“Teenage Pregnancy, A Gloom in Our Society”

by Jyra Libertine Sabuelo

In these days, teenage pregnancy is still a prevalent

issue in the world. In the Philippines, according to Janine Peralta
(CNN Philippines), it is said that the number of teenage
pregnancies grew, and among so many teenagers the youngest
age is ten years old. According also to POPCOM Executive
Director Juan Perez III, there is an average of 530 teenagers
that got pregnant daily. Some of the reasons why teenage
pregnancy happened are: peer pressure, family dynamics, and
lack of knowledge. Teenagers seem to be curious about sex and
they wanted to know how it feels like, and due to that curiosity
they watch sex videos through porn sites and social media. As
they watch it their sexual desires arouse and drive them to try it. They hurriedly enter into a
relationship so as to gain a partner to do it with. According to studies, when teenager reaches
puberty they tend to be in a rebellious stage. Some teenagers are rebellious for they think that
they have no freedom at all, and they think that all they do does not please their parents. They
hate their parents and don’t want to stay at home most of the time and they seek love and
comfort from other people. Having a relationship, they feel comforted in the arms of their
partners and wanted to be embraced most of the time to make them feel better. The more time
they spend with their partners the more they feel the sexual attraction, and this results to having
sex in most cases. There are also cases that when a man knows that his partner becomes
pregnant, he automatically abandons his partner and pretended like nothing had happened
between them. The woman, however, became so anxious and heartbroken after knowing the
fact of being left alone by her partner. Even though they know that they are still not ready to face
the consequences, they surrender to temptation, being unable to control their sexual desire, and
as a result their actions bears the consequence that will change their entire life and regret
haunts them for a long time. As for this reason, parents must become an unending light of their
children leading them to the right path, and they must also have their bonding to strengthen their
family bonds. In the same way, teenagers must become responsible to their actions; being
careful to the things they are doing.

“
The Extinction of Coral Reefs in the Philippines”
by Jerbie M. Balaba

One of the biggest issues in the Philippines is the extinction of Coral reefs. According to
the World Atlas of Coral reefs compiled by United Nations Environment Program, the
Philippines where biodiversity is one of the highest in the world, has an estimated of 27,000
square kilometers of Coral reefs. Coral reefs are dying. Damaging activities include coral mining
pollution and overfishing. Coral reefs are anything else on the planet, it provides valuable
habitat for fish. Coral reefs are an important food source for the people who live near reefs.
Coral reefs help humans in many other ways too. It is generating tourist dollars for communities.
It is especially important in our changing climate. Coral reefs are beautiful and vibrant
ecosystems that house roughly one quarter of all marine species and provide billions of dollars
in product and services to human each year according to the study of Marine biologist as of
2019. But they are also endangered to human activities. Unfortunately, these beautiful coral
reefs are now at serious risk from degradation. According to scientists, 70% of the world’s coral
reefs may be lost by 2050. In the Philippines, coral reefs have been slowly dying over past 30
years. It is important to protect coral reefs because they are a significant part of how people of
the world live their lives. Coral reefs are also supply compounds for medicines. Educate yourself
about why healthy coral reefs are valuable to the people, fish, plants and animals that depend
on them. I understand that not everyone has knowledge about the endangered Coral reefs. Just
try to imagine a whole other world full with life deep into the ocean. However, I think divers can
bring people in contact with the natural beauty, which you probably more willing to take care
about them. It is a good thing to learn people dive and show them all the beauty, provided that
they make the people aware of the threats and teach them about the conservation problems.

