Earlier this year, I wrote about seven books which became close companions amid the lonely days of quarantine in Manila. To close my 2020 literary journey, I'd like to share about three more books which took me on a roller coaster ride of insights, emotions, and internal debates overlaid onto a similarly tumultuous year. I … Continue reading Van Gogh, Dune, and Lessons for the 21st Century
Reading Lolita in Quarantine
I've been reading voraciously this quarantine, almost as much as I did as a child. Many years ago, on rainy afternoons like today, I'd be slumped over our home's orange sofa, my head tilted towards the window beside it, rain pattering on our rooftop, an open book on my lap. The gentle sunlight from outside … Continue reading Reading Lolita in Quarantine
6 Make-or-Break Questions I Should’ve Asked Myself as a Student
"Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel." Socrates Schools will never be the same after COVID-19. For the first time, many educational institutions have to radically rethink the process of learning from the ground up. As we struggle with possibly extended periods of physical distancing and the inequalities in … Continue reading 6 Make-or-Break Questions I Should’ve Asked Myself as a Student
Why Aren’t People Convinced By Facts and Reason?
As the war against COVID-19 wages in hospitals, government offices, and empty streets, a different battle is being played out in the news, on social media, and in our minds and hearts. Early insights show that citizens in the US differed in how they would personally act on COVID-19 based on their political leaning, with … Continue reading Why Aren’t People Convinced By Facts and Reason?
A Tribute to Books in These Un-Book-Friendly Times
"Whenever you read a good book, somewhere in the world a door opens to allow in more light." Vera Nazarian It's not easy to read an actual book these days. Picture this: Wake up in the morning. Open book. Receive e-mail notification. Close book. Read e-mail. Respond. Open laptop. The work day starts. Break for … Continue reading A Tribute to Books in These Un-Book-Friendly Times
Meditating with Marcus: Lessons from Stoicism
I've made a very good friend in the past year or so. Through my ups and downs, he's become a companion, a mentor. I consult him when I fail. When I succeed, he gives his input to show me what could be next. He's taught me the practical value of philosophy and, now, a big … Continue reading Meditating with Marcus: Lessons from Stoicism
Work Hard, Speak Better: An Introduction to Good Public Speaking
At your age the best way you can improve yourself is to learn to communicate better. Your results in life will be magnified if you can communicate them better. The only diploma I hang in my office is the communications diploma I got from Dale Carnegie in 1952… Without good communication skills you won’t be … Continue reading Work Hard, Speak Better: An Introduction to Good Public Speaking
Don’t Be Afraid of Pain
Ingenium mala saepe movent "Difficulty is what wakes up the genius." - Ovid I've been going to the gym for nearly 2 years now. In the first year, I stuck to relatively easy cardio routines - walking and running on the treadmill, stationary biking, the elliptical. I had a good channel to relieve stress, but … Continue reading Don’t Be Afraid of Pain
To Make the Most Out of School, Focus Less on Grades and More on Making New Stuff
Recently, I was invited to speak in front of a national assembly of teachers on a daunting topic. The question given was: "Schools want to prepare future-ready learners who can build the future they want, and yet there is a disconnect in terms of what it means and how to really empower students to do … Continue reading To Make the Most Out of School, Focus Less on Grades and More on Making New Stuff
Perception, Reality and Cohesive Societies
I read an article many years ago that mentioned the stereotype of the Filipino maid in Singapore. The article started with, "One of Singapore's most popular comic characters happens to be a Filipino maid called Leticia Bongnino." I mulled this strange thought as I sat across the President of Singapore, Halimah Yacob, for dinner. If … Continue reading Perception, Reality and Cohesive Societies