Shainne Hostalero

Not all students share the same privilege. Some students are working too simultaneous with their studies to suffice their need for allowance and pay other expenses. Some have parents who are on a no-work, no-pay setup; and not all have the means to access classes online (unless they have signed up for it since the very beginning; unless it was explained to them during the enrollment process - this way, they know what they got into.) Ending the semester early is not a disrespect to the academic calendar, especially that we are in the middle of a health crisis. Postponing school activities at this point is not being lazy. It is for everyone's safety.  Universities and other Colleges must decide now who they are and what they want to project: Student-centered? Faculty-centered? Admin-centered? Who are your biggest stakeholders? What you decide on during this crisis will say a lot about the core values you want to embody. It will also decide the fate of the institution for t...

Dollars and Sex: How Economics Influences Sex and Love by Dr. Marina Adshade Reading through the contents of the book Dollars and Sex: How Economics Influences Sex and Love by Dr. Marina Adshade brings me a realistic point of view on how the majority are perceiving relationships these days. As a marketing professional who have been exposed to economics and had the chance to teach it too, I agree with the points of the book, objectively. But on the touch points, there are subjective fields to consider as well and thus, I know it varies from one person to another. Herein below are the points of the author and my views as we go along: In many societies, liberal views on female sexuality have led to more freedom. Philippines, I think, is starting to be one of those societies. Our values are conservative and female are expected to be homemakers. But as we rise and go around industrialization and adopting how other society does it, we become more open and accepting on how female ...

I came across a video of TEDxMidAtlantic that tells about Sam's philosophy for a happy life. It made me really interested. I know, some of you (like me), when it comes to "happiness" and finding it, are interested too. As we had tried to look beyond all the edges, caves, boxes and other storage of where happiness is to be found. We, along the process, made an agreement with ourselves that we will try our very best to be happy and that we are choosing happiness by all means - for it is a choice and yes, it is a decision. From the TEDxMidAtlantic conference, Sam or Sam Berns, a teenager who has progeria - a rare genetic disorder wherein its symptoms resembles aging at early age and usually occur during the first few months of the patient showcased his philosophy for a happy life. A syndrome like Sam's is rare. Only 350 kids worldwide have this kind of illness, making us realize that it's definitely hard to have this kind of challenge especially in this wo...

We are embraced by the will of the motherland to free us from anyone who claimed before us. We are nurtured and equipped by our own spirits, full of nationalism and the fervor to fight. We are colonized, we are in mixed of cultures and religions. We are the country that was mold by the power of its own people to be united as one. Today, as we celebrate our independence, questions might be bugging us... are we really free? It has been declared, it was written in the history, but are we really free ? Or are we our own prisoners? We are free from other nations but are we free from ourselves? Do we make our own detainees? Mournful to think about but it's true. Observe we must. The outtakes of the government, the despairing circumstance of graft and corruption, and the various occurrences this Republic underwent that didn't serve its people. We are declared free and independent yet we suffocate ourselves by our own agendas that wouldn't serve us at all. Predicaments of ...

Many of us are still hoping that this catastrophic saga will end; but we just can't seem to be convinced that it will be over soon. We are hooked; the people involved in this case felt like celebrities - having the public attention, concerning about the ratings and faces on the frontpage of every newspaper, feeling like stars and surely is, the apple of everyone's eyes. Well, in fact, this is true to life and not some kind of fiction. While we can't get our money back, we keep on spending more. Spending more for their health care, security services, hearings/trials, everything that they need and yet we can't get the truth. Shame that these politicians are on their positions doing nothing but spending the country's money for their own good, yet they are given consideration on everything. They bought properties - house and lot, vehicles, and other personal stuff while many of us Filipinos are lying on the streets, still recovering from the typhoon that hit us, luc...

In a world where emotions sometimes overrule our real identities, it's hard to flex, bend then remember. Sometimes, what we decide on during those times that we were angry become our regrets; if not regrets, our grievances in the long run. People are all responsible of what they feel and how they feel it at the very first place. It takes an open mind to gather all realization and actualization. It takes one bite of reality for this - for us to accept that we have made a mistake, for us to let go of our pride and apologize for what we have said and done. In this world that we are living in where politics has its own way of busting the whole republic, safe to say that its not fully just law - how we abide or how we violate but there are emotions that are actually involved. It will just take a good and dedicated public servant to use it for what is right and what is indeed true. Anger depicts hate and it is indeed a strong colloquy. Money, fame and temptations are the roots of a...

