7 February 2017
Quezon City – Growing up as a child in the second largest and southernmost major island in the Philippines, I was never accustomed to eating sinigang. In Mindanao, I ate adobo, humba, or kinilaw, most of the time diligently … Read more
24 January 2016
Cebu City – The start of 2017 is celebrated with festivals left and right–from the Feast of the Black Nazarene in Manila, to the Sinulog Festival in Cebu, and to the Dinagyang in Iloilo, to name a few. Almost every provin… Read more
4 January 2017
Quezon City – New Year is one of the most anticipated celebrations in the Philippines. Young and old alike stay awake until midnight to greet the forthcoming year with loud noises. The fete commences on December 31st up … Read more
19 December 2016
Baler – The once-isolated Sierra Madre Mountains, which extends from northern to central Luzon along the Pacific coast, have completely transformed in the last few decades. It is the longest mountain chain in the count… Read more
5 December 2016
Tablas – Romblon is perhaps one of the hardest provinces to reach among the many islands of the Philippines. Despite its pristine beauty, not much is known about this noteworthy province consisting of numerous islands si… Read more
21 November 2016
Manila – Since its inception in 2004, the Friendly Borders Organization (FBO) has aided in educational missions and generated programs to help educate younger generations. Through numerous journeys to differe… Read more
3 November 2016
Borongan – In 2013, one of the world’s strongest typhoons devastated the Philippines and killed thousands of people. In light of the destruction, the Russians were quick to lend a hand. They were among those who helped a… Read more
21 October 2016
Quezon City – Everyone loves music, regardless of what culture we are from. We all have at least one song that evokes emotions when we listen to it; it either boosts our mood at that particular moment or transports us back to a … Read more
7 October 2016
Makati City – Conflicts and wars have continued to displace people from around the world. Although the outcome is uncertain, millions have sought refuge in different countries to escape suffering and to live a better li… Read more
21 September 2016
Malaybalay – Covering more than half of Northern Mindanao and bordered by mountain ranges with picturesque spots, Bukidnon is an ideal place for locals and tourists alike. The fourth largest province of the Philippin… Read more
4 September 2016
Vigan – Ilocanos comprise the third largest ethnolinguistic group in the Philippines, whose population are the largest in Region 1 or the Administrative Region located on the northwestern coast of Luzon. According to … Read more
18 August 2016
Davao – Over the years, Samal Island located in the Davao Gulf has been recognized to have one of the best beaches in the Philippines. Its beautiful mountain landscape, crystal clear waters, and fine white sand are a perfect … Read more
20 July 2016
Quezon City – The abundance of fruits almost everywhere in the Philippines is an added perk of visiting the country, apart from the weather and the beaches, of course! Mangoes, pineapples, bananas, and coconuts a… Read more
24 June 2016
Las Piñas – For two centuries, an exceptional, beautiful music has been emanating from the suburb of Las Piñas, a city located in the southern part of Metro Manila. Crowds from all over the wo… Read more
30 May 2016
Quezon City – Long before Magellan reached the island of Limasawa in Southern Leyte located in the Eastern Visayas, Filipinos have already established trading and diplomatic relations with other neighbo… Read more
25 April 2016
Quezon City – One of the greatest blessings in life is to have parents. They are our first teachers who helped us shape our characters, values, and even how we view the world. Growing up with Filipino parents is a pri… Read more
4 April 2016
Quezon City – If one looks back at the colorful history of baseball in the Philippines, it is hard to fathom how the sport has struggled in recent years. Once described by the Washington Post as being more talented than the a… Read more
21 March 2016
Quezon City – In the island of Mindanao, particularly in the Zamboanga Peninsula, there exists a group of lumad or non-Muslim indigenous cultural community called the Subanen. They are also known as Suba… Read more
7 March 2016
Quezon City – As a little girl living in the countryside, I was used to running around the neighborhood to play with other children in my area. Summertime was the best, because no rain could dampen our games and everyone can pl… Read more
29 February 2016
Quezon City – Planning on a budget-friendly getaway this summer? Look no further. The City of Pines will mesmerize you with its timeless charm, in addition to its cool climate all year round. Baguio City is abo… Read more
15 February 2016
Quezon City – K-Pop hip-hop, and breakdance are just some of the famous dance moves today. As the world continues to evolve and change, younger generations are slowly taking over, leaving many of the old traditions b… Read more
1 February 2016
Quezon City – It’s Saturday and Emar is hurrying to join a basketball game with his friends from high school. Now 33 years old, he still actively plays every weekend with people who share his passion for the sport. “… Read more
17 January 2016
Quezon City – Leftover chicken sandwich from my father’s afternoon snack was what he would usually bring my sister and me after he came home from a day’s work. It was the kind of pasalubong he knows would make his littl… Read more
3 January 2016
Quezon City – The color purple is often associated with royalty, grandeur or prosperity. In culinary circles, purple is the latest food fad. A plate filled with purple carrots or potatoes seem to be the latest additi… Read more
23 December 2015
Quezon City – Literally, "Merry Christmas" in Tagalog! Have you ever celebrated the most festive time of the year in the Philippines? If yes, then you know that it is difficult to be sad when e… Read more
