PIA RANADA

PIA RANADA handles the Malacañang in misleading headlines of articles to her discredit. She is one of the gatekeepers: disseminating information worth knowing,

Have you ever searched your name on Google?

may lumabas na ganito,” “Aren’t you gonna presscons of me asking Duterte a question and their favorite is really to say that “Ah, si Duterte sinupalpal na naman si Pia Ranada,” or “Si Pia Ranada napahiya ni Presidente,” and they love that.

funny na lang. I usually read articles over ay, may meme na naman ako

Can you afford to be vulnerable in your line of work? When you’re you afford to be soft?

can you appeal to their sense of humanity?

I don’t think I should change the way I me yet that I’m doing the wrong thing. there are people who are patting me on the those voices are there, and the people who criticize me in those insulting ways don’t way I’m doing it.

What advice can you give to storytellers for that matter?

journalism is not glamorous. Films make journalism look like “Wow, ang rockstar naman ng understand that journalism is mostly groundwork. Those shining moments of glory, they don’t come often and you stick to you, eh. That’s what’s going to affect your sense of self when you’re on

Siyempre, aspire for those moments of

do they look like?

thing. [The moments of glory are when] paid for work that they didn’t get paid for you get.

CHAI FONACIER

is mostly recognized for playing that mischievous street urchin Respeto, and a transgender call center agent in Patay na si Hesus with her courage to jump out of her comfort zone in the name of art.

What made you decide to move to Manila?

in Manila—three months. I decided to two, I was looking for a way to help the Gusto ko tumulong, hindi ko lang alam kung paano kasi hindi naman ako direktor, o producer. So sabi ko, guess it’s all right for me to leave home for Hahanapin ko muna ’yung daan ko dito tapos we can see

and write songs. Where do you get inspiration for your music?

My personal songs right now are part of a larger compilation called “constipated the medyo sarcastic, comedic. And then you go on the other end and it’s utterly depressive and people are like, “Why did would say, “Thank you for writing that. It feels like I’m not alone.”

how many people listen to you, if it’s just one person and it changes their life, that’s it.

What were some of the challenges you encountered in building your acting career?

I think what fascinates me the most network is ’yung cultural differences

isolated they are from each other. Tapos ang hirap maghanap ng makakainan. Kasi doon sa amin tu- ka lang ng lima, oh may na. Where I live now, nasaan na ’yung mga ? Nasaan na ’yung mga kanin diyan? Nasaan ’yung mga isaw?

What drives you to keep pursuing your passions despite the culture shock and the challenges of adjusting to a new place?

stories it’s important to pursue truth. Nasa art kasi ang it’s where a lot of our informal education comes from.

If people stop telling their stories, that’s how a culture dies, that’s how told, I want to participate in it. I ask the director and producer where this ship is going so I know my place in this ship. an actor, story talaga. queen. Depende.

CEEJ TANTENGCO

at Ateneo, she managed the features section of the university paper The Guidon, for which her team was awarded the Raul Locsin Award for Student Journalism. After college she worked as a multimedia learn: here is her set play.

I just want to be honest: I looked you up and I am impressed by your straight-shooting career. So you started with The Guidon...

I received my Palanca Awards when I was in high school. When I got to college, I put off joining The Guidon I was a creative writing person. But when I joined, I ended up loving it. I thought I was just a writer—and then I reported on cam. they did happen, I was so thankful knowing

Did you have to set a goal or were you just trying different things? What was the process?

When I realized that I liked something new, that’s why I like sports—I can relate to the athletes striving for a goal. Every sports game is a microcosm for greater society. We see our struggles in their struggles. This like the way women are treated—it may tell

What are the struggles you face as a

Women working as courtside reporters and for a long time, women were a token addition. I still hear the role people assume for courtside reporters—they think of us just as muses: “Ah, she’s the pretty one.”

When I started, I would hear jokes interview me... pero pa muna.” Some and then say, “Eto, yung player ko na lang

people overlook...?

at practices, and asking smart questions. Sometimes, I sit around with coaches and something, and I’m here with my own point what female athletes go through. My talent to female athletes—they’re on the top of

some productive solutions to these problems?

I’ve made a conscious effort in my writing and producing career to cover female athletes in a way that serves them. I feel like it’s my duty to cover them the way As a female journalist, if you want to get your opportunities, you’ve got to make them for yourself. Don’t wait for people to got to get yourself a platform.

FATIMA EFFY” ELMUBARAK

cover topics that range from racism to gender equality to capitalism. But wasn’t always the fearless feminist whom we’ve all retweeted at one point. For heritage, her Islamic roots, her weight, her everything that makes her Effy.

What was it like growing up multiracial?

kids, when nakita nila ako ’yun ’yung nag- spark ng vitriol ko standards that remain rampant today.

How has your culture and faith shaped your ideas on feminism?

treats women a hundred percent justly how it could get tough for us at times. This is much more evident in a lot of Middle Eastern countries, too.

All of these, and how I was raised, it patriarchy or how strong the patriarchy a lot of times we can’t question it kasi ganyan talaga ‘ yan. Something I had to realize over time is it’s really hard to argue with the scriptures. So I guess what I do now is I do what I can to help at least dismantle how it manifests in everyone’s daily lives.

What inspires you to be vocal about issues you feel strongly about?

I’m generally a shy person. I did not lot of ideas. Being given the platform that discrimination against social class. I try important to note that we’re all learning here. I’d like to do my part in other people’s learning process as well.

How do you deal with your bashers or people who react negatively to your posts?

oppressive systems na na- normalize na is that talagang may kokontra sayo. wrong, kasi it’s how we’re programmed na. First kapag hindi naman ganoon ka , matinong discourse.

I wouldn’t resort to ultimately avoiding discourse kasi it’s a chance to educate people. But if they’re gonna resort to to ignore it na lang kasi there’s really not much I could do. A lot of times we have to consider that not everyone has access to progressive readings as we do so when someone comes at me with misinformed statements I just engage just misinformed.