A year after the Tohoku region was devastated by the earthquake and tsunami of 11 March 2011, the World Travel and Tourism Council Global Summit opens with the Japan Recovery and Asia Outlook Forum (in association with PATA) in Sendai City, the provincial capital of the Miyagi Prefecture and a focal point of last year’s disaster recovery efforts.

   I haven't read any of the books so watching the movie I tried to come into it as unbiased and as open minded as I could.

    I am a strong advocate of Technology and its importance towards society. I mean, Technology has become a driving factor in the continuing evolution of our race. And it is unfair if this major factor is unequally distributed towards all.

“Within a group, ethics may be broadly accepted in general terms, but issues arise in their interpretation and application.” – Shutter Release, April 2010

I had initially been apprehensive about attending Dialogues @ Starbucks because it’s under their Corporate Social Responsibility/Global Responsibility division. To explain why, I’ll have to get my geek on a little bit here (you’ve been warned). I’m a pretty hardcore liberal, which means I believe in the existence and necessity of many heartless things. I do not believe that corporations ...

An Architecture student in the University of Santo Tomas (UST) made his Graduation Day last Tuesday, March 27, 2012, a very memorable one when he surprised his girlfriend with a marriage proposal. Oh, how sweet!

Since its inception in 2007, Earth Hour has captured the world’s imagination by becoming a global phenomenon. Earth Hour 2010 inspired 1.3 billion people in over 4000 cities to join the 60-minute switch off. 

Aside from home cooked meals, the second best thing I love about the Filipino cuisine is the street food. Growing up in the Philippines, I would always spot street vendors swarming around markets and sidewalks, sometimes even blocking road traffic.

Meet Zyra, one of the newest members of the LitWorld Girls LitClub in Manila (at the Real Life Foundation). At twelve years old, she is poised and well-spoken, a brave voice with all the makings of a heroine protagonist from a novel. Meet Zyra, my new role model.

Occupancy costs are usually the second highest expense in a nonprofit budget. Since 2007, they have fallen dramatically, but so has revenue available for rent. What has been the impact of the recession on the shared spaces movement in the nonprofit sector?

Pancit Bihon is a classic Filipino noodle dish. It’s pronounced pan-seet bee-hon.  Bihon is a kind of rice noodle. It cooks fast so be sure not to leave it under the boiling water for too long. In fact, making Pancit Bihon is quick and delicious. All you have to do is stir fry the vegetables, blanch the noodles, and combine the ...

Two girls, pinay, unusually tall for their skin color, getting lost in Malasimbo candidly, instinctively and yes, naively as well.

Everybody loves conspiracy theories. They provide thought-provoking alternative angles. We will dismiss them immediately if they did not have some grain of truth in them. However, some conspiracy theories outweigh others in depth of research and linking social, economic, and political thought. This one is on the hypnotizing Corona Trial -- a must watch.

Frisky 3-a-half-year-old George Haines came into the Singgalot cultural show with his American dad and Filipino mom.

“You can’t be Filipino,” I cracked a lame joke hoping to get his attention and take his photo wearing a ‘Pinoy’ shirt in Sheldon Cooper fashion. He coyly buried his smiling face into his mother’s body.

  Has anybody coined the word “marriagementum” yet? If not, I call dibs. 

For years, Filipinos have been stuck with pseudo online shopping, that is, going on platforms like Sulit.com or Multiply, browsing merchants and their widgets only to complete their transaction offline. Well, it's 2012 and Zalora thinks Filipinos are ready for the real deal.

Another Filipina is gunning for the “American Idol” title. Jessica Sanchez’s powerful vocals had FilAms and the judges gushing and raving about the resurrection of Whitney Houston.

It’s been a busy month for us here at New Perspectives as projects have been popping up here and there.  We’ll make sure to keep you guys updated with all the things that have happened as soon as we’re ready.  For now, I just wanted to share with you all a little ongoing photo project that I’ve been working on.

As the television evening news blasted commentaries on a recent disaster footage, Mae Paner recalls sitting in the next room, scanning her Facebook newsfeed of status updates, all about her friends’ fears or calls for action. You would think that this would be followed by a click on the ‘Like’ button of one mouse, but this simple act might become ...

I never thought I would write such an article about Youth Empowerment; considering that the word Youth is already a complicated subject yet I added another complicated word Empowerment. But what really made me write an article entitled Youth Empowerment?

“Do we have to wait until a disaster overwhelms us before we make the radical changes necessary to protect our world for future generations? If we act now there is much that can be saved which will otherwise disappear forever.” ~ John Gummer

The most intelligent students in the UP System are enrolled in UP Manila. I have three reasons for asserting this: First, UP’s Oblation scholars are studying here. Second, the top UPCAT passers are also based in the campus. And third, that’s what my wife has been telling me who is by the way a graduate of Development Studies in the ...

What happens when you get forward-thinking people together to share their ideas, passions, and work in one room? The answer is obvious -- collaborations happen.

The first time I heard about Escargot was when I was a kid, probably around 10 years old, dining with my family at a seafood restaurant in the Philippines. Over there, we would refer Escargot as Ginataang Kuhol which literally means “Snails in Coconut Milk”.

Beginning June 2012, the new school year will introduce Kindergarten in public schools nationwide. This is a major educational development for the country. There have been a lot of changes proposed for the next school year. This is one of them. It is argued that public school kids who become part of Kindergarten can develop lifelong skills. What is ...

