‘Twenteen’
LAST MARCH 9, I turned 20 and I’m intimidated by the change of syllable at the end of my age,...
‘Pahintulot’
I’ve always been drawn to the word “pahintulot,” a beautiful Filipino term that stands for asking for permission or consent....
Growing up with the internet
We are a generation that grew up with the internet. That is an indisputable fact. With every milestone—from my elementary...
The year I grew up
I don’t know how the past year went, but if it were anything like mine, I imagine you’d have wanted...
Belonging somewhere and nowhere all at once
As a kid, I always envisioned people in their 20s as having already gotten their ducks in a row. They...
17 in ‘17
For most of us, 2017 has been a roller-coaster ride. At times we were screaming for joy; other times we...
As scary as change
I close my eyes, feeling the presence of everyone in a small room. I can see a vague image of...
Wishing to be an adult at 9
It was July 27, 2012, when I had to skip class because my mother gave birth to my youngest sister....
‘Dijay likud’
The Ilocano word likud, which means “at the back” in English, is not just the opposite of in front or...
I believe in magic
Once upon a time, when I was a kid, I believed in magic. When I was 7, I believed in...