Mommy's MAG Life

Edukasyon Para sa Lahat: New Legislation Targets Infrastructure and Teacher Deployment for Isolated Schools

7/20/2026 01:52:00 PM

A significant legislative push is underway to bridge the educational divide in the Philippines with the introduction of the Last Mile Schools Act, formally filed as House Bill 18. This measure aims to institutionalize government support specifically for Last Mile Schools, which are educational institutions situated in the most remote, isolated, and underserved areas of the country. These schools, which frequently serve Indigenous Peoples communities, have historically faced systemic challenges that have significantly hindered the consistent delivery of quality education.

House Bill 18 is founded on the principle that geographic isolation must not act as a barrier to academic success. To address these inequities, the proposed legislation mandates the national government to guarantee consistent and sustainable funding dedicated to several critical infrastructure and resource needs. Specifically, the bill prioritizes the construction and rehabilitation of permanent classrooms to replace temporary or makeshift structures. It also ensures the electrification of school sites to support modern learning environments and mandates the regular deployment of licensed, qualified teachers to reach even the most remote communities. Furthermore, the act includes provisions for the essential improvement of road networks and pathways leading to these schools to ensure safe and reliable access for both students and faculty.

The Last Mile Schools Act is explicitly designed to address the needs of marginalized sectors, particularly those within Indigenous Peoples communities. By prioritizing these often-overlooked areas, the bill aims to foster a more inclusive educational landscape where every Filipino child, regardless of their location, has the opportunity to learn in a safe, conducive, and well-supported environment. Proponents of the bill emphasize that the passage of House Bill 18 serves as a crucial step toward realizing the national promise of "Edukasyon Para sa Lahat" or Education for All. The measure reflects a long-term commitment to fully integrating remote schools into the mainstream educational system by providing the vital resources they rightfully deserve.

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The end of “Tiis Ganda”? Why more young women should refuse to normalize period pain

Buscopan 7/06/2026 10:16:00 PM

“Tiis ganda” has long been worn like a badge of honor—an everyday test of endurance where women are expected to look composed, stay productive, and push through discomfort as if it’s part of the job description. From long days at school or work to back-to-back responsibilities, it’s a quiet culture of kaya pa, even when the body is clearly asking for a pause.

But nowhere does this expectation feel more real than during menstruation. Period pain becomes another layer of “tiis”—the kind that can turn reviewing for an exam, finishing a presentation, or even simply getting out of bed into a full-on challenge.

Yet despite how common it is, menstrual pain is still often brushed off as something to simply endure. Somewhere along the way, women were made to believe that suffering in silence is just part of being capable and productive. But when did pain become part of the honor roll checklist?

The “Tiis Ganda” Culture Around Period Pain

“Tiis ganda” has long been woven into everyday womanhood—not just as a cultural phrase, but as an unspoken standard of strength and self-control. It often gets framed as resilience, yet it can also mean normalizing discomfort that goes unseen, unspoken, and unquestioned.

One of the most common—but least openly discussed—forms of this is period pain, or dysmenorrhea, the medical term for painful menstrual cramps that can seriously disrupt everyday life. For many, it could mean throbbing cramps, lower back pain, nausea, headaches, and energy levels so low that even getting through a one-hour lecture feels like a major achievement.

Still, many young women simply power through. Why? The study by the National Library of Medicine found that period pain has been normalized for so long that it barely gets questioned. Add to that the fear of being labeled “dramatic,” the pressure to stay productive, and the long-standing idea that pain is just part of womanhood—and silence becomes the default response.

The result? A culture of tiis ganda around period pain, where resilience sometimes looks like suffering in silence. But while pushing through may seem admirable, painful periods can quietly take a toll: losing focus during exams, zoning out in class, skipping org activities, feeling drained before the day even starts, or missing out on enriching experiences that are part of student life.

Managing period pain more effectively

The truth is, period pain is common—but it shouldn’t be normalized to the point of neglect.

Health experts emphasize that menstrual discomfort that disrupts daily life deserves attention, not dismissal. It is not something students or women in general should be expected to “just live with” as part of being productive or resilient. For many young women, managing menstrual cramps often means continuing through discomfort that may warrant greater attention and care.

