TORONTO – Youth spread human rights awareness at Youth Day’s 17th Annual Festival at Yonge-Dundas Square promoting human rights education, more specifically, the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
TORONTO – All years start off with a bang. The firecrackers, the confetti. We all look up at Times Square and wait for the ball to drop. And in 2020, indeed, the ball dropped on all of us. Barely a quarter into the year, on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) dropped that word on us: “pandemic”. The world, as we knew it, had capsized. There go our big plans. And our even bigger dreams, now reduced to abstract concepts.
TORONTO – Taon 2020-2023, ang mundo ay parang naging tulad nang sasakyan na roler koster na bumalidtad. Lahat nang huspital, pahim-papawid, ekonomia, institusion at iba iba pa. Lumabas na walang bayan sa mundo nakahanda at alam kung papaano masugpo ang pandemia.
TORONTO – Sa bansang mga umuunlad katulad nang Pilipinas na maraming mahihirap, ang maga usapusapan at maling kuro kuro ay parang apoy mabilis kumalat ay pangkaraniwan pampalipas nang oras lamang. Ang isang tex sa telepano ay piso lang ang halaga na katumbas nang ilan Kanadian sentimos lang.
TORONTO – In a third world country like the Philippines with so many poor people, rumour and gossip seem to be the national pastime. Texting (email) costs only one peso, a mere few cents Canadian. Even if this is the Philippines, poverty has not stopped citizens from engaging in online chats, Facebook and Twitter. And they feel important for they all have something to say, for after all they are a part of a larger social group.
Ang Kanada-Uk na kasunduan ay patuloy pa rin, kaya naman maiinom mo pa rin ang paborito mong iskot wisky sa dating halaga na hindi nag babago sapagkat walang dagdag na buwis. Kung wala nang kasunduan na nakalagay, marahil ang bayan natin Kanada ay papatugan nang buwis na nag kakahalagang £17.500. kung mag papadala tayo nang saging sa kanila, katulad nang mag padala nang saging ang Ghana sa kanila.
TORONTO – With a Canada-UK Continuity of Trade Agreement (CTA) in place, you can enjoy your scotch whiskey in a Toronto pub without additional tariffs. If such an agreement were not in place, our country could have potentially been slammed with a bill of £17,500 for trying to export bananas to the UK, as what happened to Ghana.
Noon Marso 2020 nang binigkas ang pandemia nang “World Health Organization” ang tao ay nag bago nang kaugalian sa kanilang pagagailagan. Ang pag pupunta sa maga restauran, pag babakasion sa maga magagandang lugar, panunood nang maga pelikula sa malalaking sinehan ay na hinto. Na iba ang pinupuntahan nang kanilang kinikita sa pag trabaho sa bahay sa panibagon landas sa pag kumpuni nang kanilang bahay, sa pag gawa nang kanilang opisina sa bahay.
In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the pandemic caused by Covid 19, forcing people to change their priorities. Trips to the restaurants, vacations to exotic places, watching movies in the big screen took a back seat. They redirected their money and whatever else they earned working from home to renovating their dwellings to double as an office and classroom, purchasing newer laptops and newer models of mobiles, putting new printers in their bedrooms to make for more efficient work output at home, getting gym equipment for fitness because gyms were closed, and furnishing their kitchens with mixers, blenders and juice extractors to make their lives livable during a pandemic. They alternated their meals from being prepared in their kitchen to ordering from restaurants, delivered by any one of the following: Uber Eats, Grab, Skip the Dishes, Foodora, Door Dash, to name a few. Lifestyles changed.
TORONTO – Para mabuhay nitong panahon nang pandemia, kaylagan mo nang trabaho. Mas magaling kung Ito’y permanente. Noon Nobiembre 2021 mayroon 43,000 bakanteng trabaho na inilagda sa Toronto, 68,000 sa Ontario, at 168,000 sa buong Canada. Isa sa magandang balita para ikatuwa natin sa panahon nang pandemia.
TORONTO – If you bank on surviving this pandemic, you will need a job. Better yet, a full-time job. In November 2021, there were 43,000 new jobs reported in Toronto; 68,000 in Ontario; 154,000 in Canada. We could use a feel-good moment in this pandemic.
Isang Panandaling Saglit na Nagbigay ng Kaginhawahan Habang ang Pangatlong Taon nitong Pandemya ay Palapit Na Nung nakaraang buwan, habang ang Canada ay unang nakakarinig ng Omricon, isang variant na nadiskubre ng mga siyentipiko sa South Africa, isang panandaling saglit na nagbigay ng kaginhawahan ang aking naranasan sa gitna nitong pandemya.
