Isang inhinyerong sibil ang yumaong tatay ko. Matagal syang nagtrabaho sa Saudi, pero nagkaroon rin sya ng proyekto sa Ho Chi Minh sa Vietnam. Ang ilang proyekto naman nya ay dito sa Maynila. Naalala ko nga, nakapunta pa ako dati sa isang construction site dyan sa may Vito Cruz noong itinatayo pa lang ang pundasyon…
Category: Life and Inspiration
Some Risks of Being a Woman
A man in the bank that I went to last Wednesday afternoon for a quick errand asked for my mobile number. In my mind, I said “What the heck?” but I just told him, “Sorry, I don’t give out my number.” He wasn’t impolite, nor was he creepy, but it was absurd. This incident brings…
Marie Veronica Expert – a multigenre Filipina visual artist
The beauty of the female visage and form, a lively splash of colors, and arresting visuals — these are just a few ways to describe Marie Veronica Expert’s works. Marie is one of the visual artists that I met in Paris during my foreign assignment there from 2018-2021, whose artistic genre is so varied. During…
Spectacular Sagada
It was my first time to visit Sagada in June 2023. I was with my former high school classmates some of whom I haven’t seen for years, so it was sort of a reunion as much as it was a nature adventure and culture trip. Cel, Claire & Bryan, and Irma flew from Albay; Joy…
Dee Apilado – An Epitome of an Empowered Filipina
I first met Dee in 2018 when I was posted in Paris as a Third Secretary and Vice Consul. Dee is a ray of sunshine; she always has a ready smile, a charming face, and a vivacious personality. Dee is currently working in UNESCO as a Project Assistant in the Education Sector. She is also…
Poetry and Me
The other day, a younger colleague at work asked if I’m familiar with the poem “Henny Penny” from the elementary textbook. I was surprised at the question. It’s been years since someone asked me about that red hen. She was even more surprised when I recited it from memory, especially that we have a 10-year gap:…
Of Sunlight, Casual Walks and Novels
January is an exciting time for new plans and resolutions. A lot of people would usually spend the first week of the new year in the best way possible. I wanted to — meet a good friend, try a new resto, read the first book of the year, watch the first movie of the year,…
Happy 2024!
This New Year, may you… have at least a full hour for yourself everyday appreciate the sky before it turns gray; do something that makes your heart sing learn something new and tantalizing; read a novel, a book or two get lost in the characters’ world for several minutes too; get immersed in a movie…
Beyond Routes 