PASSERBY:

One best way to get rid of the so-called excesses that usually characterize the yearly State of the Nation Address (SONA) of the President of the Republic is to do away with the wives of government officials. It’s the women who try to overdress and outshine each other with fancy gowns and sparkling jewels on such an occasion.

The men dress simply in their native barongs. A shout-out also to the members of Congress and the Senate who are women, to keep things simple and low-key.

It took the entry to showbiz of Joaquin Arce, son to Neil Arce, husband to Angel Locsin, for the inactive actress to bounce back on social media. A simple post by Angel on Instagram stated her full support to Joaquin, with whom, she said, she wanted to work with in the future. Fans took it as a sign that Angel was willing to act again soon. Here’s looking forward to the return of one magnificent actress.

Following a four-year absence on the big screen, Angelica Panganiban is currently doing a new film, UnMarry, under Quanum Films and CineKo.

Nora Aunor's supporters must not put excess pressure on her grandson, Ian de Leon, and nine-year-old Jaden de Leon, as the boy starts to enter showbiz. Stop calling the child the next superstar. That’s too much weight for his frail, little shoulders to carry.  

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We caught the last day of the National Trade Fair at SM Megamall last Sunday, July 27. Being a sucker for markets, be they wet or dry, central or super, flea markets or agro-industrial fairs, we braved the light rain and heavy traffic around that giant mall in Mandaluyong that doesn’t give discount to senior citizens of Quezon City when we park, to witness another gathering of food and furniture, native bags and embroidered formal wear, among so many other things of interest to lovers of Filipiniana.

Cecile picked up tablets of dark chocolate from one of the little kiosks. She matched them with a pack of dried sapsap, tiny, young fish that never had the opportunity to grow and glow. The pack of dried sapsap, costing only 100 pesos, came from La Union.

The next morning, another rainy day, the wife had prepared a nostalgic breakfast of champorado and fried, crispy sapsap. It was a perfect follow-up to yesterday’s Lumpia Gulay, soaked in spicy vinegar.

We, Filipinos, have trained tastes that match the seasons. For instance, we love to eat arroz caldo and hot noodle soup dishes like mami and lomi on rainy days; halu-halo in summer; bibingka, and puto bumbong during the Christmas season. In good times and bad, we Filipinos find joy in simple pleasures.