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Startups and alternatives: Stop-gap responses to COVID-19 economic woes

For a travel agent like Maria Fe Cantillo-Rofule, trips abroad are a customary part of her work life. She has led numerous groups of vacationers around the world that, in a way, it has become a form of routine. However, last January 26, a trip to Hong Kong became anything but routine: popular tourist spots…

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Baking a difference: Capturing the flavors of Filipino bakeries

Who can resist the allure of a good bakery? Whether it be a local panenderia that carries Filipino favorites, like ensaymada and pandesal, or the kind of bakery whose windows feature decorated cakes that are just as much a treat for the eyes are they as for the taste buds, it’s hard to not give…

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Sweet success: The renaissance of local chocolate

There are very few things as universally loved as chocolate. Whether in the form of a bar, served as a truffle, or coated with a candy shell, chocolates seem to be the type of sweets that never go out of style. The chocolate industry is also currently on the rise, with the 2020 Worldwide Cocoa…

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Silent sidewalks: The unheard voices of Manila’s street vendors

Mere months after assuming office, Mayor Isko Moreno upheld his promise to clean up the nation’s capital. From an outside perspective, Moreno’s rebuilding efforts for Manila manifests as brilliantly lit trees and obstruction-free walkways. Massive cleaning operations in Divisoria and Quiapo have made headlines, with similar operations in smaller street markets also meeting the same…

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Hitting the right notes: A look into the lives of student-musicians

Good grades, enough sleep, and a sustainable social life; we’ve probably all seen memes with these words plastered onto the corners of a triangle, and some variation of the phrase “Welcome to college: you can only choose two” placed forebodingly at the center. For the most part, this rings true. Student life can often feel…

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Framed in stars: The art of parol making

Twinkling strings of lights framing window sills, malls packed with shoppers scurrying to buy last-minute presents, and children singing carols with makeshift instruments—the sight of these are all good signs that the Christmas season is fast approaching. However, perhaps one of the most obvious ways to know when the holidays have arrived, at least in the…

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Catching waves, finding home: Surfing in the Philippines

Sandy blonde hair, a laid back accent, and a vocabulary consisting mostly of words like “totally”, “dude”, and “cool”; popular media has painted the stereotypical surfer in such a monochromatic light, leading many to believe that this is all that surfing entails. In reality, however, surfing culture transcends the stereotypes imprinted on us by media,…

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The Final Frontier: Between science and fiction

While taking in the vast expanse that is our universe, humanity has tried time and time again to comprehend the many elements hidden within. We once turned to gods and deities to bring society to order and hopefully make sense of the world around us, until we eventually built our own tools to survive and…

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Animals in captivity: Manila Zoo understood

Manila Zoo, the mini jungle at the heart of an urban city, is a place shrouded in mystery and stereotypes. It has often been the center of news reports and unwarranted scandals. The LaSallian wades through the enigma surrounding Manila Zoo with the help of Jazz Ong (AB-OCM ‘18), a passionate volunteer for Zoo Crew,…

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Blazing the trail: A look into the lives of volunteer firemen

In scorching fire and searing heat, panic kicks in. You see figures clad in yellow rush in a burning house to save lives. Whether it be through a screen or in real life, the danger of fire cannot be underestimated. But there are those who risk their lives with only the thought of saving others…