#feature writing

Graphics for substack article titled Notes on being a Man’s Best Friend.

Photo by: SB19

       People all over the world are crazy about KPOP. Except for it is really upbeat and fun—many people attribute it partly to Sandara Park of 2NE1’s popularity. Her fame intensified the Hallyu/Korean wave in the Philippines. Groups such as Super Junior, BIGBANG, EXO are extremely famous and continued to the third-generation groups up to the present. BTS, EXO, TWICE, BLACKPINK, among others, are a craze nowadays.

       As these Korean groups are garnering millions of followers and views on social media and music platforms, one Filipino group practice video went viral overnight in 2019, gaining over a million views and shared in multiple social networking sites. With their amazing choreography and vocals, they easily caught the attention of individuals on different online platforms. The group is called SB19.

       This group was trained under the Korean training system. ShowBT is a Korean company, but the boys trained in the Philippines. According to them, they were trained not to imitate KPOP, rather they had the intensive training that Korean idols get, but their music is solely Filipino and their purpose is to promote it to a wider audience. Filipinos are known to be great singers and are vocally superior.

       Since the blew-up of SB19, this paved the way for more different groups in the Philippines. These are ALAMAT, BGYO, BINI, etc. Just like KPOP, the groups here in the Philippines don’t just easily make their debut. They would also engage in intense training, such as vocal, synchronization of their group dancing. But not all Filipinos support them. Many are skeptical about them, even saying they are poor KPOP copycats despite the Tagalog lyrics. SB19 are aware of it, but they said they won’t stop until the Filipinos would know and like their music and promised to always give better performances better than yesterday.

         Despite the doubts, some other groups have emerged. BGYO was formed by ABS-CBN Star Hunt Academy alongside with BINI. They made their debut song ‘The Light’ which was released on January and they are the fifth Filipino artist to appear on the weekly Billboard Next Big Sound chart. BGYO fittingly stands for "Be The Change, Go Further, You And I, Originally Filipino" and aims to represent their mission to empower and motivate the youth worldwide. While ALAMAT currently holds the distinction of being the second P-pop group to make it on Billboard chart and the fastest-rising Pinoy act on the Billboard Next Big Sound chart, debuting at #2

         The whole idea of forming PPOP groups is to introduce more the music scene of the Philippines, and to penetrate internationally. With SB19 being the first Filipino and southeast Asian act to be nominated in Billboard Music Awards. They are indeed starting to penetrate their music internationally. A prophecy, it is only a matter of time we will see them perform in spectacular musical awards show such as the Grammys, MTV Music Awards, even winning an award. What will definitely be the most colossal outcome of SB19’s musical domination: hearing other nationalities singing in Filipino.

The argument for whether video games constitute an art form is full of compelling proof; games that have captivated the hearts of millions across the world over with their style, worldbuilding and gameplay.

Photo by me

Solitude

Ding! The bell rang and left an echo on the school grounds, signaling a start of a new monday, and as if in cue, sudents sprinted and stumbled upon chairs, breaking their organized positions. The teacher came with a slow and relaxed gait and you can tell by his form that he was a professional teacher just from seeing him walk that way. He bowed courteously and momentarily, that we didn't even have enough time to stand up in our chairs to greet him, for as he spoke those words I could never even fathom, came out of his voice, he said; "Classes would be dismissed for the entire week."

Rain fell like a waterfall, pouring in streams with deafening sounds, beads of water escaped from the roof, forming tears in my window. I listened as the downpour slowly quieted in my room. This was how my days where spent, leisurely and idly passing time away with nothing to worry about. I would occasionally read the contemporary Japanese literature, which is most of them are Haruki Murakami's works. Staying late up at night and playing video games, watching anime series or movies, I was living a carefree and leisurely days.

News spread about the Corona Virus, with its numerous symptoms, and deadly effects. The virus can infect other people in close proximity, so in a matter of weeks after the first cases of Covid-19 came to light, it began to spread like wildfire. Soon it became a global pandemic, that requires many safety protocols all over the globe. And so Quarantine was established in less than a month after our dismissal, I did not think that things would escalate at this scale. It was then that has given birth to a new normal way of living, one that a anyone would call a hellish and unhealthy lifestyle.

Days became months, and headlines about Covid continues to spread. People are not wearing mask, and are going outside as if in revolt or just rejecting the idea that there was a global pandemic around them. I have seen many people act so uneducated and irresponsible at the news, which is why at that point I wasn't surprised with the increasing numbers of Covid patients here in the Philippines. I thought to myself that we deserved it, like a sort of divine punishment from God, using the natural forces of nature as his instrument for divine retribution against these utter foolish humans, who have not changed in its entire existence. I watched in scorn, as the news broadcasted yet another update on the rising scale of Covid patients, I just hoped that something kills me before it gets into our area.

Online learning, felt nothing like a place to learn. This isn't to say that the teachers did nothing to do their responsibilities, but more so on the system, on not being a reliable means of education. Most students including myself, had a hard time keeping up with the lesson, we either had device failures, internet problems, or just in general unmotivated to study and learn anything at all. This new way of learning did not feel the same to students, it was like a different norm from some other culture. Adaptation did not come easy for any of us in this new world.

Enclosed in 4 squares with close proximity, my room had a grain of film, lifeless, soulless, like an abandoned apartment. The cracks on walls where like a spray painted graffiti, cobwebs clung to the corner, slowly but surely infecting the entire room. Occasionally you would see roaches seeping through the cracks on the walls, rats would sprint like a bullet which was evident in its leavings. The room reflected who I was, growing cold and slowly rotting away like a dead flesh of body.

