start with us

by Rea Payongayong

The surrounding issue regarding the SOGIE Bill and Rice Tariffication Law has taken the internet by storm. Netizens have been divided as to which of the issues should be given importance, tearing into one another with snide and sometimes hurtful exchanges -- and it is absolutely ridiculous because we can support both equally.

People have taken sides, pitting one issue against the other like roosters in a cockfight. They've reduced the SOGIE Bill into bathroom dilemmas and minimized the real issue the SOGIE Bill addresses. As a predominantly conservative and agricultural country, it is understandable that a number of people would easily dismiss the SOGIE Bill as the issue of the farmers rising to new infuriating heights. The injustice our Filipino farmers endure is indeed something to be given attention to, though it does not overpower the issue regarding the SOGIE Bill. These two issues are separate yet eerily similar.

The Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) Bill addresses the need for equality within the members of the LGBT+ community. Its primary intention is to prevent various discriminatory actions against members of the LGBT+ community. On the other hand, the Rice Tariffication Law, which was signed by President Duterte last February 15, will allow the easier import of rice into the country. This will impact our local farmers the most as they will get trampled by foreign competitors. These two issues are different because the SOGIE Bill issue is a social issue whilst the Rice Tariffication Law is an economic issue. It should now baffle an informed individual as to why there should be competition between them in the first place. They should both be given equal support as both these minorities, albeit unrelated, come from one root cause -- oppression.

ECQ to MECQ

by Irra Bulalacao

Ang larangan ng komedya sa ating bansa ay di mapagkakailang parte na ng buhay ng bawat Pilipino. Ang isang komedyante ay hindi magiging isang komedyante kung walang mga manunuod na nakakaappreciate ng “humor” o katatawanan sa sinasabi ng isang komedyante. Two-way process ika-nga gaya ng komunikasyon. Ang isang bagay na sinabing isang tao ay matuturing lamang isang katatawanan kung may iilan or karamihan ay nagreact na natawa sila dun sa partikular na sinabi ng isang tao o ng isang komedyante man.

Pero syempre, depende pa rin naman yan sa taong makakarinig ng iyong hirit na mga biro. Ang bawat tao ay may kanya-kanyang standards kung ano ang nakakatawa sa hindi. Dito nagkakaroon ng pagkakaiba-iba ang mga jokes base sa demographics ng taong tagapakinig mo. Ang Generation Z ay mayroong klase ng humor. Di rin mawawala kung ano yung ginagamit na pamamaraan ng isang Gen z magpalaganap ng bagay na pagkakatuwaan ng karamihan. Diyan papasok ang social media sites na nakakatulong para magkaroon ng interaksyon at maipasa ang humor o yung jokes na malaunan, nag- iiba-iba, dahil na rin nagkakaroon na ng bersyon ang bawat tao. Ang matatanda o nakakatanda naman ay may ibang klase rin ng tipo sa komedya. Kagaya nga ng nasabi ‘ko kanina, mahalaga o isa sa mga aspeto ang demograpiko ng taong pagsasabihan mo ng jokes para malaman mo kung epektibo ka ba o ang tipo ba ng humor o komedya ay akma dun sa mga taong makakapakinig nung jokes mo. Ayon sa artikulong “Halakhak”, “the delineation of national humor is dependent upon a specific reading of values, experiences, beliefs, and traditions that intersect and are interwoven within a particular cultural matrix.” Ibig sabihin, nagdedepende ang isang pamantayan ng isang tao sa kanyang ideya ng komedya sa mga nabanggit kagaya ng kultura at karanasan na posibleng pagkakapareha ng taong komedyante at ng kanyang target audience.

by Jose Alfonzo Añes

by: Jose Alfonzo Añes

Far Eastern University has changed the design of the uniform for freshmen students for the academic year 2018-2019. From the type A uniform which was a standard polo with an institute logo and a green pants or skirt to a polo-shirt that comes with three different colors namely green, white, and yellow termed with any kinds of pants (but with reservations).

It was said during the university orientation that the reason why the uniform was changed was to promote ‘gender equality’. It makes sense because many women experience hassle in wearing skirts in coming to school.

It was stated during the orientation that the only prohibited clothing inside the university are ripped/skinny jeans and skirts or shorts that are above the knee. Nothing more.

But why were there instances wherein guards do not let some students enter the university with wearing an appropriate clothing?

There was a time when a student was not allowed to enter the university because the student was wearing a pants that did not exactly meet its ankles but it was still below the knee, in fact, more than below the knee.

There were also times when some girls were not allowed to enter the university because of wearing ‘square pants’. Some guards emphasized that a square pants is considered shorts when in fact, it is considered a type of jeans where in the edges of it are just in square cuts. Besides, shorts, as stated in the orientation, are allowed as long as they are below the knee.

Guards, if they do not let some students enter the university, shout at and emphasize to students that everything was stated clearly in the students’ handbook. If there is really a handbook to guide the students regarding the actions they should act inside and before entering the university, where is it? It’s not even in CANVAS (learning management system) and portal.

Many students say that the new type of uniform is useless. The administration should have removed the standardization of clothing inside the university besides uniform has nothing to do with the knowledge a person acquires in school.

by Jose Alfonzo Añes

Different countries, different places, different faces, different people, and different practices. The differences of persons from one another signify that such culture exists. Thus, it proves that culture also has nuances. Culture is a custom, but it is more of a custom. A culture is not universally applicable to every thing but it is universal. Also, a culture does not die; it fosters just like the people involved in a certain culture.

Culture is in a person; a person holds a culture. This is a conjecture made in order to see how these things circulate and manifest each other. Since a person holds its culture, he or she has the power on how he or she is going to execute, show, or do it. For a more superficial explanation, power is a key element in molding a culture since power is in capacity of a person.

Besides of the perks of culture within the influence of power, how does a culture overlaps another culture? Since culture and power hold each other, and cultures exist in different people and places, such ignorance and conception of superiority come in the midst. By just looking to another culture negatively, the thought of degradation and discrimination are being born.

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