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ELIXIR: The year’s best Valentine’s after-party

Love month is coming up; and just when the Valentine’s mood begins to set, we only start to party. Pick your poison, as the team that brought you Amore, Mismatch, Fresco, Deja Vu, Don’t Tell 1, and Don’t Tell 2 kicks off the 2020 edition of its annual Valentine’s party.

This year, we’re stirring up something new. Get ready as we bring you Elixir 2020: A Valentine’s Party.

Don’t miss out and dance to the mixes of some of Manila’s finest DJs, Rammy Bitong and JURO, and drink ‘til you drop with Elixir’s free-flowing drinks. The best part? Everyone is welcome.

Elixir 2020: A Valentine’s Party will be on February 21, 2020 at the Social House, Circuit Makati. Doors open at 10 pm.

For tickets, message [phone] on mobile or Elixir on Facebook. Tickets are sold at Php350.00 each. Proceeds will go to the organizers’ future medical missions.

‘Elixir’ is co-presented by Booky, Coffee Bean Tea and Leaf, Jaybotts, Zalora, and Klean Kanteen. 

Together with Odysseus Wedding Rings, Lanero Jewelry, San Mig, Emperador Brandy, Andy Player, Smirnoff Mule, Nature's Spring, The Bar Gin, Cocoon, Borough Medical, Energizer, Zabana, Zen, Peggi Waffles, May Grape Juice, Calicrunch, and Nina Leathers. 

With media partners from Manila Bulletin and When in Manila.

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Eyebrowdery July social media content copies

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PARAGON: The Multimedia Arts Capstone Awards 2020 campaign copies

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ClickTheCity sample write-ups

Food 1 paragraph write-up about a restaurant you recently ate at

Quite literally Mexican for “the little canteen,” El Poco Cantina in Leon Guinto street will surely satisfy your Mexican food craving fix. Foodies can have a little taste of Mexico in El Poco Cantina, a hole-in-the-wall hidden in a back alley near DLS-CSB. Adding their own special twist to the classics, El Poco Cantina’s dishes are a mixture of familiar Mexican flavors and their own style of cooking—from their bestselling Asian pulled pork soft tacos to their authentic carnitas burritos. Opened just last September, this small taqueria has become the perfect spot for those who want a quick burrito grab to-go and for those just looking for a place to chill, sit down, and even have a quick chat with the cooks while waiting for their food.

Travel  1 paragraph about a must-see local destination or a recent trip you've had

With such close proximity from our borders, one just might assume we have so much in common with nearby Indochina, namely Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Malaysia—and the assumption is quite understandable. Though we all might share the same race, our similarities pretty much end there. What makes our Southeast Asian neighbors so great is that they each have their own distinctly rich cultures and vibrant history that’s very different from our own. Their own set of religion, tradition, customs, and general culture make way for lots of travel go-to places—from the palaces and temples in Bangkok, the Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, the ancestral buildings and cultural heritage sites in Phnom Penh, the union of history and modernity of Saigon, to the perfect contrast of the cultural and economic power of Kuala Lumpur—that certainly won’t let you leave without giving you a new experience unlike any other.

Music 1 paragraph about your favorite band/artist (local or international)

It has almost been exactly a year since breakout singer-songwriter Maggie Rogers released her debut studio album, ‘Heard It In A Past Life.’ Despite her album receiving critical acclaim, Rogers said her album’s “contemporary pop" style wasn’t exactly always like that. The Maryland native says her music career started with folk music, with her folk roots largely influenced by her hometown. In fact, she was set to make a folk album, but this changed when a visit to a club in Berlin “enlightened” her to begin appreciating dance pop, thus gracing the world with her now folk-pop album. Some say her encounter with Pharell means she just got lucky, but her releases and latest Grammy nod are a testament to her own artistry and raw talent that goes beyond just luck, and perhaps that’s exactly what makes Maggie a truly exceptional artist.

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Write About Love: An ode to love and acceptance

As an official entry for #MMFF2019, Write About Love’s two protagonists attempt to write a script together for a romantic film—despite apparent creative differences.

Lead actors Miles Ocampo and Rocco Nacino, along with Yeng Constantino and Joem Bascon, star in TBA Studios’ official 45th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry, ‘Write About Love.’  The unusual pairings test their chemistry for the very first time on the big screen, giving adequate yet notable performances.

Directed by Crisanto Aquino, the film follows an unnamed “Female Writer” (Ocampo), a 22-year-old scriptwriting newbie and fashion entrepreneur, as she pitches a romantic boy-meets-girl story titled “Just Us” to a production company. With its “mainstream-ish” style, the panel soon retracts their decision on its movie approval for having similarities with a LizQuen film trailer that just got released. She is asked to revise her story and to write an entire script within a month, but not without the help of an unnamed “Male Writer” (Nacino), a 31-year-old indie scriptwriting veteran responsible for making the box office hit “I’m Drunk, I Hate You.”

As the writers with differing views on love and relationships work the script, the characters Joyce (Constantino) and Marco (Bascon) play out the ensuing rocky relationship for “Just Us” plot. The script tells the couple’s story as Joyce, an aspiring musician, and Marco, a construction engineer, struggle to work through their relationship due to priorities.

Throughout the film, the writers manipulate the story and the couple’s lives by imagining the scenes as if they’re watching their characters play out their story in front of them in real life.  Through changes in its aspect ratios and color grading alternatively—from full screen and muted (real life) to widescreen and full cinematic color (“Just Us”)—the film then kind of indicates its way to the two worlds finally merging.

A film within a film

“Write About Love” doesn’t hide the fact that it’s both a critique and an homage to classic Filipino romantic comedy films such as One More Chance, That Thing Called Tadhana, and I’m Drunk, I Love You (also one of TBA Studios’ productions released in 2017).

‘Female Writer’ is a single-since-birth hopeless-romantic who loves romantic comedies. ‘Male Writer’ is an older, much more experienced guy who finds them a bit too cliché for his liking. They then go to a Baguio-Sagada trip together to have an immersion to further develop their love story.

