Th e L a z e tte E d i t o r i a l B o a r d E d i t o r - i n - C h i e f V i t o V i n c e n z o T. B o n g c o, 1 1 A A s s o c i a t e E d i t o r M a r i n a F r a n z e s c a C. T a p i a, 1 2 F M a n a g i n g E d i t o r A l f o n s o M i g u e l A. M a l o l e s, 1 2 L D e s i g n E x e c u t i v e E d i t o r M a r c o J u h a n n G. O r t e g a, 1 1 J N e w s E d i t o r J e r v i s M a r t i n L. R o n d a r i s, 1 1 B F e a t u r e s E d i t o r I s a b e l l a L. L i b u n a o, 1 2 G B r o a d c a s t i n g D i r e c t o r F r a n c i s J o h n M. T i u S o n c o, 1 2 G G r a p h i c D e s i g n E d i t o r J a c o b S a n t i n o C. M a r c e l o, 1 2 O P h o t o s E d i t o r S e r a p h i m O y a y i A. M a g n o, 1 1 F S o c i a l M e d i a M a n a g e r F a t h m a J a i y e d e n R. M a m a c o t a o, 1 2 D E d i t o r i a l S t a f f A c i e r t o, A l e x i a P a r i s G., 1 1 N A c u n i n, A n g e l o C h a r l s D., 9 D A g u s t i n, M a r c u s D., 1 1 L A l b a r, E r i c k a E u g e n i e L., 1 1 J A l c a l a, M a r i a C r i s t i n a A n g e l a D., 1 1 F A l l a n a, A n d r e w A., 1 1 L B a s i l i o, D e n i e l M a t t h e w S., 1 2 F B a t a c, F r a n c e s c a R., 1 1 G B a u t i s t a, S o p h i a I s a b e l C., 1 2 G B i n u y a, P r i n c e s s M a r i a n n e M., 7 C B i y o, S a v i o B e n j a m i n P., 8 A B o o, T r u e M a l a c h i G., 1 2 A B r i l l a n t e s, N i c o A g u s t i n T., 1 1 C B u e n o, D a v i d J o s e p h M., 9 C C a l u a g, A n g e l o G a b r i e l S., 1 0 C C a m a s o, J o s e Y o r e l F., 1 2 D C o, L o u i s e P a t r i c i a P., 1 1 N C o m i a, D e n i s e G., 1 2 G C u ñ a n o, P a u l o M i g u e l A., 1 1 D D a n a n, N a t h a n B e n J., 1 2 N D e D i o s, J o s e M a r i a A n t o n i o M., 6 H D e G u z m a n, F r a n c e s E l i s e S., 6 B D e l l o s a, D a n a y a R a q u e l H., 1 1 Q D i a z, J o s e Y n a q u i M., 1 2 O D i l o y, E l l a G r a c e L., 1 1 J E r f e l o, S h a u n J a y r o n R., 9 D E v a n g e l i s t a, Z a c h a r y G a b r i e l R., 1 2 F F a b i l a, A m b r e i n n e B., 1 1 O F e r n a n d o, P a t r i c k A., 1 1 H F o r t u n o, A l l y s o n T., 1 2 P J i m e n e z, F a i t h T., 1 2 L K u m a r, R aj e e v, 1 2 N L a p i z, R a i l a n d G., 1 1 P C o n t r i b u t o r s A l b a n o, M a t t h e w T h e o d o r e L a n c e N., 1 1 D B a g a d i o n g, A l f o n s o J o a q u i n G., 1 1 D C a s t i l l o, M a r i a F l o r e n c e, 1 1 D C o n s t a n t i n o, E w a n T y l e r D., 1 2 A H e r n a n d e z, J o s e A n t o n i o P., 1 2 I L a p i d, K e n n e t h M a n u e l M., 1 1 D M e l e n d r e s, G i l G a b r i e l H., 1 1 D Q u i l a n g, J y r a Y u l l e s e R., 1 1 d M o d e r a t o r s M s. J a c k i e l o u M. B r a g o M r. J o h n P a t r i c k R. I p a z C u l t u r e , A r t s , a n d P u b l i c a t i o n s C o o r d i n a t o r M r. J o s e p h A n g e l o M. S a n t o s A s s o c i a t e P r i n c i p a l f o r S t u d e n t A f f a i r s M r s. M a. S u z e t t e M. D a h i l a n P r i n c i p a l M r s. M a r i a C a r m e l a A. B o n c o d i n V i c e P r e s i d e n t M r. E m m a n u e l D. B a u t i s t a P r e s i d e n t B r. E d m u n d o A d o l f o L. F e r n a n d e z, F S C L e e, J u l i a A k i a h D., 1 1 L L e g a s p i, G a b r i e l L., 1 1 J L i r a g, R e n z o A n d r e w B., 6 B L o b r i n, J o s e l i t o M a n u e l U n o T., 1 2 B L u n a, S o p h i a B e r n a d e t t e G., 1 2 C M a g b a n u a, L u k a s E z r a E., 1 2 P M a l i k s i, L o r e n z o M i g u e l O., 1 2 B M a l o n e s, M a r y K a t e N., 1 1 H M a n u y a g, A l i j a h A m i e l D.L., 1 2 P M e r c a d o, A u d r e y C h a r i s s e R., 1 1 M M i e r, C h r i s t i a n n e I s a b e l l a B., A l t E d - 1 2 A N a v a l, G a b r i e l R., 1 2 I P a l m a, L u i s A n g e l o N., 1 2 F P a n, A n g e l a A t h e a P., 1 1 L P a u l i n o, S t e v e n C., 1 1 H P e r e z, P a t r i c k H a n s A., 1 2 N P i c h o n, J u l i a n N i c h o l a s F., 1 2 N Q u e, L o u i s D a e n i e l A., 1 1 G R a m i r e z, J o s e p h L o r e n c e B., 1 1 J R e o t u t a r, J e a n a M a e B., 1 1 E R o j o, J o h n Z e u s G., 8 A R u e d a, J i l l i a n Y s a b e l R., 1 1 J S a l v a d o r, B e a t r i x F a i t h A., 1 1 G S a r m i e n t o, T y r o n e L., 1 1 N T a c h a d o, S a m a n t h a Q., 1 1 J T a r i m a n, S h a r i n a L., 1 0 B T i n g z o n, C h a r i s s a L., 1 2 F T o r r e s, S h a n n e n T a n y a C., 1 1 A T u m a l i u a n, M a r a K y r y n e W., 1 2 P V a l e n c i a n o, A r i a n n a F r a n c e s c a R., 1 2 I V a l e r a, J o h n Q., 1 1 J Y a p, A l e x a n d e r A., 1 2 G 1 2
With over a month since the beginning of SchoolYear 2022-2023 having passed, The Lazette presents some of the day's highlights, moments, and sceneries from around the campus. August 15 and 16 marked the first days that most students setfoot on the La Salle Green Hills (LSGH) grounds ever since theCOVID-19 pandemic. Written by VitoBongco Photos by MarinaTapia, FrancisTiu Sonco, Lukas Magbanua, Amiel Manuyag, and the La SalleParents Association (LSPA) Initially published on 16 September 2023 08/15/22 3 | For the First Time in Forever For the First Time in Forever | 4
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9 | For the First Time in Forever Written by Alex Yap Photos by Zachary Evangelista and Amiel Manuyag Initially published on 4 December 2022 Written by Angela Pan Photos by Kio Magno andd Zachary Evangelista Initially published on 20 December 2022 IN PHOTOS: Last December 10, the Lasallian community welcomed the holiday season with the lively atmosphere of the Animo Holidaze Christmas Fair of the La Salle Green Hills Parents’ Association (LSPA). For the first time in two years, the Christmas spirit brought by the annual fair came back stronger than ever with tons of new attractions, booths, and activities designed to kick off the Christmas season on a positive note. The school grounds also opened its gates to visitors who wish to join the festivity. Among the activities held during the fair were the launching of the second rendition of the Animosome Beginnings Concert, Paskoral, a Kiddie Show, and the Archers' Entrepreneurial Challenge. | via LSPA Events For the First Time in Forever | 10
Last February 18, La Salle Green Hills (LSGH) once again opened its doors for both students and outside fairgoers to enjoy the highly-anticipated Kabihasnan Fair 2023. Kabihasnan is the biennial school fair of LSGH, with this year’s Kabihasnan being the first onsite fair since 2019. Unlike previous years, this year’s fair was scheduled to last only a day; nevertheless, it was still enjoyed by students, faculty, staff, and fairgoers alike. A total of 61 food, game, and dry goods booths such as the Dedication Booth, Retro Massacre, and Water Pong were organized by different grade levels of students and faculty and student organizations. Simultaneously, student organization-led events such as Fashion Forward’s Lasallians in the Runway, Hallyu’s K-POP Random Play Dance, and musical performances by The Ambassadors, Animo Rhythms, and Kundirana were also attended by fairgoers. Other events within the fair included the Kabi All-Stars basketball and volleyball competitions—both won by faculty-led teams, Search-In’s Ngiti Kiddie Kabihasnan Fair for the children of the Support Staff, and the Sports Program and Development Office’s Basketball Clinic sponsored by the DLSU Lady Archers. The fair ended with SACB’s Gunita musical festival and LSGH AirForce’s TESTIFY XII concert in the St. Benilde Gym. Gunita was graced by the performances of both student and local music acts including The Itchyworms, Kanto 3551, The Bleachers, Tres por Tres, Colinas Verdes, and Kundirana. Not long after, the LSGH AirForce and LSGH ACE showcased the school’s homegrown street dance talents in their performances to cap off the night KABIHASNAN 2023 Written by Mary Kate Malones • Photos by Andrew Allana, Lukas Magbanua, and Jeana Reotutar Initially published on 03 March 2023 11 | For the First Time in Forever For the First Time in Forever | 12
Written by D. Basilio 13 | For the First Time in Forever For the First Time in Forever | 14
LSGH AirForce conducts first live Testify concert since 2020 Photos by Amiel Manuyag and Andrew Allana Written by Mary Kate Malones Initially published on 03 March 2023 15 | For the First Time in Forever For the First Time in Forever | 16
