“Achi, put down the squash and eat the morcon.” My two girl friends and I were at a restaurant with all our children. They heard me say the words; I heard myself saying those words. We looked at each other and laughed. One commented, “Mali yata sinabi mo.” The incident sums up my family’s restaurant […]
Ateneo de Manila University Press recently came out with A Visit to Manila and Its Environs, an English translation of a Dutch book by Jacob Adolf Bruno Wiselius published in 1876. Wiselius, a controller with the Dutch colonial administration in Java, visited Manila and neighboring Laguna province in 1875. He had prepared well for his […]
Ever since I became a mother, I have received warnings from friends and family about the dangers of the world. There was that story about shoes or flip flops getting sucked into the steps of an escalator (this really happened to my cousin’s son in California). There’s also that true story about a stranger who […]
The iconic food pyramid – that well-known triangle that guides millions of people in healthy eating – has been replaced by MyPlate. Unveiled recently by American first lady Michelle Obama, the new guide shows a round plate sliced into four colorful parts. At a glance, it shows that half the food on your plate should […]
On June 12, the nation celebrated our 113th year of independence. Between 1946 and 1962, our country celebrated Independence Day on July 4, the day we attained self-governance from American colonial rule. Our nation declared independence twice. The first time was when our country became the first Asian republic, throwing off the yoke of Spanish […]
Jose Rizal is alive and well in Hong Kong! If you know where to look, you can find our national hero in this bustling metropolis. All you need is a good pair of shoes and a city map. Then seek out the historical markers. There are three historical markers scattered across Hong Kong island. These […]
History can sometimes be found in the most curious of places, even in the back alleys of Binondo. Take for example this obscure historical marker in a driveway along Masangkay Street in Binondo. Since it is not visible from the street, only a few are aware of its existence. The marker honors a Don Higino […]
Hokkien, on the tongues of Tsinoys, has grown and evolved, taking on a life of its own. Sometimes words simply fail us. With some creativity, Tsinoys have strung together words to form colorful phrases that simply hit the bull’s eye. Here are some expressions unique to Hokkien as favored by Tsinoys. Idioms, expressions Hokkien pronunciation […]
Philbert Dy is Manila lifestyle website Clickthecity’s resident film critic, and one of the country’s vocal voices when it comes to cinema. He’s judged competitions, curated festivals, and even engaged in online arguments with celebrities who think he should have given their films a higher rating. “A film critic writes about movies. He or she […]
This year (2015), the Philippines and the People’s Republic of China commemorate 40 years of diplomatic relations. The joint communiqué was signed June 9, 1975 by Philippine President Ferdinand E. Marcos and China Premier Zhou Enlai.The day is now celebrated as Philippines-China Friendship Day. It underscores the centuries of friendship between the two countries, begun […]