Features

Christmas tree fit for bookworms

Christmas tree fit for bookworms

December 20, 2020, 4:07 pm

MANILA – Filipino bookworms are getting into the holiday season by incorporating their love of reading into their Christmas decor. Facebook, Instagram, and other social media sites have inspired them to create their own versions of “book trees” or books piled on top of each other to form the… Read More

Life's still good: Overseas Pinoys share Christmas amid pandemic

Life's still good: Overseas Pinoys share Christmas amid pandemic

December 19, 2020, 2:06 pm

MANILA – While the Philippines is still battling with the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-2019) pandemic, Filipinos are slowly but surely bouncing back and showing glimmers of hope to celebrate the Yuletide season. Filipinos working overseas are no exception in spreading the… Read More

Pinoy arrives home after being stuck in Saudi for 6 years

Pinoy arrives home after being stuck in Saudi for 6 years

December 18, 2020, 3:46 pm

MANILA – After six long years in Saudi Arabia with no inkling whether he would be able to return to the Philippines, Malik Darimbang, a native of Marawi City, is home at last. In February 2014, Malik figured in an accident after a Pakistani rammed the street sweeper vehicle he was driving,… Read More

8M trees planted in Negros amid the pandemic

8M trees planted in Negros amid the pandemic

December 16, 2020, 10:44 pm

DUMAGUETE CITY – Despite the travel restrictions during the community quarantines, a massive joint government and non-government movement for the forest restoration of Negros Island has already planted eight million trees on its fifth year. The 10 Million Trees in 10 Years (10M in 10) for a… Read More

'Simbang Gabi' brings hope amid a pandemic

'Simbang Gabi' brings hope amid a pandemic

December 15, 2020, 7:12 pm

DUMAGUETE CITY – Owena Davis, 75, putters around the house, preparing a table with a white linen cloth for the altar, with fresh flowers, a crucifix and candles, just a day before the start of the nine-day novena masses at dawn or Misa de Gallo beginning Dec. 16, leading up to Christmas. In… Read More

Arts fair brings color amid trying times

Arts fair brings color amid trying times

December 14, 2020, 7:41 pm

MANILA – The year 2020 may have been devastating for many but organizers and participants of arts fair, ManilArt, proved that there is hope, through a display of inspiring and colorful artworks. ManilArt, the longest-running art exhibit in the country, was held on Dec. 9-13 at the SMX Convention… Read More

Korean Cultural Center honors front-liners thru online concert

Korean Cultural Center honors front-liners thru online concert

December 14, 2020, 6:14 pm

MANILA – Providing Filipino front-liners a treat was not enough for the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines (KCC), as it staged a virtual concert to recognize their invaluable contribution to society amid the pandemic. The concert held on Saturday was still part of KCC"s "K-Healing:… Read More

Batanes residents keep the faith through ‘confession on wheels’

Batanes residents keep the faith through ‘confession on wheels’

December 13, 2020, 7:50 pm

TUGUEGARAO CITY – The parish priest of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Basco, Batanes has been driving around the community, using his tricycle as a mobile confessional box to prepare young parishioners for their first Holy Communion and others for their prayer of concession. Fr.… Read More

From siege to wedding rites: APC serves as 'bridal tank'

From siege to wedding rites: APC serves as 'bridal tank'

December 13, 2020, 4:41 pm

BALOI, Lanao del Norte – Three years after the five-month siege in Marawi City in 2017, the armored personnel carrier (APC) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) was back running, not to carry soldiers in full-battle gear, but to carry six white-clad brides to marry soldiers who were part… Read More

'Star of Bethlehem': Miracle or Science?

'Star of Bethlehem': Miracle or Science?