SACB Mitingde Avance Photos by Bea Salvador • Written by Jervis Rondaris Edited by Vito Bongco • Initially published on 21 May 2023 In preparation for the 2023 SACB General Elections, the Student Affairs Central Body (SACB), together with the Lazette, held a Miting De Avance (MDA) with the high school candidates at the Brother Donato Center for Performing Arts (BDC). The MDA was the major onsite campaign activity held by both entities to inform incoming high school students of the platforms and advocacies of the election candidates; prior to the pandemic, MDAs were organized for the then-Student Council Organization (SCO) elections in the Grade School Department, while the then SACB of high school conducted room-to-room campaigns. The program was moderator by SACB SHS VP Luis Palma and The Lazette Broadcasting Director Francis Tiu Sonco; it began and ended with a prayer led by the two top executive officials of the SACB, Cito Hernandez (President) and Ewan Constantino (Executive Vice President). The MDA proper started off with the Batch Representative candidates of each level leading up to the Core Six positions, with each position being asked questions by Ms. Guia Gonzales, Mr. Tom Santos, and Mr. Harol Acallar. Each position had questions from the panel and from the community that registered to see the event live. The 2023-2024 SACB ExeComm Elections were held on May 22, 2023 (Monday), and the results were announced a week later. forExeComm‘24 17 | For the First Time in Forever For the First Time in Forever | 18 The Lazette’s editors and staff members participated in the Division Secondary Schools Press Conference (DSSPC) 2023 held at the Bonifacio Javier National High School last March 18, 2023. Guided by the theme "Truth, Accuracy, and Accountability: Celebrating the Power of Journalism and Shaping the Future of Digital Revolution", our delegates were able to showcase their talents and triumph in the various individual categories. Maloles, Tachado, and Tiu Sonco advanced to the Regional Schools Press Conference (RSPC) 2023 in the Editorial Writing, Pagsulat ng Editoryal, and Photojournalism categories respectively. The RSPC was held last June 2023; while The Lazette was not able to win any awards nor advance to the Nationals, the Mandaluyong Divison emerged as the top-performing division in the National Capital Region (NCR). ALFONSO MIGUEL A. MALOLES 1st in News Writing 1st in Editorial Writing 5th in Column Writing Highest Individual Pointer SAMANTHA Q. TACHADO Unang Puwesto sa Pagsulat ng Editoryal FRANCIS JOHN M. TIU SONCO 1st in Photojournalism ALEXANDER A. YAP 6th in Feature Writing LA SALLE GREEN HILLS 3rd Place - Top Performing School [English] 5th Place - Top Performing School [Overall - English and Filipino] Other Members of the Delegation: Vito Vincenzo T. Bongco, Denise G. Comia, Julian Nicholas F. Pichon, Jervis Martin L. Rondaris & Shannen Tanya C. Torres
The Grade 11 Promenade Written by Zachary Evangelista Photos by Zachary Evangelista and Nico Brillantes Initially published on 13 June 2023 19| For the First Time in Forever For the First Time in Forever | 20
One of the school year’s most highly anticipated moments finally arrived for our Grade 12 students as they gathered at the St. Benilde Gym last Saturday, June 10, for their Batch 2023’s Seine-themed Graduation Ball –a night that was filled with joy, laughter, and heartfelt memories, marking the culmination of the senior batch's academic journey. The celebration began in the late afternoon and extended well into the night, starting and concluding with a prayer, as is in Lasallian fashion. Cool air and booming music in the Gym set the tone as Ball attendees dressed to the nines in their formal attire were welcomed with enchanting fairy lights and floral & artistic decorations that elegantly captured the essence of the ball's theme of Seine: A Midnight in Paris – inspired by the iconic Seine River in Paris, France. Milo Pumaren received the HUMSS’ Star Humaniste. The Lazette’s own FJ Mamacatao received the ABM’s Arc of Charm. Alex Ang claimed the STEM’s Eiffel of Elegance award. Lastly, Nicole Abadesco was crowned as the Minuit Reine de Paris, while Paolo Cruz was named the Minuit King de Paris, making them the recipients of the highly anticipated Ball King and Queen awards. An illuminated Eiffel Tower statuette served as a radiant centerpiece that attracted attendees who lined up to have their photos taken beneath it, while a bridge mirroring those that cross the Seine in real life was also installed for additional photo opportunities. Professional photographers, a 360-degree photo platform, and a Glam-Bot sponsored by the Grade 12 La Salle Parents’ Association (LSPA) offered the graduating students even more opportunities to capture the memories they were making before and during the program proper, which was hosted by alumni Regit Ongtao and Jake Nery, both from Batch ‘21. After the awards ceremony, Abadesco and Cruz led the way into the Slow Dance portion of the program. Couples and friends soon joined in, swaying to the slow rhythm as they embraced the enchanting moment. The night then ended when Dave Yangco took the role of DJ and began the much-awaited party and rave, which attracted the attendees to the dance floor set up in the middle of the Gym. Attendees also ended up joining a spirited conga line, which added to the infectious energy of the night. As our outgoing seniors graduate in a few weeks’ time and move on to their respective universities, this night served as one of the last major opportunities for the batch to come together and make memories – with this fête in particular allowing them to somehow feel like rois and reines for just one midnight in Paris. The Early Bird Couple Award honoring the first couple to arrive at the ball, was received by Mark Ghosh and Eisha Pineda. The Constellation Award, celebrating the remarkable presence of an entire table, was bestowed upon Table 48, where those seated included Luis Pablo, Seven Gagate and Josh Coronel along with their dates. The Traveler of the Night, recognizing the individual who interacted with the most other guests and tables, was awarded to Lukas Magbanua. Gelo Rivero was recognized with the Monsieur de Chic Award for Best Dressed Male, while Jade Tabinas received the Mademoiselle de Chic Award for Best Dressed Female. Alexandra Felicidario and Albert Mediana were crowned as the recipients of the Best Dressed Couple Award Pau Baquiran was honored with the Northern Star Award, recognizing her as the Stag Queen of the night. Chili Go was awarded the Sirius Star Award, earning him the title of the night's Stag King. Separate awards were also bestowed upon select students who best exemplified the shining qualities of their respective strands for the night: The ADCI’s Personnification de Louvre award was given to Mara Tumaliuan. The Ball Committee organized several games throughout the program to entertain the audience, inviting participants onstage to compete for prizes such as SM certificates and Starbucks gift cards. The games ranged from a dance competition aptly called the Dancing Game where participants showcased their moves in front of the entire hall; Guess the Grad Baby, a game challenging students to identify their batchmates from their baby photos, and the eponymous game; and How Well Do You Know Your Date?, which tested how well students knew their dates with a This or That gameplay. Meanwhile, band performances by Kundirana, Chicharon, and Rob Deniel brought further entertainment to the attendees over the course of the five-hour program. Before the night concluded, awards were presented to select attendees based on their behavior during the ball and their attire Written by Tyrone Sarmiento Photos by Grace Diloy Initially published on 14 June 2023 21 | For the First Time in Forever For the First Time in Forever | 22
For others red is just a color, but for Taylor Swift, it’s more than just a color. Red for her is a musical and lyrical representation of someone who is brokenhearted. Although unhinged and all over the place, as she says, this album represents a confused mosaic of emotions for her that ultimately made sense. All Too Well / All Too Well (10-Minute Version) • This is the Track 5 that bruised most of our hearts. It started out like Enchanted; it never became a single. However, it has slowly turned into what most claim as Taylor’s best song to date. This song was written during the rehearsals of her ‘Speak Now’ Tour and is, in fact, the first song written for the album, ‘Red’. Rumored to be about her relationship with Jake Gyllenhaal as she narrates a love story that will leave its listeners feeling like a crumpled-up piece of paper, it will undoubtedly break one's heart. We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together • The idea for "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" came to the trio shortly after a friend of Swift's ex-boyfriend walked into the recording studio and mentioned hearing rumors that Swift and her former flame were reuniting. After the friend had gone, Martin and Shellback asked Swift to go into more detail about the relationship. From there, the spiral continued to spiral into the hit we all know. The mystical one of the two sister folk albums, this album is the more mature version of ‘folklore’ delving into darker tones than its