Category Archives: Editorial

Billings Ovulation Method: A Simple, Evidence-Based Way to Understand Fertility

Long before fertility apps, ovulation tests, and other modern tools, women observed natural changes in their bodies to better understand their reproductive cycles. The Billings Ovulation Method® (BOM), developed in Australia by Drs. John and Evelyn Billings and collaborators in the 1950s, brought this approach into a structured system of fertility awareness. The method focuses primarily on changes… Read More »

TIFF51 Media Coverage + Stargazing

Once again, Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is rolling its red carpet to the world, with its 51st edition running from September 10-20, 2026. TIFF promises another stunning festival showcasing the best of Canadian and global cinema. Some of these films will have their premiere presentations in Toronto. Prominent Hollywood celebrities and filmmakers are anticipated to make an… Read More »

Adobo: A Dish That Carries the Story of the Filipino People

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 »

THE ALEX EALA FACTOR

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 »

Tribal Bookends

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 »

CAUGHT IN BETWEEN REVOLUTIONS

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 »

PRESERVING CANADA FOR THE WORLD 

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 »