Moreover, the movie depicts how romantic comedies (romcoms) seem to have always been written and suggests how they probably should be. Its “film-within-a-film” vibe shows characters do whatever their hearts tell them, no matter how irrational they may be.

With throwing lines such as: “Kung may constant man about love is it drives us to make decisions. Good decisions. Bad decisions. Minsan selfish. Minsan selfless.” Both then realize that writers (and viewers alike) should treat characters as people who have real emotions and let them decide their fates for themselves.

As for the first time leading role in film, Ocampo epitomizes with wit and creativity, down to her innocence and relationship naiveté that compliments Nacino’s character well. However, the film has ended too abruptly with its open-ended conclusions. In conveying contentment and acceptance of one’s fate, the film ends by leaving a bland taste in the mouth despite its refreshing use of different film techniques new to the “casual-viewing” audience.

Despite ranking seventh out of eight films on its first day gross, ‘Write About Love’ has still made an effort to bring something new as only one of its kind in this year’s MMFF lineup and—perhaps—that’s all that matters. It is showing in cinemas nationwide until January 7, 2020.

Rating: 3/5

This article was originally published in The Benildean

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Go loco for the Mexican flavors of El Poco Cantina

Quite literally Mexican for “the little canteen,” El Poco Cantina near Benilde will surely satisfy your Mexican food craving fix.

Have a little taste of Mexico in El Poco Cantina, a hole-in-the-wall restaurant hidden along a back alley at Leon Guinto Street. Adding their own special twist to the classics, El Poco Cantina’s dishes are a mixture of familiar Mexican flavors and their own style of cooking—from their bestselling Asian pulled pork soft tacos to their authentic pork carnitas burritos.

Opened last September, Mexican dish lovers can select items from El Poco Cantina’s “concentrated” menu like soft tacos, quesadillas, burritos, and nachos while chatting with friends and its owner.

After the success of their food delivery service Ken Ken Fried Chicken, Benildean alumni Richard Ken “Tots” Ramirez (Human Resource Management) and partner Beatriz “Bi” Urbino (Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management) decided to put up their first physical store—what they call a “small taqueria”—at Leon Guinto to bring their own versions of some of the classic Mexican dishes that we know and love in Taft, just within every Benildean’s reach.

With comfortable ambiance with others and the ever-alluring scent of El Poco’s kitchen, owner Ramirez describes it as “home.”

“Our business model is, basically, we talk to our customers on a daily basis while we’re cooking. So, while in a normal restaurant you wait for your food, here, we actually communicate with you while waiting for your food. So, that’s why we call it home,” Ramirez shared in an interview with The Benildean.

Its bestseller, Pork Carnitas, has the closest taste of Mexican food diners get to enjoy. Customers may choose from its variation of soft tacos (uno: Php 60 and doble: Php 115), quesadillas (Php 130), and burritos (Php 180).

El Poco’s secret to its menus is its tedious and long preparation of food that makes each serving a crowd’s favourite. “We cook that every night. When we close down, we cook it, then it’s [going to] finish the next day. It’s around 8 to 10 hours a day with its own fat and aromatics and our secret rubbed ingredients with it,” Ramirez said, proving their restaurant’s dedication to high quality dishes that if the ingredient does not meet the standard cooking time, they will not serve it.

Aside from the pork carnitas, other favorites include their Chinese cuisine-inspired Asian Pulled Pork soft tacos (uno: Php 70 and doble: Php 130), with its flavor derived from the taste of peking duck; their Bacon Quesadillas (Php 130) that taste better dipped in their homemade sour cream sauce; and their new bestseller is the 24-hr marinated Chicken Chipotle’s soft tacos (uno: Php 70 and doble: Php 140) and burritos (Php 200) before serving.

Still undecided on what to try? For spice lovers, the Chicken Chipotle is definitely a go-to, paired with habanero sauce to add a little more kick. Vegetarians may also enjoy an allVeggie Burrito (Php 180) with the same Mexican spiciness, guilt-free.

Furthermore, the Mexican little canteen serves a special menu that changes every two weeks. This week’s special? A shrimp variant of each of their regular menu items. In the next coming weeks, keep an eye out for more authentic flavors to try like lengua and pork cheeks.

El Poco Cantina is open Mondays to Fridays (11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.) and Saturdays (until 5 p.m.) at 2583 Leon Guinto Sr. St., Manila.

Be updated with their special offerings by following them on Facebook and Instagram @elpococantina.

This article was originally published in The Benildean

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Lifting the Philippine startup industry through bayanihan

Now on its second year, SparkUp Summit 2019 highlighted the Filipino collaborative spirit of bayanihan in uplifting the local startup ecosystem.

In a country rich with opportunities like the Philippines, the startup industry is a great opportunity to create jobs and lift the Filipino identity as a “global wealth.”

This was the focus of the second annual SparkUp Summit, a conference on business, entrepreneurship, and innovation, led by SparkUp, BusinessWorld’s multimedia publication and platform for the Philippine business industry.

Held at the ABS-CBN Vertis Tent, Quezon City last Oct. 19, the 2nd SparkUp Summit 2019 gathered industry experts and entrepreneurs to share one’s knowledge and personal experiences on the progressive Philippine startup ecosystem with the theme, “The Bayanihan Ecosystem: Cultivating Philippine Startups.”

Some of the most renowned members of the local startup community—consisting of ‘founders, incubators, accelerators, venture capitalists, mentors, and the government’—gave a whole-day series of inspiring keynote speeches, educational sessions, and insightful panel discussions to encourage future business leaders and entrepreneurs.

A look at Filipinos and the startup industry

In his opening remarks, SparkUp Editor Santiago Arnaiz shared a few things he learned in the few years he covered the Philippine startup industry.

The first of which is that the Philippines, and its startup scene in particular, is a global wealth of talent.

“The role of the community is not Silicon Valley, but honestly, Silicon Valley is run by Filipino talent. If you look at the headquarters of Facebook, Twitter, all of the new and upcoming startups, you’ll find Filipinos—Filipino web developers, Filipino managers—abroad and globally,” Arnaiz said.

