By Dennis Gorecho “Makibaka. Huwag matakot!” — a graffiti scene from the musical “Silver Lining Redux” that depicted the long history of student radical activism in the University of the Philippines (UP). Initially staged in 2023, the musical tells the story of three high school friends Leo, Anton and Raul, as they navigate the highs …
OPINION
Greatness defined
By Herman M. Lagon Basketball’s Greatest of All Time controversy frequently erupts over who merits the moniker. One name always seems to come up, whether in online forums, contentious conversations at sports bars or family dinners: Michael Jeffrey Jordan. Furthermore, this belief is not just fueled by bias or nostalgia from older fans. Not only …
An alarming increase in teenage pregnancies
By Sonny Angara A recent Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) report showed an alarming increase in girls getting pregnant during their formative years. The data indicates that births to mothers aged 10 to 14 years old have increased every year since 2016 even while the overall birth rate among all adolescents has gone down. According to the …
‘Where I’m coming from’
By Fr. Roy Cimagala That’s the usual line many people use when they want to justify their reaction and even their attitude and behavior of anger, if not of hatred or despair, toward a certain person or event. They usually say that they were mistreated, misunderstood or prejudged, etc., and so they feel they are entitled …
Problems that will go away when Sara assumes the presidency
By Ade S. Fajardo The other day, the Vice President reversed herself and said her threats against the President and his family are not real. It is more like “revenge from the grave.” Was she trying to dodge prosecution for grave threats, at the very least? She added that she could think of no benefit to …
The ‘tatsulok’ of inequality
By Herman M. Lagon Rom Dongeto’s “Tatsulok” was performed by Buklod in the late 1980s, Bamboo in the 2000s, and Ben&Ben in the 2020s. This song’s timeless appeal is due to its powerful message and cross-era appeal. “Tatsulok” criticizes the socio-political pyramid, in which the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, which is …
Bonifacio’s activism lives!
By Herman M. Lagon Every country has a hero whose life has a lasting impact that spans centuries and connects the past and present with unwavering courage and moral convictions. One such person who stands tall is Gat Andres Bonifacio, a revolutionary whose spirit lives on 161 years after his birth. Even though the nature …
Advent gives us a new beginning
By Fr. Roy Cimagala It’s the season of Advent again and with it, we make another beginning of the liturgical year. If we truly understand the significance of the liturgy in our life, we know that we really should prepare ourselves seriously for this new beginning, having it clear in our mind what the ultimate …
Transformation of NBP
By Ignacio R. Bunye The proposed conversion of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) Reservation in Muntinlupa City into the “BuCor Global City” presents an extraordinary opportunity for development and modernization. However, this ambitious plan must prioritize the well-being and interests of the local community it will significantly impact. As emphasized by Councilor Atty. Raul Corro, …
The NAT trap
By Herman M. Lagon The sorry state of external assessments in basic education — like the National Achievement Test (NAT) — is a story that needs to be told. For years, we have relied on such exams to gauge the learning outcomes of millions of Filipino students. Yet, as journalist and education advocate Estanislao C. …