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The shifting tides of Philippine movies: An interview with Erwin Blanco

The morning after getting uproariously drunk for Piolo Pascual’s birthday, Erwin “Lucky” Blanco sat beside the pool in Thailand. A throbbing headache kept him sidelined from the day’s activities. Left only with his laptop, he scoured the net for ideas for his next film. Snow. Sorrow. Suspense. Hours later, woven from a hundred loose threads…

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Legends of Taft: The bouncers of Happy T

A fun night at the bar with friends is more often than not an inviting idea for college students who find themselves bombarded with requirements, tormented by academic pressure, and stretched thin by the often harsh realities of adulthood. As an escape from the stress, some Lasallians like to head to the establishments lining Taft. …

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A society transitioning toward understanding

Gender is a contentious matter in the Philippines. Right at the intersection of topics such as bodily autonomy, feminism, and identity politics, our standards on gender are mostly shaped by a Western and religious point of view. The Philippines is a Catholic country; the fact that the Philippines is heavily reliant upon gender roles is…

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Mellow Fellow: An exclusive with Ralph Lawrence Reyes

For most of us, music has different purposes. It could serve as a stress reliever from the impending traffic of Manila, a conversation starter for someone you have just met, or something playing in the background while watching the sunset. The hunger to find new music that resonates with us thrums through our blood. Mellow…

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Pre-loved and repackaged: The secondhand book scene in manila

Mass-market publishing is a tremendous result of human ingenuity and economies of scale—letting a text that’s been weeks, months, or even years in the making get sold at a fraction of a day’s wages while still earning a profit. Due to the hardy, long-lasting nature of books as a medium, there has always been a…

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Blazing the trail: A look into the lives of volunteer firemen

In scorching fire and searing heat, panic kicks in. You see figures clad in yellow rush in a burning house to save lives. Whether it be through a screen or in real life, the danger of fire cannot be underestimated. But there are those who risk their lives with only the thought of saving others…

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College without culture: Reactions on CHED’s ruling of Filipino and Panitikan

Jose Rizal advocated embracing one’s own mother tongue and culture. Though the “One who does not treasure his own language is worse than a beast or a putrid fish” quote may be misattributed, respect for the native language—as a form of patriotic allegiance—has been ingrained in the consciousness of students in their primary years of…

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25 cents: On Pride Month and the absence thereafter

With Pride Month having come and gone, the distinct shift of things returning to the status quo will eventually roll over. From things as mundane as the shifting back of company logos to their non-rainbow color schemes to others as noticeable as the general lessening of discourse in popular culture about being queer now that…

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PARADA: A slow and steady march

The Frosh Walk is considered as the highlight of the Lasallian Personal Effectiveness Program; it is a one-day activity that welcomes the incoming freshmen, or frosh of DLSU. During the Frosh Walk, incoming Lasallians have their first encounter with various student-run organizations on campus. These organizations represent a unique bunch of Lasallians, each with their…

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Just as capable: Of campus accessibility and beyond

Commuting in the Philippines is a staggering and herculean experience. Squeezing nearly half a million people in a metal train every day is something one must probably get used to when living in a city. You get to see a variety of people in different stages of life in these zones of liminality: a worshipper…