Eugenia Sephera in the book Understanding New Media discusses how Web 2.0, which includes social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, democratizes politics and has become an alternative to mainstream media. Journalism holds a political function which is to help shape public opinion and make governments accountable for their actions (Habermas, 1996, cited in Sephera,…
In development work, “IEC” (Information, Education, Communication) is critical. It is that stairway that connects the heavens to the earth. It pulls you to the ground and helps you optimize the limitations of your audience. The World Health Organization defines IEC as “an approach that seeks to change or reinforce a set of behaviors in…
Look at the mirror. Smile. That’s a selfie – only that, that’s only half of it. The other half is when you bring that mirror to a bus terminal or a public market and reveal the same smile on the opposite side of the mirror to a crowd where some you know, some you don’t.…
Believe it or not, there is a study now leaning towards an analysis of human being’s genetic composition and whether somewhere along the way, there is something telling of the attitude or behavior of one towards politics. A quick search online doesn’t lead to a good number of literature about it. But absence something written…
Warning: The following is based on my own understanding of the presentation. For validation, visit the website of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). Call me an idiot for starting a column with a “warning”, but I rather be safe than sorry. Last week, I was in Manila for the Knowledge for Development Community…
Fat people love to sugarcoat being fat. They refer to themselves as “chubby”, others “cute”, and some overwork the thesaurus for a term that transforms a common sighting in Oslob to a Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie. Before fat people connive to crush me between Teletubby bellies, I put on record: I am fat. Not…
In the book “The Likeability Factor”, author Tim Sanders pounds around an interesting concept of choice. He throws us into a realization that, indeed, the choices that we make in life aren’t all ours. They are influenced by desired outcomes that factor in the perceptions, opinions, reactions and valuation of others. Tim also breaks the…
Hearing mass can be quite challenging. You need to be inspired and feel reinforced the moment you step out of the church. There should be that “holy” feeling within you that retracts your tongue every time you’re tempted to say bad words, pulls your hair back from any evil thoughts, and stirs that smile deep…
If a guy in worn-out clothes, covered with tattoos, with hair hardly combed approaches you then asks: “Where is the way to the church?” Would you help? Would your reaction be the same if it were someone in a long-sleeved polo, smelling good, clean-shaven, with hair properly styled? Stereotypes. Let’s call the first guy “Guy…
Think Pia Wurtzbach. Think Janet Napoles. What do they have in common? Both are women. Both are brilliant. Both are in the public limelight. One is pretty, and the other is… well, pretty in her own right. But while Pia Wurtzbach is glorified, Janet Napoles is vilified. We have in the two women a microcosm…
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