Ang mga ilaw na hindi pwedeng mapundi (The lights that must not burn out) We cannot teach or demand excellence from others (in my context, demanding excellence from my students) without discussing responsibilities. In a way, staying mediocre is more convenient because it means less responsibilities. It’s also less risk in terms of avoiding burning […]
On emotions, peace, and boredom The highest form of worship for Catholics, which is the Holy Mass, is less about heightened senses and more about inviting peace. Isn’t this contrary to what we expect of rituals – the heightened emotions, spectacle, and the celebrations? When I was young, I conflated peace with boredom. But going […]
A tangible and literal unconditional love Please pardon the imagery if this is sensitive for you. Witnessing my wife breastfeed my son and learning how a mom’s breastmilk can adapt its nutrients based on the needs of the child is nothing short of amazing. I would even go as far as saying that it is […]
Authentic and whole If we do not know who we are and who we ought to be, we cannot fully devote ourselves to a cause or to a mission. In the greater scheme of things, what matters is less about the number of times we serve and more about how much of ourselves do we […]
Where does insight come from? We must pay attention to our experiences, for these can trigger questions for reflections. The formation of insight indeed happens inside us, not outside us. When we gain information from others, it is simply a transfer of knowledge. But when the information or experience resonates with us, we allow insights […]
“In love” and “loving” Being “in love” depicts being in a state of feeling, while “loving” depicts an action born out of both feeling and acting. Oftentimes, I hear stories about people searching for the former rather than the latter. “I want to feel in love” versus “I want to learn how to love”. Doing […]
Living with Having a family of my own while also being part of a bigger family (and community) punctuates how essential it is to live with others. Even as an introvert, I find that there is strength and inspiration in being able to live with people we love. Indeed, as we truly live with each […]
When we are players in a game we don’t want to play Sometimes, we can find ourselves reluctant participants in figurative “games” others may instigate. These “games” may refer to the complex interactions, power dynamics, or strategies people use in various spheres of life. Although our initial inclination might be to avoid these confrontations, certain […]
Subtle greed is insidious When I was an undergraduate student, during my frosh year, I was guilty of an insidious mindset. I thought that the best way was to have the least amount of effort for the highest amount of grade. Positively, this could be framed as “working smart”. But negatively, with hindsight, I’d frame […]
On believing, reflecting, and insighting When we read the words “I believe”, it seems like an easy phrase to utter and an easy act to perform. However, these words carry much weight. Beliefs are the accumulation of external influences and our internal conditions – in other words, beliefs should be the accumulation of our insights. […]