Aubrey

     Every year on the first week of May, in the heritage city of Vigan, the locals celebrate the Binatbatan Festival of Arts. It is a thanksgiving for Sto. Cristo Milagroso or "Apo Lakay" of the Simbaan a Bassit for saving Vigan from an epidemic in 1756. Since then, Bigueños commemorate this heroic act on May 3 or "Tres de Mayo." The word "binatbatan" is an Ilocano word that describes the procedure of beating cotton pods with bamboo sticks called "batbat" to produce the local fabric, Abel. This meaning is brought over to the dance festival, where dancers imitate the beating of the cotton with the two sticks while wearing Abel costumes. Along with other festivities, Binatbatan has evolved into the city's most colorful and most celebrated festival.       Like every other Filipino, the Bigueños take religious celebrations seriously. With most of the population being Catholic, you can commonly see packed churches for  Misa Concelebrada . For one...

     For countless decades, women have fought for equality and empowerment. Women's empowerment is defined as promoting their self-worth, ability to achieve, capability to make their own decisions, and live life with the power to do anything. This movement may seem easily achievable, but we still have to go a long way to achieve full equality. Women have a significant contribution to our society and shaped us into the people we are now. This should be enough reason to empower and provide them with the appreciation they deserve. And this pandemic, women have been more empowered than ever, serving as front-liners and leaders. These empowered women influence young girls to achieve, make their own decisions, and feel worthy of their lives.       People have different views on the concept of "women as empowered." An empowered woman may be in the form of a powerful politician, a caring mother, a business owner, or even a young girl who has high self-worth. T...

Time really does fly by. It seems as if the third quarter was swept by the warm summer breeze. Throughout the eight weeks and modules of ICT Quarter 3, I have learned many significant lessons. The topic was focused more on the community rather than technology. Though, this doesn't mean that technology wasn't utilized at all during learning. I learned to conduct community-based research using only online resources and technological tools. It has taught me to work well with people in my community and has helped me to discover more about certain aspects of my town. Challenges were rare this quarter as the topic was familiar to me. As a science class student, I have experience in research. The steps in conducting the study were things I have done before in my other subjects. The only notable difficulty I faced was the lack of existing literature or facts on my chosen community topic. But, this allows me to gain more unknown knowledge about my community and use this to educate other...

    Since COVID-19 started to spread rapidly nationwide, pharmaceutical companies immediately began to produce a vaccine. But of course, the early batches of doses were only safe for adults aging 18 to 59 years old. It was until November 3, 2021, that the rollout of nationwide COVID-19 vaccination among 12-17 year-olds began. Even though vaccines are very accessible, parents are still reluctant to get their children vaccinated. This may be due to vaccine hesitancy or lack of knowledge of the vaccine. So if we have the resources, we should research the vaccine.     When thinking about getting a vaccine, we should first know if we are healthy enough to take it. Children require fewer doses or amounts than adults because their bodies are different. We should be aware of our children's medical conditions. If they have a weak immune system or have comorbidities, it is recommended that they seek assistance from their doctor first. Side effects are a big part of...

     The Day of Valor or "Araw ng Kagitingan" is anually celebrated by Filipinos nationwide on April 9. The Philippines was involved in World War II from December 8, 1941, to September 2, 1945. In these roughly four years of fierce war, Bataan was the nation's center of defense. The 9th of April, 1942, was the day Bataan fell. Every year we commemorate the bravery and heroism of the Filipinos who fought for our freedom and national pride. This year 2022 will mark the 80th Araw ng Kagitingan.      The events leading up to the fall were catastrophic. Many soldiers, leaders, frontliners, and ordinary citizens were lost to the Japanese troops and their brutal attacks. After three months and two days of blood-filled battles of the 76,000 Filipino and American troops against the Japanese, General Edward P. King Jr. officially surrendered. The famous words "Bataan has fallen," were broadcast on the radio "Voice of Freedom" by Third Lieutenant Normando Ildefon...

     In the Christian calendar, there is a season that lasts for 40 days leading to Easter, this is called Lent. But, what exactly is lent? It is where Catholics reflect on their actions and prepare for Easter or the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This time is mainly used for prayer, fasting, giving, and repenting to focus on God and be grateful for all he has done for us. Lenten season lasts for forty days starting from Ash Wednesday and ending on Holy Saturday or sometimes Maundy Thursday. This season is a meaningful event for Catholics, but with the rise of COVID-19, the way we commemorate it has changed.       Before the pandemic, the Lenten season or Semana Santa in the Philippines was commemorated extensively. You would see numerous Catholics attending masses and prusisyons or a parade of saints. Due to the prohibition of mass gatherings, we can do these things we did in the old normal. But since Religion is a significant part of the Filipinos' li...

     The Kannawidan Festival, often celebrated from the last week of January to the first week of February, is a commemoration of the foundation of the province. It is the most sought-after festival of Ilocos Sur, having many activities such as a showcase of the talents of the Ilocanos, art exhibits, food bazaars, celebrity guests, and various other shows.      So, what exactly is the significance of the Kannawidan Festival to the Ilocanos? Like all festivals, it has some cultural meaning behind it. It celebrates its foundation day or the day Ilocos Sur separated from Ilocos Norte in 1818. The festival allows locals to share their talents and their city or municipality's treasures. It gives small business owners a chance to make money. The focus of the celebration is to highlight its citizens and the wonderful things they do. It strengthens our relationship with our roots, God, culture, and our fellow Ilocanos. Aside from strengthening the locals' bond with...