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When a bubble gets big, it doesn't float any higher. It only becomes big when there is too much air and too much space inside. It can fit an arena or an avenue. Like a kid in a park, we've always dreamed of a bubble so big and grand. But little did we know it's the easiest one to prick. Leni’s bubble can fit two million people as of now. We may never know the true reach of her bubble until May 9, but the bubble is so big that some say it determines the fate of our democracy. It’s as if a miracle happens when a bubble becomes that big. And to be honest, a bigger bubble brings bigger joy. But for all we know, at some point, it may burst. It’s not the strongest bubble out there according to surveys, but it’s a bubble that makes some so hopeful again. This bubble is special, as some might put it. Of course, any big bubble is special because making it takes a lot of air and patience. As others resort to smaller, higher, and different ones, the ones who join to make the bubble bigger seem to enjoy the game. The camp says, there’s no formula for people to get into the game but to only talk to them from their doors and encourage them. A bigger bubble has more surface area than smaller ones. Getting past the blows of misinformation is a goal to make people stay. With too many surfaces, a blow can pop it anytime soon. It's discouraging to blow one again. We might have to wait to get the same bubble that we once had. The bubble has all the eyes of the crowd. Its size and energy—the way it glows against the backdrop of dryness—makes it tempting to burst into fragments. There's a satisfaction for some to pop this bubble. It's not for them to get bigger, in fact, it only worsens the case. A pricked bubble fragments into droplets and soon it pricks all other bubbles near it as well. If the bubble must be retained, all interests must align. But too late in this game, it's impossible to change a mind. To prick or not to prick is a question to be asked. For those who have tried pricking, shame befalls them. The people who love the bubble. like it so much, they'll fight for it. Insofar as pricking is concerned, an army exists to protect it. Those who have hoped have called the hopeless defected and dumb, which defeats the effort of encouraging one by one. Now, if it continues, more and more will want to prick the bubble. ----- Written by: Jantzen Eros Layout and Design by: Jantzen Eros

The hardest bubbles to prick are the ones that cannot be reached, for reason cannot exalt to the height of the blows sustained by lies and historical revisions. Bongbong's approach to the election is effortless. Nostalgia, or at least a distorted view of the past, sells faster than hotcakes. Promises from the past remain to be the same. And for all it's worth, it was kept. It's as if he is destined to sit, with all shortcomings gone by the wind. Of all the candidates, he's the most prepared—his campaign stretches way before many campaign periods. The fabrication of the Marcos brand started as soon as EDSA ended. A widow longing for her dead lover. A family with inheritance stolen from them. It's telenovela-worthy straight out of a writer's room. But much like a writer in the elections, the writing was not as interesting because of its worth. It's interesting because of the context. There was an active effort for revisions, but there weren't active efforts for clarifications. A Marcos presidency is set in stone because of the blows of miseducation we take daily. It supplies the air the bubble uses to fly. We're never taught how to digest the news. We're never taught to question authority. While some might have the privilege to question their bubbles, the majority remain comfortable inside theirs. No, it's not a privilege to stay in one, but it's forced by the comfort neutrality supports. Gun to the head: criticism or obedience? The answer is clear for an average person. Marcos's bubble is the most comfortable one. It's the safest choice if you want a better life. His message is clear: Babangon Muli. Despite babangon's ambiguity, muli offers gratification and certainty. Now, we question the alternatives. The mis-consolidated opposition paves the way for Bongbong. He offers certainty; they offer too-good truths. He offers precision; they offer mixed signals. For a bubble this high in the sky, it cannot yet burst for what-ifs remain and are maintained by the winds. Bubbles can be inflated for as big as we want. It's the air that brings it higher as it blows past our needles. ----- Written by: Jantzen Eros Layout and Design by: Jantzen Eros

