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Jenelle Capati Photo Courtesy by AllKPop/Dimitrios Kambouris/GETTY Ppalli, ppalli (hurry, hurry)! Other fandoms better step up their game because K-pop stans, as well as idols and their hwaiting-spirit , are ahead of the curve when it comes to promoting awareness on important social issues. K-pop is a part of the growing popularity and consumption of Korean content called the Korean wave, also known as Hallyu , a term popularized since the mid-1990s. The craze originated from the charisma of K-dramas such as Boys Over Flowers (2009), Winter Sonata (2002), What is Love? (1991) , and more. Though K-pop, in general, is greatly influenced by the musical texture of hip-hop, dance, jazz, and more.  Most often, K-pop songs would be performed by groups consisting of a minimum number of four members. Unforgettable groups like Girl’s Generation (2007), EXO (2012), BTS (2013), and Twice (2015) have sparked long-lasting and active fandoms up to this day. As such, these idols arrange concerts...

Xy Aldrae B. Murillo A place without the presence of gravity — this is one of the thoughts that boggle scientists and even learners when studying about geology and astronomy. Experiments are conducted to test out if there could be areas in the universe with little to no gravity. One Filipino student's heavy efforts on a lightweight study about gravity garnered big-time recognition in the International Space Station (ISS), setting the stage for an international, dense, and large-scale experiment. Photo courtesy of UPLB Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Physics, JAXA/NASA This student is no other than William Kevin Abran, an Applied Physics scholar of the University of the Philippines Los Baños. His "heavy efforts" are the months he spent conceptualizing and working out with the idea – the lightweight study that could provide us with better insights on the field of space science and physics. To start off, microgravity is obtained from the prefix “micro-”, which implies...

By Sharlaine Kate Gumayat Photo Courtesy by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr./Reuters/Toby Melville In an effort to entice customers to switch to "cleaner and greener" transportation, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has authorized the temporary zero-tariff policy for electric vehicles and spare parts. Marcos issued Executive Order No.12 on January 13, following the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board's endorsement of a five-year temporary decrease in the Most Favored Nation (MFN) tariff rates on a select group of electric vehicles (EVs) and their parts and components on November 24, 2022. This results in the reduction of tax rates to zero on specific e-vehicles, including bicycles, motorcycles, tricycles, buses, vans, trucks, and passenger cars, for a five-year term. Additionally, for a period of five years, tariffs on specific EV parts and components would be reduced from three to one percent. According to the EO, the transportation industry generates 34...

It isn't new knowledge for everyone how the 2022 Elections affected how relevant in society the information crisis is. With this, many have been, and are still continuing to be victims of this setback. The Advertising and Public Relations (ADPR) practitioners are widely critiqued as "chief architects" of disinformation in the country, specifically during the election period. Herewith, the PUP ADPR Organization of Students (ADPROS) is set to conduct an event entitled BETWEEN THE LI(N)ES: CRITICAL ADPR IN A POST TRUTH-WORLD. The main aim of the said event is to introduce measures in fighting disinformation and realign the intentions as future practitioners in the field to the students. This six-month long campaign will emphasize in honing ADPR students with regards to combating disinformation through different phases. The first phase is called the "Informing Phase" which will be conducted through a 3-Video Podcast Series entitled "Using Conversations as a S...

Andreah Dianne M. Cartagena Senator Cynthia Villar presided over the senate agriculture committee to investigate the high price of onions over the past month, reaching up to P800 per kilo. Photo Courtesy of Inquirer News & Senate of the Philippines The Senate agriculture committee is currently looking into the recent staggering prices of onions in the country, which have already reached up to P800 per kilo in some areas. In the Senate probe presided by Sen. Cynthia Villar, onions are revealed to be bought from farmers at P6 to P15, ruining their investment, and are sold in Metro Manila from P500 to P700. This financial ruin brought by low selling prices has now reportedly led to the suicide of some onion farmers in Pangasinan. Romel Calingasan, municipal agriculturist in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, also slammed the Department of Agriculture for allowing importation despite ongoing local harvests. Aside from importation, the probe revealed that smugglers and cartels, price manipul...

Bea Jane Serna The House House Committee on Muslim affairs, chaired by Lanao Lanao del Norte 1st District Rep. Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo has adopted a substitute bill on January 17 that combines two previous proposals to create Muslim cemeteries for areas with greater Muslim populations. Photo courtesy of House of Representatives The substitute bill was crafted by merging House Bills (HB) No. 2587 and 3755 on January 17.  “We’ve drafted a substitute bill, merging the two versions regarding Muslim cemeteries — one version of Deputy Minority Leader Mujiv Hataman and another version authored by Reps. Yasser Balindong and Zia Adiong,” Dimaporo highlighted. The substitute bill called for the establishment of Muslim cemeteries in areas with significant Muslim populations, while HB 3755, filed by Deputy Minority Leader Mujiv Hataman, proposed the creation of Muslim cemeteries in every major city and municipality. The move is in response to issues encountered by Muslim families whose loved...

