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[coffeeholic011]

Online is the New Lifeline of Education

The Covid-19 pandemic has made everyone stay at home but it has not stopped the world. People still need to work. Students need to learn and teachers need to teach. However, students continue their education through online learning and via video calls with their teachers, release of learning modules through the different platforms, and online submission of class requirements. It is definitely a big adjustment for everyone, until now.

The first thought of online class was really compelling in different ways; the idea of trying something new aside from the traditional way of learning. The time and space I have for myself, I was thinking it would be so comfortable that will definitely inspire me to do better and more productive for my online school works. I must admit, online class did not inspire me to do more, instead it gave me a hectic schedule to work with. As I wake up, my laptop screen immediately turns on, I sit for the entire day just facing it. This daily routine really bummed me out, It hindered me from spending more time with my family and even doing things that I was looking forward to.

A few weeks in, online learning has been difficult. I feel pressured to try and hurry to finish and turn in all of my requirements on time. Most of my assignments requires a ton of reading and researching at the same time, and a lot of them are time- consuming.

Another challenge for me while staying at home for online classes was, there are many things to take care of, and it makes it hard for me to be able to do my assignments. This makes me turn in the assignment late or not turn it in at all. Last but not least, it is the lack of motivation that makes online learning hard. Not being able to be face to face with friends and teachers gives me no motivation and makes me unhappy about this. I am unable to get ideas from them, and it makes me lose hope because I don't know what I will do to be able to complete the assignment and meet its requirement. It just makes me very worried and anxious to know that I may have done things wrong or to not know what to do. 

Another challenge for me while staying at home for online classes was, there are many things to take care of, and it makes it hard for me to be able to do my assignments. This makes me turn in the assignment late or not turn it in at all. Also, it is the lack of motivation that makes online learning hard. Not being able to be face to face with friends and teachers gives me no motivation and makes me unhappy about this. I am unable to get ideas from them, and it makes me lose hope because I don't know what I will do to be able to complete the assignment and meet its requirement. It just makes me very worried and anxious to know that I may have done things wrong or to not know what to do. 

These experiences might be full of ups and downs, but the main thing that I have appreciated most is the time for myself to reflect, about everything in life. This online class situation has pushed me over my limits to what I can be, and develop myself to do different things that are actually possible.  Quarantine protocols may limit our activities, but is great that people are making the most of it.

https://thedailyguardian.com/online-is-lifeline-of-education-amid-covid-19-but-challenges-galore/

[coffeeholic011]

Marvin Whitaker: The Teacher with a Throne

I met “Kuya” Marvin Ramos on our activity about reporting local news. We were asked to select our own partner for this activity. After several attempts of searching a partner, we both replied inside our chaotic group chat and found each other. Now, we decided to work together again in our final requirement for Online Journalism. So, we talked and interview each on how we could accomplish this and receive an excellent final grade in this subject. Without further ado, let me introduce my classmate, Mr. Marvin Ramos, the teacher… The student…

“Kuya” was born and raised in Olongapo City, where he finished his Elementary Studies. Then after his stepfather was transferred to Batangas City, his family needs to move to Batangas City where he finished his High-School Education. Then, after his year in college in Batangas City, his stepfather was re-assigned again in San Fernando, La Union, where he graduated his bachelor’s degree in Information Technology. But along his college journey, he worked in fast-food restaurants such as Jollibee Foods Corporation as a store marketing assistant. It was at this where he was molded into a sales and marketing person. He enjoyed talking to people and selling. After graduating, he ventured and move to Baguio City, the place where his stepfather grew up. It was another adjustment for him but he is not new to this. He had been to central Luzon, Ilocos and now CAR. He fell in love with Baguio City, he mentioned. The blossoming flowers and cool climate had him mesmerized since day one. He’s been to Baguio when he was young, but unfortunately during his first time, the weather didn’t favor him. He went through a lot of sales and marketing jobs and eventually became a trainer. That’s how he started exposing himself in front of a lot people, sharing what he had learned in the field and office. Grooming future sales personnel. Until one day, his partner ask his help substituting for another teacher who can’t teach at that day due to personal reasons.