14 December 2015
Quezon City – The Philippines ranked 9th in the 2014 Global Gender Gap Report of the World Economic Forum, still the only country in the Asia Pacific region to be included in the 10 most gender-equal nations. Th… Read more
16 November 2015
Quezon City – Although football (known as soccer in the United States) is hugely popular worldwide, the Philippines has preferred basketball since the start of the 20th century. After the last FIFA Wo… Read more
2 November 2015
Quezon City – Famous for its durable and affordable shoes, the City of Marikina was home to some 200,000 shoemakers and 7,000 factories during the shoe industry’s heyday in the 1970s. Today, it fl… Read more
8 October 2015
Quezon City – Ruben, an engineer, was already a manager in a Japanese firm in Cavite when he opted to work abroad. He now lives away from home, at least for awhile, in pursuit of higher wages to improve his family&rs… Read more
16 March 2015
Quezon City – The Philippines is composed of 7,107 islands, around 2,000 of which are inhabited. It is not surprising, therefore, that more than 170 languages are spoken in the country and that more than half of the popul… Read more
11 January 2015
Quezon City – Nightlife in the Philippines is quite diverse and options abound: clubs, cafés, bars, cultural shows, karaoke joints, and casinos. A night owl in Metro Manila need not search hard for chic, swan… Read more
07 December 2014
Quezon City – With its sweet, unique flavor, it’s not surprising that mango ranks high among the world’s favorite fruits, and is the Philippines’ national fruit. In fact, an international stud… Read more
11 November 2014
Quezon City – Lucban is a typical quiet town at the foot of Mount Banahaw in the province of Quezon, where farming is the main source of livelihood for many locals. Every 15th of May, the town's houses come alive, as … Read more
4 October 2014
Quezon City – Oslob: an idyllic countryside, perfect for those who want a quick getaway from the urban hustle and bustle; a small town, rich in history, that recently became world-famous for its whale sharks, which can … Read more
29 August 2014
Quezon City – The sheer, rugged Cordilleras* flaunt one of the most breathtaking views in the island of Luzon: lush green trees, a winding river, peaks enveloped in clouds, and vigorous vegetation everywhere. The upl… Read more
9 May 2014
Quezon City – While the Philippine tourism industry scrambled to lure millions of visitors — and succeeded to a large extent — the past three years also saw a surge in the number of Filipinos traveling abroad. T… Read more
18 March 2014
Quezon City – In the Southern Tagalog region, about 170 kilometers southeast of Manila, stands what many people stoutly believe is a sacred mountain. Every year, pilgrims, tourists, and the sick flock to Mount Banahaw … Read more
21 January 2014
Quezon City – You hear singing almost anytime, anywhere. That’s nothing out of the ordinary when you’re in the Philippines.
The Filipino penchant for singing is legendary. Whether in a restaurant, on t… Read more
10 December 2013
Quezon City – Whenever you ask a Filipino what the most popular sports in the country are, basketball and boxing are almost always the top two choices. That is to be expected, as both sports have produced many world cha… Read more
29 October 2013
Manila – A Chinoy or Tsinoy is a Philippine national of Chinese descent, who is born or raised in the Philippines. The word is derived from Chinese (or Tsino, the Filipino pidgin for the Spanish term for Chinese) … Read more
18 September 2013
Quezon City – Koya… Ati… are a couple of dead giveaways that the speaker is Bisaya (Visayan). Those from "down south," be it the Visayas or Mindanao group of islands, who are living in Metr… Read more
27 October 2012
Quezon City – Datu Alfonso Velasco San Juan is one of the many tribal chiefs who are striving to preserve the culture and traditions of the Sama tribe in the Island Garden City of Samal. The tribal leaders are pushing to p… Read more
2 October 2012
Manila – Rain, rain go away… It’s that soppy time of year again! When the raindrops start their pitter-patter on your roof then crescendo into a waterfall roar, home becomes the location of choice. You dig in an… Read more
12 September 2012
Manila – An elderly lady in Caramoran, Catanduanes, wearing a multicolored sun dress, squats next to her grandson and offers him a glass of water. She speaks to him in her native language of Bicolano; in Buug, Zamboa… Read more
15 July 2012
Quezon City – Bring out the sunblock, bikini, and flip-flops and get ready to plunge into the clear waters around the 7,107 islands. Summer in the Philippines starts around March, as temperatures proceed to climb, hitti… Read more
30 June 2012
Quezon City – What is ethnicity? What does it mean to be ethnic? A formal definition states that being ethnic means belonging to a certain group or community that shares a common culture, language, or dialect; traditions… Read more
21 May 2012
Madrid – The pressures, to which the Spanish community in the Philippines was subjected to, throughout history a notable peculiarity as compared to other Spanish migrant groups. On one hand, during the modern age, the Philippi… Read more
13 February 2012
Quezon City – The Kayapa Ikalahan population was widely scattered in northeastern Pangasinan, western Nueva Vizcaya, and western Ifugao on the main island of Luzon. Included in the generic term Igorot, mea… Read more
9 January 2012
Manila – Languages around the world are dying at an alarming rate. It is unclear to linguists and historians how many languages have vanished in the past centuries, but some estimate that more than 10,000 languages once exist… Read more
12 December 2011
Zamboanga City – The vigorous original Zamboangueño Chavacanos, also referred to as simply Chavacanos, are composed of families that are native to the old Zamboanga. Their language is called Zamboangue&… Read more
Keeping a safe distance: People waiting in line in front of a supermarket in Quezon City