“
LGBT Equal Rights in the Philippines”
by Charm Mae Oranza

In the Philippines, LGBT is one of the problems of

the Filipinos. LGBT stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
Transgender. Many of the Filipinos are against in LGBT
community because they are not help in our society. Many
of them, are discriminated based on their gender and
physical appearance. For me, we need to do some
actions to get step toward that can providing equal rights
for all LGBT’S but in reality many of us discriminated
them. Still, the LGBT faced serious problems that
threatened their safety and rights. LGBT community in the
Philippines have a distinctive culture in our society and also have a limited rights. All we know
that lesbians and gays are generally tolerated in Filipino society because of the recent events
that promote the rights and general acceptance but still discrimination remains. According to
President Duterte, he supported the fair treatment of all members of LGBT community, because
of the transwoman being discriminated. Gretchen Diez is one of the victims of discrimination
because he entered a female restroom in a mall. All we know Gretchen Diez is a transwoman
but even she a transwoman she deserves a “respect” because she is a human that can also
created of our God. For me, when she entered in female restroom it is not a big deal because
she a transwoman and all we know transwoman is transsexual or transgender person. When we
discuss the LGBT rights in our country it is a sensitive matter. However, LGBT community
continues to face discrimination here in the Philippines. Some of gays, lesbian, and transgender
are usually catcalled by the people and also in social media as we can observe many of
Filipinos are posting memes that can insult to the LGBT community. According to its Senate
Risa Hontiveros in the 18th Congress, the Sogie Bill seeks to “address all forms of
discrimination and violence on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity and promote
human dignity”. Among the members of LGBT, we must respect their rights. In our world, these
kind of people exist, mostly judged and criticized simply because of their sexuality. All we know
Gender consisted of man and woman but LGBT members are deserved to “respect and be
loved”. Obviously, they do exist in our world of dark reality and discrimination by the people who
always judged them. It is called as the LGBT community, it is consisted of Lesbian, Grays,
Bisexuals and Transgender. For me, it is also known as third gender but all we know gender
consists of “woman and man” suddenly the lesbians ,gays, bisexual, transgender are third
gender because most of them are showing off discreetly to the others to hide their real selves.
Despite the fact that according to the Declaration of Independence, “all men are created equal”
but the LGBT community still has to struggle for real equality. It is considered a permanent
problem for those who belong to the LGBT community. Some people are start questioning their
sexuality and some of them are trying to hide it so as not to be rejected by the society. Many
LGBT members are not accepted by their family or even friends due to their gender identity. In
this situation it can cause serious problems, which can lead to depression. As an individual
accept it and give them a respect for what they want because we have rights to live with a
freedom. Consequently, the equality of the LGBT community remains under the question till
present days. I conclude, as we can observe many of LGBT members experienced
discrimination by the people who do not accept their gender identity. But LGBT community
really deserves a respect because there are also human that created by our God. Even though,
they are members of LGBT, we need to accept them and they have rights to live free in our
society. Don’t judged them because of their gender identity besides try to loved and respect
them with all of our hearts. We shouldn’t discriminate others based on gender. Well, I just
wanted to say all of us have the right to live equally. We are equally important in the world we
belong to.

“Don’t Take Away Our Care”

By Ladi Angelli Delgado

One of the issues now a day is what we called abortion. According to NAF has
worked since 1977 to ensure that woman health care professionals and policymakers
have access to factual information about abortion. According to NAF abortion is the
ending of pregnancy by removal of a fetus before it can survive outside the fetus. There
are different kinds of abortion, one example is abortion pill, when you take a medicine/
abortion pill that can affect to your baby, it can cause heavy bleeding that makes the
baby die. Abortion now a day is one of the common issue in our society and it is not a
good doing, but it can give you a problem and pain to yourself. Abortion is one of the
main problem of teenagers now a day. It is very alarming to know that mostly teenagers
are having this case. As a youth, like us should be aware of the wrong doings that may
result into a problem or struggle. As a student we should be careful of what we’ve do in
our daily life because we don’t know what will happen to us in the future. We should
prevent the increasing rate of abortion right now before it’s too late. We as a youth, we
should prevent having abortion because it can really affect your health and it can cause
skin inflammation. In my opinion we should have more awareness and knowledge on
how to manage this kind of problem in our society. The Government should also
participate in this problem because it may lead into out of school youth and increase of
population in our country the best weapon on this problem is to educate our schools
especially on high school. they should organize more agencies and organization in
order to help our youth now a day. For the youth we should have responsible as young
individual and we should partake the challenge in our society problem in order to
regained respect and lift up our morals as a person and as a youth. I conclude that
having this case is not good for ourselves because it can only give hurt in our society. I
conclude that we need to be prepared for whatever comes our way because we do not
know what will happen to us someday. We need to be careful about the person around
us, because we cannot also avoid the situation/temptation. I understand that abortion
should not be happen into every individual youth we should Avoid our wrong doings so
that temptation should not be happen to a men and women. We should also consider
that premarital sex is a sin as state in the Bible. Men and women should be married
before doing this kind of acts. In order to more responsible individuals. As a youth we
should stand for our pride and our dignity not only for women but for men as well.

“A Human Rights Problem”

by Pearlyn Galla
Nowadays, Philippines is facing many problems and one of it is poverty. The people
lying to the government, because of inflation. According to the data from the Natural
Statistical Condition board, more then one quarter or population fell below the poverty
line the first semester of 2014 an approximate 78 percent increase since 2013. My
opinion in poverty is that when someone is rich he/she will prioritize in the other hand,
the lower class being neglected. And the attention should be equal to providing and
responsiveness that are not a difficult burden on society. It is not true if they can only
learn to understand a difficult thing to pay attention to. And so they have done it
because the Government provided a lack of supplies and because of the expensive
food now not so much of the children and many bills. One of the most effective rules we
can put in order to ensure that each one gets a good education is to provide very high
quality early education to all children from low-income families. So many of our youth
and young people have children before they are married and are before being prepared
to be a good parent. In my view, the solution to this problem resides in a larger culture
in what parents, media, community of beliefs and basic adults are saying and doing, as
it does for any change in Government policy per se. However, the government can help
by providing resources to those fighting in this conflict in the nongovernmental sector,
by ensuring that its own policies are not Intentionally encourage the outside of marriage,
and by supporting programs that have had some success in reducing early, outside of
 marriage. My conclusion should have family planning so they can control the child's
children and that they will not struggle with their daily disbursements. For them to get
their money for all of them, if you have many children you will not budget the money.
This editorial paper is give your knowledge and encourage to know of solution in the
poverty. And how to solve the government about poverty.

