#mc2022

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OPINION: Ref(e)lection: The Political Dialogue in Social Media

Photo credit: Rachelle Baldelomar

Think about the last time you talked about politics to a stranger from across the internet. How did that go? Did it leave you with a triumphant feeling, like you earned some sort of gold medal because of your winning arguments? Or maybe, you used some sort of witty meme that received multiple retweets and likes, giving you that sense of satisfaction? Seeing that there’s a lot of people out there who share the same views and sentiments as us, especially on the subject of politics, this recurring situation in which we dabble in discourse and wind up with feelings of triumph seems to be such a good thing because of the very notion we bring ourselves to believe: we’re the ones who are well-informed and, therefore, right.

Looking at it from another angle, it’s important to reflect by asking ourselves: what pushed us into doing it? What led us to decide that we should reply to this stranger’s comment? Surely, it isn’t only due to our humanitarian obligation of educating others so that they may truly know the facts, allowing them access to the knowledge we have. Rather, it’s also a chance on their part to see things from another viewpoint, to see and judge for themselves based on the facts presented. That’s a good enough reason, isn’t it? In line with this, yet another query makes itself known: did I actually succeed in educating them? After all, that’s the objective, isn’t it? And the stranger you talked to—did you have a fruitful conversation with them? Or, perhaps they just blocked you? Ah, maybe they just ignored you altogether and stopped replying?

Now, really think about it.

In today’s political dialogue in social media, there lurks a particular danger—a drag-down type of culture on one another’s opinions or intellect simply due to differing views or ideas. For example, when trying to engage in discourse, we see other netizens resort to argumentum ad hominem when they’re not educated on a particular issue or if they’re being defensive of a politician whom many of us dislike for credible reasons; calling these supporters names and using sarcasm or memes are common responses. In trying to correct them, arrogance seeps out from the resulting responses. Both parties are left with no choice but to end up frustrated, with still opposing views, yet with the same line of thinking: I was the one in the right. We end up in the same place all over again—in the trap of our own echo chambers.

To be clear, though, there is nothing wrong with discourse or the act of partaking in it. In fact, it is highly encouraged, especially now. However, the very behavior previously mentioned is something different; it’s one that’s rooted in sarcasm and arrogance, disguised through “simply educating others.” In reality, it is simply nothing more than being on a high horse. From another perspective, the act of “educating” others in this manner can even be seen as performative, too.

As this continues, the results lead to an overconfidence in our knowledge and capabilities, creating an echo chamber. According to Michael Patrick Lynch’s ‘The Chronicle of Higher Education,’ our social media feeds have been designed to acknowledge and affirm our own opinions for us. Meanwhile, any stance that’s averse to our own is reduced to nothing but incorrect—the poor opinion—and more often than not, ridiculed. These algorithms also worsen the issue of misinformation, locking us in a herd mentality in which we are accompanied by the same exact opinions and left no room for critical thinking. With this type of social atmosphere, it’s no question that there may be a possible spiral of silence as well.

For us to accomplish a better way of discourse, we must reflect on our actions and the very mindset we carry: if my objective is to educate them, then how can I do it while ensuring that they would indeed listen? Or, more accurately: how would I persuade them? If I were them, would I even listen to myself if I were approached in that manner? If the goal is to educate, then first, we must define what it means to succeed at educating someone, and then accept the reality that no one changes their stances overnight. To make someone listen is something that we should already consider a win, despite how small it may seem.

Furthermore, as we reflect, we must also keep in mind that they, too, have their own reasons for having those beliefs and views. We are under this impression that others have a lot to learn from us and from what we have to say, but what we fail to realize is that we can learn a lot from them, too. Just because their thoughts and opinions are different from ours doesn’t mean we can simply disregard what leads them to believe that perhaps, this candidate is for them, or stands for causes that align with theirs. We have to be able to sympathize with what their reasons may be, and this is especially important to consider when talking to those in the marginalized sector.

Instead of being on a high horse, we must use better ways of approach, such as viewing the contested matter from the vantage point of the other party and allowing our knowledge gaps to be filled by them. Everything gets easier with practice, so we must always be careful of what we practice. As we get used to a proper way of approach—exchanging ideas and opinions properly instead of being combative—they too are not only able to take in our own opinions, but are more open to receiving the information we’ve exchanged. And so, when we reflect, we shouldn’t forget to reevaluate how we’ve communicated our thoughts and opinions to those whose views differ from ours. We must continue to reflect on the situations we’ve faced in the past and see how things become much more productive when we are able to treat those with different opinions as people whom we can learn from as well.

Now, despite this, let’s not forget what the government can do in order to make social media a viable medium of expression for the political views of many. After all, this is social media, something they can get supervision of—and though we are its netizens, frankly, we can only do so much.

In 2016, Rappler published an article showing how the cognitive bias in Facebook algorithms was most prominent during the 2016 elections, which was heavily influenced by the spread of misinformation and disinformation of the controversial blogger, Mocha Uson. With the help of her Facebook page, MOCHA USON BLOG, along with the internet being weaponized, everything else fell into place as it brought about Rodrigo Duterte’s sweep-in votes that led to his presidential win.

