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Reentering, from 90 years ago: Witnessing the rebirth of the Metropolitan Theater

The once crowned “Grand Dame of Manila”—the Metropolitan Theater—is slowly regaining its place in the local culture and arts scene.

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Power to the people: An in-depth look on voter’s education

The power to vote is not enough; one must also be smart on how they chose their preferred candidates.

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Food styling, a marriage of sight and taste

Before any delectable meal is tasted, it is first a treat to our other senses. Everyone knows that taste is nothing without smell—but what is a feast if not a delight to the eyes? This is precisely what the art of food styling aims to portray to the famished onlooker. From the tiny grains of…

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Of the people, for the people: The power of community pantries

Aside from a health crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic has also only brought about an economic one. The shutting down of businesses and subsequent employee lay-offs have greatly exacerbated the already-pervasive issues of hunger and unemployment in the country. As ayuda (relief aid) and other government support services remain insufficient for the needs of the people,…

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God is a woman: Finding the divine in the female

In the Judeo-Christian context, God has always been painted as distinctly, explicitly, and exclusively a man. This idea of an omnipotent male has been the bedrock of our beliefs—it is then deemed only natural that men lead, that men control, and that men define.  Women, on the other hand, are also labeled many things—wives, mothers,…

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The subculture of dissatisfaction: Punk is never dead

It’s gritty, loud, and foaming at the mouth. It’s short and direct—a chaotic whirlwind of sounds scraping against the surface. It screams what is usually withheld, echoing the resistance of people who are breaking their chains. It’s punk. “I was introduced to this music by a friend of mine who had a mixtape cassette with no…

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Out of sight: The Philippine reproductive health crisis

There seems to be an unsaid discomfort when anything related to sex is brought to the table. From menstruation, contraceptive pills, pregnancy, to abortion, it is almost impossible to share details about these experiences casually, unremarkably, and with no holds barred. “This image that we like to portray—that the Philippines is so conservative—stands in the…

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Being together, apart: Love in the time of a pandemic

A lover’s face on a dimly-lit screen, movie nights put off by poor internet connection, and special dates celebrated in blurry virtual rooms—such scenes have come to define love in the time of a pandemic. With half a year of physical distancing measures dividing friends, family, and lovers alike, communication has survived—but only through the…

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Not just for laughs: Portrait of a stand-up comic

Making people laugh can be hit or miss; after all, jokes are often made at the spur of a moment.It happens at the dinner table, during a phone call, in the middle of a car ride, and all thosecasual moments when one’s wit and humor spontaneously strike gold. Standing onstage, however, the setting changes; for…

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Sound check: Musicians in the midst of isolation

Music is intangible, yet is closely intertwined with human experience. From the radio tunes kids used to wake up to on Sunday mornings, the playlists that accompany commuters on crowded bus rides, to the certain songs that lull people to sleep at night, music has always been a part of life. Throughout time, it has…