“Effect of Climate Change in the Philippines”

by Myra Bon Dumanig
One of the fundamental challenges the Philippines is going through is climate
change. This is because of the unstoppable emission of greenhouse gases in the earth.
According to PAG-ASA, 10 deadliest
typhoons have entered the Philippine Area of
Responsibility, namely Haiyan, Thelma, Ike,
Fengshen, Washi, Durian, Bopha, Trix, Amy
and Nina, between 1947 and 2014. This is
said to be one of the effects of climate
change in the Philippines and what's
alarming is, 5 of these 10 storms occured
since 2006. Further research shows that the
geographical location of our country also
contributes to worsen the effect of climate
change because as we can see at our world map, we are located in the Western Pacific
Ocean, which has warm waters all around. As the average sea surface keeps on rising,
the water will become warmer. Studies also proved that because of human activities, we
lose our natural barrier which can help us protect our country without spending such
great amount of money as 2% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This phenomena
is somehow human-induced and is obviously inevitable. So, because we unconsciously
changed the climate and it cannot adjust for us, then we must change for the climate.
Admit ot or not, for the past few years if paying attention in giving solution to this issue,
nothing really happened and it only became worst. The long run campaign of tree
planting, garbage segregation, and other ways imposed by the government hasn't done
any better to the environment of the Philippines. The warming of our temperature only
continued and the scarcity for almost anything has worsen every year. These leads
people to question the actions made by the government on solving this said issue. Many
were ranting on social media, others complained personally and some furiously
petitioned persons in authority to give up their position for being ineffective in their jobs,
as we can see in the local and national news flashed on our televisions. But don't we
think that it is not just the government who have the burden and responsibilities on
solving this issue? We, as a Filipino citizen should take part, contribute and make action
in our own too. We should stop this non-sense hypocrisy and open our eyes that our
cooperation is highly needed. As this world slowly changes to a hell-like form from being
a beautiful paradise, our survival is essential. One sad truth is, it's inevitable and
uncontrollable. So for us to survive, we should accept that the abundance that we
usually get from nature is now limited. Adjusting for it is obviously formidable as it
requires complete change. Change in the way we live our lives, the careless cutting of
trees and deforestation, the abusive use of fossil fuels, the way we easily let industrial
factories and transportation mobiles emit toxic smokes, the continuos disposal of our
waste in the bodies of water and the other cruel things we do to nature. If these things
aren't immediately done and adopted by us, then don't be surprised to see a
devastating Philippines in the near future. There would be no more trees to shed
children who wanted to enjoy playing outside. The rivers and seas which is one of our
fishermen's source of income and food won't be beneficial anymore. The clean and
fresh air that we are barely enjoying now won't be available in the future. The abundant
land which produces healthy vegetables, crops and other plants will die and will only
serve as home for dead people who'd settle six feet below the ground. Plus, sad to say,
experts have confirmed that this horrible happening is slowly starting. So, if it isn't
enough reason for you to open your eyes and start providing actions for this issue, then
maybe you foolishly choose death and give up survival. Looks like our irresponsible and
careless action makes the survival and continuation of our race arduous. So let us all
participate in making a better us for this changing world. By simply reducing the things
that we think would worsen our current situation. In our own little ways, we can help
preserve the place which unconditionally provided us with the things we can't make or
invent; the place we called home. We all deserve to live longer, so don't waste life by
missing the chances to do better. Go with the change and firmly discipline yourself,
because we can fight! We can survive!

“What We Have Become”

by Jhessa Samantha Dulay

In today’s generation, a lot of teenagers opt to relate and feel they belong to the
community through social media. As time passes by, a lot of changes have been made
because of the influence of social media to people everywhere. Most of the time, we as
individuals already take it as one of our priorities in life every single day. This created a
standpoint that we are slowly abandoning actual interaction around us even in the
society. As we go over into the deeper sense of social media, these are associated as
platforms that we use as a means of communication across the world. Through the help
of the Internet, we tend to know what’s happening around us. We are always updated
because of how fast information is transmitted. Also through these platforms, we are
able to share our thoughts and say about the different issues that we encounter every
day. Knowing the advantages of social media platforms, we are missing the essence of
 relationships. How about the life that we are living every day, the time that we have
wasted, the moments we never had a chance to share with others, how about these
things? As we forget about this, we are unconscious about how we are drifting towards
addiction. It’s like a drug that we can’t automatically stop. It has become a habit, a habit
that turned into deprivation of real interaction. Our time and every day care are now
revolving around social media. We lose the true meaning of social interaction. The
meaning of how we connect to one another. Virtually we can say yes, but how about
authenticity? How can we say it’s real? Our families, friends, and the people around us,
can we still share genuine time with them? Furthermore, a lot may say that one can’t
live without social media. Somehow we find it as a source of happiness, fame and even
knowledge but after all there’s no such thing more than how we relate to one another by
means of actual conversation. It is a call for us to think of how these things change us.
Every single day is worth living for, and so, it is a must to give justice to it. Let us not be
blinded by social media and get hooked to it every time. After all, we as human beings
are persons of others, therefore we relate with one another, and we must do it
accordingly. We must always keep in mind that real connection happens in actual
interaction and conversation.

