Probabilities and Possibilities

“Every man is nothing more or less than the demands of the world, and that the more a man demands of the world, the bigger the magnitude of his success or failure in life.” Omar El Akkad, What Strange Paradise (2021) Creativity I have been told it must be there Within the confines of my soul. Open my… Read More »

Probabilities and Possibilities

“Every man is nothing more or less than the demands of the world, and that the more a man demands of the world, the bigger the magnitude of his success or failure in life.” Omar El Akkad, What Strange Paradise (2021) By Rey Moreno Creativity I have been told it must be there Within the confines of my… Read More »

A Life Profiled: Andres Bonifacio

A Life Profiled: Andres Bonifacio “Kaya, O mga kababayan! Ating idilat ang nabulag na kaisipan, at kusang igugol sa kagalingan ang ating lakas sa tunay at lubos na pag-asa na magtagumpay sa minimithing kaginhawan ng bayan tinubuan.” – Andres Bonifacio, Ang Dapat Mabatid ng mga Tagalog. He is called the Great Plebeian, the Supremo and Founder of the… Read More »

Why do I write?

“And what is this writing, anyway, as a human activity or as a vocation, or as a profession, or as a hack job, or perhaps even as an art, and why do so many people feel compelled to do it?”   Margaret Atwood, Negotiating with the Dead: A Writer on Writing (2002). Unless you are being paid to… Read More »

The past is just a goodbye

“This place was part of him, and would always be. A rough place, a stern place, where it was monumental task just to survive. And it had given him some of its strength.” Max Braithwaite, All the Way Home (1986). By Rey Moreno “Don’t judge me until you learn the facts and circumstances of my life. Don’t take… Read More »

Without departure there is no arrival

“When the plane was taking off…I will start everything again elsewhere…I was simply looking for a haven.” Ying Chen, “On the Verge of Disappearance”. The plane took off on schedule. I was at the window seat and looked out one last time, reflecting on the glaring but fading lights of the Philippine International Airport and its surrounding areas.… Read More »

Jeu de paume

“When you do something best in life, you don’t really want to give that up – and for me it’s tennis.”  – Roger Federer The literal translation of the French words in the above title is “game of the palm.” The game of tennis then started as a handball game, and whenever the French would serve, they would… Read More »

Please don’t hate me

“But I have learned that kindness and love can pay for pain and suffering.” Alan Paton, Cry, the Beloved Country (1948). Wedding day is one of life’s important milestones for a woman. Being the centre of attention once in a while is a reaffirming moment to an elevated status that is hard to come by. That was on… Read More »

Ako’y Filipino-Canadian Na

“Ang hindi lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makakarating sa paroroonan.” What’s that hyphen for? Does that mean you’re not a pure Pinoy anymore? Yep, I used to be one but I renounced it to become a Canadian citizen. Also, I have lived a lot longer in Canada than the Philippines. My daughter and granddaughter were born here. Canada… Read More »

The Commencement Address

“There are no wrong turnings. Only paths we had not known we were meant to walk.” – Guy Gavriel Kay Dear Graduates You honour me for selecting me as your commencement speaker when you can have a better person than I am. As some of you may have known, I am a homosexual. I hope my revelation won’t… Read More »