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Menagerie

Between books and shelves: The dynamic future of public libraries

Public libraries are cornerstones of culture in the Philippines. While many institutions tend to govern our way of life, public libraries preserve how this way of life came to be in the first place. Tasked with housing primary source materials and other pieces of our country’s history, libraries sate even the most curious of knowledge…

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Sports Sports Feature

Deafening silence: Overcoming a fan-less UAAP 83

Jam-packed action, budding talent, and most of all, the loudest cheers from fans are what make the UAAP. Season 83 is just around the corner, but with the country still battling the spread of COVID-19, the possibility of seeing matches played in empty stadiums and arenas is becoming increasingly real. With strict quarantine and safety…

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Menagerie Menagerie Feature

Blurring the big picture: Reviewing MTRCB censorship

Many Filipinos are kept within the confines of their homes because of the ongoing pandemic. Gone are the days when one can go out and engage in their favorite pastimes, like dining in their favorite restaurants or catching a flick in the movie house. Now, people find entertainment through online streaming sites, boosting viewership in…

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Talking heads: Podcasters on and off the mic

Meaningful conversations bring about a sense of enlightenment. New discoveries are made through a back and forth of opinions, as well as a sharing of personal experiences. Such a relay of knowledge has become so sought after that it has popularized podcasts. More refined than simple talking heads, podcasts are divided into episodes, where different…

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Menagerie

Out of sight: The Philippine reproductive health crisis

There seems to be an unsaid discomfort when anything related to sex is brought to the table. From menstruation, contraceptive pills, pregnancy, to abortion, it is almost impossible to share details about these experiences casually, unremarkably, and with no holds barred. “This image that we like to portray—that the Philippines is so conservative—stands in the…

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A reimagined world: Filipino folklore in the 21st century

The creaking of the floorboards. A warning against going out into the woods at night. The urge to offer a “tabi-tabi po” as you pass by a mound of dirt. The balete tree you always avoid. These stories have been planted deep in the Filipino psyche, holding an unnerving power that compels us beyond reason.…

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Sports Sports Feature

Lady Archers ready to aim higher for women’s basketball

For most athletes, they would consider their collegiate years to be the highlight of their careers. More often than not, they would say that from a mere sentimental standpoint, especially considering that a professional career awaits them beyond the University. However, in a field that favors men, Filipina basketball players are often denied a chance…

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Menagerie Menagerie Feature

Macoy, undubbed: The human beyond the humor

”Sino ang kumain ng sisig sa Jollijeep?” cries Nigel in the iconic Devil Wears Prada scene. For those scratching their heads, no, this is not some deranged Tagalog dubbing in a late Sunday night local network line-up. This is one of the zingers comedian Macoy Dubs delivered in their early days of making dubbed content…

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Menagerie Menagerie Feature

‘Di niyo ba naririnig?: Inside the NatDem Resistance

“Makibaka! ‘Wag matakot!” is a cry that has been heard for decades as activists who march on the streets time and again express their resistance against a system that they feel has failed the people. One of the biggest ripple of activism in history is the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution, often touted as a…

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Sports Sports Feature

Through the lens: Developing Filipino sports documentaries

In these seemingly perpetual days of quarantine, many of the common sources of entertainment  have been compromised. Travel has been docked to limit transmission of the virus in different communities. What used to be high-density establishments such as malls, restaurants, offices, parks, and movie theaters are now bound by restrictions on capacity. Even physical activities…