所以你 要想可以做什么，才不会无聊呢？其实，我们在 家里有很多东西可以做。这一年里给了我们很多 时间和很多机会来自学，所以你应该知道你自己 想要做什么。不管是尝试新的事物还是在我们生 活的某些方面做改进，我们应该早早地适应这个 新情况，并利用多余的空闲时间来做更多以前没 有时间做的事，而不是等待隔离期间结束而浪费 时间。 我们现在有大多的时间让我们自己学新的学 术，但是需要我们人人真真地想做。我们每个人 都呆在家里没事儿做，一定很无聊，所以如果有 太多时间浪费，那么为什么不要把它用去学新的 东西呢？因为在过程中肯定也比你什么都不做， 等着时间过去浪费了还有效。从个人经验来说， 我利用了隔离期间给我的时间来重新安排自己的 生活。如果我们想适当地利用这段时间，就必须 适应，而且要自律。我们不能继续为自己的无所 不作来找借口，因为我们为何不能做一些有益于 我们自己的事情，所以在这段时间，还说缺乏时 间的，那根本就是借口。你不在学习，又不呢能 出去，那你有什么好忙的呢？ 最重要的是要找事做，比如说：日常生活都 会接触到的吃饭。如果吃饭是我们人的本能，那 么为什么就不从现在就开始学会做饭呢，毕竟自 己学会做饭对你没有坏处，只有好处。很多人害 怕做饭，一是懒，二是他们不懂做饭，感受不到 做饭的价值和成就感。其实，解决饮食问题的方 法有很多：去食堂，订外卖，或去蹭饭，甚至也 可以在一个城市结交365个好友，他们每人每天管 一顿饭，一年将衣食无忧。那么这样为什么还要 去学如何炒菜？浪费了时间也成不了大厨，没意 思也没意义。当然，如果要按部就班当大厨师， 那就得从零基础做到精深，这确实是很花时间又
浪费经历，但我建议的是只做自己想吃的菜。这 样只要懂了自己的口味，学会买材料做菜调味 道，只是你一时的问题，并没有你们想象的那么 复杂。学会做饭以后，你就再也不用去天天点外 卖来吃或吃泡面。但是你别忘了要在家里经常动 一动，要不然你不久就会变胖，尤其如果你本身 就是个吃货。 这就是我接下来要说的了。呆在家里一直都 不动对身体不好，所以我们也需要找办法在家里 动一动。凭着目前的特殊情况，大人和孩子都要 长时间地待在家里，然而在家做健康运动会变得 特别重要。对于各位家长来说，这也可以是一个 跟亲子增进感情的好时机。平时忙于工作，没时 间陪伴，那么趁现在大家都宅在家里，正好带上 孩子一起运动起来。足不出户锻炼身体，增强全 家人的抵抗力，身体棒棒地来抵抗病毒。 这一段时间里，一个人也可以去修行。修 行主要训练得失自己意志，让自己更加坚定。 如同制造瓷盘瓦罐，皆需经过火焙日晒，时间 愈久，则愈坚固。同样的，我们平时能够通过 自主意识来上香，礼佛，诵经，阅藏，静坐。 不论忙闲，都能够让我们持之以恒。这时间一 久，自然定能改变气质，净化心灵，提升道 德，增加力量。这或许会让我们认知到自己 需要在哪里做改善，所以是一个很好的特征和 影响。当然，在修行期间，你也一定需要做自 我反省。反省时，回想做过的一切，因为这些 机会帮你自己回到理想的正轨上，来帮你以后 当，并做一个对社会贡献的好人。 回想的过程中要谨记的几句话是：“心是一 把尺，量人先量己；心如一根秤，秤人先称己。 强势无朋友，自私无退路，宽容留余地，才有好 福气。” 如果不想做一件事，可以有无数理由； 如果想做一件事儿，一个理由足以。很多时候， 对一个事情不感兴趣，是因为不懂。一旦懂了， 一切变得容易，也愿意沉浸其中。这就告诉我们 入门很重要，要找到切入门径的道路，不能盲目 前行。最后，在经历一些事情的时候，也别忘了 自我反省和自我安慰，因为这会帮你经一事长一 智，反而让我们从中成长，自力更生。这也就是 那句焉知非福里的道理可言。
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饮茶宜清浅，浮世多清欢 作者：Gordon Chiang (G11)
茶
叶，是著名的世界三大饮料之一，被称 为“东方饮料的皇帝”。中国是茶叶的故 乡，茶叶作为中国特产饮料的传承已有几千年的 历史了。茶的文化源远流长，也是饮用量最大的 饮料之一。茶不仅在社交中扮演了重要角色，它 的风味和潜在的健康获益也让茶广受欢迎，就连 近期最受欢迎的奶茶也有茶的成分。如今既然被 隔离困在家里，那么饮茶便更是绰绰有余值得体 验的了。我相信很多人都很想尝一下这茶的魅力 所在，因为它的魅力不局限于美食和中国，毕竟 它可算是发展到被世人认可的地步了。但是它发 源于台湾，可以说是台式手摇茶里最受欢迎的爆 款。奶茶也有分各种各样的款式，口味和调料， 但是有的可能根本就没有茶的成分。话说奶茶里 的茶是真的茶，只是可能有的已经粉身碎骨了， 因为已经做成茶水用来调剂，所以用仅仅地肉眼 是看不到茶叶的。中国被称之为茶的故乡，不仅 仅因为那里的土地孕育出世界最早的茶树，更因 为那里的人们将茶视为一种连接通天地的生命。 茶树在中国大地上繁衍，更因气候和土壤的不 同，分化出多样的品种，而且随着加之不同的制 作工艺，茶叶的品类更加丰富起来。以茶汤色泽 和茶叶的制作工艺分类应该是最权威、最通俗的 茶叶分类方法了。根据《中国茶经》的定义，所 有的茶可以归为绿茶、黄茶、白茶、青茶（又称 乌龙茶）、红茶、黑茶六大类。茶的精华和故事 来源于它多元化又特殊的作用和寓意。以下都是 些关于茶的特点与佳句：
「茶之于生活」 茶是一种生活，酒是一种生活。都是生活， 即使相差再远，也有相通的地方。茶喝多了，君 子之间淡如水。酒喝多了，可以在酒里体会一下 小人之间的温暖以及市井里不精致却扎实亲切的 活法。酒高了，可以有难得的放纵，可以上天摘 星，下海揽月。茶深了，可以有泪在脸上静静地 流，可以享受一种情感叫孤独。
「茶之于商业」 茶桌上温文尔雅，细细品味，以茶敬人，淡 而纯，纯而静，静才能修身养性。经商之道，很 多人都懂，真正做到的人少，为企业长久计，还 需不时“问茶求道”。
「茶之于为人」 心神静，易相处。茶比较适宜于安静的环 境，常在安静的环境中，心态也会变得更加平 和。宜取舍，会选择。茶道讲究天人合一，归于 自然，更是一个循序渐进，冲泡过程不能急于求 成的慢活。长期泡茶，就会懂得，需要综合自身 的素养、能力，来选择相对合适自己的事。
「茶之于健康」 茶的健康属性，永远是饮茶的第一要义。 众所周知，喝茶有益于健康，茶叶中含有的天然 营养成分，不仅可以起到抗癌防病、延年益寿的 效果；还可以预防心血管疾病，防治动脉硬化 此外，坚持长期喝茶，还可以保护视力、预防感 冒，治疗牙周炎，解烟毒、酒毒等。因此经常喝 茶的人，身体一般都非常健康。
