I was shocked when I read in the student publication of our college an article about Philippine politics so similar to mine written and published in my highschool's magazine three years ago. The catch? It wasn't written by me, it was by a highschool batchmate. And she did so without telling me.

Her title, The One and Only Superstar: Politics is the exact title of my article. Only that mine was in Spanish, La Unica Superestrella: La Politica? She copied many lines from my article, word for word. Some, she rephrased and/ or added words. Sure, she added her own thoughts but you can see (read, rather) parts of MY article within HERS. And like I said, she did not even tell me she based hers on mine. Honestly, I don't know much about articles-becoming-properties-of-magazines stuff so I don't really know if I have the right to complain (not in court, of course. Just to my friends.) But what hurts me is the fact that I worked so hard on that article only to be copied by someone else. I made and remade several drafts just to make it at least decent enought to be read by 3, ooo or so schoolmates. And then this girl (who I went to highschool with!) copied/ edited it without letting me know she used it as inspiration/ reference/ whatever. And it horrifies me that she is the associate editor of our college's mag and she just copied a 16 year old's (who was only a staff writer for her highschool publication) essay?!?! ERGH!!!

...

Ok, I've calmed down a bit. Anyway, I put up copies of both articles (word for word, even the typos & grammatical errors, mind you) so you can judge them yourself. I highlighted in bold the statements we have in common in some way. Comments and violent reactions are greatly appreciated. Thanks.

MINE
HERS
Click on pic to zoom in.