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Written by EEA | Visuals by KKP When there’s not a day in your life as a woman that you are not subtly degraded, it’s hard not to start believing what the world tells you. The world that we live in has always set standards for women — from the way they dress, the way they talk, the decisions they make, and even their own capabilities — perhaps anything that would make them feel inferior. Despite the efforts to trample the patriarchy and progress towards gender equality, women continue to suffer from a wide spectrum of sexism they face that makes them feel invisible and powerless. Women feeling inferior to men as a result of these daily occurrences result in internalized misogyny. As women continue to live in a “man’s world”, they subconsciously learn to project prejudiced behavior upon themselves including other women. Each day, women grapple to take out the pain and degradation as they are looked down upon as someone less. However, the notion that women intentionally drag each other down has been normalized without any empirical evidence. In fact, there are several claims of women bullying each other, spreading rumors about them, behaving two-faced, and doing things that could undermine each other’s reputations. Based on research conducted for a book titled “It’s Not You, It’s the Workplace”, there is no sufficient evidence that women are mean-spirited, antagonistic, or untrustworthy towards other women than men. Truth be told, there is an underlying reason as to why women engage in this type of behavior. In a patriarchal world where women are perceived as the weaker sex, women are often pressured to seek validation from many. Women are forced to conform in accordance with the norms and values set upon them by society. With this, women often resort to shaming, doubting, or even undervaluing not just other women but also themselves. Moreover, this triggers the “Queen Bee” syndrome, which according to a study about the Queen Bee phenomenon back in the 1970s, encompasses a set of behaviors including deprecating feminine traits, emphasizing their own “masculine” attributes, not recognizing gender discrimination, and choosing to trample each other instead of patriarchy. With this, it is safe to say that female rivalry does not happen just because they want to. Instead, women engage in “Queen Bee” behavior as there are unequal opportunities for them thus, affecting their way to success. Based on research, the Queen Bee Phenomenon is a response to the negative stereotypes and discrimination experienced by women, including those who identify themselves as a woman. The change in women’s behavior is considered unintentional and is brought about by the implicit gender bias as this affects their unconscious mind, thus, affecting their attitudes and actions towards other people. To further back up this claim, fifteen years later, the same study had been replicated and further revealed that women who have the “Queen Bee” syndrome do not mean to be catty. Instead, this behavior is shown by women to cope with the gender discrimination that they still face even after a decade and a half later. As women are continuously being dictated of what they are capable of, they have become quick to judge or even question themselves. This has greatly affected the way they see the women surrounding them. Unfortunately, some women who have not fully empowered themselves criticize and attack other women as seeing other women have what they do not possess yet scares them. In other words, some women are rattled to see what they have not permitted in themselves in other women — empowerment. However, internalized misogyny goes beyond belittling other women’s success. What most people do not realize is the occurrence of internalized misogyny in their daily lives. As surprising as it can be, internalized misogyny can be as simple as claiming “I’m not like the other girls”, “Girls are so emotional!”, or “I would rather hang out with the boys! Girls are so dramatic” just to cater to the male gaze and set a barrier between themselves and other women as they are perceived as powerless. Furthermore, internalized misogyny includes taking more pride in one’s feminine and masculine qualities, looking down on other women, slut-shaming, and resenting feminine women among others. Whether we are ready to face it or not, it is difficult being a woman. In a world where women are treated poorly, it is no surprise that living in a man’s world comes with these consequences. And while it is true that this behavior is brought about by the challenges women face, it is not enough to justify this kind of behavior. As a matter of fact, engaging in this misogynistic culture on other women does not destroy nor tramples the standards this world has set for them, but rather makes us participate in our own oppression. Breaking this cycle also requires the understanding that every woman has her own path, and that not every woman has the freedom to fully empower themselves. Thus, providing safe spaces for them to grow can go a long way as we go through our daily battles as a woman. We must remember that women standing shoulder to shoulder in solidarity are much stronger than anything else. After all, we are never going to be able to trample the real enemy if we will always choose to bring each other down.

Written by: Laurence Gabriel Arellano Visuals by: Jayvee Fulgencio Sports, in this modern-day, have no place for sexism. The notion that sports are only for men has almost been completely abolished. Although, there are still sporting events in the Olympics, both winter and summer, that have gender-bias when it comes to the rules and regulations. Also, there is a difference in the number of events held between the men’s and women’s divisions for some sports. In gymnastics, only four events were held for women: vault, uneven bars, balance beam, and floor exercise, while there are six events for the men: floor pommel horse, rings, vault parallel bars, and high bar. In Bobsleigh, a winter Olympic event, instead of just two members, the women’s competition has four members to push the bobsled. Also, in boxing, there are more weight classes for men than that for women’s But as sports history continues to be progressive, here are just a few among the long list of women who succeeded in taking down levels of sexism in their respective sports. Billie Jean King Billie Jean King, the American tennis champion, grabbed a total of 39 grand slam titles throughout her career, 12 in singles, 16 in women’s doubles, and 11 in mixed doubles. But, it wasn’t her titles that topped her long list of accomplishments. She is also one of the most notable women’s rights advocates. During the year 1973, an exhibition match between her and self-proclaimed chauvinist Bobby Riggs was held. This match was called the “Battle of the Sexes”. Riggs exploited “women’s stereotypes” for laughs during the game, but for King, it was more than just a game. She used her victory against Riggs to promote equal rights in sports specifically the pay. In the same year, she organized a meeting which then led to the foundation of the Women’s Tennis Association, which fought for equal pay of grand slam title winners. Ultimately, the US Open was the first tournament that had the same prize for the men’s and the women’s tournaments. Hidilyn Diaz Philippine Air Force Sergeant Hidilyn Diaz became the first Filipina to ever win an Olympic medal as she lifted the silver medal during the 53kg division of the women’s weightlifting division, ending the country’s 20-year Olympic medal drought. In the year 2018, she managed to grab the gold in the same division at the Asian Games after lifting a total of 207kg beating Turkmenistan’s bet Kristina Shermetova by a single kilogram. She became the first Filipino weightlifter to win a gold medal in the Asian Games. She currently has her eyes set to grab the ever-elusive first gold medal for the Philippines this upcoming Tokyo 2021 Olympics. Junko Tabei Junko Tabei was the founder of the women’s climbing club in Japan. She shattered the gender barrier in mountaineering as she became the first woman to ever climb atop Mount Everest in 1975. In 1992, she became the first woman ever to climb the Seven Summits or the tallest peaks of the seven continents. To this day, women mountaineers continue to rise. In the year 2019 20% of the climbers were women, the highest of any year. Margarita Ochoa Meggie Ochoa became the first-ever Jiu-Jitsu World Champion as she topped the 2018 Jiu-Jitsu World Championship in Sweden. She is also the reigning South East Asian Jiu-Jitsu master as she grabbed the gold medal at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. Months before this, she took home the Philippines’ first-ever gold medal in the Asian Jiu-Jitsu Championship. Like other athletes, her work doesn’t just stop at succeeding in her competitions. She too was a vocal advocate, in which she was also awarded as the Sportsman of the Year during the year 2019. Her advocacy focuses on children against violence and prostitution. For her, Jiu-Jitsu is merely a competitive sport, its true purpose is to be used as self-defense. In the year 2016, she, along with her colleagues, taught Jiu-Jitsu to the children at the Safe Haven Community Center and Children’s Home for three years. After the 2019 SEA Games, along with the national Jiu-Jitsu team, further supported the Freedom Sunday Network, a network of organizations helping children rescued from online exploitation.

