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Spectrum of experiences: Children with special needs face up to distance learning demands

The past few months have not been easy for anyone. The threat of COVID-19 has forced many to stay at home or distance themselves from others, upending the status quo. Many parents have had to make critical decisions to protect the well-being of their children—even if it means having to temporarily pull their children out…

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Devotion and diversity: What makes fans gatekeep?

Falling down the rabbit hole of a fandom is so easy that, before one even realizes it, one’s feet are no longer on the ground. Exploring the whimsical world of a fandom may be easy enough, but feeling accepted by the community might prove to be a bigger challenge. Especially for newcomers in fandoms, where…

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Into the spotlight: The reprise of Philippine opera

Boisterous belting followed by a broken champagne glass—this is just one of the many perceptions people have about opera. Also familiar are the declarations of love, joy, or remorse accompanied by harmonious sounds of the orchestra that amaze audiences, especially when performers take the opportunity onstage to showcase their impressive vocal range. And though 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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Beyond splashes and spreads: Looking into panels of local comic makers

Leaping off the pages and onto the silver screen, comics have had an undeniable impact on pop culture—from being a staple in many a childhood to inspiring people in fighting social injustice through art and storytelling. Straying away from recognizable Western publications such as DC and Marvel and their Asian counterparts like manga, comic book…

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Writer’s Recap: Open house—Truer Stories III

“Ako si Lisa. Taga-Maynila at may tatlong anak. Nagpunta ako sa health center para magpaturo [ng] family planning. Sinabi ng mga tao roon na pinagbabawal raw ang pagtuturo ng family planning sa health centers. Kaya wala akong makuhanan ng contraceptives. Sa edad ng disinwebe ay nabuntis ako. Pangatlo ko na.”  (My name is Lisa. I…

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Writer’s Recap: Apat Dapat

The so-called “big four”—in no particular order—University of the Philippines (UP), Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), De La Salle University (DLSU), and University of Santo Tomas (UST). Ever wondered how they’d be like as people on an online date? UP Manila Dramatista premiered their live online production, APAT DAPAT, free to watch on their Facebook…

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Born and bred: Lasallians in media

Over the years, DLSU has continued to produce graduates who have gone on to have successful careers in media, taking on positions and roles that play no small part in the information discourse in the country. A Lasallian education undoubtedly instills critical thinking and fact-checking, skills that prove to be useful after college but more…

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Another voice: Clement Corominas, citizen journalist

A lot can happen in two minutes. The first thing Clement Corominas noticed when he arrived at the campus of University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu was the number of police officers surrounding the school. It was June 5, and a rally was being held in protest of the yet-to-be-signed Anti-Terrorism Bill. Stepping out of…

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Out of the shadows: Campus journalism in times of silencing and dissent

It was a Saturday when Carmen “Menie” Reyes woke up to a world that had been silenced. The usual chatter of the radio had faded into the night, the television only emitting white noise. It was September 1972, when Martial Law was declared in the Philippines, and she was in her third year of high…