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CONTENTS
// THE LASALLIAN RHEIMS
EDITORIAL BOARD A.Y. 2021-2022
LANCE CRISOSTOMO Editor-in-Chief
ANDREW DELA PLANA Associate Editor-in-Chief
MARIELLE NAVARRO KYZZIA PAGUIRIGAN TRISHA ILAR BENEDICT YALUNG ZOELINE HONRADO
MR. KENT BRYAN COLOCADO Adviser
MS. VICTORIA GALLARDO Vice Principal
Writers
RENZ BAUTISTA Senior Managing Editor Layout
MR. RICHARD PINEDA Principal
MARCUS BUHAIN SHAWN TEVES RINEAI VENTOSO SOFIA MALVAR
BEN NIVERA
Junior Managing Editor
MS. DAISY ROMERO School Consultant
Artists
THE LASALLIAN RHEIMS facebook.com/Rheims2020 @Rheims2020
NINA DULCE Cover Page Artist
MR. LAWRENCE FERNANDO MARCUS MUGOL
The Lasallian Rheims
Contributor
Alere Flammam Veritatis
official.rheims@gmail.com
WHAT'S
INSIDE?
12 13
FEATURES Action to Take on this March
Women's Power
14
Bread: The Lenten Sacrifice
NEWS ASJ concludes F2F Pilot Implementation
15
Food Review: Kutsinta and Butsi
Majority of Grade 10 completers to prefer blended learning modality for SHS
16
Omicron Variant still dominant variant; BA.2 enters the country Philippines logs the second lowest ADAR in SE Asia Positivity rate went down to 2.1% - DOH DA affirm bird flu outbreak in PH MRT completes rebuilding process; adds 18 new train sets
17 18
Soiled Dates
7
SCITECH
This poem is in iambic form
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19
OPINION
20
Sisante
Wage Raise or Price Race? // RPTD
21
Fleeting
3 4 5 6
9 10 11
Thousands evacuate as Taal volcano erupts Man given genetically modified pig heart dies #LigtasBalikEskuwela: Movement made into reality // Alapaap As they bloom... // Lex Talk
CANCELDT : Cancel Culture ngayong Eleksyon 2022 // Opinyon A step forward? // NBYRM
Anime Review: The Genius Prince's Guide on Raising a Nation out of Debt LITERARY
MARCH 2022 // NEWS
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#MissionSuccess
ASJ concludes F2F Pilot Implementation LANCE CRISOSTOMO PHOTO SOURCE | FILE
About 40 students from Grades 11 and 12 had completed the first pilot implementation of face-to-face classes in the Academy of Saint John (ASJ), the ASJ council reported. In an interview, Ms. Rubie Manguera, ASJ’s prefect of Discipline said that the two-week pilot run was completed smoothly with the cooperation and participation of the students, faculty, staff, and parents. “I think that it is successful. The students were able to follow whatever orientation that we have had. They have followed the protocols and guidelines that were discussed in the orientation for the parents, students, and teachers, “ Manguera said. Mr. Joel Cenizal, faculty incharge of the facilities, added that there were no issues or malfunctions reported to the School Council regarding the prepared facilities of the school; saying that this, besides the cooperation from all parties involved, also contributed to the successful pilot run. Cenizal also emphasized that although this was the case, the school technical team still needs to address the teachers’ concern on internet connection since there were times when in-
ternet connection would be unstable in the rooms allotted for the pilot run. To recall, ASJ announced that the school will be having its pilot implementation of f2f classes last March 11 upon receiving the greenlight coming from the school’s Executive Committee. School Principal Mr. Richard Pineda and the class advisers immediately met the parents (March 12), SHS students (March 14), and the whole faculty and staff (March 14) to discuss all the guidelines, protocols, and matters regarding the pilot run. Pineda also revealed in an exclusive interview that the pilot run will be evaluated by the school and hopefully, the school can conduct face-to-face classes to more grade levels for School Year 2022 – 2023 which is set to begin on June 14.
SHS Students evaluate Pilot Run The Lasallian Rheims team had the chance to interview some Grade 11 and 12 students regarding the pilot run of face-to-face classes in ASJ. Lorenzo Figueroa, Grade 12 GAS student shared that his ASJ F2F experience is no different from the F2F classes that they used to have before the pandemic. “Hanggang ngayon, di ko parin makita yung pinagkaiba ng face-to-face
classes noon sa face-to-face classes ngayon. Parang nagkaroon lang naman ng facemask. So far, parang back to normal lang talaga,” Figueroa said. Marianne Buenconsejo, Grade 12 ABM student, added that they only experienced difficulties in the firstday because it was the first time that they were able to go back to school after two years of being stuck in the online distance learning set-up. “The first day, we did not know what to do. It was different, was new to us since we have been online for two years. It’s easier now compared to the first day. We’ve adapted to the new environment over the days,” Buenconsejo said. On the other hand, Mari Yapjoco, Grade 11 student, shared that there were internet problems that the teachers experienced on certain occasions that hindered the smooth conduct of the simultaneous classes. The observation of Yapjoco was seconded by the students who took part in the f2f run, saying that internet connection was clearly unstable in the second floor on the first part of the run but the school eventually found a way to fix the problem. [R]
PHOTO SOURCE | FILE
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NEWS // THE LASALLIAN RHEIMS
Majority of Grade 10 completers to prefer blended learning modality for SHS RENZ BAUTISTA
More than half (58%) of the Grade
10 students prefer the blended learning modality in taking up their Senior High School (SHS) studies based on a strand preference survey update held during the last week of March. Of the 52 Grade 10 respondents, 35% would like their SHS classes to be purely face-to-face and the remaining 8% chose the online modality. In relation to their strand preference, 46% chose Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), 15% chose Accountancy, Business and Manage-
ment (ABM), 13% chose Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS), 8% chose a Health-related strand, 4% each chose General Academic Strand (GAS), Technical-Vocational (TECH-VOC), and Music, Arts and Design (MAD), 2% chose Information Technology Strand (IT), and 4% remain undecided. Compared with the December 2021 survey, the percentage of STEM takers increased, from 42% last December to 46%. There was also a decrease for those who were undecided, from 9% last year to just 4% this month. When asked whether to take their Senior High School
studies in ASJ, 25% answered Yes, 60% answered No, and 15% were undecided. 35% of the respondents answered that they will definitely transfer to another school or university for their SHS studies. The said survey is the third installment of the periodic strand preference survey to check trends and changes students’ strand preference and where to study for Senior High School. Previously, the school announced that it will now offer the Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) strand, alongside with STEM, ABM and GAS. [R]
IN PICTURE: About 24 students from Grades 11 and 12 are entering the ASJ campus for the first day of the pilot implementation of face-to-face classes last March 21. The pilot implementation ran from March 21-25 for the Grade 12 and March 21-April 1 for the Grade 11.