A Feel-Good Moment as We Enter the Third Year into This Pandemic. Last month, as Canada was hearing about omricon for the first time, I had a moment of pause from all the COVID 19 stories and reports which were unsettling. I was up at seven in the morning of December 10, 2021 to watch the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo, Norway. Recipients of this award went jointly to Dmitry Muratov of Russia and Maria Ressa of the Philippines for “their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace”.
MANILA – Ang Pilipinas na umaasa sa Turisimo upang iagat ang ekonomia nang bayan ay mabigat na tinamaan nang pandemia. Trabaho na may kinalaman sa turisimo ay tinamaan nang malaking nang 28% porsento. Samantala ang trabahong por ora ay tinamaan pababa nang 38%. Nasa Pilipinas ako noong Marzo 2020 nang pumutok ang pandemia. Kita good kita ko agad ang pag ka walang turista sa paligig nang Maynila. Ang paniwalang na ang pandemia ay nag simula sa Asia, halos lahat umiiwas sa kontinent no ito.
MANILA – The Philippines which relies on tourism to boost its economy is hit hard by the pandemic. Tourism-related employment in this Far East country shrank by 28 percent, while average hourly wage declined by 38%. I was in the Philippines last March 2020 when the pandemic broke out. And I noticed the absence of tourists in Metro Manila. The perception seemed to be that with the source of Covid 19 being in Asia, no one wanted to be in that continent.
TORONTO – Toronto produce 900.000 tonnellate di rifiuti all’anno. Ma non è chiaro se questa cifra sia pre-pandemia. La spazzatura non è un problema incentrato su Toronto. È stato recentemente riportato dal New York Times che 193 Paesi hanno prodotto 8 milioni di tonnellate di rifiuti di plastica legati alla pandemia. Si prevede che 1,5 miliardi di maschere per il viso finiranno nei nostri oceani… Read More in Corriere Canadese >>>
TORONTO – Mahigit na 900,000 toneladang basura ang linalabas nang Toronto bawa’t taon. Pero hindi maliwanag kung ang ulat na ito ay bago pandemia. Ang basura ay hindi lamang problema nang Toronto. Ang huling ulat nang New York Time, 193 na bayan ay nag kamit na 8 milliones na tonelada plastik na basura konektado sa pandemia basura. 1.5 billiones takip sa mukha ay mauuwi sa atin karagatan.
TORONTO – Toronto produces 900,000 tonnes of waste per year. But it is unclear whether this figure is pre-pandemic. Trash is not a Toronto-centric problem. It was recently reported in the New York Times that 193 countries have produced 8 million tonnes of pandemic-related plastic waste. 1.5 billion face masks are projected to end up in your oceans.
Maraming dapat pasalamatan nitong Amerikan “Thanksgiving”. Ang una ang pagbabalik nang “Macy’s” na parade, na wala nang maga karton hubog tao, para pang pakita na mayroon nanunuod na maga tao sa kalsada. Nakating sa maga malalaking at magagandang lobo na “Baby Boss”. Ang pag babalik nang tinatawag “Itim na Bieyernes” unang pintong bukassan. (90+ bigillantes nag papangap “Fast and the Furious” in Walnut Creek). Ang hinihiwalay na lugar para sa maga hindi gustong bisita sa “Thanksgiving” lamesa nang pamilya-“Omicron”.
TORONTO – There was much to give thanks for in the U.S. Thanksgiving. A return to the Macy’s Parade with non-cardboard cutout children standing in the streets of New York, in wonderment of the “Boss Baby” balloon. A return to Black Friday doorcrashers (90+ vigilantes recreating “Fast and the Furious” in Walnut Creek). And setting a place for an unwanted visitor at the Thanksgiving family table – “Omicron”.
Halos mag dadalawang taon na ang Kobid pandemia at halos lahat nang bagay ay naapektohan pati ang relasion na pag kakaibigan natin.
Covid crisis is almost two years now and it’s taking a toll on almost everything, including one we most need – friendship.