「茶之于修养」 想要泡好一杯茶，需要有足够的耐心，要 沉得住气。茶与水的交融，适宜温度的等待，这 些都是在时间里提炼出来的精华，只有耐心才能 喝上好茶。会品茶的人往往也是低调沉稳的，他 们能在嘈杂纷繁的世界里静心泡茶，这是一种宠 辱不惊的态度。懂行的人会懂得如何欣赏，品味 茶，懂得欣赏、发现美的人一般也都是有修养和 内涵的，他们的品位一定不俗，气质高雅端庄。 如果说美丽的外表可以化妆整容，但内在优雅的 气质却肯定是学不来的，因为那是一种源自于内 心的态度，就像优雅又从容地生活。
「茶之于思维」 首先，茶叶中含有大量的胡萝卜素，维生素等 物质，可以明目，降低眼睛的浑浊度，因此，茶人 的眼睛，一般是明亮有力、炯炯有神的，这样的眼 睛给给人一种落落大方、清澈明亮的感觉。 无论如何忙碌，手边总可以有一盏茶。除了解 渴，还可以养心，因为在某一瞬间，如坐草木之 间，如归远古山林，感受到清风浩荡。基本上可 以说是有茶的日子就会是一段好时光。“茶”字 从笔画构成上讲，就是“人在草木之间”，人就 仿佛蓦然走进了草木之间。上有草，下有木，人 在草木间，乃古老又年轻的“茶”字，茶真正的 味道蕴藏在拥有人间最美大味的山水草木之中， 得以氤氲、吸收天地精华，才是茶真正的秘密。 人在草木怀抱，人与草木相依，人同茶为一体才 能孕育出世上最浓郁的茶香。茶水会渐饮渐淡， 越淡也越显其清越，越清更越能显其真茶意。茶 很清雅，不是浓郁的东西。真正的茶玩味的就是 清和闲。喝茶，对少年而言的确太淡了。浓情 饮咖啡，清心品淡茶。人只有渐行渐长，在岁月 中经历了种种浮躁的事、烦恼的事、忙碌喧嚣的 事，再回到一杯茶中，才会感受到清淡里有一 种隽永悠长。泡绿茶，古人讲究“入座半瓯轻泛 绿，开缄数片浅含黄”，淡淡的几片叶子泡在水 里，慢慢地释放出茶香时，清浅的绿色好像沏进 了一片阳光。在这样清浅的绿色里，你能听见山 风，能感受到山泉，一泡绿茶的前世今生都在清 泉中被唤醒了。这种写意之美，正是中国人对茶 最迷恋之处。懂得了茶，更有谈资，让茶把一生 的光阴凝成清浅陪伴，在一切的相视欢笑中汇成 一瓣恒久的心香。
CHINESE 56
寻找个人问题的解答 作者：Shaun Lim (G11)
有
时候的变化，我们是不太会接受。不过每 个人的情况都不相同，尤其是在我们家里 的家人，但是所有人之间共同的一件事就是家居 隔离。近期病毒大流行可谓是影响了我们的全球 人民的生活。对我们所有人而言，这新的常态可 能是一个全新的经历，也可能是消极的经历。我 们尽可能地需要积极应对这新常态的挑战。除 了我们的身体要健康，我们的心理健康也固然重 要。这是因为我们的心理健康会影响我们整体的 思想，导致很多事情都会改变。精神方面的健康 会影响我们的行为，情绪，见解，相处方式等生 活有关的一切事物。 在新常态里会面临的最大挑战可能就是对我 们自由方面的限制。我想个人自由应该都是我们 个个最重视的事情吧。由于该病毒的传播，我们 需要遵循隔离措施以保护我们自己不被感染，并 且避免传染该病毒。我们每次出去都只能是有紧 急需求才能出去，而且需要戴口罩，但是大多时 候都得留在家里更安全。对许多人来说，感受到 孤独并不是他们乐意或可以适应的状态和情绪， 而且如果这些青少年还和家人的关系处理的不 好，那么这个问题就会更加严重恶化，毕竟一般 的青少年都处在叛逆期，就连本人也是。因此，
在家里呆久了可能很难保持良好的心理健康。在 这种情况下，很多时候在指责别人之前，了解自 己的问题更为重要。这是对心理健康尤其如此， 因为除了你自己之外，应该没有其他人可以更加 了解你自己的想法了，毕竟你亲自体验的经历的 都是别人不可能完全地感同身受的。 第一步是了解问题的根源。在寻找解决方案 之前，你自己必须首先知道为什么会遇到这种问 题。其次，你需要知道是谁或什么给你带来了犹 如此类的难题，无论是有人想方设法地打扰你的 清静还是你自己过于担心的事情。进一步地了解 问题之后，你便可以寻求最适当的解决方案。在 处理问题时， 始终保持良好的处理能力和稳定的 情绪很重要。了解问题之后，你便可以开始寻求 一个理想的解决方案，不过自始至终最好是选择 最正面的方式来解决问题。这是因为使用否定性 或负面性的解决方案来解决你的问题可能会在后 来导致更多原则性的问题和隐患，并且对你和他 人产生的影响是不可避免的。 如果你的问题是由人引起的，则找到解决方 案可能会很困难，因为解决问题的关键在于自己 和对方的看法和意愿，因为如果只有你自己单方 面同意或想要和解的话，那就没有用。当你的问 题涉及家庭成员时，最好的解决方案是与他们进 行深入心灵认真的谈话。那么如果你的问题牵涉 到一位朋友，意义的交谈也会很有效。但是使用 对话作为解决方案时，要记住的一件事就是它不 应该是一个论点。用谈话作为释放问题的一种手 段，而不是加剧局势。再如果你的问题涉及学习 压力等外部因素，那么平衡工作和休闲时间便是 答案。 处理我们的身心健康时要记住的一件事就 是专注于积极向上的正面影响。心理健康非常重 要，因为它可以在各个方面影响我们。要永远谨 记的一件事就是这世界上还有许多的其他人都会 遇到跟你相同的困扰，毕竟这新常态会牵连到我 们所有人，所以你不必将自己的问题埋在自己身 心上。寻求正确的帮助势必不会错，而且当你与 他人以你的问题进行接触时，你也不应该感到羞 耻或害羞，因为相信我，在这种特殊时期不止你 一个会体会到这种感觉。
Art by Andreas Bautista (G11)
CHINESE 57
来自时间的觉悟 作者：Jazon Young(G12)
这是一个利用时间，自我检讨的 心理路程。 真的很不幸，这开头年就已经是许多人最后 的归宿了，因为今年算是祸害灾难降临的一年。 随着疫情的爆发，很自然地就带来了灾难，使人 人都起义来反抗政府。在这仅仅的一年中，发生 了太多无论大小的变化。对于我们学生来说， 使生活产生变化的无异于疫情的到来。在与众不 同的生活方式中，有的人过得充实，利用这段时 间让自己变得更好。有的人在这段时间过得很抑 郁，整天呆在家里，一个人着实寂寞。 现在的状况跟以往原本当然会有所不同，每 天重复着同样的事情。早上起来，坐在桌前上着 网课，到中午吃完午饭，再继续上课，然后下午 的时间就空出来了。与以前相比，放学的时间更 早，而我们所拥有的空余时间也增多了。既然如 此，我们就不应该虚度光阴，浪费宝贵的时间。 如今这个现状，想要出去与朋友相聚恐怕是不行 了，那便做些让自己能变得更好的事吧。
