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thewitchwrites · 4 years

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UP BREHA: University of Problems in Bahay (Student Housing)

The University of the Philippines Baguio Residence Hall is the oldest and the only official dormitory of the university yet as residents we can observe that the living experience is anything but pleasurable and reflects the lack of budget for student housing in the university.

The internet is slow that no one in the dorm uses it, the cubicles in the bathroom in second floor have no doors, and there’s always water shortage.

The dorm also doesn’t have a kitchen, so we must share one gallon of hot water per floor to make food. Noodles and oatmeal are not proper daily sustenance for stressed college students.

In an interview with Faith Lacanlale, a second-year student, she said that the dorm is not conducive for studying.

“As a BA Communication student, ang hirap gumawa ng paper kasi laging walang internet tapos ang nipis pa ng walls kaya naman ang ingay lagi,” Lacanlale said.

Julie Gangpao, the dorm manager of UP BREHA, said in an interview that the reason for this is that they have a limited budget.

“Hindi kami pwede na agaran mag-resolve ng problem sa facility kasi hindi naman agad nakakakuha ng budget for that,” Gangpao added.

Another problem is security threat. The dorm is in a middle of a construction site so there are a lot of workers that catcall or sometimes peek around the windows of the all-girls dorm. We also have experiences of male transients roaming around our floor when they are clearly not allowed.

Last October, we even have an incident of a drunk male security guard going to second floor and angrily knocking and yelling at room 203.

All this trouble we’re experiencing as students is a result of lack of affordable housing available for us. UP BREHA only caters for girls and a limited number of freshmen which is 130 slots.

For the cost of 700 pesos per month, I’m willing to fight for a slot again even if it means sharing a tiny room with 6 to 8 other girls. We should not fight though because affordable housing should be something that the university can give because it is a necessity for students.

The lack of student housing makes me think that the construction going beside our dorm is to add more rooms for students not only for females but for males as well, but we found out a different story.

In an assembly last November, attended by BREHAns where these issues were raised to the student council, and the council said that the construction was for foreign exchange students called UP Balay.

Perhaps, instead of prioritizing foreign exchange students the university can give priority to resolving the issues of their students first.

If they can allocate budget for a dormitory catering to foreign students, they should also have enough budget to improve the facilities in UP BREHA and build more rooms for students. The availability of affordable housing for students, regardless of year and gender, should be a priority for the university.

Sabrina Estrada

BA Comunication

UP BREHA resident

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thewitchwrites · 4 years

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Baguio City on Food Waste

Defining Food Waste

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) defined food waste as the decrease in the quantity or quality of food resulting from decisions and actions by retailers, food service providers and consumers.

In an online article published by FAO, it was reported that food is wasted in many ways and occur during the producing, processing, retailing, and consuming of food.

Food such as fresh produce that deviates from what is considered ideal in terms of size, shape, and color, is often removed from the supply chain during sorting operations.

In still the same article, it also reported that food that are close to, at or beyond the expiration date are often discarded by retailers and consumers.

Large quantities of food are often unused or left over and discarded from household kitchens and food establishments.

Food Waste: A Public Concern

In the same article released by FAO, it stressed that food waste is a public concern. The Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations aimed to decrease by half per capita the global food waste at retail and consumer levels by 2030. It also aimed to reduce food losses along the production and supply chains.

FAO also estimated that 30% or around 1.3 billion tons of the world’s food goes to waste while around 800 million people in the world go hungry.

In a report by Rappler, it said that according to the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST) each Filipino wasted an average of 3.29kg/year of rice. Rice is a staple food in the Philippines. Rappler also stated that with the same amount, more than 2 million Filipinos could have been fed.

In a report released by Adobo Magazine, Melody Melo-Rijk, World Wild Funds’ Project Manager for Sustainable Consumption and Production in the Philippines, emphasized, during her welcome speech for a “No Place for Waste” campaign event, how food waste has become a public threat.

“Food waste is the biggest threat to nature today. When 70% of terrestrial biodiversity loss and when 69% of global freshwater use is attributed to food consumption and production, knowing about food waste is not enough.” Melo-Rijk said.