It was the second quarter of 2013, 7:00 pm, the class was supposed to be 8:00 pm Philippine Time, 9:00 pm Korea Time. At first it was awkward for him, as “Kuya” laugh softly as he recounted his story and what had transpired on that night. He said, he needs to sub for 3 students. “I was, in a way nervous, I never tried teaching nor training people online before, it was an unchartered territory for me”, Kuya continues. As he was about to end his class with the first student, he started to get the hang of it. After he finished his three (3) students, he was so exhilarated. He enthusiastically asked his partner, “are there more students? I want more!” His partner transferred the 3 students to him the following day. His partner told him, create your profile, and she will put in on their website. Immediately he meticulously branded his name “Marvin Whitaker”, he took after his biological grandfather’s last name, who was a former American-German soldier during the war. He was so excited and ecstatic every time he conducts his class. That is why, not long after, from 3 students, it became 8, then 12, then finally 20 students in one day. Through referrals and positive feedback from his students. That was his routine for 1 year and 10 months. For almost 2 years, he was just focused on teaching online on weekdays and enjoying the weekends with his family. Usual weekend would be BBQ Saturday and Sunday Church with his family.

He also shared his funny teaching experiences like there was a time that he needs to go to the restroom. He only had an hour break, his lunch, which is 11am Philippine time, 12nn Korea time. This is the only vacant or no one enrolled in this time. Let’s continue with the funny experience of “Kuya”, so he really needs to go, number 2, but it’s 2:33 pm Philippine time, and he just started this 30-minute class with his student. He said, “you can’t just cancel a class, because if the teacher cancels a class, he will not be paid, and on top of it, you need to “pay” for that class on another schedule. That is why “Kuya” can’t afford to miss a class, so what he did was, he continued his class while sitting on “the throne”. Good thing he said, “we have a big restroom, there’s no echo”. Could you imagine yourself teaching someone while defecating inside the toilet? We both laughed as he finished his funny story.

After 7 years of teaching, an offer came to him from one of his students in China. His student was on the verge of constructing her International School in Beijing. This offer came last April of 2019. The school’s target date of opening was September 2020, and the training was supposed to be June 2020. Unfortunately, in the last quarter of 2019, the pandemic started in Wuhan, China. Needless to say, everything stopped… The world stopped because of Covid-19. The quarantine happened not just in Baguio City but all over the world. It was probably the most depressing and loneliest time for everyone. Leaders are at awe and seem lost in these trying times. It was new to all of us. Businesses fell and jobs seems to be dire and started to get scarce. Thankfully for “Kuya”, his work was not affected, in fact, it became more in demand. Since people are advised to stay at home, people have nothing important to do than eat and study. After the panic and dust settled, people have come to their senses that they should make the most of their time at home by being productive to counter the depressing picture of our city and world. I also asked “Kuya”, is teaching hard? He responded with a smile and uttered, “definitely! nothing in this world nowadays are easy. But if you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life”.

[coffeeholic011]

Local Baguio Artist showcases his unorthodox expression of art

October 23, 2020

LOCAL artist Nicolas Carbonell staged his first one-man exhibit at the Diplomat Hotel with pieces depicting life as he perceives it, sharing his thoughts to the Baguio audience.

Dubbed as "Madness," the exhibition is a collection of old and new works of the 29-year-old visual artist who has focused on his craft in the time of the pandemic.

Carbonell is a Baguio boy who started his journey with art as a child and continued in his professional career as a teacher after finishing studies from the University of the Cordilleras.

Carbonell said the exhibit is a collection of work since 2009 and finally been given the chance to stage his show "Madness explores how we think inside the box and outside it, and when we ought to think inside or outside it. As ideas get passed down from the traditional to the contemporary times, our perspectives tend to change and find new meaning in things that seem familiar. Just like with Covid-19, being negative now means something positive, the exhibit tackles the whole spectrum of madness."

Not affiliated with any art group in the city, Carbonell prefers to work in solo, exploring and believing in the diversity of art is open for all with a freedom to create and interpret.

 Pieces like "Sushi head" depicting cats surrounded with intricate sushi platters play and perceived heavenly comforts while "Insane" will show the how one battles with anxiety in solitude, the piece. "Departures" is personal, depicting his father's passing last year.