Written By Patrick Ryan Sarte As the sunshine glares upon the faces of Katherine, Mary and Dorothy, they greet you with a broken down car, a cute friendly banter, and a journey that would soon unfold as one of the best historical space events ever recorded. The film will tug on your heartstrings as you get absorbed in the amazing story on how three brave women made big sacrifices and achievements for Science and Humanism which will truly pique your interest. The movie hidden figures was directed by Theodore Melfi who is an American screenwriter and also a producer. The movie became a hit back in 2016 that made Melfi receive an Oscars Nomination for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay. Hidden Figures focused on the American’s side of the story in the historical space race and also tackled different social issues that occurred decades ago. The film depicted a lot of manmade social constructs in 1960 and showed inequality amongst people who were living in America at that time. The movie revolves around the lives of Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, and Dorothy Vaughan and their battle against bigotry, sexism, and racism, as they help anchor the win on the space race against Russia. They try to overcome the unthinkable during a time of unprecedented belittling of one’s gender, skin color and ideals. These social issues mentioned can still be seen in our day and age but are not as normalized globally anymore and it's because of the contribution of the trio that helped in extinguishing such degrading beliefs and the movie in itself foretold these issues to a fine detail. These three women were clearly masters of their craft, as they waged war through the unknown: Katherine, a Mathematician computer in NASA, was not only intellectually gifted, she was also kind, caring and family oriented. She was one of the brightest minds who led NASA to where it is today; Mary, the very first African American female Engineer in NASA, was powerful, held her head up high and stood up for what was right. She absolutely despised the current system at that time and the unfair advantage a person’s color can be; and Dorothy, the head of the West Computing Division of NASA, was made with a heart full of love and built with the tenacity of hard metal. She mounted resistance amongst any obstacle that came her way, and her adaptability to problems was remarkable! These amazing women did the impossible by helping with the launch of the Friendship 7 space shuttle in all aspects ― controlling computations using multiple IBM 7090s calculators, getting proper launch and landing coordinates, and more. They also paved the start of the road to help destroy the norm of inequality by these achievements. The two-hour film doesn’t feel as long as it looks as time seems to pass by so quickly when you are engrossed in its cinematography, storytelling, and amazing cast. Speaking of cinematography, the film used the old aesthetic of the United States of America with old school cars and cement made roads with a very warm feel that will make you feel what the characters were feeling at the time. The cast made the film all the more pleasant to watch as they portrayed how achievers alike in reality had their own share of struggles as well. These struggles when it comes to family, finances or even a job workload that seems to be never ending. For the trio though, there was a hidden pressure to succeed in their roles in NASA but they will keep afloat to prove the unequal society wrong. The film of course added a bit of their own take on the tale as the story is fiction but it also shows the historical truth behind what was happening behind the doors of NASA back in the day. Although with the main cast being the center of attention, the minuscule details such as the little posters named “colored computers” or even the sounds of hard metal banging in soundless, tense and crucial scenes made it feel like the creators took note of the smallest of background detail that made everything jive together. With that in mind, scenes with complex discussions of Mathematics, also gave a better understanding on how NASA gained access to their information about how they found out the unknown, hence the name of the movie, Hidden Figures. When bright minds collide, brilliance shows in both parties. This film showed that without degrading either of the parties, all great ideas should be seen as a step forward and not as competition. The movie recreated real life achievements of real people in such a fashion that it didn’t highlight the achievements themselves, but the struggle and will power that made them break through all the turmoil and overcome the impossible. The amazing prowess to show a history that shaped the future into our present makes this a must have in your movie watch list as it is one of the best historical films ever made out there. Watch the trailer here:

Written by Laurence Gabriel Arellano Visuals by Jayvee Fulgencio “Go USTE! Go USTE! Go USTE! GO! GO! GO! GO! U! S! T! UST Tigers!” Being in a sea of yellow is one of the best things to do in the university. Cheering with your friends, or even a stranger who you just met at the game, is almost as good as feeling in love. As the pandemic went through the curve, only the professional leagues were allowed by the Inter-Agency Task Force of the Philippines, leaving amateur ranks such as the University Athletics Association of the Philippines up in limbo. The UAAP initially thought of having the possibility of hosting only the basketball and the volleyball tournaments, before deciding to cancel the entirety of the Season 83. One of the highlights of being in UST is watching live games, may it be in the arena, or in the televisions, or live viewing parties held around the campus such as the Ruano Lobby and the practice gym. It brings a deep sense of belongingness as you can barely know the college or the faculty of the Thomasian sitting and cheering next to you. The cancellation of season 83 along with the shift to online classes also halted yellow days. Surely, we miss wearing our best yellow UST shirts, and all the cheers and roars that come with it. Looking back from the season 82 games can make you go through a memory bliss. A Civil Engineering student, shared that when he watched in the Big Dome during the elimination round, he was overwhelmed with how large the size of the crowd is, he felt proud and walked exhilarated towards the exit of the arena. A Mechanical Engineering student who watched the finals in the Ruano Lobby shared that it is way better to watch the game in the campus rather than watching in his dorm as he felt the atmosphere of the game better. It didn’t matter to him if the Tigers were winning or losing, he felt ecstatic nonetheless. As I listen to their stories regarding watching live, I was taken back to the moments I have watched live. The feeling of excitement rushed back to me as it took me into some sort of a memory lane of how exciting and energizing watching live games is. I have been watching UAAP live games since high school, been to different professional league games such as PBA, but it felt really different to watch as a Thomasian. It gives a sense of unity and camaraderie amongst your fellow Thomasians. During the finals, I was able to watch both in the Ruano Lobby and the Mall of Asia Arena. It was the first time I have sat in the General Admission section, but it felt no difference to when I was seated in the upper box or the lower box sections, the atmosphere is still as warm and the cheers are as loud. But for now, all we have are memories. There will not be any UST crowd in the next months. As we talk about this with our friends and watch replays or highlights of the games, we can feel the feeling of excitement rushing to our veins hoping that we could experience it once again. Although we’re pushing through the online classes, the school year is not as complete as that of the past years. Aside from the hug culture, yellow days, and eat outs, we still feel as if something is missing within us the way we cannot experience the Thomasian crowd again. We don’t feel like we are full-blooded Thomasians without the aggregated cheering and shouting with our fellow students supporting the different tiger teams. It makes us long for the feeling that we belong to something bigger than just being students. The allowance of limited face to face classes may spark the start of the return of collegiate basketball. The Commission on Higher Education and the Department of Health is set to release requirements on establishing a “training bubble” for the student athletes. This might signal that the UAAP, the cheer, and the crowd may return soon. One day, we will once again experience belonging to the yellow crowd, and the love that comes with it. It will not matter what section of the arena, or what part of the campus or viewing party you’re in, as long as you’re watching with your fellow Thomasians, the long wait will be worth it.