I recently attended the Winning Disciplines for Success event at the SMX Convention Center last Feb 24, along with more than 2,000 go-getting, change-making, success-driven individuals from all walks of like. I saw celebrities, business executives and students come together with one goal in mind: to learn how to be successful. [Blurb  image by Russ Patalinghog]

Yesterday, the national bar exam results were out. The successful bar examinees rejoiced over their hard work and effort. Their review for the bar exam reaped good results. They are now part of legal practice. Their four years of law school with sleepless nights and endless readings culminated in a national bar exam. The result can make or break ...

Youcef Nadarkhani is an Iranian pastor who has been sentenced to death for being a Christian. His more specific “crime” is apostasy, or leaving Islam, even though he says he never practiced Islam, and refusing to recant his Christian faith. He’s been a pastor for 10 years and is married with two kids. 

in 2001, i was glued to the t.v screen everyday from 2pm to 6pm watching the telenovela-like impeachment trial of then president joseph estrada. now, almost 11 years after, the same thing is happening.

It’s not an easy job.
Millions of Filipinos would dream to have a job overseas; thousands of them would try their luck, hundreds of them might get offers, but only a few of them can actually make the cut.

For a population and culture that is best known for looking for jobs outside their home country, here is an article that illustrates clearly and step by step the proper way to conduct an international job search. If and when you do get that dream job though, please remember your Filipino brothers and sisters who can use some empowerment and ...

When we first moved to this house, our landlords gave us a few tips about the neighborhood: there’s a man who hawks fresh vegetables on the street everyday, there are lots of good little restaurants to try nearby, the sun shines in through the front window and reflects off the car hood at a certain time of the day.

I want to pluck the chill from cold gardenias and place it in your hair. I will be what you want of me—shadows of clock hands, the remaining drop in a coffee spoon. Anything, except cruel. — Hossanah

We are Filipinos. But how do we define ourselves? How do others define us? How does being Filipino define who we are as individuals?

Mung Bean Stew or “Munggo Guisado” in Tagalog, is a popular hearty stew in the Philippines. It usually comes with fried chunks of pork.  Both TJ and I have created vegan versions of this dish (in fact, our Twitter profile pic is TJ’s version of it).

Interesting documentary trying to grapple with the idea of empowering Filipina women. The word empowerment is very loaded for me. Kudos to the film for attempting to define it and contribute to the discussion

Imagine the effects, both consciously and subconsciously, of leader and authority figures expressing their disapproval of gay and lesbian people? From clergy to politicians, from parents to those who serve and protect, the ramifications on the self-esteem, self-worth, self-image of any LGBT person are great to say the least. This is why the good people of San Francisco started the ...

Whitney Houston is dead at 48 years old. Her death is so sudden and shortly before the Grammy Awards night. She passed away at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. The Grammy Awards gave her a tribute. The world is mourning for the untimely demise of a pop music icon. Whitney Houston’s beautiful singing voice will be missed. ...

Any body else interested in 'rebooting' Valentine's Day, a cheesy, commerce-generating non-holiday into 'Generosity Day' -- a day that spreads love to everyone by being generous. Take the Generosity Day pledge.

Love is Love -- an advocacy campaign on underrepresentation and alternative representations of love. 

There is this place between gray mountains, a place where the sky is most orange, and the clouds lavender when the day is about to end. There, the sun shines golden but it is the rarest destination for tourists, the last part of Manila anyone would ever want to visit.  

Labeling, as many people say, makes the world a predictable and easier place to live in. In the world of Psychology (and even in Sociology), every kind of behavior has a label. If one is not within the “normal” range, one becomes deviant (in Sociology) or in the Psychological world, they’re diagnosed with a certain “disease / illness”. Harsh words, ...

Lately, I’ve been getting inspired by so many wonderful guest posts here on AstigVegan as well as scrumptious recipes from my Love Bloghop family. Unfortunately life gets in the way and there are times when I don’t have the time to try the recipes I’ve discovered.

Along with watch repairmen, there are other stalls on the streets that focuses on another thing like shoe repair.

Shoe repairmen fix damages, due to excessive use or normal wear-and-tear, on footwear. There are few instruments used in shoe repairing since it only requires heavy duty glue, stitching materials and other replacement parts for footwear.

I can already see most of you rolling your eyes at the sight of the title because let’s face it, you guys have this whole stereotyping when it comes to the call center industry.

Bibingka is a Filipino rice cake usually known for being cheesy and buttery. You’ll often find it on dinner tables during holidays like Christmas. I planned to make it for a different holiday, Valentines Day.

Announcing the BIGGEST and MOST CHALLENGING adventure I (and maybe in the whole Philippine travel scene) will ever take-
Dubbed as “ISANG DAAN” (one road or one hundred in Filipino language)- 100 Days of Backpacking the Philippines- The Cheapest Way Possible is on and will be happening very very soon!

As of February 1, 2012, the Philippine government has mandated a fixed-pay salary for bus drivers and conductors, in a move to promote better working conditions for employees of the public transport industry.

While other girls my age got to read about Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty, my mom got me a big red book that didn’t have a story. I saw a Sesame Street character who was hugging his stomach and his eyes were watering. On the next page, he was covering his nose and surrounded by a city of smoke. And ...

In an essay, entitled “Making It in America,” in the latest issue of The Atlantic, the author Adam Davidson relates a joke from cotton country about just how much a modern textile mill has been automated: The average mill has only two employees today, “a man and a dog. The man is there to feed the dog, and the dog ...

A college student in the Philippines emailed me and asked about my vegan lifestyle. She’s writing a paper on the different kinds of diets of Filipinos, including vegetarianism and veganism. I of course gladly helped out. She said she’ll post the piece on her blog once she’s done with it. Hopefully, she’ll get high marks. Crossing fingers for her!

It's obvious that we are consuming so much more media than we did in the previous decades. With the advent of mobile technology that can deliver rich online media, we are constantly plugged in. But does this have an effect on our brains? No doubt!

