By Herman M. Lagon In a world fixated on the end result, the journey often gets overlooked. Yet, we genuinely evolve in the journey — the process of becoming. Carol S. Dweck’s “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success” champions this notion, suggesting that a fixed mindset limits growth by enforcing the idea that one …
Impulses
Wanted: Bold DepEd Secretary
By Herman M. Lagon The long foreseen departure of Sara Duterte as Education Secretary has left a significant gap in the Department of Education (DepEd). To address the learning crisis and lead the ailing department effectively, the next leader must embody the best qualities of former Secretary Raul S. Roco and Bro. Armin Luistro, …
Regulate, don’t ban gadgets in schools
By Herman M. Lagon This is a step backward. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian’s Electronic Gadget-Free Schools Act, while aiming to reduce distractions and improve academic performance, may inadvertently undermine the potential of using valuable technological tools in education. Instead of a ban addressing cell phones’ disruptive potential, why not embrace technology with appropriate regulations? This …
Contemplations on love, regret and life’s legacy
impulsBy Herman M. Lagon As we gathered quietly to mourn and remember Tita Pilar Parreno last Sunday night, I found myself jotting down notes on my phone, deeply reflecting on the intricate weave of our existence. The somber atmosphere of Tita Pilar’s wake in a funeral home in Tanza, Iloilo City, brought about 50 …
Papa: Where did the 2% go?
By Herman M. Lagon Father’s Day is upon us again, a time to reflect on the dads who shaped us, taught us and sometimes baffled us. For me, it is a moment to remember my father, the late Rosalio Fuentes Lagon — a short-story Sumakwelan poet, multiple-term barangay captain, labor union leader, and accounting …
Reclaiming independence
By Herman M. Lagon This June 12, we celebrate our 126th year of independence. But what precisely are we commemorating? Can we honestly claim to be free when poverty, corruption, injustice, and a host of other problems remain pervasive? Despite its complexity, my answer is a qualified yes. The Philippine Independence Day is nevertheless …
The gentle exit
By Herman M. Lagon Amidst the tumultuous passage from this life to the next, the subject of euthanasia arises as a moving discourse, intertwining intricate webs of moral, intellectual and individual stories. Thinking about a peaceful death through euthanasia questions our core beliefs and forces us to face the limits of human rights and dignity …
A belated salute to St. Ignatius Day
By Herman M. Lagon Their vivid colors and elaborate patterns distinguish particular threads. My 21 years of Ignatian formation at Ateneo de Iloilo have woven these threads into my life. Reflecting on this, I see how St. Ignatius of Loyola’s principles have profoundly influenced not only my life but also those of my daughters, …
The essence of epigrams
By Herman M. Lagon Epigrams are living testimony to the impact of brevity, humor and insight on language and expression. In only a few carefully selected words, these brief assertions capture intricate thoughts or observations; they are frequently hilarious or contradictory. From the classics to the social webs, epigrams have penetrated the every day to …
Near-yet-far love story of Agatha and Primos
By Herman M. Lagon Primos and Agatha, two spirits entangled in the complex dance of a paradoxical courtship, lived before us in a constant state of “static journey,” inching closer to one another without ever actually touching. Their love story was full of paradoxes, and like a “known mystery,” it was visible to everyone, yet …