predecessor. Out of the two folk albums, evermore evokes the seasons of autumn and winter. champagne problems • In contrast to other songs about breakups, failed relationships, and rejection, this song brilliantly captures the tone of a sad, barely-making-it, lonely person. It properly depicts all the sentiments you'd experience when you're going through all three: the worst-case scenario. I guess we will remember all her champagne problems, after all because the fact that this song was co-written by her ex-boyfriend Joe Alwyn as "William Bowery" will make you cry and make you miserable as a last insult. tolerate it • Do you feel like you’re in a one- sided love? Do you feel like they’re not giving the same energy back to you? Do you feel like you’re not being appreciated and are being taken for granted? The lyrics of the song ‘tolerate it’ express how it is harmful to tolerate one's emotions, whether they are caused by good or poor love. If reci- procation is not managed properly, creating an imbalanced relationship, nothing will turn out good; it’ll create a poisonous connection, possibly harming the mental capacity of a person. Thus, if this is something that you’re feeling right now, listen to ‘tolerate it’ by Taylor Swift as she uncovers the highs and lows of a toxic relationship. Taylor Swift was interested in the performing arts at a very young age. Taylor Swift moved to Nashville, widely regarded as the birthplace of country music, with her family when she was 14 to pursue a career in music. By the age of 16, she released her self-titled debut album, which was full of promise and set her on the path to stardom. The songs, which are based on Swift's personal life, reflect Swift's perspective on life as a teenager, dealing with romantic relationships, friendships, and insecurity. Swift's subsequent two albums' country pop style was influenced by this album's crossover appeal, and its autobiographical narratives about love and heartbreak inspired a new generation of singer-songwriters. Tim McGraw • The song that kicked it all off, Swift wrote this song when she was in her freshman year of high school; she kept humming to this melody every mathematics class. The lyrics tell the story of a summer romance that ends abruptly. The narrator begs her ex-boyfriend to remember her every time he hears her favorite song by country musician Tim McGraw, the song's namesake. Teardrops on My Guitar • Swift was inspired to write the song after having feelings for a boy named Drew Hardwick, a classmate of hers. Swift and Hardwick sat next to each other in class every day during their freshman year at Hendersonville High School in Hendersonville, Tennessee. Swift secretly wished for them to become a couple as they became friends. Because Hardwick was unaware, he frequently told Swift about another girl he had feelings for. This forced Taylor to move on from this relationship. Our Song • The story goes that Taylor wrote this catchy tune for her 9th Grade talent show, which is the main reason for its upbeat tempo and relatable lyrics. It chronicles a young couple making their own song by drawing inspiration from the routine events in their lives. It became an instant hit with her classmates which prompted Taylor to add it to her first album - and we are very glad that she did. 22 • Are you happy, free, confused, and lonely in the best way? I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling 22! The experience of being in your early 20s is aptly captured in the song "22." By the age of 20, you should be successful in today's society, but in actuality, the realization that you are an adult will hit you like a bomb. You'll feel liberated and delighted when you realize you're not dependent on your parents or other adults, but growing up will also expose you to numerous failures, mistakes, and unmet expectations. However, it's okay to feel lost and confused at this period of life. Don't worry about your missed deadlines; as Taylor Swift said, "It's miserable and magical." Instead, just keep dancing like you’re 22. In her return to the pop scene, Taylor opens up about the things that keep her up at night to a point where she “stare[s] at walls and drink until they speak back.” Midnights is a journey through her terrors and sweet dreams hoping that when the clock strikes twelve, we'll be able to meet her true self. Lavender Haze • Taylor first heard the phrase "lavender haze" while watching an episode of the drama series Mad Men. She was intrigued by its meaning and discovered that it originated in the 1950s as a common phrase referring to the state of being in love. The title represents an "allencompassing love glow" to Swift wherein “you'll do anything to stay there and not let people bring you down off of that cloud.” Following that, the singer saw parallels between the expression and her relationship with British actor Joe Alwyn and decided to weave that into the song. Anti-Hero • Taylor first heard the phrase "lavender haze" while watching an episode of the drama series Mad Men. She was intrigued by its meaning and discovered that it originated in the 1950s as a common phrase referring to the state of being in love. The title represents an "allencompassing love glow" to Swift wherein “you'll do anything to stay there and not let people bring you down off of that cloud.” Following that, the singer saw parallels between the expression and her relationship with British actor Joe Alwyn and decided to weave that into the song. Vigilante Shhh • This reputation-heavy track is the shortest track on Midnights; however, the two minutes and forty-four seconds that you take listening to this track truly packs a punch. Taylor expresses her contempt and wishes for exact revenge on those who do bad things. The man in question is likely Scooter Braun - the reason why the Taylor’s Versions exist. The lyrics say it all: “Well, he was doin’ lines and crossin’ all of mine / Someone told his white collar crimes to the FBI” The storyteller of the two sister folk albums, you may say that it is a whole compilation of real-life stories. It tells stories from different points of view - from a middle-class divorcée to three teenagers caught in a triangle. Out of the two folk albums, folklore loosely evokes the seasons of spring and summer. “Teenage Love Triangle” (betty, cardigan, august) • This set of three songs tells the story of three teenagers named Betty, James, and Augustine. This triangle was first revealed by Swift and then was decoded by the fans to be these three songs. As this love triangle is as complicated as a crocheted cardigan, it would be best to unravel this string of stories for yourself. my tears ricochet • The famous saying: “Be careful of who you trust. Salt and Sugar look the same.” is applicable to this song as this song captures the feeling of betrayal. The beginning of it all occurred when Scooter bought Taylor's masters in 2019 and sold it to a private equity firm in 2020. When Scooter Records acquired Taylor's previous record company, Big Machine Records, the masters were also acquired. Thus, Taylor’s masters were stolen from her. The lines: “And I still talk to you (when I'm screaming at the sky). And when you can't sleep at night (you hear my stolen lullabies),” alludes to the speculation that this song is about the Scooter Braun controversy. illicit affairs • This is one of the best songs about cheating, believe it or not. Now, Taylor Swift has a reputation for creating numerous cheating songs such as ‘ivy’, ‘Gorgeous’, and 'High Infidelity’, but this song just hits through your bones; it’s nothing like the other songs as this is much sadder and deeply trauma-rooted. Some individuals have even believed that Augustine, a character from Taylor Swift's "Teenage Love Triangle" trilogy, is the one who is speaking from this perspective. Whatever it is, it's a song that belongs in this folklore world. Taylor takes a full 180 from her ‘reputation’ era with the colorful and vibrant ‘Lover’ era. Here, Taylor talks about the different types of love instead of her usual themes of falling out or longing for it. Cruel Summer • Jenny Han's ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ series features Cruel Summer as its soundtrack for Season 1, similar to some of the songs on this album, creating a wave of popularity from both the book and the series’ fans. As the song's title suggests, it is about the idea of a summer romance and how often it can be filled with negative and positive emotions like confusion and longing, which is how most relationships begin—especially in summer. Lover • Self-explanatory; that’s what this song will make you feel like; it’s different for everyone. Taylor Swift, however, already had a picture in mind when she was modifying the song to become what it is now. Naturally, it's very evident that the "two people" Swift had in mind were herself and Joe Alwyn, her then-boyfriend. She also penned