Through the Spectacles

Lately, I have found myself thinking about and observing the world around me, especially about how quickly time seems to pass these days. I do not remember ever experiencing time at such a pace, especially when I was younger. Back then, days felt much longer and passed more slowly, whether I was busy or simply doing nothing. There is a common idea that when we are deeply engaged in something, we tend to lose track of time. Yet as I grow older, I notice that even ordinary days seem to pass so quickly, as if time itself has become faster. This feeling is both fascinating and frightening to me. It makes me think about my what-ifs more often than I should. I think about the things I could have done, the choices I could have made, and the things I still want to achieve. Sometimes, I look at the calendar and realize that another month has already passed. Before I know it, another year is almost over. When I was younger, I thought I had so much time. Birthdays, school breaks, and importan...

The return of glass-style design in UI is not just a visual trend. It feels like a reaction to how flat and simple digital design has become over the past decade. For many years, apps and websites moved toward very clean and flat layouts. This direction was led by companies like Apple and Google. The goal was to make interfaces easy to read, fast, and simple. But over time, many designs started to look the same. Now we are seeing a return of glass-like design. This is often called “glassmorphism.” It uses blur, transparency, soft shadows, and layered panels. It makes parts of the screen look like frosted glass placed over a background. This shift is possible because technology has improved. Devices today can handle blur and transparency smoothly without slowing apps. In the past, these effects were too heavy. But the real reason is not only technical. It is also emotional and visual. Flat design can feel too plain and cold. Glass-style design tries to bring back depth,...

May isang yugto sa bawat proseso ng paglikha na madalas hindi napag-uusapan—ang sandaling unti-unting lumalayo sa iyo ang iyong gawa. Hindi ito ang oras ng pagtatapos. Hindi rin ito ang sandaling inilalabas mo ang trabaho sa publiko. Mas tahimik ito kaysa roon. Nangyayari ito kapag ang ibang tao ay nagsisimula nang makakita, magbasa, at magbigay ng sariling kahulugan sa iyong likha—hiwalay na sa iyong intensyon. Bilang isang artist at designer, sanay akong kilalanin ang puntong ito. Sa studio, malinaw ang lahat. Bawat desisyon—mula kulay, komposisyon, tipograpiya, hanggang wika—ay sinadya. Ang gawa ay nakaugat sa personal na pananaw at sa kontekstong kultural na aking kinabibilangan. Sa ganitong yugto, ramdam ko ang kontrol. Ang likha ay akin. Ngunit sa sandaling lumabas ito sa publiko, unti-unting nagbabago ang relasyon. Bilang practitioner, nakita ko kung gaano kabilis gumalaw ang kahulugan. Ang isang campaign visual, nagiging aesthetic reference. Ang isang mensaheng maingat na binuo...

Let’s be honest— minor subjects don’t feel like majors. They don’t carry the same pressure. They don’t dominate your schedule. They don’t always seem directly connected to your future career. So it’s easy to treat them differently—to give less time, less effort, less importance. That reaction is understandable. But it’s also where the misunderstanding begins. Because the value of a subject isn’t measured by how “heavy” it feels—it’s measured by what it develops in you. I teach Art Appreciation to some courses that are not BFA, under our General Education program, and I see this mindset all the time. Students assume it’s light, flexible, or secondary. Something you can set aside when your major starts demanding more. And to be fair, Art Appreciation does not function like a major subject. It doesn’t train you in technical specialization. It doesn’t drill you for professional practice in the same way. It’s not supposed to. That’s exactly the point. General Education courses—including Art...

I remember one night, sitting in front of my laptop, staring at a blank screen while the city outside my window slept. My mind was buzzing with ideas, but my body felt completely drained. I had three deadlines the next day, and a client was messaging me for the fourth revision of a poster I thought was already perfect. “That’s when I realized I was burnt out.” Creative burnout is that overwhelming mix of stress, frustration, and sometimes desperation we feel when trying to finish a project—whether it’s a design, a written piece, a song, a choreography, or a stage play. Unlike ordinary fatigue, which a good night’s sleep or a meal with friends can fix, burnout digs deeper. It affects your motivation, confidence, and sometimes mental health. Many of your friends in the creative field—freelancers, designers, artists, and educators—have probably experienced it. And while we can’t always fix it for them, just being there matters. Most creatives say their work is their passion, and ...