TORONTO – May kasalaulaan ng kaingayan na ngayon ay nakaragdag sa Toronto – ang nagpapalipad ng dahon na tinatawag na “leaf blower”. Nakaragdag ito sa dati ng kaingayan sa siyudad na dulot ng pagtatayo ng mga gusali at mga sirenang nagmumula sa mga ambulansiya, bombero, at mga sasakyan ng mga pulis. (more…)
TORONTO – Before the heavy snowfall of November 28th this year, there was added noise that Torontonians were dealing with – leaf blowers. As if the construction noise and ambulance/fire truck/ police cruiser sirens were not enough, leaf blowers have added to the deafening noise of the city. (more…)
TORONTO – Sapul nang dineklara ng WHO ang pandemya, isang paksa ang naging problema ng mga nakataas na mga nanungkulan sa gobyerno, mga siyentipiko at mga mamamayan nitong mundo: ang pagsuot ng mga maskara o dispras. (more…)
TORONTO – Since the pandemic was declared by WHO close to two years now, one subject has been a thorn on the side of politicians, scientists and the world population: the wearing of masks. (more…)
TORONTO – Signs of a return to some semblance of normalcy are popping up around the city. For the first time the Metro Toronto Convention Centre held a three-day Art Show at full capacity. These days, exhibits like this are done differently, by lines. First line checks your electronic tickets. Second line, your proof of vaccination and identifications. Last line, security check. Then, you’re on your own but with self-discipline, maintaining physical distance while strolling in a fashionable manner, looking at one art work after another, perhaps lingering at some, trying to decipher what the artist was trying to convey. (more…)
TORONTO – Maga palatandaan ay unti unti mapapansin ang pag babalik sa siyudad. Sa Kauna unahan pag kakataon ang Toronto Metro Convention Centre ay nag bukas nang tatlong araw mag display nang maga pintura galing sa iba ibang bansa na punuan. Sa pag kakataon ito ibang klase ang stilo, na kabang mayroon tunay na larawan para tingnan nang publiko, mayroon din makikita sa pamamagitan nang suom na elektronik sa linia. Mapapansin ang kaibahan at pag iigat sa pag pasok. Ang unang pila mo, mararanasan mo na sinisita ang elektonik mong tiket sa pag pasok. At ang pagalawa ay ang katibayan na ikaw ay may dalawang bakuna, at naka maskara ka. At ang pagatlo ay ang iyon dalang gamit. Pag katapos noon, bahala ka na sa sarili mo kung papaano lang umiwas sa masisikip at maraming tao. At tingnan ang maga iba ibang bagay na pinapakita at binebenta nang maga artis. (more…)
TORONTO – Halos lahat nang daan ay patugo sa Italia para dumalo sa mahalagang pag pupulong nang G20 nitong taon ito. Si Joe Biden presidente nang Amerika ay hininto ang maga mahalagang bagay na ginagawang para sa kanilang bayan para lang makadalo sa Italia upang makadalo sa pag pupulong na ito na ang pagsa ay ang pag babago nang klema. Si Prince Charles ay nag bigay nang pang gugusap sa mga liderato nang iba ibang bayan. (more…)
TORONTO – All roads led to Italy for the 2-day G20 summit meeting this year. US President Joe Biden had to put on hold domestic issues just to be in Rome for this summit. Top of the agenda was climate change. Prince Charles addressed the leaders of attending countries. From Rome, participants proceeded to Glasgow, Scotland, for the UN COP26 meeting. In both meetings, activists ensured that their voices are heard by world leaders. These meetings are unique because Covid safety protocols are in place. I remember when G8-G20 was held in Toronto having experienced challenges covering the event. (more…)
Nang sakupin ang Pilipinas ng dayuhang Hapon, hindi pa ako tao. Ipinanganak ako matapos ang WW2. Batang munti pa lang ako nang ang Korea ay nagkaroon ng pangmamayang digmaan. (more…)
I was just an idea when Japan invaded my old country, the Philippines. Or, maybe not. Only my parents can answer this but, they had joined their Maker a long time ago. (more…)
TORONTO – Mayroon na naman na puting biskleta sa kato kalye nang Bloor at Unibersity. Isa na naman buhay ang nawala at hindi maalis sa akin kaisipan na dapat ito ay di nangyari at naiwasan. Ang edad nang bata ay 18 taon gulang. Lalong mahirap tangapin na ang bata ay mula sa Filipino-Canadian kommuniti. Ito’y maaring isang pamangkin, isang kapatid, kaibigan nang pamilya. Hindi ito ang unang nasawi sa lugar. Noon 2018 sa kalye nang Bloor at St. George may isang babae edad na 58 ay namatay nang ito ay tinamaan nang isang plat beded trak. (more…)
