Thomas “Tom” R. Hardy, acting head of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), recently held a roundtable with foreign press members in Washington, D.C., moderated by Zafar Hashemi. …
“Nasaan ka ba?” (“Where are you?”) then-Sen. Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III, fondly called Noynoy, asked in an Aug. 31, 2009, text message to me. I was among those…
Dra. Elenita Binay, wife of former Makati Mayor and former Vice President Atty. Jejomar “Jojo” Binay, encouraged me to teach at the University of Makati. Years ago, I visited Mayor…
The Asia Clean Energy Forum (ACEF) 2026, held June 8–11, celebrated the Asian Development Bank’s 60th anniversary while addressing pressing challenges in the clean energy transition. Reflecting ADB’s updated 2025…
Interacting with animals can significantly lower cortisol, the primary stress hormone, and decrease blood pressure. Just 10 minutes of petting a dog or cat can trigger the release of “happy…
OJ Arci is a prominent Filipino theater actress and singer. In the competitive world of Philippine performing arts, she and the Philippine Stagers Foundation (PSF) advocate absolute punctuality as a…
I could never forget the dance workshop facilitated by Gerald Magallanes in one day. What was once the champion of the dance floor during my younger years, especially when I…
THE rehearsals were exhausting, often lasting until late midnight, for Vince Tañada’s “SA” Series at the Philippine Stagers Foundation Blackbox Theater on Calabash A corner G. Tuazon streets in Balic-Balic,…
If Maria Cristina Lopez were still alive today, she would likely take immense pride in the accomplishments of her son, JP Lopez, now recognized as a writer and director with…
First Lady Melania Trump delivered remarks at the 113th Annual First Lady’s Luncheon held at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., emphasizing initiatives focused on children and youth. She addressed congressional spouses…
Through the initiative of First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos, six permanent showroom sites now rise along Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City, establishing a year-round marketing and business platform for Micro, Small,…
The first time I met actor Joseph Estrada—former mayor, senator, vice president, and president of the Philippines—was when I was still in grade school at Aquinas School in San Juan…
FROM the warm hospitality of radio booths to the bright lights of TV studios, the past few weeks have been a whirlwind. It is always a privilege to step into…
In March 2026, U.S. President Donald J. Trump signed the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), prohibiting Department of Defense (DOD) funding for “painful research” on domestic dogs…
As the first quarter of 2026 draws to a close, the year is no longer about anticipation; it is beginning to reveal direction. I asked seven individuals from different fields…
I witnessed, for the first time, the reunion of the Gahol clan of Taal and Balayan, Batangas, held at the clubhouse of Corinthian Garden Village in Quezon City. The gathering…
As we observe Women’s Month, I encountered the nieces of the late martyred senator Ninoy Aquino: courageous sisters Roxanne Aquino and Jackie Aquino, and Mia Concio. As a child and…
To mark the 40th anniversary of the EDSA revolt, I posed a simple question to five respondents: “Is the EDSA People Power Revolution a fluke?” Their answers reflect how history continues to…
I voted for then-presidential candidate Jose Claveria de Venecia Jr. in 1998, but he lost in the national elections. Despite that defeat, he never stopped serving the country. His public…
Through the late actor-politician Butz Aquino and Reli German, I was baptized in street protests and rallies. Through them, I came to know ATOM, or the August Twenty One Movement….
I was happy to see Deputy Social Secretary Dina Arroyo-Tantoco, daughter of my late former boss Congressman Iggy Arroyo, during the launch of the reopening of the Likhang Filipino Exhibition…
I want to thank everyone who greeted me on my 66th birthday last January 26, 2026. The first from CITEM Friends and Family to greet me were Yayot Garcia…
The late President Corazon C. Aquino, fondly known as Tita Cory, left an indelible mark on modern Philippine history. She embodied what many described as a quiet courage and a selflessness…
I have previously written, on occasion, about MaryKay Loss Carlson in this column. My most recent encounter with the outgoing United States ambassador to the Philippines came earlier this month, during an…
As the new year begins, I asked nine respondents from different walks of life to share their personal hopes, expectations, and anticipations for 2026. Their reflections span governance, journalism, culture,…
FOR the first time since my return to the Philippines in August 2025 from Northern California, I spent my New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2025, in the Presidential Security Command…
Congratulations to barangay chairman Christopher Clark C. Quito of Barangay 539 in Sampaloc, Manila for he has done lots of good deeds for his constituents. He is recognized for fostering…
I arrived on time for the Mass officiated by Fr. Bong Guerrero, widely known as the “Happy Priest,” one of the most dynamic preachers of the Diocese of Cubao. A…
Marissa Varsovia and Alvin Varsovia marked their 25th wedding anniversary with a renewal of vows at the Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel along Broadway Avenue in New Manila, Quezon…
I was grateful to the Washington DC Foreign Press Center for the FIFA World Cup 2026 media briefing led by Andrew Harold Giuliani, executive director of the White House Task…