We love movies with twists and turns, but life? Life writes its own plotlines—sometimes stranger, sometimes more meaningful than anything on screen. Today, I want to share one of my own twists, a journey that reshaped my career, my passions, and my understanding of myself. The Early Dreams As an undergraduate, I was a fairly typical student—not overly studious, not lazy, just… simple. I had simple dreams: to have a band, create art, and write plays for the stage. These were the things that made me feel alive. They weren’t necessarily practical, but I imagined a life where I could flourish in these pursuits, and for a while, that was enough to keep me motivated. Finding My Career Path After completing my BFA, I entered the workforce as an illustrator for a small children’s magazine. It was modest work, but it connected me with the professional world. Soon after, I became a graphic designer for retail, then hotels. During this time, I discovered a new aspiration: to beco...

Have you ever felt like you’re always on the run—especially when it comes to work? Like, no matter how much you give, how many hours you put in, or how hard you try, it still isn’t enough? These thoughts have been lingering in my mind for years. Why do we have to juggle two or three jobs just to make ends meet? And yet, somehow, even with all that effort, we never truly feel secure. Juggling Multiple Roles I am a job juggler myself. On the academic side, I work one full-time and one part-time position. On the creative side, I run a small business that serves clients whenever opportunities arise. If you only work a single job, this might sound impressive—or even enviable—but the reality is far from glamorous. Even with multiple streams of income, I still find myself stretched thin. Not empty, but never quite enough. “Despite technically managing three jobs, there are days when I have to tighten my belt just to make it to the next payday.” I live modestly. I buy only what I can afford,...

Lately, I have been thinking about how noisy the world has become. Everyone has something to say. Every issue invites a reaction. But in the middle of all this speaking, listening seems to be disappearing. Listening is not just about being quiet while someone else talks. It is about being open. It is about allowing another person’s idea to enter your mind before you respond. Today, however, many conversations feel like competitions. People wait for their turn to speak instead of trying to understand. Social media has made this more visible. Posts are judged by likes, shares, and views. What becomes viral is often treated as true. But popularity is not the same as truth. When we rely only on what trends, we stop thinking deeply. We react quickly instead of reflecting carefully. The philosopher Socrates believed that wisdom begins with recognizing that we do not know everything. This idea requires humility. To listen well, we must accept that we might be wrong or incomplete. Without tha...

  Since the pandemic era (2020–2022), AI has sparked endless debates among academicians, students, professionals, and society at large. For me, AI itself is not the problem—it can be a powerful tool for research, writing, and innovation. But when it comes to AI-generated art , I draw a clear line. I’m reflecting on this because, just last week, our college came under public scrutiny for producing an AI-generated poster to promote an event. Reactions poured in through Facebook groups, chats, and other channels. Many students expressed disappointment, some even condemnation, largely because the poster was created by a member of the college administration. The creator defended AI as a tool for creativity and innovation—even within a college devoted to art and design. I respect that perspective, but I remain critical. As Walter Benjamin once observed in The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction , the aura of art—its uniqueness and presence in time and space—is diminished wh...

I used to think a workplace was just… work. You go in, do your job, and go home. Simple.  But over time, I realized something: your workplace is basically your second home. You spend most of your waking hours there, talk to the same people every day, deal with stress together, celebrate wins (sometimes), and survive deadlines. Of course, it shapes you.  I’ve been in work environments that were supportive, light, and motivating. People helped each other. Feedback was healthy. You went home tired but not emotionally drained.  And then… there’s the other kind. The kind where tension is always in the air. Where compliments feel suspicious. Where people smile in meetings and criticize in private. Where gossip moves faster than emails. Where you slowly notice you’re becoming more guarded, more cynical, maybe even a little meaner than you used to be.  That’s when it hit me: the biggest danger of a toxic workplace isn’t just stress — it’s turning into someone you don’t even...

