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 ...

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. 

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.

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.

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?

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 ...

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 ...

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.

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?

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

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. ...

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.  

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.

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!

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.

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 ...

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?

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 ...

" 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 ...

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. ...

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 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.

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.

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.

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 ...

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.

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:  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.

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 ...

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.

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 ...

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

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.

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 ...

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?

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.

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."

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 ...

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 ...

Thought I could rock shows for a living.

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?

"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.

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.

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.

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.

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 ...

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.

Transcript & thoughts

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

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.

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 ...

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.

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.

Here's a re-think of the Public-Private Program (PPP) the Philippines is so hot about in the past years. PPP is subject to a lot of controversy especially in the field of economics. Studies show that the majority of the risk is carried by tax-payers and not enough by corporations. If one of the P’s in the PPP was changed to ...

"How dare you squander even one more day not taking advantage of the greatest shifts of our generation? How dare you settle for less when the world has made it so easy for you to be remarkable?"

-Seth Godin, Marketing Guru

Many misconstrue that the hotel heiress is a blonde bimbo who simply parties off of daddy's riches. This outlook only scratches the surface. This writer would argue that the model, singer, host, an entrepreneur is a business genius. This is more than a get-away to a tropical paradise.

Artists beware! Your freedom of expression is now threatened by conservative Catholics who do not want to be offended by your creations. Usually, if one does not want to be offended by something, they look away or do not partake. This time, they want to repeal your right all together. Progress!

With veteran advertising executive Mon Jimenez assuming the reigns as DOT head, the Philippines can really up its tourism into a new category if he recruits the help of everyone.

God may be dead, but religion sure isn’t. In just a couple of days, a few religious bigots and politicians were able to fan what is now a widely publicized attack against an art exhibit held at the CCP. The exhibit, ‘Kulo,’ features a piece by Mideo Cruz called ‘Polytheism,’ which makes use of religious images to portray various types ...

The truth is, every century needs a set of survival skills precisely because there is no such thing as an easy century for the common human. Way, way back during the first century, you had Pharaohs and Roman Generals chasing your back or trying to make a slave of you. In the middle ages, you had the Inquisition and the ...

Why is it difficult to sleep during daytime? Are our bodies really programmed to sleep at night?

Are women less attractive without high heels? or make-up? 

Really, who is responsible for the MMDA being corrupt? 

From The Philippine Star >> Even if they tried, none of the television networks could come up with more riveting “shows” like the Senate does.

With no disrespect towards the Senate, I have to say that recent events or investigations conducted by the Senate have all been worthy of an Emmy in terms of drama, content, national significance, even ...

"A tree flushes down from the hills from the right to the front of the car making it impossible to go forward. We try to back up but the tree is starting to go under the front bumper. From the hills, we see water raging fast towards us with branches, mud, rocks and rubber hoses from shacks along the side ...

Practical tips when commuting with your baby.

EDIT: Because I believe in localization, the vernacular tagline is now PHILIPPINES: BONGGA KA DIVE!

As a diver, I am biased. Beyond the traditional way of viewing the Philippines as the “land of the smiles” and having some of the “best hospitality in the world” and “great beaches” one of the recreational activities that isn’t highlighted ...

Whenever people meet me for the first time, I come off as just another friendly neighborhood Asian kid who gives his seat up on the bus for the elderly and pays all his taxes.

From The Philippine Star >> How much excitement can a columnist expect in a room full of NGOs and foundations celebrating another foundation’s 15th anniversary?

At the 2011 National Science and Technology Week at the SMX Convention Center, economist Raul Fabella and former Ateneo de Manila University president, Fr. Bienvenido Nebres, were donned with the title ‘national scientist’ by President Aquino. The title of ‘national scientist’ the highest honor one can attain in the Philippines for one’s body of work in science and technology.

From The Philippine Star >> One of the black marks of the first 12 months of President Aquino is the high prices of prime commodities. But the administration has only itself to blame because it increased the price of NFA rice 50 percent from P18 to P27/kilo.

From The Philippine Daily Inquirer >>

An inspiring story of hard work, aspirations, and success. Some tips too.

Mass public education was established during the industrial revolution to cater to jobs produced by the industrial revolution. Today, the world has dramatically changed yet education has remained the same. In our information, innovation, and artisan modern world, this will not hold for long.

Two articles in today's paper distinctly stood out. Instead of the usual political mud-slinging, economic and social progress were the ones that provided hopeful signs. This commentary aims to provide common-sense and sobriety to these lofty goals.

"A man falls in love with his eyes.  A woman falls in love through her ears". -Woodrow Wyatt

I'm not going to tell you about when Hip-hop took my heart.  See, it didn't take a day nor even a week, month or year.  Instead I'm going to tell you how.

Former education secretary Mona Valisno proposes Congress funding support as well as collaboration with private and state universities to subsidize the additional two years of high school in the K+12 program. The end goal is to alleviate some of the financial burden of parents.