Education and women’s empowerment advocate is new Inquirer columnist
Education and women empowerment advocate Eleanor Rosa “Lynn” Pinugu starts a new column in the Inquirer’s Opinion section today.
The column called “Undercurrent,” in Pinugu’s own words, “seeks to spark a thoughtful discussion of sociopolitical events, cultural shifts, and the developing zeitgeist. It will present issues relevant to young people while adding larger context and exploring how these could possibly shape society at large.”
Pinugu joins the Inquirer’s prestigious and respected line of columnists including professors Randy David and Michael L. Tan, economist Cielito F. Habito, historian Ambeth R. Ocampo, political analyst Manuel L. Quezon III, human rights lawyer Joel Butuyan, and former Chief Justice Artemio V. Panganiban, among others.
‘Unfamiliar narratives’
Pinugu, cofounder and executive director of multi-awarded social enterprise Mano Amiga Philippines, explained that the term “undercurrent” is usually used in the negative context.
However, through her weekly column, she hopes to present alternative ideas and differing perspectives beneath the smooth surface of things.
“I chose Undercurrent as the name of the column as a reminder to seek unfamiliar narratives amid familiar themes, and to help amplify lesser-known stories and voices that could benefit from the reach that the Inquirer offers,” she said.
In her first appearance as this paper’s regular columnist, Pinugu talks about the “woke” generation and how the term has been distorted by social media discourse and toxic online environment.
‘Nation’s discourse’
Aside from her work with Mano Amiga Philippines, Pinugu is also the co-founder and CEO of She Talks Asia, a women-centered platform and impact agency focused on amplifying messages of empowerment, diversity, and inclusion.
She has been recognized as a World Economic Forum Global Shaper, United Nations Alliance of Civilizations Fellow, Obama Leader, Asia Society’s Asia 21 Young Leader, and GenT Leader of Tomorrow, as well as an awardee of The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service.
Seeing her byline in the Inquirer was a dream for Pinugu when she was a journalism student at Ateneo de Manila University in the 2000s.
“I am deeply grateful and humbled for the opportunity to contribute to the nation’s discourse, through a platform that has always stood for integrity and journalistic excellence,” she said.
“Undercurrent” appears every Monday.