能让自己进步的事：一有看书充实 知识，二检讨自己，改掉坏习惯。 书是充满知识的，书是美好的，书是妙不 可言的。。。。。。但如果我们不看书的话，书 中的知识是不可能直接输入到我们人类的大脑中 的。看书的话，会有很多好处。其一是为了丰富 我们人的知识，也能随之让我们的写作文水平提 高，因为看一看专业作者的作品，没有坏处吧， 而且还可以从中学习如何写好作文来更好地诠释 自己内心里的想法。看书不仅能填充自己所运用 的词汇，还能拥有更广阔的词汇量，让自己所写 的文章不再像从前又枯燥又乏味。这样还能让自 己增添不同的写作风格，不然自己的文章看上去
每次都千篇一律，几乎没有变化或创新。书读多 了，写作水平自然也就提高了，同时还丰富了自 己的知识量。通过这些能使自己拥有更充实的思 想，使自己变得成熟起来也变得稳重，所以这种 能两全其美的方法，何乐而不为呢。 检讨自己，莫过于认识自己，所以应该尝 试去更加地了解认识自己，才能来反省自己的所 作所为。事实上，一个善于自我反省的人，往往 能够很容易地发现自己的优缺点，并能够扬长避 短，发挥自己的最大潜能来掩盖自己的不足；而 一个不善于自我反省的人，则会一次又一次地犯 同一样的错误，甚至犯了多次都不知廉耻或错在 哪儿来悔过，这种人就不能很好地发挥自己的能 力。反省，其实就是反过身来省察自己，检讨自 己的言行举止，看自己哪方面都有哪些错误，尽 量弥补缺点，看看有没有需要改进的地方。人之 所以要反省，有两个方面的原因。一方面是因为 说实话，一个人不可能做到完美无缺，总会有性 格上的缺陷、智慧的不足或别的方面的失败；而 另一方面是在现实生活中，人们都不会直接地指 出你的过错，所以很多人都不会意识到自己做错 了什么。很多人见到了你只会说好话，就算看到 你做错事、说错话、得罪人也会故意闭口不说， 因此就更需要我们自己极力地反省，才能深入地 探究和明白我们当初的所作所为。 最后，虽然现在这个特殊时期，时间比以前 空出了多很多，可我们有的人还没意识到这句话 背后的道理“少壮不努你，老大徒伤悲。” 时 间一定是有限的，但如何分配这些时间在于我们 自己的规划。趁着这段呆在家里上网课的时间， 一定要让自己过得充实，不要得过且过，虚度光 阴。在家里，我们可以多看书，多去反省，检讨 自己，让自己进步，才能在自己的意识里过好自 己的人生，做着最好的选择。时间荏苒，尽量不 要让自己在后知后觉中留下青春遗憾的句点。
CHINESE 58
人生的选择权 作者：Jazon Young (G12)
到
底应该活个什么样的人生？人生如戏，转瞬 即逝，生命的时间说长也长，说短也短。有 的人长命百岁，有的人英年早逝。人活着，到底是 为了自己，还是为了迎合他人？有的人活得精彩， 享受着生命带来的快乐，但有的人活得憋屈，四处 抱怨，再有的人早已麻木，活得像个傀儡。我想随 着时代的更新换代，如今早已不同于旧时代。时过 境迁，我想在这个时代最有争议的莫过于所谓的理 想人生应该是怎么样的。
所以人生到底该活成什么样？ 所以人生到底该活成什么样 ？ 最为常见的情况有，一个是活成自己喜欢的样 子，另一个是活成父母眼中理想的样子。我知道有 些父母对他们孩子的掌控欲很强，打着为了孩子好 的幌子，控制并限制着孩子的生活，活生生地把孩 子当成了一个提线木偶。他们希望通过孩子活成他 们所期待且过去没活成的样子，强制把自己的思想 灌输给孩子。但是一个孩子懂得什么？他连自己的 精神和思想都还没建立起来，他对于这个世界仍然 处于一种懵懵懂懂的状态。人人都渴望自由，你连 给他一次自由选择的机会都没有，便已经丧失自由 了。这会让他每天都带着压力过生活，简直是日不 一日的可悲和残酷。有的父母喜欢管着你，连一点 细微的小细节都要让你遵从他想要的模样，把你要 走的路安排得妥妥当当。这种行为甚至可以大到你 以后的生活的轨迹，他们都已经帮你规划好了，但 也可以小到衣着打扮，发型这些都要遵循。举个例 子，一个女孩，她的父母有可能会不允许她染发， 人前人后都一定要像个淑女，温柔可爱，而这根本 就不是女那孩的性格。这样的人生，想必没有多少 人会愿意体验一次，因为你根本就不是你自己。这 就像古代时候的皇宫，宫里的女人都一定得遵循宫 规，而且很多事情，一旦进了宫，就不能做了。 当然有人，虽然活着这种不自在的人生，不过 最后他们还是成功了，但是有的失败了。那些所谓 的成功人士是真的活成功了吗？因为大部分的他们 都是被人逼着活成一个陌生的样子。可能在人生的 最后一刻和终点，他会问一问自己，“这一生一世 我到底是为谁而活？这真的是我所想要又或者我所 期待的人生吗？” 就如傀儡版的活法会让他们悲 痛欲绝，因为他们实在是错过了太多原本的美好。 而那些面临着失败的，不仅辜负了父母的期待，同 时也耽误了自己，迷失了又找不到人生的方向。这 些有所安排和期待的父母是想要他们的孩子后悔一 辈子，而憎恨你们吗？不过当然，这个不能一概而 论，有的家长是极端了点，但我想大部分还是挺理 智的。毕竟父母也算是领路人，带领你进入这个世 界，从你蹒跚学步，哇哇大哭到你成家立业，都是 他们在背后默默无闻地支持着你。理想的父母会给
你的是建议，要的是你活得快乐，不用受太多苦。 期待自然还是有的，只是他们会认知到你与他们 终究不同，他们想要的跟你想要的是不同的。只要 你过得开心又安然无恙，他们也就心安了。父母就 应该把孩子比喻成一个鸟儿，就像鸟儿终究是会长 大的，鸟儿最后还是要展翅飞翔，去寻找自己的天 空，但是他们也终究会老去。 而另一个话题，当然就是按照自己的想法来生 活，就是为自己而活的存在和想法。这种生活可以 分为两种，一种是努力奋斗活成自己想要的样子， 而另一种是尝试过后，对生活绝望，对自己和社会 失望的人。就第一种来说，人总是要有梦想的，大 部分人都会朝着这个目标努力前进。而在这个过程 中，前方一定会有阻碍，有的人翻山越岭，历尽千 辛万苦都一定要到达目的地。他们诠释着人生所赋 予你的魅力。如果你每天看着同样的电影，也会 累，也会厌烦吧？所以尝试各种新鲜又不同的东西 会让人生充满激情。这样他们成功了，也找到了活 着的意义，这不是很好吗？但也有人因为性格或习 惯问题，就是活不成自己喜欢的样子，比如说：懒 惰成性。有些人有很多不良的嗜好或习惯，导致了 他们永远都无法到达所想的目的地。可是就是有些 人，虽然最终梦想还是没能实现，但是仍然活出了 自己的风格，依然对生活还是充满期待又憧憬着向 往的未来。所以到最后梦想没实现不可怕，可怕的 是有些人会自甘堕落，四处抱怨，抱怨这世界规则 的不公，嫉妒别人的成就，最终走上歪路，这种人 最可怕。 最后，我只想对正在阅读这篇文章的观众们说 几句话，那就是：“人生只有一次，它像一辆列 车，中途有人会上车，但也有人会下车，每一处窗 外的风景和人都是不一样的。有的人精彩无比，有 的人像电影般跌宕起伏，有的人重复播放同样的 电影。纪伯伦曾经说过“你们的孩子都不是你们的 孩子，乃是生命为自己所渴望的儿女。” 生命终 究还是为自己而活，要活成的样子，应该由自己掌 握。人生不是一场游戏，可以来无数次，因为它没 有重新来过的机会，所以不要让别人来干涉你最后 的选择。人生就是青春，终究会留下遗憾。如果 错过了，就是错过了。不要纠结于过去，活在阴影 里，要充满希望地活下去，创造自己的路程。这一 路上会有许多磕磕碰碰，注定不会是完美的，所以 要尽量保持自己的初心。不要轻易为任何人，而改 变或失去你自己本身的灵魂。你的存在和身躯或许 是可以被别人控制，但是思想是任何人都博得不了 的自由，所以只要你思想自由了，那你就是个自由 人。因为你至始至终都知道自己最想要的是什么， 毕竟这是别人无法剥夺的权利。留下脚印，活在当 下，珍惜眼前，懂得感恩，幻想未来。
