Marck Zaldy Camba

The COVID-19 crisis has made most Filipinos reconsider, rethink, and reprioritize various aspects of their lives. While they are well-known for their resiliency, they are not immune to experiencing fear, anxiety, uncertainties, and other disruptions, as these are inevitable experiences during crises, particularly pandemics. While the COVID-19 pandemic triggered a public health crisis, there is a fear that it also provoked an existential one. This paper explores the philosophical insights of Daoism and its practicality and relevance to navigating such crises. In what ways can Daoist insights guide us regarding the right way(s) to manage ourselves during the crisis? How can these insights help us reframe our perspective of life during a pandemic? The paper employs reflective analysis to examine the crisis brought on by the pandemic and argues that Daoist insights can offer a practical approach to managing oneself and coping with the pandemic. This paper will highlight two Daoist principles: the principle of wu-wei and the principle of yin-yang. These principles are vital in approaching life with flexibility and balance. Ultimately, this paper shows that adopting Daoist insights will improve our understanding of the crisis brought on by the pandemic and how this could serve as a practical approach to managing our lives effortlessly during this trying time.

Digital media can shape people’s political perspectives as it is used as a medium for communication and information. In the Philippines, the use of Facebook has become an avenue not just for socialization but also, for political discourse. Being considered as one of the world’s top Facebook users, Facebook is used by individuals to serve as a platform to construct propaganda networks. Diehard Duterte Supporters (also known as the “DDS”) use this digital media platform to rally behind President Duterte, promote his achievements, and also, to defend him against criticisms. On the other hand, Jean Baudrillard believes that media plays a pivotal role in constituting a new realm of experience. Baudrillard’s central thesis is that the media serves as a key simulation machine that constitutes a hyperreality. In this paper, the researchers examined how political propagandas is conveyed by selected Die-hard Duterte Supporters (DDS) through Facebook. In light of Jean Baudrillard’s notion of hyperreality, the have elucidated the serious concerns regarding the proliferation of political propaganda in social media. As a result, the researchers claim that Facebook pages are used by the DDS as key simulation tools for framing the contents of their political propaganda to match their political objectives and it is therefore described as, “political framing”. Political framing of information and content is comparable to Baudrillard’s notion of simulation, wherein it involves a judicious process of creating political propaganda which involves filtering, recycling, editing information, selecting content and arguments that ultimately, blurs the distinction between the true information and disinformation, thus, creates hyperreality.