Written by Aliah Nicole Brillante, Mary Andrew Dalogdog, Carl Tristan Gile, Miguel Ballecer, Blessy May Mercado, Allen Atienza, Lance Lasam, Laurence Gabriel Arellano, Jeff Alfonso, and John Carlo Urbano Photos by Ma. Victoria Lopez, Camille Buli, Alex Tacderas, Joaquin Campos, and Jayvee Fulgencio To mark the 114th Foundation Anniversary of the Faculty of Engineering, the first-ever virtual Engineering Week was held last February 8-13, 2021. With the theme, “UST Engineering in Unending Pursuit of Excellence: Steadfast, Undeterred @ 114,” Vlog Fest, E-Games Tournament, Bingo Royale, Research Colloquium, and Job Fair were only some of the events conducted during this celebration. To make way for these activities, classes were suspended on the first and last day of the Engineering Week, while asynchronous classes were held last February 9-11. Rev. Fr. Roberto Luanzon, Jr., O.P, faculty regent, presided over the eucharistic mass celebrated on the first day. This was immediately followed by the opening program, hosted by Asst. Prof. Charmina Lou C. Bautista from the Industrial Engineering (IE) Department. Engr. Perfecto "Eric" T. Espiritu, PIE, a UST alumnus and COO of Hastings Motor Corp., was the keynote speaker of the program. Webinars The first webinar, entitled “The ‘BAKIT’ List: What Life could be from the Perspective of Young Engineers,” was conducted last February 9. Ms. Angela Encomienda, the Founding Chairperson of The Initiative PH, Dr. Ma. Gia Grace B. Sison, MD, MOH, DPCOM, the Corporate and Occupational Health Practice Head of Wellness Center at Makati Medical Center, and Engr. Marie Pamelha Gabrielle Escota, an alumna of UST Engineering and Field Engineer at MDC Buildplus Inc., were invited to speak at the event. On the next day, the Electronics Engineering (ECE) and Chemical Engineering (ChE) department, presented the 8th Engineering Research Colloquium. The following are the faculty researchers with their respective studies: Engr. Shikara P. Poblete, M.Sc. (Civil Engineering) - "ThermoPhysical Characterization of Nanofluids Using an Acoustic Technique" Engr. Maria Joriza Bondoc, M.Sc. (ChE) - "Technospheric Mining of Cobalt from Non-Ferrous Slag" Engr. Gabriel C. Bucu, CIE (IE), "Application of Industrial Engineering Principles as a Preliminary Assessment of Service Delivery in Establishing an Emergency Response framework on COVID-19 (SARS-COV-2) Pandemic for Metro Manila Local Government Units" Engr. Mariz B. Ariaz-Chua (Electrical Engineering) - "Design Models for Power Flow Management of a Grid-Connected Solar Photovoltaic System with Energy Storage System" Engr. John Carl Joel S. Marquez, M.Sc. (ECE) - "Efficiency Improvement of CMOS Front-Illuminated Solar Cells for Self-Powered IOT Sensors Through Layout Optimization" Asst. Prof. Anthony James C. Bautista, PME, Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering) - "LISA Robot: An Immediate response to Government Call for Solutions in the COVID-19 Pandemic." During the second part of the said program, each department of the Faculty showcased their respective laboratories situated at the Fr. Roque Ruaño building. The “Wellness Thursday” was held last February 11, wherein health and wellness posters and videos were posted on the Engineering Student Council (ESC) Facebook page. Dra. Ryan Jeanner Ceralvo, Engr. Ruel Morales, Ms. Ma. Paz Lugay-Sales, RND, MSN, and Asst. Prof. Charmina Lou Bautista, PIE, RFP, CSS were the speakers of the program. On the same day, “Convergence: The Thomasian Way of Remote Learning” was conducted. Mr. Philippe Jose S. Hernandez, MEng, the Assistant Director for Online of UST Communications Bureau and Mr. Leo-Martin Angelo R. Ocampo, MA, Institute of Religion faculty member, were invited to talk. The “Anong Kwentong Turong Pandemic Mo?” webinar was hosted last February 12 for faculty members to share their experiences during the online setup to their fellow instructors. The Jubilarian classes of the Faculty were awarded with Jubilarian medals on behalf of their batchmates during the first-ever “ZoomUSTahan,” led by the UST Engineering Alumni Association, Inc. (USTEAAI) last February 13. Vlog Fest and HABILIN Photo Contest Students showcased their “vlogging skills” as they participated in the Thomasian Engineering Vlogfest 2021 held last February 9, with the theme “Quarantine Mood: Taking control of today’s makeshift lifestyle.” Whereas, HABILIN: Engineering Photo Contest 2021 was held on February 8-9. Entries for both events were posted on ESC’s Facebook page. Joshua Lance Seno (ChE Department) won the vlog fest and Joshua Gabriel Benitez (ECE Department) won the photo contest. Job Fair The annual Job Fair was opened for the Faculty’s new graduates last February 9-11. Applicants attended the job screening via Zoom. The five companies that participated in the event are the following: Analog Devices, Rockwell Land Corporation, Dyson, PT&T, and JG Summit Petrochemical Group. Bingo Royale and E-Games Tournament The Faculty kicked off the games for the week with the annual Bingo Royale. The game followed the R, U, A, N, O, and blackout patterns for the six respective rounds. Jamie Valdon won the grand prize for the blackout round, while Aila Saccuan, Arturo Tuano, Cyreene Navarro, Alyza Sones, and Kim Lyn Sandoval bagged the prizes for the first five patterns. Meanwhile, the first part of the Engineering E-Games 2021 was held last February 10. The Mechanical Engineering (ME) Teletubbies beat the Civil Engineering (CE) Semento Boys in a two-one (13-4, 10-13, 11-13) record for the championship in the Valorant Tournament. While the ECE Ecomms defeated 17 teams and emerged as the champion in the Call of Duty Mobile-Garena (CODM): Battle Royale Tournament. During the same day, the E-RACE: Excellerace Goes Virtual was conducted. A total of 10 stations with mini games and puzzles were solved by the players. The ChE team, composed of Christian Joshua B. Agustin, Zharla N. Fernandez, Leila Lynne M. Navato and Hazel Jasmine Rueda, claimed first place. The second part of the E-games, which is the Mobile Legends Tournament, was held last February 11. Teams from different departments battled out to become the official representative of their respective departments in the double elimination