Apart from this, the article also mentioned an unusual kind of AI; rather than your ordinary artificial intelligence, it is now also accompanied by what is called Artificial Ignorance. To further elaborate, Vincent Lazatin, the Executive Director of the Transparency & Accountability Network, mentioned Artificial Ignorance in a panel on Technology and the Public Debate at Rappler’s #HackSociety. He said, “You spoke about how artificial intelligence is here now, but what we’re seeing on the internet is a different kind of AI, which is Artificial Ignorance. The bots, the algorithms and the paid trolls, they are purveyors of Artificial Ignorance.” Lazatin here refers to circumstances that occurred during the same year where there had been bots—automated programs—that attacked users based on keywords, coupled with networks of paid trolls and fake accounts that proliferated back in 2015.

The article went on to talk about how these paid initiatives interact with real people, as well as the impact of Facebook’s algorithms on our democracies. Referring to the piece once again, what occurs afterwards is that it deepens the very network effect, and the aforementioned paid initiatives anchor on real people, much like Uson herself. This caused her blog to help amplify the reach of fake accounts, the very evidence of how her blog became more powerful due to increased engagement and the invisible web of actions connecting her advocacy page to ordinary netizens. We can see here that this very connection is able to take advantage of the effects and actions rewarded by Facebook’s algorithms. Thus, whatever is displayed on her page—an echo chamber in itself, all the same messages and thoughts and opinions—reaches and convinces more and more people. Albeit unfortunate, it is undeniable that it had been a very effective way to create a social movement.

That in itself should have already been something the government immediately took action on, yet it had been brushed off. In spite of experts already tackling this topic to increase visibility, the government remains silent. Their silence on the topic speaks a thousand words in itself. And from what we’ve seen in the past years of the current presidency, this silence is saying the same thing: it’s no accident. In fact, this has been their entire intention all along.

Now, obviously, the silence of these very institutions can only lead to one thing: people, victims of misinformation, unwittingly throwing around unsubstantiated arguments. They commit to said arguments, and possibly close their minds to future information given to them without even giving a chance to listen to or read the knowledge presented.

During the September 26 #HackSociety panel on Technology and the Public Debate, Stephanie Sy, the founder of Thinking Machines Data Science, said, “You’re not seeing everything. You’re seeing what Facebook thinks you’re most likely to interact with, and if you interact with something, you’ll see more and more and more of that. And that naturally pushes people into social bubbles that don’t talk to each other and engage with each other.”

We have seen just how powerful Facebook’s algorithms can be, especially in shaping reality—heck, we’re personally living through its effect (Duterte’s presidency). It has created, and continues to create these echo chambers that are proven to be harmful to democracy. If we’re not careful, the reality we have now might be much worse than it already is: the son of the dictator we’d once overthrown is aiming for the presidency, and the information surrounding him and his family is rooted in falsehood that continues to be spread around the virtual world. What happened to the followers of the MOCHA USON BLOG is no different from what’s happening with the disinformation now; the only difference is, even without Mocha Uson, things only continue to get worse with the belief of the Marcos era being a golden age of our country.

With regards to this, it’s important to remember that there are means to combat such information and beliefs when we cross paths with them. According to Robert Cialdini’s ‘Influence,’ publicly committing and expressing an opinion will give you certainty with it. There is no problem with expressing one’s opinion, as this is freedom of speech, after all. However, there is a problem with living in echo chambers; it is like a disease in the form of being closed-minded to others. Nevertheless, we’re well-aware that the government has the power to fix this through engagement with the public—it is their responsibility, and an engaged audience is a happy audience. One of the many things they can offer is simple transparency with the masses, amplifying the truth and prioritizing what the media has to offer. In this manner, people are exposed to the truth, particularly those concerning social issues. This builds more trust with the public as we’re reassured that the institutions that govern our country value press freedom.

But if there’s anything these past years have taught us, it’s that “press freedom” is not in the dictionary of this administration.

And so, without building public trust, where else do we expect people to find some sort of validation for their opinions? Without the untarnished truth to serve as a guide for their own thoughts, an echo chamber influencing them is more likely than they think. In turn, the validation—whatever it may be—causes minds to purposely dodge future knowledge, especially if they’re already long gone in this mob mentality driven by misinformation.

A paragon of this very effect is the discourse between Bongbong Marcos’ supporters, more commonly known as the BBM supporters, and the supporters of Leni Robredo aka ‘Kakampinks.’ Heck, a scene that’s all too familiar with us occurs every day. We scroll through our feed and see threads of long paragraphs (sometimes with loads of memes). There’s either so much noise (read: name-calling of one another) or radio silence (read: ignoring, blocking, and moving on). And it’s quite disheartening to see that the conversations have been little more than insults towards one another or their candidates, ultimately contributing nothing to what could be a good exchange of ideas and information.

See, there’s a difference between having confidence in our knowledge and plain ignorance. The only thing that can help us solve this problem is if, once more, we back down from insisting we must be right and see the one we’re talking to as someone who holds an opportunity for us to fill in whatever knowledge gaps we may have. If we’re not careful, the very same people we argue with will cling to their misinformation and blind support, not caring if they are right or wrong, as long as they can throw their argument out for the sake of standing their ground—or, simply put, pride.

This is the risk posed by a lack of intellectual humility. What could have been a change of mind or heart is now nothing more but a wasted opportunity.

There’s no denying that sometimes, engaging in discourse can be tiring, especially when the other party isn’t exactly as open-minded as we hoped. What’s important is how we approached them, and that the talk of politics itself was in favor of learning through healthy means of discussion. Whether or not we were successful in persuading, it’s important to know we tried our best. After an ample amount of rest, what comes after is to do the next important thing: to move on to the next person, the next people; to discuss and learn from one another.