A sudden blow brings smaller bubbles, and a thousand others already burst. Only one may remain to fare the open space. It’s lonely and unenjoyable, but it’s a bubble that remains even when winds blow strong. Ka Leody’s bubble is built upon solidarity. With only consolidated 20-peso bills the party members give, the campaign survives. Despite recent prickings and impending ones, it’s not too daunting for a lone bubble to fly atop threading needles. So, it's all or nothing for Ka Leody. The fight is not about him being elected, it’s about the cause having the power in the seat over the offices that ignored the masses. The blow seems brave and rapid but it’s a blow powered by rage against oppression. For a bubble so brave and strong, a specific formula is required. ‘No other blows give the same approach; no other cause understands the call. It’s not a time for any compromise, for no blows will remain if we wait again.’ There are times that this bubble could have been part of a bigger bubble; calls were made but they weren’t listened to in a way that they would want. But there are bubbles closely related to this one that exists. It's a bubble that wants to be in another bubble. It's confusing. It's new. It's a surprise other bubbles persist. Now, there's no war between them, but a cold shoulder sends confusing signals. It’s not just now that we same almost the same bubble crash against each other but rarely merge. Regardless, for a bubble to survive, the right conditions have to be met, or at least the conditions have to be made themselves. This bubble does not sit comfortably—it never was comfortable—on a success story. Rather, this bubble continues its struggle. It’s one very different bubble than the other ones—mainly for workers and unionists. It’s one strong and lonely bubble. Despite the culling and selection, the very specific bubble remains and is not satisfied with the status quo. ----- Written by: Jantzen Eros Layout and Design by: Jantzen Eros

Slowly blowing bubbles make it sog and watery. Quickly blown bubbles are small and too uninteresting to enjoy. Only the bubbles blown by the right amount of air fly high and get noticed by all. Precision is a tactic in bubble-making. Too vague and bubbles become harder to make. Isko either slowly or quickly blows bubbles when given the chance. Of all the bubbles he created, only a few small ones remain. The bigger ones popped, and it almost rained. He wants a bubble, of course, but he has trouble making one. He’s lucky to have some bubbles blown effortlessly but when tries to do it forcefully, no bubbles form. It’s pretty confusing how he wants his bubble to be. But we know, we've seen this bubble before. It's a winnable move or so at least the last election made it seem. But one thing is clear, his bubble resents other bubbles. He's neither with the biggest bubble nor the highest one; he has a bubble for bubble's sake. He serves a specific 'silent majority' who does not want Leni nor Bongbong; who wants a fresh face in an old seat. It's not too easy to believe that the bubble exists. For one, the bubble fragments as the day of reckoning come. He's almost like another bubble whose power has been reduced. But he knows how to patch holes and so the bubble remains. 'It doesn't hurt,' he says after a faction joins a bigger bubble. He's made it far beyond anyone's measure if we go way back. He's no ordinary bubble; he resents other ones. Bilis Kilos was the approach—how fast a blow! But it went slowly unsurely to God First. It appeals somehow to the masses who've been fed up with the rivalry of the old. He wants to be no ordinary bubble. ------ Written by: Jantzen Eros Layout and Design by: Jantzen Eros

Forty minutes left. She stared at the big vanity mirror. Twirling her sequenced frame, hair flowing like waterfalls highlighting her almond eyes. Making sure the makeup is still intact despite the bombs liting up some of the skies. The show must go on. “10 mins till we get this show on the road,” the stout manager exclaims. As her routine, she weaves through the crowd of showgirls adorned with jewels. The poverty trap does come in handy for numbing a woman’s struggle in the city. Perhaps the night craves for mischief, making her stumble. “Tch, watch yer heels, this is why a woman should just stick to cleaning,” the intoxicated soldier yaps. All she could retaliate was a sigh. The men discarded their gold bands for their livestock, filling their cups with beer. Tobacco danced around the air along with the dancers in the twilight. The usual consumed orders are the marmalades down in the old Moulin Rouge. Letting her cherry lips signal the encore, Siren was what they called her. Captivating, yet beauty hides a