Rewriting your own story
“ A useless life is an early death.” — Goethe MOST memorable life stories that stand out and become etched in the human collective consciousness are products of oft-repeated re-writes and…
Category: Lifestyle Columnists
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Remembering President Cory Aquino
I covered the presidential term and sailed through its choppy waters while chronicling President Cory Aquino’s wavy patterns of success and glory, laughter and grief, loss and devastation, troubles and…
Vital Health Capsules
One of the best ways to lose weight is to eat a piece or two of fruit with meals. Women who ate a piece of pear or apple have been…
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…
A prayer in the face of gun violence
WE’VE all been distressed by a series of mass shootings in our country in the past two weeks. At times we don’t know what to say anymore. We’re afraid for…
Making a difference: Two stories of kindness to warm the heart
“…The boy looked at him, shrugged his shoulders and went back to throwing one more jellyfish back to the water, and told him, “ …Made a difference to that one…
Realities in life: Walking the business tightrope
(Part III of III) THERE will always be a negative person around you all the time. One can never get away nor hide from these walking emotional bombs. I guide…
Was it all for show?
Less than a week after the President ordered the closure of all gaming operations of PCSO, lotto and a few other games are back in business. Was it all for…
Happiness is knowing how to celebrate
SOCIETY reporting is nothing you can plan, polish or perfect—beyond the Fil-Am community stage or gossip about their world of charity, music, fashion, cuisine and other many things of splendor. …
On the treasures we store
IN the 4th Century, an erudite and holy bishop named Basil (canonized as St. Basil the Great) played a significant role in the formulation of orthodox theology while he interacted…
Anti-cancer: Vegetables
In my book, “Let’s Stop ‘Killing’ Our Children” (www.philipSchua.com), I have discussed the amazing value of vegetables (and exercise, fruits, nuts, fibers) in lowering the risk for cardiovascular/metabolic diseases, Alzheimer’s,…
Once upon a time series…: Damaris and the peach tree
“ Bend the stubborn heart and will… Melt the frozen, warm the chill; Guide the steps that go astray” — Veni Sancte Spiritus DAMARIS and her husband, Tom, prayed the…
You belong to Christ
“YOU were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.” (Col 2:12)…
The ballad of the significant boxer
LAS VEGAS – The odyssey of foibles and fallibility starts from the time they were lightweights, who labored in the anonymity of boxing vineyard — from the greatest names in…
Water safety warning
Since water is life, it is best to remind ourselves regularly of waster safety guidelines. On average, city water is fairly safe to drink, according to US water standard. It…
Romantic comedies and that thing called love (Conclusion of 2 parts)
“Despite all aridity, LOVE, is as perennial as the grass” — From Desiderata We facebook and twitter all day long electronically creating, maintaining or killing off disposable internet relationships, that can…
Realities of life: There will always be negativity everywhere (Part II of III)
NEGATIVE energies will always be present anywhere and everywhere. Where there is yin, there will always be the yang. Where there is light, there will be darkness because that is…
The photo is the message (Part 1 of 2 series)
WORDS are mere grace notes, all my life I’ve dealt with words. They are adequate for many of our purposes, even indispensable for most. They can (of course) be immeasurably…
A global community
SOME of our politicians have been threatening to leave the United Nations or one of its bodies, the UN Human Rights Commission. Such remarks should normally be dismissed as mumblings…
Imee Ong-Maghanoy: A day in the life of a celebrity esthetician
One of the perks of living in LA is that you are likely to spot a celebrity at some point. Since the Hollywood studios are here, a lot of celebrities…
The better part of the day
I’M merely in my third week of serving as pastor of Incarnation Church, and I love it. The people are warm, and the neighborhood is serene. I know that as…
Romantic comedies and that thing called love (Part 1 of 2)
“The past is prologue.” —Shakespeare IF you’re a woman who believes in secret in such things as love-at-first sight and happily-ever-afters, TAKE HEART. Even during this cynical, jaded Age of…
Sun: Friend or foe?
Life is not possible without the sun, but it could also be our nemesis, if we are not wise and careful. Make the sun our friend. Summer is a sun-filled…
Mayor Isko Moreno steps in and Manila is never the same again
MOVE over, law-breaks and loiterers! There’s a new mayor in Manila – and he means business! Like a superhero (I’m thinking, “The Mighty Thor”), he came just a week shy…
On being connected to God in a digital era
“I Am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) Jesus’…
Summertime in Las Vegas
“Summer is a high, candid definite time.” VEGAS Mc Carran Airport was crowded with people determined to get an early start on the long weekend rush. Las Vegas is already…
Once upon a time series… CHARISSE’S CONFECTION: A story in two Scoops
Conclusion of 2 parts Charisse’s natural curiosity as a researcher would normally drive her to check out her story on the internet. But she felt Dolly’s story was told to…
Mass suicide atop Masada
Suicide by individuals or a group of people have serious medical and psychological implications. The mass killing for a nobler cause atop the Masada fortress by the Dead Sea in…
Realities in life: Rest, relax and simply breathe (Part I of II)
I RECENTLY had a bout with profuse nose bleeding because a small vessel ruptured inside my nasal cavity caused by acute sinusitis. This caused me three trips to the emergency…
The camera never blinks (Part I of II)
IT is hard to find words to describe photographers. They work long and hard on their photos that tell a story and accompany their dreams of becoming good press photographers….