Eala is making waves in the World of Tennis

No doubt, this Eala Mania is sweeping the world of women’s tennis. With the Filipino diaspora, millions of our countrymen spread all over the world are zealously supporting Alex Eala, the 21-year-old Filipino professional tennis player, in her quest not only to be a big success in her career but also to put the Philippines on the world… Read More »

“Matanda Na Pala Ako” (I’m Old Already)

Oh, my gosh! I’m 76 now. But I don’t consider myself “old.” The way I think about myself, I’m still young at heart. I still have the energy to move forward in life, and I try not to let the challenges that come my way stop me. But the other day, something happened that made me pause. My… Read More »

Tess Cusipag, My Publisher, Faces Life’s Dilemma

My publisher, Tess Cusipag of Balita, the Filipino community newspaper in Toronto, is facing a difficult dilemma—how to balance the demands of publishing a newspaper with the need to enjoy her own life. It was 1:25 in the afternoon on July 22. I had just finished my lunch, knowing that Tess was probably busy putting another issue of… Read More »

Our Useless Material Possessions

Recently, I attended both a moving-out sale and an estate sale in our apartment building. As I walked through each one, I felt a quiet sadness. Although many of the items were being sold at bargain prices—almost given away—the experience left me reflecting on how temporary our material possessions really are. It was also the first time I… Read More »

A Great Leap of Faith for PLM’s Dept. of Music

What? My alma mater, the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM), has recently established a Department of Music! Well, it’s a great leap of faith!   Years ago, the PLM could only afford to offer courses that prepared its students to get jobs as soon as they graduated, thereby lifting their parents out of the grip of poverty.… Read More »

A Balanced Way of Thinking

Engaging in the power of negative thinking does not always mean choosing the dark side of life or being gloomy. When people see you as pessimistic or doubtful, they often point out the power of positive thinking. In short, this approach focuses on the bright side—whether in resolving arguments or finding solutions to problems. Dreamers, for instance, rarely… Read More »

A Great Leap of Faith for PLM’s Dept. of Music

What? My alma mater, the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM), has recently established a Department of Music! Well, it’s a great leap of faith!   Years ago, the PLM could only afford to offer courses that prepared its students to get jobs as soon as they graduated, thereby lifting their parents out of the grip of poverty.… Read More »

A Balanced Way of Thinking

Engaging in the power of negative thinking does not always mean choosing the dark side of life or being gloomy. When people see you as pessimistic or doubtful, they often point out the power of positive thinking. In short, this approach focuses on the bright side—whether in resolving arguments or finding solutions to problems. Dreamers, for instance, rarely… Read More »

“Tuli”(circumcision) — a Rite of Passage

I remember my “Tuli” ( circumcision) rite of passage, which took place in the summer of 1960, right after I finished elementary school. Before entering high school, I wanted to make sure “everything was done” so I wouldn’t have to worry about being teased by my classmates for being “supot” (uncircumcised). Being teased as a supot is an… Read More »