“A Call for Hope”

by Jared Salvador

The way we deal with our only home is somewhat devastating as time comes
across ages. We, humanity have become monsters in failing to do the responsibility of
a steward. Time after time, we take the environment as a mere object and not a subject.
We take but we never give, we benefit but we never care. The hardest thing is that, as
the creation is continuously diminishing, actions are never enough. Some cares but
others failed to do so. How can we expect a massive result if not everyone arewilling to
take a step? How can we make a change if others are being deaf? Our responsibility is
a great thing that we should have to take charge of. Regardless of our strength, even in
our little ways we can make a change. All we have to do is to think of the things that can
help save our planet Earth. And if everybody does this, results will surely benefit the
world we live in.It is a call for humanity, a call for us to help build new beginnings. Living
the way we are ought to live can save not only the present time but also the future
generation. As we come to realize how our action affects the planet, this may become
an eye-opener for everyone of us.

“How Discrimination affects many individuals in their workplace?”

By Jewel Freya Panes
 Many of us today experienced the out going hate from the discrimination in our
country. Most children and young adults were affected by the words that they have
heard, the things that they saw and the looks of hatred in the eyes of many people. The
infection of HIV/AIDS rises as the number of the population in the Philippines increases
too. According to the Philippine Government, cases of persons living with HIV/AIDS
surprisingly increases from 117 cases up to 49, 733 cases on the past few years.
Today, the victims of HIV/AIDS do no not only ranges from children to teens but from
adults to workers too. Workers from different sides of the country suffer a lot because of
discrimination knowing that they were HIV/AIDS positive. The fear of not being able to
work peacefully and contented goes into their minds and would be hardly unaccepted in
the society because of what they have.
We all know that HIV/AIDS is a very well know epidemia in our country. HIV/AIDS
affects those who have plans on taking and having a job, those who have dreams, who
have goals to achieve in the future. According to a blog by Fit To Work team,
employees or workers are not obliged to expose their status of being an HIV infected
person. Being not able to say their status, they are also scares to interact and meddle
with the people that surrounds them. The people who suffer with HIV/AIDS felt
loneliness. Employees and workers aren't accepted because of their infection. A case
handled by Leah Barbia from the Commission on Human Rights in 2017 stated that
workers are afraid to tell and what can HIV/AIDS do in their workplace. They are afraid
to reach and seek help from others. Well in my opinion, workers and employees with
HIV/AIDS should not be seen as just someone who wants to be accepted and needs to
raise higher standards on health just to get a job. Isn't it unfair for them to hate as much
as others hate them too? Let us not use this way to create an excuse for them. People
need equality. Equality of treatment. Equality if acceptance that needs to be done. So
what if a person has an HIV? Does that make him/her less a person? Workers are
prevented to work and are scared just like the others. This is the kind of illness of our
fellow Filipinos. A sickness that needs treatment and if these things kept on moving,
well we better need to start by accepting them. Accept their actions, accept their words,
their whole presence because nothing will change. They are still persons.

Let us not be the one to start something that may affect an individual. Let us do
something that can at least, help them to ease their illness, not just about their
workplace but for what they are and from what deserve to have and become.

“Too Much Liberty is Not Good”

by Jaymark Virtudazo
 Discipline is always present in any place. All people have the capabilities to learn
or execute it but sometimes people tend to neglect it. But the problem is that people
doesn’t even realize that what they are doing is already an act that shows lack of
discipline. There is a group of people known as ‘activist’ who express their thoughts by
vandalizing on private properties. These people think that they just practice their liberty
but they already do something that is not good. Based on my own observation, the
reason why Filipinos lack discipline is, discipline is not practiced at their own houses.
We all know that value is mainly taught to us in our own house. But if discipline is
already lacking on the first place how can they execute it outside. A catholic bishop said
that young people who are in conflict with the law only follow what they think that is
right. In addition to the statement of the bishop, he said that they are looking for
someone whom can be a role model for them. They need someone who would accept,
listen and guide them.Moreover, there might be problem within their own community.
Nowadays, this so called ‘activism’ is rampant in our society. Based on the study,
people exercise their liberty which they think they can express their emotions and
thoughts without limitations. Wherein fact it has, and together with lack of strictness on
rules and implementation, these people think they can do anything. As you can observe
people usually express their self through social media. They expresses their emotions
by rants and if they hated someone they often backbite the person without confronting
the person they were in conflict with. By expressing their own emotion too much, they
forgot the emotion of the person whom they backbite. With this problem, I recommend
tor advice that we must observe proper teaching of manners and value within our own
houses. The problem lack of discipline in our country cannot be dissolved immediately
due to the fact that it is already embedded to us Filipino. We may not stop it, but we can
lessen it and all of it will start at our own family. I also suggest to our government that
they should implement the rules in a more strict way so that people will be afraid to do
unnecessary things.

