The weighted mean of us, 1
IT WAS one of those conversations that only old friends can have—casual enough to begin anywhere, yet deep enough to end somewhere unexpected.
The friend...
Journalism beyond likes and shares
ONE OF the most dangerous sentences in our time sounds harmless enough: "I saw it on social media." It is usually said with confidence,...
UP and us
THERE is something oddly predictable about how people talk about the University of the Philippines (UP) online. The moment students protest, question government policy,...
Beyond ‘bobotante’, 2
A 2021 Rappler investigation documented how coordinated networks amplified false narratives during elections. Meanwhile, researchers like Cialdini (2022) have shown how repeated exposure inside...
Beyond ‘bobotante’, 1
A FEW months ago, I posted a question online that sounded half-sarcastic, half-exhausted:
“What do you call a person who, after everything is said...
Habits that make great leaders
YOU MIGHT not spot them right away. They are rarely the ones in tailored suits or hogging the mic. In a world loud with...
Brave, not brutal, tone
THESE days, being genuinely honest can feel like a quiet act of courage. In a time when most people sugarcoat or sidestep hard conversations,...
Einstein’s wit, our woes
ALBERT Einstein once said, “Two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe.” That this joke is...
No student should walk alone
EVERY TEACHER knows the student. The one who suddenly becomes unusually quiet. The one who stops joining classmates during recess. The one whose grades...
Brownouts, excuses, and accountability
THERE is a peculiar routine that comes with a brownout in Iloilo. The electric fan stops. The Wi-Fi disappears. Someone checks the utility advisory...