Across the Philippines, adobo is more than a recipe — it is a cultural thread woven through generations, regions, and identities. Every Filipino knows it, every household cooks it, and every community has its own version. At its simplest, adobo is meat, seafood, or vegetables simmered in vinegar, garlic, peppercorns, and either salt or soy sauce. But behind… Read More »
Alexandra Eala’s unprecedented series of victories in tennis this year has undoubtedly grabbed the full attention of the world. At 21, she became the first full-blooded Filipina tennis player straight from the Philippines, without any hyphenation attached to her Filipino status, to win a Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) 500 title. From her remarkable Wimbledon performance to her championship… Read More »
Every child deserves the chance to read, to imagine, and to dream — yet across Canada, thousands finish Grade 3 unable to keep up with their reading in Grade 4. For these children, the consequences ripple far beyond the classroom: they are four times less likely to graduate, and far more likely to face barriers to employment and… Read More »
When my family and I emigrated to Canada decades ago, we brought a couple of hand-carved bookends packed in a rigid box, among other memorabilia handed down from my grandfather Francisco Lavides. The weight of these bookends must have left a huge dent on the scales at the airport, as my wife, eldest child, and I embarked on… Read More »
All of us have been there. The heavy silence in the elevator on the way down, the sudden, agonizing clarity about what you wish you had said, and the burning realization that you just blew a job opportunity. A bad interview feels final, like a door slammed shut and deadbolted. Most job seekers throw in the towel. They… Read More »
The latter part of 1896 was a pivotal juncture for Jose Rizal, who, after having spent four years as an exile in Dapitan, sought permission to sail for an embattled Cuba as a medical volunteer. The wars of independence against Spain were simultaneously being waged at the time by revolutionaries from both colonies. The Spanish Crown was in… Read More »
The recurring heat wave phenomenon continues to disrupt summer enjoyment in Canada in recent years. The frequency and scale of wildfires predominantly thrust its existential threat in close proximity with Canadians. Air quality has since become a major health concern. Destruction of forest continues to affect wildlife and vegetation. Humanity, as a result, bears the catastrophic brunt of… Read More »
In Toronto’s ever-evolving landscape of community work, social enterprises often operate quietly in the background — building livelihoods, strengthening neighborhoods, and creating opportunities where traditional systems fall short. A social enterprise is a business that exists not only to generate revenue, but to achieve a social purpose. Unlike charitable organizations, which rely heavily on donations and grants, social… Read More »
With the Canadian winter looming just three months away, many of you may already be wondering where to escape the cold. For one group of family and friends — Frederick, Kat, Ephraim, Ann, Marlyn, Marilyn, Edwin, Jeanne, Cody, Olive and Kim — that question led them to consider Cuba, a destination often surrounded by misconceptions yet known for… Read More »
The month of July in Canada crosses the threshold of summer with a personal warmth of nostalgia tethering the enormity of presentiment. From coast to coast to coast, every Canadian embraces this particular time with elation and anticipation. It signals placid days for families to take pleasure in while their children are off from school. The luscious and… Read More »