Category: Opinion

FORTUNE, dream career, peace of mind, or whatever your ultimate life goal is, do you have what it takes to get them? Or rather, the real question: were you ever meant to achieve them?

THEY say that “laughter is the best medicine” — but in the Philippines, that laugh can sometimes become poison for those who are living with mental health issues, as they are ridiculed or shamed due to our “resilient culture.” While our generation has embraced the topic of mental health more openly, not all people are the same. A lot of Filipino families would think that if you decide to prioritize your emotional well-being, they would either say that you’re being too sensitive or that you’re not insane to consult any psychiatric professionals. In a country where mental health and therapy are still taboo, some resort to seeking help in artificial means, also known as AI.

“PITIK nang pitik, hindi naman ina-upload”— a remark thrown at THE BEDAN HERALD during one of our photo coverages on campus. It wasn’t the first time someone said that to the publication, and it probably won’t be the last. But here’s the truth: Photojournalism is not just “photography.” That’s the misconception.

They say leadership ends when the title is gone—but for me, leaving the newsroom is not the end of the mission. If anything, stepping away from the Editor-in-Chief’s desk has only clarified what I’ve always known: that student journalism was never just a role, it was a responsibility.

As we live in an era where fake news spreads six times faster than the truth, the journey to attaining it is a challenging one. With the current climate where politics thrives in the presence of misinformation, political propaganda, and the vloggers who tag themselves as members of the press, journalists find themselves in a position fighting for the truth.

HAVE you ever gone on TikTok during your nightly bedtime social media scroll and been bombarded with a barrage of video content that shows Filipinos going to different countries, holding multiple bags of designer brands, and eating out in BGC or Salcedo Village? And then you mentally think to yourself, ‘I wish that was me.’ Because yes, you wish that were you, and everyone else in the comments thinks so too. Multiple anonymous commenters from around the country also flex in said comment section, ‘The bill when we ate out at Wolfgang Steakhouse reached 250,000 pesos!’ or ‘My mom bought me 7 different labubus when we went to the Popmart Store!’ And that is exactly where this conversation begins.

“PROPAGANDAS I’m not falling for: Owalas, podcasts, 10-step skincare routine, pointless degrees, and Filipino time,” says in another video as I continue to doom scroll through TikTok. The word “propaganda” has been incorporated into a TikTok trend as a lighthearted list of a person’s dislikes; however, I fear that the trend has obscured the deeper meaning of the word.

IN a post-Duterte era where legacy is up for grabs, Bong Go might no longer just be a shadow of his former boss—but the main act in the making.

BEING part of the student publication is a huge responsibility, even more so as an editor. You are not just tasked with writing; you are voicing stories to the whole community. You act as the bridge between the students and the institution, ensuring that all voices, regardless of how few, are valued and loudly heard.

IN your mind, you’re an athlete, an award-winning musician, an actor, or even an idol. You have millions of admiring fans, your family is incredibly proud of you, and you have a loving, supportive, and loyal partner. A superstar. A hero. The one who is loved, admired, and simply unstoppable. But then the fantasy abruptly stops. You realize you’re lying in bed, your phone in hand, earphones in, and a TikTok edit of a celebrity playing repeatedly on your phone. How much time has passed? A couple of minutes? Perhaps hours? For some, it’s the entire day.