CHINESE 59
戴好“心理口罩”？ 作者：Bryant Wang (G11)
随
着疫情的发展，现在全世界的人几乎都在同一 条船上，大多数人都没办法出门，只能默默地 待在家里等待病毒离去。你可能会觉得只要你天天 待在家里，你就不回被疫情影响到，但实际上长期 的社会疏远和自我隔离也会给人们带来情绪问题。 人们在此期间有时也会感到担忧和孤独，但这都 是正常的。在这期间，人们心理上多多少少都会出 现焦虑、烦躁、担心等情绪。面对疫情，除了戴口 罩、勤洗手做好身体防护，同时我们也需要做心理 上的防护。 首先，请谨记这不是疾病症状，也不是心理问 题，而是“心理反应”：疫情居家隔离期间，我们 透过电子屏幕会随时关注疫情的各种信息，导致紧 张、焦虑、心烦等负面情绪，进而影响人整体，包 括心理、行为和生理以上这三个层面。在心理学科 上，这种迹象或表现使人无法集中注意力，恐惧不 安，甚至让人陷入对死亡或患病的恐惧。行为上， 它限制人的活动能力、表达能力和处理日常事务的 能力。生理上，它会引起心跳加快、肌肉紧张、失 眠和头晕头痛等躯体反应。此次疫情使我们自我隔 离，与社会保持距离并通常独自度过时间。以下是 一些建议，可帮助你保持心理保健：
保持联系 疫情期间，宅在家里并非无事可做，尝试着给 家人更多的理解和情感支持，也可以通过视频通话 等方式与亲朋好友互送祝福，将有助于家庭成员、 亲朋好友恐惧和焦虑等情绪的调整，也有助于自己 心理状态的调整。虽然电话沟通是保持联系的最佳 方法。但是，看到人的脸确实可以在通话中带来巨 大的改变。它可以让你心情舒畅，并减少孤独感。 即使你离自己的亲朋好友很遥远，但是不管怎么 样，他们都会很高兴能够见到你！
良好的观念 良好的思想理念不但可以帮你舒解压力，也能 够让你的心情快乐一点。保持理性的思维。积极的 思维模式，让你有更多的创造性，接受变化，明白 抱怨没有用。你需要具备积极的思维模式和行为。 如果你害怕被病毒感染而忧心忡忡，可以换个角度 看问题，尝试多关注在疫情防控上每天取得的进展 和积极效果。你需要明白我们并非生活在一个完美 无瑕的世界里，难免有出乎意料的事情发生。一个 心理上有弹性的人，能够采用积极的思维和行为去 应对突发的变化。
安排好居家生活，计划你的日子 首先，要接纳你的情绪。要告诉自己，由于这 出乎意料的疫情的出现，才改变了原有的生活节奏 和秩序。其实这是很正常的，然后从正常规律的作 息开始，逐步恢复秩序。可以尝试给自己规划一直 想干但以前没时间做的。有规律的生活作息可以为 心理上的情绪稳定提供支撑。花一些时间写下您想
如何度过一天，可以让你更佳了解你想做的事，并 确保按时完成自己喜欢的事情，还有不要对未来的 事情过多焦虑。因为面对疫情，很多人都因担心“ 如果摊在我身上了，那可怎么办？”而焦虑。不过 如果此时此刻的你是健康的，那么在做好能做的防 护准备之下，不用为了不确定的、没有来的未来而 焦虑，毕竟活好当下，才是王道。学会换位思考， 对自己和他人有同情心 学会换位思考，将有助于你更好的理解他人， 同时，也更容易得到他人的理解。帮助他人需要知 道自己的能力范围，这样我们就不会因为某些“无 能为力”的事情而陷入深深的自责和烦恼，甚至无 法自拔。在疫情防控期间，减少出行，做好安全防 护，对患者多一些鼓励，对奋斗在一线的人们多一 些祝福，也是一件有意义的事情。做好力所能及的 事情，能让你感觉有价值，所以要学会用积极的视 角看待问题。
保持运动 每天找个方法动一下你的身体和你的心情，因 为只要你能避免与其他人接触，适当的运动有助于 促进身心健康。健康方面的研究学家亲自说明你或 许可以通过运动来增强肌肉的力量，毕竟这有助于 稳定心理方面的情绪：恐惧、焦虑、抑郁等情绪的 调整。这里所说的运动不一定是剧烈的跑步或去健 身房等，只要动起来就好。总之，最好避免久坐或 者长时间躺着。
减少负面信息的摄入 打开新闻网页，你会发现负面信息多于正面信 息，因为常常负面信息会更引人注目。比病毒更危 险的是“无知”。有人习惯了接收碎片化的信息， 所以只要是关于疫情的相关信息都深信不疑，且情 绪和行为会受其左右，这也为谣言的传播提供了基 础。这就是为什么应该通过正规渠道的科学系统来 了解此次疫情的相关知识和信息，将有助于我们更 有效地想出对眼前难题的万全之策。 疫情爆发以来，很多人承受着不同程度上的心 理压力。作为普通群体的我们，这世界算是一个整 体，所以在面对病毒的时候，也是很恐慌的。整个 社会都处在一个应激的状态，这种应激和它所带来 的情绪体现在社交媒体上，以各种形式渗透和表 达出来，影响到日常生活的方方面面。这需要一个 比较长的过程才能慢慢恢复，也需要社会共同来 应对。希望你们不要因为此次疫情而改变面对人生 的态度，要依然坚信找到别的方法继续快乐地活 下去。在疫情面前，愿我们能够相互支持、相互鼓 励、相互温暖，共渡难关，加油！最后，这次疫情 绝不是武汉人或中国人的疫情，而是全球共同的疫 情，众志成城，一定可以克服难关，调整好自己的 心态一起去面对它。
CHINESE 60
Kapangyarihan ng Kapansanan ni Aniceto Cajigal (G11)
“Sa mundong ito, iba´t iba ang uri ng tao. May matanda, may bata. Mayroon din kayumanggi at ang iba naman ay maputi. May Katoliko, may Buddhist, at ang iba naman ay Muslim.” Ito ang laging sinasabi ng mga tao at ganito ang ikot ng mundo. Ngunit, paano kung mabago ito? Dagdagan natin ang kasabihang ito, “may karaniwan, pero mayroon din mga makapangyarihan.” Ito ang kwento ng Kapangyarihan ng Kapansan.