CONGRATULATIONS Extemporaneous Speaking Contest (JHS) 1st: Marielle Navarro 2nd: Jihye Kim 3rd: Lemmor Joseph Lataza, Shanen Balcos
Extemporaneous Speaking Contest (SHS) 1st: Marianne Buenconejo 2nd: Lance Jerson Crisostomo 3rd: Renz Adrian Bautista
PHOTO SOURCE | FILE
ASJ EnglishFest Winners Readathon: Interpretive Reading (GS-Lower Level) 1st: Kanoon Isaac Gealon 2nd: Rachel Eugenie Are 3rd: Andrea Jane David
Readathon: Interpretive Reading (GS-Higher Level) 1st: Samantha Rochael Francisco 2nd: Ehren John Clarito 3rd: Cameela Remotigue
MARCH 2022 // NEWS
Omicron Variant still dominant variant; BA.2 enters the country
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ANDREW DELA PLANA
As of March 30, the Omicron variant remains to be the most dominant Covid-19 variant, as shown by the Department of Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire in samples that went under genome sequencing. The latest genome sequencing run showed that an 85.9% of 568 samples tested positive for the Omicron variant, while only 0.18 percent was positive for the Delta variant from the same sample. The two Omicron sub-
variants BA.1 and BA.2 had also been detected in the country from the taken samples. It is worth noting that the subvariant, BA.2, is now the most dominant coronavirus strain in the United States. Additionally, Vergeire said that the average for the daily cases from March 15 to March 21 were at 490, which is lower than the previous week. “These numbers are expected and they’re manageable so we don’t have to worry about a slowdown [of case decline] because the numbers are low already,” she reported on Tuesday.
“We will reach that point when we can say that we have reached the endemic stage: Once we are at the lowest level of transmission state, when we have an adequate and appropriate immunity for the population and number of deaths as well as severe and critical infections in society are already acceptable,” she added. All regions would still remain under the minimal risk classification and the health care facilities and systems would still continue their operations at low risk. [R]
Philippines logs the second lowest ADAR in SE Asia ANDREW DELA PLANA
L ast March 24, the Philippines recorded Southeast Asia’s second lowest COVID-19 average daily attack rate (ADAR). The data was based on the OCTA Research Group’s numbers after OCTA fellow Dr. Guido David tweeted COVID-19 numbers. David explained that the term ADAR pertains to the seven-day average number of new
cases per 100,000 people. “East and Southeast Asia monitor. Philippines [is still at the] very low risk classification as of March 22 with an ADAR of 0.43,” David reported. Among all the Southeast Asian countries, Timor-Leste logged an ADAR of 0.29, which is the lowest in Southeast Asia, with the Philippines following suit with an ADAR of 0.43. Cambodia also recorded an ADAR of 0.67 while Myan-
mar recorded a 0.71 ADAR. It is worth noting that these four countries are under the “very low risk” classification of COVID-19 infections, according to OCTA. Other Asian countries however, are experiencing severe outbreaks, with South Korea logging an ADAR of 778.50, and Hong Kong recording a 244.26 ADAR. [R]
Positivity rate went down to 2.1% - DOH LANCE CRISOSTOMO
The Department of Health revealed
that Philippines’ COVID positivity rate from March 21 – 27 decreased by 0.6% Tuesday, March 29. In a live press briefing, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that from 2.7% the previous week, the present positivity rate in the country was brought down 2.1%, tally-
ing the 0.6% decrease. Vergeire added that from March 21 – 27, only 2,726 new cases were tallied in the same time period which was 24% less than what was tallied from March 14 – 20, the week earlier. The undersecretary also noted that there were only 3,145 who tested positive for Sars-CoV-2 in general in the same time period.
The said positivity rate was garnered by the department from the 21, 725 samples that were tested from March 21 – 27. As of April 2, there are 373 additional cases tallied bringing the numbers to 3,678,968 total cases, 37,115active cases, 3,582,529 recoveries, and 59,324 deaths. [R]
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NEWS // THE LASALLIAN RHEIMS
DA affirm bird flu outbreak in PH RENZ BAUTISTA
The
Department of Agriculture (DA) announced last March 30 that there is an outbreak of H5N1 or Avian Influenza in the country, particularly in Central Luzon. DA secretary William Dar stated that duck and quail farms in Central Luzon are affected by H5N1 and was caused by migratory birds entering the country. “Yung apektado karamihan dito sa Central Luzon pero mostly ducks and quails. Meron tayong pagtugon agad sa mga apektado at nabibigyan na rin ng ayuda yung mga naapektuhan,” Dar stated in a press briefing. Earlier, the department also issued a memorandum circular that
controls the movement of ducks, chicken, quail and other poultry commodities in affected areas within the one-kilometer quarantine area. “We need to act immediately to control avian influenza — which was initially detected in a duck farm in Bulacan and quail farms in Pampanga — so that we can prevent further spread and damage to our poultry industry,” Dar said in a statement last March 29. Meanwhile, DA-Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) Director Dr. Reildrin Morales stated that farm owners should comply with transport requirements in compliance with the prescribed surveillance period, diagnostic tests and biosecuri-
ty protocols set by the World Organization of Animal Health (OIE). According to Morales, confirmed H5N1 infections have been detected in the provinces of Tarlac, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Benguet and Sultan Kudarat. On the other hand, Dar also mentioned the threatening effects of H5N1 when contracted by humans which can cause severe illnesses and urged the public to cooperate and prevent the spread of bird flu. “We made it possible to be avian flu-free in previous outbreaks, we could still do that again, but we need your help,” Dar stated. [R]
MRT completes rebuilding process; adds 18 new train sets LANCE CRISOSTOMO
After its complete rehabilitation, the Metro Rail Transit
(MRT) – 3 has deployed its first four-car CKD train set and 17 three-car CKD train sets early Monday, March 28. In the management’s statement dated March 28, the MRT management said that the release of the train-sets was a way to lessen the lines on stations after President Rodrigo Duterte announced the month-long free ride from March 28 to April 30. “MRT-3 made history again after it deployed a 4-car CKD train set on its revenue line for the first time ever today, 28 March 2022, at the opening of the line’s month-long FREE RIDE program,” the management explained. With the additional train sets, MRT-3 can now deploy 18 to 22 trains during rush/peak hours unlike in 2015 when MRT can only deploy at maximum 6 trains due to many complications. “The MRT-3 recorded the all-time lowest number of operational trains on 24 May 2015, when it was able to deploy only six (6) running train sets on the mainline due to poor maintenance of its previous
provider. Today, passengers enjoy cooler, aside from faster, MRT-3 rides as all train cars have also been installed with new and 100% functioning air conditioning units,” MRT-3 OIC-General Manager and Director for Operations Michael J. Capati shared. As of the moment, 48 of MRT’s 72 trains are successfully overhauled and are ready to cater passengers to lessen lines on stations and to make travel time lesser than before. [R]
PHOTO SOURCE | MRT-3 MANAGEMENT
MARCH 2022 // SCITECH
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Thousands evacuate as Taal volcano erupts
BEN NIVERA
M
ore than 1,100 people, including fishermen in the lake, were forced to flee their homes as Taal volcano spews out ash and steam hundreds of meters into the sky, March 26, 7:22 a.m. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) warned that further eruptions were possible, which could trigger dangerous, fast-moving volcanic flows of gas, ash and debris, as well as a tsunami. “It rained mud,” said Cornelia Pesigan, a resident who evacuated and sought shelter at a school outside the danger zone, “It smelled really bad and I had difficulty breathing”. A "nearly continuous phreatomagmatic activity" that sent plumes stretching 1,500 m (4,900 feet) into the air followed the initial eruption, the seismological agency said, raising the alert level from two to
three on a scale of zero to five. Princess Cosalan, a scientist in the agency, explained that a phreatomagmatic eruption happens when molten rock comes into contact with underground or surface water. Cosalan told the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that ash and steam emissions had been inactive a few hours after the initial eruption, but the institute's on-site sensors continued to detect volcanic earthquakes and confirmed that another eruption was "possible". PHIVOLCS’s chief, Renato Solidum, said the activity was weaker compared to the one back in January 2020, when Taal shot ash 15 km high and spewed red-hot lava, crushing homes, killing livestock and sending tens of thousands into shelters.