Second, Arnaiz believes the Philippine startup community is very much alive and kicking by saying “While we’re a global wealth, we’re also an incredibly vibrant community with programs both from the private sector and the public sector.”

However, the SparkUp editor also shared that despite this, the community still needs some uplifting. “The Philippine startup community needs support. It needs people shining light on the initiatives happening locally.”

He shared that is indeed what SparkUp is trying to do for the community—making spaces for those conversations.

“Startups are the next wave”

Meanwhile, Ideaspace Foundation’s President, QBO Innovation Hub’s Head, and Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation’s President Butch Meily gave the keynote address for the summit.

In his speech, Meily shared the importance of startups saying that it is the next “wave” after outsourcing, remittances, and manufacturing, and called it the new power of the Philippine economy.

“Things are changing fast. In the last year alone, the value of Philippine startups more than doubled. That’s with the help of a lot of people, including the government, including the private sector, including organizations like BusinessWorld and SparkUp,” Meily said, adding that the progress of the local startup scene helps the country grow and bring in more wealth and jobs for Filipinos.

After the keynote address, the conference went on with six more sessions of insightful talks from prominent industry chiefs, founders, and directors, and with two panel discussions before giving the attendees an opportunity to network with the invited speakers and fellow attendees alike.

Whether you’re businessman, an entrepreneur, a student, or even just an average Joe curious about business, entrepreneurship, and the local startup industry, the SparkUp summit ultimately shared relevant and useful information that will help in starting one’s own business.

This article was originally published in The Benildean

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Unveiling reflections of one’s self through photos and poetry

Showcasing Benildean creativity through words and photos, Shades of Gray 2019: Interference and Dekunstrukt 2019: Imprint exhibits were officially launched yesterday.

In partnership with the Center for Campus Art (CCA), the College’s student-journalists’ organization Benildean Press Corps (BPC) opened a joint exhibit of its photography folio, Dekunstrukt: Imprint, and its literary folio, Shades of Gray: Interference, yesterday, October 17.

Walk through the Taft Campus cafeteria’s faculty lounge and you’ll notice striking framed photos across the walls. Unlike the previous Dekunstrukt issues, this year’s theme “Imprint” let its student contributors showcase their own distinct style of work.

Kyle Bustos, exhibitor and former BPC Photo Editor who spearheaded Dekunstrukt 2019, explained how “Imprint invites the community to focus on their specific content as a photographer.” Bustos also encouraged the community to discover the mark they want to leave and have the chance to imprint the kind of photographer they envision themselves to be.

Meanwhile, located at the second floor of the cafeteria, this year’s Shades of Gray:“Interference” flaunts printed works of poetry each matched with an artwork made by BPC creatives.

For Multimedia Arts alumna Therese Marie Torres, former BPC Literary Editor who handled Shades of Gray 2019, mistakes, disruptions, and errors are always constant in one’s life and can be seen as a chance for growth, rather than a reason for failure. The Interference folio sheds light on the human flaws we all have, and reminds us to grow from them.

A short program was conducted to officially open both exhibits, with Ar. Gerry Torres, Director of CCA; Ms. Dayanara Cudal, BPC Publications Coordinator; and Mr. Juan Miguel Lago, SPO Head, each had their opening speeches to start the event.

In his speech, Ar. Torres said “I hope the fact that we continuously show off the works of our students has helped that in encouraging our students to create better works.” He also mentioned how both the folios and the exhibits served as platforms for exhibiting the best of Benilde’s works.

Meanwhile, Mr. Lago said in his speech that “It’s become more difficult for writers to get their message across but, what we see here [right] now is a real example of how visuals and the written word do not compete but, rather, complement each other. The writer weaves words into the fabric of the story while the artist interprets the story based on how they imagined it. It’s for more people to understand and appreciate.”

“This is an example of the fusion of both visual art and the written word, together they tell a story and an advocacy,” he added.

Last year’s CCA exhibit included Horizons, the official art and design folio of the students of Benilde. Being the first of its kind literary folio exhibit, Interference now unveils its written works to the public together with snap photos of Dekunstrukt.

Dekunstrukt: Imprint and Shades of Gray: Interference exhibits will run until Dec. 14, 2019 at the Taft Campus’ cafeteria, DLS-CSB, Taft Avenue.

This article was originally published in The Benildean

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Dekunstrukt: Stills campaign copies

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“Now, It’s Your Turn” recruitment campaign copies

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An appeal to the apathetic

The current generation’s activism is indisputably evident, witnessed online on social media, as well as offline in the streets. Unfortunately, this same enthusiasm does not translate well enough when it comes to electing officials who will run the nation.

In the Philippines, millennials currently comprise a third of the country’s entire population. With such strength in numbers, a united millennial generation can go anywhere they want—but they should especially go to voting precincts once election period arrives again.

A lack of translation

According to the latest Voters Profile Statistics by the Philippine Commission on Elections (Comelec), out of the 106 million residents of the country, more than half (54 million) are registered voters. Out of those 54 million, almost half (25 million) are millennials, making up 45.49 percent of the registered voters’ population. With the biggest age group of registered voters in the country being in the 20 to 24 age bracket, millennials have the power of determining the country’s next leaders.

To put all of these numbers into perspective, 16.6 million Filipinos voted for President Rodrigo Duterte in the 2016 presidential elections: this means that it would only take 67.13 percent of registered millennial voters to seat a president in the country.

But despite the positive numbers, a lack of translation from registered voters to voting outcome exists. Take for example the United States (U.S.); according to U.S. Census data compiled by the U.S. Elections Project as of September 2018, Americans aged 18 to 29 years old have turned out at the lowest rate of any age group—by a wide margin—in every election since 1986.

In an article written by Pew Research Center senior researcher Richard Fry in April of last year, he said, “While the growth in the number of millennials who are eligible to vote underscores the potential electoral clout of today’s young adults, millennials remain far from the largest generational bloc of actual voters. It is one thing to be eligible to vote and another thing to actually cast a ballot.”