“We must do something. We must create sustainable food systems for the survival of both Filipinos today and tomorrow,” Melody Melo-Rijk said, calling to action her audience during the said event and urging them to participate in the campaign.

In Lotis E. Mopera’s research paper called Food Loss in Food Value Chain: The Philippine Agriculture Scenario, Mopera said that, “food loss and waste are becoming increasingly critical to the Philippine farmer and is considered a threat to agricultural sustainability and food security because the Philippines is mainly an agricultural country.”

Food Waste in Baguio City

Baguio City, as the summer capital of the country, is visited by over 1,760,729 tourists every year, as reported by the Herald Express in an online article.

In the same article, City Planning and Development officer Engr. Evelyn G. Cayat said that based on the data obtained from the City Tourism Office, the number of tourists that visited the city in 2017 has increased by 15.7 percent.

The booming tourism in the city gave rise to a bunch of food establishments to cater to tourists and generate employment for the residents.

However, during an interview with Baguio city agriculturist, Alberto Tomas, said that these food establishments contributed the most to food waste.

When asked about the main cause of food wastage in Baguio City, Tomas said, “ang malaking pinagmumulan ng food waste talaga dito sa Baguio City ay iyong mga food establishments. Obserbahan mo kasi sa tuwing maraming turista tulad pag holidays o di naman kaya pag summer at maraming nagse-seminar ay paramihan ng mga order sa restaurant pero di naman nauubos,” Tomas said. “Halimbawa, sa Good Taste, madaming tao diyan dahil marami ang serving pero madalas ay hindi naman nauubos.”

Alberto Tomas also said that when it comes to food security and agriculture, Baguio City has no crisis and that the problems on food waste caused by excess food production is still regulated.

“Ang Baguio wala naman krisis yan pag dating sa agriculture. Nare-regulate naman natin pero ang mas malaking problema pag dating sa farming ay iyong sa mga katabing bayan tulad ng Tublay, Atok, La Trinidad, ganun,” Tomas said.

“Ang main problem kaya nagkakaroon ng food waste dahil sa excess crops ay hindi sumusunod iyong mga farmers sa zoning at nagkakaroon ng sobrang tanim kasi halimbawa ang sabi patatas dito for this season tapos cabbage naman for this zone. Magtatanim lang sila ng puro patatas, hindi naman mataas ang demand sa baba. Nasasayang,” Tomas added.

Solutions to Food Waste in Baguio City

Tomas described zoning as the allocating of specific zones for each town to plant specific crops in them according to which is in demand. He stated that this helps in regulating the amounts of crops that can be produced according to the public demand. In this way, food waste from food production can be lessened.

In the same interview with city agriculturist, Alberto Tomas, he urged the locals and tourists alike to pay more attention on their personal ways of dealing with food waste by eating only what they can in order to lessen food waste.

Tomas also said that when it comes to food waste most of the establishments, such as Good Taste Restaurant, sell their excess food to people who turn them into feeds for pigs.

In an interview with another city agriculturist, Marcelina Tabelin, she proposed a food bank to regulate food waste in the city.

“May nakita ako noon, I forgot na kung saang city, pero pwede natin siguro i-adapt dito sa Baguio ang pagtatayo ng mga food banks. Itong mga food banks na ito ay pwede lagyan ng mga malapit na na ma-expire na mga canned goods,” Tabelin said

“Halibawa mula sa SM o di naman kaya ay mga pagkain mula sa mga restaurant na maari pa naman makain. Pwede siguro natin ibigay itong mga excess food na ito sa mga urban poor natin dito sa city,” Tabelin said, describing what a food bank is and how it can help manage the food waste in the city while feeding the poor.

“We can propose this naman kaso ang con nga lang nito ay dadami pa lalo ang mga urban poor lalo na at sa tuwing papalapit na ang holiday season ay biglang dumadami iyong mga namamalimos at mahihirap sa daan,” Tabelin added.

