The rain begins as a soft rhythm against the rooftops, which some people find comforting. But for some residents in the Philippines, they don’t just reach for umbrellas—they brace for another flood. For many of them, the sound of heavy rain is not a comfort but a warning. The water rises quietly at first, seeping into the streets, then into homes, until life once again floats on uncertainty. Everyday Life Beneath the Floodline In flood-prone communities, rain is rarely someth

With more than 97,000 students systemwide, the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) is the country’s largest state university by student population, yet it remains underfunded and continues to face possibilities of commercialization and privatization. Founded in October 1904—PUP is celebrating its 121st anniversary this year with the theme “ PUP@121: Inspiring, Uplifting, Transforming.” But how can a school inspire, uplift, and transform the lives of its studen

Why do birds fly when the sky burns itself alive— no salvation—born to survive; while fake saints drown in the souls of those they deprived? Why do birds fly when they’re battered and bruised; bathe in crimson water, all while feathers are tattered—and yet, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳? Why do birds fly when ferocious winds drive them away from the land— from where they planted seeds of willows, in hope to catch a 𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘸? Why