Malayang Isip

Stepping Beyond Comfort By Christian Jay Laya, LPT, CSPE- HGE, MAPS (CAR) Government work is never permanent. This reality has shaped my perspective and motivated me to pursue an advanced degree in Public Administration. While I am deeply committed to public service, I know that a time will come when I will have to step into a new chapter. Rather than waiting for change to dictate my path, I choose to prepare myself—academically, professionally, and personally—for whatever lies ahead.   Studying again has been more than just an academic pursuit; it has been a way for me to deepen my understanding of governance, policymaking, and public service. However, beyond the structured learning, I have come to realize that my true passion lies in research, engaging with people, and continuously learning from the world around me. I do not want to be confined to a single role or limited by a rigid framework. Instead, I want to explore new perspectives, immerse myself in different realities...

Public Service is not just a job but a profound Responsibility by Christian Jay S. Laya, LPT, CSPE- HGE, MAPS (CAR) Entering the municipal government as a young professional was both an eye-opening and transformative experience—one that I knew would be worth documenting. From day one, I made a conscious decision to embrace the learning curve, recognizing that public service is not just a job but a profound responsibility.   To equip myself with the necessary knowledge and skills, I pursued an advanced degree in Philippine Bureaucracy through a Master’s in Philippine Studies, deepening my understanding of governance, policy-making, and institutional frameworks. More recently, I further expanded my expertise with a Master’s in Public Administration, focusing on local and regional governance. These academic pursuits were not merely for credentials but for a greater purpose—to navigate the complexities of government service with competence and insight.   For a young gun,...

For me, pretending to be an expert in government—or in any field, really—isn’t a sign of intelligence; it often reveals insecurity or a need to assert dominance over others. I’ve noticed how some people use their "knowledge" as a tool to smart-shame others, belittling those who may not be as well-versed in certain topics. It’s frustrating because genuine understanding should foster constructive conversations, not shut them down. What really gets me is when people defend someone with questionable credibility, twisting facts to fit their narrative. It’s even more baffling when those same people preach about God but openly support someone who curses Him. That kind of double standard is hard to ignore. It makes you wonder if they truly believe what they say or if it’s all just convenient rhetoric. At the end of the day, integrity should matter more than blind loyalty.

The West Philippine Sea as a Reflection of Filipino Identity and Sovereignty By Christian Jay S. Laya, LPT CSPE- HGE, MAPS (CAR) The assertion that "the West Philippine Sea does not exist" is purely hypothetical and an exercise in exploring identity, nationhood, and territoriality. In this sense, if we argue that the West Philippine Sea is a fiction, we might extend that logic to question the existence of the Philippines itself, as you’ve suggested. The idea that a nation is an “imagined community” stems from Benedict Anderson's theory, where he claims that nations are socially constructed, bound by shared symbols, values, and history. The Philippines, as a modern nation-state, is certainly a product of historical events, struggles, and collective imagination.  However, this doesn’t negate the reality of our identity as a people, the sovereignty we claim, or the tangible existence of our territory, including the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Even if the nation...