In article released by Inquirer, it was reported that Baguio folks are urged by the local government to use kitchen waste or food waste as fertilizer to grow more food.

In retrospect, Baguio City can still regulate its food waste and can still lessen its contribution to food waste.

Sabrina Estrada

December 2019

Journ 103

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thewitchwrites · 4 years

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Keep the Faith: The Introvert Writer’s Guide to Overcoming Fears

Go Big or Go Home

“I felt like I’m letting a once in a lifetime opportunity pass. It was frustrating,” Faith Lacanlale said with a sigh when she was asked about the choice she had to make. She was standing on crossroads. She was right in the middle choosing whether she should take a risk for the sake of learning or experience an opportunity that took years to present itself.

This was it.

Opportunity knocks only once but it knocked twice on her door. Two opportunities knocked on her door, one softer, the other one banging on it, as if saying, that this was it. Seize it. Seize this opportunity.

Faith Lacanlale, a 20-year-old, sophomore BA Communication student in the University of the Philippines Baguio, had to make this choice as a student writer. This was a choice that had to be made by a soft-voiced, introverted, writer that was put to test her limits. Faith had to choose whether she should go back to Cavite and drive to Manila to see a play she has written nearly two years ago come alive on stage or attend a scriptwriting workshop and plot pitching session hosted by Black Sheep Productions. Which choice truly outweighed the other? If you were in her shoes, what would you choose?

The Flashback

“Are you planning to be a writer?” her churchmate asked.

“Maybe, that’s where it all started.” This was what Faith had to say when she was asked how she started out as a writer. When she was in grade school and in a children’s choir. They were tasked to write self-reflections every mass and her conductor always chose her work as the best written reflection of the week.

It started there but her fascination grew when she started reading. She started reading the classics first until it evolved to watching films with great stories especially fantasy ones. She said that this was where her inspiration comes from.

Sofia Vinuya, a friend of Faith from Cavite, have said that she was always engrossed in reading fantasy books such as Janus Silang and was always talking about fantasy movies she has been watching. This is probably why most of the themes she writes about revolve around a fantasy plot. She also liked writers such as Rick Riordan for his fantastic storytelling. Faith said that what shaped her as a writer were the great stories, she grew up reading.

“There is nothing unique about my writing style, though.” Faith spoke humbly when asked what made her writing style stood out from other writers. This was such an expected response from a girl who always dressed so simply with her pastel shirts and white shorts. You can always spot her wearing minimal make-up and her hair always kept to a clean bob that suited her circular face. She was always soft-spoken. She was a quiet girl but her words on paper speak messages so loudly they were meant to be heard.

As a writer she was observant and would always put her own twists to a typical plot. Although she said there was nothing unique with her writing style but the director from Short and Sweet Productions begged to differ as they chose to turn her script into a play from hundreds of amateur writers’ scripts.

She said that she started writing this script in 2017 and submitted it to the company in 2018. She didn’t think much of it at the time. It was just another mundane afternoon for her when she found out. They were editing a short video she was directing for her school organization, UPB OBRA, when she received the e-mail notification in 2019. Once she found out that her script has been chosen to be staged as theatre play in Manila, she was ecstatic and immediately told her high school sweetheart Carl Jayson Logenio, who was also a sophomore BA Communication student. She cheekily said that she told him first because he was beside her at that time but had nothing to do with the fact that he was her boyfriend.

The stage play entitled “oath-taking” is a story about sisters who were fighting whether they should go to their father’s oath-taking as a newly elected government official. It discussed the heated political situation in the Philippines and the strong bond Filipino families have and how it got in the way of integrity.

Faith said that this was her greatest achievement as a writer thus far. She said that she was excited to watch the play. It was as if her dreams as a writer were coming true as her message would finally be passed into an audience.

The Crossroads

It was when another event was announced. It was announced months ago but during the last week of October the dates for a certain event at school was finalized and was announced in class. Faith Lacanlale wasn’t only a playwright, she was also a student, she was a student with responsibilities. She is a BA Communication student who majored in broadcast and minored in speech.

