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Menagerie

Heavy is the head that wears the crown

Every year, Filipinos huddle around their television sets to watch the Miss Universe coronation night. Holding hands and sweating in anticipation, fans shriek in pure joy when the country’s representative struts down the runway, with “Philippines” written in bold font on the sash across her chest. However, this love and appreciation do not come for…

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Menagerie

Rant and Rave: Chasing The Falcon and The Winter Soldier

“One world, one people.” This was the phrase coined by the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s (MCU) latest group of misfits, the Flag Smashers, led by super soldier Karli Morgenthau. Claiming to forge a world with shared resources and open borders, they will lie, cheat, and kill anyone who gets in their way. But fear not, because…

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Menagerie

Sit still, look pretty: Unboxing the complexities of gender in dolls

She’s part of every girl’s birthday and Christmas wishlist—a friend that comes in a mint condition plastic box with a beaming smile frozen on her face. She makes playtime all the more thrilling—through her, millions of girls across the world can be a princess, a model, a homemaker, and many more. With a seemingly-endless assortment…

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Menagerie Menagerie Feature

Free spirit: Elle Aspilla is rewriting all the rules

It was the night before the prom and Elle Aspilla (III, BS-IBS) had just come out of the closet. It would still be quite a while before she would identify as a trans woman, but even back then, just embracing queerness was liberating. And what better time to be unapologetically herself than prom night? “Nagsuot…

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Menagerie

Skin deep: Peeling off the Philippines’ colorism problem

Amid the sudsy sachets of shampoo and tubes of toothpaste in a typical Filipino bathroom lies an infamous product—skin whiteners. Ranging from soaps to serums to creams, these products claim to give fairer skin in a matter of days or weeks. As such, they have earned a permanent place in every Filipino woman’s beauty routine.…

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Menagerie

A menagerie of love: Eros, agape, and everything in between

Love is a many-splendored thing. It is infinite in its mutability, pervading and shaping our art and stories since we first comprehended our existence. The complex beings that we are, it is only fitting that what compels us is equally complex too. This Valentine’s, The LaSallian presents love in all its confounding forms with the…

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University

Head On: LA Chief Jaime Pastor eyes new systems for OVPIA

The sole candidate for vice president for internal affairs, Jaime Pastor of Alyansang Tapat sa Lasallista (Tapat) brings two years of legislative experience with him as he pursues a seat in the Executive Board. He gives his assessment on student life in the online setup and shares some of his plans, one of which is…

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University

Head to Head: Cate Malig, Earlrich Ibon seek to build links as OVPEA

In this interview with The LaSallian, aspirants for the Office of the Vice President of External Affairs (OVPEA) seat, Alyansang Tapat sa Lasallista (Tapat) candidate Cate Malig and Santugon sa Tawag ng Panahon (Santugon) candidate Earlrich Ibon discuss politics, voter’s education, and their visions in fostering a more socio-politically proactive student body.  On their background…

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General Elections University

Head On: Leonna Gula sets sights on BAGCED presidency

Incumbent EDGE2018 Legislative Assembly Representative Leonna Denise Gula bares her plans as the only candidate for college president of the Brother Andrew Gonzales FSC College of Education (BAGCED), bearing the banner of Santugon sa Tawag ng Panahon (Santugon). She speaks to The LaSallian on her platforms, which include the development of clearer channels of communication…

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Menagerie

Rant and Rave: MMFF 2020 welcomes the old and new—Part One

For 46 years, the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) has been a fixture of Filipino Christmastime. Starting December 25 each year, families would flock to cinemas like clockwork for a lighthearted Christmas spectacle—you have the Vic Sotto ensemble film with the banal jokes and the revolving door of fresh-faced loveteams, the gaudy self-deprecating Vice Ganda…