Philippine TV has truly gone far from its cathode-ray tubes and LCDs, far enough to intervene in the world opposite its superficial screens. Unquestionably, this form of media has always been part of determining the what-hot and what-not for the Philippine pop culture. Hence, by exploring its remarkable breakthroughs and impediments, we unveil an essential…
Category: Menagerie
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Scenic Route: Baguio on foot
Baguio, home of the strawberries, pine trees and cool breeze. People from all over the country flee to the summer capital to experience the wonder that has captured thousands of travelers. In the growing number of tourists, Baguio increases the need for transportation, thus the abundance of taxi cabs, jeeps and buses. Although this predicament…
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A La Salle storey
There are things one can easily own for their portability: a wallet, a necklace, and even someone’s love. But there are things far larger than one can personally keep. Take buildings and geographical spaces for example: a tower tall enough to scrape skies or even a plot of land wide enough to be named a…
Texting is arguably the prime example of the power of the peso, that is why it has ingrained itself into the life of an average Filipino who cannot survive a day without sending a text containing a barrage of emoticons, or a text pleading for more load. Thus, this phenomenon has caused economic authorities to…
Filipinos seem to have a fascination with taking the most terse of words – and then reiterating them. What may appear to be a lackadaisical approach to linguistic innovation is, in fact, a stroke of genius. Instead of crafting words as long and winding as the Great Wall of China and as breathtaking (literally), the…
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Rant and Rave: Transit
A child’s innocence is wondrous; the mere thought of it is amazing, and can inspire awe in the dreariest of places. Enter Joshua, a four – year old child whose father, Moises, is a caregiver of an Israeli man, Eliav. Joshua lives in Israel, speaks Hebrew fluently and is playful as he can be. Unfortunately,…
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Rant and Rave: The Diplomat Hotel
Disgraced TV reporter Veronica Lansang (played by ABS-CBN diva Gretchen Baretto) strives to reacquire her former glory by undertaking a journalistic mission to uncover what happened in the haunted Diplomat Hotel. Together with her TV crew (Arthur Acuna, Mon Confiado, Sarah Gaugler and Nico Antonio), they set forth to confront the midst, where their deepest…
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Rant and Rave: Liars
In the year 1992, the Philippines was shamed and dishonoured when the Little League baseball team of Zamboanga City, representing the Philippines, was discovered to have used illegal players during their championship run in the Little League World Series. The team was soon stripped of its title, and all medals, trophies, and cash prizes were…
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Rant and Rave: ‘Ekstra’
Philippine social realism is a beaten track. Poverty has been overexposed. Class inequality is old news. Corruption is a social sickness Filipinos have been immune to. The contemporary challenge to socio-realist art is knowing not what to tell but how to present prevailing realities to a society jaded from hearing the same old message. Jeffrey…
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Scenic Route: The xx in Manila
Last July 30, indie rock darlings The xx brought their unique minimalist sound to Manila for the first time. The London based trio of twenty year-olds is coming off the successful release of their second album, Coexist, the follow-up to the Mercury-Award winning album, xx. In a short Asian tour that includes dates in South…