Trese: Your Guide to the Supernatural! 

by: Riand Argabioso

(spoiler free)

 “Tabi-tabi po!” Do you hear that? Could it be the sneaky movement of a nuno? Or perhaps, the sound of the tikbalang trampling across the fields? Nevertheless, you can count on Alexandra Trese to help!

 Surely, you have heard of the latest Netflix Original that made a huge splash on its release on the 11th of June, 2021. From the memes you can find scattered across various social media platforms, to the fanart that could be seen at almost every turn, it wouldn’t be far-fetched to say that Trese has definitely made an impact not only in the Philippines, but also in other countries (such as Singapore, U.A.E, New Zealand, and many more).

 But for those of you who miraculously haven’t heard of this latest series to binge with family and friends, Netflix’s version of the graphic novel Trese introduced Filipino culture and mythology to international audiences. Though the Filipinos are familiar with supernatural beings’ presence in the provinces, the settings and backdrop of Netflix’s Trese is set in modern-day Metro Manila.

 Even though the animated series was released only recently, the graphic novel that it was based on published its first issue way back in 2008.  

 The series follows occult detective Alexandra Trese as she goes around the city solving crimes, slaying monsters, while trying to maintain balance between the real world and the underworld.

 As of now, the series only has six episodes with lovable, well-written characters, in addition to a thrilling story line, and heart-wrenching, excitable plot twists that would keep you on the edge of your seat at every turn. While there is no official news for a second season, fans from all around the world are begging for more.

 In English, the word “trese” means “thirteen”. Though, its rankings in Netflix Philippines are far from thirteen. Since its release just a few days ago, Trese immediately climbed the ranks of the top 10, currently holding the number one spot for trending. However, its outstanding rankings are not only limited to the Philippines. This popular Netflix show has earned a spot in the top 10 in eighteen other countries!

 The show is available to watch in four languages: English, Japanese, Spanish, and of course, Filipino. Liza Soberano herself voiced the titular character in the Filipino dub, which drew even more attention to the show. Philippine fans have shown mixed feelings for the actress as she claimed her role as the voice actor for Alexandra. Some fans have expressed their sour tunes for the actress, saying that her delivery wasn’t as good as it should’ve been, while there are others, such as Inka Magnaye (a professional voice actor) who have been defending Liza from her bashers. Though, as they say, you can’t please everyone.

 As someone who has watched the series in its entirety for at least three times since its release, Trese is definitely a must-watch for those who are interested in Philippine mythology, or for those who just simply enjoy watching thrillers and mysteries.

By: Marc Klarenz Ocate

“Fellow citizens, we cannot escape history.”

Photo by: Jemimah Ocate in her Instagram

Probably, Intramuros is one of the most well-known places in Philippines, it emblemetize the history of the country over the years.

Photo by: Jemimah Ocate in her Instagram

Every time I visit here it feels like I am being taken back to the past, even though there's a lot of changes happened. "Kung makaka pag salita nga lamang ang mga pader" maybe they could tell the story of what happened before that no one had discussed.

My parents and I, used to go in Intramuros when I was young. I can't imagine that over the past years I will reach this kind of place.

Place that started in time of the Spaniards as I often hear in school when we have symposium about the history of the Philippines.

Who would not want to go and visit this place, apart from its beautiful lights shining in the middle of the night, you can capture every corner in Intramuros and you may post it on social media.

Photo by: Jemimah Ocate in her Instagram

On our trip in Intramuros along with my friends, we never missed being able to ride again in kalesa, a traditional transportation then in 1700s who introduced by the Spaniards. We enjoyed riding in kalesa while eating some snacks and having conversations. After having conversation, we paid 1,000 PHP per 1hour tour.

Our first stop in Intramuros is Casa Manila. It is a replica of an old house of superior peoples then. It is now a life style museum that shows hows the life of the superior then. You can see here some ancient utensils from the Spanish period; like charcoal flatiron, wooden pork and spoon and many more.

For our next destination, we went to the historical Fort Santiago. As we enter the Plaza Moriones, it immediately spring up to us the vastness of it. It is just one of the many opened spaces and plazas within Intramuros. The Fort Santiago was built by Miguel Lopez de legazpi in the 1571, but the beauty of it is still there.

The next stop are the Balurte de San Diego. It is close to Manila de bay to guard the Walled City of Intramuros from the incoming ships of the enemy. My favorite place in Intramuros to eat is their spicy chicken. It is very delicious and the spiciness will make your nose run.

by Rona Geraldo

Video by Rona Geraldo

"I can show you the world. Shining, shimmering, splendid " I can't help on singing these lines whenever I had a chance to stare at the skies full of bedazzling stars scattered around with a luminous moon.

Stargazing is an incredible hobby, as you take the time to learn more about the universe you live in. But, aside from what comes in our minds when we heard of stargazing, this requires more than looking at the sky, you must know more about its entails, and that is what made me more interested on it.

At the age of eight, was the first time I fell in love.

I fell in love with the beauty of night sky. When my parents brought me at the fish port at Navotas City, in the middle of the night, I witnessed some of glamorous members of the solar system. They caught my eyes. They made me see the bright side of a darkest night—my peaceful rest after a busy stressful day.

And what excites me the most was the day that my first love meets hers, the sun, that creates a beautiful eclipse. Once in a blue moon event and I may not seen them close, but they surely give me pleasure.

I just love it. I just literally love the way it gives me peace, makes me calm, and serves as my escape. A hobby watching the skies helps me to have the best minute of my life to escape from reality, to travel inside my fantasies.

A hobby I wouldn't be tired of doing. Hobby turns out to be my coping mechanism. Introduced me to a world I didn't expect to be this great.