Category: Opinion

“Kintsugi” the Japanese art of mending broken pottery with powdered gold, silver, or platinum treats flaws as part of character, not as ruins. Yet, in a society that pushes the idea that the right path is something linear, we are conditioned to believe that every journey must have a definitive finish line. If something is left unfinished, altered, or redirected, it is easily valued less. But in Kintsugi, the golden lacquer mending pottery is not used to disguise its brokenness. Instead, it highlights it, drawing attention to the underlying growth in its shift of direction.

MISOGYNY used to be blunt, harsh, and explicit—demanding women to stay in the kitchen, submit to men, and limit their ambitions to homemaking. In today’s generation, it has simply been rebranded.

The government’s proposal to have more control over social media to fight against misinformation is not only about having false information removed. It is about deciding who has power over truth. The bill seeks to counter the harmful disinformation online to spread, however it also grants the government control over digital speech, raising concerns in regards of censorship, accountability and the freedom of expression in the Philippines.

In a society where
investment thrives above quality, artistic direction is spurned, especially in a society where
attention, shortened and curated by media, is weaponized by those who value capital over
experience.

“MAHAL ang magmahal,” is a common notion passed around on social media these days. It reminds the viewers of the value of love, what it asks of a person, what is expected of them, and what it takes to be committed. Truly, loving is expensive. It is mentally, physically, emotionally, and financially taxing. And this same idea is echoed in loving the Philippines – ang ating perlas ng silanganan – it requires and asks a lot from everyone who tries.

FOR years, students are taught that education is the key to a better future. They are encouraged to study hard, earn good grades and obtain a college degree because it would be the foundation of a successful career. Many spend four or more years sacrificing time, sleep and personal opportunities in pursuit of that goal. The robe, cap and tassel are often considered as the reward for those sacrifices and the beginning of a professional career.

THE rising cases of school violence in the Philippines have forced the country to confront a reality it has long believed was confined to foreign headlines. Parents were distraught, and communities were shaken as they believed that such violence was unimaginable from the students of the Philippine education.

IN these times of crisis and multiple disputes of what is true or false, only one stands tall: Journalism. While opinions or statements from different figures spread like wildfire, journalism is present and resolved with its purpose—to seek and report the truth to the people. Despite people’s remarks that some news outlets have their own political agenda, journalism remains unbiased and fair, no matter how the current politics ridicules Filipinos.

THERE are moments in school where some people start acting like being “ahead” makes them better. It can come from higher batches or even from those holding higher positions.

Subtle neglect and ignorance can be just as damaging as intentional cruelty. Many will brush it off, but ignorance is an enabler, and omission makes issues thrive. When it comes to animal welfare, many are indifferent or even deliberately disregard these damaging acts, a mindset of apathy that quietly sustains cruelty. To truly protect and conserve animals, we must recognise and confront harmful patterns in society as well as ourselves, even if it means accepting that we may be contributing to these harmful acts by not contributing at all. Perhaps it’s time to ask whether we are truly part of the problem.