NSA-designate Clarita Carlos, the scholar-scientist

THE announcement that retired professor Clarita R. Carlos was offered the post of national security adviser by President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. came like a plot twist to an unfortunate narrative played out on social media. Dr. Carlos figured in a high-profile professional feud when her former colleagues at the University of the Philippines' political science department took a "collective stand" to almost denounce her affiliation with her alma mater.

I had a conversation with Dr. Carlos last April in my Facebook live session. I first met her when I moderated the SMNI senatorial debates, the same series of political debates where Dr. Carlos rose to rock stardom. "I believe in the energy of the universe, Daphne. You just follow it. Then when there are too many "lubaks," stop already. Because the universe is telling you something."