Months ago, the uncertainty surrounding lockdown measures became more pressing, with hordes of shoppers storming supermarkets to stock up on essential goods. With customers loading an alarming amount of fresh produce in their carts, the unfolding scene eerily resembled a dystopian tale—but this growing fear of a food shortage was not completely baseless. Food security,…
Students were not the only ones unprepared for the transition of colleges and universities to flexible or distance learning. Across the country, faculty from higher education institutions (HEIs) are faced with the herculean task of continuing teaching through a fully online mode of instruction. While the Commission on Higher Education rolled out assistance to help…
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced sports all over the world to come to a halt, and despite this pause in the action, athletes have kept themselves in shape even without their usual training resources. Many athletes have showcased themselves training and conditioning within their own homes, patiently waiting with the right amount of discipline for…
For a travel agent like Maria Fe Cantillo-Rofule, trips abroad are a customary part of her work life. She has led numerous groups of vacationers around the world that, in a way, it has become a form of routine. However, last January 26, a trip to Hong Kong became anything but routine: popular tourist spots…
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Everybody’s business
“Keep your business out of politics” is a piece of hush-hush advice that is, more often than not, given to many fledgling entrepreneurs. Corruption issues, a poor judicial system, and red tape constantly hound the private sector; appeasing unscrupulous officials, or even colluding with them, is seen as an easier way of “doing business”. The…
Since the implementation of the community quarantine policies last March, many households across the country have struggled with the economic fallout caused by the pandemic. The situation in Iloilo is similarly grim, as many villagers try to satiate gaping needs using what little resources they have left; in an effort to obtain sustenance, some have…
The world seemed to be put into a standstill as it started to experience the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses were closed until further notice, public events were canceled or postponed, and everyone’s movements were limited due to community quarantine policies. At home, we seek different activities to keep ourselves anchored and to maintain…
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The elephant in the room
With tensions already high amid this COVID-19 pandemic, many more issues have surfaced in society—threats against press freedom, cases of sexual assault, and racial discrimination—and discussions of these have made their way online. I have seen many infographics and posts all over social media that promote different ways by which one can make a difference…
To many, the word “gravity” conjures imagery of an apple falling from a tree, projectiles being shot into the air, or perhaps the tedious math equations of a Physics class. An omnipresent force of nature, gravity seems to exemplify the mundane—being itself an unchanging fixture of our day-to-day lives, now and always the 9.8 meters…
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Leveling up: The rise of PH esports
The emerging trend of esports has taken the world of sports by storm. Once considered only as a mere pastime, video games have reached the competitive edge of tournaments together with capturing the clamor and enthusiasm of avid followers. The rising popularity of esports events are paving the way for teams to be sponsored and…