On our humble service to God
“If Jesus, the Son of God, was hated and killed, what excuses do we have, mere human beings, from not also being mocked, attacked, belittled, and put on the cross…
Category: Lifestyle Columnists
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Cry of courage, fundraising in the Fil-Am community
FUNDRAISING is not a game, nor is it a social commentary or a religious revelation. It is not the breeding ground for the trite and the shallow. Those who say…
Abraham Ferrer: Using art to influence culture and building communities
“WHICHEVER way they choose, an observer must apply some skills of their own to the experience, just as the artist must apply their skills and experience to creating the work…
PACCAL 26th Anniversary exalts human endeavor & community service
AFTER having remarkably established and conscientiously demonstrated its full capacity effort to serve the community and enthusiastically promote the very essence of the mission and vision of its advocacy for…
Hair falling out?
When a handful of hair falls out each single day, clogging the drain, it is scary. While it is normal to lose 50-100 strands of hair a day, it is…
How to build a house of bricks in any season
(Third of 3 parts) “I build my house of stone I build my house of bricks. I’ve had no chance to sing and dance. ‘Cause work and play don’t mix.”…
A young Fil-Am sexual assault survivor’s journey
[Writer’s note: This was published in May 2018 in the Asian Journal’s Los Angeles weekend edition, but the recently concluded, controversial associate justice confirmation hearings on Brett Kavanaugh makes this…
Seeking God’s kingdom
A YOUNG man ran up to Jesus and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus answered, “Why do you call me good? No one…
Meet Loloy, Max and Andy: A ‘few good men’ living the American dream
IT is almost cliché whenever we hear about “real men” doing unusual things. Some say “they (can) wear pink,” or that they cry (when necessary and are not ashamed of…
In praise of the Los Angeles Philippine Women’s Club
THEY are daughters of dramatic journeys and fantastic tales, carrying their stories like treasures, proud of their heritage they came to America amid colonial romance, hope, despair, misfortune but are…
Life is wonderful
In this era of health consciousness, people, in general, are seeking ways to live healthier and maximize longevity through prevention. This was one of the reasons why I wrote the…
How to build a house of bricks in any season (Second of 3 parts)
” I build my house of sticks. I build my house of twigs. With a hey-diddle-diddle, I play on the fiddle. And dance all kinds of jigs” — Fiddler Pig (The first 5 tips…
Rick Rocamora’s moral courage and visual voice of witnessing human wrongs to human rights
“Every life is a wonderful story worthy of being told. Every life is a work of art, and if it does not seem so, perhaps it is only necessary to…
Leading ladies share personal credos
THE year-round oasis is timeless in the Fil-Am community, motivated by independent women that pursue common goals and interests, with their paths frequently intersecting, overlapping — socializing with many of…
The joy of marriage and family
THE Gospel this Sunday (Mark 10:2-16) begins with the Pharisees asking Jesus if it is lawful for a husband to divorce his wife. Jesus responded by reminding them of the…
Proud to be a Filipino
While on an Iberian Peninsula Cruise with my wife, Farida, and 21 other medical colleagues and friends last August 30, we met a friendly Filipino coffee server by the name…
How to build a house of bricks in any season (First of 3 parts)
” I build my house of straw. I build my house of hay. I toot my flute. I don’t give a hoot. And play around all day.” — Fifer Pig (Enjoy a…
Two priests and their long years of selfless and “big” service
ON World Youth Day in 2014, Pope Francis challenged young people with this message: “Do you really want to be happy? In an age when we are constantly being tempted…
High standard for judicial nominees: Impartiality, an instrument of our common unity and fidelity to the Constitution
“Every judge needs to have both the intellectual capacity to deal with the incredible variety and complexity of the issues and an instinctive understanding of the human implications of the…
Men in blue charm town hall crowd
SUMMONED by invitation from the cultural office of the Philippine Consulate, out of ink-the news world trooped to the Community Hall to witness the launching of PNP Global Community Relations…
IFAW Season 3 at New York Fashion Week
Finally, the euphoric hullabaloo over the much celebrated semi-annual New York Fashion Week came to an end with the International Fashion & Arts Week-Season 3 pulling the curtains down to officially…
Aspirin: Anti-cancer, etc.?
Does caffeine hurt our health? Researchers have found that coffee chasers have increased blood pressure, faster heart rate, and higher stress hormone level, compared to non-coffee drinkers. The substance responsible…
The bucket list: Travel Light
(16th of a series) ”He who must travel happily must travel light.” — Antoine de Saint-Exupery TRAVEL is a pure metaphor for our life’s journey. There are two choices…
Living side by side in a divided world
SOME people are not religious, but they possess genuine human qualities of compassion, kindness, empathy, and care for other people. They are people who may not always go to church…
Filipino-American Actor, Darren Criss wins his first Emmy
CONGRATULATIONS are in order for this fine actor for winning best actor – the first Filipino-American to do so. Darren Criss won his first Emmy for his role as Andrew…
The Indignity of Aging
WHEN a person is old, he or she has only one’s soul for company. There are times when you feel it crying, but you do not ask why. Your eyes…
Truth over power: Public figures and church officials occupy positions of public trust
TRUST is a tower built stone by stone. Lies remove stones from the base and can topple the highest tower. When trust is important there are no little lies. – Michael…
Warning: Date-rape drugs
In news reports on April 26, 2018 and on June 8, 2018, comedian Bill Cosby, now 81, admitted he gave the drug Quaaludes or even Benadryl to women without their…
The bucket list: Ask for help
”Don’t be shy about asking for help. It doesn’t mean you’re weak, it only means you’re wise.” — Anonymous (15th of a series) WE live in the Age of…
The life force that surrounds you — the aura
(Part I of III) AS in the past columns, we’ve tackled negative energies and how it affects us and how to make our surroundings charged with positive energies. Now let’s…