Category Archives: This and That

PICKING UP WHERE I LEFT OFF

In the July 16 issue, I had mentioned with delight my “discovery” of  environment- friendly laundry detergent sheets. I really hope that more and more people will resort to using these instead of the detergents in plastic bottles. Think of how each of us can help in reducing plastic waste in our landfills and in our precious oceans… Read More »

PLASTIC NIGHTMARE NO MORE

I don’t know about you but, for some time now, I have been mildly stressing about how much plastic waste we generate. I understand that globally, we are producing around 380 million tons of plastic every year, and it looks like up to50% of that are for single-use purposes — for just a few moments (or a week… Read More »

SPRING, FINALLY

Colors are finally bursting out. Hurrah. We are done with the somber hues of winter. Our cherry tree is finally blooming and budding.  Looking forward to harvesting cherries in our backyard soon.   Mother’s Day was especially exhilarating, albeit, I was still nursing a bit of a cold. It did not stop me though from joining the rest of… Read More »

MORE OF THE AGE OF AQUARIUS

With the advent of spring, “hope springs eternal in the human breast” again as English poet Alexander Pope wisely expressed in his 1732 poem An Essay on Man. I say rightly so. It feels like a primordial urge within every man which keeps us going on no matter the challenges.  With this in mind and heart, I proceed… Read More »

UNLI DISRUPTIONS

I thought that maybe, just maybe, things would calm down a bit as 2025 dawned. Oh, no!  It seems to be getting worse.  In western astrology though, I understand that this was to be expected.  There was a late 1960s medley of two songs —  Aquarius /Let the Sunshine In made popular and released as a single by… Read More »

LAST BER MONTH NA BA?

I don’t know about you, but I sense that the Christmas spirit has not really kicked in this year with most people. Then again maybe it is just me. How could it? With all the craziness going on around the world. And yet, I still believe that there are redeeming qualities that life, through history, offers for us… Read More »

SALAMAT KAY PACITA ABAD AT ANG A.G.O.

After living in Canada for quite a number of years now, it was refreshing and welcome to be reminded of our rich and diverse roots when I finally came to experience over a week ago, the art works of the prolific Filipino artist — the late great Pacita Abad at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) on Dundas… Read More »

DUMAAN BA ANG SUMMER?

It seems to have been a dream. Summer in Canada this year feels like a microcosm of the volatile weather (literally and figuratively, I must say) around the globe.  A friend of mine who is quite adept at astrology, says that these turbulent times are a sort of “spring cleaning” as we usher in the Age of Aquarius.… Read More »

A GIFT TO THE (FILIPINO) NATION

I bring news of good tidings in the aftermath of the wrath of Typhoon Gaemi (known as Typhoon Carina in the Philippines).  After visiting the National Museum of Fine Arts in Manila last year, and after such a devastating natural disaster in Manila, I was elated to hear that a good friend of ours (and our balae), Rosalie… Read More »

TULOY ANG LIGAYA (The celebration goes on!)

In short…we are still in the midst of celebrating Filipino Heritage Month. With this in mind, I cannot think of a better way to revel in our own Filipino culture and history than to view the very engaging and nostalgic vlog of a fellow Filipino on YT – Scenario by Ka You Tubero.  Scenario features ancestral houses and… Read More »