Category: Editorial

ON February 25, 1986, EDSA People Power Revolution took place—a history-making event coined as the “bloodless revolution” due to its successful execution through the use of “people power.” It has been celebrated on the 25th of February, and declared a Special Non-Working Holiday in Proclamation No. 42 and Proclamation No. 90. On February 23, 2023, the public was shocked by the sudden announcement of the Malacañang Palace that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. had declared February 24 a Special Non-Working Holiday for reasons of Holiday Economics via Proclamation 167. Let us dissect the new proclamation and its implications in the past, present, and future.

AFTER six years, the Philippines underwent yet another Presidential election. Like every voting season, politicians would compromise, pledge, and assure the citizens of something to win the people’s votes. On June 30, 2022, after one of the most controversial elections, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. was declared the 17th president of the Philippines. Promising to revive the courses of action left by his late dictator father and to continue the right of way during the Duterte administration, after over three months, the time to assess his administration’s performance—the first 100 days of President Marcos Jr. finally came. Let’s take a look at what he’s done so far.

BATA, bata, alam mo ba kung ano ang tama? Sabi nila ang mga kabataan hindi nagsisinungaling. Sa halip, sila’y palatanong at mabusisi sa bawat bagay na gustong intindihin. Kailanman, hindi ka makakarinig ng salitang huwad mula sa bibig ng isang bata — maliban kung may nagtanim ng kabatirang hindi tunay.

WITNESSING empathy amidst societal challenges is a beginning of change. While some might not have yet recognized the opportunity they can make for their community, it is important to not be disconnected and see within the world’s reality. In high school, we are always asked along the lines of: “As a student, what can you contribute to your own country?” With such a simple question, you would be thinking to yourself ‘what am I capable of doing?’

CELEBRATING International Women’s Month this March, this year’s theme is “#BreakTheBias” – aimed to free the world of stereotypes and discrimination while empowering diversity, equity, and inclusivity. Our society has come a long way when it comes to opening more doors for women to thrive. From healthcare, technology, leadership, journalism – women were proven to be ready to step up and deliver all the time.

DEBATES spur over the 2022 presidential interviews hosted by a multitude of media outlets to give political candidates a platform to introduce themselves and present their plans for the country, if elected. From television and radio guestings to YouTube videos, Facebook and even TikTok, the media continues to play its role in spreading information about our presidentiables and their senatorial slates. In this time where everyone can be influential through a click of a button in social media and be their own brands, are television networks still relevant?

PRE-PANDEMIC times, the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) is one of the highlights of every Filipino family during Christmas time. Aside from the movies and films themselves, MMFF entries are promoted through a parade of giant floats with celebrities flashing their smiles in broad daylight. However, due to the pandemic situation, the industry has never been the same. Though they adapted to an online film festival last 2020, cinemas started opening their doors once again in 2021, but it was not what they expected. Its aftermath, a low turnout of moviegoers despite malls packed with families celebrating the festive season.

COMPARED from last year’s holiday season, 2021 celebrations are different – the Christmas spirit is gradually coming our way. Gaming centers and cinemas reopened, even tourist attractions were redesigned for visitors to unwind. Despite the reopening of recreational facilities, the quarantine restrictions for children and elders has now also been put to ease. This resulted in crowded indoor public places that can still be alarming, especially with the rise of the Omicron variant.

THE country is experiencing a crisis that is detrimental to the development of most people, especially the youth. Approaching almost two years since the pandemic struck the world in all aspects, the educational sector is one of the most affected systems that uncovered the lapses and made it where it is now: “stagnant.” Despite these so-called “breakthroughs” such as adapting to the new normal, improving the online platforms used, and the like, it still has a lot of loopholes that need to be addressed. The question lies retrospectively on where is the youth headed in the future? Is the system responsive to their heeds and needs? Where should we even start when one problem branched out into different forms?

WITH the current pandemic that is becoming more clear and less vague compared to the previous year, protocols and vaccination rollouts became the new norm of instruction especially that the country is continuously procuring vaccine doses from different countries making the goal of for immunity more possible. However, more vaccines doesn’t mean less viruses. Issues of healthcare workers being underpaid, overworked and taken advantage of took off in different platforms such as in social media, rallies and through the news. The hazard pay being misused despite enough budget and healthcare worker continuously being exposed to COVID has caused a massive flak, demanding more accountability especially that doctors and nurses are struggling to keep up with full blown ICU beds and patients to tend.