The series "Energy Dependence" is an old work showing the complicated grid lines of electricity poles intertwined with colorful homes stuck at its perilous peaks depicting a play on modernity and its effects.

Carbonell said the featured art pieces are meant to inspire people to find freedom in art despite the restrictions and fear nowadays. The artist hopes that his artwork would stimulate viewers to be themselves and express themselves with the love for art.

 The exhibit runs at the Diplomat Hotel until October 28, Tuesdays to Sundays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

[coffeeholic011]

Plainly, Falsehood

Truth and falsehood belong only to assertions or denials concerning ideas, that is, to our interpretations of our ideas according to their mutual relations.  Truth is what we ever expect and respect. We like the truth but sometimes loathe it when it is straitening. The antonym of truth is falsehood. We detest falsity and sometimes condone with it if it benefits person. 

In today’s age, people tend to easily believe from single conclusion to another without any further studies, research, and clarification from concerning experts and the like.  The role of social media as a deceiving material comes to play, fake news or lies instantly spreads within seconds. Which the damage it can causes can be resembled to a virus, not just it is contagious in the sense that minds will easily hold in it as well as sharing it to others. A puzzling part of this is how fast it can reach every website than a factual articles, that it is even on social media sites and some are mistakenly articulated by renowned news websites.

The different compiled pictures of fake news, articles, information that has been published on the internet. Politics as mainly being populated by trolls, fabricated articles that is mostly found on unreliable sources. A popular example in the Philippines would be the “Duterte Media, DDS, Duterte Phenomenon” that Facebook took down network – composed of 95 pages and 39 accounts – that violated their policies on spam and authenticity. There were also escalation of different foreign personalities who were said to praise the administration of Duterte which were identified as fabricated.

Showbiz or celebrities on the entertainment industry also is commonly found on the scope of fake news. The private lives of these individuals were not that private that paparazzis or social media trolls bluntly create stories that are nowhere near the truth or providing misconceptions to readers to what really is. Most common made up revelations are celebrities associated to the death, who are actually happily living their lives, some were even excessive on providing accusations that these writers are liable to crimes of slander or defamation. The effects that this untruthful stories are badly planted to minds of readers that are deceived which sadly some may remain that way and cannot be taken back, and the public image or names of this real people were destroyed.

The medical and academe fields were also being played out by these fake news creators, especially in this time of pandemic wherein medical advices are the sources of guidelines of the public. Which unfortunately, hoax information are being published that this misinformation can also cause danger to the lives of readers. The education sector were also targeted by social media trolls, who mainly spreads confusion to readers and creating humiliation to different professionals or spokespersons. Thus, it destroys the essence of public news to be helpful, factual, and reliable to all.

These published fake articles are merely works of certain individuals that seizes this platform to be their line of work. A lie is any deliberate deviation from the truth; it is a falsehood communicated with the intention to mislead or deceive.

[coffeeholic011]

Gastronomy, sets the tone for Lee

How old were you when you knew what you wanted to be?

As a child, I wanted to be something or someone else. I never really thought that someday I have to figure out the career I want to pursue, and until I am not certain. However, for now I know what completes me each time I can get into a conversation with it, catch it in a show, anything related to food and its history or culture.

Discovering the art and beauty of constructing a meal, and serving it to a plate is a whole different story for me. As humans, food is resembled to sustain our body that it has become essential on our daily lives. In every situation in life, a celebration is incomplete without food to be shared with; and in times of need, nourishment helps us to keep going. But for me, it is more than what rations can do, let me walk you through how I value and relate food to existence.

The first thing hooked me into it is cooking, serving good food to the table makes me feel full from the work I put into and be thanked, receive compliment, and seeing smiles across the dining room as they chow and enjoy the moment. It cheers me up just by thinking about it, that food and culinary industry is a different level of interest for me. The processes of each iconic eat fascinates my mind, from the growing and cultivating of ingredients that there’s already so much work and attention that growers or producers put into. Do you ever wonder what makes a good burger? Is it the patty or the bun? Or maybe the one who prepared it for you? A good pizza? Where it originated, and how clever this creations or combinations were made, just like Hawaiian pizza, it was not even from Hawaii but in Canada it was named after the brand of canned pineapple used on the pie. Aside from the taste satisfaction, the culture that every food shares, it’s got to be an ambassador to the place where it originates, Adobo carries the Filipino flag anywhere its being served around the world as it is palatable to everyone, that you can even resemble it to Filipino hospitality.

