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Manila bay folk

After a bumpy pedicab ride from Taft Avenue through Pablo Ocampo, we alight across a lifeless CCP Complex. Greeted by half empty parking lots and sprouts of greenery, the scent of petrol and saltwater waft the path to an even emptier Harbor Square. Peaceful folks adorn the concrete coast, going about their day by the…

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Obsessions and compulsions: The truth behind OCD

Nikko* (II-BS-MGT) wakes up with intrusive thoughts. In the morning, when people usually just stand up and leave their mess of a bed behind, Nikko has to check. He checks for the click of his lamp switch, the ring of his alarm, his already-made blanket that doesn’t seem right enough, and the gap between the…

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Experiencing (true) tranquility

Depictions of meditation, or spirituality, have evolved in media throughout the years. Gone are the days when Ben Kingsley’s portrayal of Mahatma Gandhi in Gandhi or Jim Caviezel’s Jesus Christ in The Passion of the Christ inspired a kind of spirituality that can be practiced by people from all walks of life. Yet here come…

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Literature professors on what to read next

Note: This article has been altered from its original format due to the failure to properly credit the interviewees’ responses. The LaSallian offers its sincerest apologies to Sir Johann Espiritu and all other parties for this grievous error.   In this busy and ofttimes fast-paced world, we are left with too many books, but with too…

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When copy-paste is a crime: On plagiarized art

At educational institutions such as our own, the act of plagiarism is treated gravely. Heavy punishments are usually meted out to any offenders who get caught stealing—or copying—someone else’s intellectual property. With tools such as Turnitin seeing widespread use among students and professors, it is clear that plagiarism is treated seriously in the academe. Merriam-Webster…

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The Book Stop Project: A step in the right direction

Let no more than the usual suspects be a testament to how much the world has technologically changed and otherwise confused the common bookworm of the inexistence of quality, tenable, and time-honored books. With the advent of E-books and personal libraries, a part of society is left out on the timbre that is good readings…

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The mysteries of resurrection: On near-death experiences and revivals

From sentiments of surprise, skepticism, and even wonder, near death experiences are labeled with a wide spectrum of reactions, but easy to dismiss is not one of them. The tales of those who’ve died, been to the other side, and came back are plenty. And it’s often met with an assorted mix of responses. Some…

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The pieces of Maher Al Raee, the Filipino citizen

Maher Mohammed Al Raee spends his afternoons in calm contemplation. With a mug of tea in one hand and a cigarette in the other, he settles comfortably in his chair, surveying his idyllic neighbourhood, and taking in the afternoon breeze and figures that flit through the streets: Tricycles, cars, the occasional passerby. A look of…

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How to save a life: Behind suicide hotlines

In the disarray of mindless switching tabs, you anxiously wait for a reply from just about any of the five friends you already messaged. In the sea of furniture and familiarity of your own room, nothing seems to put you at ease. You’re alone with your thoughts. Unknown to many, the country actually has a…

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The life of the Golden Gays

A burned, dilapidated house is being renovated in one of the streets of Pasay. What used to be filled with laughter, singing, and playful banters is now empty of its tenants, only occupied by the workers rebuilding the destroyed house. This used to be the home of the Golden Gays, a group of old gays…