WHEN MACHINES STOPPED THE APPLAUSE

In an era addicted to acceleration, one voice dared to ask: what gets lost when we stop thinking for ourselves? On a humid morning in Manila’s premier lecture theatre, Joseph Plazo took the stage not as an evangelist of machines, but as their translator.---### His First Sentence Wasn’t Loud, But It Shook the WallsNo slides. No startup pitch.

In an era addicted to acceleration, one voice dared to ask: what gets lost when we stop thinking for ourselves? At the University of the Philippines, in a hall steeped in tradition and ambition, Joseph Plazo spoke not to impress, but to interrupt.---### The Opening Line That Changed the Atmosphere He didn’t offer promises. He offered paradox.