“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 …
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 »