In contrast, as per Pew Research Center statistics in June 2018, older generations are consistently more likely to vote than millennials, with 85 percent among the Baby Boomer generation who are much more likely to cast a ballot.

Millennial hindrance

The reason for this idleness, according to a University of Southern California (USC) Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll, is that millennials were the least likely among generations to feel positive emotions, such as satisfaction or hope, about the news they see nowadays, adding they were also the most likely to report negative emotions.

“In a news environment that includes President Donald Trump accusing media outlets of making up stories, countered by fact-checkers charging that the president and his administration are making false or misleading statements, many young millennial voters in the poll reported that they frequently feel outraged and confused about what is really going on,” Jenesse Miller, a media relations specialist with USC University Communications, said in a USC report.

“Historically, the younger bloc—particularly 18 to 24—is one of the most difficult age blocs to mobilize...It’s even harder in a non-presidential year,” Christopher Larimer, a political science professor at the University of Northern Iowa, said in an article for Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier.

Despite negative feelings and confusion, millennials still turn and show up with just enough provocation.

In turbulent times like this, merely speaking out just won’t cut it anymore because going out and making concrete actions are essential if we expect actual change. Our hatred for bigoted and outdated ideals should be the driving force that would eventually lead us to voting precincts.

In the end, it is the youth who will pick up the pieces left by our elected leaders. The future is in the hands of the youth, and to have leaders who will truly represent our advocacies well, we must sway and tilt the elections our way.

There are only four months away from the 2019 local elections, but there is still hope. Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said seven million more voters are expected to vote for the 2019 midterm elections this coming May, potentially seating officials for the senate, congress, and local governments across the country.

With enough education, awareness, and initiative, the millennial generation has the power to shape the nation’s future—we just have to realize our electoral power and translate our hopes and frustrations into votes.

This article was originally published in The Benildean This article won 2nd runner-up in the Best Editorial category of the 14th The Spectrum Fellowship and 8th National Campus Press Awards

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BroDen calls on gov’t to strip Uson of position after viral Deaf-mocking video

In an official statement, DLS-CSB President Br. Dennis Magbanua FSC called the actions of Assistant Secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson and video blogger Andrew Olivar “very offensive" and “disrespectful to the Filipino Deaf Community.”

Following a controversial video posted on September 14 that showed PCOO Assistant Secretary (ASec) Margaux “Mocha” Uson and video blogger Andrew Olivar seemingly mocking the Filipino Sign Language (FSL), De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde President (DLS-CSB) Br. Dennis Magbanua FSC expressed the College’s condemnation of the Olivar and Uson’s actions, as well as urging the government to strip Uson of her position.

In an official statement released yesterday, September 18, Magbanua stressed that such actions are a clear violation of Republic Act (RA) 9442 or the Magna Carta for Persons with Disability. Sec. 39. Public Ridicule of the Republic Act states that it is illegal to ridicule, mock, and make fun of persons with disabilities.

“For purposes of this chapter, public ridicule shall be defined as an act of making fun or contemptuous imitating or making mockery of persons with disability whether in writing, or in words, or in action due to their impairment/s,” the RA states.

Sec. 46. Penal Clause states that doing such acts are punishable with a fine from Php50,000 to Php200,000 or imprisonment from six months to six years.

“We call on the government to take action against Mr. Olivar and ASec. Uson, and impose the appropriate penalties as provided by law. Furthermore, the acts of ASec. Uson are deemed unbecoming of a government official who, according to RA 6713, is expected to have a high standard of ethics in public service. We urge this government to consider the removal of ASec. Uson,” Magbanua emphasized.

The Brother President ended his statement saying that the College “remains vigilant” and “will continue to hold accountable those who demean and ridicule the Filipino Deaf Community and Filipino Sign Language.”

Public apologies

After the backlash, Uson has since removed the controversial video from her Facebook page, Mocha Uson Blog, and posted a video apology.

“I take full responsibility sa ginawa ng aking radio show partner at kaibigan. Kaya po sa’ting mga kapatid sa Deaf community nawa’y tanggapin niyo po ang aking sorry. Please forgive me,” Uson said while signing in FSL.

Read more: Start learning Filipino Sign Language with FSL Buddy

Meanwhile, Olivar took to Facebook Live to state his apology.

“Alam kong mali ako, kaya nanghihingi po ako ng tawad sa Deaf community. Binababa ko po ang sarili ko, alam kong mali ako. I’m sorry, patawarin niyo po ako sa pagiging insensitive ko, sa pagiging childish ko… May natutunan po ako sa inyo.”

Last September 17, several Deaf groups held a meeting at the Taft campus. As of 4:06 p.m. today, the Commission on Human Rights confirmed that the Philippine Federation of the Deaf has already filed a complaint against Uson and Olivar.

In a statement, the Philippine Federation of the Deaf noted how “FSL should be equally and respectfully treated as Filipino and English languages since it is the primary means of our daily communication like everyone else in terms of education, social, politics, business and religion. We strongly demand that they must be punished accordingly.”

With its advocacy for diversity and inclusivity, DLS-CSB is home to the Benilde Deaf School, a model high school for the Deaf, which opened its doors last August. The College also offers FSL lessons to the Benildean community, spearheaded by the School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies, in addition to opportunities and accommodations provided to Deaf students and associates.

This article was originally published in The Benildean

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Modern-day slaves

Contractualization takes its toll on affected employees when the blood, sweat, and tears they exert for their grueling jobs become literal.

In a third-world country like the Philippines, laborers strive to maintain a living for themselves and their loved ones. They persevere through late-night shifts or tolerate the fatigue building up to their necks to be able to buy a meal or save money for a child’s tuition. However, capitalism was never an ally to the poor. Despite their hard work, some laborers have been caged by their employers’ demeaning methods of contractualization. When the employers propagate a blatant disregard for fairness and ignore evident health hazards in the workplace, it’s high time for these employees to fight for their rights.