"There is no threat beyond the five villages," Solidum said. Police have been deployed to stop people from entering the danger zone, while aviation authorities warned airlines and pilots of potential hazards from volcanic ash in the atmosphere. The Philippines is located within the Pacific Ring of Fire, which explains the frequent earthquakes and volcanic activities in the country. Currently, the Taal Volcano is still under Alert Level 3. [R]
PHOTO SOURCE | DOST-PHIVOLCS
Man given genetically modified pig heart dies BEN NIVERA
T
he Maryland Hospital has recently confirmed the death of David Bennett, receiver of the genetically modified pig heart, March 8, two months after the surgery. His condition began to deteriorate several days prior to his death, his doctors in Baltimore said. Mr Bennett knew that the procedure was “a shot in the dark”. He knew very well the risks that the surgery would bring. It was unclear whether his body had rejected the foreign organ. “There was no obvious cause identified at the time of his death,” a hospital spokeswoman said. Doctors at the University of Maryland Medical Center were grant-
ed a special permission by the US medical regulator to carry out the operation, on the basis that Mr Bennett - who was ineligible for a human transplant - would otherwise have died. He had already been bedridden for six weeks before the surgery, attached to a machine which was keeping him alive. Bennett underwent the surgery on January 7. Doctors said that the following weeks after the surgery, he spent time with his family, watched the Super Bowl and spoke about wanting to get home to meet his dog, Lucky. Dr. Bartley Griffith, the surgeon who performed the surgery, said that the hospital was “devastated” by the loss of Mr. Bennet. "He proved to be a brave
and noble patient who fought all the way to the end," he said in a statement released by the hospital. Mr Bennett's son, David Jr, said he hoped his father's transplant would "be the beginning of hope and not the end", according to news agency AP. "We are grateful for every innovative moment, every crazy dream, every sleepless night that went into this historic effort," he added. Dr Griffith said previously the surgery would bring the world "one step closer to solving the organ shortage crisis". Currently, 17 people die every day in the US waiting for an organ transplant, with more than 100,000 reportedly on the waiting list. [R]
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OPINION
// THE LASALLIAN RHEIMS
#LigtasBalikEskuwela: Movement made into reality ALAPAAP // Andrew Dela Plana
With
the current situation of our educational system and its need to cope with the different problems that come with the pandemic, students long for the return to their “normal” faceto-face classes. Trends and calls for #LigtasBalikEskuwla has been widespread, as the students found it hard to study in the distance learning set-up. And finally, after almost two years of coping with the new normal, the Department of Education finally allowed 10,000 public and private schools to resume limited face-to-face classes. Remarkably, our school, the Academy of Saint John, has been included in these schools and have conducted the first pilot implementation of face-to-face classes for Grades 11 and 12 last March 21. The school received the greenlight from the school’s Executive Committee and was also given the go signal by the Department of Education General Trias SDO. 40 students from both grade levels attended the two-week limited face-toface classes and was considered successful by the school’s different faculties and staffs. The slow reimposition of the limited face-to-face classes is indeed a good
move for the school, as it would allow better and more precise adjustments that would benefit the students and the teachers alike, however, it is inevitable to have its problems along the way. Several Senior High School students actually found the pilot run just like the face-to-face classes pre-pandemic and was amazed how similar it was to the current limited face-to-face classes. Lorenzo Figueroa, a Grade 12 GAS student, expressed this in an interview with Rheims Direct. “Hanggang ngayon, di ko parin makita yung pinagkaiba ng face-toface classes noon sa face-to-face classes ngayon. Parang nagkaroon lang naman ng facemask. So far, parang back to normal lang talaga,” Figueroa said. The noticeable change in the class participation was also evident, according to Jude Rodriguez, a Grade 12 ABM student. He explained that it was quite evident that class participation was more active during the pilot testing than during the online classes. Meanwhile, the problems addressed during the pilot implementation were more of minor conveniences than major issues. The students had to fare with the scorching heat because of the lack of air conditioning due to the COVID situation.