numerous songs about him, including ‘Delicate’ and ‘King of My Heart,’ from her album ‘reputation’ which depict their lovely, intimate, blissful relationship back then before the split. You Need To Calm Down • Despite the album's ‘Lover’ title, 'You Need To Calm Down' is just one of the other songs with a self-love message included on the CD. This song, according to Genius, not only sends a “please-calm-down-instead-of-bringing-others-down” message of to all the people who detest her, but it also appears to support the LGBTQ+ community through her second verse, three of her lines explicitly saying: “I ain't trying to mess with your self-expression, but I've learned the lesson that stressin' and obsessin' 'bout somebody else is no fun.” There will be no explanation. There will just be reputation. Don't Blame Me For you, I would cross the line… They say, "She's gone too far this time" Don't blame me, love made me crazy Delicate My reputation's never been worse, so You must like me for me Look What You Made Me Do The world moves on, another day another drama, drama But not for me, not for me, all I think about is karma And then the world moves on, but one thing's for sure Maybe I got mine, but you'll all get yours This is Why We Can't Have Nice Things Because you break them, I had to take them away… Did you think I wouldn't hear all the things you said about me? 23 | Small Celebrations Small Celebrations | 24 As a little kid, she was nostalgia. As a grade schooler, she was the go-to at parties and celebrations. As an adolescent nearing early adulthood, she is someone to whom we can relate to. Taylor Swift and her music are part of the foundation of who we are today. Her lyrics became our mottos, her melodies became our anthems, and her stories prepared us for the journey ahead. It has been many years since 2006 - the year Taylor made her debut on the world stage - and since then, her own journey took many twists and turns to end up where she is right now. Let us look at that journey - a story weaved like a crochet through time - through, none other than, her own songs. Taylor Swift We now enter the bright sparkling yellow era called Fearless. This era, continuing the romantic themes of her debut album, continued to delve into her personal feelings and observations of the world around her from the perspective of a teenage girl. Love Story • The world was never the same again since Taylor rewrote the ending to Shakespeare’s tragedy, Romeo and Juliet. The song was inspired by a boy her family and friends disapproved of. Relating the story of Romeo and Juliet to her own life, a story wherein “the only people who wanted them to be together were them,” Swift felt the play could have been "the best love story ever told" if not for the tragic ending in which the two characters died; thus, she completely rewrote the ending to be that of a happy one. You Belong With Me • Swift was inspired to write "You Belong with Me" after overhearing a heated phone conversation between a band member and his girlfriend, which inspired the opening lines: "You're on the phone with your girlfriend, she's upset. She's going off about something that you said." She then decided to gender-swap the narrative and imagined herself as a girl who has hidden her feelings for a close male friend who is in a relationship with another girl. Her first and only full self-written album, Taylor puts her unique and enchanting songwriting in the spotlight. This concept album is all about not being able to speak up to a person at the right moment: “that moment where it's almost too late, and you've got to either say what it is you are feeling or deal with the consequences forever.” Enchanted • Although this jewel was never a single during the album’s original release, its status has been raised by the fans - and for a good reason. Written based on her experience with Owl City’s Adam Young, Taylor tells a classic story of love at first sight to the point that she questions whether the person she gushes for is already taken. Coupled with emotion-filled music, this song truly makes us want to dance around all alone under the sparkling sky. Long Live • This is regarded as Taylor’s penultimate gift to everyone who has been with her since the beginning of her journey. Her words put it best: “This song is about my band, and my producer, and all the people who have helped us build this brick by brick. The fans, the people who I feel that we are all in this together, this song talks about the triumphant moments that we've had in the last two years. We've had times where we just jump up and down, and dance like we don't care how we're dancing, and just scream at the top of our lungs, "How is this happening?" And, I feel very lucky to even have had one of those moments, nonetheless all the ones that I got to have. 'Long Live' is about how I feel reflecting on it.” The genre shift that shook the world for the better is the best way that we could describe this album. The immense success of this album elevated her from a country singer-songwriter to a global pop pheno- menon. The album's electronic-pop production continued on to Swift's next studio albums, reputation (2017) and Lover (2019), which solidified her status as a pop star. Blank Space • Swift told GQ in 2015 that she envisioned "Blank Space" as a satirical selfreferential nod to the media's perception of her as "a girl who's crazy but seductive but glamorous but nuts but manipulative." This was because Swift's reputation suffered as a result of her history of romantic relationships with a number of high-profile celebrities. The tabloid scrutiny of her image prompted her to write satirical songs about her perceived image. Shake It Off • The lyrics of this megahit were inspired by Swift's experience with media scrutiny during her rise to stardom. In an interview with Rolling Stone, "I've had every part of my life dissected... When you live your life under that kind of scrutiny, you can either let it break you, or you can get really good at dodging punches… And I guess the way that I deal with it is to shake it off.”If "Mean" found her assuming victimhood, "Shake It Off" found her taking a proactive stance to "take back the narrative.” Bad Blood • In this “pre-reputation” track, Swift based "Bad Blood" on an unnamed female musician. In an interview with Rolling Stone, she revealed that this female peer, whom she considered a close friend, attempted to sabotage one of her concert tours by hiring people who worked for her. Several publications speculated that Katy Perry was the subject of the song when it was released; Perry and Swift were then involved in a highly publicized feud that received extensive media coverage. However, after a couple of years, peace between the two was found at last. In Swift’s “You Need To Calm Down” music video, Swift, dressed as a French fry, seeks out Perry, dressed in her 2019 Hamburger look, in the midst of a joyful food fight. Karma • Taking the same theme behind Vigilante Shhh, Swift takes a passive approach when dealing with those who decided to bring her down. Despite the lyric “my pennies made your crown” being a subtle reference to Scooter Braun and their controversy, the song wishes to remind everyone that whatever goes around comes back around and that there is a consequence for every action that we decide to take. Yes, vigilantism is cool, but taking matters into your own hands is not; Taylor reminds us that we should just let karma do the dirty work. Mastermind • For all the organized people, the chess masters, and the literary enthusiasts, this one is made for you. Mastermind is the closing song of the album and is loved by Taylor Swift so much because of its romantic themes. It is enriched with waves full of longing, scheming, and overall just full-on planning. This is the literal definition of a song that manifests. So, if you believe in the power of clockwork, that the dominoes fall in a line; and, we were created to be the pawns in every lover's game, this song is for you. To summarize, Taylor Swift's journey through her eras has been nothing short of extraordinary. Swift has constantly evolved and redefined herself as an artist, from her country beginnings, where she established herself as a talented storyteller, to her bold transition into pop music. Each era represents a different period in her life and musical style, reflecting her personal develop- ment, triumphs, and heartbreaks. Swift has won the hearts of millions around the world with her captivating lyrics, relatable themes, and unwavering authenticity. Taylor Swift's impact on the music industry will be felt for years to come as she continues to push boundaries and experiment with new sounds, solidifying her status as one of the most influential and iconic artists of our time. To simply put it, she will forever be the music industry. Written by Gabriel Legaspi and Samantha Tachado listen while reading!