“Should Same-sex Marriage be Legalized in the Philippines?”

by Paula Faye Hibanada

Same-sex marriage as we all know, is the marriage between two people who that same-
sex marriage should be legalized in the Philippines, especially the LGBT community
There are also people who disagree that this marriage should be legalized. According to
Kibin (n.d.) majority of them are the religious people and those who are morally
oriented. I am one of those people who disagree to the legalization of same-sex
marriage in the Philippines. According to Kibin(n.d.), the Philippines is a Christian
country, particularly a Roman Catholic nation. It also states that although the Church
and the state are separated, the lawmakers have the same sex. This is for all the
people who fell in love or wanted to have a family or to be legally tied to someone who
has the same gender as them. Some people in the Philippines agreed still consider
morals based on the Bible on making laws and. in our country, homosexual people are
rising and this issue become more prevalent that it raises the question "Should same-
sex marriage be legalized in the Philippines?" even though this marriage is kind of
promoting equality and is giving happiness to the LGBT community, having this to be
legalized would also mean that the religious freedom and the long-held morals of all the
people would break or be shaken. This was according to Kibin (n.d.). Thus, same-sex
marriage should not be legalized. Not only that it shakes the religious people, it also
distorts the original made design that women are for men and men are for women. there
were no other genders included. There are only two. Therefore, we have to live with
that. we people, do not have the power to say that there are more than two genders
because we did not create us. We are not the creator of ourselves.Women are made
because men need them as their companion and to reproduce. Yes, there is
technology. Yes, we are in the 21st century where one can get pregnant with just an
injection of sperm and not the usual way. But, we cannot really depend on that. There
are many side effects and these could be serious and could lead a person to death. I
also disagree that this marriage should be legalized because is it not disgusting to see
two muscular men on the street, having a very sweet time with all the kissing scenes
they made? I don't want to offend them but, it is really what I and probably other people
feel and think too. They could also be a subject of discrimination because it is not usual
to see homosexual couples. Men are for men, women are women. This should not be
the concept of all the people especially those who are planning to enter this kind of
marriage. I am sure that even the LGBT community know that there is only men for
women and women for men and i am also sure that they know that this kind of marriage
is very offensive to God.All of these are purely just my thoughts about the same-sex
marriage. In order to avoid same-sex marriage, avoid same-sex affection. Also, as a
religious person, we must pray to God to put us away from temptations that would
surely change our lives. once again, I do not agree to the legalization of same-sex
marriage in the Philippines. This is because I believe that women are made for men and
men are for women and I do not want us to cause God another heartache.

“Anomalies in Government Elections in the Philippines”

by Christian James Agui
As we all know, Philippines has a Legal-Rationale type of authority. Legal-Rational
authority undergoes legal process of choosing their leader or president and it causes
most of the anomalies in terms of governmental elections. Leaders can rightfully wield
authority if they obtain their positions according to established procedures such as
elections or through appointment. According to USCIS (2019) by voting, citizens are
participating in the democratic process. Citizens vote for leaders to represent them and
their ideas, and the leaders support the citizens’ interests. Everyone has an equal
chance to vote, thus, this causes most of the politicians to commit vote buying to collect
instant votes.Vote buying is an act of doing something to persuade electors to forcely
vote candidates in elections. The question is, Why do politicians linked in this kind of
strategy if only their purpose is to make the country better? This impose that politicians
who commits vote buying has a plan also to do corruption. We cannot also blame
directly the politicians about the corruption happening in the Philippines, because, in the
first place we Filipino citizen we voted them. According to Tuico (2015) not all politicians
are corrupt, others are just corrupt because of the people .Moreover, most of the of the
voters are arrogant, they do not vote politicians without money in exchange. Voters are
not educated for voting, and the candidates they choose are not educated for serving.
That problem is the reason of why government of the Philippines lacks support to its
scope . According to Defensor (2016) the problem is the result of the fact that our
constitution provides that no literacy requirement shall be imposed to voters. Although
constitution provides that a sector should be literate in voters case , voters should be
able to read and write, the same constitution should not require any educational
attainment on the part of any candidate.This concludes that voting is already embeded
in political elections in the Philippines. Vote buying is now a integral part of elections in
the Philippines. Thus, not all votes exchange with money is considered as vote buying.
Because according to President Duterte, the giving of money does not necessarily
means it is buying votes, some are just a tip to those people who cannot afford to travel
to election offices, in short politicians are just helping those in need. Filipinos should be
wise to vote for the development of the Philippines.