Additionally, the internet connection within the school also hadn’t been stable–especially in the second floor. The teachers and students are also experiencing yet another adjustment period as they would adjust to the limited face-to-face classes after almost two years of online classes. However, while these inconveniences are only minor, they still do disrupt classes and must still be addressed and fixed immediately to ensure the continuous flow of the pilot implementation. It is also commendable how the faculty and staff prepared for the limited face-toface classes, as their efforts are shown in their preparation of lesson plans, preparation of the facilities, and their will to adjust themselves to these set-ups. It really is amazing how the school successfully adjusted their set-up to accommodate students once again into campus. The slow implementation assured students that adjusting into their environment will be made much easier by the teachers and staff. The coordination of the parents and faculty must also not be left unrecognized as it provided the school with brilliant ideas that led to this success. Indeed, #LigtasBalikEskuwela is now, ever so slowly, being made into reality, in our case. [R]
As they bloom… LEX TALK // Mr. Lawrence Fernando
IAvenue n UP, the blooming of the sunflower plants along the University was the sign that the graduation season was nearing. A symbol of the bittersweet end of one’s stay in the University. Back here, in our alma mater, I try to recall what could be a “symbol” or a “sign” that the end of the School Year is near and so is graduation. Is it the blooming Acacia and Mahogany trees? The humid summer breezes? The LSGH experience? Or the unending practices? The pandemic has changed much of the way we did things. So much that what are usual is now somewhat a distant history for most. And as we try to resume things the way they were, some would just really never be the same in the longer run. Going back to my own experience a decade ago as I had my own high school graduation, much of the “symbols”
and “signs” were not immensely physical but rather the bonds and the moments we shared all leading up to the so-called D-days: the Graduates’ Day and the Graduation Day. At those days, we were all just gushing on to the idea of how we can spend much of our remaining days together as a batch before we went on our new journey as college students. Our shared experiences and stories were our blooming sunflowers. So, to the Class of 2022, especially my second batch of Senior High graduates to whom I have been able to spent much more time through our different courses together, may you always carry along into the next chapter of your life the moments and the stories you have created in these hallowed halls of our Alma Mater. And always remember that wherever your journey may lead you into, even on successes and failures, ASJ would always be a home for all. ANIMO! [R]
MARCH 2022 // OPINION
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Wage Raise or Price Race? RPTD // Renz Bautista
N
umerous labor groups have called over for the increase of the minimum wage given the simultaneous increase of a lot of essential goods and services including fuel, electricity, fish, meat, and poultry. If things are not controlled, this increase in prices will be overwhelming to the point of Php. 537.00 a day a regular minimum wage worker in Metro Manila could not suffice his or her daily needs. The rhetorical question, “Is the increase of salaries justifiable?” The straight answer, it is of absolute urgency that a nationwide wage increase should be imposed. Every peso counts. However, there are a lot of caveats this wage increase has. Therefore, it is very critical to weigh all the pros and cons and forecast the wage increase implications in the business environment and the national economy. Fuel prices are as high as ever with a Php. 27.85 and Php. 18.30 per liter increase for diesel and gasoline since the start of the year. The figures, particularly during the start of the month, are just jaw-breaking and I cannot stop wondering how will the people afford to buy gasoline that high that will only suffice for some kilometers. Consequently, jeepney drivers have been requesting a fare hike due to the insufficient income they receive. These drivers endured the lack of income for more than one year, why make them suffer more? Additionally, the law on demand states that when price increases, demand decreases; however, the demand for fuel is just ever-increasing. Fuel is also very important for the transportation of goods, thus the continuous increase of fuel prices, which is likely to happen, will just lead to the increase of the prices of transported goods. It will be a threatening domino effect. On talking about the amelioration the government is doing, it will not suffice. It is just a band-aid solution to a problem that can reemerge in the future. That Php. 5,000.00 cash assistance
should not be the only way for people to depend on. Where will the government get that budget to sustain the amelioration program periodically to thousands of unemployed workers given that we have a 12.09 trillion peso national debt that keeps increasing? We all accept that every country in the world experienced a hard time dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, but is the debt too much? Working overtime is not just the solution just to get a high salary for minimum wage earners. Some companies result in the adjustment of working hours or restrict overtime just to have enough to pay to their employees, some even declared bankruptcy or lessened manpower just to save operational costs. Another problem that accompanies when minimum wage increase is mandated is that micro-enterprises will not keep up with the salary expenses. It is best to carefully study the effects of wage increase since not all effects are positive. Too much wage increase may also lead to major inflation rates. As I recall, February 2022 accounted for a 3% inflation rate and it may dramatically change this month. However, I find that microenterprises aren’t still the most vulnerable population when it comes to wage increases. We need to remember that a business venture is tantamount to investment and these investments have associated risks. We cannot guarantee the success of a business. That is why some businesses choose to take debt (or loan from creditors) just to have more capital to finance their businesses. It is not easy to run a business unlike some people think because one wrong decision may result in its nonexistence. Successful businesses manifest adaptability, resourcefulness, and careful examination and analysis of the business, market, and economic environment. Labor groups propose a 300-800 pesos wage increase. I find the maximum proposed 800 peso increase too much (from 537 to more than 1.3k pesos). If all
minimum wages began to double or triple without proper analysis, the prices in the market will be uncontrollable and it will result in a domino effect, ultimately leading to hyperinflation, which I hope will not happen in the near future. It is best to study first the average cost of living in the country, the status of minimum wages, and the Labor Code implementation in the Philippines if wages are compensated accurately and fairly, and if the proper income rates and taxes are followed. In addition, the labor department should have enough resources, given its Php. 51.3 billion peso share in the 2022 National Budget. It is uneasy to just impose an increase of just even 100 pesos for our minimum wage workers. The workers are the backbone of the economy. But considering the current circumstances and weighing all the possible pros and cons, the government should make sure that its workforce is stable, workers are fairly compensated, businesses are stable, and market prices are ample to suffice the needs of the people. When we achieve all of these, we may assure that everyone’s quality of life is good and the economy of the country is stable and thriving. [R]
"The workers are the backbone of the economy. But considering the current circumstances and weighing all the possible pros and cons, the government should make sure that its workforce is stable, workers are fairly compensated, businesses are stable, and market prices are ample to suffice the needs of the people."
