Saturday, May 31, 2025

Kuwentong Bangtan: From Candified Sex to Confident Sexuality

In Chapter 2 of BTS, the Tannies are moving from Kpop’s signature rendition of candified sex to confident sexuality. All of it happening while on military service, on hiatus and in post enlistment solo projects. And ARMY is so ready for it!

What was once a sugar-coated and stylized depiction of sexuality is now grounded, intentional, and fully owned. They no longer perform desire, they embody it, with clarity, class, agency, and truth.



This evolution isn’t just about attraction, it’s about intimacy: the longing for it, the fear of isolation, and the courage to be seen and heard in an industry polluted by noise and vivid visual effects. Sexuality, in this context, has to be seen as a form of self-expression the most honest way a person can show who they are, and not as a committed sin bound by punishment.

Take Namjoon’s RPWP, for instance. Its critical acclaim speaks to its rawness and artistic integrity. But not everyone is drawn to that kind of honesty and that’s okay. Vulnerability doesn’t look like power to everyone. Still, for those ready to accept and face it, it offers something real and rare.
For Jin and Hoseok, they are both exploring and presenting sexuality in different ways, staying true to their unique artistic voices.
Jin expresses intimacy and longing through powerful rock ballads. In The Astronaut, he captures a deep, faithful connection that transcends cosmic distance. In Don’t Say You Love Me, he reflects on how relationships can either set us free or quietly undo us—reminding us that love isn’t always a balm. I Will Come To You is a tender lullaby that quietly assures loyalty and faithfulness.

Hoseok, on the other hand, is crafting what feels like a triptych of desire with Sweet Dreams, Mona Lisa, and the soon to be released Killin’ It Girl. These tracks map the emotional, playful, and empowering layers of attraction. If one is true to themselves, desire becomes a force for independence and agency. From the raw grit of More to the fiery reckoning of Arson, Hoseok has truly grown. He unfolding into his own as we witness it, step by step.
As for Yoongi, his courage to close the door in the room that once confined him in the song Amygdala is an expression of radical self-preservation. It’s not just about pain but it’s about choosing to stop carrying what no longer serves a purpose. In that act, vulnerability becomes resistance. Silence becomes survival. And healing begins not with forgetting, but with the decision to finally put yourself first.
By following their journey, from candified performance to confident presence, we see that BTS isn’t just maturing musically. They are deepening what it means to be human in front of the world. Their solo works invite us to look inward— in the quiet empty spaces where we can name our longings, to heal without shame, to stand in our truths and hold our power, however soft or raw. This is not a mere spectacle of desire anymore that Kpop commodifies. It is a quiet, powerful reclamation of self which, if you come to think about it, BTS has consistently been doing since 2013.



Next up is the maknae line. However, I find their music more overwhelming to reflect and write about. Those three, Jimin, V and JK— they are desire personified. Sexuality on two legs. Jebal.

Thursday, May 29, 2025

Ahjumma Reviews: Dear Hongrang and Divorce Insurance

Just an update of the Kdramas I enjoyed in the previous months: Dear Hongrang and Divorce Insurance.


In Dear Hongrang, Joseon Era Korea is depicted as both beautiful and bleak; the characters are sinister and steadfast. The ending is everything I expected— gloriously tragic.

In between is Jo Boah’s charm and Lee Jae Wook’s compelling performance. The look in his eyes reflects an unsettling and unspeakable burden only to be redeemed in every sword fight and a quiver’s flight. Me thinks it is his best, so far. Magnificent!

Lee Dong Wook is back in his charming form and winsome humor in Divorce Insurance. If you’re up for a more mature take on love and relationships, as well as an honest exploration of the messy and complicated world of marriage and couple-hood, you might enjoy this romcom of a Kdrama. It coasts along, yet it demands the mining of the nuances that make the romance truly unique and meaningful.

Watch for the next Kdrama review! 


Tuesday, May 27, 2025

Masaya ang Maging Manunulat!

Read Aloud ni Teacher Loraine 
Isa akong masayang manunulat kapag may mga nare-recieve akong balita na babasahin at gagamitin ang aking aklat sa pagkukuwento sa mga bata. Noong unang lingo ng Mayo, binalita ni Ms. Loraine Bautista, 2nd year college student ng Miriam College, taking up a bachelor's degree in Childhood Education, na gagamitin niya ang aklat naming Masaya Ang Maging Ako (Gagatiga at Bauza, Lampara 2020) sa pagsasalaysay. Bahagi ito ng kanilang group project na makapagturo ng literacy skills sa mga batang nasa day care.