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a Timog Silangang Asya, ay matatagpuan ang Pilipinas. Sa region 1, Ilocos Norte, may nakatagong lugar na Pook Pakikipagsama sa Lungsod ng Bayani. Katabi ng lungsod na ito ang Gubat Gipuspos, ang pinakamalaking gubat sa region 1. Probinsya talaga ang lugar na ito. Walang maiingay na busina ng kotse, wala ring polusyon sa hangin sa lugar na ito. Talagang mapayapa dito. Dadaan ka sa mga bahay dito at makikita mo lang ang mga matatandang nakaupo sa duyan habang pinapanood ang mga apo na naglalaro. Masaya talaga ang kalagayan ng mundo dito, ngunit lahat nga ba ng tao dito ay masaya, Hindi siguro. Ito ang pamilyang Waga. Apat sila sa pamilya na binubuo ng tatay, nanay, at ang dalawang magkapatid na lalaki at babae. Ang tatay ay si Jong Waga. Siya ay dating kawal ng Hukbong Katihan ng Pilipinas, ngunit siya ay pulis na lamang ngayon. Noong taong 2000, isa siya sa mga naputukan pagkatapos ang pagatake ng mga terorista. Nawasak ang kanyang mga buto hanggang sa nabali na ito at walang magagawa ang paglagay ng cast. Kinailangan na putulin ang kanyang paa. Pagkatapos ng dalawang taon ng paghilom at therapy ay nakabalik na ulit
siya sa trabaho ngunit hindi na bilang kawal kundi pulis na lamang. Pag may kailangan siya, ay nasanay siyang kumilos na naka wheelchair. Dahil dito ay lumaki ang kanyang mga braso at naging malakas. Ang nanay naman ay si Carmel Waga. Ngayon, siya ay nagtratrabaho bilang guro sa paaralan sa kanilang lungsod. Pagkatapos ang panahon ng paghilom ni tatay ay biglang naaksidente si Nanay at ang kanyang babaeng anak. Ito ay nangyari nang paliko sila at may sumalubong na bus. Nabangga sila at tumilapon sa kalsada. Dinala sila sa ospital at nagkaroon si nanay ng Permanent Brain Damage at nabulol naman sa pagsalita ang babaeng anak. Ang brain damage na ito ay naging abala sa paggalaw ng mabilis. Kaya niya ang magluto at maglinis ng bahay, pero, hindi niya kaya gawin ito ng mabilis. Unang pinanganak si Joey Waga. Siya ay nabuhay na bulag. Dahil dito, ay nasanay siya sa paggamit ng pandinig para alamin ang kanyang paligid. Alam niya ang mga bagay na nasa kapaligiran, mula sa pinakamalaking gusali hanggang sa pinakamaliit na langgam. Halos “nakakakita” na din siya. Ang bunso naman ay si Carmen. Siya ang kasama ni nanay nung siya ay naaksidente. Noong naaksidente siya ay lumusot ang kanyang leeg sa headrest kung saan nasira ang kanyang vocal chords. Dahil dito ay hindi na siya nakakapagsalita, pero nakakagawa pa din ng ibang bagay tulad ng pagamoy at pagsulat. Pag may gusto siyang sabihin ay lagi siyang may dalang notepad kung saan niya sinusukat ang kanyang gustong sabihin.