& BEYOND ACROSS INTO 25 | Small Celebrations Small Celebrations | 26 A LOOK INTOACROSS ACROSS & BEYOND & BEYOND & BEYOND THE SPIDER W V ritten E by Ma R rco Juh S ann O E rtega
W RI T T E N B Y E W A N C O N S T A N T IN O W i t h t h e g a m e r e a l l y m a k i n g t h e p l a y e r p u t t h e m s e l v e s i n t h e s h o e s o f a n o t h e r p e r s o n a n d m a k i n g t h e m e x p e r i e n c e a l l o f t h e i r m e m o r i e s t h r o u g h t h e l a t e s t 2 1 s t - c e n t u r y t e c h n o l o g y a v a i l a b l e, t h e p l a y e r g e t s t o l e a r n a l o t o f t h i n g s a b o u t l i f e t h r o u g h p l a y i n g t h e g a m e. M i n o r s p o i l e r s a h e a d — b u t B e f o r e Y o u r E y e s’ p l o t c e n t e r s a r o u n d t e a c h i n g y o u t h a t y o u c a n l i v e a v e r y o r d i n a r y l i f e, y e t s t i l l h a v e l i v e d l i f e t o t h e f u l l e s t. With the game quickly te a c h i n g y o u t h a t b l i n k i n g w i l l m a k e y o u m i s s a n y g i v e n m o m e n t y o u’r e r e l i v i n g, y o u q u i c k l y l e a r n t o v a l u e e v e r y m o m e n t, e v e n t h e l i t t l e t h i n g s. T h e b l i n k i n g m e c h a n i c t e a c h e s y o u t o b e p r e s e n t a n d r e a l l y t a k e e v e r y t h i n g i n b e f o r e l i f e ( o r t h e g a m e’s p r o g r a m m i n g, f o r t h a t m a t t e r ) t a k e s y o u s o m e w h e r e e l s e. If you’re also interested in games that handle philosophical and humanistic discussions, the game’s narrative and storytelling also tackle and present to you how being successful does not equate to living a full life (if you want to see how, play it yourself!). It is with the moments in Benny’s life that you experience through your own eyes in this game that you are taught all the above concepts. Before Your Eyes can be bought for ₱289.95 on Steam— that’s even cheaper than a ticket to the movie theater these days. So, if you have two hours to spare, a room to yourself, and tissues for when you inevitably cry, then for your next movie experience, why don’t you give Before Your Eyes a shot? See what makes progression in this game unique? Already, it can be seen that Before Your Eyes is different from your usual video game formula. Unlike most video games that make the player the director of their own experience, the game plays out more like a film where your blinks blend seamlessly with the progression— almost as if you were really living Benny’s life. In response to how blinking being an involuntary movement will force players to unwillingly progress through the story, one of the game’s developers, Oliver Lewin, stated during an interview, “There are some lines in the game that very few people are going to catch and they were designed that way. I personally find that exciting—you can't catch everything. I feel like that's lifelike.” And I think that’s what exactly captures the beauty of this game; the game’s unstoppable progression encapsulates how life itself is fleeting, how time just keeps marching on. This one-of-a-kind game really puts you through an unrivaled experience of living in someone else’s life for a bit, and it’s very beautiful that this can only be made possible through the medium of the video game, and not through any other media of communication. 27 | Small Celebrations S m a l l C e l e b r a t i o n s | 2 8
Dear Reader, Inhale and Exhale | 30 Write an article about the future prospects of artificial intelligence technology. Written by Artificial Intelligence Renzo Lirag Yet, while some people believe that the advancement in AI technology is a good idea, others are not so convinced that everything bodes well for humanity. A sizeable number of concerns are raised that reduce our enthusiasm for AI. For one, there is the general apprehension that while we are harnessing the usefulness of AI technology, we are teaching machines and robots too much—that they just could become smarter than we are, thus potentially causing problems including invasion of privacy and less face-to-face social interaction. Additionally, some claim that, if AI causes robots and computers to become very intelligent and smarter than humans, they could learn to do jobs more efficiently and take over people who usually do them, hence, rendering human resources redundant and robbing people of their employment. It may be relevant to note that in the Philippines, the installation of labor-saving devices is an authorized cause to do away with the employment of human workers. As mentioned earlier, Dr. Hinton had recently warned about the growing dangers from developments in the field of AI, saying to the New York Times that he “regretted his work”. His interview with the British Broadcasting Company (BBC) was no different as he spoke of AI -developed chatbots that "[r]ight now, they're not more intelligent than us, as far as I can tell. But I think they soon may be." That this is coming from a person who did pioneering research on neural networks which are systems that are similar to the human brain in the way they learn and process information from experience, as a person would (i.e. deep learning) should invite serious attention, especially that chatbots could soon overtake the extent of information that a human brain holds and their development is quite fast. This sort of AI storm further presents itself as a doomsday scenario when we think of smarter machines falling into the wrong hands and are made to create their so-called “sub-goals” or objectives that are far different from what they may have been programmed to do. There is concern that the rapid development of AI in the hands of terrorists, rogue states, and other bad actors could be instrumental to its misuse as in the invasion of human rights like those presented by AI technology for increased surveillance of citizens through facial recognition and profiling as well as the deployment of lethal autonomous weapons in warfare and the grab of political power. Experts are likewise bothered that AI systems could be abused to spread disinformation with better swiftness and efficiency than was previously possible, not to mention the fact that technology could even be used to shape a certain behavior or opinion from people across the internet as what happened during recent elections in the United States (US). As it is, AI systems are continuing to evolve just as they expand their impact on our lives; likewise, we can no longer deny that the rate of AI capabilities is accelerating. That being said, there is consensus on possible existential risks that AI poses, hence an urgent call among experts for the creation of robust safety measures to stem the misuse of AI technology. Matt Clifford, chairman of the UK's Advanced Research and Invention Agency, told the BBC in an interview that while "[t]here's an enormous upside from this technology, it's essential that the world invests heavily and urgently in AI safety and control." A number of countries and international organizations have already come up with legislation in the field of AI technology. The US, for instance, has its National AI Initiative Act of 2020 to provide for “a coordinated program across the entire Federal government to accelerate AI research and application for the Nation’s economic prosperity and national security.” The Philippines is not far behind, with the country’s Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) having launched the national artificial intelligence (AI) roadmap which made the Philippines one of the first 50 countries in the world to have a national strategy and policy on AI, although it is yet to pass a law that directly addresses the risks attendant to this digital technology. Certainly, we may just have to embrace AI as an unavoidable reality that comes along with technological advancement. Yet the opinion on how the technology’s benefits outweigh the risks is a mixed bag of sorts and may just be so soon. Despite this very promising technology held on to by those who have positive thoughts about it, the naysayers may have as much or even greater sway in the debate given their convincing cautionary tales warning about the dangers of too much faith in AI. Under the circumstances, AI development is not as smooth sailing as others hope it to be inasmuch as there are those who will always make sure that the technology remains in check for possibly spilling over into hallowed ground, namely the preservationof human beings’ superiority—the master and not the slave of their technological creations. As we witness the rapid growth of AI, the debate on the pros and cons of AI has markedly intensified, and many experts have weighed in as to how exactly we should approach AI today and tomorrow. Visionaries of the past were long fascinated by the idea of creating machines who would think and act at a level that would surpass human intelligence capabilities. Artificial intelligence, just as how it was conceived and intended to be, is a technology that allows a computer to think or act in a more “human” way by obtaining information from its surroundings and then being made to decide on its response based on what it learns or senses. The term artificial intelligence was coined sometime in 1956, and it has since been widely used to refer to that computing technology that developed around the creation of machines and applications that mimic human intelligence. For instance, in the 1960s, scientists were teaching computers to duplicate human decision-making which led to research on so-called machine learning, where robots were trained to learn for themselves and recall their mistakes instead of simply doing repetition. Much of this research relied on algorithms—essentially a set of instructions that a computer can use for problem-solving and deciding on what to do next—which play a big role in helping computers and robots to know and come up with a proper response. Mixed Feelings Hound the Future of AI Last May, Dr. Geoffrey Hinton, the man behind the pioneering research on neural networks and so-called deep learning, and who is likewise touted to be the “godfather” of artificial intelligence (AI), surprised many as he called it quits with technology business behemoth Google, where he worked as vice-president and engineering fellow since 2013. This sudden resignation comes on the heels of yet another unanticipated move by other industry giants like Elon Musk of Tesla and