Again, if what we aim to do in these times is to truly educate ourselves and one another, to prevent any power-hungry politician from taking the presidency, and to soon have a leader we can rely on as our president—then the best thing we can do now for our political dialogue is to allow healthier, more meaningful discussions. Perhaps this’ll make us learn not only each other’s own stances, but empathy as well, coming together in the end—one way or another.

No matter what, we must always remember and understand that regardless of who we’re talking to, we can always learn from them as much as they can from us. That’s how we can easily place ourselves on equal ground, especially in trying to persuade them to see our side. Let’s do all we can in the remaining three days—learn, discuss and tackle various topics, improve how we engage in discourse, shape our critical thinking skills, be open to new ideas, and overall improve political dialogue amongst ourselves. //by Danie Cabrera and Yeshua Galicia

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OPINION: Functionaries, not Families

Photo credit: Sulat Nadera

Monarchies, sovereignties, and empires—the world is past these, especially the Philippines, since it is now a democracy and power supposedly emanates from its people. However, history is repeating itself with political dynasties surfacing throughout the country.

‘Political dynasties’ refers to political families dominating elected positions and public offices, treating the elective office as if it is their personal property or an heirloom to be passed down, according to a study by Dr. Teresa Tadem, a political science professor, and Dr. Eduardo Tadem, a professorial lecturer of Asian Studies. It is almost like a hereditary monarchy, with bloodlines ruling their respective provinces for generations on end. Our country has been monopolized by several powerful political dynasties; in fact, when you search for its definition, the Philippines is always mentioned as an example.

It is quite clear that these families have one goal: to keep themselves in power and secure selfish access to public funds. This explains why members of politically-inclined families always keep running for office. Additionally, they take pleasure in rewarding—or giving authority to—people who have proven their loyalty, despite representing flawed advocacies such as UniTeam, presidential aspirant Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio’s tandem. This is done to create alliances. For example, during the 2016 general elections, 9 out of 12 senate winners came from the late President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III’s slate, as stated in an article by The Asia Foundation. The Aquino political dynasty produced two presidents, five senators, and several members of the House of Representatives. They are one of the most influential lineages with regard to the government.

Another example is the 2019 midterm elections, wherein, according to Rappler, at least 164 families had winning members that included senators, House Representatives, and governors. This figure represents how many clans enjoy a great deal of influence in their respective regions.

The upcoming 2022 presidential elections are practically the same as past referendums, with different candidates from powerful political dynasties vying for their respective spots in the government. Two of the most notable factions are those of Leni Robredo and Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (BBM) and Sara Duterte-Carpio. The latter seems to be the more notable of the two, as BBM is the son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and Duterte-Carpio is the daughter of the current President Rodrigo Duterte. Both candidates’ parents are infamous for violating human rights and killing thousands of Filipinos during their respective terms. As the political climate currently stands, the execution of justice upon the Marcos and Duterte regimes remains a significant challenge. The UniTeam tandem, coming from two powerful ancestries themselves, is supported by numerous political dynasties, which include but are not limited to the Estradas, Arroyos, and Villars.

These clans have actually faced lawsuits, all with the same charge: plunder. Another common denominator of these groups is that they were pardoned and freed on bail, proving once again that they can get away with anything without accountability. This makes it difficult and almost impossible for social movements and civil society to challenge the power base of these political families, as Drs. Tandem have stated in their study. Evidently, they have the power and the means to endure such legal trials. They even have the budget to run for office—again, and again, and again.

According to Article II Section 26 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law. This constitution has been active for 35 years and yet no law has been made to prohibit, limit, or regulate political dynasties. Isn't it ironic that the same people who are supposed to uphold and enforce our constitution are infringements to its doctrines?

The issue is so transparent and easily understandable that one could not wrap their head around the situation—that these people are free and may possibly even be re-elected. This mockery and abuse of the country’s electoral system and our democracy is unacceptable.  The thing about democracy is that the people are meant to choose who they wish to lead. It does not sit right with us that people are willingly electing families as if wishing to return to a monarchy.

But why are people even electing them into office in the first place? Individuals tend to look for a familiar “brand,” or a familiar face and name, rather than choosing which candidate has the best platform and advocacy. It’s as if people only look at the marketing rather than doing extensive research to find out who is best fit for the job. There is a strong link between celebrity status and electoral triumph. In an article published by TIME, it’s stated that there are at least 36 personalities running for office this upcoming election. To name a few, there is Francisco Domagoso (Isko Moreno), a former TV star and Manila’s mayor, and Manny Pacquiao, world boxing champion and senator. Both of them are presidential aspirants. Scandals, dramas, and gossip interests voters, says anthropologist Anna Pertierra in an interview with TIME. “Many voters may not really feel like a traditional politician is going to solve the problems that they feel that they’re experiencing,” says Pertierra. But then again, the majority of Filipinos do not have the privilege of having instant access to information, and even if they do, the education system is not sufficient in teaching them media literacy and fact-checking. People struck with poverty who are desperate for immediate change, false promises done by political candidates, and a mass disinformation campaign who not only target the poor, but the wealthy and educated as well, all create a recipe for disaster. The success of Duterte's presidential campaign which focused on eliminating corruption in 6 months, only for him to later back down on the said promise, is an example of this. Disinformation farms are getting better and better at fooling people into believing fake news and spreading mass hysteria. In addition, families who are gravely in need are very susceptible to vote-buying. The people aren’t entirely at fault. They may just be victims of circumstance. You know what they say, bad systems breed bad leaders.