Last January 2011, Twitter boldly blogged that "The Tweets Must Flow" in light of the Arab Spring -- the revolutions in Arab countries namely Egypt and Tunisia which used social network platforms to spread the word quickly. But today, Twitter is taking the exact opposite stance.

I am inspired by zenhabits.net with its list of 34 Little Ways to Share with the World, and I've created my own, Philippine-friendly list. It's a little more, because Filipinos are - I believe - a very friendly and warm people, capable of compassionate acts and greener actions, given the chance. In no particular order:

Yesterday, news reached us about the Presidential Adviser caught on camera with his bodyguards buying pirated copies of electronic merchandise. The image was shown on the news in a blurred manner. The Presidential Adviser and his bodyguards did not realize that they were being photographed. This is an impromptu occurrence that has evidence. The image was also printed on ...

So you're a young professional, grad student, freelance creative, or entrepreneur and you've been primarily working out of your small apartment. You've been doing ok and making ends meet but this 2012, your resolution is to take your practice to another level. You want to separate work space and living space but renting out your own office either costs too ...

Chinese New Year is a very special occasion for the Filipino Chinese community. Here are just some of the common customs and traditions they observe and practice as part of their Chinese New Year celebrations.

Logical reasoning acts like a ray of sunlight to bigotry. Just read through this sober image and see why the institution of marriage is threatened by everyone who does not respect it.

As the dust settles from another year of the Feast of the Black Nazarene, we again hear numerous reports of stampedes and injuries. Just shy of 1000 people were injured during the feast.

Hi. I'm Caloy Libosada. Im almost 44 years old and I've been stuck in the Philippines tourism industry for more than 21 years (actually, I could use the phrases - I have been a tourism advocate, i love this country, etc. but that would be too.... whatever) And I'm gonna try to write a compelling, dramatic, historic, fun, funny article ...

Is Vegan Filipino food a new phenomena? Or has it been around long before I was born?

Allow me to temporarily veer away from my food review stint and share with you my experience during a shoot for Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho's "It's More Fun In The Philippines" segment. But first, a background... 

I would like to share with you one of the best guides on 'climbing mountains' out there. This was written by Paulo Coelho and I believe it captures how we should communicate the things we do in life, especially the big projects we take on, and how we should (I actually believe its our collective responsibility) share the lessons we ...

Before I begin this entry I would like to make a disclosure. I’m a full Filipina who was born in Jakarta, Indonesia where I lived for almost seven years. My family moved back to the Philippines in 1996 where I was raised in an international school environment on a scholarship. Upon hearing about my high school background I often get ...

In the past few days and nights, Philippine cyberspace has been informing us of the Department of Tourism’s new slogan. All images have the “It is more fun in the Philippines” saying. This ad has generated so much buzz online and non-tourism versions have been created, too. It seems like Filipinos in the Philippines have enjoyed looking at the new ...

A fusion between Italian and Filipino, Kalamansi Coconut Risotto is a creamy rice dish I like to refer as “the ultimate comfort food”.

" The recent proposed US House Bill banning US BPOs to outsource work outside the US has caused major concern for the Philippine BPO industry. If this Bill is approved in the US, it will spell major trouble for Filipinos who are employed in this industry."

I am going out on a limb to suggest ten predictions we will likely see in 2012. Some of these are extensions of current trends and some are new; some are sector-specific and some will impact all sectors.

It is quite clear that in an allegedly secular nation, politicians here in the Philippines are largely guided by their religion, which is more often than not Roman Catholicism. This is evident from the chapels in public institutions such as Philippine Science High School to the President’s “advisers” that invariably include at least one man of the cloth. And, there ...

January 29, 2012, Sunday, at the Venice Piazza, McKinley Hill, Taguig City.
Run with an open mind and an open heart and express yourself regardless of your Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in a celebration of Equality, Individuality and Diversity. 

Excerpt:  As a foreigner in the Philippines, I can assure you without hesitation that the Philippines has immense potential to be a tourist magnet.  The pristine, white sand beaches alone make the country a magnet for pasty-skinned, sun-starved white people like me. ...  But the Philippines may potentially be cutting itself off from a lucrative piece of the tourism industry ...

As we approach December 31, many of us will reflect on 2011 while thinking of ways in which to make 2012 better. The new year is an opportunity to reevaluate our lifestyle choices and how they affect our health and also to consider the impact they have on the animals with whom we share our world.

If I could offer you one one tip for the future, writing would be it. Write constructive letters addressed to airport officials, government agencies, and private institutions. Write letters you’ll never send; it’s a cathartic release. Snail mail postcards to friends.

Elite hacker group, Anonymous, are set for a global effort for street justice against the corrupt and dubbed their collaborative effort 'Hiroshima'.

One cannot help but sympathize with these cyber vigilantes in their goals because we all know that we are being oppressed economically, socially, intellectually, mentally, and spiritually. Watch for it on January 1, 2012. ...

From the P3 Curator >> It's tough to be gay in any country in the world. But it's tougher to be gay in the Philippines because of our conservative and religious culture. LGBT people are often disowned by their families and end up all alone in the street to fend for themselves. That task is already daunting for a young ...

From the P3 Curator >> Our favorite seafarer, Edward, turns into a traveling gourmand sampling the local fare wherever his ship docks.

What if this is the world's last Christmas?

Former Rolling Stone journalist and author Julia Cameron once said, "What we really want to do is what we are really meant to do. When we do what we are meant to do, money comes to us, doors open for us, we feel useful, and the work we do feels like play to us."

