2025 could be one of the most consequential election years for us. This year, three elections will be significant for most Filipino-Canadian citizens. For most boomers ( aka seniors), the most important are the midterm elections in the Philippines, the Canadian federal elections, and the Papal elections in the Vatican.  Whether you are sectarian or secular, a new… Read More »

It’s 12:45 PM, and I just finished a quick lunch of Siopao and Siomai while watching the French version of the leaders’ debate. I could hardly concentrate; the ceiling fan and another one pointed at me barely made a dent in the midday heat. The nearby thermometer registers 38 degrees Celsius (about 100.4°F). So, the debate on the… Read More »

PART III CHALLENGING THE CONCEPT Few scientific concepts are as controversial as evolution, particularly human evolution. I have identified two primary reasons for this resistance through many years of discussion. Firstly, religious doctrines have established their narratives regarding the origin of humanity. The biblical account of creation, upheld by Christians, Jews, and Muslims, has long been a central… Read More »

PART II:  HUMAN ORIGINS AND THE ASCENT OF MAN One of the most challenging aspects of understanding evolution is our difficulty in processing the perception of time, particularly when it comes to grasping scales of duration that extend beyond our daily experiences. The human brain struggles to quantify both ends of the time spectrum: the very short and… Read More »

The last time I tackled this subject was in June 2021, in the context of COVID-19. My article, “Evolution and the COVID Variants” (Balita, June 1, 2021), described the meaning of a “variant,” how it develops, and what it signifies concerning the original population. I explained what viruses, such as COVID-19, are and why they evolve and reproduce… Read More »

HAPPY NEW YEAR! MANIGONG BAGONG TAON! BONNE ANNEE! As we step into the next chapter of the 21st century, in the 25th year of the third millennium, this New Year invites a moment of reflection, a unique poignancy that feels more pressing than in years gone by. This time, the idea of New Year’s resolutions seems empty.  While… Read More »

“The action or process through which something is changed so much that it appears to be entirely new.” “To change how you behave or look so that people think of you differently.” “transform,” “redesign,” “modify.” reclaim.”  It is how the dictionary describes reinvention.  In this article, we will delve deeper than reinventing ourselves, including transforming our politics, environment,… Read More »

On Sept. 19, 2024, Joel Butuyan’s Phil Daily Inquirer column, “Flea Market of Ideas,” published an article about the Pope’s recent Asian tour. The article “All Religions are Paths to Reach God” refers to the Pope’s bold and daring assertions. I responded to Butuyan’s article on Sept. 30, https://opinion.inquirer.net/177171/religion-a-giant-conspiracy-theory. This article is an expanded version of my response.… Read More »

Cielito Habito’s commentary in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, “Dynasties: Our Spreading Cancer” ( Aug. 13, 2024 ), has focused on one of the causes of our intractable and unrelenting poverty in a way that is not summarily seen as having a significant impact on our well-being. Despite government statistics showing 15.5% poverty, Mahar Mangahas’s SWS- Social Weather Stations… Read More »

This ordeal reminds me of the famous catchphrase “Da Plane,” “Da Plane,” which appears in the opening credits of the TV show Fantasy Island. My version would read “Da Pain,”” Da Pain!” in the context of total knee replacement surgery or TKA ( Total Knee Arthroplasty). The immediate aftermath of the procedure overwhelmed the excitement of having it… Read More »