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 »
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 »
Let’s welcome our new lawyer, Atty Neil Abam, to the Filipino community in Toronto. He took his oath at the Law Society of Ontario on June 23, 2026. In a recent interview, Neil, as he is fondly called by friends, said that he is willing to serve his kababayans pro bono, for free, especially those who cannot afford… Read More »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
One night, I could hear strong winds humming against our bedroom windows. They were powerful, yet I still managed to sleep soundly. The following morning, when I stepped outside our apartment building, I was greeted by a thick blanket of snow covering everything. It was bitterly cold—around minus 10°C. A few hours later, when I returned home, I… Read More »
These days, the popularity of the bahay kubo is once again finding its way into the hearts and minds of our countrymen. Despite the rise of modern concrete and hardwood houses, many people are now choosing to buy ready-made nipa huts and set them up in available spaces on their properties. Being part of the culture, architects often incorporate the… Read More »