For Filipinos who have been outside of the Philippines for years, Christmas is both a time for rejoicing and a time for remembering. Even as the Filipino in America begins to feel the holiday mood immediately after Thanksgiving when people start shopping for gifts and Christmas decors, he feels at the same time a longing for home. For… Read More »
Dangle out the carrots, 2011 is the year of the Rabbit according to the Chinese Zodiac calendar. Unlike 2010—year of the Tiger, considered to be fast paced and dynamic, Anno Cuniculus (year of the Rabbit) is almost always characterized as quiet, positive and inspiring. The Chinese astrology tells us that indeed it looks like “refreshing changes will come… Read More »
Every year Christmas comes to Christendom in unerring certainty. Symbolized by Christ child, Christmas is for children. However, this red letters day is likewise shared by the elders, for amongst them, there would always be the feeling and thoughts of childhood and the children in them. Christmas, to many of us, is the storehouse of our memories in… Read More »
WHO is really Santa Claus ?. Why is he so popular worldwide that children await him December of each year ? And why did retired Philippine bishop Teodoro Bacani said Santa is stealing Christmas from Jesus Christ who was supposed to be the center of attraction on his birth date December 25 . ****** Bacani insists Santa “helps… Read More »
We have brought down our ‘winter’ outfits from the attic, pinagpagan, ni- washing machine and hang out to dry. We can wear them again- Christmas weather na here in Manila! Felt the change in weather only last week. Di na gaanong namamawis ang aking batok at kili- kili as I travelled in the old, reliable (pero madalas nakakasuklam… Read More »
While in Manila on a 10-day vacation recently, I had the opportunity to attend a media forum on barangays presided by former Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. at the Club Filipino in Greenhills. No one could have explained to media members the barangay system in the Philippines better than the three-term senator who authored the Local Government Code in… Read More »
The reason for the season has long been forgotten. Santa Claus is more popular than the birthday celebrant. All that matters now are the material things; the spirituality is gone. Let’s put back the true essence of Christmas – the glorious birth of Lord Jesus Christ. AVV1210 I have observed the complete transformation of the true essence of… Read More »
A day after President Benigno S. Aquino III offered guarantees to foreign investors who would participate in his administration’s public-private partnership (PPP) program, an official of a Belgian firm contracted to dredge the Laguna de Bay for P18 billion complained that Malacanang unilaterally cancelled the contract without first informing them. Dimitri Ditielleux, North Asia manager of Baggerwerken Decloedt… Read More »
Rig driving was a way of life among pinoys during the pre-war years in Manila. And Tondo was the main venue of these rig operators in the city. The Cochero or rig driver during those years were referred to as “king of the road” as rigs outnumbered the motor vehicles on the road, and the voting power of… Read More »
‘Galing ng Pinoy!- sasabihin na naman natin yan at ia- assure ang ating mga sarili on the greatness of our race. Isang Pinoy kasi was credited recently by international astronomers as having brought to the attention of the astronomy community a rare and curious phenome-non in the sky. Early last month (November), Christopher Go of Cebu City noticed… Read More »