Youth

Should drug tests be part of the enrollment process?

QUEZON City, Philippines (July 12) – We know that one of the reasons why crime is rampant in our country is the equally rampant use of illegal drugs. To save the youth from the “dark side” and therefore arrest the increase in the number of drug-induced crimes in the country, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) announced the possibility of putting in place drug tests in every university and college. Aside from proposing to require […]

How do we grade our teachers?

QUEZON City. Philippines  (July 10) -Teachers. They are touted as our second parents. Teachers have a significant effect on one’s future. That’s the reason why teacher education is one of the most in-demand courses in the Philippines. Unfortunately, most schools that offers this kind of program are not performing well in the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET). A recent study by a non-governmental organization (NGO), Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) revealed that, for the last […]

Academic year in the Philippines: Should we change it or not?

QUEZON City, Philippines (June 30) – The Philippines has been using the June-April academic calendar for as long as history can recall. Rizal, for instance, first entered college in June 16, 1875. For the Filipino student, it has become a habit to enter school in the first week of June and to end it before the dry season starts. This age-old tradition may end soon, as some universities are beginning to change the usual calendar […]

Too much nationalism – is there such a thing?

QUEZON City, Philippines (June 28) – Nationalism can translate to positive feelings, ideas and efforts for your nation. Nationalism is needed to make a nation great so it is  generally a good thing. But like all good things, when taken a bit too far, nationalism can be bad.  There is such a thing as too much nationalism. On the one hand, we must protect our nation and our people. On the other, it should not be […]

Freedom of speech does not mean you can say anything you want

QUEZON City, Philippines (June 27) – Freedom of speech is the right of the people to express their opinions publicly without government interference, subject to the laws against libel, incitement to violence or rebellion, and others. But the question is: Do we really have freedom of speech or is it just an illusion? Freedom of speech is one of the most misunderstood concepts in the world. It is often misunderstood due to people’s many and varied […]

Should we lower the age of criminal liability?

QUEZON City, Philippines (June 16) – The subject of mixed opinions and sparking much debate, the issue of the government’s proposition to lower the age of criminal liability in the Philippines from 15 years old to 9 years old is one of the most important proposals by the Duterte administration. Basically, the question boils down to: “Should kids as young as 9 years old be held accountable for their actions?” Many parents would agree that their child […]

Mind over poverty

QUEZON City, Philippines (June 14) – Half of Filipinos, or 50 percent, consider themselves poor, according to the results of a new Social Weather Stations survey. If we do not have a sufficient amount needed to fulfill our dreams or even manage our daily needs, we consider ourselves poor. Why? A person can be poor not only because he or she has no money. A person can be poor not only because he or she is not able […]

Social media vs interpersonal communication

QUEZON City, Philippines (June 13) – Interpersonal communication is constantly evolving.  As schedules grow more hectic, many interpersonal interactions are now done with the use of social media.   Although face-to-face interactions will never really go away, social media has greatly affected how we communicate, share and connect. In the age of technology, one is no longer required to be in the same room or even in the same country with the person they are […]

Harassment, compliment and the thin line between

QUEZON City, Philippines – A recent study revealed that women across the world feel unsafe when taking public transport and walking around the city because sexual harassment in public has already became an everyday occurrence. While some cities here in the metro take a tougher stand against sexual harassment, sadly the number of incidents remain high. The SWS survey conducted last February 2016 showed that there are still men out there who have problems controlling their urges. […]

Free higher education, is it possible?

QUEZON City, Philippines – Should every Filipino have a right to higher education?  Should higher education be free? If ever free college education becomes possible, it should be given without regard for the student’s financial background.   Why? Because everyone deserves an opportunity to have a college education. An opportunity to become whatever they dream to be. College education is a necessity in today’s society because without a college degree, it would be very hard to get […]

New media and the increasing violence in our society

QUEZON City, Philippines – It is a sad fact that violence continues to increase in our society. And one of the major factors causing that increase is the development of new technology and with it, new ways of communication. New technology gave birth to new forms of mass media, which in turn radically change how we receive and perceive information. New media is the term used to refer to vehicles that allow us to receive information […]

Ed Sheeran to hold concert in Manila in November

(Eagle News) — Ed Sheeran is coming to Manila. The singer announced he would hold a concert there on November 7. Manila was among nine cities the singer added in his Asian tour in October and November. The other eight were Taipei (Oct. 22), Osaka (Oct. 25), Seoul (TBA), Tokyo (Oct. 31), Hong Kong (Nov. 4, 5), Jakarta (TBA), Bangkok (Nov. 16) and Mumbai (Nov. 19). The singer had originally announced concert dates in Singapore (Nov. […]