All I’m saying is, gastronomy revolves on the labor of love, and growing up close to farming life highlights the importance and respect I have for growing produce. Therefore, counteracting food wastage and through cooking gets you to be creative, resourceful, and responsible which everything that composes a great lifestyle and develop your personality. It is a set of knowledge and activities related to food, ingredients, recipes, and culinary techniques as well as their historical usage. Food brings people together, food is a way of communication, food is part of history that must be valued and remembered in any form it’s been prepared. Food is an escape to where we want to be and to feel comfort. Food is a reminder how life works, and how great it is to be treasured.

[coffeeholic011]

General Health Disparity  A Sidetrack from Attention

An innovative study can produce different results on several platforms, the NIH study on tracking brain and behavioral development covers a lot of factors on social skills, IQ, and even the production of a neurotransmitter known as dopamine. The continuous conduct of studies opens different scope to understand and further examine, apart from the general knowledge of too much screen time is harmful. This study has somehow established a new illustration on smartphones and other technologies to how it affects the brain, especially on young ones.

Teenagers today spend more than prescribed time on their phones each day, and in addition to the accumulated time they spent on watching tv, or playing video games. The provided effects from the study and previous relating ones settled on negative effects to health, from electromagnetic radiation to behavior that tests patience, lifestyle on being dependent to their social activities, and even learning that projects on grammar mistakes and or comprehension.  Another study has showed that because of these changes, teenagers are reported to be diverted from unlikable exposures constant liquor consumption, sex, use of illegal drugs and or smoking addiction.

On the other side, the study seeks to provide explanation on how the social, and environmental factors may affect the brain and carried out to their living. The behavioral development to its mental health when the use of social media induces the feeling of pleasure. It has led to alcoholism and drug abuse, which seems social media was a leeway to redirect their attention but also views on possible things they can do, share thoughts, post pictures, scroll, press like and share until entering to a new system.  Tracking brain development creates better understanding and application of the things they prefer for entertainment, interest on arts and crafts or sciences. The purposes can be associated with family affairs or personal problems, and reflect it to the social media platforms which works better on fulfilling or brings satisfaction to the young users.  

This study can provide proper reference point on how normal brain develops, thus a finding to what goes wrong to a child’s brain that could result into an abnormality from the different factors cited. But also it can end in a conclusion that teenagers and children just find it easy on investing their time to social media for leisure, for educational as their form of entertainment. There is accurate report or estimation that can provide interesting answers, on how negative is this for the youth, or will the effects reviewed these days will be the same in the future.

Whether good or bad impact, the utilization of any unit shall be expanding on the benefiting side, and it depends on the manner of how we see and make use of it. The manipulation or over all control shall always be within the capability of a human being along with its intellectual presence to maintain a balance. The reality may be seen or heard in the screen and rather be verified from it nowadays, young people and adults should always put in mind the edge of physical perception to its environment that the influence must occur to his or her own awareness of existence.

CBS News. (2018, December 10). NIH study tracks effects of social media on adolescent brains. Retrieved August 13, 2020, from https://www.cbsnews.com/video/nih-study-tracks-effects-of-social-media-on-adolescent-brains/

[coffeeholic011]

A Farewell Journey to you, Kapamilya

I will start on sharing my opinion about this controversial issue against a media company and the administration’s implication to these circumstances, with a confession that I am a fan of this television network. In order to balance my position, as a student that gives me interest to the government affairs this article only aims to distinguish the serving accounts of each sides and conclude it with factual information as basis.

ABS-CBN, a 67 year running media company that is somehow trapped in a dwindling situation regarding their franchise renewal which started when a Solicitor General has asked the Supreme Court to void it and the rise of two issues. One is the network has offered digital TV boxes and other brands like ABS-CBN Sports and Action, ANC, Cinema One, etc. and one global channel TFC. Second violation would be SolGen Calida also claims that the network allowed foreign owners to control the company by selling Philippine Depositary Receipts to them, and offering KBO as an entirely new TV channel. ABS-CBN refuted that they have not committed any violations.