“Is Political Dynasty in the Philippines Bad?”

by Roshni B. Miñoza
On Governance, when members of the same family occupy multiple positions
within a city or municipality most likely to consolidate power. In such a setup, the
preservation of power becomes the priority, even more, important than social and
economic development itself, or the practices by these political dynasties. According to
an article by Teresa S. Encarnacion (Ph.D. Professor of Political Science), Political
dynasties refer to traditional political families or the practices by these political families
of monopolizing political power and public offices from generation to generation and
treating the public elective office as their personal property. Although the Philippines
uses legal-rational rule/authority, Political dynasties still have the upper hand due to
vote-buying. Vote-buying happens due to the strong/high power of those with authority,
they use their power to gain a large number of voters to uphold their place and position
inside the government.
During fair elections, it is just as easy for dynasty members to win an election as
it is difficult for new talent to penetrate. Political dynasty families are more likely to utilize
their budgets spending out scholarships, funeral aids, and basketball courts rather than
investing social development programs, economic initiatives, and infrastructures that
could help the country's needs. The previous statements were proved true with an
article by Andrew J. Masigan. In an opinionated note, the overall political field is biased
towards the dynasty's favor. This unfair advantage demotivates aspiring public leaders
for their motivation into becoming mayors, politicians ambassadors or even becoming
president. In effect, it decreases the level of political participation among the populace.
Dynasties monopolize power by depriving others of a fair opportunity to serve. This is
why we have 21-year-olds becoming mayors and governors. Meanwhile, persons with a
doctorate in public governance are edged out. Political dynasties cause problems of
minimal talent among elected officials. In Masigan, J. Andrew 's article, it said that under
their elected positions, political dynasties can wield influence, consolidate economic
resources and use their political power to take advantage of business opportunities.
These opportunities may come in the form of lucrative government contracts. Whether if
it's over or under the table, political dynasties enjoy an undue advantage in generating
wealth. In the Philipines, the political and economic elites are the same. This why
policies and decisions are often laced with self-interest. One example is the Aquino
Family. The continued persistence of political dynasties to our political system
strengthens the sway of the elite over the poor, elites gain more supremacy while
commoners are being bankrupt. In article II, Sec. 26 of the 1987 constitution is very
clear. It says' "the state shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service
and prohibit political dynasties such as defined by law" overall the constitution prohibits
political dynasties. However, it still lacks as
enabling law that defines what a dynasty is and its consequences. Political
dynasties have entrenched themselves deeply in our political system. As a result, our
institutions become weaker reforms are slow to implement, corruption is now worsening.
I conclude that political dynasties are of the elite class, if not by stature then by
an individual's net worth. It initiates economic inequalities and prolongs a culture of
dependency between the elite and the poor. However, there's a solution to these
problems. As citizens, there is not much we can do but resist political dynasties. The
power is still in our hands, as voters. Resist the dynasties and vote for the aspiring,
qualified candidate. It's about time we change our cast of leaders. It's about time we
infuse new talent.

“Pigs but with Fever”

by Khyl Tarras

According to Department of Health and Department of

Agriculture, there is a strain of virus called African
Swine Fever (ASF) that can kill pigs. The meat
industry is struggling at market, especially the citizen
that only relies their living at hog growing is at risk
losing their sales. However the virus can’t be
transmitted to humans but still it is a big loss for meat industry to develop. Clarified by
DOH and DA that it is not transmittable to human, however consumers are still not
convinced because of the rising stigma.

According to the inspection Zaldy Gonzales, a meat vendor said that almost 75 percent
of his consumers are affected by the virus and it is a massive loss for him. Moreover
hog growers are not responsible enough because of disposing infected corpse of pigs in
channels of water like rivers, by this Department of Health warns hog growers to not
discard infected corpse of pigs improperly especially in water

“DEFORESTATION”
 by Jeymar Floro

Our trees are vital for us humans, and for all the living organisms who live in this world.
They disappearing at an alarming rate. Between 1990 and 2016, the world lost 502,000
square miles (1.3 million square kilometers) of forest. We need trees in our Dailey lives
according to Cristina Nunez as those gases enter the atmosphere, global warming
increase, a trend scientist now prefer to call climate change. Tropical tree cover alone
can provide 23 percent of the climate mitigation needed cover the next decade to meet
goals set in the Paris Agreement in 2015, according to the estimate.

