“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 …
I have celebrated my birthday week inside the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman campus several times, in most instances coinciding with the traditional Lantern Parade. The parade traverses the UP Academic oval canopied by over a hundred years old sturdy acacia trees that are silent witnesses to the travails of the Diliman denizens. UP normally celebrates the …
The social and political landscape of UP Lantern Parade Read More »
The number of last surviving Filipino “comfort women” dwindled further with the death of 94-year old Lola Estelita Dy last November 24, 2024 after suffering cardiac arrest. Like other Filipina comfort women, Lola Estelita died still fighting without receiving justice. “Maraming salamat sa buhay mo Lola Estelita,” Kapuso actress Sanya Lopez wrote in her Instagram who plays the character of Teresita Borromeo in the …
Filipina comfort woman Lola Estelita dies at age 94 without receiving justice Read More »
The Philippines has the 4th highest number of new intellectual property rights (IPR) filings and registrations in Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO) reported that there were 71,623 new IPR filings in the Philippines in 2023 broken down into 4,889 patents, 65,219 trademarks, and 1,515 industrial designs. This was mentioned during …
Manila hosts Asian Patent Attorneys Association (APAA) 2024 conference Read More »
“Makibaka. Huwag Matakot!”. A graffiti scene from the musical Silver Lining Redux that depicted the long history of student radical activism in the University of the Philippines (UP). Initially staged in 2023, the musical tells the story of three high school friends Leo, Anton, and Raul , as they navigate the highs and lows of growing up in the 1970s under Martial Law …
Silver Lining Redux: A nostalgia of university life Read More »
The parameters for the third doctor consultation under the newly signed Magna Carta for Filipino Seafarers will lessen the chance of claimants to receive favorable decisions in compensation cases. The provision on Determination of Disability Grading or Fitness to Work (Section 57) indicated that “the third doctor’s assessment shall strictly adhere to the Schedule of Disabilities as provided in the Standard …
When it comes to remembering our country’s history of struggle, most people’s memories seem to be selective, and rather short, including World War II. The stories of Filipina comfort women became viral due to airing of the locally produced television drama series entitled “Pulang Araw,” produced by GMA Entertainment, which is also streamed in Netflix. Set during World War …
“Pulang Araw” as the voice of the Filipina comfort women’s call for justice Read More »
Despite the enactment of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) or R.A. No. 8371 twenty seven years ago, conflicting laws and policies have made the implementation of this law quite challenging. This was the pronouncement of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), through its Episcopal Commission on Indigenous Peoples (ECIP), on the 47th Indigenous People’s Sunday last 13 October 2024 …
Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) and the struggle for self-determination Read More »
Some 352,479 kilograms of trash and debris, ranging from plastics to other waste materials, were collected in 250 coastal sites across the country during the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) last September 21, 2024. ICC is the world’s largest volunteer effort for ocean’s health and is being conducted every third Saturday of September of each year to raise awareness about the …
The threat of marine litter to human health, food security, economy and environment Read More »
Government positions should not serve as a means for personal gain or privilege. A reminder from Bishop Ruperto Santos of Antipolo in his homily during the September 22, 2024 mass at the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) headquarters in Manila as part of the opening ceremonies of the 29th National Seafarers’ Day (NSD) and the 25th National Maritime Week (NMW). Bishop …
Stella Maris Philippines: Seafarers must safeguard their votes Read More »