December 11, 2020, 7:19 pm

MANILA – The Bible says the three wise men followed a star in order to find where Jesus was born. People refer to that star as the "Christmas Star" or the "Star of Bethlehem". Did that star come out of the blue to guide the "Magi"? Or did Jesus' birth coincide with a celestial phenomenon? "This… Read More

Davao City Christmas in the new normal

Davao City Christmas in the new normal

December 9, 2020, 3:19 pm

By Jed Roland Wong DAVAO CITY – Around this time last year, upland communities of indigenous peoples (IPs) in Davao City host different fun and community-based activities for the members of the tribes, especially the children. At the same time, in downtown Davao, the entire city would sparkle… Read More

Teacher ‘Santa’ brings cheer to Nueva Ecija kids

Teacher ‘Santa’ brings cheer to Nueva Ecija kids

December 6, 2020, 5:51 pm

GAPAN CITY, Nueva Ecija – Bringing joy to others can still be done this yuletide season despite the movement restrictions due to coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). An elementary teacher in this city proved this, not thinking twice about sharing her blessings and putting a smile into… Read More

Fashionista sparks buyers’ interest

Fashionista sparks buyers’ interest

December 6, 2020, 3:34 pm

MANILA – Laudale Zabala is a certified fashionista. When the lockdowns were imposed in March, she made it a point to continue getting dressed up as if she were going out for work. For her, putting on a nice outfit is a form of self-care. Although she couldn't leave her home in Valenzuela City… Read More

Preserving holiday cheers thru 'virtual reunions'

Preserving holiday cheers thru 'virtual reunions'

December 4, 2020, 2:29 pm

MANILA – With only three weeks to go before Christmas, planning getaways and gatherings with loved ones has been a part of the Filipinos' way of commemorating the season. However, with the current situation due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), people would have to defer seeing their… Read More

Lualhati Bautista self-publishes debut poetry book

Lualhati Bautista self-publishes debut poetry book

November 30, 2020, 9:05 pm

MANILA – Acclaimed author and screenwriter Lualhati Bautista, known for her award-winning novels and screenplays “Gapo”, “Dekada ‘70”, “Bata, Bata, Paano Ka Ginawa?”, and “Bulaklak sa City Jail” has self-published her first poetry book “Alitaptap sa Gabing Madilim”. As… Read More

Hope for out-of-school youth amid Covid-19 pandemic

Hope for out-of-school youth amid Covid-19 pandemic

November 30, 2020, 7:54 pm

MANILA – Being out-of-school for three years, Timothy, 15, has decided to continue his elementary education this year amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. In an interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA), Timothy admitted that addiction to mobile gaming made him neglect… Read More

Preventing future 'Ondoy', 'Ulysses' flooding

Preventing future 'Ondoy', 'Ulysses' flooding

November 30, 2020, 6:41 pm

MANILA – On the night of November 11, Tayn Limson already felt the strong winds rapping on their windows. At that time, Typhoon Ulysses (Vamco) already made landfall in Quezon, packing maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometer per hour. "Sobrang lakas ng hangin naririnig mo 'yong whistle sa awang… Read More

Uniting science, culture thru bamboo musical instruments

Uniting science, culture thru bamboo musical instruments

November 30, 2020, 3:03 pm

MANILA – Who would have thought there could be science behind bamboo musical instruments (BMIs)? Bamboos are susceptible to insect attacks, fungal stain, thereby affecting the sound quality and the people's appreciation for the indigenous music. With the goal of preserving the indigenous music… Read More

'Techie' leaves job to plant papaya

'Techie' leaves job to plant papaya

November 29, 2020, 1:57 pm

LAOAG CITY – Oliver Cariaga Millet, 46, of Barangay Nangalisan here has never been happier seeing his papaya plantation burst with fruits while pickers join him with excitement, taking photos here and there. Sprawled on a less than one hectare lot, Millet's Nangalisan Papaya Farm is being… Read More

‘Rescued’, ‘adopted’ elderlies thankful to gov't

‘Rescued’, ‘adopted’ elderlies thankful to gov't

November 27, 2020, 9:49 am

MANILA – While many have succumbed to fear and loneliness during the quarantine, senior citizens who were taken into the state-owned Golden Action and Reception Center for the Elderly and other Special Cases (GRACES) said they have many things to be grateful for. Orlando (not his real name), 73,… Read More