By Herman M. Lagon We face a critical choice in a country where jeepneys roll through streets of joys and struggles. The midterm elections are not just about choosing leaders — they are about remembering those silenced by Duterte’s deadly drug war. These were not just numbers; they were children, parents and friends taken by a …
Impulses
Pope Francis’ legacy in every breath
By Herman M. Lagon In Rome, Pope Francis — loved for his gentle heart and bubbly smile — is fighting a serious health battle as of this writing. Prayers flood in, and the world reflects not only on his frailty but also on the legacy he leaves behind — one that transformed the Catholic Church’s …
The principal shortage crisis
By Herman M. Lagon In our country, where education drives social progress, public schools should have strong leaders guiding the next generation. Unfortunately, recent data from the Second Congressional Commission on Education (Edcom 2) shows otherwise. More than half of public schools lack principals, a central administrative issue that hinders education. Let us put it …
When fake news strikes
By Herman M. Lagon It was a typical morning, scrolling through updates, easing into the day, when a post stopped me cold. The announcement seemed official, bearing the name of a page titled “Jesuits (Society of Jesus),” and it broke the kind of news that strikes deep for someone who holds faith close: “With profound …
Unmasking martial law
By Herman M. Lagon February commemorates the Evelio Javier assassination (February 11) and the People Power Revolution (February 26 to 25), which changed Filipino history. Many rebelled against Marcos after Javier’s 1983 assassination. The People Power Revolution ended Ferdinand Marcos, Sr.’s rule in February 1986 by showing unity power. The years of martial law and …
CEAP stands tall for EDSA
By Herman M. Lagon History is not neutral, nor is it an abstract record of the past. It shapes the present, informs the future, and, when manipulated, distorts a nation’s identity. The Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) understands this deeply, which is why its firm stand on commemorating the 1986 EDSA People Power …
Salute to schools that keep EDSA alive!
By Herman M. Lagon It takes more than just remembering a date on the calendar to uphold the spirit of the EDSA People Power Revolution. This is why we must salute the schools that suspended classes on February 25, defying the government’s downgrade of the occasion. Their decision is more than symbolic — it upholds …
Justice for small fishers!
By Herman M. Lagon Millions of small-scale fishers depend on municipal waters. Therefore, the controversy over whether commercial fishing vessels should be allowed is more than a policy issue. The Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST) and the University of the Philippines-Visayas support the law prohibiting commercial fishing in municipal waterways. While …
PhilHealth in code red
By Herman M. Lagon It is almost funny how politics, slowness and bureaucracy can hold health care, a human right, hostage. PhilHealth, the state health insurer, is again in critical condition and awaiting surgery. The new leader must rehabilitate, reclaim public trust and make universal health care a reality, not an empty promise. An entity …
The literacy lag
By Herman M. Lagon The country’s landscape of reading comprehension and writing skills mirrors a quiet crisis woven with silent struggles that too many students experience daily. In 2022, the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) underscored this crisis, revealing that Filipino students ranked among the lowest globally in creative thinking, which is intertwined with …