Last June, labor group Nagkakaisang Manggagawa ng NutriAsia Inc. led workers and supporters to go on strike and protest NutriAsia, the Philippines’ largest liquid condiments manufacturer, for its repressive labor practices and policies. Yet, instead of having their concerns heard by the manufacturing company, the workers were met with police harassment before being unfairly imprisoned.

Only an estimate 100 out of 1,400 NutriAsia employees are regularized, while the others are contractual employees, with some having had worked for the company for decades already. These employees have also been underpaid, earning only Php 619 for twelve-hour shifts. Not to mention monthly salary deductions for health insurances, uniforms, and the likes. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) themselves have found the factories are overheated and overcrowded, and the employees are not provided with any protective equipment. Rightfully so, these injustices have pushed the company’s employees to create a labor union and hold these strikes and protests to fight for their rights.

Joining in the fight are the contractual employees of  PLDT Inc. and Jollibee Food Corps. DOLE found that unlawful wage deductions, bonds, and other illegal payment collections were taken from the workers, and have ordered them to refund these. More than 7,000 PLDT employees have also been working under contractualization and are now demanding for their rights to be regularized. Because of these formed labor unions and mass gatherings of protest, some employees were fired from their jobs. Instead of listening to their calls for justice, their employers chose to strip them off their employment completely.

In a series of interviews with The Benildean, employees of NutriAsia and Jollibee shared their experiences in the fight for their rights, indicating that this continues to be a struggle all Filipinos should take part to reclaim the rights of our country’s workers from exploitative and profit-hungry companies.

“May mga ibang contractual sila na pinapasok. Illegal naman po ‘yun. Kasi katulad nga nung inutos ng DOLE na bawal nga ‘yung contractual. Kaya po, minsan nakakausap din namin ‘yung ibang pinapasok nila. Kinakausap namin kasi naglalaban kami para sa kanila […] Sa lahat na mga kasama naming manggagawa ng contractual, makiisa na lang sila. At salamat. Kasi hindi lang to para sa amin, para sa lahat ng mga tao.”

- Allan De Castro, contractual worker at PLDT

“Kung sino man makakabasa o makakarinig, ang pinapaabot lang po namin dapat ang DOLE po ay magkaroon ng mga pangil na pasundin ang mga kumpanya. Katulad kami, kami po ang maliliit na naaapi o talagang tinamaan dito na sobra na po ang stress, ang pagod at actually, sa panahon namin ngayon first time namin ‘to ngayon na pumunta ng kalye para mamayagpag at mapakinggan po ang aming panig, at mahigit, ang aming karapatan po.”

- Bevvy Baldicaño, contractual worker at PLDT

“Natatrabaho po kami ng madaling araw, alas singko. Tulog ang mga bata. Uuwi naman kami ng tulog na [rin] ang mga bata. Minsan kasi parang 15 hours ang trabaho namin [doon]. Una pakyawan kami [doon]. Kinakatay namin [doon] manok. Kahit na nagkasugatsugat na ‘yung mga kamay namin, bawal ka magreklamo doon. Lahat na, wala sa amin for three months. Meron mang mga benefits pero kulang. Katulad ng mga safety gear mo, bayad mo lahat ‘yun. Sa inyo kinakaltas lahat ‘yun.”

- Josephine Jaballa, former Jollibee worker in Ormoc, Leyte

“[Mga anak ko], sabi nila sa akin, "Papa, bakit hindi ka na pumapasok?” Kasi ‘yung panganay ko, Grade 5 na, medyo nakakaintindi na siya. Sabi ko “Nak, ganyan eh. Sarado ‘yung planta. Di kami nakabalik. Kaya trabaho muna ako sa paging pahinante.” Yung asawa ko, sabi niya “Pa, bakit ganyan nangyayari?” Kahit ako, [tinatanong] ko [rin] sa sarili ko ‘yung ganun. Bakit umalis kami sa trabaho namin na ganun ganun lang? Kasi mag e-eleven years na ako eh. Operator po ako diyan. Bakit daw sinayang ko? Kaya nag-decide ako sumama sa unyon, kasi nga marami na po akong kailangan isingil sa kanila. Kasi 11 years, dami nilang hindi nabigay sa akin. Kaya nag-decide ako na sumama. Nung una sabi niya delikado. Sabi ko, ‘Walang nangyayari eh. Tagal ko na dito, walang nangyari sa atin. Baon tayo sa utang. Nakakain tayo, pero ‘yung ipon na tinatawag na para sa anak natin wala.’“  

- Richie Carron, Operator at NutriAsia

“Nakiisa ako [sa Nagkakaisang Manggagawa ng NutriAsia] kasi namulat din ako. Inudyokan kasi ako ng isa sa mga opisyales na um-attend daw ako ng seminar kahit isang araw lang…Hanggang sa tinuloytuloy ko na ‘yung seminar, namulat ako. May mali nga talaga sa trabaho namin. Ito, katulad ko rin bilang manggagawa, may mga reklamo rin ako may mga hinaing din ako…Tsaka itongpicket namin, itong samahan namin, alam namin na mapagtatagumpayan namin ‘to kasi naniniwala kami na mas nakakalamang kami, kami ‘yung nasa tama.”

- Ramil Bayabao, Operator at NutriAsia

This article was originally published in The Benildean This article won an Award of Excellence under the Communication Skills category of the 7th Philippine Student Quill Awards

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Tech ecstasy

One of the worst addictions of the current generation might just be within one’s arm’s reach.

The information age ushered in innovative technology—such as the internet and social media—that humanity eventually has learned to depend on. Yet, as social media becomes more and more vital to people’s lives, it also poses a threat: a dependency that some find they already have no control over.

The Social Media Generation

Social media was officially entered in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary last 2004, with its official definition being “forms of electronic communication (such as websites for social networking and microblogging) through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content (such as videos).” Additionally, according to Mr. Joel Allaga, a Benilde professor who teaches communications, social media is “a tool that basically connects people.” Mr. Allaga, currently taking his master’s degree in New Media in De La Salle University-Manila, states that with the use of social media, “the spread of information is much faster […] making social media an easy access to information.”

