Each year, from May 28 to June 12, a familiar sight returns to cities, towns, and quiet neighborhoods across the Philippines. Flags are hoisted from windows and rooftops. They line public buildings and street corners. They flutter above schoolyards and government halls. This two-week stretch...
For widows of fallen soldiers, the flag is not just a national emblem. It is memory, mourning, and meaning—stitched into every fold. When the Philippine flag was placed in Ligaya Cornito Serrano’s hands at her husband’s funeral, the world seemed to blur around her. “The pain was...
To the uninitiated, a Taoist temple can seem intimidating. But the San Fernando Four Kings Mansion aims to welcome everyone. The temple is located inside the South San Nicolas Volunteer Fire Brigade at the intersection of Dasmarinas and Juan Luna Streets in Binondo, at the foot of the San Fernando...
The vehicular incidents of the past couple of weeks are difficult to ignore; not just because of their gravity but because of the number of injured as well as casualties. With May being road safety month, there could be no better time to begin talking about steps we can take to be safer on the...
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...
I have been writing non-stop for almost 10 years. This is my first on my mom. My mother, Elena Catbagan Bonilla, is not the typical reassuring figure who evokes peace and calmness on days of struggles, nor the calming voice that could put you to sleep on a tranquil night. She has a temper,...
When my mother turned 80 last December, I was struck by the extraordinary nature of her journey. Not in a loud, headline-making way, but in a quiet, enduring manner that reflects her resilience, grace, and a profound understanding of living life on her own terms. We weren 't particularly...
There’s no greater sacrifice than that which a parent makes for her child. I had never truly realized the extent to which my mother put mine and my sister’s needs ahead of her own until I became a parent myself and learned the many sacrifices I had to make for my own dear child. As my sister...
Jobseekers flock to San Andres Sports Complex in Manila, as the City of Manila held a job fair and Manila Public Employment Service Office (PESO) held a job fair on Labor Day, May 1, 2023. (MB FILE PHOTO) From the rice paddies of Nueva Ecija to the bustling avenues of Metro Manila, Filipino...
MARTES CALASAN (right) is a dedicated teacher who has mastered his role as a school paper adviser in Kibungan, Benguet. Calasan and his students have traveled around the country to join national writing competitions. Sheltered in the thick layers of Cordillera mountains, where touching the...
Hyundai motorsports vehicles on display. Cars are something that always interest gearheads like myself, yet the same can’t be said for most people. Nonetheless, many will find that the Hyundai car brand is top of mind for most Koreans, whether it’s the car they already drive or something they...
Time is an expensive resource and it can also give the simplest of joys – the experience of being isolated in the middle of a forest in a simple A-frame cabin with enough urban conveniences for a good sleep. Following a narrow gravel trail which shoots out from the Marilaque Highway in...
