My childhood was filled with all sorts of off-the-wall adventures, but amidst all the chaos, there was one constant: my father and his rituals. At the tender age of four, I learned the art of “pikyaw” with my neighbors, earning a two-inch scar on my knee in the process. I was
September 4, 2024
Complicated and deeply ingrained with historical grievances, cultural tensions, and geopolitical complexity is the Israel-Hamas war. With each side firmly rooted in its own stories of justice, survival, and resistance, the present circumstances mark decades of conflict. The difficulty is seeing an end to this war that respects Israel’s security needs
September 2, 2024
To be clear, this is not an article about the controversial Ungka flyover that has been making waves in Iloilo City. Although that building may be sinking in places it should not be, the real problem is much more severe: literally sinking this thriving city every year. In a study on
August 31, 2024
We gather in August to honor “Buwan ng Wika,” a month-long celebration of our native language, Filipino. It may be time, though, to rethink the extent of this festival. Why not make it “Buwan ng Mga Wikang Filipino?” This significant shift could influence our respect for language in the nation and
August 30, 2024
“What would Jesus do?” is a question that many of us ponder when faced with a difficult moral choice. This question is simple but deep, and it makes you think about what you can do, anchored on what is right, just, sound, and beautiful. But what happens when the self-proclaimed “Appointed
August 29, 2024
Being an ASEAN citizen now is like having two passports: one for access to our local identity and another for the great worldwide community. Developing a global perspective in a world where geography is progressively blurred by technology, economy, and culture is essential. This is a need for survival in our
August 28, 2024
By Herman M. Lagon It is easy to ignore the quiet acts of bravery around us in a society where heroes are sometimes portrayed as caped crusaders with superhuman abilities. The truth is that daily small, consistent acts of courage, integrity, and service define heroism rather than only exceptional ability or grand gestures. As we
August 26, 2024
In a world where a cup of coffee might cost more than an entire day’s meal under the National Economic and Development Authority’s (NEDA) recent poverty threshold, one can’t help but wonder how detached such calculations are from the real lives of millions of Filipinos. The announcement that spending P64 per
August 24, 2024
With stops in Hiroshima and Tokyo, my recent trip to Japan provided a fascinating window into a civilization that skillfully combines the old with the ultramodern in ways that are as inspirational as they are humbling. As soon as I got off the airport, I noticed how precisely and orderly every
August 23, 2024
In the labyrinth of politics, where power often blinds and corrupts, the line between true friendship and opportunistic alliance can blur. Recent events surrounding the latest Senate hullabaloo have brought to the fore a phenomenon that is as old as politics itself: the pretending. Such a “kaibigan” might wrap themselves in
August 22, 2024
In a nation where memories might be as fleeting as the monsoon rains, August 21, 1983, still holds great emotional resonance for many Filipinos. This day saw the beginning of a movement aiming at recovering truth, justice, and freedom from a dictatorship’s iron grip rather than only a man’s terrible end.
August 21, 2024
From its inception, the K–12 Philippine education has been hotly contested. Originally launched in 2013 to match national educational standards with international norms, the K–12 program—especially its Mathematics curriculum—has been hailed for its ambition and attacked for its execution. A conversation inspired this article with my Problem Solving, Mathematical Investigation, and
August 19, 2024