The presidential system we have, in the first place, is very cutthroat and breeds a winner-takes-all type of mentality. Candidates go to great lengths to get elected into office, with some, according to a story from the Washington Post, running disinformation and troll farms just to make defamatory remarks about the competition and influence people’s opinions.

Government action is needed as soon as possible to put an end to this fiasco. Reforms in the education system are a must, as well as eliminating poverty. Our current system encourages the people and the media to be the watchdogs of the government, but given the current state of the country, we don’t think this is enough to keep the government in check. We need a change in the political system as a whole—not just in leadership. //by Pia Marantan and Paul Tumaliuan

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UPIS Math Department holds first virtual Math Week

Mathematics Unites, the theme of the first virtual Math Week celebration, was hosted by the UPIS Math Department from March 14 to 18, 2022.

The celebration promoted appreciation for Mathematics as a unifying language and as a tool in understanding the world and fighting global challenges. In line with this, four programs were announced on the UPIS Math Week Facebook page. 

For Pi Day, more than a hundred participants joined the Pi Day Quizziz, a competition held via Zoom at exactly 3:14 PM on March 14. From K-2, they awarded Luccio Pang of K-Sampaguita, Altair Santiago of K-Kamia, and Amelia Obias of 2-Atis. For grades 3-6, Precious dela Paz of 3-Sapa, Zeke Sagayaga of 5-Banahaw, and Reen Lopez of 5-Sierra Madre won the competition. Lastly, the winners from grades 7-12 were Timothy Capulong of 11-Campos, Kirstin Mejia of 7-Jupiter, and Renz Dolorias of 8-Firefly.

Another activity is the Math Scavenger Hunt, a team activity that required students to search for eight items from the list posted on the event's Facebook page. According to Mr. Harold Badilla, Grade 11 Math teacher who facilitated the event, 32 groups of three members joined the game. The members of the K-2 team winner in this activity were Ilenea Amihan Baltazar, Freedom Dioquino, and Chloe Bianca Usi of 2-Mangga while Joaquin Bayuga, Allyssa Sarenas, and James Deximo of 4-Patani won the 3-6 contest. Last but not least, the members of the winning team from 7-12 were Erielle Arceo and Bianca Baguio of 11-Lopez, along with Gabe Matias from 11-Marasigan.

Guess the Number was a challenge for students to count all the candies inside a jar. “This activity warmly received 244 guesses from students,” Mr. Badilla said. Altair Santiago from K-Kamia, Paulo Dulfo from 4-Singkamas, and Justine Catiis from 11-Campos were the winners of this activity. 

Finally, Math Museum featured interesting facts about math posted on the UPIS Math Week page every day for four days. The topics included historical mathematicians, math articles, and throwbacks of older UPIS students sharing their math hugot lines. 

On March 18, Prof. Angel Rocena, Mathematics department head, hosted the closing ceremony with Mr. Badilla. The latter expressed his appreciation for the UPIS community’s engagement during the festivities. “We are extremely grateful for the active participation of students as evidenced by the high turnout of entries, for the class advisers and subject teachers for promoting the Math Week events, for the UPIS administration for the leadership and guidance, and for the PTA for sponsoring the prizes shared to the winners,” he shared. 

Prof. Rocena disclosed that organizing the event was challenging because teachers had to do all the planning, preparing, and executing of the programs alongside their teaching responsibilities. Despite the problems they faced, she added, “Challenging, yes, but we were joyful as we did all those because we know that it would be a fun learning experience for the students, something outside the usual Zoom discussions.”

When asked about next year’s Math Week, Prof. Rocena answered,  “Whatever mode of instruction we'd have next year, expect a Math Week around 3/14/23 with new activities that will make you appreciate and love Math more.” //by Ricci Dantes, Andre Panopio, and Jemuell San Jose

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Pakinggan ang Himig ng Puso

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FEATURE: Ginang Maria Grasya's Online Pamphlet on Filipino Etiquette

// Disclaimer: This article is in no way affiliated with the restaurant-chain, “Mary Grace”//

Dearest Readers,

It certainly has been too long since I last graced your screens—I wonder if you've forgotten all decorum and manner of class! Not to worry, I shan't lambast you all with this issue. Instead, this Ginang Maria shall try to jog your memories.

As you may well be aware, the innovative app of entertainment that is Netflix has recently endowed us with a second season of the period drama, Bridgerton. Thus, many of us and our cousins in the North have once again been all primped up and reacquainted with their quaint and olden customs such as curtseying, greeting passersby during promenades, and inviting suitors for afternoon tea. While being in the know as to how other cultures carry out their rituals of respect intimates a great deal of worldliness and external sensitivity, you doubtless should desire to be apprised of our own inherited customs as well!

Should you feel that your manners have slackened or find that your zeal to continue with them might be dwindling due to their antiquated and somewhat compulsory nature, read on. For etiquette is not merely a mindless subjection to old-established norms of conduct—it is a code of propriety to which one ought to adhere, should they wish to act in accordance with common goodwill, and really aid in promoting kindness and humility.

I shall henceforth explain to you the mechanisms behind certain etiquettes that are exercised in this little archipelago of ours which we call the Philippines. This magnificent country, as you may know, was ruled by Spain, for more than 300 years! Japan and America too, had their own periods of colonial imposition upon us. As a consequence, some of our customs are imbued with foreign influence. I would like to give you some particular examples of this etiquette—shall I get started?

