She was only twelve. Not a movie plot or a viral headline—just an actual case from the Iloilo City Civil Registry. That child, still learning to navigate her own growing up, gave birth while most of her peers were worrying about assignments and TikTok dances. She is one of nearly 300
August 26, 2025
In the quiet corridors of the old Iloilo Airport, before it was demolished and became Iloilo Business Park in Mandurriao, one used to pass a massive wall with no advertising slogan, no commercial promo—just a list. But not just any list. It was a proud litany of “firsts” that seemed too
August 25, 2025
This Monday, August 25, we mark National Heroes Day once again. It is a date thick with reflection—on revolutions fought, sacrifices made, and the courage required to stand for something greater than oneself. Just last week, we remembered the martyrdom of Ninoy Aquino. Not too long ago, we honored the OFWs,
August 25, 2025
A simple trip to the restroom in Iloilo turned complicated when a transgender woman was stopped at Marymart. In seconds, a simple trip to the restroom turned into a viral flashpoint. Phones came out, videos spread, and netizens quickly chose sides. Soon the age-old question was back on the table: whose
August 22, 2025
There are moments in history when a person shows up not as the perfect hero, but simply as the right person in the right place at the right time. On August 21, 1983, Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. stepped off a plane knowing the risks, armed with nothing but conviction and a
August 21, 2025
We have always known how to laugh in the face of hardship. From the streets of Quiapo to small-town plazas, humor has never been just pastime; it has been survival and protest rolled into one. That is why the uproar over Vice Ganda’s “jet ski holiday” skit feels exaggerated—and frankly, ironic.
August 20, 2025
Some jobs are so woven into community life that we hardly notice them—until a crisis hits. Across the country’s barangays, Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) are the neighbors you know—dropping by to check your blood pressure, bring vitamins, or remind you about the kids’ vaccines. In my recent presentation at the International
August 19, 2025
Fifty is a curious number. Some dread it, as if crossing into half a century means losing relevance, energy, or purpose. Others celebrate it, clinging to the cliché of the “fabulous fifties” as if youth can be stretched with collagen, vitamins, or Zumba classes. For me, fifty is simply a pause
August 18, 2025
Love does not always follow the rules—or the calendar. In a world obsessed with timelines and age-appropriate milestones, May-December romances often catch people by surprise. These are the relationships where one partner is significantly older than the other, and in our culture, they often raise more eyebrows than wine glasses. But
August 17, 2025
I was not supposed to be in Room B. My colleagues were in Room C for their panel, while I wandered the Metrocentre Hotel’s busy hall on the second day of ISSHCON 2025. Amid the Boholano warmth and the clink of coffee cups, I spotted a half-open door. Curiosity made me
August 16, 2025
Some of the smartest people I know today are not the ones who can recite thick textbooks or flash the most medals, but those who can ask the right question at the right time—especially to a machine. In classrooms, boardrooms, and barangay halls, “prompting” has quietly become a new kind of
August 15, 2025
