Traveling Heart

We have been watching Clarkson’s Farm, a reality TV series, and it really made me realize that government, wherever they may be, can either help or burden its citizens. Did you know that in the UK, the government pays farmers roughly ₱59,000 (£798) per hectare, every single year, just to plant wildflowers on the edges of their fields? It sounds crazy at first. Why would a government pay…

You’ve seen him before — Thrifted clothes. Wired earphones. A canvas tote bag with a feminist book peeking out. Maybe he’s sipping a matcha latte while quoting bell hooks on Instagram. Yep—that’s the so-called performative male. He’s become a kind of modern archetype: the guy whose carefully curated vibe screams progressive, artsy, and emotionally aware. His playlists are filled with indie…

They say it takes a village to raise a child. And it’s true—because children don’t form their character only within their home. They are shaped by the people they meet, the community they grow in, and the values they see lived out around them. In ancient Filipino culture, this was at the heart of who we were. Families were part of a larger barangay, where raising children was never just the…

The Avocado Tree and the Unseen Line: When Morality Hits Home There’s a Filipino saying that goes, “Ang punong hitik sa bunga, pinupukol.” It means, “A tree laden with fruit gets stones thrown at it.” It speaks to the idea that success or abundance often attracts criticism or envy. I’ve heard it countless times. However, I never thought I’d see it play out so literally. It happened right in…

My Home Office setup I’ve been thinking a lot lately. About life. About work.I’m not sure if this is what they call a midlife crisis, but something’s definitely been stirring.I look at everything I’m doing and wonder: Am I being paid fairly for all this?Am I really where I’m supposed to be? So I made a list — my passions. Writing. Photography. The things that light me up.Then I asked myself:…

We often hear that love is all you need. Those three words are certainly powerful. But, they only tell a fraction of the story. If you’ve been in a relationship for any length of time, you understand it requires more effort. You know that to truly make it last and flourish. While love is definitely essential, relationships truly thrive on patience and endurance. Think about it. Life throws…

I found a leadership style called “egalitarian leadership,” which I believe is ideal. However, implementing it may be difficult due to the Philippines’ strong socioeconomic inequality and ongoing political dynasties. Additionally, the country’s regional, linguistic, and cultural differences make governance more complex. Is there such a thing as a perfect government? This question has been on my…

The study of Filipino electoral behavior is intriguing because it intersects cultural values, historical patterns, and contemporary political dynamics. While observing Philippine democracy as a regular Filipino citizen, I have noticed several distinct aspects of how Filipinos vote. Personality-Based Politics Perhaps the most defining feature of Filipino voting behavior is the strong preference…

A sunlit view from my window. When the pandemic settles down and things are going back to “normal,” living in the city and working remotely might sound like total freedom—and don’t get me wrong, it definitely has its perks. But strangely enough, I found myself moving faster than ever.  Between back-to-back Zoom meetings, the city that’s starting to buzz again, and trying to squeeze in some…

It all started during the pandemic—a time when the world came to an unexpected halt. Like many others, I was forced to slow down. The rush of city life, the constant noise, the pressure to always be doing something—it all faded into the background. At first, the stillness was unfamiliar and even a little unsettling. But over time, I began to discover a quiet kind of richness in the…

Last night, we watched the series Adolescence, and I found it deeply unsettling. It’s a social commentary on how social media has contributed to the decline of a generation that is insecure, having low emotional intelligence, and with an insatiable need for validation. Unfortunately, this trend shows no signs of slowing down, and I fear for the future. The series follows the story of a teenager…