lethal strength. A woman exists to entertain. A woman’s asset is to be pretty like a doll, a common ode at her time. Entertain she shall. Her song spreads like a buffet. Bon appétit she sang. Tempting listeners to have an appetite for her seduction. Their eyes full of lust blinds them to what awaits them in the deep quarters of the bar. By taking a sip of the lady marmalades in bed they surrender their life and pockets as collateral. The dancers always had eyes burning in rage that are always fresh out the oven. As the show’s climax reaches, the wooden floors turn a bright shade of cherry. The dancers leave the quarters after the Siren's song. They sent the men away, leaving joyful widows. Whilst the gold bands and coins have settled a new home in the entertainers' pocket. Ending the show. The sun started to shine, and the seats were empty. Putting away the spiked drinks. Erasing the crime scene and flipping the closed sign. The Moulin Rouge would be silent in dawn, but becomes a haven in the dark to the women to earn and "clean". The new group of bachelorettes thanks her for the liberating song. Cherry lips smirked knowing its best to leave it to a woman to clean the disgusting filth of misogyny. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Written by: Nethaniah Jan Lim Layout and Design by: Charles Ian Ramos

Why do we have to ask, "When was the first time women joined in sports?" and not "First time sports have been institutionalized?" Why is it that rights for women, especially in sports, have always been late in progress and often disregarded? Women, throughout the years, have been stereotyped as soft, weak, and vulnerable. And people like that have no room for sports, where activities are primarily physical. In recent years, progressive minds came into action and gave women the spotlight they deserve. In the Philippines, where a patriarchal society is dominant, it is ironic that the first Olympic medal bestowed in our country came from the strength and courage of a woman. She hurdled various competitions that prepared her for this. Being able to secure three medals for three consecutive years in the Asian Games, it is with no doubt that she will clinch the first Olympic Gold Medal for the Philippines. Hidilyn Diaz stood atop the podium of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics after giving the country its first Olympic Gold Medal for the Women's 55 kg Weightlifting Event. She carried a combined weight of 224 kg, leaving China in silver and Kazakhstan with bronze. But before weeping for success, she also faced severe insecurities because of her sport. She came along with some misconceptions that weightlifting is a sport for boys only, she won't be pregnant, she won't grow tall, and no man will love a bulky woman. And as a way to console herself, she tends to cover herself with a jacket. But her heart for the sport won. Two years later, she seized second place in the event in the Rio Olympics. And after five years, her determination paid off. She landed the top seed for the women's weightlifting 55 kg event. As her friend puts it, "Filipino girls now have a diverse spectrum of who to consider as their heroes, idols, and models. Little girls now have the opportunity to dream and reach for the stars in ways beyond what all the past generations of Filipino girls never had." As much as she wants to bring hope for her motherland through her achievement, she also wants to tell her story to inspire girls and youths that passion knows no sex and gender. A woman set a record for the Philippines, a woman broke the record for the Philippines, and a woman brought pride for the Philippines. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Written by: Rizza Alarcio Layout and Design by: Gerald Reyes References: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/sport/philippines-olympics-gold-weightlifting-hidilyn-diaz-274286 https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1110796/weightlifting-diaz-philippines-olympics https://edition.cnn.com/2021/07/27/world/hidilyn-diaz-philippines-gold-olympics-intl-hnk/index.html https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/26/sports/olympics/philippines-gold-medal.html