playoffs. ECE WanEleven grabbed the championship. Interlude As the Engineering Week approached its final day, ESC hosted the “Interlude: Engineering Fest 2021.” The event was divided into two parts: (1) Variety Showdown and (2) Battle of the Bands and Silver Gear Awards. For the Variety Showdown, the parody music video entries of each department were presented in the following order: ChE, “MINSAN”; Civil Engineering (CE), “SINGKO”; Mechanical Engineering (ME), “You Belong With M.E”; IE, “Lapis”; ECE, “Effervescent. Competitive. Eager.,” and; and Electrical Engineering (EE), “Bangon Na”. For the Battle of the Bands, the competing bands performed in the following order: “Bandarito” (ECE), “Shift Solve” (ME), “Power System” (EE), “Vermillion” (Faculty of Engineering freshmen), “Illumina” (CE), “Breaking Band” (ChE), and “Four Corners” (IE). On the other hand, the winners of the Silver Gear Awards, which was announced in intervals during the Battle of the Bands, are the following: Krizia Mile Joy Yu, Fr. Roque Ruaño Leadership Award; Justin Kobe Macario, St. Sebastian Award; Operations Research Society of the Philippines - UST Chapter (ORSP-UST), St. Aloysius Gonzaga Award, and; Asst. Prof. Maria Victoria C. Viray, MME, MA, Engr. Mary Grace C. Bautista, MS, Asst. Prof. Bernadette M. Duran, MEngg, MA, Engr. La Verne Ramir D.T. Certeza, MPE, Engr. Kevin Lester B. Lobo, BS, Assoc. Prof. Joehanna K. Ngo, MSIE, PIE, ASEAN Engr., and Engr. Reymond D. Serafica, BS for Most Outstanding Professor. Afterwards, the Engineering Fest was graced by the performances of the invited guest performers: Bone-A, 1906, and Clara Benin. Moreover, the Engineering Dance Troupe (EDT) and One Voice Engineering Chorale also performed their intermission numbers during these events. To officially conclude the event, winners from both contests were announced: Civil Engineering for the Battle of the Bands, and ChE for the Variety Showdown and Over-all Champion of the Engineering Week 2021. The judges were Bricx Martillo Dumas, Julia Bettina de Guia, and Fatima Julia Isidro.

Written by Allen Atienza Visuals by John Patrick Villa Valentines has always had a certain social pressure to it, sure, we can surprise our families instead of romantic partners, but the Valentine’s Day craze is so apparent that the event has become a marketing opportunity for flower shops and even convenience stores such as 7-11. Social media is no different, especially since it’s mostly the new normal today. In an article by Rebecca Graham, she stressed about how much is expected from couples, and how pathetic people think of themselves during the 14th of February. You’re either “blessed” or “lucky” to have a date, even luckier if you have a lover, or “unlucky” to be single. Some people don’t even hold back on their social media accounts, some couples become “tryhards”, trying to show that their relationship is booming, and some single people try to pretend it's something that they're okay with but ends up being bitter. This mix of romance and wit results in some really cute and funny tweets. All is fun and games until it gets too real, and we’re forced to look at reality. Social Media CAN be Avoided Anxiety, depression, and unhealthy emotional investment in teenagers were observed during night time specific social media use. This is based on a study by Dr Heather Cleland Woods and Holly Scott. What this alternatively means is that social media, when done wrong, can hurt your emotional, mental, and physical health. This can only go worse, and we’ve already established that using the examples we saw earlier. So what should Social Media become on Valentine’s Day? Should it be a bad omen? If we stop using social media, we close down the doors to what could be toxic events and interactions. After all, no one will blame you for choosing the easy way out. People have done this before, watching movies or hanging out with friends in order to silence the noise of social media. You can go out with your family, eat outside, or even binge watch on Netflix. There is so much you can do without looking at your devices every 5 minutes. Should we Avoid Social Media During Valentine’s? Avoid social media if you think or feel like your social media feed is full of toxic hypocrites. One day of deactivating your account might do you some good. On the other hand, social media has become even more integrated in our lives. Some think that avoiding our devices feels like “running away” or that social media can be some kind of “medium” or “tool” to make their Valentine’s even more special, but that’s really up to them. Only we know what’s best for us. Whether we spend it happily or evasively is fine, as long as we don’t ruin the day for others. Appreciating the Holiday “What they have in common are relationships. Social media is about building relationships. Valentine’s Day is about paying attention to relationships and strengthening relationship bonds. ” - Michael Cohn I think people should be more appreciative of what they have. We are definitely pressured by the history of people having dates on Valentine’s, or the signs and promotions stores and web pages have, so much that we mostly focus on whether we have a partner or not, when life is full of love. Instead of tweeting, “I have a Valentine’s date” or “Sana Ol”, maybe we should start by saying “Thank you for being my friend/family/lover”. Be focused on giving. Be focused on being grateful and appreciative of your loved ones. Once you pull off these simple mindsets, you can make your own personalized lifestyle tips during February 14th. You don’t even have to resort to avoiding social media. Who knows? You might “live” instead of “survive” this year’s upcoming Valentine’s Day. References: Cohn, M. (2016). The Influence of Social Media on Valentine’s Day. CompuKol Communications. https://www.compukol.com/the-influence-of-social-media-on-valentines-day/ Graham, R. (2016). The damaging pressure put on people by Valentine’s Day. Concrete. https://www.concrete-online.co.uk/the-damaging-pressure-put-on-people-by-valentines-day/ A. (2016). Social media pressures. AgendaNi. https://www.agendani.com/social-media-pressures/

