Disasters in the Philippines - Anatomy of a Nation's Heartbreak

The world often sees Filipinos as a resilient people.   Always smiling despite adversities.  Resourceful.  Just take this comment from the CNN website as an example: "Time to get to know the Filipino people... unbelievably resilient, long-suffering, good-natured, uber-friendly, loyal, ingenious, and a bunch of survivors.  At the end of the day, the Filipinos will just shake off the dirt from their clothes and go about their...

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Google People Finder for Typhoon Yolanda

Google has put technology into good use with its offering of the Google Person Finder.  The Google People Finder for Typhoon Yolanda portal is now in operation and ready to accept requests for missing persons as well as information on found ones. In the wake of the devastating Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), many areas in the Visayas region in central Philippines were badly hit.   Communication and power lines went down, with airports, roads...

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How to be Part of Relief Efforts for Typhoon Yolanda Victims

The aftermath of the greatest typhoon in history (Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan), as seen in pictures, videos and reports coming in from social media and the news, are truly saddening.  Many areas in central Philippines, mostly the island-provinces in the Visayas region, suffer from damages to lives and infrastructure. But in tragedy comes solidarity.  Filipinos are known for resiliency and the "bayanihan" spirit.  Grief need not be a hindrance...

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What Can We Do on a Do-Nothing Day?

In these days when multitasking is the norm, how will we survive a do-nothing day? Well, think about it.  All that juggling of two or more tasks at the same time -- all the time! -- is meant to achieve our goals faster right?  I know, I know, in reality it is very rare that even while running ourselves to the ground multitasking on our jobs and our lives in general, we ever get to feel like we have accomplished a definitive goal. ...

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Why is the Philippines so Prone to Typhoons?

As Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) devastates the Visayan islands in central Philippines, creating a path of absolute destruction along the way, one can't help but wonder:  why is the Philippines prone to typhoons? It is all about location, location, location.  The very same geographic location that provides tourist-friendly tropical weather all year round (sunny at the half of the year from December to May and rainy at the other half between...

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November 2013 Entertainment Scene

November 2013 Concerts - Infinite Live in Manila (November 3 at Smart Araneta Coliseum) - OneRepublic Live in Manila (November 6 at Smart Araneta Coliseum) - Matchbox Twenty Live in Manila (November 8 at Mall of Asia Arena) - Close Up Forever Summer (November 9 at Bonifacio Global City) - Erik Santos inTENse Concert (November 9 at PICC Plenary Hall) - Mocha Girls Red Hot Mocha Night (November 9 at Music Museum) - The Lettermen Live in Manila (November...

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Eat Baye-baye at Least Once in Your Lifetime

For an Ilonggo like me, All Soul's Day or Tigkalalag or Kalag-kalag will always be associated with a unique delicacy from the island of Negros -- the baye-baye.  Every November 1 in Negros, baye-baye is always present in the menu of every Ilonggo household.  Days before, some hardy souls will prepare baye-baye on their own, ready to take on the back-breaking task involved in baye-baye making.  My family used to go this route in...

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