Some is caused by a combination of human and natural factors wildfires

and overgrazing, which may prevent the growth of young trees. Deforestation is looming
due to the demands in furniture. Shelter and massive use of it on for living. Our trees
gives us oxygen as well as it helps the world from cooling down. It serve as the lungs or
the earth and the shelter or some living organisms here on earth and gives us food to
eat but the question is are we taking good care of our trees? If trees are vital for our
living why we are cutting down rapidly? Can we live in this world without trees? In
addition, pollution is rising. If deforestation will continue, more animals in our forest will
die, when it happens, the balance of our ecosystem will lost. Famine or massive hunger
will happen. Natural calamities will be more prone and we will all die.

It’s not too late to care of our forest, it is our source of life because we
can get oxygen from it. Not too late to realize what is our sins. Because our planet can’t
live without us and we also can’t live without the help of the living things in this world or
in our planet.

So we need to stop cutting trees if it is you really need, plant trees for the next
generation they can feel or see the beautiful world with many trees and etc. I’m sure
god will bless us if we taking good care her creation in this world. Let’s explore the world
without damaging anything, instead help to take care our world. We are thankful
because God trust us to take care here creation, so don’t break it. It’s time to make our
world as the most beautiful creation.

“PLEASE STOP HAZING!”

by Samantha Marie Borela

Philippines has an Anti-Hazing law, Republic Act 8049 implemented way back
1995. But this law, was ignored by some lawmakers who are members of some
fraternities. (PhilStar Global, 2018) Hazing is still alarming in our country after the law
was enacted, that’s why torture and deaths are still present. Abuse, such as slapping
and pulling hair, putting hot candlewax on the skin and even in sexual harassment is still
present in hazing. According to Dr. Stuart, people who joined fraternities are those who
are in need of belongingness in the community. The special sense of bonding and for
the promise of privileges for a lifetime is the reason for all.
Unfortunately, a law student named Horacio Atio Castillio’s death is added to
the numbers of victims of hazing. He was beaten literally black and blue by the animals
he had thought would be his “brothers” in UST’s Aegis Juris fraternity. Atio Castillio was
an exceptionally kind young man who pursued his dream of becoming a lawyer with
passion of diligence. Sadly, this promising young life was cut short before he could even
finish his first semester of law school. He will never have the opportunity to proudly
show his parents his final exam scores in Constitutional law or Persons and Family
Relations. He will never graduate from law school or take the bar. He will never take the
lawyer’s oath. These dreams are forever gone, buried together with Atio’s bruised and
blackened body.
The death of a UST law student who was a member of UST’s Aegis Juris fraternity is a
shocking story. It shouldn’t happen because members on that fraternity are all law
students who are learning the law. Therefore, it is expected that they will not violate
Republic Act No.8049 or the Anti-Hazing Law. But, still it happened. Now, after the
death of another promising law student, it should be enough to have a total ban on
hazing. Perhaps if hazing had been imposed and properly banned before, Atio Castillo
and other deaths cause by hazing would still be alive today.
Time after time, throughout the years, we always hear that team initiations
gone bad that’s why hazing should stop. Remember, there are better ways to build an
assurance to have a teamwork than to assault the dignity of a fellow human. Building
trust and camaraderie in positive ways is very essential in our lives. We can unite and
fight against hazing. Please stop, hazing!

“POLLUTED WATER”
By Zainah Librando
One of the major problems in the philippines is water pollution. According to the
Asian development bank, the pasig river is one of the worlds most polluted rivers,
because the people are living near in the river they dont have comfort rooms, and their
waste they will threw to the river so the water is became polluted because of the wrong
doings of the people. Also the main source of pollution is untreated domestic and
industrial waste water. Besides severe health concerns, water pollution also leads to
problems in the fishing and tourism industries. The dynamite fishing can cause a water
pollution because of the dynamite the water is became dirty and the fishes that died
during dynamite fishing, The waste that people threw to the water. 47 percent of all
surveyed water bodies in the country having good water quality, 40 percent having only
fair water quality, and 13 percent having poor water quality. Around 50 of the 421 rivers
in the philippines are now considered to be biologically dead, each type of pollutant can
have different toxic and negative effects that can hurt human health and the
environment, resulting in high economic costs for both the population and government
entitles. Due to a lack of sufficient and effective sewage treatment infrastructure, only
about 10 percent of the sewage in the philippines is properly treated. Much of this waste
is directly discarded into waterways, particularly in low income urban areas that lack
sufficient infrastructure to support proper treatment of this waste. Pollutants from
agriculture can include dead plants, manure, dead animals, soil erosion, runoff, and
pesticides and fertilizers. According to WEPA, water pollutions effect cost the
philippines approximately 1.3 billion annually. The government continues to try to clean
up the problem, but many problems have not been addressed.
Many of the water rivers is polluted due to the wrong doings of the people and the illegal
fishing like dynamite fishing this problem can hurt human health.