The event that was announced was a screenplay writing workshop where the speakers come from Black Sheep Productions – a popular production house in the country, home to movies such as Alone Together, Exes Baggage, Isa pa with Feelings, and more. All broadcast majors were required to attend the workshop. Faith was required to attend this workshop.

It’s all well, there should have been no problem, except for one thing –

the workshop was scheduled on the same day that her play was showing.

This was her crossroad. So, what did she choose?

The Choice

“Malamang pumunta ako sa workshop, girl, required, ‘yon,” Faith laughed but said it in a stern voice. Her eyes were breaming with determination when I asked her what path she would choose.

Faith simply laughed and told that without hesitation she chose to miss her play and attend the workshop. It wasn’t a hard choice. It was simply a duty she had to fulfil as a student. She said that her attendance in the workshop was required so she didn’t really have much of a choice after all.

She said it was frustrating to miss the play, as she considered it a once in a lifetime opportunity, but what comforted her was the fact that she was eager to learn something from the screenplay writing workshop.

She just shrugged it off and said that the director of the play promised her that they will give her a copy of the video of her play. She was also happy that at least her family got to see the show. She said that it was good enough for her.

Learning came first.

When asked what she learned from the workshop, she said it was to be shameless. It may not be big for some, but it was her biggest lesson. You see, Faith Lacanlale, a quiet introvert who normally wouldn’t start a conversation with anyone, said that this was her greatest learning from the workshop. She learned to be assertive and be shameless.

The Pitch

In Faith’s case, it truly was rewarding to be shameless.

It was the final day of the workshop called “Black to School” wherein producers and writers from Black Sheep Productions will conduct a screenplay writing workshop for schools and universities. It was also an opportunity to scout for new talent that will cater to the millennial audience. The producers and writers from Black Sheep Productions gave the students an opportunity to pitch a plot they wanted to see on the big screen and if the producers liked it, they might develop it into a full pledged film. It was the first of its kind for Black Sheep Productions and it was conducted at the University of the Philippines Baguio.

Nothing was certain, nothing was promised, but it was still a start for all the student writers in that workshop, including Faith.

The students were divided into smaller groups and were asked to go to a room where they can pitch to a certain writer or producer. Faith was assigned to the room where the creative head of Black Sheep, Kriz Gazmen, waited for their pitch.

She entered the room. It was the same classroom she always sat in during her regular college days, with the white armchairs, windowed walls, and a room filled with her classmates that she regularly sees in her broadcast classes. And yet, Faith knew it wasn’t just a regular day. She looked around the room and suddenly felt nervous.

Faith said that she was the second one to go upfront and tell the story she had always wanted to tell. She practiced pitching her plot several times and convinced herself she got this. She took deep breaths and changed her demeanor to be assertive, shameless.

She pitched a story about the modern-day Rizal. She asked, “What if after Jose Rizal was shot in Bagumbayan, he woke up and he was in the body of a tambay in the current time?” Faith said that it would be interesting to see Rizal’s reaction when he sees the country, he died for through the eyes of an unemployed man lying around in the slums of Manila.

In the other room, Teatro Amianan, where another pitching session was being conducted by the head of Black Sheep Productions. Faith’s boyfriend, Carl Jayson Logenio, pitched her plot for her to another producer. It was when another group was trying to pitch a somewhat similar plot of Jose Rizal in modern day. Jayson said he felt the need to defend his girlfriend’s plot.

Friends of the two who were in the same room claimed it was a sight to see how much the people close to her believed in her so much. During the moment Jayson was defending her plot, it wasn’t even sure that her plot would have been chosen.

But alas, it was proven that there truly is something about her writing that touch people.

The creative head of Black Sheep Productions personally chose Faith’s plot to be one of the potential concepts to be developed for a film. Kriz Gazmen also said that she has a distinctive voice for narrating a story. She was even complimented by the producers and said that her plot was needed in this time. They said she was going to go far.

In the end, she went big instead of going home and took the risk of rejection. She kept her faith, it was a spark, but it ignited. She said that she went to that workshop for the sake of learning and came out with so much more from it. She seized the opportunity and came out triumphant.