SpaceX who—together with more than 1,000 tech leaders, researchers, and others— signed an open letter around March of this year urging a pause on the development of the most powerful artificial intelligence systems. Apparently, just like Dr. Hinton, the call for a moratorium has been triggered by supposedly “profound risks to society and humanity” that are posed by the dizzying pace of development in the field of AI which, in the words of Hinton himself, is “quite scary.” Amid all the excitement and praises on AI, alarm bells are being sounded loudly these days. It certainly makes us scratch our heads if the rosy picture that AI is painted to turn out to be a mirage that obscures the dark side of this promising feat. This is especially concerning given that most recently, there have been serious fears heaped around the deployment of AI systems like ChatGPT-4, which is said to be able to “eclipse a person in the amount of general knowledge it has and it eclipses them by a long way”. From here, scientists started exploring machine perception, or equipping machines and robots with special instruments to give them human-like sensory experiences and let them adjust how they perform and behave because of what they sense. The whole point here is that the development of this technology will enable machines and robots to understand situations and decide on their response based on the information that they acquire. Quite logically, the next improvement will be teaching robots about feelings and emotions. AI has been very much around us for decades already, albeit the more recent years have seen a huge uptick in its development and integration into daily life. Indeed, many of the devices and the daily tasks and activities we do now rely heavily on AI technology. Just take as examples the smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other similar devices we now commonly use. We no longer use them simply as traditional means of communication. Nowadays, these multi-functional gadgets are already learning our interests, habits, and preferences and recognizing our faces and voices, the music we listen to, the news we read, and the types of movies and games we indulge in, and while those are just the most common encounters we have with AI, AI research and development has already improved and spread to many different tasks and activities beyond our daily routines including healthcare, transportation, aviation, and even agriculture. 29 | Dear Reader, Inhale and Exhale Dear Reader, Inhale and Exhale | 30 Generated Image by AI Generated Image by AI Generated Image by AI
31 | Dear Reader, Inhale and Exhale Dear Reader, Inhale and Exhale | 32 Isinulat ni Samantha Tachado
Liwanag sa Dilim Bagong simula, bagong pag-asa. Iyon ang naging inspirasyon ng mga Pilipino upang makaahon sa kabila ng mga hamon ng pandemya. Maraming nawalan ng trabaho at mahal sa buhay. Maraming tila naiwan sa kadiliman ng pandemya at nawalan ng pag-asa upang patuloy na mabuhay sa kabila ng pagsubok. Ngunit, paano kaya natin makakamit ang bagong simula at bagong pag-asa sa kabila ng dilim? Ang bawat isa sa atin ay mayroong kakayahan upang maging daan patungo sa pag-asa sa kabila ng lahat ng mga hamon. Ang pagiging tanglaw sa kadiliman ay hindi lamang para sa ibang tao, kundi para rin sa ating sarili. Ito ay nagpapalakas sa ating loob upang tunay na ipagmalaki ang ating ating pagkatao. Sa bawat pagkakataon na naging daan tayo ng pag-asa para sa iba, ating nalalagpasan ang mga hangganan ng ating sariling kakayahan na nagpapatibay sa ating pagkakakilanlan bilang isang taong punong-puno ng paniniwala at pag-asa. Ang pagiging tanglaw sa kadiliman at inspirasyon sa iba ay hindi lamang isang tungkulin, kundi isang pribilehiyo. Sa pamamagitan ng pagtulong sa ating mga kapwa Pilipino, tayo ay nabibigyan ng pagkakataon na maging bahagi ng mga hakbang tungo sa pagbabago. Sa pagkakaisa at sama-sama nating pagkilos, mas malaki ang ating magagawa upang mabigyan ng bagong simula at pag-asa ang ating sarili, ang ating pamilya, at ang ating komunidad. Sa ating paglalakbay patungo sa bagong simula at bagong pag-asa, mahalagang tunghayan natin ang mga aral at karanasan na dala ng pandemyang ito. Sa ating pagharap sa mga pagsubok at pagkabigo ng kinabukasan, natutunan din nating maging mas matatag sa ating pakikibaka sa buhay na ipinagkaloob sa atin. Ang pagiging lakas ng isa’t-isa ay patuloy na magiging pundasyon ng ating pagbangon. Marami na tayong kinaharap na pagsubok na nagpabago sa ating pagkatao at sa ating buhay. Ngunit sa ating bagong paghinga at pahinga, tayo naman ang maging liwanag sa dilim na magbibigay ng bagong pagasa at bagong simula sa mga Pilipinong hindi nakatamasa nito dahil sa pandemya at mga pagsubok at hadlang na kanilang dinanas. Sa pagtahak natin sa bagong landas, nawa ay magliliwanag ang daan tungo sa isang mas maganda at maunlad na kinabukasan. Sa kabila ng pandemya at ng mga pagsubok, kaya mo bang maging liwanag at inspirasyon para sa iba? 33 | Dear Reader, Inhale and Exhale Dear Reader, Inhale and Exhale | 34 Bagong Simula, Bagong Pag-asa Bagong Simula, Bagong Pag-asa
Ang sabi nila—kung hindi mo mahanap ang sarili mo, balikan mo raw kung saan ka huminto at baka doon mo muling matatagpuan. Ito ang mga katagang madaling maunawaan pero may mga tanong na iniiwan. Paano mo ba malalaman na nawala mo na ang dating ikaw? Paano mo masasabi na muli mo itong masusumpungan? Sa loob ng tatlong taon at apat na buwan na ako ay narito sa pansamanatalang tahanan, marami akong pagsubok na naranasan, mga tanong na naiwan sa puso, bigat sa damdamin na ‘di pa nalulunasan. Apat na buwan bago ang pandemya ay nagagawa ko pang huminga— ‘yong mabuhay na may ngiti at pag-asa mula sa suporta ng isang tao na nagpapalakas ng loob ko sa kabila ng sitwasyon at pinagdadaanan ko sa ngayon. Dumating ang laro ng tadhana—at ang mundo ay tila huminto sa pag-ikot. Mga ngiti ay natakpan ng maskara at mga mukha ng pamilya ay panandaliang hindi nakita. Sanay naman akong walang kasama, pero parang ang pag-iisa sa lugar na ito ay matindi ang kalungkutan na dala—pati ang pagkatao mo ay hindi mo na makikilala. Pipikit at didilat ka na tila robot na walang pandama. Humihinga, pero buhay nga bang talaga? O, sumasabay lang sa agos ng buhay na sinasagwan ng mga nakadilaw? Dalawang taon na ang pandemya ay tila sentensya na dagdag sa tagal na inilagi sa lugar na ito. May pahinga pero bakit parang nakapapagod? Pero teka, naiwala ko ba ang sarili ko? Hindi ko alam. Dahil kung tatanungin ako kung kumusta na ako ay hindi ko rin masasagot. Nandito ako sa lugar na naliligiran ng rehas na bakal – humihinga, lumalaban, nabubuhay sa gitna ng kawalan. Mag-aaral subalit tila mangmang sa katotohanan dahil natatakpan ng mga pader ang kabilang daan na dati kong nilalakaran. Ang buhay sa pansamantalang tahanan ay masalimuot na masarap. Libre ang tirahan, tubig at kuryente. Mayroon ka ng almusal, tanghalian at hapunan. Mayroon ka pang pagkakataon na makapag-aral. Pero maraming limitasyon at restriksyon. Sa bawat libre ay mayroon kang hindi mabili – mga panahon na nasayang at pagkakataon na nawala, mga masasaya sanang mga alaala na hindi man lang nagsimula. Sa tahanan na puro rehas na bakal ay tila pandemya sa bawat araw. Ako pa ba ito? Siguro. Ewan. Hindi ko alam kung saan ako huminto. Pandemya? Hindi sakit ang dinala. Parang amnesia. Nakalimutan mong sumaya, sa iba nagawa mong dumistansya. Teka, susubukan ko muling magpahinga. At baka sa pagitan ng aking mga paghinga ay maalala ko kung sino ba akong talaga. 35 | Dear Reader, Inhale and Exhale Dear Reader, Inhale and Exhale | 36
W r i t t e n b y B e a S a l v a d o r As kids, we all have our dream schools or courses that we're enthusiastic about for our future. We dream of so many big things and think of them as something we're certain about within ourselves. However, life is indeed full of surprises, and along the way, there will be obstacles or instances that lead to change. Sometimes, what we thought was our dream is not the right path for us. Change is scary; it often gives us fear, "what ifs," and disappointments about something that we once thought was already sure. Nevertheless, it's essential to remember that change is a natural part of life, and it often leads to personal growth and new experiences and opportunities that we never would have considered otherwise. Change can be precisely what we need to not only find success but to also discover who we truly are. When we let go of our preconceived notions and expectations, we give ourselves the opportunity to create a new path, one that is uniquely ours. I know firsthand how daunting it can be to step away from what we thought was our "dream" and original plan. I, myself, am also afraid of change. In my experience, I had always dreamed of attending ASHS. can figure it out. I encourage you to also take a step back and consider what other opportunities might be out there for you. I'd also like to highlight the importance of remembering that there is no such thing as a perfect path. Every journey will have its ups and downs, and it's up to us to navigate them in the best way we can. By being open to change and new experiences, we give ourselves the chance to create a fulfilling and authentic life. Take some time to reflect on what you truly want out of life. Don't be afraid to explore new opportunities and take risks. Change is constant, especially in life. You never know where your new path might take you, but it just might lead to a brighter and more fulfilling future. Finally, remember that whatever's meant for you will find you. I was scared to make a change, but ultimately, it led me down a path that was better suited for me. I feel great, surrounded by great people, pursuing my real passion and truly feel like I'm growing as a person here. All because I let go of my fear of change and opened myself to the idea of not limiting myself to my "dream" or my "original plan." Don't get me wrong, it's okay to follow our dreams. But if it ever seems blurry, know that you can have more than one dream and are allowed to modify them to fit your current situation, passions, and liking. The moral of the story is that sometimes, change can be precisely what we need to not only find success but to also discover who we truly are. It is scary, yes, but it is also something inevitable in life. So, if you're feeling scared or uncertain about deviating from your dream school or course, what you're feeling is valid. Take all the time you need to figure it out. And I quote, "Breathe in, Breathe through, Breathe deep, Breathe out." Know and trust in yourself that you My mindset was that it's either I'll be there or I won't consider transferring at all. But things didn't go according to plan; I failed. I got my heart broken, I was lost, and the flame of the burning passion within me felt like it was blown away. But LSGH came into the picture. It was never my plan to apply; I didn't even know this campus existed before. I didn't know what to expect, and I was so scared because it wasn't part of the plan at all. However, someone really special told me that when we hold onto a specific idea of what our future should look like, we limit ourselves to only one path. But when we open ourselves up to new possibilities, we create space for growth and exploration. This can lead to unexpected opportunities that we may have never considered before. It made sense, so I listened and opened myself to new possibilities. And it seems like fate was on my side, and it worked hard for me; I even got a full scholarship, in a strand I was hesitant to choose at first because of my pre-planned future beforehand. 37 | Dear Reader, Inhale and Exhale Dear Reader, Inhale and Exhale | 38