na papel. Dahil sa dami ng nangyayari na ganito, nasanay na si Carmel na saluhin ang mga tinatapon sa kanya. Isang araw, pagdating ng hatinggabi, ay biglang nasira ang katahimikan sa lugar na ito. Mas lalong dumilim ang Pook Pakikipagsama. Dumating ang kinakatakutan na nilalang na si Bungango. Siya ay isang mabangis at isang makasariling nilalang. Sarili lang niya ang kanyang iniisip. Wala na siyang pakialam sa buhay ng iba kaya kinakain lang niya ang ibang tao. Nagising tuloy ang lahat ng tao. Nakita nila ang nilalang na ito na tumakbo sa Gubat Gipuspos. Biglang naisip ng mga tao na kailangan ng isang tao na lalaban dito. Aalis lang daw siya pag may tumalo sa kanya. Sa bawat tao na kanyang natalo sa gubat na ito, ay may mamatay na tao sa lungsod. Iba iba ang lumusong sa gubat pero hindi na dumating. Hanggang isang araw…
Nagising ang tao sa tigang at tahimik na lungsod. Pagkalipas ng ilang oras, nagpulong pulong ang mga tao. Tinanong ng kapitan ng lungsod na ito kung sino ang pinakamalakas, at pinakamatalino para pumunta sa harap. Halos walang pumunta at lalong lang nawawalan ng pag-asa ng mga tao. Hanggang may boses na hindi ganon kalakas, na nagsabi, “Ako!, Kami!, Kami ang may kaya!.” Nang hindi na bumalik ang mga taong lalaban, nang malaman ng tao na ang pinakamatapang ay ang pinakatakot, ang pinakamalakas ay ang pinakamahina pala, at wala na ang pagasa sa makulimlim na Pook Pakikipagsama ay dumating ang liwanag sa dilim, ang Pamilya Waga. Pumunta sa harap ang pamilyang ito, ang pinakahindi May kapansanan na nga sila, mahirap pa inaasahang mga tao ang pumunta sa harap. ang kanilang buhay. Si Jong at si Carmel Nagsalita si Jong. Sabi niya, “Walang ay laging pinagtsitsimisan sa kanilang gustong pumunta, kami ang pupunta.” trabaho. Si Joey ay laging dinadapa at si Biglang tumawa ang mga tao, at sinabihan Carmel ay laging tinatapunan ng maliit sila, “Sa lahat ng tao dito na pwedeng
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pumunta, kayo pang pinakawalang kayang, ngunit wala namang pumipigil sa inyo, sige Good Luck!” Sabi ni Jong, “Lagi niyo nalang kaming inaapi dahil sa aming kapansanan. Akala niyo di namin kaya. Kayo nga ang takot! Mas matapang kami sa inyo, mas mahirap ang aming buhay, ngunit kami pa din ang pinakamatatag. Sa ngayon, akala niyo biro ito, pero tingnan natin ang sasabihin niyo pagbalik namin. Lumusong na ang pamilya Waga sa Gubat Gipuspos. Hindi sila takot at nahikayat sila sa layunin na kanilang ginampanan.
nito ay si Carmen. Mabilis na ang galaw ng kanyang mga kamay dahil lagi niyang sinusulat ang kanyang gustong sabihin. Kaya pakonti-konti na silang gumagalaw, nasa harap si Joey habang bumubuntot si Carmen at ang kanilang mga magulang. Itinuturo ni Joey kung nasaan ang mga arrow at huhuliin naman ni Carmen ang mga ito. Ginawa nila ito hanggang sa wakas ay nakarating na din sila sa dulo. Paakayat ulit sila hanggang pakonti-konti na din bumabalik ang sinag ng araw. Sa gitna ng gubat, ay may nakita silang isang pintuan.
ang pinakamatapang at pinakamalakas. Ngunit, sila lang ang bumalik, pero hindi ito naging masamang bagay para sa mga tao kundi isang katuparan sa kanila. Nagkaroon muli ng pagasa ang mga tao. Humingi ang natirang pamilya ng tulong at sabay silang lumusong sa gubat na may dalang mga sandata.
Una nilang hinarap ang lumulutang na Maze. Itong maze ay saksakan ng haba at saksakan din ng laki ang pader nito. Sa tagal nilang umiikot sa kung saan-saan ay may nahanap silang solusyon. Sa dulo pala ay may lever, na pag ginamit nila ay lulutang ang pader at makakatakbo na ang tao sa dulo, wala lang may kayang makarating dito. Nag-isip sila hanggang nalaman nila na kaya pala ni tatay. Bumaba siya sa kanyang wheel chair at nagsimulang gumapang sa ilalim ng maze hanggang makarating sa dulo. Hindi na nahirapan si Jong dahil sanay na siya dito sa pagpasok sa malilit na mga lugar. Pagdating niya sa dulo, ay hinugot niya ang lever at biglang lumutang pataas ang mga pader para makarating na ang kanyang pamilya sa dulo.
Hindi muna nila ito pinasok, ngunit wala silang ibang mahanap na daan kaya pumasok na din sila dito. Nakita nila dito ang isang madilim na kwarto, na may ilaw na iniilawan ang upuan na nakatalikod. Sino kaya ang taong ito na nag iisa sa gubat? Hala, si Bungango na pala ito. Nakita nila ang malaki at magbangis na nilalang na ito. Ang kanyang kapangyarihan ay ang dila niya na napakahaba. Kayang durugin ng dilang ito ang isang taong buhay. Tinukso ni Bungango ang pamilyang ito. Tinawagan niya silang mga mahina at mga duwag na tao hanggang galit at pikon na sila at hindi na matiis ang pagtuksong kanilang ginagawa. Sabay silang lumusong sa nilalang na ito. Nang akalain mong natalo mo na siya, bigla lang siyang mabubuhay muli ng mas malakas at mas malaki. Sa tagal at hirap ng laban na ito, hindi na nila kinaya, may kailangang magsakripisyo. Sa pamamagitan ng pagmamahal, ay sinabi ng tatay na iwanan nalang siya at bumalik nalang sila. Mahirap nga ito sa pamilya pero wala silang ibang magagawa kaya tumakbo sila. Tumakbo sila ng mabilis palagpas ng madilim na bahagi ng gubat na ito at ang lumulutang na Maze hanggang nakarating na ulit sila sa lungsod. Lalo humina ang tatay hanggang nanalo si Bungango at nakuha niya ang utak ni Jong.
Pagpasok nila nakita nila ang isang nilalang, na nakalitaw sa balat ang mga galit na galit na mga ugat at ganun din sa mga mata. Nakaupo si Bungango sa balikat ng nilalang na ito. Ngunit, si tatay nga ba ito? Para sa kanila, itong nilalang ay hindi na si tatay, pero alam nila na nasa loob nito si tatay, na lumalaban gamit ang buong lakas. Tinawagan nila itong nilalang sa pangalan na Talimaw.