In the future, she said she wanted to continue writing worthy stories, whatever medium they may be.

#PersonalityProfile

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thewitchwrites · 4 years

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Ipitik Festival Celebrates Cordilleran Arts and Culture

The Council for Baguio Creative City revives the Ipitik Festival after 10 years to celebrate the traditions of Cordilleran arts and culture. The festival will officially start on March 28 with a lot of activities that showcases Cordilleran talent.

The event will begin with a rice ceremony, followed by the Search for the Master Tapuy Brewer. Tapuy is a local rice wine used in weddings, rice harvesting ceremonies, fiestas, and other traditional occasions in Cordillera.

According to anthropologist and local historian, Isikias Picpican, each Cordilleran village has a different way of making tapuy. The event recognizes not only the rice wine makers but also the people of the Cordilleras.

The festival will also have a gong show. Different elementary and high school students from the Cordilleras will showcase their Cordilleran heritage through dancing to the beats of the gong.

Meanwhile, the on-the-spot woodcarving competition will be held at Burnham Park. The woodcarvers will have to create pieces based on festivals and rituals rooted in the Cordilleras. The pieces will be displayed on Melvin Jones Dap-ay.

The last event will be the 3rd Pinipikan Cook Fest. Pinikpikan is a traditional Cordilleran dish which will be served on banana trunks and coconut shells. The day will also end with performances from the University of Baguio Voices and Graces, and Ubbuk.

Sabrina Estrada

February 2020

This is a news article written for my Journ 104 class.

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thewitchwrites · 4 years

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SC decision over CHED Memo 20 disappoint Filipino language advocates

Various groups air dismay over the Supreme Court’s decision to lift a 2015 Temporary Restraining Order on Commission on Higher Education Memorandum Order No. 20, series of 2013 or CMO No. 20 which excludes Filipino, Panitikan, and Constitution as core subjects in college.

Timeline and Basis

The CHED Memorandum Order No. 20, series of 2013 otherwise known as the “General Education Curriculum: Holistic Understandings, Intellectual and Civic Competencies” is the policy cover for the revised General Education Curriculum. The new curriculum and would be implemented in school year 2018-2019. It was issued on June, 28, 2013 under Commission on Higher Education Chair Patricia Licuanan.

On April 15, 2015, Filipino Language Advocates filed a petition before the Supreme Court to stop the implementation of the CMO No. 20 that will exclude courses on the national language from the general education curriculum in colleges.

On April 22, 2015, the Supreme Court (SC) spokesperson Theodore Te announced that a Temporary Restraining Order on the implementation of the CMO No. 20 has been issued.

On October 9, 2018, the Supreme Court declared K-12 constitutional and lifted the Temporary Restraining Order on the CMO No. 20. Series of 2013.

The Supreme Court considered three points in determining its decision. First, it said that under R.A. 7722, CHED is authorized to revise the curriculum. Second, the exclusion of Filipino, Pantikan, and Constitution as core subjects in college is to ensure that there would be no duplication of subjects in Grade 1 to 10, senior high school and college. Third, nothing in the stated laws required Filipino and Panitikan in the tertiary level and that the memorandum does not limit does not limit academic freedom in universities and colleges if they wish to require Filipino, Panitikan, and Constitution courses in their curriculum.

Filipino Language Advocates

This decision of the Supreme Court gained a lot of protests from various groups and alliances that advocate for the Filipino Language. Tanggol Wika, an alliance of educators from more than 40 colleges and universities in the country, hoped that the alliance could stop “imminent cultural genocide, the impending murder of our national language and local literature” and also claimed that the court’s decision is “patently unjust” as it would cause thousands of job displacements for faculty members teaching Filipino at Pantikan.