  Have you ever imagined owning your own business? Or dreamed of finally being your own boss? For many creatives, that dream stays exactly where it starts—in our heads. I was one of those dreamers, and in 2022, that dream became real when I launched my freelance design studio, Grafiko Commercial Art Services , or simply Grafiko . At first, everything felt surreal. What used to be just an idea during my college days suddenly became a legally registered business. I processed the paperwork, paid the fees, and eventually landed my first clients. It was exciting, fulfilling, and honestly a little intimidating. But as the initial excitement faded, the real work began. One of the biggest realities I faced was how different freelancing is from how it’s often portrayed. Movies and social media make creative work look glamorous—designers are shown as effortlessly cool, mysterious, and somehow always inspired. In real life, that image doesn’t help you survive, let alone succeed. Clients don...

The year 2026 feels like a fresh start. Every new year brings change, and for many people, that change comes in different forms. Some begin new jobs, some enter new relationships, and others discover new paths in life. For me, this year marks the beginning of a new and unexpected chapter—starting my journey as a PhD student. To be honest, I never thought I would study beyond my undergraduate degree. For a long time, my heart was set on working in the industry. I believed that real learning happened outside the classroom, through practice, experience, and hard work. Higher education, especially at the doctoral level, was never part of my plan. But life has a way of surprising us. Sometimes, it gently pushes us toward paths we never imagined taking. Today, I find myself fully part of the academic world. I am now teaching as an instructor in three universities, and slowly, I have learned to embrace the role of an educator and researcher. Looking back, this shift did not happen overnight...

Today marks the Feast of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila, one of the most significant religious events in the Philippines. Millions of devotees are expected to participate in the annual Traslación , the grand procession of the revered image from the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta to the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo. This event has long been regarded as a powerful expression of Filipino Catholic faith and devotion, drawing not only local participants but also pilgrims from different provinces and even from abroad. The Traslación is a spectacle unlike any other. Streets are flooded with barefoot devotees, waving towels, shouting prayers, and struggling to get close to the andas —the carriage that bears the image of the Black Nazarene. For many, even the briefest touch of the rope or the image itself is believed to be a profound spiritual encounter. It is a moment of hope, surrender, and intense personal prayer. Devotees believe that their faith in the Black Nazaren...

It is a new year once again—a time for renewal, reconnection, redirection, and new beginnings. Every new year gives us a chance to pause, look back, and look forward. For me, 2025 was a very challenging year. I had to make many decisions at work, in business, and in my personal life. There were times when everything felt heavy and overwhelming. But despite all the difficulties, 2025 taught me many important lessons. I truly believe that these lessons will help me grow and do better in the years to come. When I think about 2025 now, it feels strange how fast it went by. January felt long and slow, but after that, the months seemed to pass very quickly. Sometimes, it felt like life was moving too fast to keep up with. Before I knew it, the year was already ending. Looking back, it is amazing how much can happen in such a short time. There are three important lessons that 2025 taught me, and I would like to share them here. First, I learned to be more patient. I know that I am not a very ...

When I first entered the university, I was immediately struck by the weight of its dual purpose: it is both a sanctuary of knowledge and a crucible of personal development. It is not simply a place to earn degrees or to acquire vocational skills; it is where ideas, histories, and competencies converge to shape human lives, guiding individuals toward social responsibility, critical engagement, and professional participation. For me, the university was also a deeply personal space of self-discovery. I recall walking through its corridors as a young student, feeling both a sense of possibility and trepidation—wondering whether I could meet the expectations placed upon me while also navigating my own aspirations and limitations. Beyond the lessons contained in textbooks, I learned to question assumptions, analyze complex problems, and understand my responsibilities toward the larger society. These formative experiences now inform my perspective as a faculty member, shaping the lens through...