Pagkatapos nito ay pumasok sila sa pinakamadilim na bahagi ng gubat na ito. Pababa ng pababa sila hanggang marating nila ang lugar kung saan hindi na makapasok ang sinag ng araw. Biglang may narinig silang mabilis na bagay na halos pumipito sa paglipad nito. May pumapana ng arrow sa kanila. Hindi na nila alam ang kanilang gagawin. Halos tumatama ang mga arrow na ito sa gilid ng kanilang mga tenga. Ano kaya ang gagawin nila? Ang solusyon dito ay ang magkapatid na sina Joey at Carmen. Dahil matagal na si Joey na bulag, ay nakikita niya kung saan lumilipad ang mga arrow na ito at ang humuhuli naman
Tumakbo silang mabilis sa lumulutang na maze at sa madilim na bahagi ng gubat hanggang nakarating ulit sa tahanan ni Bungango.
Isa isa nilang kinakalaban si Talimaw. Dahil mas marami na sila, aakalain na kaya nilang matalo ang halimaw na ito, ngunit hindi iyon ang nangyari. Mas marami nga sila pero mas malakas pa din ang halimaw na ito. Tuwing nahuhulog si Talimaw ay bumabangon ulit siyang mas malakas at mas matapang sa dati.
Patagal at patagal ang laban na ito, ngunit lumalakas at lumalaki lamang si Halimaw at padami ng padami ang mga nasasaktan. Hanggang sa sinabi nalang ni Carmel na sila nalang daw na natitira ang lumaban dahil talagang laban lang naman nila ang laban na ito. Sumugod na ang tatlong natitira sa pamilya. Hindi kinaya ni Joey at ni Carmen ang laban na ito. Wala na ngang magawa si Carmel, ano pa kaya ang magagawa nila. Ganoon lang ang tingin niyo. Dito natin makikita ang kapangyarihan ni Carmel. Pagdating nina Carmen, Joey, at Carmel Kaya pala niyang pumasok sa utak ng mga sa lungsod ay nagulat ang mga tao. Hindi tao at malaman ang iniisip ng tao. Ito ang nila inaakala na kaya pala nila. Kaya pala ginawa ni Carmel. Ngunit, kakakuha lang nila ang Bungango na ito, sila pala ay niya ng kanyang kapangyarihan at malaki
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na ang hamon na dapat niyang daanan. Pinasok ni Carmel ang utak ni Talimaw at nakita niya ang kaluluwa ni Jong. Hiningi ni Carmel na protektahan siya sa totoong buhay habang pumapasok siya sa utak ni Talimaw. Kinausap niya si Jong at sinabi, “Jong, alam ko na nandyan ka pa. Kaya mong manalo, magpursige ka lang.” Habang nangyayari ito ay sa totoong buhay ay unti-unting nasisira ang shield ang ginawa ng mga tao. “Nauubusan na ang oras, Jong, alam ko kaya mo ito, mahal kita!,” sabi ni Carmel. Biglang bumalik si Carmel sa nangyayari sa totoong buhay. Nang nawawalan ng pag asa ang mga tao, ay tumigil si Talimaw at nahulog sa lupa. Pinuntahan nila ang katawan ni Talimaw at nakita nila na dahan dahan na lumiliit ang kanyang katawan, hanggang sa bumalik sa dating kalagayan si tatay. Aakalain niyo na walang nabago sa kanya, pero sa paggising ni Jong ay nakita ng mga tao na mayroon na pala
siyang kapangyarihan, kaya na niyang lumipad at malakas na din siya. Si Carmel naman ay kaya magbasa ng isip ng tao at kaya din magpaggaling ng kahit na anong sakit sa paglapag lamang ng kanyang kamay. Si Joey ay nakakapag pahinto, nakakapagbilis, at nakakapagmanipula ng oras. Si Carmen naman ay nakaktakbo ng mabilis.
na palabas. Sinundan nila ang langgam na ito. Nakarating silang lahat sa Pook Pakikipagsama na walang nasaktan..
Pagdating nila ay isa isang lumapit ang mga nanakit sa kanila, ang mga katrabaho ni Jong at Carmel at ang mg kaklase ni Joey at Carmen. Akala nila na may masamang gagawin ang mga taong ito, pero pinatawad nila ang mga taong ito at Gamit ang kanilang bagong kapangyarihan nagkaroon sila ng mga bagong kaibigan. ay kinalaban nila si Bungango. Dahil dito, Binibigyan ang Pamilya Waga ng respeto ay mabilis lang namatay si Bungango. ng tao, pero hinihiling nila na hueag sila Bago namatay si Bungango ay lumapit ang bigyan ng espesyal na atensyon ng mga tao. pamilya Waga at sinabi, “Sa susunod na Masaya at mapayapa na nabuhay ang Pook gagamitin mo ang dila mo para manakit Pakikipagsama. ng iba, alalahanin mo na kami mismo ang dadating at mananakit sa iyo.” Pagkatapos Sa nakikita mo, masayang natapos ang nito ay dinurog nila ang ulo ni Bungango. kwento na ito. Ito ay hindi lamang kwento ng Pamilya Waga o kahit kwento lang ng Nahulog ang kapaligiran ng lugar na ito Pook Pakikipagsama, kundi kwento ng at hindi sila makalabas. May nakita silang Kapangyarihan ng Kapansanan. langgam na dumadaan. Binasa ni Carmel ang kanyang utak at nakita ang daan
Kamala Harris ANG UNANG BLACK, TIMOG ASYANO, AT BABAENG BISE-PRESIDENTE NG ESTADOS UNIDOS ni Darren Say (G12)
Noong Enero 21, 2021, si Kamala Harris ay itinalaga bilang bisepresidente ng Estados Unidos. Ang kanyang pagpapasinaya ay itinuring bilang makasaysayan at mahalaga dahil siya’y naging ang kauna-unahang Black, Timog Asyano (South Asian) at babaeng bise-presidente ng bansang Amerika.
pugay si Harris sa kanyang ina na namatay noong taong 2009. Sinabi niya na nandito siya sa posisyon na ito dahil sa mga kababaihan na nauna sa kanya .
Black na komunidad at sa mga babae. Nakikita ko ang pagnanasa ni Harris sa kanyang mga adbokasiya at sana ipagpapatuloy niya ito hanggang sa huli.
