Is EDSA People Power Revolution a Fluke?
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…
Category: Features
Covering the week’s most noteworthy feature stories impacting the Filipino-American and Global Filipino community.
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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…
Memories of JDV: Family and Friends Remember Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr.
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…
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…
Volt Bohol, President of ATOM
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….
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…
Women Power at the Launch of the Reopening of the Likhang Filipino Exhibition Halls
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…
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…
Thanks for All the Birthday Greetings
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…
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…
My Memory of Corazon C. Aquino
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…
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…
My encounter with U.S. Ambassador MaryKay Loss Carlson
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…
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…
What will you be looking forward to in 2026? (Part 1)
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,…
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…
I Spent My New Year’s Eve in Presidential Security Command
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…
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…