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‎Sen. Ping Lacson filled a bill aiming to regulate the use of social media by minors in the Philippines.

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‎Titled “An Act Regulating the Use of Social Media Platforms by Minors, Imposing Age Restrictions, Providing Penalties for Violations Thereof, and for Other Purposes,”.

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‎It would prohibit individual under 18 from accessing social media.

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‎Social media platforms would be required to verify the identity of users through means such as ID verification and facial recognition.

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‎“Taking inspiration from this model, and in adherence to our State’s declared policy of promoting and protecting the mental and emotional well-being of its children, this bill is being proposed to protect Filipino children below 18 years old from online risks and harmful content,” Lacson said.

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‎Several lawmakers and officials have recently raised alarm over the dangers of unregulated social media use. Some have cited the spread of disinformation, while others have cited the prevalence of child sexual abuse materials online.

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‎ |Adrian A. Paginag

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In a Ted Talk, Ron West encouraged students like me to stop hiding behind a suit of armor and live fully.

Ron West had shared his experience by really struggling to talk to other people because he thinks that he does not fit in. This experience led him to love who he really was.

He said that every people has different types of abilities and trying to copy one another will only lead to bad things.

West had made the audience realize that they do not need to try to belong by saying "Be proud of who you are." His talk made everyone feel more confident and take of their suit of armor and live fully.

Byline:

By Hanz Chester Narciso, School News Desk

Lead:

During a heartwarming classroom activity at Beecher Prep, new student August “Auggie” Pullman bravely introduced himself by sharing three personal details, setting a friendly tone for his first day.

Body:

In Mr. Browne’s class, students were asked to share two things about themselves. Mr. Browne kicked things off by revealing he left Wall Street to pursue a teaching career. Julian Albans followed, mentioning a new Wii game and a ping‑pong table at home. Then Auggie stepped up and said he has a sister named Via, a dog named Daisy, and that he loves Star Wars. Though he went slightly over the two‑thing limit, Mr. Browne praised him for his honesty and humor .

An enthusiastic question-and-answer followed when a student admired Auggie’s padawan braid and asked about his favorite Star Wars character—he chose Boba Fett. The respectful curiosity helped ease the tension, and soon the class moved on to reading the month’s precept: “When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind.”

Ending:

Auggie’s open introduction and the class’s warm, inquisitive reaction showcased the values of kindness and inclusion championed by Mr. Browne—an encouraging start to his journey at Beecher Prep.

He said Qatar and Egypt will bring the final proposal to Hamas, and warned that if they don’t say yes, things will just get worse.

Israel confirmed they’re ready for the ceasefire, but they also said that the hostages in Gaza need to be released first before anything really ends.

The war has been going on since October 2023, and a lot of people already died, while things in Gaza just keeps getting worse for everyone.

Now everything depends if Hamas will accept the deal or not, and if both sides will finally stop the fighting.

Juan Gabriel Lintag pogi

Klyne Sobrepeña, Author

Wed July 2, 2025

In a captivating TED Talk delivered 9 years ago, Ron West captivated the audience with his message on the importance of embracing one’s true self, urging listeners to find the courage to break free from social norms.

Ron shared personal stories that illustrated his own struggles, recounting moments when he felt pressured. He emphasized that vulnerability is not a weakness but a powerful tool for connection and self-discovery. “When we allow ourselves to be vulnerable, we create space for genuine relationships and personal growth,” West stated, relating with many in the crowd.

The talk included interactive elements, inviting attendees to reflect on their own fears and barriers to authenticity.

As the evening commences, West encourages the audience to take actionable steps towards living being yourself, reminding them that the journey to self-acceptance is still ongoing. “Courage is not the absence of fear but the decision to be true to yourself despite it” he declared. The impact of his message left many feeling inspired and hopeful, ready to foster a more authentic community.

As humans who were given with the ability to love and care, we always use it for others. Why? Many reasons. Love, validation, fear, loneliness and others. However, there is one person who people always forget to love and care for—themselves. People often think too much about others, yet not so much for their selves. This must never be the case. Loving one’s self is as important, maybe more, than loving others. Why? Here are ten reasons.