The University of the Philippines Diliman’s Departamento ng Filipino Panitikan also objected the court’s decision and released a statement on their website saying, “Ang panukala ng CHED Memorandum Order No. 20. Series of 2013 ay paglalapastangan sa pagpapahalaga sa kasaysayan, karunungan, at diwa ng kasarinlang mahabang panahong ipinaglaban at nilinang ng mga naunang salinlahi ng mga Filipino”

Another Filipino Language Advocate, Aurora Batnag, the president of Pambansang Samahan ng Linggwistika at Literaturang Filipinno, Ink., said in a stement, “isang malaking pagkakamali ang aksyong ito na sa kolehiyo inalis ang Filipino sapagkat ito ang antas kung saan mayroon nang mas malawak na kaisipan ang mga mag-aaral upang mas matanggap, maintindihan, ang kultura at panitikan ng bansa”

Effect of CMO No. 20

On a Facebook post made by Tanggol Wika, a list of universities that implemented the CMO No. 20 was released. These includes Saint Louis University-Baguio, Ateneo de Davao, Tarlac State University and more.

On September 2019, CHED sent survey forms to universities and colleges in order to know how many faculty members that were teaching Filipino and Panitikan lost their jobs.

The current chair of CHED, J. Prospero Devera III released in a stement in Inquirer also urged Higher Education Institutions to still require Filipino and Panitikan as core subjects in their curriculum. He also said that since the memorandum was issued on 2013, none of the current CHED commissioners were in office at that time and therefore were not privy to the context and discussions that were the basis for the CHED Memorandum.

On May 2019, the Supreme Court also denied the Filipino Language Advocates filed motion to reconsider its decision on the implementation of the CMO. No. 20 claiming that the groups failed to present substantive new arguments and that the CMO No. 20 did not invalidate the constitution. Sabrina Estrada

This is a 2019 article written for my JOURN 103 class.

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thewitchwrites · 4 years

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Christmas for a Cause

Charity. Creativity. Christmas. These are just some of the highlights as The Manor in Baguio City welcomes the holiday seasons through a dinner for a cause for children in the autism spectrum and a Christmas tree lighting ceremony.

The event gave a spotlight to various hand-crafted art works made by children with autism. It was hosted by Tonipet Gaba and introduced a sumptuous dinner made by Chef Billy Clain. The Autism Hearts Foundation presented Yakap Sining or Embracing Art wherein post cards and bags made by the children with autism were auctioned to raise funds. The funds will go to the Fashion Arts Autism Benefit (FAAB) for Hope which aims to showcase and auction the works of the children in an exhibit in New York and San Francisco. These funds will also help less fortunate children in the autism spectrum. The works of art include post cards for hope which sold for 280 pesos per bundle and beautifully painted handbags which sold for 7,000 pesos and above. There were also raffle tickets wherein guests can purchase and win exciting prizes while also helping further the cause.

The event officially started with a doxology led by the University of Baguio Voices Chorale and University of Baguio Orchestra. It was followed by the opening remarks of Mr. Cabrera and a speech on the true significance of the event by Ms. Linda Borromeo. The children behind the works of art were also introduced. Justine Zambrano, one of the children who has Asperger’s syndrome enlightened the crowd with how they can be helping children in the autism spectrum through purchasing their art.

“FAAB gave us the chance to express ourselves through art and give us confidence to be productive citizens in the society,” Zambrano said in his speech which summarized the true spirit of the event.

A spectacular light and fireworks display became one of the most memorable happenings during the night. Students from the University of Baguio gave a song and dance performance inside a gigantic snow globe. The lights danced as the students entertained the guests with their rendition of Frozen’s Let it Go. The night was filled with joy and music as it featured serenades from Lee Grane and MYMP.

The ceremonial tree lighting ceremony was also the talk of the town as the Manor Garden was filled with Christmas trees and decors which had a minimalist yet elegant design. The Manor opted for simplicity so they can give more for the benefit.

“We at the Manor decided to give back to the community for the benefit of the children with special needs.” Said Mr. Cabrrera in his opening remarks. The tree lighting ceremony was led by Mr. Cabrerra, Mr. Avanzenia, Ms. Linda Borromeo, Mr. Allan Garcia, Mayor Benjie Magalong, Congressman Mark Go, Mr. Bob Sobrepena and Mrs. Lissa Sobrepena and more.

