The Healing Practice of the Presence of God
Friends, we are in the Fourth Sunday of Lent, and I hope you are finding time to pray more and spend intimate moments with the Lord. One of the purposes…
Category: Features
Covering the week’s most noteworthy feature stories impacting the Filipino-American and Global Filipino community.
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The viral rise of Ilocos empanada
Food creator Vince Vasquez of The Taste Bud and Filipino-American chef-restaurateur Leah Cohen sample Ilocos empanadas in the San Francisco Bay Area, spotlighting the northern Philippine specialty as it gains…
Far from home: millions of Filipinos in the Middle East navigate work, war and uncertainty
Overseas Filipino workers walk through an airport arrival corridor after returning home following rising regional tensions in the Middle East. – Photo courtesy of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). …
On Proclaiming and Living Our Faith in Jesus
We are called to be bold witnesses to our faith in Jesus and the Gospel He preached and lived, not merely through our words but through our actions. The Samaritan…
Nothing Is Wasted, It Only Changes Form
Albert Einstein once said, “Energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only be changed from one form to another.” He was describing the law of conservation of energy, a…
Dancing in Peace, Not Pressure
Lately, I’ve been thinking about pressure. Not just financial pressure—though many are feeling it—but the quiet pressure to keep up. To succeed faster. To feel like we’re earning enough, saving…
EDSA at 40: Four decades after People Power, its legacy continues to shape Philippine democracy
President Corazon Aquino takes her oath of office on Feb. 25, 1986 at Club Filipino in San Juan, during the final day of the EDSA People Power uprising that led to the…
What Christ’s Transfiguration Means to Us and Our Parish
Faith is a treasure that we must possess to live a life of hope, especially in trying times. It’s a gift we must ask from God every day to navigate…
Déjà vu: ICE detention centers and WWII American concentration camps
A news article from Reuters, February 2, headlines, “ICE to Spend $38.3 Billion On Detention Centers Across the US.” $38 billion is a lot of beds. Have we been here…
Binondo: The world’s oldest Chinatown and Manila’s enduring corridor of commerce and cuisine
New Binondo Chinatown Arch, Manila Founded in 1594 as a Chinese settlement under Spanish rule, Binondo has evolved into a four-century district where migration, trade, faith and food remain tightly…
Luck, renewal, and intention: Traditions shaping Chinese New Year 2026
Scenes of Lunar New Year celebration: illuminated red lanterns and a temple façade at night, traditional red ang pao envelopes, a festive family meal with dumplings and seafood, freshly steamed…
Valentine’s Day for Filipinos: faith, family and the language of affection
Valentine’s Day, observed each year on Feb. 14, is widely associated with St. Valentine, a third-century Christian martyr. Historical sources confirm that at least one cleric named Valentine was executed…
American Democracy: Death by a Thousand Cuts
Last week, during an interview on a podcast with Dan Bongino, Trump called for Republican officials to “take over voting procedures in 15 states.” He added, “We should take over…
Black History Month and what it explains about America
Civil rights demonstrators march during the 1960s, carrying signs calling for equal rights, integrated schools, and fair housing. The movement contributed to legal and institutional changes that continue to shape…
Writing roles gain visibility in tech, but data shows limited job growth
As artificial intelligence reshapes the workplace, writing skills are increasingly embedded in technical roles, even as government labor data shows limited growth for writing-centered jobs in the tech sector. Reports…
A Life Blessed by God Always Results in Blessing Others
“A life blessed by God always results in blessing others.” I couldn’t stop thinking about that line as I celebrated my friend Ruth’s 65th birthday. It was a memorable day—yes, even…
Applied Knowledge
Pages open, understanding abundant – yet action remains the unanswered question. Applied knowledge begins when reading gives way to conduct. Knowledge is rarely the problem. Translation into action is. Most…
On Walking for Peace
The story of the Buddhist monks’ “Walk for Peace” from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C., beginning on October 26, 2025, and concluding in February—covering 2,300 miles on foot—went viral…
Impeachment as a constitutional stress test
Impeachment in the Philippines follows a constitutionally defined path that moves through separate institutions. The House of Representatives initiates and evaluates impeachment complaints, the Senate of the Philippines conducts a trial only if articles…
A weak peso and the hidden cost borne by overseas Filipinos
A Philippine 20-peso coin is seen among other denominations. As the peso falls to historic lows, the impact is felt far beyond currency markets, pushing up daily costs at home…
The Trust and Faith that Attract
Friends, As we enter this new year, I have been reflecting deeply on the virtue of trust. I believe it is something we all need these days—to trust in God’s…
Walking into the storm
When the storm arrives, the difference is not strength but direction. The cows turn away and run, stretching the struggle longer.The bison turn into the wind and walk through, shortening the…
Back to Ordinary Time: A Reminder of Our Extraordinary Calling
Hey friends! As we step into Ordinary Time in our liturgical calendar, let’s take a moment to reflect on what this season truly means. It’s not “ordinary” in the sense…
The New Year myth : Change, repetition, and the self we carry forward
We love the idea of New Year, New Life because it flatters us. It suggests that time itself will do the hard work, that crossing an invisible line on the calendar somehow…
On the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord
This Sunday, We Celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord! As we gather to honor this special day, we’re reminded that the Baptism of Jesus marked the beginning of…
On Dado Banatao and the documentation of Filipino achievement
Dado Banatao, Filipino-American semiconductor engineer and Silicon Valley entrepreneur, in an image used for the Philippine commemorative stamp “My story could be your story,” honoring his contributions to science, technology, and education….
Guarding the Blessing: What Our Words Cost Us
As a new year begins, many of us reflect on our finances—how to earn more, save better, and steward what God has entrusted to us. But there’s another form of…
Celebrating the Feast of Epiphany
Dear Parish Family, As we come together to celebrate the Feast of Epiphany, we reflect on the profound meaning and significance of this special day in our Christian journey. Epiphany,…
The Importance of Family
Dear friends in Christ, This Sunday, we commemorate the solemnity of the Holy Family, a sacred trio that includes Mary, Joseph, and Jesus, our Savior. I hope you all enjoyed…
God’s surprising ways
Dear Parish Family, The Fourth Sunday of Advent beautifully encapsulates the essence of this sacred season: promise, hope, restoration, repentance, transformation, and joy. These powerful themes do not emerge from…