Last night, Archbishop Luis Tagle ordered all priests, rectors, and chaplains in Manila to hold a second collection for the victims of Sendong: “In the spirit of Christian solidarity, I request that a second collection be made at all Masses in all parishes, shrines, and communities in the Archdiocese of Manila from today until Christmas Day,” he said.

From the vibrantly colored banderitas waving on either side in front to the meticulous airbrush masterpieces depicting tourist spots in the Philippines, religious images, and characters in Filipino folklore, the jeepney was once an embodiment of Filipino artistry and creativity. Biyaheng Makulay Jeepney pays homage to this dying art, hopefully adding a spark to rekindle this once again.

From the P3 Curator:  Skate + street art + good beats? What else could you ask for on an over-cast Sunday? Another great post by New Perspectives. Enjoy.

From the P3 Curator:  Many Filipinos today are affected one way or another by the diaspora. This article is a heart-warming, intimate peak into the dynamics and relationship of a Filipina immigrant mother and her first generation Filipino-American daughter; written from the daughter's point of view.

From the P3 Curator >> The arts remain primarily supported by the rich in the Philippines. Yet this article is sights evidence that arts funding and its uplifting impact on communities, especially depressed communities is still in its infancy. Read this article and see how it can be applied and tweaked for your barangay.

When Pope John Paul II formally apologized for the persecution of Galileo, it was an apology that took the Catholic Church more than 300 years to make.

The Philippine Atheists and Agnostics Society will hold its first convention in Manila. We will be discussing PATAS' future goals and will be talking about Atheism/Agnosticism, Secularism and Humanism. We are selecting speakers for this convention from different personalities from the US and the Philippines.

I was heading to the checkout line of a Food Max store last night to pay for a bag of flour, when I kindly asked the man in front of me if I could go first because I only had one item. The man looked at me with a frown and shook his head “no”. Then, he grinned from ear ...

From the P3 Curator >> If you think about it, one learns more form failure than success because failure provides immediately actionable points. This is most apparent in organizations.
In this TED Video, David Damberger (yes, like in Pink Panther) talks about failure in the the NGO

Filipinos move to America for a variety of reasons: mainly for better opportunities. They talk about the poor making it big, but they never talk about the average starting from scratch or the struggle to get there. They talk about language barriers and culture shock, but never the rejection even after adaptation. I vent to my friends all the time. ...

The Philippine educational system will experience a historical change for school year 2012-2013 with the implementation of the K-12. Is the Philippines ready for this new educational challenge?

“Salus Populi Est Suprema Lex,” which means that the voice of the people is the supreme law of the land. The impeachment trial against Supreme Court Justice Renato Corona on the grounds of culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, and graft and corruption is a reminder to all public officials that no one is above the law.

My critique of President Noynoy Aquino’s Pantawid Pamilya Program

Like the average child in the Philippines, I never had that many books when I was small. By books I mean those that I would have wanted to read outside school or those that I would have really wanted to own and see everyday and read and read and read again, and again. And dream about.

Whether you're for or against the legalization of marijuana, there are some strong points argued on both sides that must be heard. It is such a hot topic that Discovery Channel devoted a new series to it called Weed Wars.

Check out a clip and decide for yourself.

I never went to CEO school. But here's how I learned to drive my business forward profitably. Hint: It’s not just about number crunching.

From the P3 Curator:  As you probably once visited Boracay to either relax or engage in hedonism, have you ever stopped to think about the rich history of the world-renowned getaway destination? Did you know it had a history of conservation, protection and greening. Perhaps after you read this piece, you will be inspired to re-green your beloved Boracay.

Dear Editor of the Philippine Daily Inquirer,

I have been sending job applications and I have been attending interviews for different companies and most of them have one thing in common...They said they like me but that I am too young for the position I am applying for. If not for my age (turning 21 this 18, btw), they would hire me. They were pretty much concerned ...

His name is Ayeh, born and raised in Panglao Island.  He used to be a captain of a boat at Alona Beach that ferried tourists to and from the various attraction sites.  With great pride, he confided that being a boatman funded his college education.  He received his B.A. in Business Management from Holy Name University here at Tagbilaran City ...

By this time, Congresswoman Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo would be at her new medical home- the Veteran’s Memorial Medical Center. A presidential suite was prepared for her along with her personal nurses. Perhaps, the name of the hospital would become famous through this VIP confinement.

There is a proposed Mother-Tongue Based Multilingual Education Bill, also known as MTB-MLE for the upcoming schoolyear. This means that the language spoken at home by the children will also be the one taught in school.

7,107 islands. 21 days. 0 flights. How far can you go?

Sole Sisters is the story of 2 Filipinas who quit their jobs to follow their dream of traveling the world.

Would you love to give your feline or canine companions some fun toys to make their lives more interesting, but don’t have cash to spare?

From the P3 Curator:  If we want our own occupy movement to be successful in the Philippines, the stand cannot be populated solely by militants and students. Families, erudite professors and professionals, scientists and social scientists, and more have to be represented. Everyone is part of the 99% apart from the ruling elite and mega-corporations. Watch this well-made and well-argued ...

From the P3 Curator:  Watch this inspiring clip of a well-mannered, successful, productive member of society address, and raised by a lesbian couple address politicians in his state on fair and equal treatment of LGBT.
As Filipinos, are we mature enough for this?

Of all the holidays celebrated in the Philippines, none compares to Christmas. Since its introduction to the country by the Spanish colonizers back in the 1500s, Filipinos have embraced Christmas with open arms. Today, celebrating Christmas in the Philippines involves a blend of traditional and modern customs, offering a completely unique way of celebrating this much-loved holiday.

Check out this video of student and youth leaders on satirical RH Bill discussions.

Nex Beñas of Akei Philippines attended the 2011 International Drug Policy Reform Conference in Los Angeles, California and emailed this video of renowned personality, speaker, and author, Rick Steves and his argument on marijuana legalization.

