More Maple Syrup, Please

Asked why Canadians played so well in the US Open, Olympian and rising tennis star Leylah Annie Fernandez replied: “I would say it’s the maple syrup.” Cheering for Montreal-born Félix Auger-Aliassime then seeking for a semi-finals berth, Leylah told media: “I’m going to give him a huge jar of maple syrup.” Throwback. Vasek Pospisil, a great Canadian tennister… Read More »

Can I Count On You?

It is so true that if something adorns the rear-view mirror of a Filipino-owned vehicle, it is either a string of beads or a pair of miniature boxing gloves or both. A thing of comic relief or supernatural belief, at times, gets the hang of it. Faith-based stuff, objects of national pride and representations of whatever say it… Read More »

What Tokyo So Long?

Moving on to Paris 2024, the Philippines has one gold, five silver and eight bronze medals sewn to its flag, courtesy of 12 Olympians since 1928, four years shy of its beginnings in the Paris 1924 Games. Gold Medalist: Hidilyn Diaz, Weightlifting, Women’s 55 Kilogram, Tokyo 2020. Silver Medalists: Carlo Paalam, Boxing-Men’s Flyweight, Tokyo 2020; Nesthy Petecio, Boxing-Women’s… Read More »

The Sky Is the Langit

To space and back! On its own accord, the recent quick shuttle trips of two rich men and their pals to the void beyond Earth’s atmosphere is a sign that free will, plus lots of resources, still works. However, the motive – to promote big ticket suborbital tourism – makes the conscience part of a complex equation on… Read More »

2V or not 2V

As soon as the ashy mist of a conversational tit for tat clears, another one bites the dust at maiiwang tulala. Take this. Para bang tinanong ka ng kasalubong mo: “Pare, saan ka?” Yamot pa siya kung ang reply ay “Nandito.” ‘Di ba? Totoo naman na narito kung wala roon. Hmmpp. Or this: May bitbit kang towel, soap… Read More »

Stand On Guard

        Waking up to a new day is a second chance to choose the best path, do what is good and be what is right.         Hello, July! Hello, summer! Hello, people of the True North. Let’s have a toast! ***** Lately, sports fever drew fans to bars, patios and bubbly wells. The outdoor summer thirst is quenched. Good! As… Read More »

Figure it Out

Impong Kulas opines: “Ang kasal ay katulad din pala ng pandemic. Hindi biro.” “For richer or for poorer in whatever whichever, either one lives happily ever after or go social distancing.”   ***** Joyfully saying “I do” and vowing “to love, to hold and to cherish” are indelible relationship commitments. Welcoming the ‘reopening’ on June 11 shows that life… Read More »

On Leaving Berlin

Packed and ready to go! See you soon? Whatever, let me bid you goodbye, fare thee well, bon voyage, adieu, adios, auf wiedersehen, paalam so on and so forth. Why do I have to go through this ritual every time a strong man picks up the balikbayan box? ***** Hopefully, the surreal release from caged boredom will come.… Read More »

Is Santa An Alien?

Raise the roof? Unless there is a wee bit of rocket science safety risk still up in the air, then the ocean plunge of a 40,000-pound space junk off Maldives should be good but erstwhile trivial news. Bashers, however, still try to discredit the potency of China’s space race adventure. The China Manned Space Engineering Office said that… Read More »

Get Vac!

“Wisdom begins with wonder,” so said Athenian Socrates, who is credited as the first moral philosopher of the Western ethical tradition of thought. Nice one, Soc. Now, may we please start wondering and hoping to be a bit wiser? ***** Did we ever wonder why, about half a decade or so ago, our parents were at ease and… Read More »