Category: Features

MAKING the required reading of every Filipino an interesting primetime television show is
quite a challenge. Still, GMA seems to have everyone seated with full attention — no help
from RA 1425 is needed. With their recent release, “Maria Clara at Ibarra,” viewers are
transported via a historical portal to the world of Jose Rizal’s Noli me Tangere, which is seen
through the Gen-Z lens.

ELEMENTARY kids are living their usual lives when suddenly, news flash: “Another two years of our lives will be dedicated to our education, specifically, in our high school life.” For some, they call it another financial expense but formally, we call it the “K-12” program. Until now, this has been a controversial topic — was the Philippines ready for this? To get answers that are solely based on experience, a few from the recently graduated pioneer batch of the K-12 program spoke their minds.

EVERY story has a protagonist who will most likely face tough challenges along the road of uncertainty. To reach their ultimate goal, they must work and endure all the hardships that they will encounter. Most importantly, protagonists should always carry a spark of inspiration for them to feel motivated and make their efforts worthwhile.
The same goes for the 2022 National Elections. We, the young generation, are fueled by the desire to get a firm grasp on good governance. This common goal makes us part of a story where we have the power to vote for the next set of leaders our country needs. Although, this won’t come easy for there are opposing forces that will surely cause complications and division in the voting process.

NOWADAYS, it is evident that technology has become essential for most people since it provides us convenience for our daily activities and livelihood. Since the pandemic started, we have become more dependent on it. We use technology to shop, socialize, study, work, play games, stay updated, and more likely, to distract ourselves from boredom. But, sometimes, we tend to overuse it and stay on social media to the point that we spend hours on it and get shocked by our screen time. Here are some of the ways on how we can detoxify ourselves from social media and how we can help make it a better space for everyone.

“TOUGH times call for beautiful measures” – the slogan used in Belo’s pandemic effect campaign video. Changes are inevitable to happen during the pandemic. People go through different physical, emotional, and mental challenges. The pandemic made people focus on more important responsibilities in order to survive and tend to forget about taking care of their overall well-being. However, the pandemic is not the time to set up beauty standards and shame people on gaining weight, acne breakouts, body hair, and other physical changes that are, in fact, normal to the human body.

HOBBIES are consistent activities that are done for enjoyment. But, what if you are having a difficulty in committing to do something, as you are still struggling to fuel your life with determination and enthusiasm? You have not yet discovered the ways that would make your heart thump because you are still seeking what would contribute joy and excitement in your everyday life, searching for the right pursuits to direct and exert your energies in your life. Let this be your guide to help unlock your capabilities and potentials through self-awareness and by incorporating hobbies and interests in your life.

“ONE day, the world stopped without any forewarning.” It’s been a full year of quarantine. Due to the rapid advancement in digital platforms where contents are consumed ⁠— from music, variety shows, to K-dramas where idols also appear ⁠— there’s no denying that their impact is here to stay. It’s reached globally and also, to the comfort of our rooms. In these times, it became some sort of escapism and coping mechanism when life feels like a mere routine.

THERE is no denying that online class is a new uncharted territory for students despite experiencing it for a whole year. Many of us are struggling to adjust to the “new normal” and are missing the outside world. The usual study dates at coffee shops were replaced by drinking instant coffee while desperately looking for motivation to do school work, hangouts with friends after hell week are now replaced by Facetime or Messenger calls. It feels impossible to adjust and balance everything on our plate. Instead of slumping over the new virtual setup, we can rise to the occasion and make use of different applications for products that are currently emerging.

CULTURE is a big part of our everyday lifestyle, from the way we dress, the familial traditions, our beliefs, and even the origins of the things that we grew up with. Apart from the classic Original Pinoy Music (OPM) songs that we love listening to on the radio every morning, the games we used to play with our friends, or the stories our grandmothers had told us contributed to our exposure to the wonderful products of our culture, including comics, at a young age. Generations before us were big komik readers because it became a gateway to combine reality and fiction. With that, Netflix’s new series, Trese, serves as a bridge to bring our culture into different parts of the world, accompanied by thrilling storylines that will leave you wanting more.

IMPOSED lockdowns, job turnovers, online classes, and social isolation are a few among the many hallmarks of 2020. This pandemic tightened its grip on the world, not only infecting millions of people but also restricting humans’ most basic sense – touch. We can’t deny that during this pandemic, our actions are limited. Trips are restricted, you can’t visit relatives, we can’t go to the beach during summer, we can’t have samgyeopsal dates with friends, we can’t have a cup of coffee at Starbucks while studying. We’re all under the new normal and we are all required to stay at home.