What about the underperformers?

Hyacinth Tagupa - @inquirerdotnet 07/16/2021

  There are times, such as today, when it feels like education in the Philippines is a matter of luck. Today, I’m perusing the data that led the advocacy group Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) to declare…

Of pandemic-era mothers

Hyacinth Tagupa - @inquirerdotnet 05/07/2021

None of us was truly prepared when the pandemic broke out. We didn’t know what to do with our fear, or how to keep up with constantly developing science. We weren’t ready to keep kids out of…

‘Good vibes only’

Hyacinth Tagupa - @inquirerdotnet 03/19/2021

Back when COVID-19 wasn’t a thing and the biggest disappointment in our news feeds was the finale of “Game of Thrones,” “good vibes only” was a mantra to ward off unpleasant thoughts and news. But now, over…

Bye-bye, balloons

Hyacinth Tagupa - @inquirerdotnet 02/19/2021

In the last several years, we’ve heard so much about the dangers of plastic waste, and I occasionally write about it. But at this point, I have to acknowledge that giving up plastics is incredibly hard. It’s…

To be a helper

Hyacinth Tagupa - @inquirerdotnet 12/25/2020

When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” This line from the late…

Why we should buy local

Hyacinth Tagupa - @inquirerdotnet 12/11/2020

One of the many lessons to pick up during this “new normal” is the value of buying from local sellers whenever feasible. A major reason, of course, is that this is a concrete way to put our…

Bracing for virtual holidays

Hyacinth Tagupa - @inquirerdotnet 11/27/2020

Like many Filipino transplants this time of year, I’m wondering how I could potentially travel to my hometown in time for the holidays. Before COVID-19, our usual concerns were crowded ports, increased transportation costs, and awkward conversations…

Supporting students’ mental health

Hyacinth Tagupa - @inquirerdotnet 09/18/2020

(Note: This piece discusses matters around suicide, which may be a sensitive subject for some readers.) When our schools began to transition to “blended” learning, with much of the instruction done online, most of our concerns were…

Relearning the simple life

Hyacinth Tagupa - @inquirerdotnet 09/04/2020

  So much of our new normal is about rooting ourselves at home, adjusting to more domestic lifestyles and interests. The rise of plantitas and plantitos is just one ubiquitous proof. When outside trips are restricted, homey…

‘Kilig,’ ‘sayang,’ and words in between

Hyacinth Tagupa - @inquirerdotnet 08/21/2020

  Buwan ng Wika has me musing about how Philippine languages are so rich and emotive, rife with words for the many gradients of human feeling. It’s a reflection of us as a sentimental, emotion-driven people, and…

Canceling ‘Barkada’

Hyacinth Tagupa - @inquirerdotnet 08/07/2020

A Facebook post from a Filipina based in Washington, DC, recently went viral, lambasting an American-owned wine bar for taking on the name “Barkada.” The name choice, according to the post, was “problematic” because the Filipino word…

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