impuBy Herman M. Lagon Filipinos will never forget “Bayan Ko.” Its moving melody and lyrics inspire patriotism across generations. This powerful protest anthem was written by Jose Corazon de Jesus and composed by Constancio de Guzman during the Marcos dictatorship. Though revolutionary, its enthusiasm has faded, raising questions about the evolution of protest art …
Impulses
Beyond bullying
By Herman M. Lagon The recent Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) findings found widespread bullying. One in three Filipino students is bullied at least once a week, a statistic that has remained alarming for years now. Bullying is more common among boys and public school students. The effects on these students’ academic performance …
Heroes behind desks, against all odds
By Herman M. Lagon It is far too simple to point fingers in the complex debates over the country’s education condition. But if we pause and shift our gaze from the blame game to the beacons of hope within our schools, we find our dedicated, heroic and committed teachers. In addition to imparting knowledge, …
St. Iggy’s enduring legacy
By Herman M. Lagon Many, especially Ateneans and alumni of Jesuit schools, find consolation with St. Ignatius of Loyola, fondly known as “St. Iggy.” His life and teachings remain profoundly relevant today. Born in Spain in 1491, Ignatius had a promising career as a courtier and soldier. When a cannonball struck him — …
Future-proofing our careers
By Herman M. Lagon In late 2016, I was privileged to attend the World Educational Leadership Summit at the Kallang Theater in Singapore. Dr. Eric Mazur, the esteemed dean of the Physics Department at Harvard University, said these immortal words: “Failure to innovate is to become obsolete, irrelevant and useless.” As we think about the …
When hyperboles crown the fiesta queen
By Herman M. Lagon Hyperbole, by its nature, amplifies our expressions, making the mundane magnificent and the simple, spectacular. Here’s one for the books. Imagine a fiesta in Iloilo, where the atmosphere is “charged with excitement thicker than a bibingka’s sweet coconut topping.” The town plaza, usually as “quiet as a library,” transforms into a …
Letting go 3.0
By Herman M. Lagon As I sit here on the eve of my daughter Parvane Mae’s graduation from West Visayas State University – College of Medicine (WVSU-COM), a flood of mixed emotions engulfs me. It feels like I was guiding her through her first tentative steps only yesterday, and now I am on the …
Uniting to solve the education crisis
By Sonny Angara By the end of this month, a new school year will officially start. Using the numbers recorded last year for SY 2023-2024, we can reasonably expect that more or less 27 million learners will be enrolling in the basic education system this time around — 23.2 million in public schools, 3.7 million …
Supreme silence: Dynasties still unchecked
By Herman M. Lagon When the Supreme Court clarified on Friday, July 12, 2024, that it had not issued a ruling to compel Congress to pass an anti-dynasty law, it was not just a correction of misinformation. It was a reminder of a long-standing political issue that continues to elude resolution. SC spokesperson Camille Ting …
Revolutionizing classrooms thru ed-tech
By Herman M. Lagon Technology integration drives meaningful change in today’s fast-changing education system. The ongoing STEP 2024 Conference at Marist School Marikina underscores this transformation, highlighting how technology liberates educators and, in effect, empowers students. Professional development, teacher collaboration and the integration of advanced classroom technology enhance teacher capabilities, enrich learning and elevate …