Aside from these distinguished guests, the dinner was also attended by the families of the children with autism. It was a winter night in the middle of the coldest city in the country but with the spirit of happiness and generosity that celebrated Christmas with a cause the night became a heart-warming one. Sabrina Estrada

This is an old article for my JOURN 102 class written in 2019

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thewitchwrites · 4 years

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ASIN TAX: Unnecessary Tax on a Necessity

The proposed “Asin Tax” that seeks to impose a one-peso excise tax for every milligram of sodium can be harmful to poor Filipino families and does not guarantee to reduce the sodium consumption of the country.

The Department of Health (DOH) pushed for an excise tax on salt content encouraged by the recently implemented tax on sugar-sweetened beverages and the supposed effectivity of sin taxes wherein raised retail prices on tobacco and alcoholic beverages resulted to a reduced consumption of the products.

The DOH also said that high sodium consumption induces hypertension and other non-communicable diseases.

DOH failed to say though that salt cannot be classified as a sin product since it not like tobacco whose nicotine content is addictive and has been linked to various diseases.

Salt is also the most basic ingredient on any Filipino dish. The poor Filipino family’s food is usually consisted salt products such as fish, canned goods, patis, soy sauce, noodles and the likes.

A can of sardines, which has 610 mg sodium content, will be worth P110 while a cup of noodles with a 990-milligram sodium content will be priced at P490. The daily wage for a poor Filipino is P200 or even less.

The added excise tax on a product that is a sustenance for the poor can be harmful in a way that they won’t be able to eat anything at all. The tax may reduce salt consumption because people can no longer afford salt, but it can also raise the number of deaths related to malnourishment and famine in the country.

The Asin Tax also cannot guarantee that the sodium consumption will be reduced since salt is a necessity and not considered a vice. It is needed for survival. The taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages has still not lessened the consumption of the product.

Perhaps, instead of passing the burden of taxes to Filipinos, the government can give responsibility to food manufacturers and food establishments to lessen the salt content in their products.

The government can also allocate a bigger budget on the Department of Health to be able to do more research and solve these health issues and be able to give the Filipinos a healthier option.

In this way, salt consumption can be regulated but not at the expense of the poor. Sabrina Estrada

This is a 2019 article wriiten for my JOURN 103 class.

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thewitchwrites · 6 years

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April spread and so far I’m kind of enjoying my internship even though sometimes there were days where we didn’t have anything to do since we tend to finish all our task real quick lol. Another reason why I’m enjoying is it’s really near in our house I wouldn’t be wasting time to travel back and forth. Currently listening to Exo-CBX Blooming Day.

instagram: applefroyo

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thewitchwrites · 6 years

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concept: let’s go to bed at 9pm instead of 3am. let’s drink more water for our bodily health and less coffee for the aesthetic. let’s not skip breakfast because it’s worth running a little behind even if it’s just some fruit or cereal. let’s go socialize even if we’re kinda nervous. let’s love ourselves when we feel down, because flaws are not the end of the world. let’s work hard but take breaks in between instead of procrastinating and then rushing. let’s ignore what people who don’t know us have to say about us behind our backs. let’s be kind to each other because we’re all trying here. let’s hype up being mentally healthy rather than being perfect. let’s live our lives like we want to.

just a thought.

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thewitchwrites · 6 years

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school mindset

essays: make each essay you write better than the last

  small assignments: aim for 100s, expect 100s, get 100s

  homework: pretend they’re assignments

  homework that’s not graded: pretend! they’re! assignments!

  tests: study for 100s, expect less

  long term projects: act like it’s due in four days -even when it’s not- until you’re done with it

  group projects: do not get angry

  presentations: pretend you’re obama

disclaimer: this works for me, it may not work for everybody, do not push yourself too hard!!

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thewitchwrites · 6 years

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How to Feign Your Life is Together

Have a signature accessory, clothing article, make up look, or hair style.

Have a fragrance. Make your hair scents and lotions match your perfume.