“Drugged Country”
By: Kaiser Rocacurva

The drug addiction is still a notorious problem Philippines is facing at this

generation and counting for the next years. There are approximately 97 criminals
busted every day here in the Philippines and the Government headed by President
Rodrigo Roa Duterte are in drug war that killed almost 6,600 from July 2016 to May
2019. Drug trades are getting bigger, in September 23, 2019 a pack of cocaine
estimated 6 million was busted. In addition the human rights and the drug war are
having controversial issues regarding to the killings.

According to Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte a controversial words that awakens millions of
Filipino to vote him said “I will kill you” that means He will reinforced a drug war in his
term. Further more He won the position that lead to increase of killings to drug related
crimes. In my opinion Instead of strong enforcement, just like other countries is to create
a rehabilitation not just for recovery but for drug addicts like Switzerland where they
create rehabilitation giving free heroin with high quality, social workers that guides and
deals with life problems like housing, jobs that helps them to stabilize their life and the
result is dramatic drop of drug addicts in their country.

To conclude violence like drug wars can change a little, but it is not enough we need
understanding and connection that unchains drug addiction. Moreover if we have
connection and understanding we can achieve zero drug country. The government
might need to be strong reinforcing the law.

“Virus out of Stigma”

by: Louise Octaviano
 Later this year Dengvaxia became the issue that allegedly the reason that killed
154 children. Furthermore Public Attorney Office (PAO) Persida Acosta accused
Dengvaxia in the death of children but turns out to be misleading. Moreover by this
issue many of Filipinos overthinks the accidents that creates a stigma about the so-
called “Dangerous Vaccines”. In addition the rise of polio virus became an outbreak.
According to Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III, The thirs confirmed case is a
four-year old female from DatuPiang in the Province of Maguindanao who did not
receive any dose of the oral polio vaccine (OPV). What we have today that can treat
numbers of disease is vaccines. And according to study, If we are going to vaccinate
10,000,000 children only 120 will develop side effects and in 120 children only ranges 7-
9 children will be having severe case of side effects. Moreover Polio Vaccine became
available since March 26, 1953. So in my opinion we should support vaccination may be
it has side effects but the possibilities are very low and even treatable.

To conclude we should not make a stigma out of unproven facts that might lead to
rampant disease just like what happened to Polio outbreak. And we should support
vaccination because it is one of the strongest tool to prevent disease at this present
time. Moreover we can develop healthy community.

“Sogie-Bill be in our country”

By Christine Llaban

The sexual Orientation and Gender

Identity Expression Equality Bill which is also
known as Sogie Bill or Anti-Discrimination Bill is
a proposed law of the congress of the
Philippines. According to Michelle Abad, it is the
fight for equality and Anti-Discrimination for the
LGBTQ+ community is one that has known
almost 2 decades of legal struggle. It is intended
to prevent various economic and public
accomodation-related acts of discrimination
against people based on their sexual orientation,
gender identity or expression. Why Sogie Bill
should not be implemented? On my opinion,
Sogie Bill should not be implemented because there are a lot of disadvantages attached
on it. Just like when a transwoman would enter a womens rest room, other people will
complain about it because the womens rest room are for those real womens only. There
will be instances if the Sogie Bill will be implemented like mens would disguise as a
woman and would tell that he is a transwoman so they could sneak on other girls. A lot
of people we're not toleration this kind of law to be implemented in our country because
it cam violate our rights as a person. This bill threatens the freedom of the non LGBT
because it is not proper for transwomens to enter a womens rest room especially when
you are in a public rest room because you are engaging with strangers or people whom
you do not know. Some people will feel uncomfortable and get conscious about it. This
proposed bill can be an instrument to violate our rights and freedom of religion and to
live-out our faith. Surely, we cannot expect churches, especially the catholic church to
change their religous traditions or doctrines about the gender orientation just to adjust or
accomodate the law that they want to be implemented in our country. Forcing the
church to chabge their beliefs is as hard as forcing the LGBTQ+ members to change
their gender identity. LGBTQ+ members don't need the Sogie Bill because there are a
lot of laws in our country that prevents discrimination. One of the law is the Republic Act
No. 386 "Civil Code of The Philippines" where it says that every person shall respect the
dignity, personality, privacy and peace of mind of his neighbors and other persons. But,
that just one of the laws, we also have Republic Act No. 6713 "Code of Conduct and
Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees". Another reason why we don't
need the Sogie Bill is because Filipinos really accept the LGBT because a lot of them
became sucessfull in life. Many LGBT became sucessfull in different aspects like in
business, media, fashion, education and more. Our country is also recognize as one of
the gay-friendly country in the world. LGBT are mostly tge breadwinners in the family.
That is why we don't need Sogie Bill because LGBTQ+ were highly appreciated. Thus,
we all have different opinions about this kind of issue in our country right now and we
respect each others opinions. However, this issue is still debated in our government
wheather it would be implemented or not and still respect whatever the decisions may
be. But before they would come up with a decision, they need to consider a lot of factors
that can affect it. They need to think of it that everyone can benefit of this kind of law.