I attended a conference in Baguio recently, where I was the keynote speaker on 24 October 2024. My topic was on the Internationalization of Higher Education. I appreciate this invitation from the Philippine International Friendship and Understanding Association (PIFUA) to the 5th International Conference-Training for International Students, Student Leaders, and Advisers (ICTISSLA), which gave me…
Two (2) Weeks of FSO Life
Lately, I’ve been writing about life in general, my reflections, my musings, so I thought of adding another entry to the FSO topic. What goes on at work? Definitely, it’s not your typical 8-5 job, especially in a dynamic office such as ours, the DFA – Office of Cultural Diplomacy. Allow me to share with…
Noise isn’t cool
The world is noisier than it should be. Is it because people want to drown their thoughts and reflections through sights and sounds? Does it calm them? Last Sunday, I accompanied my daughter to the PITX bus terminal. The din, shuffling of feet, barkers’ shouts now and then, these are normal. But playing very loud…
Adulting 101
After years of renting, I finally got a townhouse in 2020 and my family moved in there in 2021, a few months before I returned from my Paris foreign assignment. I felt relieved to finally get a place in Manila that we could call our own and where my mom could have her mini garden…
Sabado
Limang minuto makalipas ang ika-sampu ng gabi, naglalakad ako nang matulin sa EDSA, galing Shaw papuntang Ortigas. Paano kasi, wala na palang byahe ang MRT paSouth; North na lang daw sabi ng guard. Hinintay ko munang makabili ng ticket ang kasabay ko paNorth, sinigurado sa guard ang impormasyon, at nagpasyang lakarin papunta sa EDSA Carousel…
Usaping Wika
Ngayong Agosto ay Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa. Iyan ang dahilan kung bakit nagkaroon ako ng inspirasyon na magsulat tungkol sa wika. Ano ang wika? Ito ang midyum para maipahayag ang ating ideya, opinyon at saloobin. Mayaman ba ang bansang Pilipinas sa wika? Oo, sapagka’t mayroon tayong halos dalawang daan na wika sa ating bansa. Ayun…
Of People and Places
The late Jose Mordeno, Founder and then President of Speechpower, a communications company where I worked part time as a consultant for over 10 years would always mention in his speeches that “You cannot give what you do not have.” Mr. Mordeno was a brilliant, hardworking, charismatic man and in the past, I always looked…
A Rainy Day Story
It was on a rainy night last week when I had a most unusual evening. It was 10pm, yet I was in a Barangay Hall talking to two (2) tanods about a woman who was lost. The woman claimed that she came from Antipolo, then to Cubao but missed the last trip to Bicol, then…
Kuwento ng Gitara
Paalis na ako kanina ng opisina nang maisipan kong iuwi ang gitara sa bahay para sa weekend. Mabuti na lang at ginawa ko iyon. Ilang minuto pa lang pagkasakay ko sa Grab, napansin ko na inaantok si lolo driver. Medyo kinausap ko siya sa ruta para mabawasan ang antok nya. Noong nasa kahabaan na kami…
Of Blue Boots, Rainy Days and Typhoons
While cleaning the house last Thursday, during work suspension because of Typhoon Carina, I came across my blue rubber boots. These were mine from my elementary days and were kept in a box by my mom, since no one’s using them now. I proudly wore them before, during rainy days, heavy or not. I remember,…
Beyond Routes 