It is December 12 now. I can’t believe that it will be Christmas Day in just two weeks! 🙂 I attended my usual but always awaited Saturday morning (15:00-17:00H Philippine time) meeting with my fellow UP Manila Toastmasters Club members/friends and I would like to share some of our photos and messages today. ❤ Despite…
Category: Philippine Culture
Life Vignettes
There are moments when a certain episode in life crosses your mind for whatever reason, even when you’re not seriously thinking about it or even when there was no event on that particular day that connected to the previous experience. I would like to share some of these. I am not sure if it’s because…
A Tale of Two Women: A look into mental health
Let me tell you about Tasyon and Conching. Tasyon and Conching were well-known in my hometown in Albay, Philippines. They were alike yet different–Tasyon, with her waist-length black hair and simple dresses, and Conching with her neatly-combed short hair, nice dresses with a belt accentuating her petite frame, and a dainty hand bag. Tasyon was…
Mga Salawikaing Pilipino
Magandang araw sainyong lahat. (Good day to all of you.) Bago matapos ang Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa, nais kong ibahagi ang ilang mga salawikain na sumasalamin sa mga pilosopiya at nagpapakita ng mga asal na mahalaga para sa mga Pilipino. Masasabi rin na ang mga salawikain ay nagdadagdag ng kulay sa wikang Pambansa sa pagpapahayag…
Filipino Cuisine in Paris
In my February 3 entry, I wrote about the first Philippine food festival in Paris where I mentioned the only Filipino restaurant in the city–BoBi, located at 17 rue Oberkampf. Many things happened since then (COVID-19 cases, lockdown in France, etc.) but finally, I was able to visit the place recently. I liked it–the ambiance,…
This ‘n That
It’s another weekend again. Aside from resting, catching up on my recent fave Netflix series Anne with an E, getting in touch with my family and friends, and preparing sumptuous home-cooked meals, I had in mind to write about Dr. Jose P. Rizal, the Philippine national hero, whose 159th birthday Filipinos are commemorating on 19…
Celebrating the 122nd Year of Philippine Independence
On June 12, 2020, we celebrated the 122nd year of Philippine Independence at the Embassy, led by the Philippine Ambassador to France and Monaco. It was different from the previous years’ celebrations for several reasons. Last year’s Philippine Independence Day celebration and Diplomatic Reception was held at the historic Mona Bismarck hotel in Paris. We…
Lav Diaz, a great Filipino artist
Paris, January 2020: I had the most wonderful opportunity to meet Mr. Lavrente Indico Diaz, or more popularly known as Lav Diaz. The “ideological father of the new Filipino cinema,” his films were featured in the exhibition in Paris in January 2020, when he participated in the 15th edition of the Hors Piste Festival at the…
A 2018 Study on Metro Manila by Sciences Po Urban School Students
Metropolitan Manila or the National Capital Region (NCR) is more than a group of highly-urbanized cities. With Manila as the capital of the Philippines, it is the place in the country that is most covered by mainstream media. Every corner of this collection of cities breathes—from the sky-high buildings of the more affluent neighborhoods, to…
The First Philippine Food Festival in Paris
During my almost two-year stay here in Paris, I have been asked several times if there are Filipino restaurants in the area. Many times, those who inquired are fellow Filipinos who are visiting Paris for a few days. And my answer? None. Although, I am quick to add that there is one Filipina chef, Erica…
Beyond Routes 