By Xy Aldrae Murillo The Department of Health (DOH) is pushing to optimize salary standards of healthcare workers as well as fixing the healthcare system through better benefits to ensure that the country’s medical force  would not leave the country and serve its countrymen instead. Photo Courtesy of Philippine Star/PCOO/DOH DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire asserted that the department is looking out the need to hire healthcare professionals who are emigrating to other nations in order to cover the labor shortfalls caused by resignation or the pandemic Vergeire added that the government “cannot prevent our healthcare workers from leaving because that’s their right to find more productive and bigger pay.” According to reports, healthcare professionals engaged in private hospitals earn about P12,000 per month, while those working for government-run organizations are entitled to Salary Grade 15, or a salary slightly more than P35,000.  Recently, a nurses' association ...

By Jude Aldrich Allaga For Swifties, advent could extend another week, as hope, peace, joy, and love, are accompanied by December heartbreaks. As January 2023 welcomes us with new plot twists, let us have a quick journey back to December. Photo courtesy of Amy Sussman/Getty Images Often coined, "Sad Girl Fall," September to November are regarded as months when Taylor Swift releases her most heart-wrenching, emotionally unapologetic songs. A clear example would be the ten-minute version of All Too Well, or the entirety of "Red," for that matter back in 2012. Much recently, her latest album, "Midnights" included songs such as "You're On Your Own, Kid" and "Bigger Than The Whole Sky" that likewise keep our tissue paper at bay. Yet, "Back To December" seems to be the pinnacle of this celebration of "Sad Girl Fall" as the season transitions into winter.  Regret strings the third track of her third album, just as snow ...

By Denzel Jed Gaddi Vengeance inflicted. After settling for silver against the same team in MPL S10, ECHO completed its revenge tour as it decoded Blacklist International’s winning hilt, 4-0, in the M4 World Championship, Sunday. Photo Courtesy of One Esports Philippines Strained to its utmost by the defending champions, ECHO suffered yet another meltdown in the upper bracket finals against Blacklist before soaring from the lower bracket en route to the crown. The thunderous reign of Typhoon Benny (Benedict "Bennyqt" Gonzales) earned him the Finals MVP with the help of the mythical duo of Alston "Sanji" Pabico and Sanford "Sanford" Vinuya. “Hindi na po kami first round exit, ngayon kami na po ang pinakamalakas sa buong mundo,” Tristan "YAWI" Cabrera said. The Orcas buckled down to work in the finals. They dealt solid notice of their title bid early in the series, taking the first two games flawlessly with a 33-12 kill comparison. In Game 3, Sanji...

By Ignacius Carell Cruz The image of the PBA was pushed to the brink of humiliation at the hands of a guest team who conquered every team with the best players the country could offer. But just like old times, with millions of Filipinos betting on the game they love, the Gin Kings were there to defend the throne. Photo Courtesy of PBA In front of a record-breaking 54,589 crowd inside Philippine Arena, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel slayed the Bay Area Dragons, 114-99, behind newly-naturalized Filipino and six-time champion Justin Brownlee's 34 points and 12 assists, Sunday. “We were angry about Game Six. We did not want it to go to a Game Seven. We made a nice comeback, felt that we had it in our hands, but we let it slip away. I think that anger spilled over to Game Seven since everyone was locked in from the very first minute and basket,” Ginebra Coach Tim Cone said, who praised the total effort displayed by his team in the championship clincher. "We came out a little angry and...

By Kezo Andre Javier   Cartoon by Billy Abistado As everyone returned to work after the holiday break, social media figure Donnalyn Bartolome gained traction – albeit for the wrong reasons – for her comments on feeling ‘sad’ for going back to work. In a now-deleted Facebook post, Bartolome said that instead of sadness, people should feel grateful that they have a job to provide for their families. While it is one thing to boost morale and spread positivity among followers, it is an entirely different story when one starts invalidating real-life experiences that are lived by the very same people they want to cheer up. In the same Facebook post, Bartolome highlighted that ‘having a job is a blessing’ in itself. Given the current state of the economy where inflation is accelerating, it surely gives a sense of security to have something to provide your needs. However, as influencer Janina Vela put it, being grateful for getting to work is not everything. While one’s work brings positiv...

By Denzel Jed Gaddi Typhoon Benny on Signal Number 5. With ECHO's upper bracket slot on the line, Benedict "Bennyqt" Gonzales stormed out a masterclass to survive Team Haq’s late scare, 3-2, in the MLBB M4 World Championships, Saturday. Photo Courtesy of Rappler The Malaysian representatives took over games 3 and 4 for a potential reverse sweep of the Orcas, but Bennyqt and Alston "Sanji" Pabico had other plans as they made quick work in game 5. Fresh from a flawless group stage outing, Bennyqt floods damage from Brody, fuming out two kills and four assists. Meanwhile, Sanji’s signature Yve posted a near-perfect 5-1-4 KDA by providing immediate backup on possible enemy pickoffs. Asked about the team's conversation before the deciding match, Tristan "YAWI" Cabrera answered, "Lahat po kami confident pa rin naman po na kami 'yong mananalo, Pilipinas lang malakas."  At the 24-minute mark of the opening salvo, all players were focused on t...

  Cartoon by Richelle De Arce