| Photo by Anastassia Anufrieva on Unsplash
Part I of a New Series “Lucubration, Not Locobration”
My long-time friend, Ricky Rillera, the publisher of the Philippine Daily Mirror (PDM). is also a fellow Knight Commander of Rizal. He usually writes an op-ed piece for the New Year.
For last Wednesday’s New Year’s Eve message, Mr. Rillera wrote a remarkable essay, The Promise—and Demands—of 2026. which readers may like to read.
It says in the lead paragraph: “Every new year arrives carrying both the burdens of the world we’ve built and the possibilities of the world we still hope to shape. As 2026 begins, that duality feels especially sharp. Overlapping crises have marked the past few years—public health strains, geopolitical conflict, economic uncertainty, and climate‑driven disasters. Yet within these pressures lies the potential for long‑overdue transformation, if leaders and communities choose to confront the moment with clarity and resolve.”
Then the essay ends with this forecast: “Across all these issues—health, global conflict, immigration, economic stability, and climate resilience—the common thread is this: 2026 will not magically deliver progress. But it offers a rare moment of convergence, a chance to learn from recent turmoil and chart a more intentional path forward. The promise of the new year is not that it will be easier, but that it can be better—if we choose to make it so.”
“After this columnist read Mr. Rillera’s column, he remembered a lesson learned at San Beda College’s School of Journalism in 1966. Yes, 60 years ago, this wordsmith learned that “lucubration” is the “act of studying or working diligently, especially at night, often resulting in profound insights or intellectual output”.
” … [M]any policy and decision makers in many countries, along with their giant corporations, have been doing “locobration” rather than lucubration. Reportedly, many of them burn the midnight oil posting on social media “locobratoric” (sic) messages. Yes, instead of thinking about the solutions to the many socioeconomic, political, and other problems of their nations and even of the world ….
One of our journalism professors said that “Lucubration refers to intense study or diligent work, particularly when performed during late hours. This term encapsulates the essence of serious intellectual engagement, often associated with a pursuit of knowledge or insight. Especially for journalists (and their deadlines), it highlights the commitment and effort put into understanding complex subjects or completing challenging tasks. It evokes images of scholars burning the midnight oil, surrounded by books and notes, driven by curiosity and the desire to learn. In essence, lucubration is not merely about studying; it embodies the passion and dedication that fuels the academic journey, often leading to significant discoveries and breakthroughs.”
While conceptualizing what this columnist would write for the first column on the first Sunday of 2026, he decided to coin a new word: “locobration.” He remembered the alleged joke among employees of the grilled-chicken chain called “El Pollo Loco” about their favorite president. They reportedly call him “El Presidente de Pollo Mas Loco”. And thus, hopefully, “locobration” (sic) may become the best new word for 2026. That is, if nobody has coined it earlier.
Casting humor aside, many policy and decision makers in many countries, along with their giant corporations, have been doing “locobration” rather than lucubration. Reportedly, many of them burn the midnight oil posting on social media “locobratoric” (sic) messages. Yes, instead of thinking about the solutions to the many socioeconomic, political, and other problems of their nations and even of the world, as Ricky Rillera pointed out in his op-ed piece.
We wish you all a Blessed, Happy Lucobratoric New Year!
