The Lead - USLS

𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗛 𝗔𝗪𝗔𝗬

Even the stars are leaning in.

Something has been quietly brewing in the spaces between pencil marks and ink strokes—a collection of worlds, waiting just behind the page. In just one day, The Lead will unveil its very first litfolio, and every word in it has been waiting for this moment.

Are you ready to get lost in it?

𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗦

The stars are almost aligned.

Our first litfolio is only 2 days away, and the night sky can barely keep the secret. Something is stirring in the in-between, written in starlight and whispered between fireflies.

The wait is almost over.

#𝗢𝗻𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗢𝗽𝗘𝗱: 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲

A reality that I have to grapple with is that when I grow up, I will realize that society ultimately thinks that a man is inherently better than a woman. In any moment of our entire lives, “Men are stronger, more capable.” God is depicted as a man; most world leaders are men, men dominate the workforce, men do the hard labor, and the default model of strength is a (mostly white) cisgendered male, who embodies brute force, muscle, and male dominance in movies.

But conversely, I didn't grow up consuming these portrayals at all. As a child, and I think I still do in some way now, I always dismissed these depictions as soulless and ridiculous. The flashyness of human strength from men did not impress me in the slightest because I grew up with many diverse female influences in my life who I would consider such strong individuals despite their different backgrounds. My heroes didn't wear capes, they wore a fastfood uniform, oversized dusters and old rusty working cloth.

Some of them are working in corporate settings, some of them are housewives, some of them are farmers who work under the sun, and some of them are just getting by in life. These women showed me true strength and resilience in the face of a cruel world. With their diverse backgrounds, it gave me the impression that there is no one singular way to be strong, that strength comes from within each and everyone of us no matter the gender and circumstances we are born in.

And with a certain female figure in the media that has been around for several decades inspiring young girls to be themselves, Barbie. For me, and I’m sure to many young girls, she isn't just a doll, but a symbol for female empowerment not just for girls and women, and also to q***r children who don't conform to the masculine ideals of many cultures. As controversial of a figure that she might be, Barbie provided an alternative reality for young people to project themselves into. In this world, a woman can be a president, a doctor, an actor, a fire fighter, a pilot, an astronaut and more; all of that while not sacrificing her femininity. Barbie can be everything and she is everything.

But imagine my shock when I found out that these realities are not present in the real world I live in. Describing this experience reminds me of the 2023 film Barbie, where the titular character, Barbie, travels to the real world and how it contrasted the bright and vibrant colors of Barbie land to the cold grey walls of Los Angeles. The first time I watched the scene, it gave me that uncomfortable feeling as it felt too close to home and I assume every woman has felt that at some point in their lives; when the facade of a perfect world collapses right between their eyes.

Suddenly, everyone is doubting you. They're trying to bring you down a peg because they don’t like outspoken women. Now, everyone is trying to put you in your place; in the kitchen, in a house, where you’ll have children and cook dinner for your husbands. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but your options are suddenly limited.

How does a young girl make sense of the world that thinks she’s lesser? Less worthy? Less capable? Because of her biology. How the idea of inequality is deeply rooted in every aspect of her life. From the moment she’s born and up until she reunites with her creator. To find out that everything she does will never satisfy the hunger for perfection and control from a patriarchal world.

“Don’t be too loud, cause men don’t like loud women.
Don’t be fat ‘cause men don’t like fat women.
Don’t be too skinny ‘cause you’ll set a bad example for young girls.
Don’t be so ███████ serious all the time. Smile ‘cause men might get threatened and uncomfortable.
Don’t dress provocatively ‘cause you’ll attract men and when you get █████, it is ultimately your fault. Men cannot control their urges.
But don’t dress too conservatively, because you’ll look like a prude and no man will ever date you.
Also don’t say you like women because you're just confused. It’s just a phase and, one day, you'll meet a man who will make you straight.”

I sometimes wish I could return to childhood, when my biggest concern was dreaming of being a fairy with magical powers wrapped in a kind of whimsy and innocence that shielded me from the world’s harsh realities. Now, as a young woman, my dreams have shifted toward seeking freedom not only for myself, but for the women who stand beside me. Being a woman in society comes with its own set of sacrifices, requiring strength, endurance, and resilience. I wouldn't have found that strength without the women in my life. From the young girl you once were, to the woman you are today, and the one you are still becoming, always remember to be kind but never fragile. 𝙒𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙮 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙣 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙬𝙚 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙛𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩.

