For 41-year-old Erhlan Cerdon, farming became more than a livelihood—it became a source of purpose and service. A registered nurse and firefighter at the Bureau of Fire Protection, he returned to agriculture by establishing Hesed Farm in Mulanay, Quezon. Although his parents were palay farmers,...
2026 marks the 70th anniversary of Philippines-Japan friendship, remembering the signing of the San Francisco Peace Treaty in 1951 and the Philippines-Japan Reparations Agreement in 1956. This year, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the largest implementing agency of official...
When Solomon Pagunsan left Bayawan City, Negros Oriental for Manila, he believed opportunity awaited him at every corner. Like many provincial dreamers, he hoped for an easier life in the capital. But reality proved otherwise, especially without a diploma. A high school graduate, Pagunsan spent...
Nowadays, Poblacion is known as one of the biggest party districts in Metro Manila. What most people don’t know is that one of Makati’s most popular barangays is actually home to a 106-year-old religious tradition. Every Holy Week, the parties at Poblacion die down, to be replaced by the...
By JAYFERSON B. COMITAN In Malabon City, Barangay Potrero processes around 500 kilograms of wet and dry waste every day through a community-based segregation program to reduce the volume of trash sent to dumpsites. “Sa isang household, nalaman natin na 60 percent ng basura ay nabubulok, 15...
The saying “It’s never too late to learn” perfectly describes the inspiring journey of influencer, businessman, and former talent manager Wilbert Tolentino. At 50, Tolentino has finally earned his Bachelor of Science in Office Administration degree from Philippine Christian University (PCU),...
In Antique—known as the country’s muscovado capital—Hamungaya Farms quietly produces the traditional sugar on its 40-hectare property. But when 69-year-old Felipe Pachoco and his wife, Joyce, took over the land in 2003, it was far from ideal. Decades earlier, shifting river courses in the...
Handmade with care, these furniture items from Hacienda Crafts do more than just elevate living spaces. They promote the skilled handicraft of Filipinos and provide a proper livelihood for their families. Established in 1994, Hacienda Crafts was born out of a sugar crisis that struck Negros...
What is the EDSA People’s Power Revolution to citizens who were not yet born 40 years ago, or who were too young to remember how a peaceful gathering initiated change in our country’s political structure? On Feb. 22, 1986, people from all walks of life dropped everything and heeded the calls of...
Nothing is more fulfilling than knowing that something you worked hard for benefits not only you, but also the lives of others. When driven by purpose, the rewards go far beyond anything tangible. This is exactly what 22-year-old Kieth Charles Bequibel experienced when he founded BlackGold Food...
By JOEL VIVERO RICO, FPIA, UAP In a country and among a people as deeply nostalgic as the Filipino, it is only natural to assume that our houses were designed not merely as shelters, but as reflections of our distinct family lifestyles, occupations, passions, and contributions of national...
On the morning New York City swore in its new mayor, a small group of Filipino professionals was not watching from the sidelines. They were refreshing a website they had spent weeks building, fueled by late nights, policy documents, and a shared conviction that promises made at City Hall should...