Para sa akin, ikinatutuwa ko ang pagiging bise-presidente ni Kamala Harris. Naniniwala ako na ito ay ang simula pa lamang patungo sa pagbabago ng kanilang bansa. Sa pamamagitan ng kanyang konteksto bilang isang Black, Ang kanyang pag-upo bilang bise- Timog Asyano at babae, kung saan sila’y presidente ay naganap sa panahong isang minorya at karaniwang inaapi sa hinaharap ng bansa ang kanilang mga Amerika, magbibigay ito ng pag-asa sa problema laban sa pandemya, lahi (lalo na kanilang komunidad lalo na ngayong sa mga itim), kasarian, at maraming iba pa. meron nang isang mataas na opisyal na magiging representante ng kanilang Sa panahon ng kanyang pagsasalita mga boses. Naniniwala ako na lalaban noong araw ng pagpapasinaya, nagbigay si Harris para sa hustiya, lalo na sa mga
Base sa balita, sana’y meron tayong natutunan base sa sitwasyon ng Amerika. Kung kaya nilang iboto ang isang maayos at masigasig na pinuno, kaya rin natin gawin iyan. Ituloy natin ang magparehistro sa susunod na halalan at turuan rin natin ang iba ng edukasyon sa pagboto. Sana rin mapagtanto nila kung sino ang karapat-dapat na maging lider sa ating gobyerno. Ang kabataan ay ang kinabukasan, kaya kailangan natin magisip at magpasya nang mabuti upang maging mas maganda ang mga susunod na panahon.
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Ang Mag-Aaral at ang Mobile Device Management ni A drian Dee (G12)
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a panahon ng online distance learning, paano natin masisiguro na nakikinig ang isang estudyante sa oras ng klase at matapat na sinasagot ang mga gawain at pagtatasa? Ito ay isang nangingibabaw na tanong ngayon para sa mga guro. Para sa Paaralang Xavier, ang sagot nito ay ang eSchoolPad Mobile Device Management (MDM) system na inilagay sa mga iPad ng mga mag-aaral. Ayon sa isang liham ni Mr. Melvin Gallardo, ang ITS Assistant Coordinator for IT Support sa Xavier, ang MDM ay makatutulong sa pag-monitor o pagbabantay ng estudyante sa klase at sa paninigurado na hindi nandadaya ang estudyante sa mga pagtatasa. Kaya ng MDM takdaan ang paggamit ng iPad at i-block ang mga laro at social media apps sa oras ng klase. Ayon rin sa liham na ito, gagamitin lang ng paaralan ang MDM system mula 8:00 sa umaga hanggang 1:45 sa hapon; sa labas ng oras na ito, pwedeng gamitin ng mag-aaral ang kanyang iPad para sa anumang bagay. Maraming magulang at guro ay sumasang-ayon sa sistemang ito. Ayon sa kanila, malaki ang tulong nito sa paninigurado na tama ang ginagawa ng mga estudyante sa oras ng klase. Para nga
sa ibang mga magulang, hindi na raw nila kailangang manatili sa tabi ng anak nila para siguraduhin ang pagsunod nito sa tuntunin ng paaralan. Pinapatay naman ng paaralan ang MDM sa labas ng oras ng klase kaya hindi masyadong mahigpit ang patakarang ito. Para sa mga sumasang-ayon dito, ito ay isang munting sakripisyo lamang para siguradong produktibo at marangal ang estudyante sa mga gawain na ito.
Biyernes, kaya’t pati Sabado at Linggo ay hindi nagamit ng mag-aaral ang iPad para sa ibang bagay.
Bukod sa mga problema sa mismong MDM, marami ring nangangatuwiran na hindi rin makatutulong ang sistemang ito dahil may iba silang device katulad ng cellphone, laptop, o computer. Hindi mapipigilan ng MDM ang paggamit ng mga ito para sa ibang bagay, kaya’t para sa iba ay halos balewala rin ang sistemang ito. Sa papel, ito ay isang lohikal na patakaran, Dagdag-problema lang para sa kanila ang at ang mga punto na ito ay may katuturan. paglalagay ng MDM kung hindi rin pala Ngunit sa totoong buhay, marami itong ito gagana nang tama. pagkukulang at hindi ito patas para sa mga mag-aaral. Sa huli, ang sistemang MDM ay isang Maraming lumabas na problema tungkol sagot para sa isang mahalagang tanong sa MDM sa unang buwan ng klase. Isang tungkol sa online distance learning, halimbawa nito ay ang pag-block ng mga pero ano ang kapalit nito? Kung ang website na ginagamit sa klase, katulad sistema ay hindi tunay na nakatutulong ng Google Slides at Quizizz. Imbes o napakikinabangan, dapat ba ay pilitin na matulungan ang mga mag-aaral sa natin ito? Hindi ba dapat nating pagpaggawa ng mga gawain sa klase, naging isipan muli ang pamamaraan natin? hadlang pa ito para sa kanila. Naging Sabi nga ni Fr. Johnny Go, ang dating problema rin ang pagpatay ng MDM presidente ng Paaralang Xavier, “I’d like sa labas ng oras ng klase. Maraming my students to learn and enjoy learning estudyanteng nagreklamo na hindi and not be terrorized unnecessarily. If pinapatay ang MDM pagkatapos ng they want to lie to me then that’s fine, but klase. May mga nagreklamo pa nga na I’d rather err on the side of compassion.” hindi pinatay ang MDM noong isang
FILIPINO 64
BEHIND THE COVER BY COBY SILAYAN (G12)
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ontrary to what the title of this section suggests, this section is quite literally behind the entire magazine. However, its location is perhaps appropriately so, as the rationale behind the cover is also the rationale behind the magazine— to show how we adapted to the situation that this magazine was produced in. On the floor above Xavier’s High School library, there exists a room: the Stallion Room. In that room, exists a table, a table where the Stallion Editorial Boards throughout the years would gather to discuss what articles should go into the next magazine, what projects to implement, and the rest of the nitty-gritty details of running a publication. Although none of us here in Stallion have set foot in that room this past school year, we still had our Stallion Room, rather, our Stallion Zoom room. In this room, though virtual, we still did the same things that we would do in the Stallion Room in the Xavier campus. This adjustment is, of course, not limited to Stallion, but is evident in essentially every group, organization, or class that has persisted through the past year. We therefore wanted to illustrate just that. However, simply illustrating an online meeting fails to represent what actually happens in one— the collaboration, the camaraderie, and sometimes even the chemistry. So instead of the cover being produced by just one person, we asked Design Department staff members Sky Angeles, Andreas Bautista, Justin Chua, and Gabriel Tadena to work on it together. The cover is the result in the same way that this magazine was the result of collaboration within and outside Stallion. I hope that in the brief moment that you may think of this magazine, you may remember, or even reminisce, the times you got together with others through a video call and left with an idea that spawned something to be proud of— even if it’s just the idea that you should always check that your mic is muted so that your device’s mic does not catch your next fart.
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Art by Sky Angeles (G9)
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Art by Justin Chua (G10)
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