Filipino shopping habits, the “tingi” culture and plastic pollution
When I first wrote a blog post about the “tingi” shopping habits of Filipinos in 2013, I was only focused on the bad …
Philippines
Solving the puzzle of Alfonso Ossorio and The Angry Christ mural
Except for the architecture, I’m really not into churches. But, during last month’s visit to Negros Occidental, …
It is a grievous mistake to call The Ruins the Taj Mahal of Negros
The Filipinos’ penchant for drawing parallelisms between a foreign phenomenon and a perceived local version is mind-boggling. …
Oro, plata, mata: the house, the stairs, the superstition
In 1982, Peque Gallaga directedOro, Plata, Mata(Gold, Silver, Death), a multi-awarded film about the lives of two families, …
The legend of Mount Mayon
The first thing that struck me when I first saw Mayon Volcano was how awesome it was. Awesome in its immensity, awesome in …
The haunted house in San Ildefonso
The last time my father brought me to San Miguel, Bulacan for pastillas shopping, he pointed out a house that was some kind …
Fresh milk and a kapok tree: memories of U.P. Los Baños
It’s funny how life seems to repeat itself. When I was much younger, I went on many summer trips to Los Baños with my family, …