Little did 26-year-old Ana Patricia Non realize that by organizing a bamboo makeshift food bank on a street would make her a celebrity and, ironically, at the same time put her in hot water. All she did was bring to life the time-tested Filipino “bayanihan spirit” of helping people in need. It all began on April 14, 2021… Read More »
According to Wikipedia, “The melting pot is a monocultural metaphor for a heterogeneous society becoming more homogeneous, the different elements ‘melting together’ with a common culture; an alternative being a homogeneous society becoming more heterogeneous through the influx of foreign elements with different cultural backgrounds, possessing the potential to create disharmony within the previous culture. Historically, it is… Read More »
Hmmm. Looks like fun. How is pandemic jargon understood? Stop the Spread – Does not work on a peanut butter and jam sandwich. Super Spreader – Yummy! (See above.) Public Health Protocols – Rules to LIVE by. Frontliners – Responsible people who work better when those they serve desire to be safer. Stay Home – When adults worry… Read More »
In my column, “Quo Vadis, Tea Party?” (December 14, 2012), I wrote: “Is the Republican Party in disarray? No. Is it dysfunctional? Probably, yes. Is it crumbling? Not yet. Yes, at the rate the bloodletting is going on, the Grand Old Party of Abraham Lincoln is going through like what ‘Honest Abe’ went through during his tumultuous presidency—a… Read More »
Did you know that 1 in 5 Toronto households experience food insecurity? As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to worsen, it is affecting a rising number of low-wage earners in terms of food security, and this is producing negative health outcomes. Food insecurity refers to the inadequate or insecure access to food due to lack of money. Many households… Read More »
What a beautiful 1st day of spring it is today – March 20, 2021! Blue skies and bright sun. Still cold but the resplendent sun and sky makes a whole world of difference. Aware of the coming warmer days, I am looking forward to finally bring out my potted plants which have been “wintering” (or is it winterizing?)… Read More »
Last March 7, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported that more than 200 vessels – believed to be manned by Chinese militia personnel – were observed moored in line formation at the Julian Felipe Reef within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf. However, the reef, which is also called Whitsun Reef, is within the Spratly… Read More »
Social innovation cannot take place in the absence of creative expression. Without expressing one’s thoughts and ideas, only the status quo remains. Ideas and opinions can mature to creative outcomes and provide potential solutions for local and global challenges. As the world struggles to win against the COVID-19 pandemic, people continue to search for something novel, which could… Read More »
The South Pacific reminds of the movie “South Pacific,” a musical story released in 1958 about a US Navy nurse who falls for a middle-aged French plantation owner. The movie is set on a volcanic island Bali Hai, which is based on the real island Ambae. It is located in what is now the Republic of Vanuatu (the… Read More »
Volunteers have been playing an essential role in achieving a more resilient community against COVID-19 pandemic. The volunteer sector in the Philippines was placed in a quandary with restrictions that imposed community quarantine regulations, and not to mention the potential threat from COVID-19 infection. Despite these challenges, volunteers continue to find many ways to help and give back… Read More »