From the P3 Curator:  Here's another from the Future Learning video series from Good Magazine. In the Philippines, qualities libraries are scarce. But we are a nation that is rich in social media; this means we are heavily online. An online customizable textbook library is therefore cost-effective and widely accessible by anyone with an internet connection even in rural areas. ...

Filipinos who want to migrate to the United States have good news. The US Congress has a bill that has increased the percentage of visas granted to prospective immigrants. A lot of Filipinos who have families or relatives based in the US were able to petition their family members and have lived “the American dream.”

Few people are lucky enough to see animals such as lions, elephants, and tigers in their natural habitat. There surely can be no experience like it. And certainly, seeing such magnificent animals confined to a zoo is nothing at all like it—and that’s the problem.

Well, that's if you're a "future-looking maverick and fearless individual who wants to share and distill ideas from concept to reality"

Dear LGBT groups/individuals and supporters,
We thank you for expressing your support for the 2011 LGBT Pride March.
To help you or your organizations gear up for the march, here is a check-list of reminders and things to do:

The proposed renaming of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) to Cory Aquino Avenue has caused opposing remarks from high-ranking officials. This proposal is questionable since EDSA holds plenty of historical events that are embedded in the Filipino experience.

From the P3 Curator:

Pete X (name withheld), a fresh-from-NAIA expat in Manila, emailed in this piece with a note saying, "... attached a piece about my 1st Friday night in Manila. Raw, honest, all true."

From the P3 Curator:  Read what Lea Salonga, Dingdong Dantes, and Risa Hontiveros have to say about the RH Bill and related issues.

Americans calling the customer service lines of their airlines, phone companies and banks are now more likely to speak to Mark in Manila than Bharat in Bangalore.

From the P3 Curator:  The American phenomenon that is 'Black Friday', as seen from British eyes. For Filipinos worldwide, it is one of consumerism's best and worst days -- where profits are made and self-respect is destroyed.

Everybody knows the quote "be the change you want to see in this world".
The late and great Michael Jackson rephrased it in rhyme and song, in a way only he can.

Often, "social change" is too big and too lofty of an idea that seems distant especially for Filipinos whose more urgent needs ...

Form the P3 Curator: Here are ten URGENT reasons why the RH Bill is needed and why we should all OCCUPY for RH.

Anti-RH advocates were forced to leave SB Park after pro-RH advocates discovered that they didn’t have a permit.

This is how to bring Filipino cultural music to the 21st century and make it relevant to people form around the world. Ron Quesada's sound is not only ethnic, it truly sounds hip and modern. Watch this video and see how he puts together electronica beats and the warm reverberating sound of Mindanao's own, kulintang.

An update on the Occupy for RH movement and the groundswell of support it has received from various sectors in the Philippines.

This year's theme, "Pride of the Orient", recalls the community's achievements with regard to advancing LGBT human rights, such as... organizing the first pride march in Asia in 1994 and the formation of Ladlad party list, the only LGBT-oriented party list in the world, and extensive HIV/AIDS Awareness campaigns nationwide .

Check out this slideshow on Costa Rica. It is a small country we once surpassed in development. Look at it now. It boasts the same traits -- tropical climate, warm-hearted people, eco-tourism. Yet it protects its environment, provides quality education and healthcare for all, and was rated #1 in happiness as a place to live. The Philippines can be this ...

A video from the Youtube Channel of the Filipino Freethinkers on "Occupy for RH".
Powerful, relevant, raw, and rational, the RH Bill is needed now more than ever.
Watch this video and see how Filipinos are taking a stand. Occupy!

I have a brother and a cousin who works at call centers. Their body clock is out of whack, skin is horrible, waistlines growing, and overall are in poor health. An inverted body clock can wreck havok on one's health -- but there's nothing one can do about that at a call center. However, there is something that can be ...

Kids usually get (secretly) mad at their parents when they tell them to turn off the aircon at 3AM,  to stop  playing water wars with their siblings (at least in our case), or even to wake up early in the morning to participate in a tree planting activity. I admit I had my share of tantrums whenever my parents made ...

Delivered during the Amnesty International Western USA Conference in Los Angeles, November 5, 2011.

We have well-developed tools for tackling social issues based on thoughtful analysis and technological inventiveness, but there has been something missing from the toolbox. We have not traditionally applied design thinking to this set of problems, yet design is a process especially suited to divergent thinking—the exploration of new choices and alternative solutions.

With rising food prices expected to rise expected to just keep on rising, the Euro in a financial mess, and the dollar going nowhere, billionaires are moving their money out of gold, stocks and bonds, into farms and food production. These billionaires know that the next most precious commodity is food. Why not take a hint and aim to be ...

Excerpt from page 49 -- Carlos Celdran

Last Sunday, on the rare occasion that I get to watch TV, I caught this gem of a commercial. It’s probably been around for quite awhile but either being vegan gives me instant blinders from such material or I’ve been living under a rock.

Learning a foreign language can be very challenging for a student. It takes a lot of patience, discipline, and a good memory to be able to do well in each lesson. In the Philippines, it is remarkable how South Koreans have been encouraged to learn English here. Places like Manila and Baguio have experienced an incredible surge of South Koreans ...

Philippine Forum on Sports, Culture, Sexuality and Human Rights (TEAM PILIPINAS) once again lets the longest Philippine rainbow flag fly proudly in celebration of diversity and for the recognition, promotion and protection of the equal human rights of all person regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Knocked out? Sige na nga, to intensify the Pacquiao fight fever! Okay, knocked out of law school a.k.a kicked out.

