Second Look msanchez@theguidon.com With the regular season well under way, the fact that the NBA has just come from a work stoppage isn’t something I think of when I watch the games. I’m just happy basketball is back. The provisions of the new National Basketball Association (NBA)’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA) reset its economic system [...]
La Vie En Rose pguballa@theguidon.com When I was much younger, my vision to become a doctor was pretty one-dimensional. I wanted nothing more than to grow up to become that powerful woman in a white coat, who would make people feel better when they were sick with medicine and bandages. I’d work in my clinic [...]
Cross-clarity agarcia@theguidon.com What is the similarity between 17th century coffeehouses in England and the Internet? Both are places that can be regarded as realms of social interaction where citizens come together to discuss and deliberate their thoughts on current issues. German social theorist Jürgen Habermas popularized the term “public sphere,” wherein public opinion in these [...]
Post-Nothing jjurado@theguidon.com From a global perspective, the tech industry is where most of the creativity is concentrated, where innovative ideas merge to create new and exciting products, where young adult geniuses retire early and live off stock options and dividends. George Hotz, known online as “geohotz,” was hired by Facebook at 21 after “jailbreaking” Apple’s [...]
Allons-y! ctantengco@theguidon.com The topic of plastic surgery is a divisive one—so divisive, in fact, that Filipinos seem to grow split personalities in terms of our reactions to it. On one hand, we don’t complain when celebrities thank their cosmetic surgeons on television, nor do we seem to have a problem with the billboards declaring “Belo [...]
The Other Side jigual@theguidon.com Behind a sprawling metropolis lies a city that is nothing more than a shadow of its former glory. Once a bustling city that was a melting pot of different cultures from all over the world with irreplaceable cultural landmarks, classical architecture and historical treasures, Manila is now a city that has [...]
Second Look msanchez@theguidon.com For today’s Filipino, Christmas is a season of two faces: on one hand, the traditional customs of simbang gabi, noche buena, and media noche, accented with ensaymada and hamon, and on the other hand, the more “commercialized” Christmas of decked halls, crazy shopping sprees at the mall and a break from all [...]
Point Blank laquino@theguidon.com The fossilization of our national hero in ubiquitous one-peso coins has led most Filipinos to an exceedingly dull acquaintance with Dr. Jose Rizal. Even so, the people he died for continue to find so many different occasions where they can brandish his name in memoriam. In fact, his name and picture have [...]
Vox Populi ksantiago@theguidon.com The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) stated in a report released a year ago that almost 50% of the country’s working students do not get to finish college. The factors that are believed to have contributed to this statistic include poor health, difficulty in coping with studies and the lack of financial [...]
Logique du Coeur mgarcia@theguidon.com Christmas is one of the most celebrated holidays in the country. More than the pretty lights, colorful displays and presents in fancy packaging, society encourages us to make the season more meaningful by doing something “good.” Whether through grand gestures or a humble thank you, we are taught to express gratitude [...]
Nothing Fancy kfrancisco@theguidon.com They say the quality of education’s been going down for the past couple of years, but maybe the analysts have got it wrong. Immediately after Pacquiao’s controversial boxing victory and while the Arroyos’ flight attempt unfolded, millions of Filipinos have suddenly become boxing analysts and legal experts—sometimes, even both. A cacophony of [...]
The Other Side jigual@theguidon.com I paid 2,000 pesos to watch the Philippine Azkals play against the Los Angeles Galaxy on December 3. I am the 1%. Much has been said about the game—but more about the exorbitant ticket prices. For 2,000 pesos, you get to sit behind the goal and be vulnerable to rain. Add [...]
The Blind Side alim@theguidon.com “I am a BlackBerry person,” the US Secretary of State said. Amidst BlackBerry’s fall in shares to other players in the smartphone industry, the Canada-based company should pay Hillary Clinton for publicly endorsing them. Perhaps, had I tweeted that at the time, my message would find its way to the company’s [...]
Vox Populi ksantiago@theguidon.com The familiar smell of Punjabi cuisine that clouded the air of New Delhi was what greeted me upon my arrival. Although I psyched myself up to rid my mind of stereotypes, I couldn’t help but prove this particular one. India, indeed, reeked of masala and a number of different spices, curry included. [...]
Cross-clarity agarciat@theguidon.com Everyone knows who Pacman is. He is considered the greatest professional boxer in his generation. Often dubbed as the Pambansang Kamao (National Fist), he epitomizes Filipino achievement across the globe. During his highly publicized matches, crime rates drop and the streets become empty, as millions tune in to watch Pacman defeat one top-ranking [...]
Verisimilitude cpecson@theguidon.com How does one respect the value of human rights when what is at stake in the blurring of lines is a public interest? It is probably right to simply say, “a human right is a human right—everyone is entitled to it.” But for our former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, this does not seem to [...]
Positive Space dfajardo@theguidon.com Year after year, I personally root for Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers to come out on top of the NBA and be crowned champions. This year was supposed to be a very important one, given that the Lakers had a bad campaign last year, ending in an early second-round exit [...]
Post-Nothing jjurado@theguidon.com I have spent a large percentage of my life online, and it has left me exposed to different individuals over the years. I would find myself reading brilliant articles on football strategies by total unknowns, news reports from local media websites, and updates on news feeds on social networks. Sometimes, I would find [...]
La Vie En Rose pguballa@theguidon.com If I am to believe my Facebook feed, people are more saddened by the passing of Steve Jobs than by the effects of the typhoons that have just passed, which have left a lot of people killed or homeless. It is a weird world we live in, where we have [...]
Logique du Coeur mgarcia@theguidon.com Several weeks ago, after the coronation of Miss Universe 2011 aired live on television sets and websites, people across different social networks transformed from their respective professions into beauty queen experts in an instant. Forums were abuzz with varying opinions regarding the performance of the Philippines’ representative, Shamcey Supsup. I was [...]