There’s this Radiolab podcast that featured Filipinos working for Facebook as censors. The podcast delved into what many consider an over-reach on Facebook’s part in suppressing content. But my fascination was on the Filipino content moderators. Who would have thought that pornographic and violent posts are purged from Facebook’s platform in Manila of all places? […]
Category: Personal
It’s that time of the year when people share stories of the paranormal. I have an eloquent and comforting one that I’d like to share. Ever since my father died I’ve been thinking about the old question, “do we survive death?” Where do we go after the lights go out? Are ghostly visitations a hint […]
Growing up, Magallanes’ a place where we took buses going to Alabang. In grade school, I remember a cardboard illustration in a wall depicting Magellan and Lapu-Lapu fighting while in knee-deep seawater. We all know how that ended. When I started reading local history books, the Portuguese explorer was always depicted as a […]
Remember the Bear Brand TV ad “look at my mole” that aired in the 80s? It was about an old man reminiscing about his childhood. It opens with people gathering around, performing music (Tertulia), enjoying food and card games. He was in a sailor outfit, dancing with his Lola, dressed in elegant baro’t saya. It […]
Looks like our local educational system is opening its doors to more languages like Korean. Hardcore K-Pop fans were delighted to hear the news! But why prioritize Korean and Mandarin? Why not Spanish? Our old lingua franca? All my siblings had mandatory Spanish. It was removed from standard curriculum when I started tertiary education. With […]
In his recent Netflix special explains the legend that is Manny Pacquiao and the reason why Filipino men worships him. “Emasculated” by unemployment and having their overseas wives send money to support the family, Dave explains that Pacquiao somehow restored their manhood “with his fist”! https://frostsnow.com/uploads/gossip/2017/02/04/stand-up-comedian-dave-chappelle-married-elaine-chappelle-and-living-happily-with-their-children.jpg Dave Chappelle with wife Elaine and daughter Sonal. His […]
I’m not good at remembering dreams so I’m writing this here. This happened two weeks ago. I slept at around 12 midnight. I got up at exactly at 3 AM. Yes, that’s three hours of sleep. This has been my routine for more than a year now. I start my day drinking brewed coffee and […]
After my father passed away last year, I’ve been consumed by the question, “do we survive death”? Growing up Catholic, I understand my religion’s conception of the afterlife. But there’s something about losing a person close to you that triggers questions about what you previously thought you comprehend. Maybe it’s human nature to not want […]
I recently started posting short blogs across all my social media. The first one was about Gen. Henry Lawton. He died in San Mateo in 1899. The only US general to perish during the Philippine-American war. The coincidence relating to his death is worthy of a “Twilight Zone” episode: “We all know Lawton […]
While searching for news about Filipino Catholicism online, I inadvertently discovered that the great Catholic apologist, Fr. Gerardo “Gerry” Tapiador, passed away five years ago. Fr. Gerry made regular TV guestings on shows where Catholic viewpoints were needed. The last time I saw him was on GMA Network with broadcast journalist Howie Severino. They were […]
Feeling a bit under the weather I thought of staying home yesterday. But I was informed by the family of the eminent Chemist and historian Pio Andrade Jr. that Wednesday is the last and only day of his internment. He passed away last December 26. They decided to cremate his remains the next day and […]
Last April, before I left for Singapore my father told me in jest that what’s left of his time he considers “bonus”. He’s too fatalistic at times. Turns out, he said the same to my wife. He was all smiles the last day we were with him. He kissed, hugged and carried my son. Papa […]
I took part in writing a biography a few years ago. It was about the longest serving town mayor of San Pedro Laguna, Calixto Cataquiz, an unpretentious local politician who became a friend during the course of the project. I would have not agreed to write the bio if my friend, Pepe Alas, was not […]
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