One of the most exciting aspects of musical improvisation is knowing when the musicians find their groove.

Pinoy Monkey Pride has once again put together an animated, investigative, thought-provoking documentary short about the causes of Philippine poverty. Whether you view PMP's video's as biased, conspiracy theory, or a good piece of investigative journalism, the decision and judgement rests on you. Check the facts for yourself - only the lazy to research are the one's oppressed -- and ...

If you have Filipino blood running through your veins and you happen to also love music, you better be wearing something proudly Pinoy on your head and in your ears. This line was difficult to back up because of the absence of something quality and Filipino-made in the area of audio -- until now. Enter TIMBRE

From the P3 Curator >> Edward flew (not sailed) to Croatia, Central-Eastern Europe's charming gem. Peep once again into the life of a seaman as only Edward can.

On October 31, 2011, the world’s population hit 7 billion people. Our current food system is incapable of addressing the needs of so many, and it’s up to us to make a change in the way we eat.

Do you remember The Dollhouse? It's a radio talk show hosted by models-turned-social change-agents Sarah Meier and Vicky Herrera. The show did not last very long but what came out of it is something more much precious. The show's guests were some of the country's top creative minds and social icons. Peep some excerpts here.

Every cook has a staple in the pantry. A vegan cook is no exception.

During my early transition to veganism, I was intimated, thinking I’d have to overhaul my whole pantry to “foreign” vegan ingredients I would not find in a regular supermarket.

As it turns out, my vegan pantry is not so different at all ...

Old paradigms are shifting to more human paradigms. Governments are being challenged by the people and classrooms are daring to be more engaged. Check out this infographic on the 'flipped' classroom for more effective teaching and learning environment.

Pardon if this post came a little late.  I had been undergoing quite a few important transitions in my life, and while now is perhaps not a time that’s going to change anything, it does make the world at least for me better in appreciating the things I have and the things I can’t have, the things I want to ...

Statement of the Psychological Association of the Philippines on Non-Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression

So what is in store for that 7-billionth child? Which part of the world will that infant come from? Is the world ready for this population growth?

From the P3 Curator >> Please take a moment to be in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Turkey as they go through their ordeal in their recent earthquake. As Filipinos, we know what it is like to face calamity. Help spread the word via your social networks so that those with resources can help.

For all those kids (and grownups!) out there who love Halloween, here are some hints to make it a fun-filled, cruelty-free celebration.

"A collaborative analysis with Noel of his music shows that his songs reveal themes such as valuing of human rights, raising awareness of environmental issues and concerns, diaspora of Filipino talents, day to day experiences and struggles encountered by the ordinary Filipino citizen..."

It's not for the weak-willed. But if you manage to pull it off, the benefits are for real. I tried it myself and the litany of positive effects are astounding.

Greater involvement of the private sector is a good first step in the establishment of a stronger country brand as a tourism destination. If only OFWs could somehow be mobilized to be ambassadors and incentivized as well, involvement of the private sector can really become a force to bring in tourism income and create jobs.

Reason and analysis should always check emotion and sentiment.

The second installment of Edward's adventures in Istanbul.

There are plenty of books out there about the Philippines (set in and about). There are also plenty of novels written about Manila. But how many of these were written by an award-winning screenwriter and novelist from England? Meet Alex Garland and his profound connection with Manila, Philippines.

This video does not apply to the United States only. It is global and very applicable to the Philippines. Watch and learn.

"Change is not a destination, just as hope is not a strategy. Leaders need to be optimists. Their vision is beyond the present. When you confront a problem you begin to solve it."

Founder/Master James U. Sy Jr. of Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc. demonstrating doble baston which combined movement patterns from the systems of Herada Pigada, Lapu-Lapu Viñas Arnis, Oido de Caburata, Romero Arnis de Mano, Singkatan, and Yasay Sable during the Tribe WAR (Warriors Art Rumble) VIII last October 8, 2011 at the Atrium Area, Gaisano City Bacolod Supermall, Araneta ...

It is easy to become a Hero in your own country.

Friends and family tend to praise children that show early signs of intellectual brilliance. As early as pre-school, children are encouraged to use computers, read and write, watch television, and show off their vocabulary and intellectual prowess. In a seminar this Oct 22-23 to be held at ISIP Center, Makati City, early childhood education pioneers in the Philippines Bella and ...

From the Curator:  From Greece and now a short hop over to Turkey. See the difference in culture, society, religion, art, food from the perspective of our favorite seafarer.

No it's not the Maglev effect because no electricity is passed through any magnets to lift an object. This is the Meissner Effect -- where when objects are extremely cooled down, it exudes a superconductive / magnetic field, that, when exposed to an exterior magnet, with push against it and levitate. Watch the video an be amazed.

Does it stare you in the face everyday? Did it cross your mind when you have a P2000 per plate hotel buffet that there are thousands in the country that have nothing to eat at all? Or overtime you use an app on your iPhone, does the reality of Filipino children having no access to education make it to your ...

Tusok (v.) (Filipino) to poke; to pierce.

Sawsaw (v.) (Filipino) to dip.

OK. A good number of you might find the name of this blog a bit peculiar, what with sexual overtones, innuendo, and all of that. “What’s he poking, and what’s he poking with?” “What’s being dipped? And where?” “What is the appropriate amount ...

A few weeks back, Senator Lito Lapid was heard saying "Dahil labandera lang ang nanay ko."

He said that  when he tried to justify why his tongue is uncomfortable with English for the debates on the RH bill. It takes a great deal of pounding and perhaps a bruised shoulder to break free from the colonialism ...

From the Curator: The last leg of Edward's adventures in Corfu

Thought I could rock shows for a living.