Using social media nowadays is so easy that it requires little to no effort; making it seem like using it is already second nature. Nonetheless, it heavily affects the way people communicate in the current age.

In fact, according to “Digital in 2018” report of global marketing and communications solutions agency We Are Social, out of the global population of nearly eight billion, more than three billion are social media users worldwide. Of the numerous social media platforms, Facebook is the most popular, with two billion users worldwide, followed by also Facebook-owned WhatsApp with 1.3 billion users. This is backed up by Facebook’s most recent financial results report published July 2017, which reflected two billion users, with 88 percent of the total number as millennials, proving that social media has a huge influence on the vast majority of millennials.

But besides being a tool for communication, social media is also a form of personal space for its users. Mr. Allaga shared even he himself uses his social media accounts like a personal wall.

“I don’t care what I’m gonna say. I’ll share what I want to say to people whom I know. But other people, they take it way too far,” he said.

Drug of the digital age

With the Philippines being the social media capital of the world, it seems Filipinos have become dependent on social media. According to Mr. Allaga, the problem of dependency surfaces as Filipinos have heavily been relying on social media to the point that it would seem the information inculcated on social media could be understood by the audience as the truth.

“[The] problem here is that people basically heavily rely or they depend so much on social media [that] everything that social media does or say, is gospel,” he said.

Additionally, as Mr. Allaga put it, a huge factor of people’s dependence on social media is their craving for sympathy and validation.

“When people like to post stuff, it can be [because] they just want to air their sentiments, pero the other people, gusto nila ng empathy from other people,” he explained.

While some people depend on social media to quench the need for validation, convenience also plays a role in the situation. Mr. Allaga adds that the convenience technology and social media provide has made them intertwine with the daily lives of people, affecting culture and society as a whole. “It shapes or molds our culture na if you want to know about news or information you do not go the traditional media: TV, radio, print. Where do you go? Social media.”

With social media proving to be a vital constituent of interaction and building block of communication, some have characterized people’s dependency and consistent usage of social media as problematic, going as far as making it as their newfound source of addiction.

According to mental health advocate Sarah Fader of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, social media addiction is considered a mental health condition and a social disorder because the said condition compulsively keeps addicts from putting down their devices. In fact, almost 20 percent of users cannot last for more than three hours without checking their social media accounts, mentioned Fader.

Symptoms of severe social media addiction, according also to Fader, include a lack of motivation or drastic decrease in social and recreational activities, procrastination through social media resulting in reduced productivity and negative impact in professional or academic life, spending more than six hours a day on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, and severe anxiety from not being able to check social media notifications often.

Breaking the habit

One constructive solution to solve social media addiction is for ‘netizens’ to know how to use social media properly through social media literacy and knowledge on the repercussions of their actions.

“Nakita ko ‘yung curriculum ng senior high [school] and there’s media literacy. I believe those are small steps. The youth is always online nowadays so if those people are literate enough, they could actually influence the older ones,” Mr. Allaga explained.

He claimed that although integrating social media into education is a small feat, it is feasible enough to do and to help solve this problem. “The younger generations will basically educate the older generation. In that sense, ‘di ba magiging ripple effect siya?”

In addition, Dr. Kimberly S. Young, Psy.D., founder of the Center for Internet Addiction and Recovery, stated that curing social media addiction heavily relies on moderate and responsible use of it.

“Treatment strategies focus on a balanced use of technology and limitations to social media in general with an encouragement for engagement in offline activities and relationships,” Dr. Young said.

Technology has undeniably come a long way, and through time, people find better ways to improve the way it is being used. Innovations continue to emerge to fix current problems, but in terms of a cure, it all really starts with one’s self. Dependence is natural, even with the use of social media, but this should be a reminder that dependence should not be the be-all and end-all. Social media is still, in its essence, merely a tool—not a necessity. Thinking otherwise will only lead one to an endless downward spiral, one that is almost impossible to recover from.

This article was originally published in The Benildean

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Pagmulat ng pikit-matang lipunan

Bakit nga ba umiikot lamang sa apat na sulok ng mga gadget ang pagiging mulat ng illan?

Sa tulong ng teknolohiya, hindi makakaila na maraming tao ngayon—lalo na sa kabataan—ang mulat sa mga mahahalagang isyung nangyayari sa kasalukuyan; dahil dito, tinatawag sila na ‘woke’ dahil sa kanilang ‘social awareness.’ Ngunit talaga nga bang sila’y mulat sa mga nangyayari o sadyang nagmumulat-mulatan lamang dahil patok ito sa social media?

Sa isang bansa kung saan ang karamihan ng populasyon ay exposed sa social media, hindi maikakailang malaki ang impluwensiya nito sa kultura ng bansa. Sa katunayan, sa tatlong magkakasunod na taon, lumabas sa pag-aaral ng pangmidya na kumpanyang we are social na mga Pilipino ang pinakamadalas gumamit ng social media sa buong mundo. Dahil sa lawak at dami ng impormasyon na agad-agarang hatid nito, nagbibigay ito ng malaking oportunidad na maging mulat ang mga mamamayan sa mga isyung panlipunan na kanilang kinabibilangan.

Kamulatan sa kabila ng kamalayan

Ang pagiging ‘woke,’ isang salitang nagmula sa African American Vernacular English, o “mulat” ay nangangahulugan ng pagkakaroon ng kaalaman at kamalayan sa mga isyung panlipunan na kadalasang may kinalaman sa social justice. Sa kasalukuyan, madalas ginagamit ang terminong ito sa social media upang tukuyin ang pagiging mapagmasid o mapagmatyag sa mga pangyayaring politikal, panlipunan, ekonomikal, at iba pa. Sa madaling salita, tinutukoy nito ang pagiging ‘enlightened’ diumano ng mga tao sa mga pangyayari sa kanilang sariling komunidad at maging sa buong daigdig.

Ngunit, hindi nagtatapos ang pagiging woke sa ating kamalayan lamang dahil ang pagiging mulat ay isang paraan din ng aktibismo.

