BALIT 1A

𝐁𝐘𝐀𝐇𝐄𝐍𝐆 𝟐𝐍𝐃 𝐘𝐄𝐀𝐑 🌤️

-1-1

DECEMBER 25 BALIT??!

Before enrollment officially begins, let’s revisit a few moments from our first year. It may have been mostly online, but distance never stopped us from creating memories that mattered.

As we step into another chapter, may we carry these memories with us and create even better ones along the way.

𝒲𝑒 𝓂𝒶𝓎 𝓁𝒶𝒸𝓀 𝒷𝑜𝓎𝓈 𝒷𝓊𝓉 𝓌𝑒𝓇𝑒 𝒻𝓊𝓁𝓁 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝑜𝓂𝒷𝑜𝓎𝓈

Have a safe ride, Literates! 🚍❤️

🌠 Jena Marie Berdon
📝 Kristyl Lastimoso

Do you still remember this wonderful phrase from The Lion King? If so, take a minute to pause and breathe. Then, tell yourself, "Hakuna Matata."

So the secret to a mighty book is a mighty theme?? If you were to write a book, what theme would you choose?🤔📖

For the love of books, money is essential...does that make me the villain?😭📚

And when we think, we can create ideas...a safe space where words can breathe. If someone asks you, "What is writing to you?", what is your response? Tell us in the comment! 😉

🌈 𝐃𝐈𝐃 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖?

One of the most celebrated literary figures of the 19th century, 𝗢𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗿 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗲, is also remembered as an important figure in LGBTQ+ history. Renowned for his wit, brilliance, and timeless works such as The Picture of Dorian Gray and The Importance of Being Earnest, Wilde's life was marked by both extraordinary success and profound injustice.

The quote, "𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒌 𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒆," was popularized during Wilde's 1895 trial. Although the phrase was originally coined by Lord Alfred Douglas in his poem Two Loves, it became forever linked to Wilde when he explained it in court as a deep, sincere, and intellectual affection between men. At a time when same-sex relationships were criminalized, this expression came to symbolize a love that society refused to acknowledge or accept.
Wilde was ultimately imprisoned because of his sexuality, a tragedy that reflected the prejudice and discrimination faced by countless LGBTQ+ individuals throughout history. Yet despite the attempts to silence him, his writings, his courage, and his legacy endured. Today, he is celebrated not only as one of literature's greatest minds but also as a symbol of resilience, authenticity, and the ongoing pursuit of equality.

This Pride Month, we honor the voices that history tried to silence and recognize the power of literature to preserve truth, challenge injustice, and inspire change. May Oscar Wilde's story remind us that every person deserves the freedom to love openly, express themselves without fear, and be remembered for the beauty of their humanity rather than the prejudice they endured.
Happy Pride Month! 🏳️‍🌈📚

"𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙡𝙙, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙙."

🖼️ 𝙅𝙚𝙣𝙖 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙚 𝘽𝙚𝙧𝙙𝙤𝙣

If books are ships, which one has taken you on a great ride? Tell us in the comments!

𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐒𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐂𝐈𝐓𝐘

[BALIT NARRATES]

The war has just begun.

Almost instantly, the price of oil started rising faster than anyone expected. And since almost everything we use is transported using fuel, the effect followed quickly. The prices of goods began to skyrocket.

—Most people say there’s nothing we can do about it. That we should just accept the changes because it’s something beyond our control—

𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘐 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦?

Earlier today, as I walked through Tabunok Market, something felt different. The stalls that were once full of supplies were almost empty. I suppose some people were panic buying, taking more than what they actually needed. And others might be holding onto their goods, waiting for the moment when demand becomes desperate enough so they can raise the prices even higher.

And as I stood there, surrounded by half-empty stalls and worried faces, one thought kept repeating in my mind:

If everyone keeps taking more than they need…
If everyone keeps thinking only about themselves…

𝙎𝙤𝙤𝙣, 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙘𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙧𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙪𝙨.

Then what will be left for the rest of us tomorrow?

✍️ Kristyl Lastimoso
👩🏻‍💻 Jena Marie Berdon

𝕷𝖎𝖙𝖊𝖗𝖆𝖙𝖚𝖗𝖊 1𝕬 𝕮𝖆𝖙𝖈𝖍-𝖀𝖕 𝕽𝖊𝖆𝖉𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝕱𝖗𝖎𝖉𝖆𝖞

📖 Book: The Yellow Wallpaper
✍️ Author: Charlotte Perkins Gilman
📄 Page: 36

💭 Thoughts: Disturbing, powerful, unforgettable. A short story that lingers long after the last line.

📌 Book reviews in the comments!

⭐️ Finished | ☪️ Gave up reading

“Reading is daring to step into someone else’s world—and feel it in your own heart.”

Layout: Jamela Geonzon

📣 𝐃𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐃𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐕𝐈𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐘𝐏𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐎 (𝐊𝐀𝐋𝐌𝐀𝐄𝐆𝐈)

In the wake of Typhoon Tino’s devastation, many families and students have been left struggling with severe flooding, loss, and damage to their homes. In response, the BA Literature 1A students are launching a donation drive to extend a helping hand to those affected and bring hope in these trying times.

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡:
🤎 Bottled water
🤎 Ready-to-eat food (canned goods, instant noodles, biscuits, etc.)
🤎 Hygiene kits (soap, shampoo, toothpaste, sanitary items, etc.)
🤎 Clothes (for kids and adults)
🤎 Blankets and towels
🤎 Solar lights or flashlights with batteries
🤎 Medicines and first aid supplies
🤎 Monetary donations (via GCash)

Together, let’s be a source of comfort and hope to those who need it most. Every act of kindness, no matter how small, can make a big difference.