It was once said that ideas are like a virus, they spread. And as they should especially if these ideas are about the Art and Culture of the Philippines. TEDxDiliman looked into the possibility of art and culture changing the world.

Check out this amazing rap with a poignant message from Ruby Ibarra.
Thank you to Monique Jaramillo-Senares for posting this in her blog, The Hip-hop in her

From the P3 Curator: Enjoy the 3rd installation of our favorite seaman's adventures in Greece.

What is the buzz all about? O.P.M., what?

Four years ago, this is what I would have been saying?  Foreign to the three-letter word, popular to the Filipinos—O. P. M., when I myself came from the Philippines.  Moving to the United States some how disconnected me to my roots.  TFC and karaoke was not a priority in ...

We've seen it many times before. A person says something without any facts backing the statement and yet it causes damaging repercussion.

Here is an animation from The Proud Monkey. It's a good mind-fudge on a Saturday morning.  Judge for yourself.

The sudden demise of Steve Jobs has made the world mourn for a great leader in technology. It has made us realize the value of life and the contributions that a person makes while he lives.

In a city as messed up as Metro Manila, getting around can be the most harrowing thing. The ten-ton traffic, and the manner people conduct themselves on the road recently almost drove mad a hapless bus pilot from the UK. How we get through it at all is beyond me. But I heard from somewhere that a little song helps. ...

When the news broke about the passing of renaissance man, Steve Jobs, this video went viral.
This is his inspiring and anecdotal speech to Standford's graduating class where he speaks of his humble beginnings and life lessons.

Even Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo made herself present during or shorty after natural disasters. Yes, I went there; I mentioned her name as if I were uttering 'Lord Voldermort'. Where is P-Noy amidst all this flooding?

Continuation of our seafarer's adventures in Greece

"We are not human beings on a spiritual journey. We are spiritual beings on a human journey." 
-Stephen R. Covey

From the P3 Curator:
Francis M empowered Filipinos into having pride and respecting who we are.

From the P3 Curator:

Corfu is the 2nd largest island in the Ionian Sea. Our video blogger, Edward, tours us around.

From the P3 Curator:
Dear Modern Filipinos, your senate president believes that masturbation is a form of abortion.
Enough said.

A work of fiction on what Dr. Jose Rizal might be telling us today.

As I tried to hail a scarce taxi while the wind pounded my drenched clothing, I worried how my kids were at home. We live in Marikina although slightly farther from the river. My umbrella was turned out the minute I opened it close to 15 minutes ago. I'm pretty pissed off that my call center did not cancel work ...

Beating around the bush has always been one of the greatest skills for many politicians, and one of the recent examples is the issue of whether to allow the Filipino language to be used in the endless debates on the RH bill. Senator Lapid has recently made it known that he wants to get in on the RH action, ...

Alex Lacson's inspirational editorial brings out excellent primer steps and 'should' scenarios through leadership and education with focus on discipline and community-brotherhood. He suggests that discipline and community-brotherhood should filter down from government -- or to better phrase it, to start from the grassroots level.

An inspiring editorial by Alex Lacson via The Philippine Daily Inquirer.
A must read for all who are progress-oriented.

Stay updated. Participate. Show your pride.

In a recent speech before the Asia Society, Noynoy Aquino expressed an alleged ‘openness’ to gay marriages before halting into a ‘dilemma’ over the issue of adoptions by gay parents. Aquino’s vacillation between whether or not homosexuals should be allowed to adopt children is a testament to what Aquino thinks of homosexuals and what it means for him to ...

When a culture deems is acceptable to be 15 to 30 minutes late, it speaks volumes about professionalism. Most developed nations and cosmopolitan cities expect rendezvous attendants to be present five minutes before the actual meeting time. In the Philippines the expectations are reversed.

Trivia: The Philippines is a basketful of intelligent people. Yet it remains to be a poor country. 

Oops. Isn't this new? Because it seems like it keeps on escaping people's notice. Yes, we have a plethora of the finest brains but it begs the question why this does not convert to results.

President Aquino has been receiving good PR in the past month. Successful trip to China with billions in investments as 'pasalubong', one-on-one meeting with US President Obama and his honorary doctorate from Fordham University, and now a pat on the back from World Bank President Robert Zoellick.

The joy of discovering orange is a gift to any child. You can read books about mixing colors and even memorize the color wheel, but creating your own color and seeing it with your own eyes is just magical. 

A validation of how the Filipino culture fosters respect and importance to women, Newsweek ranked the Philippines as #17 out of 165 nations as the best place for women.

Do you have what it takes to join the PETA team? Check out our available positions and apply now!

The National Youth Commission expresses its dismay on the statement issued by the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA) on the implications of prohibiting students of post secondary and higher education from taking their midterm or final examinations due to unpaid tuition and other school fees

Two days ago, the Health Update Manila forum help at UP Manila announced that the Philippines is one of the only seven nations with increasing HIV infection cases. The rest of the world's nations have experienced declining HIV cases for the past eight years. Once again, the Philippines is an outlier.

The United Nations says stand up to to the food industry. The food industry is one of the most powerful lobbying forces in any nation because they provide a large percentage of tax income for the government. For many decades now however, the food industry has been using this clout to push for unregulated production of unhealthy food, misleading marketing ...

It is the grandest of emotions in the plainest of words. The most complicated of sentiments in the most honest of breaths. Where daydreams are affectionately sewn in between pauses, the deepest of emotions so delicately embroidered in the minutes of everyday.

Here is a short video by Ron de Vera. Please spread it by posting on your social network sites and pages. Awareness is the first step.

PR firm Eon surveyed the first Philippine Trust Index from an sample size of 500. The demographic surveyed are from ages 25 ot 65 from the three major hubs in the Philippines: Metro Manila, Cebu, and Davao. All surveys were conducted in person.

