Thoughts on being a better version of myself, helping people & organizations present better stories, and making the world a better place
In 2022, I lost ~20 pounds of weight, read 29 books, and moved out of my family's home. I hit some professional and financial goals, devoted time working on our non-profit organization, tried new things, and had the privilege to travel. I also found myself and lost myself - and learned that life will inevitably … Continue reading I Can Get There: 365 Days of Tiny Steps
And you get a head A head full of dreams You can see the change you want to Be what you want to be “A Head Full of Dreams” by Coldplay I grew up in a generation with a head full of dreams - dreams of peace and cohesion, sustainable development, and the power of … Continue reading GEN C: A Generation dreaming of Cohesion, struggling with Change
In the past months, I had the privilege of speaking in several youth leadership webinars. During these webinars, I usually talk about my experience leading a non-profit organization from when I was a teenager, the successes and failures I've had, and what I learned along the way. Lately, I noticed a trend. The most common … Continue reading Youth Leadership: Growing Slowly (and Compassionately) in a Pandemic
"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
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
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
I've always said that my feet step in two worlds. In one world, I inherited the Catholic heritage of my father, a native of Zamboanga, a former seminarian, and the person who had always reminded me to keep, in Chavacano, el temor de dios. Fear of God. In another world, I wear this hijab in … Continue reading Two Worlds: Growing Up Both Muslim and Catholic in the Philippines
In a world invaded by smartphones and laptops and screens, face a book or a notebook for a few hours. It might take a while but, eventually, the thoughts will come pouring. This is you, without the sharp pings of notifications. This is you, without the endless cycle of one Netflix show after another. This … Continue reading The Harder it Gets to Find Silence, the More Necessary it Will Be
(This article was originally published in the Youngblood column of the Philippine Daily Inquirer). It always started with Instagram. Exactly one year ago, I would be most likely lying on my side, phone in hand, scrolling through an endless stream of glitzy images and videos of models, celebrities and little furry pets on Instagram. Then, … Continue reading Every day is Day One
(This was originally posted on my Facebook account and had so unexpectedly gone viral, with currently 34,000 likes, 15,000 shares and a surprising feature on Rappler. Sharing it here to spark more conversations on quality Philippine movies.) Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral was frustrating. But you HAVE to watch it and be frustrated too. Let me explain. … Continue reading Unmasking (and learning from) Heneral Goyo
The Pursuit of Excellence 