Features – Halangdon

The Lover’s Lexicon

December 19, 2024 / Features / Features

In the English language, we say the word “love,” while most of the time being unconscious of the many meanings this may elicit in various individuals—one person’s definition of love will never be the same as the other. There may be about a million ways to define this phenomenon, but the word “love” acts as a multipurpose word that is meant to act in place of every variance of meaning one could possibly create.

However, in the Arabic language there are multiple ways to express the word love. These alternative forms of the word “love” emerged from the plethora of romantic Arabic poetry over time. While many of these are used exclusively in poetic form, it’s still interesting to take a close look at these variations in order to understand just how vast the interpretations of love in the Arabic language is, especially in celebration of World Arabic Language Day.

Human Rights Day

December 10, 2024 / Features / Features

Do you know your rights as a human being? Have you ever felt that these rights were violated? These are the first questions that come to mind when human rights are mentioned. I wonder if everyone is aware of their rights and what they do when these rights are violated. Human Rights Day is observed every 10th of December to raise awareness about the importance of human rights and the ongoing struggle for their protection. It commemorates the United Nations’ 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), a milestone document in the history of human rights affirming the inalienable rights of all individuals regardless of their ethnicity, nationality, or religion. As the world marks this day, it is essential to reflect on the state of human rights in several countries such as the Philippines where challenges in realizing these rights persist.

Hail Mary, Full of Grace; Holy Mary, Mother of God

December 8, 2024 / Features / Features

The play wasn’t anything grand, with what a small school and an even smaller amount of students studying in said school, but it was something that my mother and I thoroughly prepared for. I remember it clearly like it just happened; we didn’t have any of the garb the popular Western depictions of Mary had, so with cloth scraps my mother collected—or found lying around in our house, I’m not too sure on that detail anymore—she had a seamstress make the clothes for me. All for a one-day play that we’ve practiced for less than a month that ended in all of us dancing to Gangnam Style. It was wacky, maybe even something you could label as campy, but nonetheless, it was an experience that’s forever etched in my memory.

BONIFACIO: The Uncomfortable Hero

November 30, 2024 / Features

In “Why Fell the Supremo?”, a part of his collection of essays titled “A Question of Heroes,” National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin calls Andres Bonifacio an “uncomfortable hero.” This may be a jarring title to give, especially for the majority of Filipinos who view Bonifacio as the pioneer of revolution—the very essence of what it means to resist oppression. Yet, why did one of our National Artists dubb one of our heroes with such a shameful title?

International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

November 29, 2024 / Features

The 29th of November marks the 47th year anniversary of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. That very same day back in 1947, the General Assembly established the Partition Resolution. The resolution called for the creation of a “Jewish State” and an “Arab State” in Palestine, with Jerusalem designated as a corpus separatum – (a separated body)- under a unique international governance. However, to date, only one of these states has been established, which is Israel.

World Children’s Day

November 20, 2024 / Features

Each year, World Children’s Day is celebrated on November 20. It was first established in 1954 to promote awareness of children and their welfare. This date holds great significance as it marks the adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child by the UN General Assembly in 1959, as well as the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child In 1989. Thus, November 20 has been commemorated as the anniversary of these milestones.

Comfort Room

November 20, 2024 / Features

It’s easy to say that there is nothing romantic about toilets. Being the main catalyst in disposing of human waste, it’s only rational to find them filthy; the butt of low-effort jokes. What is romantic about pungent smells stirring in humid still air? However, toilets being treated as such leads to a further lack of care in comfort rooms. Only then is there really nothing romantic about toilets.

Indigenous Peoples and the Vision of a Bright Future

November 14, 2024 / Features

Gat Jose Rizal once said, “Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makakarating sa paroroonan.” He who does not look back from where he came will never reach his destination. He who does not know his own history can never move forward to a greater future. As a result, schools do their best to impart history—to commemorate and to memorialize our ancestors and everything that has led up to now. In spite of this, we still fail to include the peoples who have been there since the beginning: our indigenous peoples.

“Source: Trust Me, Bro”

October 31, 2024 / Features / Features

Fantastical tales used to end with “And they lived happily ever after”. But on the internet, they end with “And everyone clapped”.

You are Fearfully and Wonderfully Made!

October 19, 2024 / Features

Contrary to what motivational quotes and posts say, you exist in this universe not for a grand reason. It doesn’t matter if the biggest thing you did today was to wake up or to brush your teeth, or if the most worthwhile thing that you’ve ever done in your life already happened four years ago. You exist because you matter—you exist because the people you love also love you.