Archive - Arts & Culture

By KIRA DEL ROSARIO, Loveonexcel.com LOS ANGELES, California — Like most modern long-distance relationships, Mirasol Fajardo Savchenko, a person with post-polio syndrome, met and fell in love with her husband online. She was then working as a computer programmer at the municipal IT department of Dalaguete in Cebu and the president of the municipal association

By MARIA FEONA IMPERIAL IN the Philippines, one spoken word can have several variations in meaning. The Tagalog word for “bird”, for instance, is the same as the Kapampangan for “egg.” Indeed, one must be very careful in telling the classic story of which came first. There are 182 living languages used across the archipelago, which

  By ELLEN T. TORDESILLAS AT the reunion of Filipinos who have been to Taiwan upon the invitation of Taiwan government last week, Dr. Gary Song-Huann Lin, head of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Manila, announced a number of good things that would strengthen relations between the Philippines and the Republic of China.

  By ELLEN T. TORDESILLAS IN the movie “La Famille Bélier,” which is one of the featured movies in the ongoing 20th French Film Festival, there’s an election campaign because the father of the main character was running against the incumbent mayor. Filipinos, who love election campaigns, should be able to identify with the movie

A generation of children — the so-called “martial law babies” — was left heartbroken and wondering how the Voltes V story ended.

By JOHN PAUL ECARMA MAUNES and JAKE SORIANO CEBU CITY – Deaf triathlete Lester Lagos remembers that afternoon in Cebu very well. Visiting a training session of deaf student athletes after taking part in an international triathlon competition in Cebu, he was deeply disheartened to see them practice barefoot, and without the proper sports gear

Text and photos by JAKE SORIANO The Philippines until now has no accessible public transport for persons with disabilities (PWDs). Advocates lament this sad fact, and are calling for a more PWD-friendly and inclusive system for the sector. After all, PWDs travel too. (See Public transport still not PWD-friendly – advocates) As signatory to the

By NORMAN SISON To remember the glory days of Manila would be to remember the electric trams that once plied its streets and contributed to the city’s reputation as the “Pearl of the Orient.” At Museo Pambata, children frolic on a replica horse-drawn tranvia (“tram” in Spanish) in a room dedicated to the city’s history

  By CHICKIE LOCSIN THE fast-expanding Henann Group of hotels is a good argument for a family business. At the helm is the patriarch, Henry Chusuey. His wife Ana, twelve years his junior, is the company treasurer. Henann is a combination of their name: Henry plus Ana. The couple mentors their only daughter Christina Ann,

  By OFELIA C. EMPIAN FOR Melchora Grace Balacdao-Matias, looming bands began as an activity to merely overcome boredom in her new work environment in Kuwait. Little did Matias (Mitz to her friends) know that her loom bands would be of help to some 500 school children in the remote municipality of Bakun in Benguet

  By CHICKIE LOCSIN From bleak garbage dumps to glamor-filled dance floors, Wilbert Aunzo has come a long way. Aunzo was a scavenger and an out –of- school youth who picked garbage to buy his daily meal of rice and salt . When he was twelve, he joined a dance camp organized by Edward and

  Text and photos by ELIZABETH LOLARGA THE historic First Intensive Vocal Workshop of soprano Nelly Miricioiu ran for three days (March 9-11), seven hours long each day, with brief lunch and coffee breaks in between, at the Ayala Museum. It has more than prepared the 14 participants for international opera stages. It has also strengthened

  Text and photos by ELIZABETH LOLARGA Archive photos courtesy of the MANILA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA The musicians who heeded the call of conductor Herbert Zipper to join the Manila Symphony Orchestra’s first concert after the Liberation of Manila in 1945 came from different parts of the country that had seen four years of hell. Some

By ELLEN T. TORDESILLAS IN the 20 to 30 minutes that I was in the midst of the teeming crowd in Wuri Railway Station in Taichung, Taiwan last Saturday, I gained insights about the Taiwanese and in way, in their relations with mainland China, more than what I have learned in my readings in the

