“If you speak a language a person can understand, that goes to his head, but if you speak his mother tongue, that goes to his heart.” — Nelson Mandela CHICAGO (JGL) – Pope Francis was not reinterpreting the message of Jesus that if someone slaps your cheek, you can offer the other cheek. I think what the… Read More »
“If you speak a language a person can understand, that goes to his head, but if you speak his mother tongue, that goes to his heart.” — Nelson Mandela CHICAGO (JGL) – Pope Francis was not reinterpreting the message of Jesus that if someone slaps your cheek, you can offer the other cheek. I think what the 78-year-old… Read More »
MANILA Actually, the conquest was mutual. Pope Francis charmed and conquered the Filipinos, while they overwhelmed him with their devoutness. He conquered our emotions as we conquered his admiration. The Pope, in the Philippines Jan. 15-19, will never again see anywhere in the world such multitude displaying their religious enthusiasm and fervor. The Pope’s visit was a much-needed opiate… Read More »
“Oh, how I would like a poor Church, and for the poor,” with these words, Pope Francis set the tone for his papacy. The Pope has shown he meant what he said by discarding expensive vests in favor of simple white robes, staying in modest housing instead of the papal apartments, and using a Ford Focus instead of… Read More »
CHICAGO (JGL) – When someone immigrates to the United States from a Third World country like the Philippines, his or her aspirations are usually set on default – to find a greener pasture in pursuit of life, liberty and happiness. But in the case of my niece, Anna Melisa “Honey” L. Lasala, who came to the U.S. at… Read More »
HAPPY NEW YEAR! The holidays are over. The rushing and dashing to shop for presents for our loved ones, friends and others we had to remember during this period is over. Shopping for presents is not an easy task. We have to decide what would please the person we intend the gift for. We also have to consider… Read More »
The latest survey by the Social Weather Station showed that about 52 percent or 11.4 million Filipino families rate themselves as poor, the worst in eight years in terms of self-rated poverty. It matched the self-rated poverty percentage during the Arroyo administration in 2006. “We note the results of the survey. And we continue with our efforts to… Read More »
MANILA As we all know and are so proud of, we Filipinos are gung-ho about Christmas. Nothing on the calendar beats Christmas. We’re simply mad about Christmas. We go all out. We celebrate as if the day after Christmas, which isn’t December 26, it’s January 7 or thereabouts, is Doomsday. Like there’s no tomorrow, like it’s the end… Read More »
Huwag kang sasagot!” Answering back elders is a sign of disrespect. No matter whether the elder is right or wrong. Respect for elders is a tradition deep in Filipino culture. Younger generations are expected to kiss the hand of parents, grandparents, uncles or aunts as sign of respect. The Filipino language (Tagalog) contains expressions of respect like “po… Read More »
(Author’s note: At this time of the year, this writer pauses from political and other issues and focuses on the Christmas season. The article below was first written in 2003 and has appeared in this corner during the Christmas weekend every year since.) For Filipinos who have been outside of the Philippines for years, Christmas is both a… Read More »