Ginagamit ng ilang mga socio-civic at aktibistang grupo ang social media sa pagpapahayag ng kanilang mga hinaing at pag-aanyaya sa publiko upang makilahok sa kanilang mga pagkikilos. Kabilang dito ang Anakbayan, BAYAN, Gabriela, PISTON, League of Filipino Students, College Editors Guild of the Philippines, National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, Youth Act Now, maging ang Commission on Human Rights at Amnesty International Philippines, at marami pang iba.

Ayon sa Amnesty International, isang international na non-governmental organization (NGO) na nakapokus sa mga karapatang pantao, “Social media is a powerful tool for social change. It’s never been easier for good ideas to catch on and spark a movement.”

Para sa mga naturang grupo, magandang instrumento at plataporma para sa aktibismo ang social media dahil ito’y walang bayad, taliwas sa nakasanayang tradisyunal na midya, tulad ng telebisyon, radyo, dyaryo, atbp., na kadalasang pagmamay-ari ng mga malalaking pribadong kumpanya. Ang paggamit ng alternatibong midya tulad ng internet at social media ay nagtitiyak ng malayang pagpapahayag ng mga adbokasiya at hinaing na walang kahit na anumang limitasyon o sensor.

Para kay Chai Fonacier, isang aktres na kilala sa mga pelikulang Respeto at Patay Na Si Hesus at maituturing na impluwensiyal sa social media dahil sa kanyang pagbubuhos ng mga saloobin sa Twitter, epektibong plataporma ang social media sa pagsimula ng diskurso.

“Social media to me before was just a place to rant, place to connect to people, place to air out your opinions. [Now,] thinking about creative ways to talk about certain issues that instead of “[ranting],” I want to bring it up to the level of a conversation starter. It reaches a lot of people,” ani Fonacier sa pakikipanayam ng The Benildean.

Sa tulong ng social media, tila mas malayo’t malawak na ang nararating ng impormasyon. Sa ganito, totoong mulat nga ang iilang Pilipino sa mga napapanahon na isyu, ngunit ano nga ba ang gagawin pa aksyunan ang mga isyung ito?

Kamalayan sa likod ng kamulatan

Para sa iba, hindi isang konkretong aksyon upang makapagsimula ng tunay na pagbabago sa lipunan ang aktibismo sa social media. Ang salitang slacktivismay isang katagang madalas ginagamit sa internet para tukuyin ito.

Ang slacktivism ay kumbinasyon ng mga salitang slack o katamaran at activismo aktibismo at pagaalsa. Batay sa Oxford English Dictionary, ang slacktivismay ang pagsuporta sa mga adbokasiyang politikal o panlipunan sa pamamaraan ng internet at social media ngunit nagbibigay lamang ng kaunti—kung mayroon—na aktwal na pagkilos o pagsisikap. Tinutukoy din nito ang mga taong sumusuporta sa isang adbokasiya sa paggawa lamang ng mga maliit at simpleng bagay na hindi sapat upang makamit ng aktwal na pagbabago.

Halimbawa ng slacktivism ay ang simpleng pag “like” at “share” lamang ng mga post sa Facebook o Twitter sa halip na umaksyon, makipagkawanggawa, o sumali sa mga aktibidad na may kinalaman sa aktwal na pagkilos.

Ngunit hindi sang-ayon si Fonacier na walang kahihinatnan ang pagiging woke sa social media. “Itong social media is, for me, a good platform to still participate even when time does not allow you anymore. I disagree with ‘yung sinasabi nilang walang nagagawa ang pagiging vocal on social media about issues, about things that matter to you. They use it to inform and educate people. I disagree na wala siyang nagagawa. It’s still discourse, and discourse is important,” giit ni Fonacier.

Sa panahon ngayon, mabuti ang pagiging mulat at may pakialam sa mga nangyayari sa lipunan, ngunit dapat hindi hayaang makulong ang mga adbokasiya sa social media lamang. Totoo ngang nakatutulong ang social media sa pagpapalaganap ng mga balita, opinyon, at ideya, paghahanap ng tulong, pagsisilbing libangan, at daluyan ng komunikasyon, ngunit nararapat din na tumayo at umaksyon.

Kahit ilan mang dami ng likes at shares sa social media, ito’y hindi sapat para maging epektibong ahente ng aktibismo’t pagbabago; kinakailangan pa ring lumabas sa lansangan at kumilos upang makamit ng tunay na pagbabago.

Ang lathalain na ito ay orihinal na nailimbag sa The Benildean Ang lathalain na ito ay umani ng parangal na ‘Best Filipino Article’ sa Green Harvest Awards 2018

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En route to human extinction

A new mass extinction is approaching, and this time, humans might be the one to blame.

When life began on Earth 3.5 billion years ago, humans were out of sight—we have only existed in the last 13 million years. Hence, if life on Earth was compressed into a day, humans have only existed in its very last second. Yet in this seemingly short period of time, the magnitude of destruction caused by humans has been incalculable and irreversible, which now begs the question: will the next extinction be from our own doing?

University of Chicago paleontologists David Raup and J. John Sepkoski, who both contributed in the field of extinction events, conducted a study in 1982  on mass extinctions of marine fossils and stated there has already been five mass extinctions the Earth has experienced. Each of the mass extinctions—commonly called the “Big Five,” coined by American paleobiologist John Alroy—occurred during Ordovician, Devonian, Permian, Triassic, and Cretaceous periods respectively; but all of which were caused by natural disasters.

The sixth mass extinction, called the Holocene extinction, is not caused by nature unlike the Big Five that came before it. As it turns out, the sixth mass extinction only has humans to blame.

In too deep

In an event of mass extinction, the Earth’s biodiversity decreases quickly and extensively. However, extinction is a natural part of evolution, as Mother Nature Network Science Editor Russell McLendon wrote in 2017, adding that scientists also say an estimated 99 percent of all species in the history of the planet have all faced their own extinctions already. Despite it being a natural occurrence, McLendon said it is alarming when too many species die out too quickly at such a short amount of time. In fact, a 2017 Stanford Universitystudy revealed that as much as 50 percent of the species that have lived with humans are already gone. As a result, this rapid and widespread extinction will cause an inevitable disruption of ecosystems.