“Freedom cannot be achieved unless women have been emancipated from all forms of oppression” - Nelson Mandela Over the years societal stereotypes take a toll on the economical conditions of people, in the issue of Pink tax, on women. Aside from the discriminatory tax being an additional cost in ‘women-labeled’ products which are commonly personal care items, it can also be associated with the gender-based pay gap and purchasing power. Gender norms that pressure individuals to fit in with the standard of the society correlated with the existence of price differentiation and elasticity are the bloodline of this prejudiced tax. ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF PINK TAX ON WOMEN The price discrepancy between products shows how an individual’s ability to purchase a certain item can be affected. Though women are often regarded as wage-earners due to their increasing population in the industry, they save less from what they earn as their living costs are significantly higher than men. Thus, women's capability of buying in terms of quantity and quality is clearly influenced. Pink Tax applied in a country like the Philippines means more aggression towards women. For personal amenities, like razors, it costs men PHP 81.75, while PHP 122.25 for women. There is no difference in the razor, just that there is the Pink Tax applied on the latter. Considering the additional expenses because of the discriminatory tax, there has been a huge cut on the wages of women over time. This greatly affects finances as the spent amount could’ve been used to cover other primary needs. Women are left with no choice but to budget the remaining amount and at times either adjust by decreasing allocated costs for other needs or settle for products not designed for them. In addition, saving for future plans is hindered as living costs increase over time. Though the Pink Tax effect on retail costs may seem minimal, combined total from months to years can show a notable difference in men's and women's living expenses. Pink Tax not only enables temporary issues in regards to disparity but triggers other economic factors as well in terms of future living conditions of women. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Written by: Charies Dualan Layout and Design by: Dan Kurt Buenaventura Sources: https://www.thoughtco.com/pink-tax-economic-gender-discrimination-5112643 https://www.jec.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/8a42df04-8b6d-4949-b20b-6f40a326db9e/the-pink-tax---how-gender-based-pricing-hurts-women-s-buying-power.pdf https://tetofficial.com/economical-analysis-of-pink-tax/ https://swarthmorephoenix.com/2021/09/30/wait-seriously-pink-tax/ https://nolisoli.ph/45788/pink-tax/ https://www.rappler.com/nation/158035-vanity-tax-discriminatory-against-women-quimbo/

"Psst! Kuya, wampipti!" Above is a common slur used to generalize the gay community as desperate enough to pay in exchange for sexual relations. It is a concept that puts them in a box controlling how to present themselves to the public. It is no secret that the PH LGBTQ+ culture still stereotypes gay people to look feminine with the classic putok na lipstick and ATM of cismen. Somehow these representations are believed to be "right" about the LGBTQ+ community, which trapped many people in an identity expected of them by the prying eyes around them. This has placed the community in a discriminative environment towards their identity for a long time. However, discrimination among the gay community is more rampant in the marginalized sector. It is evident that figures like Tito Boy receive more respect than the typical gays in low-income places like salons and karinderyas. Our community, which long forced the gay community to be treated as someone who will only be accepted if they can offer something of use to the heteronormative society, made gays of the low-income community live to be ATMs of cismen. Despite having figures in the mainstream media representing the LGBTQ+ community, it is evident that they are still underrepresented in the Filipino media. Division among the upper-class and lower-class gays creates a discrepancy in acceptance and tolerance of queer culture. Misrepresentation of what and how gays of different classes should portray affects the perception and opinion of the masses towards the community. Without better programs and figures to promote self-representation, many are still confused about their identity, and acceptance from families is too impossible for some. This toxic culture is merely a symptom of an underlying issue in society. The lack of SOGIE education among the Filipino community tolerates the misrepresentation of the gay community. Hindering the society from learning the complex ideas of self-representation and gender identity pushes the narrative towards harmful misrepresentation about the LGBTQ+. Street harassment, preying, pedophilia, and other forms of violence are common reactions of miseducated people towards queer self-expression. The concept of 150 is mere classist discrimination against the economically disadvantaged members of the LGBTQ+ community. The gays in the street are treated without respect and are raised in a toxic culture. Abuse against their identity is commonplace in an environment of confusion that chooses not to accept them. At this point in time, can we even win the fight for everyone's freedom if we blindside dangerous stereotypes? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Written by: Julia Torres Layout and Design by: Jantzen Eros