꧁꧂

Pagmamano

A young man being blessed by an elderly. Retrieved from:https://steemit.com/culture/@grace44/mano-or-pagmamano-the-filipino-gesture-of-showing-respect-to-elders

Aah, yes, this is what I deem as one of the most imperative of our traditions. It is something one ought to practice whenever they enter a home and an elder is living within. While often thought to be reserved for elders, one may do this with any seniors in their family. This is what we call “pagmamano,” and it is done by holding the elder’s hand, putting it against one’s forehead, and then saying “Mano po." Most of the time, the elder will respond with, “Bless you."

This particular form of gesture is a sign of respect to the elders of that residence. By offering one’s hand to the elder, they subsequently allow themselves to be subservient to them so that they may accept their blessing and wisdom.

Saying Po & Opo

A little girl thanking her parents as she reaches out for her father’s gift. Retrieved from: https://www.remitbee.com/blog/remitbee-culture-po-and-opo-why-is-it-important-for-filipinos

Being respectful while addressing those who are older is a must in our country, so much so that we have po and opo just for that purpose! Both are meant to denote respect in communicating with those senior to oneself. Both are also contracted forms of certain expressions, though natives contest which.

According to some sources, Po is a contraction of the Ilocano word Apo and refers not to “a grandchild” the way its Tagalog doppelganger does. Nay, in this regard it means “dios” or “lord”. Given that, uttering it makes for an acknowledgement of one’s humbler status since the person they address will actually be regarded as their lord, “Alalahanin ko, Apo/po.” Origins aside, it often follows a verb, “Pahingi po,” or a pronoun, “Inasikaso ko po.” Highly adaptable, an interrogative po may also possess the same meaning as its cousin Opo, making it our own deferential equivalent of, “Yes?” [1][2]

For instance,

‘Leilani!”

“Po?”

-

In garbled speech, ‘Leilani, lumabas ka raw kanina?’

Bemused and uncomprehendingly, “Po?”

-

As was mentioned earlier, Opo is a respectful “yes,” and such is made all the more apparent when we turn to its phrase of origin, “Oo, Apo” or “Yes, lord."

On the other hand, some believe Po arose from the Tagalog word “Panginoon” meaning still, “dios” or “lord”, and that Opo had been derived from the phrase “Oo, panginoon”.[3]

That said, Po and opo may not be staple communicative accouterments in certain provinces. So when opportunities of using them present themselves, one ought not to allow them to go amiss.

Honorifics

A friendly face greeting his kuya. Retrieved from: https://www.rappler.com/business/98714-heykuya-startup/

Here in the marvelous land of the Philippines you’ll notice the word respect gets thrown around quite often—it is an ineluctable and ineradicable element of our culture! Indeed, it's quite a pleasant sight to see how honorifics are used here, such as referring to one’s siblings or older acquaintances as “ate” or “kuya” depending on either sex or preference (some say this signifies great progress—more can be done I believe). Additionally, one may use the term “ate” or “kuya” to refer to strangers who appear a little older than themselves, because it is deemed respectful.

Family titles, too, are of great importance and may be a little tricky. One may refer to someone as "lolo" or "lola" if they belong to the elder generation. Moreover, adults and middle-aged men or women may also be addressed as "tito" or "tita," if they are one’s uncle or aunt. Those younger amongst you might actually employ these appellations for certain grown-ups regardless of relation! (It sounds much more, hip, as some of you may say, don’t you think?)

Labels and titles like these may permissibly be issued about as long as they’re of a courteous nature and betray not, impropriety. But if you’ve trouble remembering them, worry not—for you may alternatively greet someone with a trusty ma'am or sir.

Leaving footwear outside the house

A storage bench for shoes signaling its use for new entrants. Retrieved from:https://www.wikihow.com/Ask-Someone-to-Take-Off-Their-Shoes-at-Your-Home

Most households will have an area for setting aside one’s begrimed footwear in favor of indoor slippers or tsinelas (leave these lying around the house and you just might have them flung back at you!). In this, we miss out on the badge of national rarity, or as the younger folk amongst you might say, being #notlikeothercountries; for in it we are not alone.

We share this custom with many other nations such as Germany, Turkey, and Japan. As for the last country mentioned, ‘twas from them which we assimilated this convention. ‘Tis more rigorously enforced in Japan however, as people often eat sitting on the floor.[4][5] Though we need not fret about having any of the dirt we’ve trailed into our homes, clinging onto our legs and backsides as we dine, we presumably still care for clean speckless floors upon which we may happily walk, care-and-muck-free, whilst barefoot.

Eating with bare hands

A family eating “kamayan” style. Retrieved from: https://www.rappler.com/brandrap/health-beauty-and-wellness/217856-how-kamayan-practice-filipino-pride/

You must feel peckish from all the information that you have gathered thus far. Not to worry! For here, I shall teach you how we partake upon feasting. A lot of the time—excluding maybe, the majority of this pandemic’s duration—we use our hands instead of utensils for it is convenient and leaves less things to clean. Additionally, many of our locals would agree that the taste of the food is better when one simply opts for their hands.

We call this “Kamayan,” where we gather in a group and indulge in a huge banana leaf heaped with colorful and scrumptious dishes, as well as mounds of rice running through the center of it all. Once again, one must partake in the feast using only their hands as it symbolizes brotherhood and makes for an effective way to bond with the members of the community. This particular way of eating is all about the magical experience of human interaction.

Bringing back pasalubong

An array of colorful Filipino pasalubong. Retrieved from: https://www.behance.net/gallery/18294729/Choose-Philippines-Pasalubong-Map-Infographics

While not mandatory, gifts or pasalubong are always anticipated; and it is of good fashion that one is prepared to dole them out to family, comrades, and esteemed colleagues.