As the situation escalates, some media groups denounce the petition as a direct attack on freedom of speech and of the press. This goes back to a statement given by Duterte on December 3, 2019 that he will personally “see to it” that the network will be out of business. His affirmation can be related to an earlier heated rant about his campaign advertisements that were failed to air and in return he slammed the network management for their unfair labor practices. There are several cases that can be cited from the National Labor Relations Commission as well as testimony of previous workers. Which were somehow added to the following hearing agendas.

The first application bill was from the 16th congress and for the 17th congress that the bill seeks for a renewal franchise for another 25 years and until this 18th congress that it was addressed before it expires by March; Cayetano vows that the House will be “impartial” in tackling the ABS-CBN’s franchise. The National Telecommunications Commission gave a provisional authority for ABS-CBN to continue operating and will be able to air until May 4, 2020. On the following day NTC orders ABS-CBN to stop its broadcast operations due to its expired franchise, and gives a 10-day window for the media to explain. On the same day, senators also adopt a separate resolution seeking the reversal of the NTC's Cease and Desist Order against the network.The contentions began again when Calida blamed congress for non-renewal of franchise and the Lower House says that it was up to Cayetano.

After the first Congressional hearing, the citizenship of the company owner was questioned and said to be a media violation to the 1987 Constitution. The fifth hearing focused on the issue of Philippine Depository Receipts, the SEC Commisioner verified that they are legal. On the following hearings they have discussed the tax violations of ABS-CBN and the call of NTC on cease and desist from operating digital television transmission through their TV Plus ​set-up boxes.The twelfth and final hearing covers alleged biases in the network's reporting and current affairs for supposed unfair coverage of public health issues ABS-CBN has been also accused of "cyberbullying" in the course of the franchise hearings.Lawmakers also point out the network's failure to air political advertisements of some politicians in the 2016 elections, circling back to the previous rants of President Rodrigo Duterte.

July 10, 2020 Voting 70-11, lawmakers deny embattled media giant ABS-CBN’s bid for a fresh 25-year franchise. At the of the day which is baffling to every worker and supporters of the media network. This summarizes how due process serves justice, but it is actually to give an answer to what has been raised.

[coffeeholic011]

A Student Viewpoint on Covid-19 Pandemic

The coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic is the defining global health crisis of our time and the greatest challenge we have faced since the 1918 H1N1 virus and World War 2. Before the turn up of this infection, I have been more cautious to my actions especially outside my home. The practice of disinfecting my hands has become more often, the use of face masks and even the observance of social distancing when in public, thus a lesser physical interaction to my friends.

Positive and Negative outcomes

The sequence of being an endemic to an alerting epidemic and now the terrifying situation of a pandemic. At this stage, the increase in stress, fear, or anxiety as a trauma reaction. In addition to the different pressure on continuing my studies, the stress is totally unalike to what I experience on the normal days of attending school. Most of all the effect of severe anxiety from day to day decisions to choose from a flight-or-fight response, a battle we face each day, we may not be physically affected but our well-being is certainly tested. A terrible combination of these in and out challenges are tough to conquer for no one is certain on how to it’s supposed to be handled.

I cannot disregard the positive out turns of this ongoing pandemic; for starters the adorable roaming of every animals wild or not around the world that surely creates a positive atmosphere. This mood is extended on how we are blessed to be around with our loved ones, and brings the family closer. Despite of this global problem people are showing more compassion to one another, and it really does make the Filipino hospitality standout as more helping hands comes in action.

A “roller coaster” ride

All and all the circumstances we have encountered from international affairs to local issues can be interpreted to a “roller coaster ride” which is full of ups and downs. It quickly arose from making us scream for help to putting our hands up enjoying and appreciating the time we have. At the end of the ride we might feel sick of the fast coming up of events and smile or laugh it all out after surviving those challenges. We leave the ride with a hopeful step to a new normal type of living that we can give more value to everything that surrounds us and sets our minds to a broader understanding on what, how, why, and where really is the thing we call life.