Learning to be a Mother

A 12-year-old did it. She is the youngest mother I personally know, beating the record of the 14-year-old one. She was just another young, pregnant, unwed, and confused teenager among the many who come to the shelter for help. She was probably among the women who have been ostracized by their ultra-conservative village, because she got [...]

The Repentant

Maybe one of the hardest things to do is to forgive. They say that you have “to forgive and forget.” This doesn’t usually apply to me. I don’t really forget because I’m not that forgetful. In fact, I even remember the teeny weenie details of my childhood. I remember that I believed that I can [...]

Pieces of Me

I used to know who I am. I used to be a go-getter. I used to know what I want and accomplish them with all my might. People, especially my friends, know and perceive me as that — someone who is strong, determined, calculating, and certain. I used to be a planner so my friends [...]

What’s UP with you? (my humble opinion on gender and sexuality)

I know it is unlikely that this should come from me. I’m a Catholic. I believe in God and I read the Holy Bible. I attend mass and I serve in a church ministry. But I respect other religions, too, in the premise that they believe in one Supreme Being and do not think that [...]

The day I got published! :)

I was shocked and ecstatic when a friend posted on my FB wall the link of Philippine Daily Inquirer’s Young Blood today. It’s my article! It’s my birthday blog which I posted here, which is something like this. It’s a dream come true! But I realized I spilled and poured out my personal issues to [...]

Stress Management 101

I’ve been in hiatus because the crazy bipolar (which I sometimes believe that I am) has gotten into me. But I think it was really the stress that has gone up to my neck. So I became sad, frustrated, and tired. I withdrew from my activities and hid from my friends for a while. But [...]

Beyond the Birds and the Bees (Part 2 of 2)

Let’s Talk About Sex… in Schools, Households, and in Malacañang We, teachers, can give them the proper and basic education using books and forms of mass media. In schools, we can teach them how to read, write, and count. But what teenagers really need are lessons on reproductive and sexual health, responsible relationships, family planning, [...]

Beyond the Birds and the Bees (Part 1 of 2)

Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone! According to Wikipedia (which I used for ease and indolence), Valentine’s Day is a holiday observed on February 14 to honor Saint Valentine. Since then, it became associated with romantic love. Valentine’s Day symbols include the heart-shaped figure, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. During this occassion, lovers expressed [...]

Remembering MMK

The recent episode of Maalala Mo Kaya (MMK) of ABS-CBN has been a trending topic (at least among my friends) because a lot of people can relate. It’s love month already and people are smitten by the idea of it — falling in love. So there goes the TV shows (and other mass media), commercializing “love.” [...]

Amazing Grace

I can’t believe it has been three months. Only three months? It feels like forever.  I’ve been going to the shelter, exhausted from my 9-to-6 corporate job on Tuesdays and going home more renewed and inspired, for three months now.  I’ve been teaching English to the 14 pregnant mothers and playing with the 16 babies since October and [...]