The plane ride to Zamboanga was partly different from my previous travels: no overly excited, loud tourists taking selfies and no foreigners. I can tell that the passengers were mostly locals because they were speaking Chavacano, the city’s Spanish-based local dialect. When the plane landed in Zamboanga, it meant many things for the group I was traveling…
Tag: SubSelfie
Let’s Fall in Love and Build a Nation
The road snaking through the heart of the town of Jagna was decorated with colorful banderitas that day. It was my first time in Bohol, and I had not come to see the tarsiers or the chocolate hills. I came to see something more wondrous: Love. And it wasn’t just any kind of love. It was a…
The Hope of Muslim Orphans
Abdul Aziz, not his real name, wakes up at 4:00 in the morning. After praying to Allah, he dashes to eat his breakfast, and, clutching his bag and books, runs to his classroom. He refuses to be late in all of his classes. Abdul is now on 11th grade and only a year away from finishing…
Go Places, Fall In Love
On May 25, 2012, Che Gurrobat, the blogger behind Backpacking Pilipinas, wrote: The world will not stop for a girl with a broken heart. Tomorrow the sun will continue to rise and shine, rock stars will continue staging sold-out concerts, football superstars will continue striking goals, verdict will be cast on to the Chief Justice…
Why I Sued GMA: Refusing Unfair Labor Practices in the Media
In June 2014, I sued my employer, GMA Network, Inc. Signing those documents sealed my future, or the end of it. Scratch that. The company does not actually recognize me as its employee, and that’s precisely why I, along with other members of the Talents Association of GMA (TAG), filed a case against the network….
Mamasapano’s Music from Paradise by Howie Severino
Before Mamasapano became a blood stain on the national psyche, the only buzz about the impoverished little town came from its exquisite music.It’s not at all popular music, but the melodious high-pitched sound produced by a rarely seen and heard two-stringed instrument called kudyapi. Mamasapano was the home of the kudyapi master, Samaon Sulaiman, a…
My Romance with News: A Farewell to a 15-Year Affair by Claire Delfin
On February 18, 2015, I shall officially say goodbye to my life as a television news reporter. Fifteen years in the news industry, the life I have had was marked with many daunting challenges but ones that were always topped with sweet triumphs. Young Love It has always been my dream to work in the…
Kung Lilimutin Mo Ako (If You Forget Me / Pablo Neruda)
Salin sa Filipino ng tula ng isa sa pinakahinangaang makata ng ika-20 Siglo.
The PNP’s Chance at Redemption by Howie Severino
At no other time in recent memory has any group of policemen elicited as much public sympathy as the Fallen 44 SAF Commandos. In the midst of the horrific nightmare that triggered this outpouring of emotion is an opportunity. At any other time, many of us would regard the police as the least heroic, most…
We Are the Yayas of the World
It’s 1991 in the modest town of Moncada, Tarlac. Her husband just died. Her father followed shortly after. She’s 30 years old, a mother of two — the youngest just 6 months old. And up until that moment, she has not worked a day in her life. She could take over the family business —…
Eastern Samar: Matapos ang Unos
“Ano’ng wish mo?,” tanong ko kay Davel, labing-isang taong gulang at mag-aaral ng Grade 4. Matipid pero tiyak ang sagot ng yayat na bata: “Sana po mabigyan pa kami ng trapal.” Mabilis kong pinutol ang wala pang limang minutong panayam dahil namumuo na ang tubig sa ilalim ng mga mata ko. Sa dinami-rami ng mga nakapanayam…
Indochina: Four Tales of Heartbreak
Love has a quota. That’s according to Ricky Lee in his masterpiece “Para kay B.” Only one in every five people who fall in love will have a happy ending. The others might love someone who will not love them back. Or love without learning. Or love hopelessly. And some might not love at all….
The Myth of ‘The Butcher’ Jovito Palparan by Dano Tingcungco
On August 12, 2014, after two years of hiding, NBI operatives finally captured retired Major General Jovito Palparan in Sta. Mesa, Manila. He now has to face charges of kidnapping and serious illegal detention for the disappearance of UP students Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan in 2006. Palparan has carved a reputation as “The Butcher.” It wasn’t…
Oda sa Telebisyon
Hanggang may sakit ang lipunan, may dahilan para magsulat.
The Science of Sadness: Overlooked Signs of Clinical Depression
Scene One: Driven to Sadness This was the first time in a long while that it was just the two of us. We would see each other but with our other friends. So there was really no time to talk, no time to catch up. We were driving along the expressway. He confessed to me something…
DMZ: The Border Between North and South Korea by Ceej Tantengco
K-Pop, rom-coms and Korean dramas like Endless Love: Winter Sonata paint a picture of a carefree, beautiful South Korea. But behind the popular images of pretty boys, high fashion, lush landscapes and beautiful architecture is another narrative: the Korean War. The war began in 1950, after 135,000 soldiers from the communist North Korean People’s Army…
President Noynoy Aquino’s Report Card
Three Filipinos representing three social issues from poverty to press freedom were asked to rate Noynoy Aquino on his fourth year as President.
Ten Ideas I Never Learned in College
From the practical to the existential, this millennial TV reporter compiles a list of things he never learned in school.
Travel Virgin: Lessons from Indochina
It was terrifying and exciting. For the first time in my life, I traveled abroad. Everything was new. Every experience was something to look forward to. I didn’t have to think about writing news stories, checking scripts or going live in a couple of hours. All I had to worry about was my outfit for…
Beks Factor: Loving a Man who Loves Men
Editor’s Note: Beks or Beki is a Filipino colloquial term that refers to gay men. This is a story of a girl who loved a boy who loves boys. We geared up for the high notes as we wait for the next song in the small videoke room. From the clear pane that divides our room…
SubSelfie.com 
You must be logged in to post a comment.