The Perks of Having Two Confidants

Confidant – a person with whom one shares a secret or private matter, trusting them not to repeat it to others.                              ~ Oxford Dictionary Like the definition states, a personal confidant is a person who has a “patient ear” and is…

Ten Ways to Express Your Love to Someone

People say that maintaining your love for someone is harder than finding the right one. It requires a great deal of time and effort but it’s worth the sacrifices. If you want to keep your love burning, express it often. Here are some effective ways: Cook their favorite meal and surprise them even if there’s…

Three Valuable Skills to Master Right Now

What skills do you want to learn right now? Is cooking included in your list? How about photography? Well, if you’d ask me, I’d love to learn self-defense, master another musical instrument (piano!), and speak another language (probably Chinese?). Here’s why. Learning self-defense Stories about murder, rape, kidnapping, burglary, and other evil acts have been…

True Love versus One Billion Dollars: What Should I Choose?

True love or one billion dollars? If I were to choose one, I’d prefer true love for no amount of money could buy it. I guess people would say I must be practical and pick the latter. I may never know what may happen in the future nor earn this money in my lifetime, but…

7 Things You’ll Probably Do If Money Is Not an Issue

They say money is the root of all evil. However, it’s the reason people can enjoy various pleasures in life. Sure, the thought of having a lump sum of money excites you. If a genie grants your wish to leave your work and experience anything you desire without worrying about money—what would you do then?…

A Letter to My Younger Self

Dear younger me, When your parents scold you and give you pieces of advice, don’t get angry. Don’t ever do that. Instead, listen to them. They are right most of the time. Don’t cut your hair; you’ll regret it. Pay attention to your Science and Math classes. Don’t become too close to anyone. Don’t consider them…

King Solomon: The Wisest (and Most Foolish) Man Who Ever Lived

If given the chance to meet one person from the past, I’d like to meet Solomon ─ the wisest and yet the most foolish man who ever lived. I want to ask him how it feels to be the smartest person on Earth and witness how he resolves issues and problems. Solomon, whose name means…

Five Skills My Child Should Possess

Parents wish only the best for their children. No wonder why we often hear their hopes of seeing their kids growing toward becoming the best they could. Hence, parents strive hard to raise their children well—discipline them and give them quality education. But success depends not only on character and training but also on one’s…

“With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility”

Does the title ring a bell? While the origin of this adage remains a subject of debate nowadays, we all connect it with Spider-Man—the fictional hero with startling crime-fighting knacks. Spider-Man’s fame makes this phrase sound so cliché but its thought is obviously true. As I take it literally, I believe this adage applies to…

On Duterte, Drug Killings, and Foreign Relations

Philippines’ tough-talking president, his anti-drug campaign, and tirades against his critics have put the country in the global limelight once again. As Filipinos witness it and the world hears it via media, the Duterte administration imposes intensified drive against illegal drugs and criminality. This led to a number of good things: tens of thousands have…

Early Bird vs. Night Owl: On Which Side Are You?

The “early birds versus night owls” debate has been present for quite a long time. We have lauded the early bird for centuries. After all, they “catch the worm” and are “healthy, wealthy, and wise.” Yet, recent studies reported that night owls are smarter than early risers. But many people still debate the results; they…

My House Is on Fire! What Shall I Save?

What if my own house catches a fire (God forbid) and I have time to save only five items from it? Below are the things I’d like to grab immediately: Documents (identification cards, birth certificates, diplomas, and other certificates) – It’s good that we keep our personal records and other important documents in one plastic…