The Tabernacle Choir, Lea Salonga sing songs of hope to Filipino audience

The world-renowned Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square held their first-ever concert in the Philippines on February 28th, joined by celebrated Filipina singer Lea Salonga. Spreading hope through music, the 420-voice choir brought its signature sound to the Mall of Asia Arena during the second stop of its multi-year “World Tour of Hope.”

Living as a Millennial Bipolar Warrior

Have you ever felt like two mad wolves were inside of you on a seesaw? One day you could be full of energy and optimism, feeling invincible. Then another day, you could be so down, cynical, and sluggish and could barely get out of bed. That is my life. In my highs, I would do…

No Monkey Business: Banana Farmers to Corporate Giant Lapanday

Like food for the gods, the Cavendish bananas of Tagum City, Davao Del Norte are spotless. Sealed with stickers to mark their perfection, they are being shipped to countries in the Asia Pacific contributing billions to the domestic economy. But what many don’t know, these bananas were grown on a soil soaked with sweat and…

Saturn Return: Notes from a 31-Year-Old Minimalist Weirdo

Whatever the 31-year-old in me has become, I think I like it. While many of my peers are in their prime — starting a family of their own or reveling in the peak of their careers, seeking greener pastures abroad, earning their graduate or post-graduate degrees or driving their own fancy cars — I’m just…

Cybersex and Congress: A Tale of Two Queens

The mountains of Matnog, Sorsogon looked weary — its coconut trees totally felled or crownless. A tinge of gloom painted the town as it reeled from nature’s wrath. Call it a perfect disaster: a natural calamity hitting a vulnerable community. It had already been months since a powerful storm struck the third class municipality, but recovery…

Presstitutes?

It’s easy to ditch the media, if you think the institution is biased, corrupt and useless. Regardless of whatever pushes you to make such sweeping generalizations, you can just stop watching, reading, and consuming right now. But you won’t. Because whether you like it or not, the media is just as important as you are…

How to Get Away with Murder: The Pemberton Verdict and LGBT Rights

Until now, Julita Cabillan fondly calls her daughter, “Ganda.” To the rest of the world, she is known as Jennifer Laude, Jeffrey to those who cannot accept that a person can choose his or her own gender identity. Whatever you call her, she’s now just a name, a memory. For Julita, the lower court verdict…

Inside the Danger Zone of Mayon Volcano

That fiery red lava trickling down the slopes of Mayon Volcano is a paradox. Like a fireworks display, it keeps Albay villagers awake in the middle of the night. Some would even take a break from their favorite evening teleserye just to watch the volcano simmer. For us locals, it is such a delight to behold…