Written by Jejomar Laab Mind-blowing escape rooms, brutal mayhem, and unpredictable plot, Alice in Borderland is the newest addition to the thriller genre popularized by The Hunger Games and Battle Royale. The eight-episode Netflix series is as intense as the former and as violent as the latter. Although named after Alice in Wonderland, it is not so much comparable to the children’s book. This Japanese manga adaptation makes the mouth water over another episode. Set in an empty city of Tokyo, a group of long-time friends forcibly participates in sick and twisted games to keep themselves alive. They figure that it is just like a survival video game, but they bet on their own lives this time around. The three teenagers must fight their way to clear deadly games in order to extend their ‘visas’ in this entirely out of the ordinary world. Each game is classified into four symbols in a deck of cards: clubs are for cooperative-multiplayer games, spades test the physical strength, diamonds are games of wits, and hearts toy with players’ emotions. The number on the card denotes the difficulty. The higher the number, the more likely it will push players to their emotional, mental, and physical limits. Early on, the audience will root for characters as they gamble their lives on cleverly orchestrated life-threatening games. Survivors leave the arena not with a bag of cash prizes but with empty faces and heavy hearts. More often than not, they get the ill fortune to look on the face of death and never come out alive. Some games don’t require muscles and quick wits. It is basically the survival of the fittest. Hence, anything can happen during the match. The tournaments can claim the life of any character, lead or not. This murder fest may remind viewers of Game of Thrones. This show is unlike any of its kind. It has a well-crafted mixture of drama, action, a sense of humor, and violence in it. Despite the many bated breaths and suspense-packed moments, there are also compelling character development and heart-wrenching turn of events. It may bring to mind other similar sadistic thrillers out there, but it created its own space in the genre with its fresh storyline and theme. All in all, Alice in Borderland is yet another binge-worthy Netflix show. On every episode, questions just keep on popping up in the viewers’ minds. Some are answered immediately, and others will leave people thinking heavily. For this reason, spectators are sure to thirst for more episodes. It is worth clearing the schedule on weekends for this series. The good news is that Netflix has already confirmed another season. Perhaps fans will know more about the game master, the mysterious world, and more jaw-dropping games. There is so much to be excited about about Season Two. How long before it comes out? No confirmation yet, but it better come fast! Watch the trailer here:

Written and Photos by Aliah Nicole Brillante The Faculty of Engineering gives credit to the exemplary faculty members and support staff, and Dean’s Listers in the first-ever virtual Recognition Day held via Facebook live this morning. Rev. Fr. Roberto N. Luanzon , O.P, SThL, Faculty Regent, started the program with a prayer. This was immediately followed by Dean Philipina A. Marcelo, PhD., giving her opening remarks. “Your accomplishments have been extraordinary indeed. You continued to have your gaze glued to our vision as you persevered steadfastly undeterred by the pandemic,” she said. First year to third year and fifth year students from each of the six departments (Civil, Mechanical, Chemical, Industrial, Electronics, and Electrical), who qualified for the Dean’s List for the second term of Academic Year 2019-2020 and first term of Academic Year 2020-2021, were honored through a presentation of their picture, together with their rank and general weighted average (gwa) for each term in which they made it to the list. A gwa of at least 1.75, with no failing marks and no incomplete courses are the criteria for the Dean’s List. Service Awards After the awarding of students, a service award was given to each of the teaching and non-teaching staff of the Faculty who have rendered 10 years of service and every five years thereafter. Assoc. Prof. Ricardo S. Balog, M. Engg, Assoc. Prof. Bernadette M. Duran, MACT, M.Engg, Asst. Prof. Nelson M. Pasamonte, M.S, and Asst. Prof. Angelo A. Morsiquillo, M.Engg were awarded for their 40 years of teaching in the Faculty. The late Asst. Prof. Ogden T. Javier was also honored for his 35 years tenure. Asst. Prof. Joehanna K. Ngo, Ph.D., Asst. Prof. Rogelio O. Almira, Jr., M.S., and Asst. Prof. Joycelyn P. Poblete, M.Engg for their devotion of 30 years to the Faculty. For 25 years of service, the following faculty members were awarded: Assoc. Prof Patrick Ellis Z. Go, Ph.D., Asst. Prof. Remigio D. Rambongga, M. Math Ed., Asst. Prof. Beverly S. Sarausad, M.S., Asst. Prof. Rogelio L. Vicente, Jr., M. Tech, and Asst. Prof. Danilo C. Guinto, Jr., M.S. The following academic staff rendered 20 years of service: Asst. Prof. John Michael S. Abrera, M.Engg, Asst. Prof. Rhoderick D. Asis, M.ENgg, Asst. Prof. Carol M. Encarnado, M.S., Assoc. Prof. Michael Francis D. Benjamin, Ph.D., and Asst. Prof. Manolo P. Binuya, M.Engg. Receiving the same recognition for 15 years of service are the following faculty members: Assoc. Prof. Joseph P. Lopez, Ph.D., Engr. Mark Elson C. Lucio, M.S., Asst. Prof. Armando V. Barretto, MBA, Asst. Prof. Odyssey C. Herrera, M.S., Engr. Angelito A. SIlverio, Ph.D., and Assoc. Prof. Jimmy V. Viloria, Ph.D. Lastly, academic staff recipients with 10 years of service are the following: Mr. Enrique C. Bautista III, Dr. Lorico D. Lapitan, Jr., Engr. Raymond A. Marquez, Engr. Nestor R. Ong, Asst. Prof. Christabel Jane P. Rubio, Ph.D., Engr. Kanny Krizzy D. Serrano, M.S., Engr. Rajiv Eldon E. Abdullah, M.S, Engr. Mariz B. Arias, M.S, Asst. Prof. Anthony James C. Bautista, Ph.D., Engr. Rodrigo C. Gutierrez, MBA, Engr. Seigfred V. Prado, M.S., Engr. Joseph Benedict N. Prim, M.S., Engr. Ryan A. Ramirez, M.S., Engr. Edison A. Roxas, Ph.D., and Engr. Eisson M. Marcelo, M.S. Service awardees for the support staff, together with their years of service, are the following: Mr. Wendell B. Naguit, 10 years; Mr. Claudillo B. Bagadiong, 20 years; Mr. Reinerio Maynard I. Gabilo, 25 years; Mr. Oliver P. Granada, 25 