Osaka, Japan – The use of rattan for the façade of the Philippine Pavillion perhaps is a simple way to address climate change issues. The panel discussion on “Health and Climate Change: The Greatest Challenge of Our Time” underscored that climate change impacts livelihoods and health through various direct and indirect pressures, and vulnerable populations …
Eighty years ago, the pre-recorded announcement of Emperor Hirohito verbally accepting the terms of surrender that ended Second World War reverberated throughout Japan via radio on August 14, 1945 . The United States earlier detonated two atomic bombs over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima (August 6 ) and Nagasaki (August 9) that killed between 140,000 and 70,000 people, respectively, most of …
Buscalan Tinglayan, Kalinga – I was inked last Holy Week in my right forearm with the iconic three dots tattoo by Apo Whang-Od, the so-called last and oldest surviving mambabatok. Batok refers to the traditional Filipino tattooing practice, particularly in the northern Luzon region that has been around for more than a thousand years. It involves hand-tapped designs applied to the …
The three dots iconic tattoo of Apo Whang-Od and copyright Read More »
Mahjong has a special place in our family as we grew up with weekend gatherings of aunts and uncles for mahjong sessions while we (cousins) play traditional games. Mahjong is a Chinese tile-based game of skill, strategy, and luck, which can be fun but can also be deadly. Mahjong is commonly played by four players …
Mahjong as part of Chinese influence in Filipino culture Read More »
“At nang magsawa na kami’y pinawalan, Halos ang hininga’y ibig nang pumanaw. Sa laki ng hirap na pinagdaanan, Sira na ang isip pati na katawan.” 89-year old Lola Maria Quilantang led in singing the 18 stanzas of the song of the Malaya Lolas in the style of “pangangaluluwa,” hymn-offerings to the dead. The Malaya Lolas is associated with the “Bahay …
Declare ‘Bahay na Pula’ as official WWII memorial Read More »
When I was younger, I always had dreams of flying by virtue of magical shoes. In Greek mythology, shoes, particularly sandals and winged sandals, symbolize various themes including speed, travel, divine aid, and even power or authority. Shoes, far from being mere functional items, possess deep symbolic resonances. Shoes symbolize universal experiences of protection, transition, and …
When Life Gives You Tangerines: a tale of shoes and cabbages Read More »
“We are the ones who show the world what women are capable of. We are the ones who prove that strength is not defined by gender”. A strong statement by Achrissa Maw of the Women’s Basketball Team of the University of the Philippines (UP) during the Third Sunflower Run-Walk-Parade that was held last March 22,2025 at …
Third Sunflower Parade as tribute to UP women athletes Read More »
A father’s seemingly innocent loving lines from Tanghalan Pilipino’s (TP) stage adaptation of the1981 drama film Kisapmata that , however, hide issues of domestic violence, incest and the struggle to freedom. I first saw the suspense thriller film Kisapmata in the late 1980s during my college days at the University of the Philippines in Diliman. …
Kisapmata: a tale of domestic violence, incest and the struggle to freedom. Read More »
Binondo is the center of activities in Manila during the annual Chinese New Year celebrations where thousands gather for the special performances (Dragon/Lion dances), cuisine, lucky charms, prosperity fruits, and boxes of “tikoy”. Considered the first and oldest Chinatown in the world, Binondo was established in 1594 as a permanent settlement for Chinese immigrants, particularly those who had converted to Catholicism and …
Binondo and the Chinese guerillas during World War II Read More »
“Waláng himalâ! Ang himalâ ay nasa pusò ng tao, nasa pusò nating lahat! Tayo ang gumagawâ ng mga himalâ! Tayo ang gumagawâ ng mga sumpâ at ng mga diyos” Since its inception, this line from the 1982 film “Himala,” directed by Ishmael Bernal, has been inextricably linked to Nora Aunor. The film follows the folks …
