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Shadow of a cross, faith, and Iglesia ni Cristo

Can you hear the quiet hum? It’s the sound of millions across the country praying. The Church of Iglesia ni Cristo, commonly referred to as the INC, is one of the most politically and culturally influential religious groups in the Philippines. A homegrown religion founded by Felix Manalo in 1914, membership in INC has grown…

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From High School to College: Exoneration or Prison Transfer?

For the uninitiated frosh taking their first steps into the University, college presents itself as an entirely unfamiliar terrain—a place where no one knows your name, so you could rebuild it in however way you want from the ground up. Such self-reinvention is possible in college because of all the freedom that comes with it.…

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Fighting for a life: A look into the world of midget boxing and more

The room was dark but the lights were bright. It was seventeen minutes past ten at night. The music was booming and the girls were dancing. The alcohol was flowing and the guests started coming. And then, a Michael Buffer-esque voice came calling, searching for a referee to a round of midget boxing. This was…

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Of felons and followers: The fascination behind serial killers

A few taps at the keyboard here, several mouse clicks there and many search results later, a list of Facebook fan groups light up the screen. While these groups may seem like any other dedicated to public figures, one spine-chilling detail makes them stand out: The macabre dedication to serial killers. It is interesting, to…

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To Infinity—Avengers: Infinity War movie review

A decade worth of superhero blockbuster action has led up to this; Avengers: Infinity War. Over the years, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has given birth to and cultivated an extensive cultural following, redefining the definition of comic book movies time and time again. In Avengers: Infinity War, Marvel Studios displays an incredible amount of…

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The Last Jedi: The good, the bad, and the ugly

The movie was revealed to have hit a 94 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, and critic reviews were overall very good. However, the week after it was released internationally, things started to change. While the critic score on Rotten Tomatoes stayed above 90 percent, the audience score plummeted from the 60s down to the 50s, where…

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Tech-ing a break: The disconnection and disassociation from devices

The show’s creator, Charlie Brooker, is a big believer in the negative aspects of technology. He wrote for the Guardian in 2011 saying, “We routinely do things that just five years ago would scarcely have made sense to us. We tweet along to reality shows; we share videos of strangers dropping cats in bins; we…

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The Greatest Showman: Truly the greatest show?

The musical type of storytelling used in film has very old roots. They first found a home in cinemas around them 30s, and have nowadays adapted to fit modern conventions of good movies. It has endured until the 21st century, finding a home in Disney movies, in on-screen Broadway adaptations akin to that of Les…

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Pills, paws, and play: The wonders of Animal-assisted therapy

The doctor is in. And he is striding along the hallway as he welcomes his patients with the purest of intentions and enthusiasm. He goes on with what he usually does—sometimes easing pain, but on good days, saving lives. It’s enthralling and almost unbelievable how someone like him could perceive his job as something mundane…

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Of beats, silence, and vision: The importance of musical scoring in films

You reach into your pocket or bag and pull out that tangled web of white wires. “Not this again,” you sigh as you then start the grueling task of trying to untangle the mess that was previously your set of earphones. Nothing is worse than not being able to listen to your music because your…