There is growing recognition that enduring pain should not be treated as an expected part of being productive or resilient. Menstrual discomfort, particularly when it interferes with daily activities, should be managed proactively. Measures such as adequate rest, hydration, heat therapy, and light physical activity may help alleviate symptoms. More importantly, seeking appropriate relief and support should be considered a routine part of self-care, not an afterthought.

For women students navigating busy school months, Hyoscine N-butylbromide + Paracetamol (Buscopan Venus) helps treat dysmenorrhea at the source, works in as fast as 15 minutes for relief that can last throughout the day, and helps reduce the intensity of future period pain. It can be taken as 1–2 tablets, up to 3 times daily, or as prescribed by a physician.

Ultimately, managing student life should not mean ignoring physical discomfort. Menstrual pain is not a requirement for discipline, achievement, or strength. While resilience remains valuable, it should never come at the cost of unnecessary suffering.

The conversation is evolving—from silent endurance to active care. And in that shift, a clearer message emerges: women and students can pursue their goals fully, without having to “tiis” pain as part of the process.

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TECNO and Angélica Dass Co-Launched “100 Portraits of Becoming,” A Living Archive of Human Possibilities

100 Portraits of Becoming 7/06/2026 10:03:00 PM

As AI increasingly shapes how people are seen and represented, an urgent question emerges: how do we ensure technology reflects humanity in all its complexity?

TECNO believes the answer starts with a simple principle — technology should help the world see people more truthfully. With that belief, TECNO and Brazilian visual artist Angélica Dass launch “100 Portraits of Becoming,” a two-year initiative that covers five countries and begins today in Nairobi, Kenya.

Co-created with Angélica Dass, the “100 Portraits of Becoming” initiative aims to capture 100 authentic portraits of individuals worldwide and document their unique journeys of becoming. These portraits — spanning diverse backgrounds — serve as a testament to the human tapestry and spark a global cultural conversation surrounding authentic representation, identity, dignity, and human becoming in the age of AI.

This collaboration builds on a mutual commitment to recognizing the true diversity of human life, bringing together TECNO’s inclusive imaging innovation, which helps individuals be represented more fairly, and Dass’s human-centered approach to portraiture.

“Every image shapes assumptions — why it matters, who matters, and how people are understood. That makes fair and accurate representation increasingly important in the AI era. But beyond representation lies a bigger question: who is the real person behind the image?” said Jack Guo, General Manager at TECNO. “Through this project, we want to move beyond representation as technical accuracy alone and explore representation as recognition — enabling technology not only to capture people faithfully, but to help people feel truly seen. By moving beyond bias, labels, and stereotypes, we hope to build a future where technology reflects people more authentically and allows the world to understand them more fully. Truthful representation is the foundation of genuine human understanding.”

“As a photographer, I realize that I can be a channel for others to communicate. The ‘100 Portraits of Becoming’ initiative with TECNO creates such a channel for people to speak for themselves and be seen on their own terms. That is why this collaboration with TECNO felt meaningful to me,” said Angélica Dass.

“My portrait practice has always been less about documenting appearance and more about creating space for people to exist beyond assumptions. What moved me about this collaboration is the shared vision and the possibility of bringing that intention into a medium used by millions every day. I am excited that this initiative is not about defining people — it is about allowing identity to remain open, layered, and human. Because being visible is not the same as being understood. True recognition begins when we are seen as we really are.”

Angélica Dass: Seeing Humanity Beyond Skin Tones

The collaboration with Angélica Dass is a natural extension of TECNO’s vision and Dass’s exploration of how technology, culture, and personal stories come together to create truthful forms of human representation.

As an award-winning Brazilian-Spanish visual artist best known for Humanæ — a global portrait series that challenges conventional ideas of racial identity — Angélica Dass recognized long before others that skin tones are more than just colors; they are reflections of unique cultures and individual identities. Her work emphasizes that every person deserves to be viewed as an individual rather than a category.

