On swivel chairs
For some, the barbershop is a space for self-discovery. For others, a space where identities die. But for me, it’s...
The world did not end
I always thought 2026 would be my year. A year of elevation. A year of going beyond the limits. Because...
‘Mahal ang pangarap, hindi ang mangarap’
It was 8 p.m. on a Monday after class. I was in a jeepney heading home from the job I...
Extra big everything
Growing up, I never thought having an extra could be something to regret. Like an extra big pancit canton. One...
Waitlisted, wasted Filipino dreams
Every high school graduation season, I witness social media—and this year, my email inbox—become a brutal battlefield for the future,...
The line between two lives
We’re familiar with the stories of queer people who are closeted and those who are out, those with little to...
When colors refuse to land
There is a strange kind of silence that follows the loudest applause. You worked nights when others slept. You turned...
A lot can change in a year
When I left home with two suitcases and my acceptance letter in hand, I was stepping into uncharted territory, uncertain...
Letting my curly hair flow wildly
Most girls get hair treatments done during their teenage years or even in their 20s, when they’ve decided whether or...
Hello, anxiety: my old friend
“Hi, Joyce! How are you?” “I’m good,” is how I would usually respond when asked such question. But deep down,...