Happiness. We must master the ability to create our own happiness and not just base it on what other people do, say, or think. Each person is the master of their own emotions, and so should you. How people treat you, is also affected by how you treat yourself. By cementing yourself as someone who should be loved and cared for, this will affect how other’s will see you and will ultimately treat you better. Confidence. Caring for one’s self can boost their overall confidence. Once you care for yourself, there is no longer any need to doubt yourself and your abilities. This will not only benefit yourself, but also the people around you. If you dedicate yourself to pleasing other’s, exhaustion will reach you. Once it does, you can no longer be of any use to others and you will fail your goal to please them. Not taking care of yourself will lead them to take you for granted. Caring for yourself will help you stand for yourself in order to be the only one to benefit from your own life. You will able to understand the limits of your life and that not everyone has to be in it. It does not mean that you will put everyone else last. You should ave no fear of being selfish since loving yourself doesn’t mean not loving others. You are your own hero. You don’t need anyone to care for you as you can do it for yourself. Your relationships will improve. Being better to yourself can help you be much better for others. Lastly, you will have an even greater relationship with yourself. Less stress, less hardships, and less problems.

Those are only ten reasons to put yourself, yet there are countless more. Your life is yours. Don’t waste it by trying to please everyone and leaving yourself burnt out. This is not worth it. Life is too precious to be wasted on trying to be good for others without caring for yourself.

Source : “10 Reasons Why You Should Put Yourself First” by : Tina Navarro, 2022

The only way to truly be yourself? The answer is courage.

It takes time to become yourself. Being yourself around other people takes courage, it also takes time, since if you do not yet fully know yourself, you won’t always be yourself, there will be times that you will forced to be someone that isn’t you. One example is when you are upset at someone but you try to hide it so you don’t know what to do but act like someone that isn’t you, mimicking a close friend as a way to hide your resentment towards someone. I know this because I’ve experienced this, and also seen someone else do it unconsciously.

Ron West said “you can’t give away that which you do not have” by this, he also said once you encourage someone to do something, you also gain courage.

You can gain courage to be yourself, if you encourage someone to just be themselves.

So go and encourage people to just be themselves, hiding who you truly are only causes you problems, encouraging someone might also encourage you to be yourself as well.

This news report is all about an episode of Ted talk where underwear model Cameron Russell talks about the truth of her career in the modeling industry.

In the beginning, Cameron Russell a underwear model, comes into stage as her model self. She then proceeds to show her true self as a normal lady wearing long skirts, normal shoes, etc.

She talked about how image is superficial. The meaning of this is that, Image can change very fast. The more we know about a person, the "worse" they look.

She also talked about the racist nature of the modeling industry. Based on surveys and records, the majority of the population prefers tall, white, feminine figures than any other features like dark skin, curly hair, small facial structure, etc.

The modeling Industry only prefers people who "won the genetic lottery". We also learned that the majority of models are struggling with their self image due to their life depending on how they present themselves.

The prices of vegetables in Metro Manila markets have once again increased, causing complaints from many consumers and vendors. According to sellers, their capital has gone up, but fewer customers are buying.

According to the Department of Agriculture (DA), vegetable production has been affected by recent storms and unpredictable weather. Because of this, harvests are limited and only a small amount reaches the cities.

Eateries and small businesses are also affected. According to Aling Rosa, a carinderia owner, “Before, I only needed ₱100 capital for vegetables. Now it’s almost ₱150.”

The government is trying to address the problem by providing subsidies and buying directly from farmers. However, experts say that deeper and long-term solutions are needed.

As vegetable prices continue to rise, many people hope the government will soon find a solution to ease the burden on both consumers and farmers. For now, every kilo carries weight—not just in mass, but in cost.

Ron West, a motivational speaker, bravely shared his inspirational personal journey of self-acceptance, encouraging others to embrace their true self without fear or shame to be judged.

In a public talk, West shared his struggles about hiding who he truly was for several years. "I spent too long living in a version of myself that others expected," he said. "It took a long time, tears, and real courage to finally say, 'This is who I am, and that’s enough."

West shared the emotional sacrifice of trying to fit in, recalling how many times he was misunderstood when he was being his true self. Despite facing self-doubt, he found the courage to act into his real self—and now uses that experience to help others also find their purpose.

And now, Ron West plans to exceed through a new book and speaking tour focused on mental health and self-love to continue guiding other people to be known. “Courage,” he says, isn’t the absence of fear—it’s choosing to be real even when others do not want you to be like it.

It is great and nice to give and support others, that's true for most people. However, we also need to learn how to give and support ourselves more. This article explores the nature of self-esteem and self-love and how it is different from ego and selfishness.

