In times of crisis, the poor tend to be impacted the most across the socioeconomic spectrum. Access to food, shelter, and safety—already challenges in pre-pandemic circumstances—grew more difficult in the past two months as quarantine measures were imposed. Government assistance was relayed through the Social Amelioration Program, the first tranche of which was worth P100-billion…
Soon, the night sky could be blanketed by an immense array of satellites streaking through the dark. These satellites would comprise Starlink, a satellite mega-constellation envisioned to provide global high-speed internet access. There are 480 Starlink satellites currently in orbit around the Earth—60 of which are from the latest launch in early June. SpaceX, the…
The Philippine Society for Cell Biology, Inc. (PSCB) and the Philippine Genome Center (PGC) hosted a webinar titled Community-acquired COVID-19 infections in the Philippines: Knowledge gleaned from SARS-CoV-2 Whole Genome Sequencing last June 6 via Zoom. In the online event, PGC Executive Director Dr. Cynthia Saloma tackled the collaborative work of local scientists using different…
Facebook users across the country were caught in grips of paranoia in the past week as duplicate accounts bearing their names popped up across the platform. All the while, debate on the Anti-Terrorism Bill of 2020 continued to gather steam surrounding the country’s Independence Day celebrations. The LaSallian recaps the mysterious surge of suspicious Facebook…
The Anti-Terrorism Bill of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the ongoing tensions surrounding the West Philippine Sea—these are just some of the issues discussed during IPAGLABAN ANG PINAS!, an online rally hosted by Sen. Risa Hontiveros last June 12, in the morning of the country’s 122nd Independence Day, via Facebook Live. Joining Hontiveros in the…
The University’s Committee on National Issues and Concerns held another session of Kapihan ng Malalayang Lasalyano (KAMALAYAN) on Facebook Live last June 11 to tackle the controversy surrounding House Bill No. 6875, or the Anti-Terrorism Bill of 2020. Joined by civil society leaders, the online forum is one of a growing number of discussions on…
When COVID-19 cases nearly doubled on March 14—skyrocketing from 64 a day before to 111—President Rodrigo Duterte responded by placing Luzon on Enhanced Community Quarantine, restricting land, air, and sea travel; suspending mass transport facilities; and prohibiting mass gatherings, among other enforced guidelines. Responding to the severity of the pandemic, the Department of Health (DOH)…
In light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, major local and international sports leagues have suspended all their matches and events. Most tournament officials opted to either completely cancel the ongoing season or postpone games to a later, unspecified date. With the lack of fresh content, sports channels and media have found new ways to keep…
The roads are deserted—an unusual sight at this time of the year. Only a few take to the streets as if it were any other day, running an errand to a nearby store as early as 6 am. With half their faces covered in face masks, none of them can take a single, full breath…
As the local COVID-19 outbreak began to escalate last March, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno initially ordered a one-week class suspension in hopes of controlling the spread of the disease. Students and other members of the Lasallian community who live within the vicinity of DLSU were left with no choice but to pack up and return…