39 | Dear Reader, Inhale and Exhale Dear Reader, Inhale and Exhale | 40 In a world filled with expectations, judgments, and discrimination, it takes courage and resilience to truly accept oneself and rise above the challenges. We present a collection of candid narratives from six students who endured challenges and obstacles, but eventually overcame their doubts and found the courage to embrace their authentic selves. These firstperson accounts provide special insights into the adversities and successes of their individual journeys. By being genuine with their experiences, they learned and showed self-acceptance and have become beacons of inspiration for others. At a young age, I faced bullying, peer pressure, mental health issues, and hate from others. These experiences led to negative consequences, such as being excluded and picked on. I succumbed to the pressure and changed myself to fit their expectations, betraying my friends in the process. However, I eventually realized that I didn't need to prove my self-worth to them, and if they couldn't accept me, we weren't meant to be together. I also found solace in connecting with others who had faced similar challenges, as they were hesitant to let anyone in but could open up with time. To cope with struggles, I remember a quote from a game: "When you are at your weakest, remember you are not alone." This mindset helped me trust myself and others and practice self-forgiveness. I am Gab Melendres, and this is me. Since I was a kid, I already feared disappointing others more than myself, always striving for excellence in academics and responsibilities. Transitioning to a new phase in life, I worried about failure and not meeting my family's expectations, fearing they'd see my inadequacy. I constantly questioned my performance, doubting whether my studying or daily training hindered my progress. With a reluctance to share my struggles, I realized that it was my own self-doubt that held me back. I spent so much time overthinking about the outcomes and possibilities that are nearly impossible to happen rather than focusing on the task at hand. I thought that everyone around me was pressuring me to be someone or something- but it was only me. Being free does not only mean going around doing whatever we desire; it also means being free from our insecurities and catastrophic thinking. I am Ria Castillo, and this is me. I have been discriminated against for the sexuality I was born with. I thought being different rendered you weak and had nothing to offer in this "Adam and Eve's World." I held back the person I thought was a "disgrace" in our society. It took me a long time to accept and embrace myself. And with that, I discovered the power of my voice and harnessed it as a beacon for inspiration, awareness, and education, among others. I pursued a challenge to the concept that being different is inherently flawed, emphasizing that the only actual flaw lies in allowing selfdoubt to restrain personal growth and progress. I am Kenneth Lapid, and this is me. As a child, I was diagnosed with atopic dermatitis, which basically meant I had an increased chance of my skin being inflamed, whether it was self-inflicted or through weather changes. This condition started to affect me over time as I grew older and started to care more about how others looked upon me. For a while, I tried different skincare solutions to reduce the effect that the condition may have on me or limit myself from doing some actions that may cause it to show up. Eventually, as time passed, I embraced this condition and accepted it as a part of my life. I realized that I couldn’t do anything to prevent it from happening but rather just adapt to however the condition may affect me. As they say, not everything in life will be perfect, but how you adapt to these challenges and bounce back from them is what matters. I am Lance Albano, and this is me. Since the pandemic has forced all of us to stay in our homes, many have been subjected to that practice for two full years. I was not different from being too used to the home-based setup in the sense that I needed to adjust back to face-to-face classes. August 2023 was a bit rough, for that was when I discovered that I tend to be awkward socially at times. In other words, it was the first time I noticed that I might lack confidence in social situations. Because of that, throughout the school year, I devised active and passive ways to boost my confidence around my peers and other people. It was a really significant endeavor of mine in such a way that I evaluated my progress week by week. Eventually, the second trimester saw progress in my endeavor, and finally, I considered it a done task by the third term. This story may or may not mean anything to anyone else, but it was a significant enough issue for me that I spent an entire school year addressing my insecurity. This has taught me that I should just be myself around others and that if I don't put into mind what others will think, then my confidence will further develop. I am Alfonso Bagadiong, and this is me. Growing up, I have always made sure that everything I say and do is aligned with whatever makes everyone pleased. A twinkle of disappointment is the only sight I did not want to have, not the sight of mascots or clowns. I made sure that everyone around me was happy because I found solace in the notion that my happiness relied on that. I began looking for the roots of why I am looking for validation from everyone around me. Was it out of fear of rejection? Was it from my thirst for approval or praise? Or was I self-destructing? That my happiness was not as significant as that of those around me? Social media engagement can be a nemesis of reality, but it has been one of the predominant reasons why global awareness about pressing issues has strengthened. I have seen numerous situations wherein societal expectations terminate the inner beauty of an individual. And, I did not want that for myself. I began letting go of what was deterring me from flourishing, and I began pleasing myself by honoring my desires and setting boundaries. It gave me a deep sense of fulfillment, and for once, it made me genuinely happy. I recognize that my happiness is my responsibility, and the twinkle of disappointment that I once feared has been my strength to have a sight on self-reflection and growth. I am Jyra Quilang, and this is me. As we conclude this powerful collection of personal stories in "This is Me," we witness the profound impact of embracing our true selves in a world that often demands conformity. These individuals have shown us that selfacceptance goes beyond personal triumph—it is a revolutionary act that ignites inspiration in others, encouraging them to break free from societal expectations. In proclaiming our authentic selves, we reclaim our power, honoring our unique essence and paving the way for others to do the same. May these personal stories resonate deeply within our hearts, igniting a spark of inspiration that will guide us to live boldly and authentically. Together, let us rewrite the narrative, embrace the power of acceptance, and create a world where everyone can proudly say, "This is me."
S h e s t a n d s b e f o r e t h e m i r r o r , u n s u r e o f w h a t s h e s e e s A r e f l e c t i o n o f s o c i e t y ' s e x p e c t a t i o n s a n d i d e o l o g i e s B e a u t y s t a n d a r d s t h a t s h e c a n n o t s e e m t o m e e t D o u b l e s t a n d a r d s t h a t s h e c a n n o t s e e m t o b e a t S o c i e t y t e l l s h e r w h a t s h e s h o u l d l o o k l i k e , B u t s h e r e f u s e t o b e c o n f i n e d b y t h e i r s i g h t , E x p e c t a t i o n s p l a c e d u p o n u s , A r e n o t h i n g m o r e t h a n a s o c i e t a l f u s s , N o w s h e t a k e s a b r e a t h a n d l o o k s b e y o n d T o a w o r l d w h e r e s h e i s m o r e t h a n j u s t a p a w n W h e r e h e r p o t e n t i a l k n o w s n o b o u n d s W h e r e t h e s ky ' s t h e l i m i t a n d s h e ' s f r e e t o f l y a r o u n d S h e s e e s h e r s e l f i n a n e w l i g h t A w a r r i o r , r e a d y t o f i g h t A g a i n s t t h e n o r m s t h a t h o l d h e r d o w n A n d r i s e a b o v e w i t h g r a c e , b e a u t y , a n d r e n o w n F o r s o c i e t y ' s s t a n d a r d s a r e n o t h e r s t o k e e p H e r w o r t h a n d v a l u e r u n f a r t o o d e e p A n d w i t h e a c h s t r i d e , s h e b r e a k s f r e e F r o m t h e c h a i n s t h a t o n c e h e l d h e r d o w n , s h e ' s n o w f r e e t o b e “ I a m m o r e t h a n j u s t a p r e t t y f a c e , A n d w o n ' t b e h e l d b a c k b y t h e i r d i s g r a c e . I a m s t r o n g a n d c a p a b l e , M y p o t e n t i a l i s i m m e a s u r a b l e . ” S o l e t u s a l l t a k e a c u e f r o m h e r A n d r i s e a b o v e t h e s o c i e t a l c h a t t e r a n d p u r r F o r w e a r e m o r e t h a n j u s t w h a t t h e y s e e O u r p o t e n t i a l r u n s f a r b e y o n d , j u s t w a i t a n d s e e . L e t u s s t a n d t a l l , w i t h h e a d s h e l d h i g h , O u r w o r t h a n d v a l u e