Pero, may malaki silang problema. Wala daw silang makuhang kopya! Kaya nagpadala ako ng kopya ng aklat at nag-transfer si Loraine ng bayad. Isa pa ito sa aking ikinatuwa. May respeto sila sa aking sining at sa buhay manunulat.

Lingo ng Mother's Day noong i-send ko via Lalamove ang aklat. Nagdaan ang ilang mga araw, nakakuha na ako ng feedback. Hiningi ko ang pahintulot niya na i-blog ito kaya, ibinabahagi ko ngayon ang kagalakang ito.

Good morning, Ms. Zarah! ☀️ Thank you so much for your book! I was able to use it yesterday during our teaching implementation with the day care learners. They were very engaged and had so much fun with the story, especially because it sparked their imagination! We also received great feedback from our professors, who said the book is very nice and perfect for kids 💙 We truly enjoyed reading it, and we loved the illustrations too! Salamat po, and God bless you! ❤️

Aaminin ko na naghahangad akong magka-award muli. Malaking trabaho at bibilang talaga ng panahon ang ganitong pangarap. Subalit, ramdam na ramdam ko ang pagkatotoo ni Loraine. Pinili niya ang aming aklat para ibahagi sa mga batang paslit. Para na din akong nakapanlo ng award.

Maraming, maraming salamat!

Sunday, May 25, 2025

Book Review: When My Friend Series

It was a pleasure to meet children’s book author Robyn Chua Rodroguez at the Expo Mom: The MOMentous Fair. We have her books in our library which students use as reference when they make their own stories for children. These stories in turn are shared in our outreach programs in public elementary schools.



Personally, I like Robyn's books because it touches on many areas of socio-emotional learning. I appreciate the emphasis on communication that respects the feelings of children treating them as people with agency regardless of age. Thank you Robyn! Good luck on your Story of Emphasis series!

Monday, May 19, 2025

The Lighthouse Diary # 74: Summer Reading Program

The Beacon Academy proudly announces the launch of the Sulong sa PagBAbasa! Summer Reading Program 202, themed "Empowering Young Minds Through Stories and Truths." Open to all academy members, this enriching 4-week program, led by Teacher Librarian Zarah C. Gagatiga and Library Assistant Flynn Felix, aims to foster a lifelong love for reading, encourage critical thinking, strengthen reading stamina, and build a community of reflective, articulate young readers.


Tailored for different grade levels, students in Grades 7–8 will "Explore & Imagine" with books like Wonder by R.J. Palacio, while Grades 9–10 will "Reflect & Relate" with texts like Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay, and Grades 11–12 will "Critique & Create" through works such as Dekada '70 by Lualhati Bautista 


Each week features a blend of fiction and non-fiction readings, guided reflections, and creative outputs, culminating in projects like book talks, zine festivals, or academic/study action plans. Enhanced by Reading Logs and social media engagement with hashtags like #SulongPagBAsa2025 and #GriffinsRead, this program promises an inspiring summer of literary exploration. 


Wednesday, May 14, 2025

The Lack of Joy in Reading

We’re all smiles on top of the assignment that Teacher Vic tasked us to do. And he has the biggest smile— confident that we can do it with joy, ease and competence. We are Team CRAIN! 



Literacy teaching and learning is constantly changing and we’re here to think through, together; to share the challenges and burdens of educational leadership; to walk the line between tried-and-tested methods and bold, innovative practices that respond to the real and present crisis of declining literacy. We walk the line with courage and care, always keeping our learners at the center. 

When this happens, facing hard questions about literacy is easier to bear and unpack. This one, for example: If a student does not find/derive joy in reading, should he/she undergo reading intervention? 


The question is layered. It touches on educational philosophy, psychological well-being, literacy development, and the broader purpose of reading. For one, there is the assumption that joy in reading is a desirable trait and an expected outcome. It is perceived as a necessary part of learning. But we know that it is not often the case. Learning, reading to be specific, is tough. Even confusing and frustrating. So, is the lack of joy in reading a valid reason for a student to receive intervention? 

Not yet, I think. But it merits an assessment and diagnostic. A caveat, though, to ease the approach in pathologizing the issue. Alongside understanding the reason for the “unjoy” in reading, it is just as important to offer opportunities where in a student is allowed to explore, make mistakes and naturally grow into literacy. Sometimes, the issue is not entirely the student. It can be many factors: the system of education, the materials and resources provided, the pressure to do well. I think the goal is to meet a student where he/she/they is. And, as a reading interventionist, teacher-librarian and bibliotherapist, I need to explore and know how my students view reading. 

I ask: what does reading look like for them beyond standardized tests and rigid expectations?
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