Everyone deserves to be happy, however, it is not up to us to give them that. Our happiness is our own doing, being happy is something we gain for ourselves as nobody can create happiness. Doing something for someone is good but we shouldn't always do that. Sure helping others is a good feeling and deed but people will lower their expectations with you if you keep doing it. Prioritizing ourselves gives us confidence, confidence gives us comfort with ourselves but not complacent with it which is something necessary for us to grow. Prioritizing ourselves also helps others, finding yourself and being comfortable with it will allow us to give to others as much as we give to ourselves. People will take us for granted for mostly saying “yes” to everything, remember, we are not bound to do that. We have our freedom to choose, if you feel you want to say no, you can freely do so. It teaches us that not everyone in our lives is not here to stay with us, they're only here to teach us a lesson and that's ok. Prioritizing yourself doesn't mean being selfish, there's a big difference with both of them and we must acknowledge it. In life, you can't rely on others to save you, we must rely on ourselves and be ultimately, our own “hero”. It also helps us in our relationships as it teaches us not to focus on being together all the time but the quality of when we are together.

Finally, when you prioritize yourself, you will be able to understand yourself better which can result in us giving more value to ourselves. The key to happiness and good relationships with others is having a good relationship with yourself too.

Credits: 10 Reasons Why You Should Put Yourself First by Tina Navarro.

Like what Cameron Russell mentioned during her TED talk, “Models are the most physically insecure people on the planet.” It is not always about what you see that looks pretty. Everyone has their unique color, but some people may not notice that because they are blinded by the makeover of the people they see. We all have our makeover, it is not just about the makeup, those expensive cosmetics, etc. We pretend to be something that we are not. We become someone who is not even close to who we are. 

We are who we are within; what makes every individual pretty is their unique personality.

Many people struggle with putting themselves first because they think it’s selfish. However, experts say taking care of your own happiness and needs is actually important for a healthy life.

Growing up, we often learn to prioritize others before ourselves, but this can lead to stress and exhaustion. When we don’t invest time in ourselves, we run out of energy and confidence which makes it harder to support the people we care about. According to experts, setting boundaries teaches others how to treat us properly and helps us avoid being taken for granted. Putting yourself first also helps build self-confidence and improves relationships, because when you feel good about yourself, you bring positivity to others.

In the end, loving yourself is not selfish, but necessary. Taking care of your own well-being allows you to be your best self and have better relationships with everyone around you.

We should not be ashamed to put ourselves first. 

In this generation, society has brainwashed people into thinking how it is selfish to prioritize yourself over others. Society easily judges people just because it is not their responsibility to put others before themselves. This has been happening for quite a long time now that it is getting normalized about how individuals who prioritized themselves are either egotistical or self-centered people. This can happen anytime, anywhere, any place. 

Putting others before yourself is very important—but we also need to spend our time with ourselves first. We have to learn and understand ourselves before others. You still need to learn and discover yourself because you have a goal to accomplish. Let us not forget space is always needed to remind you about how the relationship of yourself is still essential. Don’t let people take advantage of you for their own benefits.

Remember, you’re not selfish. Spend your time with yourself. Real happiness comes within you and not from others. Eat healthy, learn hobbies, and know your worth.

07.02.2025

A kid who was always being bullied. And one day, he said to himself "I'm gonna stop this". He went and searched for the person that was bullying him, Pritchard. Then he found Pritchard, he pushed him and said to meet him in a classroom after class. As he was about to leave, Pritchard was waiting by the gate.

He walked up to him and said, "That was the most courageous thing I've ever seen.", and he was never bullied since.

A few years later, he wrote a book, but he stopped at Chapter 4, a chapter about life purpose. He was afraid to drop the suit of armor even though he knew what he was and what he wanted to bring to the world, the problem is that he was afraid.

By the end, he worked with executives and what he learned is that: Encouraging someone else will result in YOU having more courage on yourself and the more you help someone pursue their dreams the more you help yourself do the same.

This simply means that being kind to others and by helping them on their struggles in life, you will also help yourself on having more and more courage to do something throughout.

By Chris Jose C. Danabar

In one TEDxGHW Talk that blends humor with raw honesty (and funnily enough, courage), Ron West stood on stage as a man who learned courage the hard way; by surviving being bullied, battling self-doubt, and choosing vulnerability over silence and cowardice. With his story of personal growth via "dropping the armor", it's also a call-to-action; to create space for others to be just as courageous, just as bold, and just as hardy.

