Impulses

By Herman M. Lagon Just as “Kaos” is starting to gather steam, Netflix has canceled it; it seems as though Zeus himself knocked down something holy before it could peak. Drawn to its clever, chaotic interpretation of Greek mythology, fans hung about and demanded more. Netflix pulled the plug despite critical acclaim and a strong …

By Herman M. Lagon It is almost instinctive for people to view promotions as rewards for hard work and competence. One works tirelessly, masters the responsibilities of a position, and is rewarded with the golden ticket — advancement to the next level. Yet, this upward mobility often leads not to continued excellence but to eventual …

By Herman M. Lagon There is something gut-wrenching in listening to a teen struggle through reading aloud one sentence of a textbook. It is not so much the question of being off in syllables or of violating the rules of punctuation — it is the moment of silence, the heavy-with-embarrassment classroom, and the silent looking …

By Herman M. Lagon Some victories are quiet. A midwife from a state college opens a birthing center in the mountains. A student from Samar borrows a neighbor’s phone for online classes and finally passes the board. A public university secures clean water for its drought-hit town. These moments rarely go viral. They are not …

By Herman M. Lagon It is shocking and heart-wrenching: A government office with barely a dozen in a high-tech air-conditioned boardroom, just blocks from a public school where students sit elbow-to-elbow, some writing on laps, others pinched next to the door — or worse, learning from a shade tree. This is not unusual. It is …

By Herman M. Lagon Walk into any classroom or office and the air will likely hum with a familiar tune: “Good morning, Ma’am!” “Magandang araw po, Sir!” These greetings are not just protocol; they are instinct. We say them without thinking, like second nature passed down through generations. Our words bow before our bodies do. …

By Herman M. Lagon There are films that entertain, and there are films that stay with you even after you have seen the end credits. Tyler Perry’s “Straw” belongs to the latter. It is not a film that demands applause for its polish or restraint. It is a cry. It is unfiltered. It is, in …

By Herman M. Lagon In today’s fast-changing classrooms, especially when it comes to math, digital tools are no longer a luxury — they’re becoming a real necessity. For many Filipino students who see math as something to fear, technology might just be the helping hand they need. One tool that’s been making a noticeable difference …

By Herman M. Lagon Filipinos have this quietly beautiful way of showing love — not always with big words, but with small, thoughtful acts. One of the most tender examples of this? The balikbayan box. At first glance, it might look like just a cardboard container wrapped in duct tape. But anyone who’s ever received …

By Herman M. Lagon You don’t need to be in a warzone to feel how close you are to something the planet will regret. These days, it feels like pain is everywhere. Somewhere, a war rages. Somewhere else, families are picking up what’s left or waiting for the next hit. The names change, but the …