HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRIPE-VINE Our second ever Manila Bulletin Sustainability Focus Session happens this week, on April 30, at the University of Santo Tomas. If you recall, we began the Manila Bulletin Sustainability Forum back in 2022, have had three successful iterations since...
HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRIPE-VINE “Snack Mindfully” is the mission-vision rally cry of Mondelēz International in the Philippines. The food company, known for such brands as Oreo cookies, Eden cheese, Cadbury Dairy Milk, Tang, Toblerone, Tiger energy biscuits, and Cheez Whiz, has...
HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRIPE-VINE Two food-related events I attended last week could very well stand as testimonials to the saying that food is the language of love – given the enthusiasm, the audible sighs of satisfaction, and the break-out of smiling faces that the events elicited....
HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRIPE-VINE Attended a Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) lunch event last week, and it was announced as a “Forests for Life: 5 Million Trees by 2028” initiative. As DENR Secretary Maria Antonia ‘Toni’ Yulo-Loyzaga explained, it was about...
HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRIPE-VINE Last week was undoubtedly the defining moment of Alexandra Eala’s professional tennis career so far. By reaching the semi-finals of the Miami Open, she became our social media personality of the week — over the course of a late Friday morning, uniting this...
HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRIPE-VINE Thanks to Issa (Litton) being insistent on it, I began having regular executive check up’s (ECU) 10 years ago, at the age of 60; and yes, that is a ‘better late than never’ scenario. One should be having them on an annual basis years earlier than turning...
HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRIPEVINE Cannes, Berlin, Venice, and Toronto – these are considered the big four film festivals; and what’s important to note, is that the awarding, gala nights, and celebrity sightings are just the public face of these festivals. What truly drives these festivals are the...
HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRIPE-VINE Even if you were not connected with the Philippine food and hospitality industry, there was no escaping what became the two hottest topics on most everyone’s lips two weeks ago, and were featured prominently on social media platforms — the untimely loss of...
HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRIPE-VINE (Part 2) In last week’s column I made mention of the Manila Bulletin’s ongoing Matalinong Boto campaign against election-related violence, against fake news, and against mud-slinging and character assassination. I commented on how social media, with...
HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRIPE-VINE (Part One) In my very first column of 2025, I drew up my wishlist for the year that was to unfold, and prioritized peaceful, violence-free elections come May. Even if this year would be a mid-term election, I could foresee how much was at stake in terms...
HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRIPE-VINE The Manila International Film Festival in Los Angeles that I wrote about a few columns ago was postponed; but thankfully, that was a temporary delay, and it will now push through a few days after the Oscars, during the March 7 weekend. It’s the second...
HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRIPE-VINE The New Chinese Lunar Year of the Wood Snake got off to a propitious start by virtue of a lunch that was hosted by SM Supermalls at China Blue, Conrad Hotel. It was primarily stakeholders and tenants of the malls, along with a smattering of media...