U2's tribute to Nelson Mandela. Thank you for what you have done for humanity. You are the only one yet this world needs more people like you. Ordinary Love by U2 video from YouTube We can't feel any further if We can't feel ordinary love We cannot reach any higher We can't deal with ordinary love

2014 is the year we believed... the year of changes - well, always every turn. I guess, the reason behind this is the fact that we are still hoping that something is going to change. For the better. 2013 was full of disarray yet we still managed to get through. Every single Filipino is aware of what happened at the high-top offices or sectors of the country - corruption. Janet Napoles, the alleged mastermind pissed us off, turn our butts and head around for she did not confess anything and from there we do not know if she ever will.  There are so many things that this vulnerable country cannot contain anymore. Instead of solving, we are all looking on the side of "who's to blame" for this government mobocracy. One thing is for sure, we are all going to be saddened by the truth; and by not knowing it at all, I guess.  They say Janet Napoles can save us by singing her heart out to name all the politicians that are into this alleged Pork-Barrel Scam - Janet Napol...

New year, new dreams, new challenges and as the cliche goes... new life. New hope for the whole country as well. This is sign that we have another year to conquer the thing we call life, third-world it may seem but nonetheless, positive, vibrant and hopeful. Norms are changing, another transition is finally taking its place and perhaps a brand new way will be constructed. Everyone aims to be better if not the best, hoping that each thing will come in our favor and fortune will take its place next. This generation would be the courage of our tomorrows but I might have to take a step back and assess how it will go or if we are really sure about this. When I was a kid, I fascinated about cash registers, toy doctor kits, chalks and blackboards and class records. The oldies would then asked me what I wanted to be when I grow up - enthusiastically I answered: to be a cashier (cash registers are cute, right?), a doctor or a teacher. Later on, I wanted to be a news reporter, a businesswoma...

I could still remember being half asleep as a kid when the clock strikes 12 midnight. It was time to eat and of course, greet the whole family a Merry Christmas. Spaghetti, ham, fruit salads and lots of presents are waiting; the Christmas tree was then always full, colorful as it was with ornaments and all, the Christmas lights are dancing, singing different Christmas songs. Morning will come and we're all going to wear our new clothes for the Christmas day. It was time for our ninongs and ninangs  to give pamasko  - either a thing wrapped up with Christmas ribbon on it or a red envelope of such monetary-valued-gift; we open it with smile on our faces. I have all my wonderful memories of Christmas as a kid. Now that I've grown, I've realized its true spirit. I may not have the words to elaborate what it really is, but I know you know what I'm trying to say. And I believe that your Christmas memories when you were younger are fun and wonderful, too. We believed in ...

It might sound funny but it is (really) not funny at all. Two throwing words at each other, selected people doing the same thing as if we're watching a movie or a telenovela of sort. The alleged Pork Barrel scam twists this country around; billion of pesos for the Filipinos went to whom we are not sure of, just yet. Senate minority leader Juan Ponce Enrile could be one of those; that this issue is so loud and the people can't barely hear truth nor get the slightest real idea from that end. Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago aimed to put a period to this tragic sentence and by that, she desired to avail the truth from a party that they all cannot count how good the music could be. They can dance with it but they will definitely not be pleased. It was entertaining if the basis is the movie board. It was amusing. Such a boisterous phase we all watching and hearing. It was then these two senators were exchanging words through their privilege speeches. Privilege. Such a big word...

Derrick Rose Photo from the web (imageevent.com) At the age of 25, he already has an established image in the NBA (National Basketball Association), he was selected first overall at the 2008 NBA Draft Pick by the Chicago Bulls and he was named the Rookie of the Year - well-played tough games and created his own statement. He received the NBA Most Valuable Player Award in 2011, the youngest player to ever win the award at age 22. He was quite Michael Jordan in the making, who was known to get the same award. And yes, he is Derrick Rose or D Rose as we call him. We all know that the 6'3" player of Chicago Bulls was outside the court for the 2012-2013 season due to his left knee injury. He was then missed playing in the court, shooting, running, dribbling and his follow-throughs. Training took place, practice will definitely make it perfect and he was finally back. D Rose risen up, as expected, as we all waited, he's definitely back on track. It was ON! The season ...

Also published in NewsGraph 's RiskTalkers page:   http://www.newsgra.ph/1714/bangon-pilipinas/ ------------------------------------------------------------- Typhoon Yolanda (Typhoon Haiyan) smashed the whole Visayas region and left almost nothing to our kababayans . It is indeed devastating to see that our fellow countrymen don't have anything to eat, anywhere to live in and worse, lost everything, including their loved ones. Personally, I can't endure the amount of bad news I'm seeing - photos from the internet, TV reports, write-ups and the like. It stings. It breaks my heart. With the simple help that I made possible, I'm wishing that we could all recover from this challenge. Indeed, God gives his hardest test to the strongest people; and that's us, Filipinos.  We all know that we're moving too slow. We all know that this government can't do more about it and that's the thing we need to accept and face; instead of us ranting about the ...

