Touching the Strings of the Heart

“Bituing Marikit, sa gabi ng buhay, Ang bawa’t kislap mo’y. ligaya ang taglay. Yaring aking palad, iyong patnubayan.. Na kahit na sinag, ako’y bahaginan…           These lines of the kundiman “Bituing Marikit” kept running through my mind as my sister and I drove home that rainy Saturday night.           We just came from attending the Fiesta Filipina Dance… Read More »

A different kind of hostage situation

It is tempting to comment on the botched hostage rescue operations last Aug. 23 when SWAT teams stormed a tourist bus where a dismissed police officer was holding hostage tourists from Hong Kong, resulting in the death of eight hostages and the hostage-taker. But with the joint investigation by Manila and Hong Kong forensic teams going on, I’d… Read More »

JUST CHARGE IT!

Sales of goods and services hardly take place these days on a purely cash basis.  It is no longer farfetched to make purchases at groceries or retail stores without any cash on hand.  With the advent of the internet, purchases within the confines of one’s home have also become more convenient than ever.  The credit card has played… Read More »

RP and the US-China conflict

After a long layoff, the disputed Spratlys islands in the South China Sea are back in the news again.    Last month, US State Secretary Hilary Clinton set the tone for the renewed interest in the group of mostly uninhabited islands and coral reefs, which are being disputed by six countries, including China and the Philippines, when she… Read More »

Major! Major! Mistake? Ngayon bukambibig!

Eskeremengoles!  Major!  Major!  Mistake? Doon  po  sa  atin,   ngayon  bukambibig! Wakanga!   Sez  intsik,  sa  palpak  na  pulis! At  wakanga  pa  rin!   Names  e  nagkapalit!                              *   *   * Alahoy!   Alahoy!  Yung  jueteng  na  naman! Retired  Obispo  Cruz,   sez  business  as  usual! Taong  Malacanang  natanggap  ng  lagay? Lumang  tugtugin  na!   Singhal  ni  Cabuyao!                              *   *   * Sabi  ni … Read More »

TAWA TAWA AGAINST DENGUE

God created the world so perfect for God is so perfect. In every problem, there is a solution. In every challenge and trial, our Creator created things for us to overcome these adversities. All we have to do is look at our side and we will see how the world was created in its perfection.                                                                                                                                                             AVV910… Read More »

OF INTERNET LOVES AND SPONSORSHIPS

The internet has made the world a smaller place, bringing people together in more ways than one.  It is not uncommon in this day and age for people to fall in love using the language of bits and bytes, zeroes and ones.  But being romantically involved online is one thing, and convincing the immigration officer that one’s internet… Read More »

The Anatomy of Defeat

Amando Chacon grew up in Intramuros.  His father was from the Visayas and his mother was an indigenous resident of the Walled city.  His father worked in a factory while his mother did house chores.  Manding, as he was called, was a product of the public school as the private schools in Intramuros were expensive and unaffordable for… Read More »

Another temporary victory for inequality and bigotry

Last Monday, August 16, a federal appeals court extended a stay on same-sex marriages until it has ruled on the constitutionality of Proposition 8, which sought to ban such unions.   The ruling of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit was just the latest turn of events of the tw0-year legal battle over California’s… Read More »