Kuwentong Peyups atbp

The documentary on Cagayan Valley activists, ” BLOOM WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED”,    bagged Best Film  of  the 21st  Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival. The film directed by Noni Abao narrated the story of   three land rights activists in Cagayan Valley:  Agnes Mesina  (a development worker), Amanda  Echanis (a jailed mother-artist-activist), and  Randy Malayo (a slain peace consultant).    It also won Best Editing. The film  was cited for …

Cinemalaya’s Best Film is documentary on Cagayan Valley activists Read More »

Activism is not terrorism! “Red-tagging” as a threat to people’s life, liberty, and security is the focus  of “Bloom Where You Are Planted” by Nonilon Abao which is one of the ten competing full length films in the 21st 21st  Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival. The synopsis of the film states: “The Cagayan Valley Region in the Philippines serves …

Red tagging in Cinemalaya’’s “Bloom Where You Are Planted” Read More »

The first National Seafarers Day (NSD)  was celebrated  on August 18, 1996 , with the theme “Marinong Filipino: Taas Noo!” at the WG&A Pier 4, North Harbor Manila. This year’s  30th NSD  was held on September 28, 2025 with the theme ‘Marinong Filipino: Ating Karagatan. Ating Kabuhayan. Alagaan!” Former president Fidel V. Ramos issued on July 9, 1996 Proclamation …

Thirty years of National Seafarers Day to honor Filipino mariners Read More »

Exactly a year after being given an X-rating, “Alipato at Muog”  film on desaparecidos  was recognized as Best Picture  by  the  Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS)  Awards. “We don’t have any speeches prepared. We don’t have lists of people to thank. We were there to be the voice of the voiceless. We were there because we have a …

“Alipato at Muog”  film on desaparecidos  won  73rd FAMAS Best Picture and Best Director Read More »

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 …

Rattan and  climate change Read More »

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 …

Flowers for Lolas Read More »

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 »