The other day, the Philippines made yet another strong stand as far as faith is concerned.

Shamcey's answer may not get her the crown from the world; but I'm sure heaven celebrates her faith, and that of Filipinos.

Check this witty, piercing, and funny spoof of Archie Comics dialogue boxes. It cuts through social class undertones perfectly -- a very applicable example of unspoken dialogue between social classes in the Philippines

Stories make up a culture. It can be argued that collectively, a nation's stories sum up its identity. Check out this popular and growing American site on sharing one's story. It can be very therapeutic to the one sharing while enlightening to the masses. Sharing one's life story can create peace in a reader who feels alienated as well as ...

How do you describe Filipino cuisine?

It may seem like an easy question to answer, yet it remains to be a mystery for tourists and food lovers visiting the Philippines. There seems to be no definite answer to it. Perhaps, that's why Filipino cuisine has yet to join the ranks of the more esteemed and established Asian ...

Many of us still remember where we were on September 11, 2001 when the Twin Towers fell. Ten years after, the images of that fateful day remain fresh in our memories, making it truly the day that changed not just America, but the world.

I’ll never forget where I was when I saw my first crocodile in the wild. My father and I were on a six-week safari of Southern Africa. While touring the Okavango Delta in a dugout canoe, I spied two blinking eyes breaching the water’s surface.

As the 10th anniversary of the fateful terror attack that changed the world will transpire this Sunday, Filipinos in the home country might feel a little but all removed from its meaning and memory. The tragedy and the mourning for all those who fell victim to such a cowardly act is not belittled in this writer's opinion. Rather, it is ...

Before the summer vacation of the year 2011 ended, I wanted to do a community service.

When our department head told us that Habitat for Humanity - a nonprofit Christian housing ministry that works to eliminate poverty and to make adequate housing a matter of conscience and action – will be having its “1K for 1 Day ...

Fishermen in Bataan crowd around an almost empty net after local beach settlers ambushed their catch. Second image shows our Bangkero leading the navigation of the Bataan coast. Under intense heat, a man shows a swordfish type of sea dweller caught in the net.

Good News Everyone! The next open meet-up for this inclusive, non-partisan, and diverse community of individuals and organizations who advocate for LGBT Rights is on this Saturday, 10 SEPTEMBER 2011, 1PM at Cafe Mo inside TREEHOUSE in Matalino Street, Barangay Central, Quezon City! If we get too big, we can move to the big tables or to the huts in ...

Transcript & thoughts

When I was a kid, I stood in sad attendance at many a goldfish funeral.

When we take a look and get a feel of another culture that's very different from ours, we learn to appreciate our own as well as be more tolerant of others'.

'Circumstances' is a tale of Iranian women struggling to express their sexuality in a totalitarian and fundamentalist religious state.

The revolutionary breeze that ushered in the 60s carried with it a desire for sexual liberation and emancipation from the bourgeois, patriarchal norm. By calling into question the fundamental unit of society, the nuclear family, rebellious youth hoped to shake the foundations of staid consumerism.

Today's news wire was particularly alarming -- 22 out of 78 units of donated blood tested positive for HIV as reported by the Department of Health's Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.

The resignation of Steve Jobs as CEO of Apple due to health problems affected me because he is my unofficial mentor. I found this slideshow online and I wish to share it with everyone who want to enjoy what they do and excel at it. Our country can surely use this mentality.

While traveling to the province, I chanced upon a news report about a dengue outbreak in some parts of Tarlac. A local government official was interviewed, in which the official vehemently refuted claims of local residents that the local government units (LGUs) were not doing enough to prevent dengue from spreading. The official from the Department of Health said that ...

On a Friday night after a drunken house party with his straight mates, Russell heads out to a gay club, alone and on the pull. Just before closing time he picks up Glen but what's expected to be just a one-night stand becomes something else, something special.

The Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas announced that businesses are more optimistic in the Philippines for the third quarter -- and why wouldn't we? Our local industries are all in growth and expansion mode, public private partnerships, OFW remittances remain strong, and NEDA along with the BSP choose wise macro-economic thrusts.

Recently, copies of the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society were uploaded by Greg Maxwell into a popular torrent site as a reaction to the prosecution of Aaron Swartz by the US Attorney General for downloading too many papers from JSTOR. In a note accompanying his torrent, Maxwell explained the evils of pay wall gatekeepers such as JSTOR who retail ...

Why is President Aquino beefing up the Philippines' military capabilities? Isn't it 'too little too late'? Is this because of a little Spratley spat? The fact is, we will never be able to defend ourselves should China choose to attack -- or should most any ASEAN nation for that matter.

Filipinas Magazine interviews Efleda Viray, a Filipina massage therapist at the Claremont Resport & Spa.

It is hard to believe a year has passed since the tragic events of the Luneta hostage fiasco transpired leaving Hong Kong tourists dead or injured, sour relations between our country and Hong Kong, and a world-wide embarrassment that showcased the incompetence of our police and officials.

No less than the United States government has sided with four Filipino nurses who were fired from a Baltimore hospital last year for speaking Tagalog.

MARCIE is about the travails and internal conflicts of four individuals whose stories unravel around the struggle of Marcie, a cross dresser who makes a living by prowling the streets at night for clients who look for a quick fix. It illustrates how relationships become at once uncertain and lucid when these entangle.

Note from P3 Curator >> Edward's video blog and diary is a shining example of what P3 aims to be. Edward is one of the thousands of sea-faring Filipino overseas workers. It's about time (alternative) media shed a spotlight on the life and adventures of our sea-faring heroes. Edward's video blog will commence as a regular column in P3 in ...