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OPINION
// THE LASALLIAN RHEIMS
CANCELDT : Cancel Culture ngayong Eleksyon 2022 OPINYON // Marcus Mugol
N
oong Enero 21, inilunsad ang Lasallians for Leni, isang komunidad na binubuo ng mga volunteers mula sa labing-anim (16) na La Salle schools sa buong bansa, ang Green to Pink: Mga Lasalyano Para sa Tapat na Pamumuno, isang online event kung saan binigyan ng oras ang mga kabataan upang makausap si Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo at ang kanyang mga kasama patungkol sa kalagahan ng kabataan ngayong Halalan 2022. Nagpahayag din ng pagsuporta ang De La salle Brothers of the Taft Community sa nasabing ikalawang pangulo. Ayon sa liham na inilabas ng Help Desk Announcement ng De La Salle University, nakikita ng mga Lasallian Brothers na ang tambalang Robredo-Pangilinan ang may pinakamalinaw at pinakamalapit sa katotohanang mga plano upang iangat ang buhay ng mga Pilipino. Ngunit, dagsa sa DLSU freedom wall ang mga post na nagkakaroon ng di umano’y cancel culture patungkol sa opinyon ng isang indibidwal ngayong halalan, mapa-kaibigan man, guro, o pati ang sariling pamilya. Isang halimbawa na lamang ang isang estudyante na pagod nang makipag-debate sa kanyang pamilya na pumapanig sa dating senador Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. Ani niya sa nasabing post, hindi nya masabihan ng “bobo” ang kanyang pamilya ng harap-harapan at baka siya ay hindi na pag-aralin. Mayroon pang nagsabi na kung ang mahihirap ba raw ay hindi isasama sa mga boboto ay madami pa rin ba ang taga suporta ng dating senador. Ayon sa Cambridge at Collins Dictionary, ang cancel culture ay isang pag-uugali ng grupo o lipunan, lalong-lalo na sa social media, na nagpapakita ng pagtanggi o pagtigil ng pagsuporta sa isang indibidwal dahil ito ay may nagawang bagay na nakakasakit sa kanya. Ayon naman sa pagaaral ni Hervé Saint-Louis (2021), ito ay isang pangyayari kung saan ang isang indibidwal na lumalabag sa prinsipyo ng nakararami ay itinatakwil ng publiko, personal man o online. Kadalasan, ang mga sikat na personalidad ang naka-cancelled dahil sila ay maraming tagahanga ngunit ang kanilang ginawa ay nakasama sa isang tao, grupo, o komunidad (Walsh, 2022). Isang halimbawa nito ay ang
pag cancel kay Kanye West, isang American rapper, dahil sa kanyang pagsuporta kay dating presidente Donald Trump. Matatandaang labis na nasaktan at nagalit ang mga people of color sa mga komento ni Trump patungkol sa kanila. Ayon sa ulat ng PBS noong 2019 ay hindi malilimutan ng mga black leaders ang mga sinabi ni Trump. Nangyayari ang cancel culture ngayong Halalan 2022 dahil kapag ang opinyon ng isang indibidwal sa isang kandidato ay saliwa sa nakararami, samut-saring mga komento ang kanyang matatanggap. Kadalasan, wala pang katuturan ang mga komento ng karamihan at puro personalan lamang. Ito naman ay hindi natin maitatanggi sapagkat araw-araw ay sawa na tayong nakakakita ng mga argumento sa social media sa pagitan mga taga suporta ng iba’t ibang mga kandidato. Ngayon, porque Lasalyano ka at ang iyong opinyon ay salungat sa nabanggit ay CANCELDT ka na? Ang sagot ay hindi. Malinaw na nailahad sa liham ng De La salle Brothers of the Taft Community na ang pananaw ng mga Lasallian Brothers ay hindi nagbibigay kahulugang ito ang paninindigan ng institusyon. Ani nila, “In no way should this articulation of support for Robredo and Pangilinan be construed as representative of stand of the schools we serve. Our schools and universities will remain open spaces where our staff, students, and other internal and external stakeholders, are free to express their own voting preferences.” Ito din ay pinapangalawahan ng Article 12 Section 117 ng Omnibus Election Code na ang lahat ng Pilipino ay may karapatang bumoto base sa mga nasabing kwalipikasyon: (A) Ikaw ay isang mamamayang Pilipino; (B) Edad 18 pataas; at (C) Nanirahan sa Pilipinas ng isang (1) taon at sa lungsod/munisipalidad na kanyang pagbobotohan ng anim (6) na buwan. Samakatuwid, walang batas na nilabag ang institusyon dahil ang mga mag-aaral, guro, empleyado, at mga stakeholder nito ay malayang pumili ng kanyang napupusuang kandidato. Ngunit, di ko lamang mawari bakit kailangan pang maglabas ng liham gamit ang letterhead ng De La salle Brothers of the Taft Community kung puwede naman nilang
i-endorso ang kanilang kandidato sa kanilang sariling espasyo. Sila ay kilalang mga lider ng institusyon, kaya gustuhin man nila o hindi, ang bawat kilos o galaw nila ay sumasalamin sa buong imahe ng institusyon. Walang masamang makialam ang mga institusyon sa pulitika, huwag lamang sa paraang partisan politics. Ang tungkulin ng mga institusyon ay magsulong ng mga programa patungkol sa voters education dahil ito ang magsisilbing tulay sa mga mag-aaral upang makapili ng tamang lider na mamumuno sa ating bansa. Kung ang mga ito ay mag-eendorso ng kandidato, para na nilang idinikta sa mga guro, empleyado, at mag-aaral kung sino ang dapat iboto. Ayaw natin sa diktador, kaya huwag natin silang diktahan. Aminin man natin o hindi, masyado tayong nagiging panatiko sa isang kandidato. Nakakalungkot lamang isipin na ito ay umaabot sa puntong personalan na ang batuhan ng salita; hindi nagiging maayos o malaman ang diskurso ng bawat isa. Imbis na husgahan, sila ay turuan. Alam naman natin na may mga opinyon talagang kahit saang anggulo tignan ay mali, kaya kailangang ipaunawa natin sa kanila ito nang hindi naninira ng ibang tao. Kaya, huwag natin silang ituring na kalaban dahil lahat naman tayo ay naghahangad ng pagbabago. We should not CANCELDT the supporters for we could CANCELDT their candidate in the ballot. Sa kabilang banda, kahit tayo ay may napupusuan na, buksan pa rin natin ang ating mga sarili upang pakinggan ang ibang kandidato. Patuloy pa rin nating hanapin ang kandidatong bukod sa may malinis na track record, ay may malinaw at kongkretong plataporma. Dahil sa huli, ang ating boto ay di lamang para sa atin kundi para rin sa lahat ng mamamayang Pilipino. Nakasaad sa Artikulo V ng ating Saligang Batas na ang lahat ng Pilipino ay may karapatang bumoto sa kandidatong kanyang pinili at Artikulo VII na ang kandidatong may pinakamaraming boto ang mahahalal na pangulo. Kaya, walang tindig ang dami ng sumama sa rally, sino ang angat sa survey, o kung sino ang ini-endorso ng mga grupo dahil ang tunay na may bilang ay ang magiging resulta sa darating na Mayo. [R]
MARCH 2022 // OPINION
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A step forward? NBYRM // Ben Nivera
"I
know it’s a shot in the dark, but it’s my last choice.” David Bennett, 2022
Just this month, the news of Mr Bennett, the patient who underwent xenotransplantation to receive a genetically modified pig heart, dying has made quite the ruckus around the internet. Mixed opinions have bombarded different posts and articles related to the topic. Some people consider Bennett’s death as a “devastating” moment for science, while some consider his death as a foolish attempt at prolonging one’s life. If you were to be asked, was this death at least half a step forward or is it just a failed attempt at “trying” to prove progress? According to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), 106,102 people are currently waiting for an organ transplant in the US. An average of 17 people die everyday waiting for an organ transplant, and every 9 minutes, another person is added to the waiting list. The operation performed on Mr. Bennett was clearly his last resort. As he said in one of his statements, “It was either do or die this transplant”. He knew very well the benefits and as well as the consequences attached to the process. But despite knowing all the possible outcomes, he decided to sacrifice himself in the name of science, on the basis that he - who was ineligible for human transplant would otherwise have died. Yet, in spite of the heavy statement “he had been deemed ineligi-