The system of patriarchy has been gradually reaching its dissolution since the time women started to realize their rights, worth, and importance. Through the years, the fight for acknowledgment in society brought women to exercise their right to vote and hold a position, stand on equal footing with men in the workplace, especially in terms of wages, and decide over their bodies. In the age of business and entrepreneurship, women are also asserting power in the business industry and economy.--a challenging battle with the same hurdles, men and their patriarchal ideologies and social stigma. Yet, women business owners and entrepreneurs are not backing down hence stepping up their game. According to the Women and Entrepreneurship report for 2015 of Investing in Women Asia, 51% of business owners in the Philippines are women. 20% of major leadership positions such as CEO, COO, President, and Vice President comprise Filipinas, while 30% of board directors in different businesses in the Philippines are also composed of women. In 2020, the Philippines topped 31 other countries in terms of the most female executives with high-ranking positions with 47%. A significant improvement in figures is shown from the 35% in the previous year with the country at the 5th place on the list. Here are 5 inspiring Filipinas shaping the business industry in the Philippines: Teresita Sy - Coson Banco De Oro (BDO) Unibank Chairperson and SM Investment corporation (SMIC) Vice-Chairperson Teresita' Tessy' Sy - Coson is a member of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council. This delegation strengthens the economic integration of the region. Aside from heading one of the country's largest universal banks, Sy - Coson was responsible for increasing their corporation's retail merchandising and mall development. The eldest and first daughter of the late Henry Sy Sr., Sy - Coson finished her undergraduate degree from Assumption College. Robina Gokongwei - Pe Robinsons’s Retail Holdings Inc. President and CEO Robina Gokongwei - Pe continues her family legacy in the business industry. Aside from the RRHI, Gokongwei - Pe is the senior vice president and group general manager of Robinsons Retail Holdings. She also serves as the Director of Cebu Air, Robinsons’ Bank and Land Corporation, and the non-executive director of JG Summit Holdings, Inc. Gokongwei - Pe is also the first female board member of the educational institution, Xavier School. Daughter of late John Gokongwei, Robina attended the University of the Philippines - Diliman and New York University (NYU), where she obtained her degree in Journalism. Angeline Tham Angkas Founder and CEO Angeline Tham is beating traffic and beating the norm. Tham is a former JP Morgan banker and also inclined in the tech industry with sold.sg, Singapore’s top online auction platform, and Gamers.PH, the country’s first online marketplace for video game titles and gears. Tham has been providing livelihood to 27,000 Filipinos registered in their database as riders and helping many Filipino commuters arrive at their destinations safely and fast with her company. Doris Magsaysay - Ho Magsaysay Group of Companies President and CEO Doris Magsaysay - Ho has been leading the Philippines' shipping and maritime transport industry. She also deals with the logistics and tourism sector of the company. Aside from the family legacy regarding business and entrepreneurship, Magsaysay - Ho obtained her master's degree in Industrial Design at Pratt Institute, carrying talent in visual arts inherited from her mother Anita, a famed modernist artist. Felicia Hung Atienza Not just its President and CEO, Feli Atienza founded the Chinese International School Manila. She is also the current President and CEO of Domuschola International School, former Board Director in Rappler, and former Vice President of Merrill Lynch. Aside from being a world-class businesswoman, Atienza is also busy volunteering with the Philippine Eagle Foundation, Move.org Foundation Inc., and Urban Program for Livelihood Finance and Training. Her impressive educational background reflects her victor as a businesswoman. Atienza completed her economics degree with a double major in Finance and Multinational Management as a cum laude. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Written by: Julie Anne Duyongan Layout and Design by: Adrian Nabua Sources: https://www.forbes.com/profile/teresita-sy-coson/?sh=6a328093240c https://ph.linkedin.com/in/felicia-hung-atienza-105b5756 https://www.tatlerasia.com/the-scene/people-parties/10-Business-Women-Shaping-the-Philippines?gallery=true&slide=0&type=carousel https://www.grantthornton.com.ph/insights/global-insights1/articles/philippines-has-most-women-in-senior-positions/ https://globisinsights.com/purpose/dei/female-leaders-philippines/ https://investinginwomen.asia/knowledge/university-sydney-july-2017-women-entrepreneurship-philippines/ https://www.tatlerasia.com/people/robina-gokongwei-pe

If we’re talking about homophobia, we also need to talk about isolation and socioeconomic deprivation. In many instances, the marginalization and prejudice that sexually diverse individuals face in most nations across the globe are mirrored in the conduct of those who are not members of the minority, and these consequences are not pleasant. Lesbian, homosexual, bisexual, trans, and gender-diverse people continue to be marginalized and excluded from education, health care, housing, job and profession, and other sectors due to discriminatory regulations and socio-cultural practices. Violence and bigotry thrive in this context of exclusion. Inequality in opportunity and access to resources is also a result of the exclusion. LGBT students face abuse at school, including physical violence, social isolation, humiliation, and death threats, which leads to feelings of insecurity, missed school days, and lower academic success rates. LGBT youth are more likely than others to commit suicide as a result of such abuse in educational settings. People in the working world who are part of the community are also no exception. LGBT people confront discrimination and abuse in all parts of the country and at all phases of the job cycle, including hiring, advancement, training, remuneration, and termination. As a result, LGBT persons are obliged to hide their sexual orientation and gender identity, which can cause a great deal of worry and productivity loss. Discrimination can be linked to an individual's socioeconomic status. Evidence suggests that homosexual and bisexual men with greater salaries are less likely to report discrimination than gay and bisexual men with lower incomes. Discrimination attributed to one's socioeconomic status was also linked to greater levels of depressive symptoms and anxiety. According to studies, 42 percent to 68 percent of LGBT people have experienced workplace discrimination. 47 percent of transgender people said they were discriminated against in hiring, firing, and promotion, and more than a quarter said they had lost a job because of prejudice based on their gender identification. According to a previous study, LGBT persons and same-sex/gender couples are more vulnerable to poverty than heterosexual people and couples. LGBT persons are discriminated against when it comes to housing. Furthermore, because of their exclusion from homes and communities, LGBT individuals make up a disproportionate number of the homeless. They experience prejudice when seeking refuge, as well as increased marginalization, criminalization, and shame as a result of their homelessness. LGBT people confront additional health challenges, including increased incidences of breast and cervical cancer, HIV infection, and mental health issues like anxiety, despair, self-harm, and suicide. Health services are frequently inadequate, inaccessible, or unpleasant due to barriers such as the criminalization of consenting same-sex sexual behaviors and pathologization. LGBT persons are frequently subjected to discriminatory attitudes from healthcare practitioners, as well as disrespect or violations of medical privacy, which dissuade them from seeking help. We should not also forget the youth. Many LGBT adolescents are forced to leave their homes and live with friends, acquaintances, or on the streets due to a lack of acceptance and fear of persecution. Many LGBT adolescents may be rejected by their biological families or caretakers, forcing them to leave home as minors. At such a young age, they have experienced this kind of isolation not knowing that there’s worst ahead of them if everyone continues on overlooking what we call homophobia. Some of us may think it’s just hating on those who are part of the LGBTQ community, but it is way more than that notion. It is more inhumane. More intolerable. There is inequality in homophobic thinking and behavior. So the next time we think twice about fighting for equal rights for those who are part of the community, maybe we are robbing them of the basic rights of a human being. And maybe we are the problem. