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Essays and commentary for the Manila Bulletin

The column appears in the Manila Bulletin every Saturday. The entries below link to individual columns; the newspaper also maintains an author archive.

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There’s something about Alex

5 September 2026 · Manila Bulletin

Alex(andra Eala) seems remarkably composed through all of it. She speaks carefully about representing the Philippines and about staying herself despite the attention. Frankly, I find that a little embarrassing. I did not have that kind of self-awareness at her age. I am not sure I had it even much later, when I already had an audience of my own.