Text | Elle Remo ([email protected], +639681643780)
Visuals | Joaquin Mapa

Editor's Note: The views and opinions of the writer do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the publication and its members.

#𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹: 𝗞𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗦𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗹𝘆 - 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗜𝗩𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗡𝗲𝗺𝗼

As of July 2025, the count of persons living with HIV in Bacolod City is 1,312. Two months later, in September 2025, 396 cases were added, taking the total tally up to 1,708.

Of those 1,708 persons, this is a story about one: twenty-one year old Nemo.

Text | Frank Ampil
Layout | Joaquin Mapa

𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗕𝗬:
The Lead USLS
motHIVate

𝗕𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗕𝗬:
Damgo Coffee Shop
Kuyam
KEM Cakes

𝗜𝗡 𝗖𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛:
The Lead - USLS
Negrosanon Young Leaders Institute Inc.

𝗖𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗚𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗦 & 𝗦𝗖𝗜𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗦 𝗣𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗢𝗡 𝗝𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗖 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗚𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗔𝗟 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗧𝗛 𝗦𝗘𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗜𝗡 𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗦𝗘

As publications (Sidlak and The Lead) and digital portfolio (Basta, Comm) from the College of Arts and Sciences, which includes the Psychology program—we believe that the protection of mental health and the freedom of the press are not in conflict; they are interdependent. Holding those in authority accountable while being courteous, grounded in truth-seeking and bold reporting, is our way of protecting the mental health of our college and the wider public who deserve the truth.

While mental health remains a legitimate concern and shapes how things are reported, we must understand that journalists are beacons of information that inform the public of what they ought to know—all guided by values of integrity, authenticity, and veracity. Guided by these values, our primary duty is aligned with the seeking of truth for the community we serve. As journalists and future media practitioners, we hold unwavering respect for an individual’s mental health, but we believe that personal well-being should function as a bridge to support, not a shield against accountability.

Restricting journalists from practicing free press and free speech all because of somebody’s mental well-being is journalism censorship disguised as sympathy. If a publication is forced to soften their blow about reporting an individual’s performance, that is not journalism anymore but a sugarcoated, fabricated act of omitting the facts. Thus, drawing the line between journalism and questioning all for the sake of somebody’s mental comfort is drawing the line between truth and the public.

To restrict journalism, then, is to restrict the public's ability to question and criticize you. It is to sever that bridge. And if somebody truly intends to serve the student body to the fullest, they must welcome the press, not silence it.

After all, journalism should not be placed in the service of compromise over the truth.

#𝗟𝗶𝘁𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗱: 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗨𝗻𝗮 𝗔𝘀𝘁𝗮 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗼𝗻𝗴

Kakaladlawan no?
Kung paano ga sugod ang pag-ululupod
sang bata pa ta.

Halin sa mahuluyaon nga pangamusta
Pakadto sa ginagmay nga away
Kay parihas ang nabugnot nila duwa nga manyika.

READ THE FULL LITERARY PIECE BELOW

Text | Trish Colleen P. Canastillo
Visuals | Joaquin Mapa

#𝗟𝗶𝘁𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹: 𝗢𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘂𝘀 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘀

She came to me in a dream...

She speaks to me in prose and rhyme,
She calls me in melodies,
And tells me she's known me my whole life

Text | Fawn
Layout | Arabella Baroy

#𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹: 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗗𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝗨𝗻𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗧𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲

Flowers also most certainly don't bloom overnight.

Now, imagine the flower as a human being. If one does not pause and tend to themselves, how can they truly flourish, especially if that flower harbors emotions yet to be unpacked?

Text | Jasmine Anne Miranda
Layout | Joaquin Mapa

#𝗟𝗶𝘁𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗱: 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗺 𝗸𝗮𝗴 𝗚𝗮𝗵𝘂𝗺 𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗞𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗶𝗵𝗮𝗻

Ang kababaihan subong nagahatag inspirasyon sa masunod nga henerasyon nga mangin maalam, mabakod, kag mapisan.

READ THE FULL LITERARY PIECE BELOW.

Text | Sisa Zirkelbach
Visuals | Joaquin Mapa