years; Mr. Jesus T. Tardecilla, 25 years; Mr. Ronaldo B. Frias, 30 years, and; Mr. Edwin G. Antonio, 40 years. Highest Faculty Evaluation by Students After the service awards, the highest faculty evaluation by students (tenured) were given to the following faculty members from the 10th to the second rank, respectively: Engr. Jeffrey Mercado, Asst. Prof. Amante R. Garcia, M.S., Asst. Prof. Maria Victoria C. Viray, M. Math Ed, Asst. Prof. Odyssey C. Herrera, M.S., Engr. Edison A. Roxas, Ph.D., Assoc. Prof. Michael Francis D. Benjamin, Ph.D., Engr. Mary Grace Ann C. Bautista, M.S., Engr. La Verne Ramir D.T. Certeza, M.S., and Dr. Lorico D.S. Lapitan, Jr. Tied in the first place are Asst. Prof. Nelson M. Pasamonte, M.S., and Engr. Noel S. Sabarillo, M.S. The following faculty members (non-tenured) received the highest faculty evaluation by students from the 10th to the first rank, respectively: Engr. Divine Angela G. Sumalinog, Ph.D., Engr. Marion Joseph B. Villamor, Engr. Jason Jake E. Tan, Engr. Mark Ivan C. Espinosa, Engr. Ken Gabriel S. Fernandez, Engr. Maria Joriza C. Bondoc, M.S., Engr. Edsel B. Calica, Ph.D., Engr. Reymond D. Serafica, Engr. Julius Christian Conrad A. Puentes, M.S., Engr. Damirson A. Co, M.S., Engr. John Enoch T. Grajeda, and Engr. Aldrin Lorrenz A. Chan, M.S. Asst. Prof. Nelson M. Pasamonte, Mechanical Engineering department chair, concluded the recognition day with his closing remarks. “We consider this as a milestone because we achieved it under the new normal,” he said. The Electrical Engineering Department, led by Asst. Prof. Carlito M. Gutierrez, organized the virtual event.

Written by CJC Art by Shinkiro Kasabay nang pagtaas ng kaso ng COVID-19 ay umarangkada rin ang numero ng mga gumagamit ng online dating applications o sites. Naibsan ng mga apps na ito ang pagkauhaw sa koneksyon sa ibang tao at naging tulay ang mga ito upang mapadali ang paghahanap ng potensyal na ka-match. Isang pindot lamang ang kailangan para sa isang instant na relasyon. Sa dami ng pwedeng makapareho ay hindi ka mauubusan ng pagpipilian, kaya ‘di na rin nakapagtataka kung paano nito nanormalisa ang throwaway culture. Ayon mismo sa Tinder at Bumble, dalawa sa pinaka sikat na dating apps ngayon, tumaas ang paggamit ng mga tao sa mga ito magmula noong magkaroon ng lockdown sa iba’t ibang parte ng mundo. Sa US, tumaas ng 21% ang in-app messages ng Bumble. Samantalang, 10-15% naman ang itinaas sa Tinder. Ang pagdami ng mga taong gumagamit ng apps na ito ay isang oportunidad lalo na sa mga single upang makahanap ng potensyal na match. Dahil na rin sa limitadong paggalaw noong mga nakaraang buwan dahil sa IATF guidelines, naging daan ang mga apps na ito sa ligtas at mas mabilis na pakikipag-date ngayong may pandemya. Ang mga dating apps ay kadalasang nag-aalok ng ilusyon ng halos walang katapusang pagpipilian. Kaya naman, tila napakadali na sa ganitong tagpo ang tratuhin ang mga tao bilang isang bagay na maaaring itapon kahit ano mang oras. Ito ang tinatawag na throwaway culture. Dahil na rin sa pag-iisip na marami pa namang papalit, napakadaling ipawalang bahala ang mga koneksyong nabubuo sa online dating. Idagdag pa na napaka kombenyente nitong gawin sapagkat ang mga tao ay nasa likod naman ng mga screen. Mayroong anonymity kaya mas madaling makatakas o makaalis agad sa isang relasyon. Hindi na uso ang magpaalam bago lumisan; tamang ignore, remove friend, o block lang at sa isang iglap bigla na lamang kayong magiging mga estranghero. ‘Di na rin bago ito lalo na sa mga millenials at Gen Z at nabigyan pa nga ito ng sariling termino na tinatawag na “ghosting.” Ayon sa pag-aaral ni Omri Gillath at Lucas Keefer ng University of Dayton, ang madalas na pag-uugali ng throwaway culture sa mga relasyon ay maaaring magdulot ng masamang epekto sa kalusugang mental at pisikal ng isang tao. Ito ay bunga ng walang “high-quality connections” na nagbibigay ng suporta, pagmamahal, seguridad, at pag-unawa galing sa mga relasyon (kaibigan man o kasintahan). Dahil na rin sa madalas na pag-ghost sa ibang tao, walang relasyong nabubuo at lumalalim. Kapag ito’y nagpatuloy darating din sa punto na mahihirapan na rin ang ibang taong magtiwala o di kaya pumasok sa buhay ng isang tao. Tandaan na mabilis din gumanti ang karma 一 babalik din sa sarili kung paano trinatrato ang ibang tao. Balang araw, ikaw naman ang magiging patapon. Isang malaking kabalintunaan na marami ang nagnanais ng seryosong relasyon ngunit napakarami pa ring inuugali ang throwaway culture. Ika nga nila, “Huwag mong gawin sa iba ang ayaw mong gawin nila sa iyo.” Paano ka makakahanap ng seryosong relasyon kung trinatrato mo ang ibang tao bilang isang bagay? Hindi naman masama ang pagiging mapanuri at mapili sa paghahanap ng partner sa buhay. Ngunit, hindi kailangang isantabi ang sariling moralidad; tandaang tao pa rin ang mga nakakasalamuha online at hindi sila basurang basta-basta na lang itatapon. Kung wala na talagang patutunguhan ang koneksyon mo sa isang ka-match, mas nararapat itong ipaalam nang mabuti. Hindi ikabababa ng pagkatao ang pagiging totoo sa iyong mga intensyon. Dahil sa pandemic, lahat ng tao’y napagkaitan ng pagkakataong magkaroon ng pisikal na koneksyon sa iba. Ngunit, dapat alalahanin na ‘di lahat ay handang magmahal sa panahong walang kasiguraduhan. Sa dinami-rami ng isdang mabibingwit sa karagatan ng mga dating apps, asahang ‘di sa lahat ng pagkakataon ay magiging madali ang paghahanap ng kapareha rito. May mga pagkakataon na sadyang hindi agad binibigay ang taong para sa iyo. Iba ang presyur dulot ng online dating kaya naman minsan ay sadyang nakakapagod din maghanap ng “The One.” Tao ka rin at normal lang magkaroon ng online dating fatigue. Kapag umabot man sa ganitong punto, hinga lang nang malalim at magpahinga mula sa mga dating apps. Dahil sa huli, sarili pa rin ang dapat inuuna.