ble for human transplant,” people still express their dissatisfaction and say that a human heart would be better. Some are even saying that this attempt at prolonging life was foolish and now, has led to nothing. Animal activists have also joined the conversation, stating that no animal should be harmed in these types of discussions. A few even included religion in the conversation, saying that the attempt was equivalent to “playing God”. Some even said that the attempt was a big waste of money. However, the other side of the conversation begs to differ, expressing the despair they felt when the news broke out. Some are praising Bennett’s bravery for undergoing the surgery despite the possible results. Some are saying the operation was a big step for science, stating that it was worth it because the attempt opens up a lot of other possibilities in this field. They say that this is only the beginning and that more will follow, more who will survive longer than Bennett. Let’s not forget that Bennett survived two months while having the pig heart, which I think is a pretty impressive feat to achieve. I really have no idea why people choose to ignore the fact that he would have died anyway. He had to choose whether he dies that day, or live for an uncertain number of days, fearing that one day, death would knock on his door. Also, the hospital hasn’t confirmed his actual cause of death, so it is unclear whether the organ or his condition was the cause. Even though Bennett died after two months, it was still, nonetheless, a huge contribution to the
field of organ transplant. As someone said on Twitter and as I said earlier, Bennett’s death is only the beginning, more will come and more will survive more than two months. This is a big discovery for science. Let this be a stepping stone and a glimmer of hope for more of these attempts to come. I do hope that one day, we would be able to solve the organ shortage crisis and avoid deaths caused by said problem. So, to answer my question, is his death at least half a step forward or is it just a failed attempt at “trying” to prove progress? Yes, I do think that despite Bennett’s death, the discovery that a human can survive with an animal’s organ is not only “half a step forward”, but rather, a HUGE leap for mankind.
"So, to answer my question, is his death at least half a step forward or is it just a failed attempt at “trying” to prove progress? Yes, I do think that despite Bennett’s death, the discovery that a human can survive with an animal’s organ is not only “half a step forward”, but rather, a HUGE leap for mankind."
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FEATURES // THE LASALLIAN RHEIMS
Action to Take on this March TRISHA ILAR
The scorching heat of sun is un-
deniably affecting us especially the global warming is slowly taking in to effect. There are times that even at night the heat seeps in every corner of the room, then the next day you wake up, the body is already dripping with sweat especially if there is no proper ventilation system. Just last year in the month of May, the temperature rose to 52 degrees Celsius in Dagupan City, Pangasinan. Even now, as March marks the start of summer, the continuous rise in temperature makes people feel the urge to find ways to cool themselves. We tend to rely on appliances like air conditioner, electric fans, inverters and others. The dependence to the electrical appliances comes with extreme care as it may backfires if negligence takes place. This March, we celebrate fire prevention month to raise further awareness on how to prevent fire. Recently, there are reported cases of fire incidents in Manila, Mandaluyong, Cagayan, Guimbal town, Cavite, and Quezon town. Also, it is reported that in the first two months of 2022, the fire incidents rose up to almost 13 percent more compared to the record last year. According to Bureau of Fire Protection spokesperson Supt. Annalee Carbajal-Atienza, there are 2,103 fire incidents happened in the months of January and February 2022 from the total number of 1,863 incidents recorded in 2021. With these alarming incidents, people are encouraged more to participate in this fire prevention month with a theme of “Sa Pag-iwas sa Sunog Hindi ka Nag-iisa.“
PHOTO SOURCE | IVANKMIT, TWENTY20PHOTOS
With the signal of the sirens of the fire trucks last March 1, fire prevention month has started. The Bureau of Fire Protection passed a memorandum wherein it indicates the activities such as caravans, motorcades, and parades. The BFP also relayed more information through TV interviews. One of this is the interview with Division Chief Gabriel Solano. He answered and discussed briefly the tips to prevent fire incidents. Solano mainly discussed the most common causes of fire. First in the list is electrical ignition due to arcing. This is usually caused of stripped wires, corroded wires, overloaded outlets, and equipment failure. Then, next in the list is the loose connections wherein the outlets becomes more prone to gather dust, combustible debris that can ignite when plugged. It is characterized by a spark that should not happen when plugging in. Another, the prolong usage of electrical equipment can cause overheat and cause fire. Thus, people are reminded to always check, clean, and repair things immediately. In the case of outlets with dust and debris, one can shut off the circuit breaker first and then, use cotton swabs or vacuum to clean especially the sockets in kitchen because there might be small splashes of oil that could further ignite fire. In addition, people are encouraged to have smoke detectors and fire extinguishers in facilities and buildings as much as possible. He also briefly explained how to deal or response to a fire incident. First thing to do is to assess the situation calmly. If the fire is small then, extinguish it immediately. On the other hand, if the fire is too big already,
it is advisable to go out of place immediately and head to an open space. While heading to a safe place, call the firefighters immediately. If in case, the clothing is burning, immediately stop, drop, and roll on the ground. In escaping the building or place, it is not advisable to go to bathrooms because it will just raise the risk of suffocation. Also, in going out, always stay low and calm to avoid suffocation from thick smoke. Another is to be careful in opening doors for it may result in explosion of fire once the smoke is sucked in and a bigger fire is released. Let us participate in preparing and learning on how to prevent this incident. Let us be vigilant and smart. Also, inform every members of the family especially the children regarding safety precautions. Remind them once again not to play fire, candle, lighter, and matches. Another is to inform and guide them not to let things unattended especially the electrical appliances and gases. Lastly, is to make an escape plan wherein there is a definite location so that the members of the family know where to find each other. This fire prevention month of March, let us maximize the opportunity set aside by the government for us to be aware and prepared of this kind of disaster. Remember that we are in this together as the theme says, “Sa Pag-iwas sa Sunog Hindi ka Nag-iisa.” Fire incidents that happened caused not only casualty of things but also the important lives taken by the fire incident. Therefore, let us take action before it gets us when negligence occurs. [R]
MARCH 2022 // FEATURES
Let us imagine a world of equality. A world
where there is no discrimination, but unity in diversity. A world that values everyone, despite their gender and difference; A gender equal world. For this month of March, we celebrate the International Women’s Day. A day in which we give value to every woman of this world, give importance to them, and be grateful for every action they have done. International Women’s Day became a mainstream global holiday following its adoption by the United Nations in 1977. This day is for all of us to give tribute to every woman of this world. A day made to protect women, and give value to their rights, not only in the government, but in this world. Women, honestly speaking, is under looked by the society. Many people think that if you are a “woman”, you are just a weak and dependent person. Such thoughts shouldn’t be acknowledged. Women are very important to this world. They are given the purpose to reproduce and give birth to more people, to increase the population. But let us not consider that as a woman’s only purpose. Women also deserve lots of tribute from the actions and developments that they have done and made. Inventions and innovations that gave many benefits to people. Sadly, they are not recognized. Women from different parts of the world, receive unjust treatment just because they’re “women”. Some, even treat women as objects, rather humans, that should be respected and valued. Women should be treated better. Let us treat them as humans as well, humans that have rights. Fortunately, many organizations these days are made to give value to women. Organizations that give women the realization, that they too have power, and are not weak. It is evident that we have already shifted to the age when women are empowered, more than ever, to practice, defend, and stand up for their rights and responsibilities. There are also leaders of this world that are women. But some women are still living in shadows, suffering from
