[OPINION] Rebuilding an American culture of solidarity
“It was almost like committing suicide for an African American to go to the courthouse in the Delta of Mississippi or the Black Belt of Alabama and declare his or…
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Is there hope for America to transform its racist culture?
“I have witnessed with great concern the disturbing social unrest in your nation in these past days, following the tragic death of Mr. George Floyd. We cannot tolerate or turn…
Dr. Carmencita Abarquez Agcaoili’s fundamental laws of her giving, compassion and generosity for others
“My wife is a woman of grace, a woman of character, a woman of strength. She is very generous in spirit and her capacity to tolerate, to accommodate, to forgive…
Part II: Fatima: ‘A window onto a new inner world with the light of Heaven within’
“In the presence of a miracle, faith is never washed away,” 60 Minutes’ Scott Pelley reported from Lalibela, Ethiopia. Two hundred thousand pilgrims visit Lalibela for an 11 church-pilgrimage in…
Trump’s impeachment shows no one is above the law
“Our nation is founded on the principle that we do not have kings. We have presidents. And the Constitution is our compass. When you see something that is not right,…
Fatima, Portugal: ‘A window onto a new inner world with the light of Heaven within’
Part I of II “Each thing becomes a window onto a whole new world, an inner world, composed of the light of Heaven within everything.” – A Course in Miracles…
So much Grace to be had when your life is into right doings
“A Warrior of the Light knows that he has much to be grateful for. Angels help him in his struggle; celestial forces place each thing in its place, thus allowing…
Have you offered your life to wrongdoings, Mr. Trump?
“It is to be regretted that the rich and powerful too often bend the acts of government to their selfish purposes. Distinctions in society will always exist under every just…
A two-week Marian pilgrimage led by Filipino priest, Fr. Joel Bugas
We all got lucky, blessed by God’s immense grace, the Blessed Mother’s faithful intercession, and the 14 saints we visited. Even the weather was temperate for most days, pleasant to…
The wheatfields of Leny Strobel’s memoir
IF you have walked the Camino de Santiago, you will come across acres and acres of wheatfields. The wheatfields have no shade and you will see colors of yellow-brown as…
‘Meeting Rosie’: A young Filipina American unveils art exhibit dedicated to grandma
YSABEL Grace Simon opened her first solo art exhibit, “Meeting Rosie,” on Sept. 5 at the Philippine Consulate in New York. It was on exhibit from Sept. 2 to 20….
Mom’s special tilapia sinigang: Remembering Asuncion Castro Abarquez
“It’s all right, you made an error but you can start again. And maybe it wasn’t really a mistake but an opportunity for deep learning. I did the same thing…
Philippine Chamber Singers LA make transcendental history in Dream Orchestra’s first International Choral Festival
“THERE exist realities that pervade the entire universe either through the vast reaches of unimaginable light-years of space or the vast journeys of unimaginable eons of time. There exist presences…
Martin Nievera and Pops Fernandez: ‘Twogether Again’ at the Palace Theatre in Los Angeles
“That’s the state of how I was taught, was the whole thing of Ohana, wishes family…and that’s one thing that we don’t get enough of in the Philippines; [it is]…
Gina Lopez’s legacy: Social-impact environmentalist for Pasig River’s revival
[EDITOR’S Note: A full version of this article was previously published in Balikbayan Magazine’s October-November 2011 issue] “Water is a great teacher that shows us how to move through the…
Resist, vote and respect the US Constitution
[Editor’s note: This column has been republished and updated.] “WE are fortunate in our society that a means of resistance has been built into the law and the political process…
The state of California’s judiciary according to Filipina Chief Justice Tani Gorre Cantil-Sakauye
“Every generation is responsible for creating democracy anew, a democracy that is relevant and responsive to the needs of that generation. One that expands upon and completes the previous work…
The depth of Mon David’s love of family as reflected in his superior jazz musicality
“I’ve been working in this field (communities in schools) for 50 years and I’ve never seen a program turn around a life. Only relationships turn around lives. We adults in…
No one is above the law
“It is more proper that law should govern than any one of its citizens.” – Aristotle On Feb. 21, 2019, “The Rachel Maddow Show” team uncovered a telegram sent by…
A foretaste of heaven: Witnessing the Episcopal ordination of LA Auxilary Bishop Alex Aclan
“We know that our liturgies—especially the Eucharist—are a foretaste of heaven on earth, I cannot think of a better foretaste of heaven than this.” – Bishop Alex D. Aclan, Auxiliary…
Do American presidents lie and betray America?
“Throughout the history of the American presidency, from George Washington’s inauguration to the present day, the chief executive’s duties have encompassed more than politics. Our presidents are charged with responding…
Gifts from the Holy Land: Seeing with my heart’s eyes
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and then you will be my witnesses…” – Acts 1:8 “The Spirit calls us to share our faith with…
Nicole David Yalong’s thousand blooms, conscious parenting of twins
“Purposeful giving is not as apt to deplete one’s resources. It belongs to that natural order of giving that seems to renew itself even in the act of depletion. The…
From cultural absence to cultural presence: Why Asian American studies matter to me
by Ashlee Monton [Writer’s note: Once a year, an essay competition is held at CSUN, amongst Asian American Studies and Education majors, as part of an endowment set up by Prosy…
Appreciating and preserving nature’s wildflowers and snow-capped mountains
“Something will have gone out of us as a people if we ever let the remaining wilderness be destroyed; if we permit the last virgin forests to be turned into…
Mothers and daughters: A legacy of intuitive leadership
“When you are your whole self/ intact with body, mind and soul/The divine spirit of work flows through your being/Just close your eyes and listen in deep silence/And you shall…
Truth, civility and independence
“My mother was very strong about my doing well in school and living up to my potential. Two things were important to her and she repeated them endlessly. One was…
‘America Adjacent’: The play’s lessons on light and love
“THE man who is ‘fighting for his rights’ is working in the wrong way. The only way to be sure that we get our ‘rights’ in life is, to ‘plug…
Hope for Change to Remove Power-Abusive Weeds in Institutions
“By ensuring that no one in government has too much power, the Constitution helps protect ordinary Americans every day against abuse of power by those in authority.” – Chief Justice…
No one is above the law — not even Catholic priests
[Editor’s note: The original version of this column, published in the Asian Journal in March 2016, has been updated to reflect 2019 changes.] Pope Francis has declared a Jubilee Year…