In this video from 2016, West recounts his tough journey from a childhood of abuse to a life built on resilience and personal accountability. As a young boy, he endured severe bullying from one Richard(?) that instilled insecurity and a fractured sense of self-worth. As a result, he carried all that like armor for years as he grew older and older, believing that to protect himself, he had to appear strong and stoic; likely even appearing as emotionless. As the talk unfolds, West reflects on how the people around him; therapists, friends, strangers who shared their truth, offered him the mighty permission to be authentic, to be himself. He makes a compelling case that we can do the same for others; by creating spaces where vulnerability is safe, and where encouragement replaces judgment.

His central message? Courage is contagious; a shared sorrow is half a sorrow. When one person stands up and shares their struggle, it gives others permission (er, the courage) to do the same. "The more I encourage them, the more courage I found for myself", Ron cites. From laughter to tears, the audience journeyed with him, not just because he had all the answers with him, but also because he had the courage to speak the questions out loud, even when surely others will bring him down, so to say. And in that, thus, lies the greatest act of courage itself; telling the truth of your story so others might one day find the strength to tell theirs. So, go out there, take off all that heavy armor, and live life being yourself.

("I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what."

-Atticus Finch, 'To Kill A Mockingbird')

By: Audrey Sebastian                                   July 2, 2025

Every people always thinks that prioritizing yourself is being selfish to other but in reality its not, not taking care of yourself may affect your mental health. However when you prioritize yourseld it may lead you to get more confidence and have a happy life.

Our whole life we have been taught to always prioritize others before ourselves, but this will lead to others always putting us in the last too. This also gives us depression and stress because we please everyone but not ourselves, we have no confidence because we always think about others. Always saying “yes” to peoples even if you want to say ‘no’ you are just letting people to take advantage of you, when you think about it not everyone has to stay in your life someone always has to leave, sometimes they are just there to teach you a lesson and the sooner you realize the better it gets.

In the end, realizing prioritizing yourself isn’t being selfish to others. This will give you a much more healthier and happier life, but there is a huge difference between being selfish and putting yourself first. Being selfish is where you dont care about what other feels and you only care about yourself, putting yourself first means you treat yourself the way you treat others it means that you love yourself a tiny bit more than you love others.

July 2, 2025

“Looks aren’t everything. Believe me, I’m a model.”

With those words, Cameron Russell, a well-known fashion model, opened her TED talk by revealing the hidden side of the modeling industry. In a brave and honest speech, she talked about the reality behind beauty, the role of privilege, and the cost of perfection in today’s society.

At the beginning of her talk, Cameron appeared onstage wearing a tight black dress and heels, but in just a few seconds, she changed into simple clothes or casual attire. This small act tells a big message that how we look can instantly change how people see us. As she explained, “Image is powerful, but also image is superficial.”

Cameron shared her journey of becoming a model and admitted that her success wasn’t really because of her talent or hard work, but mostly because she “won the genetic lottery.” She benefitted from society’s beauty standards — being tall, slim, young, and white. To support this, she mentioned that in the year of 2007, out of 677 models on the runway, only 27 were non-white. This showed how the fashion world still follows some beauty standards.

But beyond fame and photo shoots, Cameron opened up about the insecurity many models feel. Sharing that those models who look confident and perfect on the outside are often the most insecure on the inside,“If you think thinner thighs and shinier hair will make you happier,” she said, “you just need to meet a group of models.”

One of the most important messages from her talk is in today’s society, appearance affects everything — how people see us, how we’re treated, and how successful we seem. And while it may not be fair, it’s something we need to be aware of.

    Each and everyone of us is different. From the looks, talents, status in life, and many more. But one thing is for sure, our biggest difference is our courage. Courage, an ability to overcome fear, danger, or pain. Courage helps us to confront what frightens us. It is our body’s natural protection or armor. But what if that courage never seems to help us? What if that courage that was supposed to be our armor is now our own enemy.

  Ron West, a speaker on a show called TEDx Talks shared his own experience talking about “courage” 9 years ago. To give more depth—the speaker talked about how he wore a suit of armor that he used to protect him…or so he thought. His armor and the distance it created costs him so much according to him. A son, three marriages, and an engagement.