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WOMEN'S POWER ZOELINE HONRADO discrimination, and hasn’t come to realization. We should offer them a helping hand, and save them from suffering. Let us give them the freedom and happiness they deserve. Let us turn this imagination to reality. Let us make a change for the better. Let us transform our world into a better one! A world that would practice equality, a world that is equitable and diverse. May we all treat everyone equally despite the difference. Let us make a change! May we not only, treat women with respect and value their rights for this day, but every day. Let us recognize the worth of women, and the power each of them hold. [R]
Two of the most prominent women in PH theatre and sports: Lea Salonga (above), Hidilyn Diaz (down) PHOTO SOURCE | RAPPLER, NPR
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FEATURES
// THE LASALLIAN RHEIMS
Bread: The Lenten Sacrifice MARIELLE NAVARRO PHOTO SOURCE | RACOOL STUDIO
The story of Jesus Christ being tempted by the
is quite universal. It is letting go of what we do not need, or we think we need even if we don’t, and truly have time to reflect on what we have to lose in order to achieve an understanding about life.
devil after spending 40 days and 40 nights in desert, fasting and meditating upon himself, is not an unfamiliar one in many Catholic households. The verses that hold this event in Jesus’ life are quotAnd yet, even as we fast and sacrifice our ed and used to remind us of His sacrifice in the desires, we sometimes do not open our eyes to a name of God the Father. It has a simple and effec- shackle that we can be trapped in so easily. tive lesson, and it is that no man can survive on bread alone when he does not know God. Pope Francis wrote in his homily for Ash Wednesday this 2022, “A slavery that makes But the question remains: us live our lives for vainglory, where what what is this so-called bread to us? counts is not our purity of heart but the admiration of others. Not how God sees us, but Lent is a season in the Catholic Church how others see us. We cannot live well if we where we commemorate Jesus’ ability to reject are willing to be content with that reward.” temptation and stayed strong despite having experienced human emotions, just like us. We are This “bread” that we cannot live with alone is called on to give up our materialistic desires and also the approval we seek from our fellow siblings fast in His name, in order to prepare ourselves to God the Father, when the one we should be for His passion, death, and resurrection. seeking validation from is Him above. It is the physical wants we gain in the mortal world, but also the This includes giving up on indulgent foods praise we want from our peers when we flaunt our or lessening our intake of such as meats, sweets, actions that should be resembling Jesus’ own. and heavy carbohydrates. The healthy and capable adults are expected to participate in this interLent is a reminder that we are supposed to national practice, while some elderly and children be like Christ, both in strength of will, but also huwho cannot do this yet are given less strenuous mility. For a man cannot survive on material detasks. This “bread” that we are straying from in sires alone especially if he does not know God, and this period is subjective, yes, but the experience pride is a wall that can keep us from Him. [R]
MARCH 2022 // FEATURES
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FOOD REVIEW:
Kutsinta Butsi BEN NIVERA
The orange plastic covering the goods on
the bilao is something one awaits to take off in almost every Filipino party. Usually containing rice delicacies like puto, suman, and sometimes, espasol, these bilaos definitely complete a Filipino party! But aside from the food mentioned above, there are two other rice delicacies that stand out; Kutsinta and Butsi. As I see it, Kutsinta and Butsi are the most common rice delicacies served in these bilaos.
Kutsinta is a native Filipino snack made by steaming sticky rice. It is brown or reddish in color. It is made from a mixture of brown sugar and lye water and is further enhanced using annatto or achuete. It is usually eaten with grated coconut or a small chunk of cheese embedded in it. Kutsinta has a jelly-like and chewy consistency, one of the things I like about it. Buchi or Butsi is a rice cake made from sweet rice flour molded into a spherical shape with a certain type of filling and a sesame seed coating. This delectable treat is deep fried under high heat before serving. There are several types of filling that can be used for Butsi. The most common is the sweetened red bean paste, but the ube and condensed milk mixtures are also becoming popular. For a rating, I’d give both a 7/10. The flavor alongside the texture of both the kutsinta and butsi are okay. Not too sweet, but not too bland either. The thing that takes down three points is that both of these do not give a feeling of “fullness”. If used as an appetizer, it doesn’t really do its job of appetizing, and as a dessert, it lacks the sweetness to keep one satisfied after a meal. For first timers, I would definitely recommend these, and for kutsinta and butsi enjoyers, keep enjoying! [R] PHOTO SOURCE | EATLIKEPINOY, TASTEATLAS, PANLASANG PINOY
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FEATURES
// THE LASALLIAN RHEIMS
ANIME REVIEW:
THE genius prince's guide on raising a nation out of debt RENZ BAUTISTA
W ith its 12th episode recently airing as of this writing, The Genius Prince's Guide to Raising a Nation Out of Debt (JP:
Tensai Ouji no Akaji Kokka Saisei Jutsu) is one of those anime that serves as a breather for the near-ending Winter 2022 Anime Season. With viewership competition like 86 Eighty-Six part II, AOT Final Season part II, Ranking of Kings, and My Dress-Up Darling (I haven’t watched the majority of them), this anime is that anime that serves as the middle ground for all these high-rated anime for this season. The original light novel was written by Toru Toba with illustrations by fal_maro. It followed a manga adaptation last October 2019 with art by Emuda and its anime premiered in January 2022 produced by Yokohama Animation Laboratory. [Synopsis; Episode 1 spoilers] The anime starts with a description of the kingdom of Natra over the far north continent of Varno. King Owen, the king of Natra, has collapsed from illness and is unable to run the country. The job of running the country falls to Owen’s exceptional and competent son, Prince Regent Wein Arbalest alongside his capable, beautiful, white-haired aide, Ninym Ralei. However, due to the fate of Natra being a deserted and freezing country, Wein constantly complains over fate given to him while quietly hoping to commit treason to escape the duties given to him. With his adventures over the continent, who knows what turn of events wait for him? [End of Synopsis]
This is, if I recall correctly, my second or third anime that I have watched centering around the the politics genre. Many expect this anime, given its genre, will immerse its watchers in intense monarchy politics (with themes highly centered on military, strategy, and ideology) and complex terminologies and concepts, however, that is not the case. This anime can be summarized combination of a chill, adventure, and a comedic approach of the genre integrated by the strategy aspect portrayed in a calm and straightforward way. Upon the anime poster released last December 2021, it has piqued my curiosity and eventually, I watched it.
