Categories
Life

Kurambos

My eyes have strained too long and hard these past two years on the central authority who sits in Malacañang. I knew, but have forgotten, that could not solve the lingering problems that beset our country despite the promises extravagantly made.In a fit of frustration, I return my gaze once again on the massive potential […]

Categories
Soul of China

Ming Dynasty patriots

In this issue, we share with you two stories about Ming patriots who fought against the Manchurian army in the mid-17th century. The Manchurians overran China in 1644, signaling the ascent of the Qing Dynasty. One of their most detested orders was requiring all male Chinese to wear pigtail. The order prompted the people of […]

Categories
Kidnap Watch

Abu Sayyaf frees businesswoman in Sulu

One of the seven victims who were earlier kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf terrorists is now free.Colonel Gerry Besana, public affairs officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Mindanao Command, confirmed the release of businesswoman Helen Roda who was kidnapped together with her husband Rufo in August in Sirawai, Zamboanga del Norte.Police reported […]

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Tsinoy Beats and Bytes

Tsinoys deeply rooted in Philippine soil

My friends, Tsinoys and native Filipinos alike, have been calling my attention to the deluge of negative comments about the influx of Chinese nationals, especially from the mainland, and other issues. They worry that the negativity may spill over to include Chinese-Filipinos. They said they can distinguish the Chinese who are newcomers from the Tsinoys […]

Categories
Parenting

All I want for Christmas

I saw this photo on a friend’s timeline and it reminded me of all the gifts I asked for when I got married. We purposely did not have a gift registry because we were going to live with Mom. Her house is fully equipped and we did not really need anything new. Plus, we were […]

Categories
Gems of History

Parian in Cebu

The Parian of Manila is by far the most known district the Spanish colonizers had restricted the Chinese in the Philippines to during their four-century rule. Outside of the city, however, were other thriving, albeit less known parians. Several of them were home to not only the Chinese but also Chinese mestizos.Two parians I came […]

Categories
Life

Ambassador Howard Q. Dee (李景欣): Servant of his faith, exemplary citizen of his country

For “his quietly heroic half-century of service to the Filipino people, his abiding dedication to the pursuit of social justice and peace in achieving dignity and progress for the poor, and his being, by his deeds, a true servant of his Faith and an exemplary citizen of his nation,” Ambassador Howard Q. Dee was conferred […]

Categories
Life

Howard Q. Dee: My lamppost in peacebuilding

It was at the Peace Commission in the late 1980s that I first came to meet Ambassador Howard Q. Dee, or HQD as we often refer to him. Fresh out of graduate school, I was a very diligent staff reporting to then Cabinet Secretary for Rural Development Edilberto De Jesus under the Aquino Administration. I […]

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Idioms...Hokkien style

When words fail, use idioms… Hokkien style (73)

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. 請鬼醫病 tsnia kui ee […]

Categories
Life

HQD: a father, a grandfather, a great-grandfather

I recall attending a convention on philanthropy with my mom and dad in Singapore. He was speaking to one of the organizers and mentioned he disliked the title of philanthropist. He felt the word has an undertone of a hierarchy between rich donors and those in need. He preferred to see himself as a social […]