HOME / ANGEL MARTINEZ

CNN Philippines • 3rd August 2021

Seeking solace in ‘80s music

This music was a lifeline, a connection. It was a constant I could hold on to, a reminder that all things work out in our favor in the end even when evidence points to the contrary.

Bobblehaus • 30th July 2021

IT'S TIME TO ABOLISH THE K-POP SURVIVAL SHOW

I think it’s pretty ironic that networks created survival shows with the power and influence of fans in mind, yet continue to underestimate both of these qualities we have.

l!fe • The Philippine Star • 8th July 2021

Everything I know about relationships, I learned from Kathniel

After countless rewatchings, I still find myself turning to Kathniel films during moments of distress. Meeting the protagonists always feels like seeing old friends and watching their stories unfold is a pleasant reminder of how their love has helped me grow.

CNN Philippines • 16th June 2021

What happens when your ability to verbally express love gets taken away?

Aphasia is an injury to the brain that impairs language. While others with the disorder experience these cruel effects temporarily, my lola’s inability to talk, write, and type coherently was here to stay.

l!fe • The Philippine Star • 4th June 2021

Plant parenting isn't a fad — it's our future

Plant parenting has the potential to redefine our long-term notions of progress and ultimately reconstruct our ideal city — one that doesn’t automatically prioritize commercial interests, and gives way to natural and communal spaces.

Bobblehaus • 18th April 2021

HERE'S TO NEVER GROWING UP

I make do with what I have: an existence that is starting to resemble a role-playing game, where all my interactions only ever require an online persona.

VICE • 29th March 2021

Growing Up as a ‘Gifted Child’ and the Rude Awakening of Adulthood

Being gifted isn’t an accurate depiction of who I truly am. It simply serves as a reminder of what I’m capable of when I work hard and happen to love what I do.

l!fe • The Philippine Star • 25th March 2021

Young female powerhouses are people, too

Maybe then we’ll slowly start to realize that behind every young female powerhouse under the microscope of the music industry is simply a girl who knew she had a dream and was not afraid to go after it.

l!fe • The Philippine Star • 5th March 2021

Imagining a police-free Philippines

If we deem the idea of protecting the marginalized from unwarranted police brutality idealistic and irrational, it’s clear that our comfort blinds us from the gravity of the situation. I doubt we witness what they’re going through from the comforts of our gated subdivisions and high-rise office buildings.

Bobblehaus • 28th February 2021

THERE'S NO PLACE ONLINE FOR PERFORMATIVE BODY POSITIVITY

Although the online body positivity movement may have paved the way for individualistic empowerment and representation in specific industries such as fashion and entertainment, the problem was that we stopped there and settled for that.

Adolescent • 5th February 2021

The cognitive dissonance in our comfort shows

When we’ve grown alongside a show’s characters, letting go is easier said than done. But publicly going against what a show stands for to save face while consuming it in private is hypocritical at best.

Bobblehaus • 15th December 2020

WHAT MY DAD TAUGHT ME ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS

My dad’s love was and continues to be strong and unconditional, unwavering despite the circumstance, and he has always made sure it manifested in different ways - like the way he would save the best bits of any viand for me, or turn off his own WiFi so my video calls would stop lagging.

Bobblehaus • 14th December 2020

PUBLIC LIBRARIES ARE THE FUTURE

In a time when demographics determine who gets around in this world, the public library’s open-door policy is a compassionate and revolutionary act in itself.

Adolescent • 21st October 2020

The unsubtle feminism in Subtle Asian Dating

Platforms like Subtle Asian Dating can’t repair an issue as multi-layered as sexism, but one thing’s for sure: an online community that promotes these progressive ideals is a potential baby step toward the reforms we need.

makesense Philippines • 14th October 2020

We are not the heroes of this story

It’s not automatically a bad thing to assume that the best way to express care and concern is by taking action. What makes this behavior problematic is if we refuse to redirect our focus from ourselves to the communities in need of our help.

Bobblehaus • 14th October 2020

WHY THE UNPAID INTERNSHIP HAS GOT TO GO

What is the point of achieving this level of personal and professional fulfillment that these programs promise if we’ve been too burnt out and beaten up to enjoy it?

Adolescent • 9th October 2020

The truth behind the internet's study communities

You’d think that a group established in the name of academia would take any damn stationery item as long as it got the job done. But they put a heavy emphasis on beauty and precision, as seen in the color-coordinated, calligraphy-ridden lecture notes we’ve all seen and wished were our own.

Lithium Magazine • 18th September 2020

Why Can't We Stop Buying Counterfeit Clothing?

When we detach our material possessions from our self-worth, I find that we are more equipped to assess the motivations and implications of our actions. It’s only then that we realize that while counterfeits may bring us temporary satisfaction, they’re never worth the permanent damage on the industry.

makesense Philippines • 8th September 2020

A Digital Citizen's Guide to Battling the Infodemic

Unbeknownst to most, we are currently battling two pandemics: one that requires us to stay indoors unless completely necessary, arm ourselves with face shields and disinfectants, and postpone all social gatherings; and another that orders us to throw all caution to the wind and simply eat bananas and gargle salt water.

Lithium Magazine • 3rd August 2020

Give Basic Girls a Break

Though the poster child of being basic has changed over the years in terms of appearance and activities, two defining characteristics remain: she is always a girl, and she is often pegged as the object of society’s disgust.