Upon watching, the character design is overall good, with minimal flaws that will not affect your viewing experience completely. Each episode tries to present an individual plot, which is different from your usual fantasy anime. I think the division of plot works, considering manga and light novel readers said that a big portion of the material is not adapted in the anime. The voicing is up to marks, especially of how Ninym is portrayed given her seiyuu (VA: Takahashi, Rie who also voices Emilia from Re: Zero, Megumin from Konosuba, and Hu Tao from Genshin Impact) being one of the top voices in the industry. Props also to Wein's seiyuu for portraying those personalities. Many consider Ninym to be one of those waifu materials this season (including I), however, no one can stop the hype train of Marin Kitagawa from topping up waifu preference charts in anime pages on Twitter (which I confidently predict will be the best girl this anime season). The music is surprisingly excellent, especially the opening theme by Yanaginagi and The Sixth Sense. Another observation is that the openings change per one or two episodes, which is a must-observe. Overall, I give this a rating of 8/10 (based on my MAL rating standard). It did not top the masterpieces I rated but it is a contender for being the anime of the season [although most of anime fans know who will win :) ]. This anime season, as I have mentioned serves as a breather season from the Fall 2021 season to the Spring 2022 season. Spring 2022 season offers a lot of highly-rated sequels and some new titles that are already established (and a lot of romcoms). The Spring 2022 season is a highly anticipated season by all, especially a lot of my favorite titles will now have a sequel (which some are listed below). A lot of crowd-favorites exceeded my expectations in the Winter 2022 season, and this anime is one of them. [R]
Anime to watch out this Spring 2022 season: 1. Kaguya-sama: Love is War, Ultra Romantic (S3) 2. Spy x Family 3. The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 2 4. Shikimori's Not Just a Cutie PHOTO SOURCE | MY ANIME LIST
MARCH 2022 // FEATURES
A clump of sentient earth; that’s what he was.
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SOILED
Elementals are strange creatures, or at least, that MARIELLE NAVARRO was what he overheard from the people in the surface as they hunted in the mountains where he lived. Born from the innate soul each world they resided in, blessed to have life but cursed with it as well. He crawled on his belly on some days, while he stood rather upright other times. It was never a dull day as he watched his kind massacred by adventurers who have delusions of gaining experience through murder. But even the sound of them being slaughtered with jovial battle cries from their slayers, when heard too much, can turn mundane. He had heard from a bard singing at the foot of a tree once about a kind deity of some sorts in a city not far from where he lived. The performer was killed soon after by a pack of wolves waiting for such vulnerable prey. He felt joy as he moved quietly around the beasts feasting on the dead man’s body, knowing that these animals would not starve that night. And the bard’s voice will live on in his head. He will reach the city by sunrise. When he arrived, he did not expect to be left alone by the inhabitants. He was met with strange looks, but they paid no mind to his rocky exterior. They allowed him to roam the streets for a time he could not count, in search of the kind deity he had heard from the song. Then a voice rang clear in his consciousness. “What do you desire, my child?” A child. He didn’t have a mother. He thought that it must feel nice to have one. He wished to be a beautiful. Beautiful things get what they want. The kind deity smiled, sending him power in the form of a feeling; like a mother’s embrace. When he awoke, he was back in the mountains, laying on the ground where he saw the bard once eaten by wolves. There were no more remains, and all there was before him was land covered in dull green. He looked down, realizing he had a neck to crane, and he saw claws that he did not own before. They were lumpy, coarse, and dark. So, he walked on his legs and tracked down the wolves he saw that day and slaughtered them like bards; like the elementals of his previous kind were tattered to pieces for internal reward. A smile reached his face, a feature he also did not have before. It was not beautiful nor was it appropriate, yet, it was his. For a clump of sentient earth, he no longer was.
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LITERARY // THE LASALLIAN RHEIMS
D AT E S My beloved sister, you are my all Shall I compare you to my favorite? Like a food that gets sweeter over time Just like your love that gets deeper in time - Trisha Ilar
FEBRUARY 2022 // LITERARY
THIS POEM IS IN IAMBIC FORM. This poem is in iambic form, Iambic form indeed I learned it from Ms. Gem Whose sessions I do heed That’s all that’s in this poem Why bother even read? It’s just a simple trip So now, you may proceed
- Ben Nivera
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20 LITERARY // THE LASALLIAN RHEIMS
SISANTE Sa b’wan ng Marso Walang sisante dahil Fire Prevention Month
SISANTE PT. II Tapos ang Marso Wala paring sisante Dahil April Fools
SISANTE PT. III Talagang tanong Bakit ka nasisante? Nood pa Netflix!
- Renz Bautista
MARCH 2022 // LITERARY
F L E E T I N G I watch videos on my phone telling me to listen to my inner child despite not having reached past 15 years old; feeling past my prime Moments of melancholy as I sit on my chair with a slight grin so wise, yet a fool a wrinkled soul trapped in young skin I am but a paperweight that holds no paper; useless at rest Used to reaching the top holding down others thinking it was best Looking up to the people while looking down at my screen; Aged by the blue light while I yearn endlessly to be evergreen I just want to know and experience what it’s really like to not anticipate my end before I even stop being a child. - Marielle Navarro
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