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Mitigate not eliminate: Countering the COVID-19 infodemic

Before COVID-19 escalated into a pandemic, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus cautioned world leaders against another issue that may arise. “[We’re] not just fighting an epidemic; we’re fighting an infodemic,” he argued then.  According to the WHO, an infodemic occurs when there is “an excessive amount of information about a problem”…

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Duterte addresses nation anew, officials clarify enhanced community quarantine guidelines

Following an initial announcement by Malacañang, President Rodrigo Duterte confirmed that the entire Luzon will be under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) from March 17 until April 13. The new regulations aim to restrict the movement of people in the hopes of slowing down the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). As of press time, there are…

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University

COSCA’s relief efforts in Taal eruption aftermath

Prompt response in the event of any disaster is critical in saving life and property in the epicenter of a tragedy. The unforeseen eruption of Taal Volcano in Batangas earlier in January took local government units by surprise, impeding efforts to aid refugees and evacuees. Amid sluggish official response, a number of organizations swooped in…

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University

Third USAP TAYO installment tackles safeguarding of press freedom

In line with the growing concern surrounding press freedom in the country, Alyansang Tapat sa Lasallista held the third installment of their Usap Tayo series last March 6, titled USAP TAYO: Defend Press Freedom, at room A1403 of Br. Andrew Gonzalez Hall, in partnership with the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP).  The talk…

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University University Feature

A cautionary tale of impunity, political repression

It has been 10 years since the Maguindanao Massacre—one of the bloodiest electoral killings in Philippine history. On November 23, 2009, 57 bodies were found buried en masse after more than 100 armed men stopped a convoy carrying relatives and supporters of then Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu, along with media personnel. The convoy was…

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Farmers struggle amid surge of rice imports in local market

Despite being touted as an agricultural country, the Philippines has continually struggled with achieving rice self-sufficiency for decades. Between 1986 to 2016, the country was only able to attain rice self-sufficiency for three years. More recently, a sharp surge in rice prices in 2018, due to an allegedly artificial rice shortage, limited Filipinos’ access to…

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University

Behind closed doors: The impact of reporting sensitive cases

Effective journalism has continuously provided information across the nation, delivering the most recent news to broaden public knowledge on national and global issues. Not only does it have to function around-the-clock, but journalism and the practitioners involved also assume a great responsibility to cautiously present data in an ethical manner, especially if the topics at…

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University University Feature

Ties forged by time: On Israel-PH foreign relations

From 1937 to 1941, the Philippines welcomed Jewish refugees seeking safety from the persecution of the Nazi regime in Germany. Though then-President Manuel Quezon had to maneuver through several personal and political challenges to enact an open door policy, his efforts led to the successful resettlement of over 1,000 Jews in the country. The subsequent…

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University University Feature

LA delays discussion on potential USG Constitution amendments

Despite convening for a regular session last October 18, the Legislative Assembly (LA) struggled to deliberate on amendments to the University Student Government (USG) Constitution. The representatives in attendance were initially supposed to discuss all proposed amendments for Article I to X of the current constitution. However, only two proposed amendments were raised during the…

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University University Feature

More than meets the eye: Navigating freelancing in the Philippines

While traditional nine-to-five jobs still dominate the local employment scene, many Filipinos have also ventured into freelancing. Skilled and qualified individuals may find themselves drawn to freelancing because it offers them freedom from the standard routine job, a flexible work schedule, and the chance to avoid traffic through remote work. Moreover, the industry is not…