Written by Mary Angela Aquino Netflix, one of the lead producing companies, swept the mass by releasing Start Up: a wholesome Korean drama that premiered last year on October 17 and ended on December 6. It is a distinct series focused on family, career, and self-related events, a perfect depiction of self-love growing to selfless love. With 16 episodes, the series revolved around the lives of the four main characters: Seo Dal Mi, a CEO in the making; Won In Jae, Dal Mi’s sister turned rival because of family issues; Han Ji Pyeong, Dal Mi’s first love; and Nam Do San, an engineer whom Dal Mi met in an extraordinary way. Just like typical dramas, the series presents parts such as love triangle between characters and rivalry between siblings. Although seemingly cliché, it managed to tackle different issues an individual might be facing in a modern and innovative world, making it relatable for everyone. The actors and actresses were also able to give life to the characters with their outstanding portrayal. They were able to complement each other which made them fitting for their roles. On top of all these is the love triangle of the three main characters which surely captured the hearts of many. Both leading men created a chemistry with the main lead and even divided the viewers into teams (Are you #TeamGoodBoy or #TeamDoSan?). Furthermore, it is a mixture of flashback and present narration; unveiling the main characters’ development thoroughly. Each of them experienced different failures and breakthroughs which mirrors everyone’s lives wherein we also go through obstacles just to reach our dreams. It is simple and well-written for viewers to understand the message of the series. The wholesomeness of the series is impressive and will truly strike you and make you reflect on things. Its strengths overpowered its weaknesses that will leave you nothing but lessons and kilig. On another note, Nam Do San would be the ideal role model for us, future engineers. His success did not happen in a blink of an eye. A lot of times, he was discouraged to go on because of his struggles: sleepless nights, trial and errors, insecurities, fears, family pressure, rejections, and criticisms. The world was seemingly telling him to just stop because his dreams weren’t for him, but he didn’t quit. As engineering students, we also delve ourselves in a pool of negativity whenever we fail. It makes us belittle our capabilities and even ask, “Is this really for me?”. This roots from fear of failure because we want to prove our skills by being perfect. There are certain incidents in our college life where we get a failing grade while others seem to cope up so well. We then confine our abilities and limit ourselves from trying new opportunities because we’re doubting that we could not do it. Although it is okay to feel these negativities, we must not live with it all throughout our lives because we’ll be letting a lot of opportunities slip away. Nam Do San, even with a lot of setbacks, conquered his fears and took risks. He continued to dedicate his life in developing innovations and contributing for the progress of the world which is a perfect embodiment of how a future engineer must be. As aspiring engineers, this K-Drama will surely touch our souls. The illustration of the journey to success is a fitting example for us, not only as future engineers but as students in general. It is relevant for professionals as well who feel stagnant ー it is never too late to chase your dreams again. Keep in mind that failure is the foundation of success. No one becomes the best overnight; it is learned and gained through time. Hard as it may seem, we must continue to look at the brighter side and take some life lessons from this series. It reminds us to always keep on aiming the best for ourselves. Afterall, with hard work and perseverance, time will slowly put everything in place. The evolution of the characters from dreaming to failing, and finally succeeding portrays a significant message for all of us. As Dal-Mi’s halmeoni said, “You're a cosmos flower. And it's still spring. Wait until fall, and you'll bloom beautifully. Be patient.” Annyeong, check the trailer below:

Written By Lance Lasam The Tesla Model 3 is a phenomenal electric four-door fastback sedan. As an article from Top Gear puts it, it is “the most impressive electric car this side of a Porsche Taycan”. Take that as you wish. An all wheel drive with two independent motors, a lowered suspension, along with its unique 20” wheels and performance brakes, and a carbon fiber spoiler are installed for total control and stability, even with changing conditions. Cameras facing all direction, a forward-facing radar providing a long-range view of faraway objects, 12 ultrasonic sensors, and an autopilot feature are some of its safety and convenience features. You can navigate using the central 15” touchscreen display that also periodically updates in order to improve its functionality. The all-glass roof provides more headroom and UV protection, creating a sense of openness and space. And let’s not forget its electric capability - a single charge can cover up to 568 km of range, and it can recharge for up to 33 hours at home or even 20 minutes in any public station or Supercharge (480-volt direct current fast-charging technology built by Tesla). All of these are put together to form one of the most interesting vehicles to ever grace the streets of the world, and the best-selling electric car in the world. One of the most prominent high points of the Model 3 is its safety. Tesla itself touts it as the most important aspect of its overall design. And what do the international safety organizations say about this? Well… The Model 3 scored five stars in every category presented from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of the USA. It also scored five stars overall from the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) and the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP). The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has given an evaluation of Good, their highest rating, on almost all of its categories. The Euro NCAP and ANCAP also gave similar impressive scores in their safety tests (a 96% score on adult occupant safety, 86%-87% on child occupant safety, 74% on safety of “vulnerable road users”, and a 94% score on active safety). These marks signify that the Model 3 is an ultrasafe electric car - when you drive or get into one, you are assured of its security, and when in a situation of a crash or accident, you are protected from severe harm or death. Now, why did it get this glowing safety sheet? Let’s first focus on the things that keep you safe in the