Rooted in the word salubong, meaning “to meet” or “to welcome,”[6] there are several ways in which this act of gift-or-souvenir-giving may transpire. One, being as somebody visits their loved ones after having vacationed somewhere. Another, by sending in some paraphernalia or even a balikbayan box nearly full to bursting amid work or travels abroad. Or a third, by simply giving out to one’s family, whatever lovely wares one might’ve purchased on their journey.

Some bring it upon themselves to do this out of obligation; others, routine—choosing goods in a desultory and uninspired manner. Many, however, do it with their loved ones in mind—buying thoughtful gifts and novelties often native or exclusive from whence they came. So while bringing back pasalubong is the polite course of action, it is one from which we may behold a great deal of love and affection.

Filipino Time

Late-comers arriving at a wedding with food from Jollibee. Retrieved from: https://medium.com/@assinco/photo-from-steve-james-podcast-b291ada66932

Oh, how I deplore the horrendous stench of convention! So many have dishonored themselves with it that I can only think them to have been misled into believing it as an etiquette. Keep in mind that etiquette is polite behavior; so no matter how deeply-rooted, acts such as this which take liberties with common decency certainly do not warrant even the smallest affiliation. If you have engaged in this practice, await great disapproval!

This particularly objectionable act is perpetrated when there is an event in which one must partake. Instead of respecting the time or arriving early however, one casually arrives late. People will often arrive thirty minutes to even two hours later than the hour fixed upon! The usual culprits in this situation are those who are keen on skipping the program—merely entering just in time before feasting begins. In our country, having traffic to blame is very feasible; but my word, some actually choose to be late! Truly, our culture has reached the point of no return for this, as planners actually anticipate its occurrence and adjust the time for when a program is to commence.

While some argue that this is done out of consideration for the host—giving them a greater span of time to prepare—it is more often than not, done in poor taste. To those who flout this particular norm, I commend you. Why should one betray integrity for the feeble sake of conformity?

꧁꧂

At the beginning of this pamphlet, I asserted that following proper etiquette was the right and proper thing to do. But better enlightened as you are now to the different innerworkings and intentions behind those most renowned, I ask you: do you still believe them worth heeding? Which among them do you reckon are true cultural hallmarks of reverence, uneroded neither by time nor the emergence of new beliefs and greater valued aspects of identity? Which amongst them possesses a vast breadth for improvement? Do you contend that pasalubong underlies and fosters materialistic propensities, perpetually impelling us to waste money? Is pagmamano, time-honored though it may be, really patronizing towards the elderly? These I leave for your solemn reflection. Wishing you readers the best of luck in navigating our character-exacting society,

Ginang Maria Grasya

//by Jonas Dula & Allana Dela Cruz

Sources:

[1] https://mobile.facebook.com/249602095179325/photos/a.251529181653283/310419082430959/?type=3&_rdr

[2]https://forum.wordreference.com/threads/the-origin-of-po-and-opo.1737301/#:~:text=Po%2FOpo%20is%20a%20sign,Opo%2C%20panginoon%E2%80%9D%20is%20redundancy

[3] https://youtu.be/od_e1AoDlNI

[4] https://www.esquiremag.ph/style/fashion/history-of-slippers-a2017-20190312-lfrm

[5] https://utesinternationallounge.com/take-off-your-shoes-or-not/#:~:text=In%20many%20countries%20like%20Germany,a%20house%20with%20shoes%20on

[6] https://www.efe.com/efe/english/life/filipinos-gather-at-sunrise-to-celebrate-salubong/50000263-3238769#:~:text=Salubong%2C%20a%20Tagalog%20word%20meaning,with%20the%20resurrected%20Jesus%20Christ

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FEATURE: GUMALA WITH CAUTION! Ang Ultimate Picnic Guide para sa mga Lakwatsera

Hep hep hep, kumpleto na ba ang lahat ng dadalhin natin para sa piknik?

Nitong buwan ng Pebrero, nagsimula nang ibaba ng Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases ang COVID-19 Alert Level sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng bansa. Dahil dito, tinanggal na ang restrictions sa indoor at outdoor capacities. Sa ilalim ng Alert Level 1, ang lahat ng mga establisyemento at pampublikong sasakyan ay maaari nang magpatuloy sa kanilang mga operasyon hangga’t napapanatili nila ang pagsunod sa minimum public health standards.

Magandang balita ito para sa atin na sabik na sabik nang lumabas ng bahay! Hay, nasanay na kasi tayo sa new normal – ang buhay natin na sa loob ng bahay lamang umiikot. Napilitan tayong i-adjust ang ating lifestyle dahil sa pandemya. Ngunit ngayon na patuloy nang bumababa ang COVID-19 cases sa bansa, panahon na upang bawiin ang mga oras na tayo ay nakulong sa bahay dahil sa pangamba na mahawaan ng virus.

Ano pa nga bang ibang magandang paraan upang maka-catch up sa ating mga kaibigan kung hindi ang pag-aaya ng piknik? Saktong-sakto rin ‘to sa mainit na panahon ngayon. Paniguradong walang tatalo sa combo ng payapang view + masarap na pagkain + solid na tropa. Oh siya, sama-sama na tayong MAGHANDA para sa isang exciting na pikinik!