Currently, humans are relatively far from extinction, especially with a growing population that’s closing in at eight billion, as per latest statistics. With everything else going extinct, our own demise is not too far from reality.

Self-inflicted extinction

A 2015 study concluded that due to the alarmingly high, and still growing, extinction rate, a mass extinction is definitely imminent. Human destruction of other organisms at an accelerating rate initiates “a mass extinction episode unparalleled for 65 million years,” the study reads.

In addition, according to a paper in The Anthropocene Review, the kind of extinction humans are currently facing is unprecedented in Earth’s history due to four reasons.

Firstly is the “global homogenisation of flora and fauna,” a crisis on biodiversity that explains the decrease of planet’s plants and animals. Second, humans have taken over 25 to 40% of the planet’s net primary production for its own use. Third, humans have intervened with and orchestrated the evolution of other species by genetically engineering animals and plants to satisfy a certain want. Lastly, humans have drastically linked the biosphere with the technology by being highly dependent on technological networks and artefacts.

These imply that through the domination of humans, Earth has transformed into a playground for humans to do as they please, including destruction. Humans have been able to cultivate different species in locations that are not in their native environment, intervene with its production through man-made and unnatural means, and consume all of it with complete disregard of all of the other species.

Symptoms of an impending mass extinction also include climate change, overpopulation, income inequality, land degradation, and overexploitation of animal species; all of which are happening as of the moment.

If the rate of extinction continues, the earth’s biodiversity will be depleted enough that humans will not reap its benefits in as soon as three human lifetimes. For humans however, this depletion could be considered as a permanent loss as it would take earth millions of years to diversify.

Reversing self-destruction

Despite this, it is worth noting that although humans are the problem, they are also the solution. Majority of studies claim that humans only have about three lifetimes left to save the earth. However, these studies also claim that if humans want to save the planet and its own specie, now is the time to act. Avoiding the sixth mass extinction requires immediate and huge conservation efforts to save species that are at risk due to loss of habitat, overexploitation for economic gain, and climate change, all of which are caused by human activity.

All of the reasons for the incoming mass extinction are all due to the notion that earth’s limited resources can accommodate humans’ insatiable needs. Unfortunately, with the rate that humans are going with abusing the planet, a new day just might never come, unless humans collectively decide to save the Earth.

This article was originally published in The Benildean This article won an Award of Excellence under the Communication Skills category of the 7th Philippine Student Quill Awards This article was nominated for the Top Award under the Communication Skills category of the 7th Philippine Student Quill Awards

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BYO takes “appropriate actions” after UST org allegedly copies yearbook theme

Following an online controversy that pointed out the alleged similarities of TOMCAT’s recruitment campaign and BYO’s ‘Obra’ theme, both organizations have already released official statements.

The Benildean Yearbook Office (BYO), the student organization tasked to produce De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde’s official yearbook ‘AD ASTRA,’ broke their silence in the wake of the alleged plagiarism of a certain media organization, announcing they are taking “appropriate actions regarding the situation.”

In an official statement released last Sunday, September 2, BYO addressed the issue involving Tomasian Media Circle and Talents (TOMCAT) from the University of Santo Tomas and the similarities of TOMCAT’s recruitment materials to BYO’s 2019 AD ASTRA called “Obra,” the theme of the incoming yearbook for graduating ID 115 students.

“BYO worked hard to create a theme that would highlight the subscriber’s ingenuity and self-expression. We give utmost value to our work the same way we do to our subscribers… We are already taking the appropriate actions regarding the situation,” the statement read.

BYO also thanked “everyone for their positive response in the wake of the recent incident involving another university’s organization” and advised for people to “continue your active support to us as we deliver excellent and quality programs and services to the Benildean community.”

TOMCAT’s official statement

On August 27, TOMCAT released their official statement which provided a formal apology, while also claiming they have reached out to BYO and promised to take full responsibility of their actions. They also stated that it was not their intention to “deliberately copy the work.”

“We would like to express our utmost respect and admiration for the creativity in the creation of the artworks and the people behind Obra 2019. However, it is not our intention to deliberately copy the work,” the statement read.

After a few hours, TOMCAT’s Executive Board decided to take down all publicity materials for the said recruitment campaign.

“To address the recent issue between TOMCAT’s online content and Ad Astra’s Obra 2019, we have decided to take down all publicity materials in connection with our recruitment campaign,” another statement read.

Online backlash

On August 26, TOMCAT launched their “Experience TOMCAT” recruitment campaign, releasing display photos and marketing collaterals with the hashtags #ExperienceTOMCAT and #TOMCATExperience. However, just an hour after TOMCAT launched their campaign, several Benildeans took notice of its similarities with BYO’s Obra, including 115 Consular and Diplomatic Affairs student Martin Era who took to Twitter and pointed out the resemblance of the marketing collateral on one of TOMCAT’s #ExperienceTOMCAT posts on social media to the deadline of write-up collateral of BYO.

“[I]magine the heartbreak of people behind #OBRA2019 they worked so hard to even come up with a theme. [E]ven dps (display pictures) are much alike,” one of Era’s follow-up tweets, with the original tweet garnering more than 1,200 favorites and over 300 retweets as of posting, read.

Several Benildeans have compared collaterals and pictorial concepts of the two organizations and noticed three similar elements: the uniform use of color block and the presence of a painting and a plant in the set design. However, some people have argued that TOMCAT may have simply used BYO’s concept as a peg among others. But for many, the similarities between the two still remain uncanny.

After the issue gained traction, Benildeans and concerned individuals alike took to Facebook to comment on TOMCAT’s official page to call out the organization’s alleged plagiarism. But instead of taking down posts and apologizing, TOMCAT allegedly deleted comments from its critics.

According to BYO, Obra, which was officially launched last May 25, centers on being one’s own masterpiece, inspired by how Benildeans express themselves and show what they are most passionate about.

Yesterday, TOMCAT has already released a new recruitment campaign.

This article was originally published in The Benildean