  By JOSEPH CORTES Photos  by KIKO CABUENA and ANNA LEAH SARABIA Experienced concertgoers have observed that the acoustics of Meralco Theater is not favorable for concerts of classical music. It has something to do with the way the theater was designed. Rather than the box-shape you would find in most theaters, such as the

  Text and photos by ELIZABETH LOLARGA SOPRANO Nelly Miricioiu, whose roots are in Romania, has been called many things, including “a traitor to her country” when she defected to Western Europe. She experienced being snubbed and ignored by her countrymen despite the accolades heaped on her when she conquered Covent Garden in the United

There  was a time — two generations ago — when Filipinos deeply loved their country and knew how to fight for their motherland’s freedom because it was the right thing to do.

    By ELIZABETH LOLARGA Photos courtesy of JOSEPH UY To listen to Nelly Miricioiu, the soprano from Romania who is now a British citizen, is to fall in love with her. Fall hard for her. She will have a one-night concert, “Nelly Miricioiu Live in Manila,” on March 6 at 8 p.m. at Meralco

  By CEZ DONASCO IN a time where scientific research findings contradict each other, people do not know what to believe anymore. Are eggs good for the health, bad, or maybe a little of both? The reason why eggs have gained such dubious reputation is cholesterol. An egg yolk contains 214-220 mg of cholesterol. The

By CHICKIE R. LOCSIN ‘THE Philippines has the best talent in the world, but its animation industry is among the smallest in the world.” Coming from an Australian, Wayne Dearing, chief executive officer of Top Draw Animation, the statement is both a tribute and a challenge. Miguel del Rosario, of Toon City Animation and vice-president

  By CHICKIE R. LOCSIN AS you gasp in excitement  watching  Optimus Prime’s Autobots battle  Megatron’s Decepticons or delight at the splendor of Megan’s Pony Land, feel proud that the TV series that have thrilled millions all over the world  are produced by Filipino artists in the Philippines. But producing what are fun to watch

By CHICKIE R. LOCSIN FOUR years ago, mothers were dying in the Philippines at the rate of 221 per 100,000 live births. Given that maternal mortality is a barometer of a country’s health system, those are disturbing numbers. The situation has improved and it is expected that by this year, the maternal mortality ratio (MMR)

  By REYNARD MAGTOTO “I make movies because I have a story to tell and I have a story to share,” multi-awarded filmmaker Brillante Mendoza declared. Mendoza’s four-part documentary series, titled “Small Acts, Big Stories,” was inspired by the stories of ordinary people who wanted to make a difference through their extraordinary acts. His documentary

  By NORMAN SISON ON the second day of his memorable visit to the Philippines, Pope Francis celebrated mass for the local clergy at the Manila Cathedral. In his welcome remarks after the ceremony, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, the Archbishop of Manila, related to the Pope how the cathedral was repeatedly destroyed by fire, earthquakes

    By CHICKIE LOCSIN REDENTOR  Betito, 36, used to work as a part-time pin boy and a watch- and -wash your car boy. He is now coordinator of the Cebu City Task Force for Street Children (CCTFSC) program, a non-government organization offering street children shelter and option for a more meaningful life. At any

Text and photos by RAY DEL ROSARIO and ARTHA KIRA PAREDES SAN DIEGO, California— At first glance, there is nothing Pinoy about the El Primero Hotel. The zigzag modern style of its white exterior resembles a Las Vegas chapel and its sign lettering in neon green hues and spotlights give onlookers a contemporary feel. Once

  By JOHN PAUL JUSTINIANI and HAZEL P. VILLA Photos by JOHN PAUL JUSTINIANI SOME  people just want something different. They don’t like the usual cuddly dogs and cats for pets. Exotic pets like scorpions and spiders are becoming popular nowadays. Gone are the days when spiders are just being hunted for “pa-upas” (spider fighting)

  By JOHNNA VILLAVIRAY GIOLAGON IT’S wonderfully cold in Baguio: 14 °C. Some mornings, the temperature goes down to 13 °C. It’s a perfect destination for a family weekend vacation. Below is a list of activities the kids can enjoy on a two-day stay: Day 1: Strawberry picking in La Trinidad, Benguet. It’s just about