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Written by: Gabrielle Tan Layout and Design by: Dan Kurt Buenaventura Sources: Badgett, M. V. L. (2012). Testimony on S.811, The Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2011. Retrieved from http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/research/workplace/testimony-s811-061212/ Badgett, M. V. L., Durso, L. E., & Schneebaum, A. (2013). New patterns of poverty in the lesbian, gay, and bisexual community. Retrieved from http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/LGB-Poverty-Update Jun-2013.pdf Gamarel, K. E., Reisner, S. L., Parsons, J. T., & Golub, S. A. (2012). Association between socioeconomic position discrimination and psychological distress: Findings from a community-based sample of gay and bisexual men in New York City. American Journal of Public Health, 102, 2094-2101. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2012.300668 Gattis, M. N. (2009). Psychosocial problems associated with homelessness in sexual minority youths. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 19, 1066-1094. doi:10.1080/10911350902990478

Filipino-American journalist Maria Angelita Ressa was declared Nobel Peace Prize laureate on October 8, 2021, for battling valiantly to "safeguard freedom of expression." She is considered a great defender of the free press worldwide, and she has fought tirelessly in the Philippines for the freedom to express her mind. The Nobel Peace Prize is also a de facto recognition that Ressa has become a one-woman incarnation of the problems, risks, and promises of journalism in the age of social media. The Philippines, home to Ressa's fiercely independent digital news company Rappler, is one of the world's deadliest countries for journalists, with press freedom abuses increasing substantially since Rodrigo Duterte took office in 2016. Rappler has criticized the Duterte regime's notorious, violent anti-drug campaign. The campaign has resulted in many deaths that now resemble a war against the citizens. Ressa and Rappler have also revealed how other people use social media to disseminate false information, bully opponents, and distort public dialogue. Duterte has wrongly accused Rappler of being a CIA-funded "fake news outlet." Meanwhile, Ressa raises the alarm about the global threat to democracy posed by Facebook—a significant vector of viral disinformation and hate speech, and corporation Ressa blames for her situation. She has suffered considerably for her effort, including arrests and jail, as well as constant harassment and threats. Their celebration as Nobel laureates at this time in history should motivate world efforts to combat disinformation, combat extremism, and strengthen democracy by safeguarding crucial independent media and the journalists who produce it. Her position best exemplifies the confluence of political, technological, commercial, and legal challenges stifling contemporary independent media and endangering the lives of journalists worldwide. As only the 18th woman to receive a Nobel Peace Prize, this honor also underlines the experience of women journalists, who are at the epicenter of danger on the new front line in the global fight for media freedom and journalist safety. A working journalist has not received the Nobel Peace Prize in 85 years. While imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp, German editor Carl von Ossietzky was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1936 "for his ardent love for the freedom of thought and expression and his great contribution to the cause of peace." Previously, he was once guilty on a criminal libel conviction for his efforts to reveal Germany's secret rearmament in violation of the Treaty of Versailles. Maria Ressa has been a journalist in Asia for 35 years and co-founded Rappler, the top digital-only news site in the Philippines that is leading the fight for press freedom. Ressa was awarded Time Magazine's 2018 Person of the Year, one of the magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2019, and one of Time's Most Influential Women of the Century for her bravery and fight against disinformation. She was also named one of the BBC's 100 most inspiring and influential women of 2019 and one of Prospect magazine's top 50 thinkers in the world. She was named Journalist of the Year in 2020, as well as the John Aubuchon Press Freedom Award, the Most Resilient Journalist Award, the Tucholsky Prize, the Truth to Power Award, and the Four Freedoms Award. Before founding Rappler, Maria worked on terrorism investigations in Southeast Asia. She created and oversaw CNN's Manila Bureau for nearly a decade before moving on to the network's Jakarta Bureau, which she ran from 1995 to 2005. She is the author of Seeds of Terror: An Eyewitness Account of al-Qaeda's Newest Center of Operations in Southeast Asia and From Bin Laden to Facebook: 10 Days of Abduction, 10 Years of Terrorism. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Written by: Kim Andrei Nicomendez Layout and Design by: Gerald Reyes Source: https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/10/11/maria-ressa-nobel-peace-prize-dmitry-muratov-journalism-media/