Every concern citizen in this country is already pissed-off and wishing that this fragmented reality does not exist. By Monday, we will be facing another irrational belief that everything is going to change by cause of a new Barangay Officers will be proclaimed as winners and would start something new in the start of everything, the run-down of places in the big city. Coherent, it will never be. This Republic, we consider it sold. It was sold to the plunderers, scammers and corrupt politicians who promised us the sun, moon and stars for a vote, that according to them will change our lives. They were right. The vote changed our lives. Life that has become awful and frustrating. I'm sitting here, writing these words, thinking about life, my bank account, work and how it will be for the next days. As it goes by in my half-filled brain, I'm starting to feel a little bit sluggish. We are not deserving of this fiasco. In this world where everything will be left undone and unsaid,...

One definition of Politics from the Merriam-Webster dictionary: the work and job of people (such as elected officials) who are part of a government. A work and a job. A position that depicts honest actions. Sad to say, honesty and the true responsibilities of government officials became invisible. From graft and corruption, plunder, scam to the 'worse' ones that the country, nevertheless, couldn't get one more grip of. In real politics' general philosophy, "If we ignore it, it doesn't exist." is the usual habit and behavior that this Republic is experiencing. This is the reason behind unfulfilled projects and unfinished or pending cases. Maybe I'm wrong or in a way I'm making a point, but the true reason is that they (politicians) ignore cases and issues because their names are on the line - the more they put good fragrance there and cling to have a good image, the more blockbuster and award-winning their lives and careers would be. Reality. ...

Way back in time, women are viewed and perceived as property of men. Hence, they constitute to consider and oblige to take on words/actions from their husbands, coherent that they are deliberate and designed as men's possession. Later on, equality and fairness took place and promoted. Gender wise, stability, ethnic race or group, intelligence, market placement and value, so on and so forth. Concentrating now on gender equality, referring from past facts ventures, women get the same as men - no higher entities, no more stronger and weaker. In a nutshell, fair. To consitute... (1) According to UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women of 1993, it states that: "Violence against women is a manifestation of historically unequal power relations between men and women, which had led to domination over and discrimination against women by men and to prevention of the full advancement of women, and that violence against women is one of the crucial social mechanism...

Welcome aboard and SUIT up! SUITS is an American TV Series created by Aaron Kosh, set to have this immersed encounter with the cases to be dealt with the lawyer, Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht, who for me, really has a resemblance with Jim Carrey) and his Associate, Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams) who, despite lacking a law degree, fired up the position with his best smart and smashing ideas and understanding. So, Series started rolling and you just can't get enough of the complete season, episode by episode. I love the fact the we can all think and determine how we can be able to solve each enigma - feels like having that kind of degree makes me want to collapse my guard, blow it down and take another turn. *** I do understand and I already got the passion to try and solve each problem. Harvey is right, you first need to know everything that had happened - relevant or irrelevant. This is to connect all the stories and see where it really came from.  And... Once a person...

I graduated from one of those prominent private universities in Manila, took Marketing Management as my major and now clinging into life, joining the working individuals in the corporate world. Like many of you, I was once confused on what program I should take in college, simply because this got something to say what I will be afterwards. I wanted to be a newscaster, a dietitian, a teacher, an architect and a businesswoman - I tried everything out and passed college entrance exams for different degrees, but decided to take Marketing Management instead. Several times before I wanted to shift but still get the chance to finish it with wind blowing feeling and smiles. My field requires me to talk with a lot of people and I so love it for it. I could be anywhere, deal with anyone - high society, middle class and lower class with different interests like sports, fashion, art, music and technology to name a few. In lieu, I know that these are the results of whatever I did accomplish (or...

And yes, one of those moments when we truly feel the unity and real pride of being a certified Filipino! Gilas Pilipinas won against South Korea in the FIBA Asia 2013 Semi Finals and you're seeing it right - they're going to the Finals versus Iran and did get a spot in the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain. Team Gilas worked very hard for this victory and there's got to be more tomorrow against Iran. It wasn't an easy battle as they say but what did matter was they played hard enough to attain the success, outlast Korea and push it to the World Cup. It was a very heartwarming victory, our great players crying their hearts out due to the unexplained happiness they feel. Time stopped for a minute before the buzzer cut the game and end it; right then and there, it's clear... Team Gilas won against South Korea, Semi Finals has been entirely ours. Nothing did come easy after losing the game against Taiwan, some of us felt it's done and nothing could ever fire the mo...

We've witnessed and still experiencing their band's success. Turning on to the 90s, well, some of us were still little way back then, but they still brought in the universal hint of their music and art up until today. Eraserheads or E-heads for some was one of the most influential and successful bands of the 90s. Formed by Ely Buendia, Buddy Zabala, Marcus Adoro and Raimund Marasigan, Eraserheads couldn't be taken away from the history of OPM. Bombarded with so many awards and nominations in the music industry, E-heads made it to the top and won those prestigious music distinctions. After more than a decade of rhythm and grace, the band called it quits, had so many tributes by the bands of the new generation and cling to have reunions to sphere off the band's demand. Though the members set to live different paths, their still on the same industry that made them paramount - music. Contrived to different bands of today, made hopes for the new generation of music a...