               As his story continues—he illustrates his personal experience and struggles looking back on the day where he felt pressure, the day where he’s trying so hard to fit in, the day where he put on that suit of armor. “You cannot give away that which you do not have” He said, connecting on how he tries so hard to encourage others but he  himself doesn't have that courage.

               This helps us and those people on the show realize that you gain courage if you put your mind to it that you can do one thing that you are most afraid of. Let others encourage you and it will encourage them as well. You don’t need that suit of armor to help you be yourself. Taking that armor off will help you live to the fullest.

_{July 2, 2025}

_{A new lifestyle story explains why putting yourself first is not only appropriate but also necessary in a time where self-sacrifice is frequently exalted. Here are ten reasons that putting your personal health first can improve relationships, happiness, and confidence.}

_{Happiness starts with oneself, and teaching respect through example is crucial. Building self-confidence increases confidence, positively impacting relationships. Restoring physical and emotional well-being allows for renewed energy to give to others. Saying "no" when needed prevents others from exploiting kindness. Prioritizing self-care isn't selfish, and self-care is not selfish. Being your own hero helps improve self-improvement. Spending quality "me" time enhances love relationships and strengthens self-relationships. Lastly, prioritizing oneself allows for appropriate limits and reveals personal beliefs, preferences, and dislikes.}

_{The lesson is clear. Prioritizing oneself is not selfish. It is wise, as self-care promotes not only personal growth but also healthier, more sincere relationships. Having this perspective encourages stronger relationships with others and gives you the ability to live a self-assured, balanced life. As stated at the end of the original article, love yourself a little more in order to meaningfully include yourself, not to exclude others.}

Gabriella Kate E. Silan

07/02/25

Self-care and emotional well-being are important without feeling the guilt that you put yourself before others. Tina Navarro is a great writer. She is boosting confidence, happiness and even great relationships with others. It shows that you have a boundary, people won’t think less of you because you value yourself. Most people you value might not think the same as you value them. Staying in a toxic relationship will serve as a lesson to not go back.

 Self-love teaches you to accept yourself which can improve your life so others could benefit too because when you feel good you can help people in need too! This could lead to people not taking advantage of you because you know your priorities and it is yourself. It doesn’t mean you're being selfish because what you want only is to be kind to yourself as you are kind to others. Remember, when you’re in love doesn’t mean you have to pour all your love to your partner because this could only lead to you being tired. Having much more time for you and your partner can help you have a meaningful and deep relationship. 

:  By: Faustina Jhaira C. Solitario, July 2, 2025

In a viral TED Talk titled “Looks Aren’t Everything. Believe Me, I’m a Model,” fashion model Cameron Russell opens up about the unseen realities in the  modeling world and the unfair power of physical appearance.

Russell, who has walked runways for major brands like Victoria’s Secret and Chanel, admitted that her success largely came from how she looks, not what she has done. She explained that beauty is a form  of “unearned privilege” and that society recommends  certain traits like being tall, thin, and white, that gives unfair advantages to people who match these standards.

To show how looks can be defrauded, she presented the photos of herself on the runway comparing how she looks in real life. She revealed that modeling relies heavily on styling, lighting, and Photoshop, not just natural beauty.

Russell reminded her audience that even models can also feel insecurities, and that confidence doesn’t come from appearance alone.

Through her honest talk, Russel then reminds every one of us to stop judging people and themselves for their looks. Her message is clear: “beauty should not define worth.” Cameron Russell’s TED Talk continues to inspire audiences to look beyond appearances and to value authenticity, diversity, and inner strength over surface-level beauty.

July 2, 2025

In a world where inner values are said to conquer — where they say that having an open heart and being kind could get you anywhere, pretty privilege proves otherwise.

Just by passing the outward standards set by the society could unlock you many opportunities and even take you to the farthest of the world's distribution of privilege.

Cameron Russell, a fashion model and has been in the industry since she was young, has gone on TED Talks to feature her speech about what it's truly like in her industry. She stated about her personal experience as someone living under the roof of pretty privilege — the world treats you kinder, you get better opportunities, and your existence is treated better.

Though this is the reality of today's generation, pretty privilege sits in a fine line where we think grants freedom easily, but it does not.

Even Russell herself doesn't excuse pretty privilege to feeling insecurity. We think that pretty privilege is a power that allows us to soar above, but in reality, those wings are just a constructed illusion that we think measures our value as a person, but it does not.

In the end, a better power than being pretty on the outside is being who you really are — not having to prove yourself, but just by having your pure heart and being you.