Gawa nina Amira Castillo at Janela Mendoza

Bago ang lahat, Manghatak muna tayo ng mga kaibigan! Isipin na natin lahat ng mga nais nating maka-bonding at padalhan na natin sila ng mensahe tungkol dito. Huwag tayong mahihiya na mang-aya ng kahit sino dahil ito na nga ang pagkakataon upang makasama at makilala pa sila. Kapag sinabi nila na sila’y interesado sa’ting binabalak na gala, maaari na tayong gumawa ng group chat upang mapadali ang pakikipag-ugnayan sa isa’t isa. Makatutulong din ito upang maging mas maayos at mabilis ang pagpaplano dahil nakikita ng lahat ang palitan ng chats.

Gawa nina Amira Castillo at Janela Mendoza

Markahan sa kalendaryo ang Araw ng piknik. Mahalaga na maiskedyul na ang binabalak na gala upang makapaglaan tayo ng sapat na oras sa paghahanda para rito. Ngunit bago ‘yon, syempre dapat makahanap muna ng common time kung kailan bakante na ang lahat. Sayang kasi kapag hindi kumpleto ang buong tropa. Bukod pa roon, maganda ring isaalang-alang ang lagay ng panahon, kaya dapat tingnan ang weather forecast sa araw ng piknik.

Gawa nina Amira Castillo at Janela Mendoza

Pagpasyahan na kung saan Gaganapin ang piknik. Bukod sa pagiging opisyal na bukas sa publiko, mayroon pang ibang mga katangian na magandang isaalang-alang sa pagpili ng lokasyon. Una, ang pagkakaroon ng malawak at patag na espasyo nito na maaaring paglatagan ng sapin. Ikalawa ay ang kapaligiran nito – kung may makikita bang mga puno, halaman o kaya ay damuhan. Panghuli naman ay ang pagiging presko, mahangin at malilim nito. Ilan sa mga karaniwang lokasyon ay ang UP Sunken Garden at Rizal Park na parehong nasa Metro Manila lang.

Gawa nina Amira Castillo at Janela Mendoza

Pag-usapan na ang Hatian ng mga dadalhin. Dapat may nakatoka sa bawat kagamitan na kakailanganin upang hindi iisang tao lamang ang magbibitbit ng lahat. Dalhin lamang ang importanteng gamit tulad ng picnic mat, rechargeable electric fan, power bank, reusable utensils, tissue o wet wipes at eco bag na magsisilbing lagayan ng iba pang gamit. Hindi rin dapat makaligtaan ang ating pagsasaluhang pagkain! Nakadepende naman sa’tin kung ano-ano ang ating mga ngangatain, ngunit heto ang ilang mga must-have: tubig, kanin o tinapay, ulam at mga kutkuting pagkain katulad ng mani, kornik at tsitsirya.

Gawa nina Amira Castillo at Janela Mendoza

Laging tandaan ang mga Alituntuning pangkalusugan upang maprotektahan ang sarili at mga tao sa paligid natin laban sa COVID-19. Huwag nating kalimutang magdala ng alcohol spray at face mask bago umalis ng bahay. Siguraduhin natin na tayo ay nakapagpabakuna na at laging may dalang vaccination card — may mga lugar kasi na requirement ito bago tayo papasukin. Ugaliin ding mag-sanitize habang nasa biyahe, habang nasa galaan, bago kumain at lalo na ‘pag nakauwi na sa bahay. Dapat ay maligo kaagad tayo upang matanggal ang mga mikrobyong posibleng kumapit sa ating katawan. Huwag sana tayong maging kampante na hindi mahawaan ng virus dahil lang ibinaba na ang Alert Level sa’ting lugar.

Gawa nina Amira Castillo at Janela Mendoza

Magplano ng iba’t ibang gawain na Nakaaaliw at Nakaeenganyo para sa lahat! Kung sporty ang ating mga kasama, maaaring maglaro tayo ng outdoor sports katulad ng badminton at frisbee. Baka mayroon namang bet manood ng pelikula, kaya i-download na natin ito bago ang piknik upang maiwasan ang pagba-buffer habang nanonood ang lahat. Syempre, hindi rin mawawala ang TikTok trends o challenges. Isa sa mga challenge na pwedeng gawin ay ang “Color Food challenge” kung saan ang lahat ay magdadala ng snacks o drinks ayon sa mga kulay: pula, bughaw, berde, kahel at iba pa. Ay, pwede rin pala tayong magkaroon ng mini photoshoot para may remembrance tayo mula sa piknik!

Gawa nina Amira Castillo at Janela Mendoza

Pagkatapos ng piknik, Damputin ang mga kalat at linisin ang area. Sundin natin ang CLAYGO, o “clean as you go”. Maganda na lahat tayo ay may dalang tig-iisang trash bag upang masigurado na may mapaglalagyan tayo ng basura. Hinihikayat din natin ang paggamit ng reusable utensils upang mabawasan ang posibleng waste na ma-produce natin. Dinatnan nating malinis ang lugar na ating piniling pagganapan ng piknik, kaya dapat ay iwanan din natin itong malinis. Tandaan na maaari tayong magsaya habang pinoprotektahan ang ating kapaligiran!

Gawa nina Amira Castillo at Janela Mendoza

Ngayong nararamdaman nating paunti-unti nang bumabalik ang lahat sa’ting nakasanayan, ‘wag sana tayong matakot na lumabas basta’t maging Alisto lang palagi. Isa sa mga iniwan sa’tin ng pandemya ay ang pakiramdam ng walang kasiguraduhan. Hindi tayo sure kung ano ang mangyayari bukas at hindi natin alam kung kailan natin muling makikita ang mga mahal natin sa buhay. Kaya naman, lakasan natin ang ating loob at lubusin na ang oras na mayroon tayo kasama sila. Ika nga ni Rico Blanco, “Sasalubungin natin ang kinabukasan nang walang takot at walang pangamba” — pero syempre, dapat may kasamang pag-iingat at paghahanda!

