{"id":1233,"date":"2026-07-11T17:59:53","date_gmt":"2026-07-11T09:59:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cie.hkbu.edu.hk\/the-punctum\/?p=1233"},"modified":"2026-07-12T12:34:25","modified_gmt":"2026-07-12T04:34:25","slug":"editorial-embracing-changes-and-uncertainties-out-there-by-bernie-mak-managing-editor-of-the-punctum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cie.hkbu.edu.hk\/the-punctum\/blog\/2026\/07\/11\/editorial-embracing-changes-and-uncertainties-out-there-by-bernie-mak-managing-editor-of-the-punctum\/","title":{"rendered":"Editorial: Embracing changes and uncertainties out there — by Bernie Mak, Managing Editor of The Punctum<\/em>"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Published online:<\/strong> July 11, 2026; Published:<\/strong> July 14, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Change, they say, is good for an organization during transition. At least that is what those people in charge keep telling us, right before they move the goalposts, rearrange the furniture, and quietly discontinue the things we genuinely value. If uncertainty is the new normal, then somewhere, someone with a fixed line must be making this call, then raising that glass. Welcome to volume 4 of The Punctum<\/em>, where we explore the peculiar arts and languages of dealing with the mess left by the enthusiastic architects of change.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first change is about finding home<\/a>. It sounds simple, doesn’t it? But for many, finding “home” feels like chasing a ghost. In Fiona Wong’s long poem, we travel with someone who is tired from searching. At long last, she arrives somewhere that feels like home, but is it really? Maybe, and maybe not. Home is not always a place. It is a feeling, a moment which is always changing. Oftentimes, the only thing you can count on is the search itself. Probably, that is enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coming up next are things that look normal. They are white, black, or clear. They seem safe, and sometimes professional. Nonetheless, as Leo Lee’s article<\/a> illustrates, looks are deceiving. His work uncovers how dangerous chemicals can hide in the most ordinary domestic products, including those in plain colors. Never trust appearances. The usual place is full of hidden dangers, especially where you least expect them. Change means learning to look beyond the surface; and perhaps reading a few more labels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The third change is to trace the vanished, back to your childhood. History is full of things that disappear, a closed kindergarten, for example. Miriam Lau’s travel note<\/a>, part 3 of the trilogy, takes us on the remaining journal to track down what remains of a place once filled with children’s laughter and innocence. The building is gone, but the memories and stories linger. Change not only means losing things we care about, but also helps us understand the present, then letting go (of) the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This Yonkoma manga is created by Google Gemini. Any resemblance to actual persons, events, or locales is purely coincidental.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The fourth change is guided by the tenant of a temple. Monks sometimes say our bodies are temples. Be honest, though. We all are visitors, not owners. Good people will do bad things; bad people can do good things. We judge others, but we are just as flawed. Regardless of the verdict, everybody has to leave the temple. Theresa Cunanan’s poem<\/a> asks: Can we forgive ourselves, like the son in the old story? Change is not always about being better, but about being humble, making peace with Fate. If you have done both good and bad things, you are just like everyone else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fifth, there is one change that nobody can run away from: death. Yvonne Wong’s short poem<\/a> asks: When faced with something we cannot avoid, should we charge forward or wait for things to change on their own? The answer does not matter. There are too many things beyond our control. Change, and even death, are part of life. Sometimes, the best we can do is accept it, and maybe enjoy the ride. Whether you cross the stream or stand still, the mountain to climb will still be there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last but not least, speak up to change, or change to speak up. My own article<\/a>, though woven by the grammar lover Bernie Mak, is not about grammar, but confidence. It clears up some old linguistic myths that stop Hong Kong youngsters from speaking up. No one speaks perfectly all the time. Change means giving up the need to be perfect, or even accurate. Mistakes are part of the deal. The world is full of people (and AI chatbots) who talk confidently, even when they do not know anything. Why don’t we join them? Say the least, enjoy speaking English.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Transitions are hard, risky, angry, sometimes funny, and essentially uncertain. In uncertainties, change is the only sure thing that will always stay with us. Therefore, as you read this volume, bear in mind: Change is inevitable, especially when it is someone else’s top-down idea. And uncertainty? Well, that is just part of the transition; so they say.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Editor’s note<\/strong>
All claims or opinions expressed in the publications of this volume are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated divisions or programs. Their use, distribution, or reproduction on other forums is permitted, provided that the original author(s) and copyright owner(s) are credited, and that the original publication in this journal is appropriately cited, in accordance with standard academic practices. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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