c a n ' t b e d e n i e d , B r e a k i n g d o w n b a r r i e r s , o n e b y o n e , W e p r o v e t h a t w e a r e s e c o n d t o n o n e . W o m e n h a v e l o n g p r o v e n t h a t w e a r e c a p a b l e o f a c h i e v i n g g r e a t t h i n g s d e s p i t e s o c i e t y's b e a u t y s t a n d a r d s a n d d o u b l e s t a n d a r d s h e l d a g a i n s t u s. T h o u g h t h e s e s t a n d a r d s c a n b e p e r v a s i v e a n d c h a l l e n g i n g t o o v e r c o m e, c o u n t l e s s w o m e n h a v e d e f i e d t h e m a n d a c c o m p l i s h e d g r e a t t h i n g s. L e t u s r e m e m - b e r t h a t w e a r e m o r e t h a n o u r a p p e a r a n c e, a n d t h a t o u r w o r t h e x t e n d s f a r b e y o n d i t. A s w e b e l i e v e i n o u r o w n p o t e n t i a l, w e b r e a k d o w n t h e s e b a r r i e r s a n d p a v e t h e w a y f o r f u t u r e g e n e r a t i o n s o f w o m e n. Uplifting each other creates powerful networks o f c h a n g e - m a k e r s w h o c a n i n s p i r e o t h e r s s t r u g g l i n g t o s e e t h e i r o w n p o t e n t i a l. B r e a k i n g d o w n t h e b a r r i e r s t h a t l i m i t o u r o p p o r t u n i t i e s m a y n o t b e e a s y, a n d m a y r e q u i r e r e l i a n c e, p e r s i s t e n c e, c o u r a g e, and a strong support system. But as the saying goes, "Babae ka, hindi babae lang." This means that we can do it! Let us keep pushing forward and not let anyone lim i t o u r w o r t h a n d p o t e n t i a l. As we continue to suppo r t e a c h o t h e r a n d b r e a k d o w n b a r r i e r s, we must also acknowledge the intersectionality of these barriers. Women face different obstacles based on their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and other factors. It is essential that we work towards inclusivity and equity for all women, not just those who fit into a certain mold. By recognizing and celebrating the diversity within our community, we can create a more inclusive and suppor- tive environment for all women. We must uplift and amplify the voices of those who are often marginalized, and work toge- ther to fight against systemic oppression. Together, we can create a world where every woman has the opportunity to achieve her full potential. Let us continue to push forward and pave the way for future generations of women to come. Because we, women, are second to none. 41 | We are The Lazette W e a r e T h e L a z e t t e | 4 2 I d r e a m t o f r e a c h i n g t h e s t a r s t o d a y , O f g r a s p i n g m y h a n d a r o u n d t h e c r e s c e n t m o o n . B u t m y e y e s p r i e d o p e n t o t h e b i t t e r s i g h t o f a s u n w h o s e s h o w n i t s e l f t o o s o o n , k i l l i n g t h e w i s t f u l d r e a m s o f n i g h t . N o w b u r i e d i t l a y s i n t h e s e p u l c h e r o f n o o n , a t o m b o f w i n d s t h a t b l o w a n d s w a y s c a t t e r e d a c r o s s t h e b o u n d l e s s d u n e . I n h e r e I m o u r n t h a t d r e a m l o n g g o n e , m y e y e s p l u c k e d a n d m y y o u n g f l e s h e d n o w p r u n e d , I g r o p e m y w a y a r o u n d t h e s h i f t i n g s a n d s P r a y i n g t h i s b u r i e d d r e a m m a y s e r v e m e w e l l i n t h e n e x t t h r e a d o f f a t e , i n t h e n e x t l i v i n g w o m b .
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47 | REPRE23NT One in the Service of Many "One in the service of many.” These words are meant to inspire unity and togetherness within the Student Affairs Central Body (SACB)—to push its members to work as one towards the common goal of serving the student body to the best of their abilities. It’s a motto that inspired me in my time as a student-leader and one that I will carry on for the rest of my life because of how my journey in servant leadership has shaped me into the person I am today. Going into Grade 7, I remember being really worried because even though I wasn’t transferring schools, I felt like I didn’t know anyone in my batch. Back in Grade School, I was part of the Advanced Class where students that excelled academically could accelerate right to Grade 8 as their first year of high school. Because we never had any new classmates, our class was known to be separated from the rest of the batch; in other words, the people I had started with in Grade 1 were my classmates all the way up to Grade 6, which meant that I knew only a handful of people outside the class. Since my parents and I decided not to have me accelerate, I felt very alone in my first year in junior high school. I didn’t know anyone around me, and I was scared to take steps out of my comfort zone. That was until I joined the SACB, my first family in high school. The SACB gave me something familiar—service—at a time when nothing around me felt familiar. My council mates in the SACB were my first friends in high school, and the organization as a whole gave me a place where I felt like I belonged. I loved running projects and activities like sports fests and fairs, and I loved how much community happiness came from them. Grade 7 marked the start of my leadership journey. I ran without an opponent in that year’s class officer elections and won Class President. As I progressed through junior high school, so did my roles and responsibilities as a servant; I began to start being known as a leader in my batch, and I was elected as Class President again in Grades 8 and 9. My tasks in the SACB also started getting bigger and bigger; instead of simply being a runner, marshal, or personal assistant for events, I started taking on more planning and logistics work. My seniors taught me how to plan and execute projects and how to best serve my batch and the community. At the end of Grade 9, I realized that I wanted to take another step by running for a post in the SACB Executive Committee (ExeComm). I knew that the responsibilities that came with the position would be bigger than anything I had experienced up to that point, but I felt ready to take on the role. I ended up losing the elections for Grade 10 Batch Representative by a pretty small margin, but it didn’t discourage me from continuing to serve. I was Class President again in Grade 10, and I joined the SACB again to stick to my commitment to leadership and service no matter what. I took a few more steps in Grade 10, taking on even more specialized roles in the SACB like being a committee head for some of the projects that we ran that year. These experiences pushed me to run once again for batch representative at the end of that year, and I ended up winning the position of Grade 11 Batch Representative. Grade 11 marked my first year in the ExeComm as Batch Representative. I was in charge of bringing the batch closer together despite the online setup. This proved to be a challenge because that school year, we had over 150 new students in our batch alone. It was also the very first year that our batch went coeducational after being all boys for over 11 years. Throughout Grade 11, I headed and took part in over 10 projects all for the student body. From welcoming projects for the new students, to monthly news report shows, to connection and interaction videos between batches, I did all I could to use my position to ensure that everyone enjoyed the year to the fullest. Along the way, I decided that at the end of the year, I wanted to take my biggest step yet—run for SACB President. Running for president was never something I anticipated or even imagined before Grade 11. I expected that I would be content with a more minor role in the ExeComm in my senior year; however, my time as Batch Representative inspired me to give leadership and servanthood my all. I realized that my passion lay with serving fellow students to the best of my abilities and this pushed me to run for the position of President, the biggest role in the student body that one could take. Going into the elections, I wasn’t sure about my chances of winning because I was up against two other excellent candidates from my batch. I pushed on through, and when elections rolled around, my schoolmates believed in me enough to elect me to be their next SACB President. This year, I’ve had my happiest few months of my life here at GH. Being able to serve as the President of the student body was everything I had hoped it would be and so much more. Taking on the biggest position in the student council really opened up my opportunities to serve and lead throughout the year, and my ExeComm was able to accomplish so much throughout the year. From Lasallian Educators’ Day and World Teachers’ Day celebrations to Kabihasnan ’23 and Gunita to Prom and Grad Ball, I couldn’t be prouder of what the SACB was able to do for the students this year. Despite all this though, I still consider my years before my term to be even more important and formative in my life than the presidency itself. My leadership journey has taken me from being a scared outcast to being the president of the school’s entire student body. I’ve gone from being a toddler in my first high school family to being the head of that very same family, and I couldn’t be happier with how my journey unfolded. Throughout the years, I had fallen more and more in love with service and leadership. The journey so far has had its ups and downs, and nothing was ever for certain, but I’d do it all again in a heartbeat. Servanthood has been my greatest passion and joy for as long as I can remember, and it’s something that has changed me as a person in a million different ways. Servanthood is a commitment that brings about many challenges, but also incredible joys that I’ve never found elsewhere. This is why I’ve made it my life’s goal to never give up on this journey of being one in the service of many. As my batch moves on to our own journeys in college and beyond, I look back on my time at La Salle Green Hills with immense gratitude for everything it has done to form me into the person I am today. I know my journey is one of thousands of stories that have unfolded throughout the years at GH and I can’t wait for the next thousand to come from the school. So, Batch ’24 and beyond, go write your own stories and set out on your own journeys. I’m incredibly proud to say that my second home is in great hands. And to my batchmates in Batch ’23, I can’t wait to see what we all go on to do next. Animo La Salle! Written by Cito Hernandez