DRIVING THOUGHTS When does a gift—whether to a stranger or a friend—carry nothing but pure gratitude? And when does it begin to whisper an unspoken expectation of another favor to come? In our culture, gift-giving is woven deeply into everyday life. It’s an instinctive way to show generosity...
DRIVING THOUGHTS The value of preparedness can never be overstated in our country which is disaster-prone. The recent weeks have made this alarmingly clear. Back-to-back tropical depressions drenched Luzon and Visayas with torrential monsoon rains, triggering floods and landslides. Just as we were...
DRIVING THOUGHTS Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has always been close to my heart because I’ve seen how many of its programs have contributed to solutions to many of the country’s problems. To cite a few: feeding programs for malnourished children; medical missions which have extended...
DRIVING THOUGHTS It’s hard to describe the specific kind of frustration that fills you when you’re stuck for hours on Quezon Avenue during a monsoon downpour on a Monday morning on your way to a meeting in Manila. Last Monday, July 21, was one of those days. The rains came strong and steady...
DRIVING THOUGHTS Minimalism has become one of the most popular lifestyle trends globally, offering the promise of simplicity, clarity, and peace of mind. It sells the dream of cutting down clutter so life becomes more focused, intentional, and serene. But here’s the question — can this...
DRIVING THOUGHTS Not so very long ago when I was still motoring editor, I’d choose to be the first driver in a test drive event. I’d grip the wheel, tune into the engine’s rhythm, and write about every curve and climb of a test route. But these days, test drives have taken a quieter, more...
DRIVING THOUGHTS It was a weekend of “Happy-birthday-to-you” singing – from the hangar of his private plane in Paranaque before he flew to Vigan; to his house in Narvacan, Ilocos Sur where countless guests came with birthday cakes and gifts; to the streets of Vigan, where he politely...
DRIVING THOUGHTS We siblings called him “Tatay,” at a time when everyone was calling their fathers “Daddy” or “Papa.” My Nanay said they want to be nationalistic. Like other fathers, my Tatay worked hard to give us a good life. Yes, he was the “second opinion” who could change our...
DRIVING THOUGHTS EDSA was in most conversations on social media, traditional media and over lunch and dinner for many weeks. The thought – and reality – of closing, or limiting the road space of EDSA presented a crisis. Although EDSA’s rehabilitation, which includes that of the Guadalupe...
DRIVING THOUGHTS You know you’re not an average grandma when your 15-year-old granddaughter has perfect eyebrows, well-defined eyelids, and a hint of blush on her cheeks, and she looks at you with a polite stare. I always wear a “naked” face like I just got out of the shower, my signature...
DRIVING THOUGHTS I only wake at dawn for early morning flights or road trips. But on May 12, I got up at five to vote. I had hoped that the allotted voting time for senior citizens, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) from five to seven in the morning would offer a more relaxed...
A visit to at least one museum is always part of my travel itinerary, even if that’s only for a road trip to the north, south, or to a neighboring island. Especially if we are traveling to a foreign city for the first time, a museum stopover is a must. For me, it’s the “brochure” that...
