Category Archives: General

A look at our Filipino Heritage

          I was interpreting recently for a client who was making a claim for injuries suffered from a car accident. At the end of the session, the lawyer representing my client commented that some of the words I used sounded Spanish. I explained to her that one out of every three words in Tagalog has roots in Spanish.        … Read More »

Pagbabagong P-Noy Hindi ningas-kugon?

Eskeremengoles!   Tapos  ang  tag – init! E,  init  ng  ulo  di  pa  naaalis? Doon  po  sa  atin,  ulan  e  humirit! Sus!   Bagyong  si  Basyang   sagsag e  very  quick!                              *   *   * Hataw  ni  Cabuyao!      Umpisa  na  naman, Doon  nga  sa  atin  iring  tag – ulanan! Sabagay  mainam,   dahil  ang  Angat  Dam, Natutuyuan  na!   Tsk!   Tikang  na  tikang!… Read More »

The Billion Dollar Show

Is it worth it? I do not know! The final votes are not out yet. As I write this, the show is still going on. In fact, it has just begun. Wait, it has begun quite a while ago but it is reaching its climax in a few days. It appeared small at the beginning, just eight participants… Read More »

Filipinos outside the Philippines on Independence Day

June 12 is a date significant to Filipinos. It does not matter whether they are in their native land or in another part of this planet, June 12 is a date wherein Filipinos congregate and raise their national flag, June 12 is Philippine Independence Day.           In Markham, Ontario, the town council declared a Philippine Independence Week, starting… Read More »

PNoy ang Pag-asa!

Alahoy!   Halahoy!   Sa  prexy  at  bise! Yuh!  Congrats! Mabuhay!  Wow!  Sa  inyo,  Noy – B! Bayan  e  nagbunyi!   Hangad  natin  kase Iring  pagbabago  e   siyang  mangyari!                              *   *   * Sa  bagong  president,  umaasa  ngayon — Buhay  nating  Pinoy!  Aangat!   Aahon! Kahit  di  silipin  sa  inyong  Kristal  bol! Bagong  Pilipinas!   yoNyoN!  Si  PNoy!                              *   *   * Tamaaa! … Read More »

THE SPIRIT IN THE HOLY TRIAD

By Rudy M. Viernes The seventh Sunday after Easter is Pentecost Sunday.  This year it will be on May 23 and the Sunday after is May 30, the Feast of the Holy Spirit.         Pentecost is not a specially celebrated Church event.  Not many Catholics, even those renewed, know much about Pentecost and its religious significance.  The… Read More »

THE PHILIPPINE FESTIVALS

By Rudy M. Viernes   THE PHILIPPINE FESTIVALS By Rudy M. Viernes           The first day of May in the Philippines ushers in the start of a month of festivals, merrymakings,  processions, Santacruzan, Flores de Mayo, flowers and the Virgin Mary.      May is a festive month which implies feasting or celebration.  In most little towns and villages… Read More »

Our differences originate from our similarities

I find that each day there is something new to learn. We keep some views that we hold for a long time; and then all of a sudden we get shocked when something happen and finds that the view we hold is wrong.           For a long time, I had the perception that racism and discrimination are directed… Read More »

Sa Karangalan ng mga Ina

Noong maliit pa ako, malimit kong marinig sa mga matatanda na hangga’t hindi raw nagkaka-anak ang isang tao, hindi siya makababayad nang utang na loob sa kanilang ina, dahil sa pagkakaroon lamang ng sariling anak nila lubusang mararanasan ang lahat ng hirap na tiniis ng kanilang ina mapalaki lamang sila.                 Malaki na ko ngayon. Hindi lamang malaki… Read More »

A Stranger in one’s own native land.

A Filipino caregiver who had worked several years in Canada suddenly discovered that she had cancer. Her physician told her that she would have about six months to live. She decided that she would go home to die in the Philippines. “Ayokong mamatay dito. Gusto kong mamatay sa sariling bayan, sa piling ng aking mga kapatid at iba… Read More »