Gala responsibly, mga lakwatsera! //nina Sophia Luangco at Charlize Yamo

Source:

IATF approves amended guidelines for Alert Level 1. (2022, February 28). Retrieved from https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1168637

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FEATURE: Requirements require snacks!

Have you all been feeling tired? Stressed? Unmotivated? Well, vacation is just around the corner, so we’ve got to push ourselves to finish this last semester!

Some subjects can be a bit tiresome. But don’t worry! Sit back and relax because here are five easy snack recipes to help you feel better when doing your requirements for major subjects.

A. English

It is a common saying in the Philippines that people get a nosebleed while studying the English language. One way to prevent this is by eating fruits rich in vitamin C such as apples, watermelon, and citrus fruits. They will help in strengthening capillaries, making them less prone to bleeding. We recommend having fruits by your side while reading English texts to lighten up your mood while learning.

Fruit Bowl

Photo credit: Gabie Gamba & Rachelle Baldelomar

Recipe:

Slice up bananas, apples, oranges, and other fruits you like.

Put them in a bowl beside you for easy access!

The sweetness of the bananas and the tang of the oranges will keep you awake, while the crunchiness of the apples will help your mind stay alert.

B.Science

A good memory is a useful tool when studying for Science. With all the formulas in Physics, elements in Chemistry, and cycles in Biology, our brain is pushed to retain all this different information.

Strawberries and other berries aid in improving memory, as well as preventing memory loss and other changes in brain activity as people age. Egg yolks on the other hand, are known to be rich in choline, which is known to help improve brain function.

Strawberry Milk with Cheesy Egg Sandwich

Photo credit: Gabie Gamba & Rachelle Baldelomar

Recipe:

Preparing the strawberries

Puree 1 cup (8-10 pieces) of fresh strawberries by using a masher, blender, or food processor.

Mix 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk to the puree (can be substituted with honey, maple syrup, or sugar)

To serve, add the strawberry puree, milk, and diced strawberries to each serving cup. Mix well to combine and enjoy!

Preparing the egg sandwich

Photo credit: Gabie Gamba & Rachelle Baldelomar

Boil 2-3 eggs for 10 minutes.

After boiling, peel the eggs and put them into a bowl.

Mash the eggs with a fork then add your mayo and grated cheese. Mix well. Feel free to season the mixture to your liking.

Lastly, spread the egg mixture on a piece of bread.

C. Filipino

Studying the Filipino language can leave us feeling feverish due to deep words and terms we never even knew existed. At least not until we encounter them in Florante at Laura, Noli Me Tangere or El Filibusterismo. However, there is no better remedy for this kind of sickness than a hearty home-cooked steaming bowl of Filipino-styled porridge called Lugaw.

Photo credit: Gabie Gamba & Rachelle Baldelomar

Recipe:

Boil chicken or beef tripe, then separate the meat from the broth.

Sauté ginger, onion, and garlic then add the chicken or tripe. The relaxing smell of ginger will help you calm down, while also boosting your immune system!

Once the meat is mixed in, you can now add the sticky rice.

Add broth from the boiled meat and simmer until the rice is cooked. Stir occasionally.

Top with boiled eggs and spring onions or any kind of topping you like. Serve while hot.

This lovely bowl of lugaw will surely help your body recover from your trangkaso.

D. Mathematics

We can all agree that Math gives us a throbbing headache with every equation and problem –there are too many numbers and equations! Leafy greens can help with that. They are high in folate, a natural form of Vitamin B9 that aids in red blood cell development and good cell growth and function; as well as magnesium which helps lessen migraine frequency.

Green Salad

Photo credit: Gabie Gamba & Rachelle Baldelomar

Recipe:

Clear your mind of all the formulas, signs, and solutions and prepare your ingredients for a quick salad.

If you already have mixed greens on hand, you can use them. But you can also go for mixed spinach with roughly chopped lettuce.

Add sliced tomatoes, onions, and cucumber for a pop of color. You can also add cheese and chicken.

Top with your favorite salad dressing. For a homemade dressing, you can mix mayo, dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce then season with salt and pepper.

E. Social Studies

Studying and memorizing places, events, and dates for hours on your desk can strain your back from sitting down for too long. It is important to consume calcium to keep those bones strong. This last recipe is quick, easy, and has anti-inflammatory properties which reduces pain and inflammation.

Crunchy banana yogurt

Photo credit: Gabie Gamba & Rachelle Baldelomar

Recipe:

Pour 12oz of fat-free natural greek-style yogurt (though any yogurt will do) into your bowl.

Top it with sliced bananas and sprinkle it with mixed seeds (pumpkin, sesame, and sunflower) or nuts and you’re good to go!

There is a wide variation of food one can eat to relieve stress while doing school requirements. You can even try weird food combinations, like a peanut butter and pickle sandwich, if that helps lessen your worries. The possibilities are endless! So feel free to try different ways to make yourself at ease through good food and don't forget to breathe in and munch on these snacks when your requirements and munch on these snacks! They will surely make your next study session much more flavorful and enjoyable. //by Karla Concepcion, Lui Mendoza, & Daniella Garces