About Me

I am graduating student taking Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at the University of the Philippines Manila. I have been been a student-journalist for a decade.

In that field, I became The Voice’s Science Editor from 2015 to 2016, The Notre Damer’s Editor-in-Chief from 2016 to 2018, The Manila Collegian's Features Editor from 2020 to 2021, Rotaract Club of Caloocan's Newsletter Editor at present, and among the representatives of Rappler's MovePH Campaign Network.

If you wish to know more about me, you may visit my social media accounts.

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Kamusta!

I am a journalist and a student-researcher.

For writing commissions and projects, kindly check my contact information below. You may read my published works for your reference.

Features Articles

Walang Bakuna sa Kagutuman

Sa kasalukuyan, todo pagpapasikat pa rin sa pag-angkat ng bakuna ang inaatupag ng pamahalaan. Bukod sa hindi naging matagumpay ang distribusyon nito, wari wala na silang ibang maihaing paraan para makontrol hindi lamang ang pagkalat ng virus kundi maging ang panganib ng kagutuman.

Medium • 21st July 2020

“My House is a Prison.”

We’re yet to redefine the biggest prison break in the time of COVID-19. It’s time to free ourselves from the long-sustained shackles of this socially-constructed prison. Break free from fear by breaking the stigma. Break free from injustice by breaking the silence and amplifying the exploited voices. Break from the vicious cycle by smashing the oppressive system once and for all. This cage may be rigid and strong, but collectively, and in due process, we will not fumble.

Medium • 2nd December 2020

MARIA IS NOT FOR SALE

Somebody has to wage war against modern slavery, or else their plight will be pushed into the shadows. If no one dares to speak, the symbolic “great sale of slaves” will persist.
And everyone can be the Maria offered as if a commodity in society’s great black market.

Rotaract Caloocan • 26th November 2020

A STORY YOU SHOULD TELL YOUR CHILDREN

Learning is fun if you’re that creative, whether you’re in a real classroom or in your room. That’s definitely an old and unpleasant narrative to tell your children. For a fact, there is nothing creative in poverty. Stories of survival shouldn’t be applauded, especially if you never were poor or never have struggled to obtain food to feed your family.

More Features Articles

Explore a featured selection of my writing work below.

The Manila Collegian • 4th April 2021

An Invitation to a Grand Disaster: Three Years in the Making

The latest news regarding the eruption of the second-most active volcano in the Philippines hadn’t struck the President as alarming as it ought to have had. As far as Duterte could discern, the government's response to the disaster was nothing short of satisfactory. The entire event seemed to have unfurled, collapsed, and restored itself on its own. As the grand event planner, he was, of course, very pleased.

The Manila Collegian • 4th April 2021

BEHIND THE MASK: The Layers of the Philippine Health Response System

A virus has plagued the nation. It took over the country’s headlines, the busy streets, and the unbothered citizens. Panic came in long lines on drug stores and outlets, in a scour for bits of information on websites and social media platforms. They are ready to consume anything that might pacify the fear and the constant need to steer clear of the imminent danger as if the virus had not already been hardwired into the system. In times of threat to public safety, the government remains to hope not for cure, but for fleeting immunity.

Medium • 8th March 2021

Saang Mang Dako: Mga Kuwentong Pawang Pangkababaihan

Apat na naratibo, iisang punto. Saan mang dako, sa kalunsuran o kanayunan, ay may nanggagalit at nanggigipit. Sa likod ng mga ito, may babaeng tumitindig at nakikibaka, hinaharana ang mga nagbabakasakali — Ineng, sumabay ka sa daluyong ng paglaya.

Medium • 30th December 2020

The Vaccine Chaos: Taking the COVID-19 crisis to new heights

It’s hard to imagine, then, what awaits those with less market power. It seems that they’re stuck in a cycle: the most vulnerable of them are even more placed at a disadvantaged position, groveling in poverty. The administration should know that this is bound to happen and address the inequities as soon as the vaccines aren’t yet in the hands of a few.

Medium • 21st September 2020

Four Horsemen of the New Normal

These are the horsemen of the new normal — they signal tyranny and perils to our democracy. In myths, they are meant to rally the final destruction of humanity. Yet, myth is myth and history is history. None of them is meant to be repeated nor embraced. In the people power’s playbook, a dictator is meant to be overthrown and nothing else.

Medium • 23rd June 2020

LATHALAIN | Lakas-Paggawa, Nasa’n ang Ginhawa?

Sa lumalaganap na krisis ngayon, mas maibabalangkas pala talaga ang iba’t ibang uri ng mga manggagawa. Kay laki pala ng bahagdan ng kilos-paggawa, mula sa bigat o ritmo ng gawain, gamit na makinarya, haba ng oras, laki ng sahod, hanggang sa lebel ng proteksiyon at saklaw ng opsyon para tumanggi at mag-alinlangan.

We realized that we are done dreaming. It’s about time to make those dreams possible altogether—and we will allow our discomfort to lead the way.

Eulogy for the Stolen Letters

Creative Nonfiction

Medium • 26th August 2020

The Dirty Super Resident

It’s a hell of a job for a man to clean off trash without getting his hands dirty. Looking through our window, I was quite surprised about how an old man sweeps dirt and disposes garbage with flair. As someone who wakes up at 7 AM to roam around our street, backyard to backyard, it is unlikely to keep yourself unscathed after that “dirty” duty.

Eulogy for the Stolen Letters

For more than a decade, I vividly remembered how several of us were compelled to imbibe all sorts of violence sponsored by the captains and the corrupted statesmen. The masses weren’t allowed to speak—but they could write their fears, struggles, and hopes for the future. Today, the cycle is again in full swing as the only space that allowed us to dream was stolen. The worse thing is they were not even read.

Medium • 25th June 2020

The Balut is the Message

“Isang balut, ilang butil ng bigas!”

Ah! The balut is the message.

“Kapag ginulo at nagkaroon ng okasyon na lumaban at ang buhay niyo ay nalagay sa alanganin, shoot them dead,” ika nga ng Pangulo sa kaniyang late show. Ipapalibing niya pa raw ang mga ito!

skyescraper • 1st July 2019

LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT

Mi amore, there is ‘love’ in my love-hate and bittersweet relationship with LRT. Nevertheless, ours isn’t a quid pro quo relationship. I believe it is one-sided for how could you be loved by a quite inoperative train with usually malfunctioning ventilation that I always have to carry my portable fan with me.

A political struggle that does not have women at the heart of it, above it, below it and within it is no struggle at all.

Arundhati Roy

Prose Poetry

Contact Me

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Email: scmanuel@up.edu.ph

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