This is not about my love life or lack thereof. Rather, this is the story behind my biggest insecurity: my faith. All my life, I attended Catholic schools. My educational environment was conservative; I went to church every week with my parents, said grace before meals, and thanked the Almighty before going to bed. It […]
Imagine finally achieving your wildest dream. You’re in that moment; you hear people’s cheers, their claps, all while they congratulate you. They’re celebrating you and you see their smiles, feel their joy. You’ve attained success. I remember experiencing such when I was able to achieve my dream in college. When I was in my first […]
Last June 9, 22 Filipino fishermen nearly died at sea were it not for the kindness of a passing Vietnamese fishing vessel. The F/B Gem-Vir 1 of the Philippines sank due to the impact of a Chinese ship, with the latter reportedly fleeing the scene without helping the fishermen. The incident was declared as a […]
My whole life, I was convinced that it was only I who knew myself completely. All the necessary forms of conviction and affirmation came from my own words, my own thoughts. With this in mind, I expressed myself in ways that I thought were comfortable and most definitely real. However, there was a time when […]
Back when most of us were younger, we were taught that marriage was a union between a man and a woman. Today, this notion has been challenged several times already, especially now with the LGBTQ+ community pushing for the legalization of same-sex marriages across the globe. The Netherlands was the first country to allow same-sex […]
Recently, the news of mandatory ROTC or Reserve Officers’ Training Corps made rounds on social media. The bill was approved by the House of Representatives on May 20; however, the Senate’s version of the bill is still pending. The controversial bill would make military training under ROTC mandatory for all senior high school students in […]
It’s that time of the year again—as how it should be everyday—for the LGBTQ+ community to celebrate and parade their true colors. People of different races and ages gather together to walk side by side with their friends and loved ones who support and embrace the community. Pride marches are extravagantly filled with rainbow flags […]
When discussing the Philippine LGBTQ+ community and the sentiments toward them, a question usually raised is, “How accepting of the LGBTQ+ community is the Philippines?” The Philippines is considered as one of the most gay-friendly countries globally according to an article written by the Philippine Daily Inquirer in 2013. But just last year, a Social […]
They say that high school is the perfect time to find your identity. When I was in high school, I figured my desired career, I met my closest circle of friends, and I eventually found my passion—taking photos. High school is a training ground before going out into the real world. It offers ample opportunities […]
Being raised a Catholic mostly did me good. The parables, the gospel readings, and the verses I was made to be familiar with influenced my daily routines, my beliefs, even my way of dealing with people. Following them, I thought, would be the only thing I should ever do or care about. Back then, I […]