Features
Cemeteries, memorial parks abound in Novaliches
October 31, 2019, 8:24 pm
MANILA -- Where in the country can you find a single place with concentration of 11 cemeteries and memorial parks within a diameter of less than 20 kilometers? Go to Novaliches, a former town now divided between Quezon City and Caloocan City in the northernmost periphery of Metropolitan Manila… Read More
88-yr-old man in Iligan City readies own casket
October 31, 2019, 8:22 pm
ILIGAN CITY -- The senior citizen in Iligan City who prepared his casket at home years ago is now ready to die after his wife, who also prepared hers, died last January. Luciano Tapic, 88, of Barangay Kiwalan, has asked his brother-in-law four years ago to make his casket so that his children… Read More
Earning a living from the dead
October 31, 2019, 6:37 pm
ILOILO CITY -- Being dead does not necessarily render one useless, as found by people living or residing near the cemeteries. Among those who found this advantageous is Giobil Marfil, 31, married with four kids. He shared that he has been doing manual labor at the Tanza cemetery in Barangay… Read More
The cost of dying in PH
October 31, 2019, 6:30 pm
MANILA -- There are a lot of reasons to revel as we get older, but having to ponder about the cost of death isn’t one of them. But everyone dies. It comes as no great surprise and is inevitable, but the question is — are we financially prepared for death in the family? Zooming into the… Read More
Living among the dead: Nanay Diday’s story
October 31, 2019, 5:32 pm
MANILA -- In the Manila North Cemetery (MNC), graves bring life to people who live on the fringes of society. Mausoleums become home for many poor families, enabling them to live like normal communities, as they eat and sleep beside the graves. For more than six decades, a chapel -- where two… Read More
Grave cleaners share joy, struggles as PH observes Undas
October 31, 2019, 5:28 pm
MANILA -- The observance of Undas is here and the cleaning business in cemeteries is alive again. As the morning breaks, visitors of the Laloma Catholic Cemetery in Caloocan can find a lot of residents roaming around, carrying buckets of paint with cleaning brush on the other hand. Among them is… Read More
All Saints’, All Souls’, 2 different days for the dead
October 31, 2019, 3:23 pm
MANILA -- Filipinos all over the country take advantage of the first two days of November to pay respects to their departed loved ones, as well as reunite with their kin and old friends. But while these days are, by all means, occasions for remembering the dead, November 1 or All Saints’ Day is… Read More
Scary creatures featured in Calamba pre-Undas 'treat for a cause'
October 27, 2019, 4:00 pm
CALAMBA CITY, Laguna -- Scores of city folks and spectators were “freakily scared” on Saturday after a throng of spooky and creepy creatures were featured in a Halloween trick-or-treat event at the Old City Plaza, where the iconic “kalan-banga” (clay stove and jar) landmark in this city… Read More
How tech and P500 paved the way for 'Pandalivery'
October 25, 2019, 12:27 pm
YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR. Pandalivery founder and CEO Jude Buelva attends to an inquiry from one of the participants of the IdeaSpace event in Makati City on Tuesday (Oct. 22, 2019). Buelva started his business venture with just PHP500. (PNA photo by Cristina Arayata)MANILA -- Bicol region's… Read More
Tacloban’s Price Mansion brings back World War II memories
October 18, 2019, 3:55 pm
TACLOBAN CITY -- Lilian Price turned emotional as she reminisced the pre-World War II years when their family lived at the Price Mansion, a historic landmark here that witnessed events that spanned over a century. She was just five years old when American General Douglas MacArthur stayed in… Read More
All set for 75th Leyte landing anniversary Sunday
October 18, 2019, 3:49 pm
MANILA – All is set for the grand celebration of the 75th anniversary of the historic Leyte Landing on Sunday by Gen. Douglas McArthur that liberated the Philippines from Japanese occupation in World War II. Lt. Gen. Ernesto G. Carolina (AFP, Ret.), administrator of the Philippine Veterans… Read More
2 cities, 22 towns, 2 provinces named after ex-PH presidents
October 12, 2019, 3:18 pm
MANILA -- As Quezon City, the erstwhile Philippine capital marked its 80th founding anniversary on Saturday, this writer decided to take a look at the country's national and regional maps to find out how many places nationwide--provinces, cities, towns--have been named in honor of past Filipino… Read More
Army engineer recalls life as NPA captive 20 years ago
October 10, 2019, 8:43 pm
CEBU CITY – It was an awkward situation for an Army captain to be guarded by minors armed with long rifles during his two-month captivity by the New People’s Army (NPA) in Davao City some 20 years ago, but he befriended them, pinning hope on his young guardians for his survival. Then-Captain… Read More
Hard work pays off for Negros science quiz bee teen champs
October 8, 2019, 8:59 pm
DUMAGUETE CITY – While most teenagers today are glued to their television sets, engrossed in online games or fiddling with their electronic gadgets, 18-year-old Jandale Samillano sacrificed being away from home for several weeks to prepare for the grand finals of Negros Island’s premiere quiz… Read More
Ex-NPA child warrior recalls life as Sparrow Unit member
October 7, 2019, 8:23 pm
CEBU CITY – After suffering physical abuse from her father, she left home and ended up being recruited into the New People’s Army (NPA) at just nine years old. She was a slim, long-haired girl when the “hukbo” (corps) enlisted her to the Sparrow Unit tasked to kill government troops in… Read More
Samulnori: A closer look at K-culture thru percussion music
October 5, 2019, 9:07 am
MANILA -- Cultural exchanges enable countries to get a peek of each other's culture. These include showcasing arts, dance, and music. At the recently concluded Philippines-Korea Exchange Festival, traditional Korean percussion music, Samulnori, was showcased. Who would have thought percussion… Read More
Daylong hikes highlight Calbayog teacher’s career
October 4, 2019, 5:23 pm
CALBAYOG CITY -- For young public school teacher David Refuncion, fulfilling his job means long trips, daylong hikes, crossing rivers, teaching multi-grade classes, and climbing a coconut tree -- just to send reports. For three years now, Refuncion has been assigned to the upland village of Mabini… Read More
WWII Japanese captain: Friend not foe for Leyte townsfolk
October 3, 2019, 1:05 pm
DULAG, LEYTE-- For most Filipinos, the Japanese soldiers during World War II were enemies but for the locals of Dulag town in Leyte, the foreign invaders led by a young captain were regarded as good friends and still are after 75 years of the country’s liberation. Called “Little Tokyo”… Read More
The history behind Bacolod’s 'smile'
October 2, 2019, 1:53 pm
MANILA -- Bacolod is widely known for its "City of Smiles" tag, which came after the success of the first MassKara Festival in 1980. But unknown to some, especially the younger generation, the colorful festival was created as a diversion from the series of tragedies experienced by the Negrenses… Read More
'Wind of change' starts blowing toward Novaliches
October 1, 2019, 3:22 pm
MANILA -- At last, the long-awaited wind of change has begun blowing from the Quezon City Hall in Diliman toward the distant former town of Novaliches near Bulacan province. Amid this development, the local residents are hoping that the current favorable wind direction they have been waiting for… Read More