Mesmerized by the beauty of the sea reflecting the sunlight in its waves. It was surely the view that Ada will miss as soon as she starts pursuing her dreams in the city. While her mind rests by the sound of the waves continuously slamming in the sand, her senses heightened as she felt that someone was watching her. Eve: Wag ka na kayang umalis? Tignan mo 'yang mga mata mo, bukod sa ganda ng dagat ang maaaninag ay sumisilay rin ang kalungkutan. Ada: Bakit, Eve? Are you ready to eat the forbidden fruit again, and let everyone know that we are having a deeper connection than what we already have? Eve: Sabi ko naman sa'yo Ada. 'wag mo akong piliin. Katulad lang ako ng prutas na kinagat ko noon, magkakasala ka dahil sa'kin. No one else knows about their relationship. It was a secret carve in an old tree, she wanted to read aloud, but Eve does not allow her to do it. Ada: Stop pushing me away, will you? Look, I’m fully aware of the consequences, but I’m here, Eve. I am here. And do you know what it meant? Nandito pa rin ako dahil ngayon lang ako naging sigurado sa kung ano ang gusto ko. Both of them were dreamers, but the opportunities waiting for them differed mainly because of the social class to which they belonged. Eve was raised in a normal family on this island, selling their labor to the capitalists while being underpaid in relation to the productivity they contributed to their employers. While Ada lives her life following everything her family wants for her, that's why, despite the fact that her family is earning 15 times more on average than the families in the bottom 10%, where Eve's family belongs, to Ada, she is not living a comfortable life nor actually living her own life. Eve: Walang pakpak na dinisenyo para sa akin, Ada. Pero ikaw, you can fly limitless with all the opportunities waiting for you. Kung siguro'y nasa posisyon mo ako ngayon, maiintindihan mo kung gaano kahalaga ang mga oportunidad na nakalaan na para sa'yo. Ada: We can fly together Eve if that's your main concern. But right now, please listen. If we continue to hide our true identity because we are afraid to lose the opportunities and people around us, we can never be happy. We are not a sin, Eve. This is not a mistake. There is no shame in genuinely loving each other while taking on the process of accepting who we really are. We can be brave together, we can and we will. After years of letting her family control her, Ada finally found something where she felt alive and in control of her own life. Eve: Kung tutuusin wala rin tayong pinagkaiba, Ada. Ikaw dinidiktahan ka ng pamilya mo, habang ako naman ay nagpapadikta sa sasabihin ng ibang tao. At habang nagkakaroon ako ng kamalayan sa reyalidad, kailangan ko rin isiksik sa isip ko ang katotohanang habang tumatagal lalo lang lumalaki ang agwat nating dalawa dahil hindi kami nakakasabay sa pag-angat n'yo. Ada: And that is not supposed to be like that, hindi ba? It is exhausting to please everyone and feel hopeless at the same time. Eve: Yeah, it is. Most of the time, I feel like I am punishing myself excessively in order to fit into the label imposed by society. I cannot be extra because people want me to be in the box they designed for me. Ada: Exactly. That's why when I reached my edge, I decided to sit with my own feelings, embrace my true self, and start investing in the things that make me feel happy and alive. Sana marating mo rin 'yon, Eve. Eve: Hindi pa naman ako huli 'diba? Ada: Hindi pa, Eve. Anumang oras ay pwede mong bitawan ang lahat ng nagpapabigat sa'yo, at piliing maglakad nang hubad at totoo dito sa isla na kinagisnan mo. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Written by: Christine Vallecera Layout and Design by: Dan Kurt Buenaventura Reference: Saloma, C. (2021, August). The University of the Philippines and Economic Inequality in PH. Philippine Journal Science. Retrieved March 17, 2022, from https://philjournalsci.dost.gov.ph/images/pdf/pjs_pdf/vol150no4/EDITORIAL_FinalCopy.pdf