Opinion

Anger isn’t always sudden. For some, it lives in the silence before a disagreement—the tightness in the chest when things don’t go right. It’s not a roar; it’s a hum. Somehow, the feeling of anger found them early and it stayed. It clings like a second skin, showing up in friendships, in relationships, and even in moments too small to deserve outbursts.

Women are strong human beings. They bring life into this world — but they shouldn’t be treated as if their only purpose is to deliver a baby, or in other words, as mere baby machines.

There are pure souls who would grab every opportunity to rise from the hardships that they have to go through with their family. Meanwhile, they are forced to accept the fact that not every opportunity is for them. The reason is none other than the competition—the competition that the elites started. What is sad about it is that the poor and innocent cannot even stand a chance.

They say education is a right—one that should be guaranteed to all. But in this country, the word “right” increasingly feels conditional.

During a recent Independence Day gathering in Malaysia, Senator Robin Padilla boldly declared his support for a 2028 presidential tandem between Vice President Sara Duterte and Senator Imee Marcos. He even volunteered to be their campaign manager, casting aside any pretense of neutrality or issue-based politics. In a moment intended to promote unity and reflection on Philippine freedom, Padilla chose instead to push a recycled alliance rooted in political legacy, not public service.

I was the one they called when things fell apart, when their hands were shaking and their voice cracked from crying. I never asked why. I just came. I sat with them through their worst. I let them fall apart in front of me without ever making them feel like a burden. I held their stories. I wiped their tears. I reminded them they were still worthy, even at their lowest.

Breakups are never easy. But ending a relationship after five years is a whole different kind of pain. I’ve seen this happen to my best friend, who just ended things with her boyfriend of half a decade. What she’s feeling isn’t just sadness — it feels more like loss.