It’s okay to dine alone. Bring a book or people watch.

Love your hair. Research the best brands for your hair type and use masks weekly.

Your nails don’t need to be fancy, but keep them maintained.

Stay worldly. Know works of art, artists, designers, films, books, politicians. Spend your lunch break reading the paper or a magazine.

Crying is not a weapon. It’s okay to feel your emotions, but never use them as an excuse to avoid your problems.

Jealousy is boring. Love and appreciate others. If you can’t love them, forget them.

Boost others. Flatter others, but don’t deprecate yourself in the process.

Don’t sulk. Don’t let the whole world know your problems. If you don’t want someone to give their opinion, don’t share your situation.

Your life is between you and the universe. Don’t post your personal matters for others to see.

Don’t emotionally blackmail others. They hurt you? Let them know and then move on. It’s between the two of you and not the world.

Cook dinner. Cook dinner and listen to music, the radio, or a podcast.

Treat yourself to candles and flowers. Be your own cheerleader.

Take naps. Take a cat nap on a Sunday afternoon with the blinds open and the fan on high.

Drink your water, eat your vegetables. Take care of your body.

Never have time to take off your jewelry before bed, but always have time to take off your makeup. Your nighttime skin regime is important.

Mystery is beautiful. You don’t need to reveal much of or about yourself.

Never appear other than as you are. Don’t lie about yourself. Embrace who you are at your core.

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thewitchwrites · 6 years

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WHAT TO PACK

packing list by @mathmaticat

things i actually used by @productivecoffee

first aid kit by @wannabeavet

12 things nobody told you to pack for college by @happyjo

packing list by @introvertstudyism

things no one tells you to bring to college by @allieswonderland

definite must haves by @collegerefs

FIRST DAY

how to college by @danistudies-ir

things i noticed my first day of college by @arasstudyblr

picking courses by @the-physics-detective

STUDYING

things i’ve learned while taking my 1st semester final exams by @studycris

how to get straight a’s by @bookbearstudies

study tips straight from my professor by @just-refuse-to-be-stopped

how i study @ college by @shhhstudy

tracking college courses in your bullet journal by @the-nerd-bird

OFFICE HOURS

dear college students by @oldshrewsburyian

office hours post by @historicalaesthete

COLLEGE LIVING

working in college by @pawprintedpages

some uni tips for shy people (like me) by @goro-goro-studies

gbm/club season by @alevatross

living off campus by @honeststudying

TEXTBOOKS

where to buy college textbooks by @studybuddydotcom

how to save on textbooks by @sandersstudies

sites where you can get free textbooks by @thearialligraphyproject

how i only spent $34 to purchase $1000+ worth of school supplies for college by @dinktea-studymore

CHOOSING A MAJOR

in response to criticism that an english degree is useless by @warmhealer

choosing a major by @collegerefs

GENERAL TIPS FOR SUCCESS

some random uni tips by @goro-goro-studies

mistakes college freshmen make by @bioluminescent-studier

what i’ve learned from two semesters of university by @transcendstudy

five tips by @paperdrop

5 tips for first year by @highlighterhaven

questions every college freshman should ask themselves by @studynadia

a honest university guide by @prodessostudies

tips for college by @anotherstudyblr17

college tips by @physicallymath

advice from a stressed, coffe-addict college student part i by @cafune-s

things i’ve learned in college (so far) by @trying-to-become-a-good-student

shitty advice of a college student by @stillstudies

successful university tips by @candidlyjessica

a guide to getting your life together by @the-sapphic-desk

uni tips by @rubythescientist

college tips from a real live college student by @socsciblr

things i wish i’d known in my first year of university by @succulentstudy

things i wish i had known before starting by @andmekb

what i learned my first semester in college by @studygrl

OTHER MASTERPOSTS

how to survive in college by @lilypotterr

college survival masterlist by @college-campuses

MISC.

double degree by @fuckstudy

how to prepare for a new semester by @blissfulstudies

what to expect from your uni experience by @honeststudying

high school vs college by @collegerefs

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