Model 3 in the instance of a crash. First off, let’s say if a front end collision occurs with the Model 3, the structure in the front of the car will crumple, drawing the impact away from the people inside. This is demonstrated in a frontal offset test conducted by IIHS and Euro NCAP. The main reason why is that this electric car has no engine. The lack of such an engine enables the steel and aluminum structure to take the impact of the crash, and not let any other material inside be pushed towards the people inside. In lieu of an engine, the vehicle has a heavy battery located at the bottom of it. This is owing to the all-electric power-train design of the car. However, there is one more benefit of this placement. In cases where the Model 3 rolls over, the battery helps lower the center of gravity, leading it to return back to its normal position. What is more is that even if, say, the car did end up upside down, the all-glass roof is still able to resist the force caused by it. In fact, the roof-crush tests done on the Model 3 show that it can resist up to more than 9000 kg of force. For comparison, if five of the same models are placed on top of the roof at once, it can still carry its force. Not only this, the thick airbags and restraints also help in protecting the passengers from virtually any harm. In the tests, all of these features contribute to the crash test dummies ending up entirely free from injury. No wonder these organizations gave the Model 3 a stellar review. Now, these are the things that can shield you when a crash occurs. But, how about the things that can help you avoid that collision in the first place? As stated before, there are cameras, sensors, and a radar that can assist you in driving through more dangerous parts. There are also driver-assisted systems which intervene whenever they detect obstacles on your path. They are able to halt the car when they detect an obstruction, and can pull the car back to its driving lane, preventing a head-on crash from an oncoming vehicle. These systems are on full display on the active safety tests done on the Model 3, as well. What this all means is that whenever you hop on a Model 3, you are safe and secure in your seat. Whenever you drive, the car will do its part to keep you out of danger. But when it does, the overall structure can protect you from almost all the shrapnel and forces. The Model 3 is more than capable of getting you away from harm, and the almost perfect scores on safety tests just proved it. References: 2018 Tesla Model 3 4-door sedan. (n.d.). IIHS-HLDI Crash Testing and Highway Safety. https://www.iihs.org/ratings/vehicle/tesla/model-3-4-door-sedan/2018 2019 TESLA MODEL 3 4 DR RWD. (n.d.). NHTSA. https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2019/TESLA/MODEL%2525203/4%252520DR/RWD Holland, M., & Holland, M. (2020, March 14). Tesla Passes 1 Million EV Milestone & Model 3 Becomes All Time Best Seller. CleanTechnica. https://cleantechnica.com/2020/03/10/tesla-passes-1-million-ev-milestone-and-model-3-becomes-all-time-best-seller/ Model 3. (n.d.). Tesla. https://www.tesla.com/model3 Official Tesla Model 3 2019 safety rating. (n.d.). Euro NCAP. Retrieved January 24, 2021, from https://www.euroncap.com/en/results/tesla/model-3/37573 Tesla Model 3. (2021, January 20). Top Gear. https://www.topgear.com/car-reviews/tesla/model-3 Tesla Model 3 (Aug 2019 – onwards) Crash Test Results | ANCAP. (n.d.). ANCAP. https://www.ancap.com.au/safety-ratings/tesla/model-3/70118a Why Tesla’s Model 3 received top crash-test safety ratings. (2019, October 22). Business Insider Nederland. https://www.businessinsider.nl/why-tesla-model-3-received-5-star-crash-test-rating-2019-10?international=true&r=US

Written by Jhoana Fidel Visuals by Jayvee Fulgencio Two and a half semesters later, the topic of class suspension is still under the deep dark sea. Noting that the students of University of Santo Tomas are scattered across the country, it should be emphasized that the suspension of classes will now not be based on where the campus is located. But if so, who will decide? What will be the basis of all the decisions? On October 25, after Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno declared suspension of classes due to typhoon Quinta, Fr. Jesus Miranda Jr., O.P. ,Secretary General, announced that class suspensions in the university will be decided by each faculty, college, or institute. This is followed by the Engineering dean, Prof. Philipina Marcelo’s clarification that the faculty will comply with the Mayor’s office announcement. Imagining that while the chain of command is all confused who to decide on the suspension, a student could be saving the family’s furniture caused by flooding, or rebuilding his/her home from dust, a professor could be taking care of a family member diagnosed with COVID 19, or maybe fighting the disease himself. But as much as we want a quick decision on the matter, we cannot put blame on the UST administration and Commission on Higher Education (CHED). Because if they cannot base class suspensions on the campus's geographical profile, where should they? And how will the universities and colleges maintain its standards whilst considering every student’s situation? The truth is, there is no book in this, there will never be. But there’s one thing we can do, and believe it or not, the internet has been rubbing it on our faces all this time—“be fluid”. Surely, we all learned to be a little more dynamic amid the quarantine year. And this is (hopefully) the temporary way to shed light in the dark that has been the decision-making process regarding suspensions is. This all means more considerate professors, more academically self disciplined students, and compassionate university administration. We may be swimming on our own, but we all belong to one water. Typhoons are no news to Filipino students, it has become a part of our academic journey, really. But none of these are normal anymore. We can't even get together for lunch after going through a rough exam day, for crying out loud. But with all the uncertainty and fluidity that’s been going on, the 2004 Academy Award winner will remind us that no matter how dark and deep this sea is, all we should do is to just keep swimming.