In her practice, Dass uses portraiture to let the individuality of her subjects come through, treating skin tone not as a label, but as an entry point into personal narratives. Her impact resonates far beyond traditional galleries; her 2016 TED Talk on skin and identity has reached over two million viewers, and her work has been showcased at leading platforms and institutions including the World Economic Forum, UNESCO, AMNH, the Migration Museum in London, and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, while appearing in publications such as National Geographic, Vogue, and Foreign Affairs.

“One thing I appreciate about the ‘100 Portraits of Becoming’ initiative is our shared belief that portraiture is not simply about recording appearance visually. It is a way of questioning assumptions, challenging labels, and creating space for people to be seen and understood beyond stereotypes.”

From 100 Portraits to 100 Ways of Seeing Humanity in Five Countries

Through “100 Portraits of Becoming,” Dass will photograph 100 individuals across five countries, beginning in Kenya. Participants, who register via a dedicated global website, are photographed in natural light, without filters, and in attire of their own choosing to ensure maximum authenticity.

In addition to stepping in front of the lens, each individual will share their personal stories of growth and evolution, illustrating how they have navigated various cultural and societal shifts to become who they are today.

These portraits and narratives will be featured on the project’s website, creating a “Living Archive.” This digital repository will serve as a space where individuals from all walks of life can be seen, heard, and understood as part of a broader human story. The archive aims to sustain a cultural conversation about dignity and identity as AI continues to redefine representation.

TECNO Universal Tone: Expanding What Technology Can See

“100 Portraits of Becoming” will be captured on the TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra, powered by TECNO Universal Tone Technology, which serves as the technological foundation for the project’s commitment to truthful representation.

Historically, mainstream AI models and imaging algorithms have often been trained on datasets that conform to a narrow range of aesthetics, leaving them unable to reflect the full diversity of humanity. As a result, people with non-fair skin tones have too often been misrepresented in mobile photography — over-brightened, underexposed, or rendered in ways that do not reflect how they truly appear.

Launched in 2023, TECNO Universal Tone is the industry’s most advanced AI-powered full-spectrum skin tone imaging technology. It integrates TECNO’s industry-benchmark multi-skin-tone color card featuring 372 skin tones and expanding, together with the industry’s largest and most accurate skin tone database.

By supporting more accurate capture of the full spectrum of human skin tones, Universal Tone enables the portraits in this initiative to begin from a place of fairness and authenticity. It helps ensure that each subject is not corrected toward a narrow standard, but represented with the dignity, nuance, and truthfulness that the project demands.

From Nairobi to the World: One Hundred Ways to See Humanity

“100 Portraits of Becoming” begins in Kenya for a reason. Home to one of the world's youngest populations and often described as the “Silicon Savannah,” Kenya represents a future that is already being shaped by the new generation — not elsewhere, but here. From pioneering mobile financial inclusion to advancing local innovation across industries, Kenya has long challenged assumptions about where progress begins. Yet representation often lags behind reality, giving way to assumptions. In global media and increasingly in AI-generated imagery, places like Kenya are still too often framed through inherited narratives rather than lived complexity.

In Kenya, this project starts from a different belief: people should not be defined by the stories told about them, but by the stories they choose to tell themselves. The inaugural portraits reflect that spirit — featuring entrepreneurs, farmers, dancers, artists, and daily creators whose lives cannot be reduced to a single narrative. They are not catching up with the future. They are helping define it.

“People are always quick to tell you what you are and where you fit,” said Alexander Odhiambo, a Kenyan participant in “100 Portraits of Becoming” and co-founder of Solutech Limited, an enterprise software company serving manufacturers and distributors across Africa. “I stopped waiting for that. The story that counts is the one I'm writing myself.”

What begins in Nairobi doesn’t end here. Over the next two years, “100 Portraits of Becoming” travels to the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Brazil — building a living archive of people, identities, and the moments that define them. The first portraits and stories go live online in early August, marking the start of the full campaign rollout.

The future of imaging is not only about seeing more. It is about understanding more. Through one technology, five countries, and one hundred portraits, “100 Portraits of Becoming” offers one hundred ways to see humanity, one story at a time.

For any related media queries, please contact pr.tecno@tecno-mobile.com.

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