Send us, O Lord to preach the Good News

I FEEL privileged to be part of this year’s formation of seminarians of St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo, California. Being a professor of Homiletics for nineteen students in 2nd Year Theology gives me a sense of fulfillment of being able to help future priests to become good preachers and pastors. This, indeed, is a great…

Read More

Tony & Mely Garcia's 55th Wedding Anniversary and the Bicolandia Association, Inc. of Eastern Seaboard 43rd Anniversary

Man, by nature, is sociable. His sociable nature is emphasized with the constant changes in the community which are congruous to his ever evolving preferences. Filipinos, for one, always take every milestone in their life so seriously that they tend to celebrate its significance pompously. They celebrate in any possibly affordable way they could just…

Read More

A Woman of Substance

CHRISTMAS came early for Mary Jane Alvero Al-Mahdi, Chief Executive Officer of the Geoscience Testing Laboratory, the biggest independent testing laboratory operating in the Middle East. Al Mahdi was honored by no less than President Benigno S. Aquino III on December 5, 2012 at Malacañang Palace, as one of the recipients of the 2012 Presidential…

Read More

An Achieving Pinay in Brazil

AT the 16th International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST) Congress, Dr. Delia Rodriguez-Amaya was among ten speakers chosen to give their advice and perspective on what makes a great leader, on how to succeed, and on how they were able to persevere and become the success they are today. Dr. Rodriguez-Amaya, the IUFoST…

Read More

Tony & Mely Garcia’s 55th Wedding Anniversary and the Bicolandia Association, Inc. of Eastern Seaboard 43rd Anniversary

Man, by nature, is sociable. His sociable nature is emphasized with the constant changes in the community which are congruous to his ever evolving preferences. Filipinos, for one, always take every milestone in their life so seriously that they tend to celebrate its significance pompously. They celebrate in any possibly affordable way they could just…

Read More

The chocolate mystique

In this day and age of health-consciousness, various food items have been on the spotlight, scrutinized, and re-evaluated, including chocolate. Chocolate is the “feel-good” food, the lover’s delight, which comes with, or without, flowers as a popular gift on special romantic occasions or holidays. In this column today, let us demystify some of the “facts…

Read More

The past as present

After a smooth ride along the SCTEX and navigating the tortuous terrain of Bataan, an excitement builds up as you are welcomed by the security detail in guardia de civil garbs. The feeling that you are about to travel through time seeps in as you casually dig for images culled from movies and history books…

Read More

Women and equality in the battle scene

Some things light up — an uneasiness that, at first, you wouldn’t know how to define. But then you eventually do, and a shudder rises up and down your spine. Sometimes, it wouldn’t be much of a line. It doesn’t have the poetry of “I-breathe-the scent-of equality,” or the elegant journalism on the verge of…

Read More

What are we in power for?

IN the Republic of Santa Banana, there’s a new president, replacing the unlamented Gloria En Excesses Deo. President Penoy Balut is said to be the most honest president Santa Banana has ever had. He is so honest, he recently signed a bill levying heavy taxes on cigarettes, to discourage the masses from smoking (which is…

Read More

‘Together’ onto the next four years

BARACK Obama just renewed his oath of office, to serve as our president for four more years. His second inauguration coincided with two important moments in history, made possible by two great men, who have been a big influence in Obama’s guiding principles and conviction as a leader — Martin Luther King and President Abraham…

Read More

Can employees challenge employment documents they signed?

WE previously discussed the question of whether an employee’s signature to an independent contractor agreement binds the employee to the terms of that agreement. We noted that the law determines the worker’s status, not the parties’ agreement.  Even if there was such an agreement, workers who are treated as employees will not be bound by…

Read More

New California news for 2013

Part B: Driving and motor vehicles Cell phones and texting while driving: ASSEMBLY Bill 1536 clarifies existing law by allowing drivers to dictate, send, or listen to text-based communications while driving as long as they use voice-operated, hands-free operation. This clarification makes the texting-while-driving ban consistent with current law that prohibits use of cell phones…

Read More

Ceasefire?

AFTER a 10-day convoluted tirade between Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, the two senators finally called a “ceasefire” on what has become a bitter (and possibly, life-threatening) diatribe. The very publicized feud and conflict between the nation’s two top officials started over Sen. Enrile’s distribution of P1.618 million each among members…

Read More

How do you solve a problem like NAIA?

THE Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) has been named by an interactive travel website as “the worst airport in Asia.” But many Filipinos back home are still forgiving, even defensive in protecting the Philippines’ image. For many kababayans who have been to other airports in the world, and those who frequently fly in and out of the…

Read More

Champion and ‘Tatay’ to Filipino-Canadians

IT HAS been said that out of the most severe trials come the greatest triumphs. We could either become victims of circumstances, or we can turn those difficulties into stepping stones and emerge as victors. Filipino-Canadian Tomas Avendaño Sr. has undergone severe trials in his life as an immigrant in Canada and has become a…

Read More

When sickness and death become gifts

THE circumstances, consequences, and services of my father’s death and all the gatherings and prayers of families and friends are still vividly present in my mind. I’m sure that it’s the same for every member of my family. Although the wounds of our hearts are still tender with grief, our hearts are full of gratitude…

Read More

Apportionment of retirement benefits in divorce cases

One of the major assets a divorcing couple usually has, other than real estate property, are retirement benefits such as company pensions, 401k, and other deferred compensation. The problem in determining how much community property interest in the retirement benefit arises when the employee spouse worked at a particular employer longer than the period of…

Read More

The Prime of Steven Fulop

Changing the face of a diverse community takes several well-schemed measures and innovative maneuvers. It takes a whole lot of persuasive power to influence people to embrace the principle they endorse. When the public perceives an air of veritable sincerity and its potential benefits for the general public, the indomitable program or plan can neither…

Read More

The Prime of Steven Fulop

Changing the face of a diverse community takes several well-schemed measures and innovative maneuvers. It takes a whole lot of persuasive power to influence people to embrace the principle they endorse. When the public perceives an air of veritable sincerity and its potential benefits for the general public, the indomitable program or plan can neither…

Read More

Male problems

Diminished or ineffective erection in man causing inability to have a successful intercourse 75 percent of the time is medically termed erectile dysfunction or ED for short. This condition affects between 18 to 30 million in the United States, some as early as age 40, according to the Massachusetts Male Aging Study. Others have reported…

Read More

Smart snacking helps you keep that beautiful smile

DOES FREQUENT SNACKING PRESENT PROBLEMS FOR OUR TEETH? Well, it depends. Every time we eat, our mouths go to work cleaning things up and restoring “balance”. Having three meals a day is one thing. But when we continuously snack, our mouths struggle more to maintain that clean, happy balance—especially when we’re eating the wrong kinds…

Read More

Protecting the home court

IN the spate of news filled with violence and other unwanted events, a little bit of the good comes to us. The Philippines was recently awarded by FIBA, the official governing body of basketball in the world, the right to host the 27th FIBA Asia Championship from August 1 to 11 this year. A basketball…

Read More

Unbridled

IN travel and leisure, it seems that politics are set aside. Contrary to its implications, the escalating conflict in the ongoing territorial dispute over the Spratlys does not interfere with travel plans of Chinese tourists to the Philippines. On January 9, China’s Oriental Morning Post hailed the Philippines as one of the “Best Tourist Destination for 2012.”…

Read More
Back To Top