By Dennis Gorecho The 21st Virgin Labfest (VLF) carried the theme “Hubo’t Hubad” with the aim of “stripping down all pretense of innocence while showcasing the bold Filipino voice and spirit.” VLF is known as the Philippines’ only festival dedicated to “untried, untested and unstaged one-act plays,” showcasing diverse voices that touch on complex human …
OPINION
Lead by examples, not orders
By Herman M. Lagon There is a moment in every workplace when people quietly decide whether to follow you or just comply with you. You rarely see it in formal meetings or written directives. It lives in the small moments — when pressure builds and you stay, or when it eases and you disappear; when …
Rise in ocean plastic pollution ‘unprecedented’ since 2005
Plastic pollution in the world’s oceans has reached “unprecedented levels” over the past 15 years, a study has found, calling for a legally binding international treaty to stop the harmful waste. Ocean plastic pollution is a persistent problem around the globe — animals may become entangled in larger pieces of plastic like fishing nets, or …
National Autism Program Bill
By Emmanuel Canto Two decades ago, my friend, a batchmate in high school, based in Thailand, had two wonderful kids. However, the sad thing about his story is that his children were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). They are now grown-up in their late 20s, but they are still under their mother’s care and …
We are light-bearers
By Fr. Roy Cimagala We have to be more aware of this great responsibility of ours if we are to be consistent with our Christian identity. We should not be shy or afraid to show our Christian identity to everyone. Let’s show it in such a way as to inspire others to follow and love …
Clamping down on bureaucratic red tape
By Sonny Angara Over the years, the country has done a lot to improve its internal processes as part of its efforts to bring in more investments. We continuously introduce new policies and pass new laws to support these efforts, specifically to streamline the procedures for doing business in the country. We constantly make public …
Where is Bato?
COME TO THINK OF IT By Ade S. Fajardo Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa stands accused before the International Criminal Court (ICC). The ICC warrant for Dela Rosa’s arrest was signed in November last year. It was made public only last May when he attended the Senate session to vote for Alan Peter Cayetano as …
The toxicity of smart-shaming
By Herman M. Lagon Smart-shaming has a way of slipping into places it should never be — in the corners of classrooms, in between jokes on a group chat, even inside faculty rooms. Over time, it has quietly turned spaces meant for learning into places of quiet humiliation. A student shares a thoughtful answer and …
Middle class becomes ‘quiet absorber’ as high prices, elevated interest rates squeeze households
The Philippine middle class is increasingly carrying the heaviest burden of the country’s “squeeze economy,” absorbing rising prices, elevated borrowing costs and slower economic growth while receiving little of the government assistance available to lower-income households. John Paolo Rivera, a senior economist at the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), said middle-income families have quietly …
The quiet cost of excellence
By Herman M. Lagon There is a kind of teacher you will not notice right away. No dramatic speeches in faculty meetings. No constant posting of accomplishments online. No habit of reminding everyone how busy they are. Yet when they are absent, something quietly collapses. Deadlines wobble. Coordination weakens. Someone eventually says, half-joking but not …