TORONTO – There is a white bicycle at the corner of Bloor and University street. Another cyclist’s life has been claimed and I cannot help but think that this somehow could have been avoided. The boy was only 18. What makes this even harder is that he appears to be from the Filipino community. This could have been a nephew, a brother, a friend of the family. This is not the first fatality in the Annex area. In 2018, at Bloor and St. George, a 58-year-old woman was killed by a flatbed truck. (more…)
TORONTO – Nitong nakaraang linggo, napadaan ako sa isang eskuwelang pansimula at nakita ko ang mga batang na nagkakaedad ng 5 o 6 na naglalaro nang nakamaskara sa likod bakuran ng eskuwela. Natuwa ako dahil masaya silang naglalaro. Pero nalungkot din ako kasi nakamaskara silang nagtatakbuhan. Tila hindi sila balisa sa suot nilang maskara. At, naisip ko na kung hindi ang mga bata nababalisa sa pagsuot ng maskara, bakit kaya ang mga nakatatanda sa kanila ay kabaliktaran ang nararamdaman pag suot ang maskara. (more…)
TORONTO – Last week, I passed the play yard of an elementary school and saw children, presumably aged five and six, enjoying the pleasant morning’s tail of summer weather, running and playing games they concocted or just enjoying each other’s company. It felt good seeing kids back to school for in-person learning. But, I must admit, it also felt bad to see them all masked up. (more…)
TORONTO – Isang kaibigan ko ang pumuna ng presyo ng Big Mac, na pag kumakain ka nito parati, di mo mapupuna ang presyo pero kung ikaw ay yung taong tulad ko na paminsan minsan lang kumain ng Big Mac, malamang magulat ka sa babayaran mo. Nitong nakaraang mahigit na isang taon, hindi ako kumain ng Big Mac hanggang ilang araw na nakalipas nang bumili ako ng dalawang Big Mac meals at nagulat ako sa binayaran ko – mahigit $23! Sabi ng kaibigan ko, mas makakatipid ka kung may coupon ka, konti sa kalahati ang babayaran mo. Ang sa akin naman ay gaano kadalas nagbibigay ng coupon para sa Big Mac. (more…)
TORONTO – A friend once commented on the price of a Big Mac, that if you eat it regularly, like once a week, you don’t notice the price increase because it’s in the cents. But, if you order it, say, once every six months, or in my case, in a gap of almost two years because of the pandemic, you feel the crunch, as I did when I ordered two Big Mac meals three weeks ago. I paid $23 and some cents! My friend then added, it’s good if you have the coupon because you pay just a little over half of the regular price. The question that begs answering is, how often does Big Mac come up with coupons. (more…)
TORONTO – Mayroon malaking pagitan sa harap nang Roy Thomson Hall. Dati rati mayroon mahabang puting tolda kung saan nag titipon ang mga potograper nag una Han kumuha nang litrato nang maga sikat na artista nadumaraan sa pula karpet. Sa ngayon ang makikita mo ay maga tao na may hawak na tali nang aso na linalakad, at pinupulot ang poo poo sa David Pecaut Square. Tahimik ang lahat. (more…)
TORONTO – There is a gaping hole in front of Roy Thomson Hall. Where there was once a long white pitched-up tent where the media elbowed each other to get a word in edge-wise to famous celebrities as they graced the red carpet, there now stand dog walkers picking up poop in David Pecaut Square. It is quiet. No screaming fans, no flash photography. But all is not lost. (more…)
TORONTO – Kapag ang Isang karumaldumal na krimen ay naganap malapit sa tahanan, ito ay nag dadala nang malakas na dagot na parang Isang lindol sa buong kumunidad nang Filipino-Kanadian nang Toronto. Laluna sa malalapit na kaibigan at maga kamaganak at nang marinig nandito sa Kanada, kapag ang asawa ang biktima, ang kalahating may bahay ay unang suspetsa. Kasindak sindak ang pang yayari subalit, pakikiramay ay unang nanaig sa mga kababayan. Medyo nakahiga lang nang konti ang komunidad nang mahuli ang Isang suspek nagagalan Yostin Murillo na ang lahi ay isang Costa Rican. (more…)
TORONTO – When a grisly and gory crime hits close to home, it sends a shock wave to the whole Filipino-Canadian community of Toronto, especially to closer friends and relatives of the victim hearing for the first time that when a partner is murdered, the surviving partner is always the suspect. Tragic as it may be, the initial reaction is for everyone to send in their condolences. Only after Yostin Murillo, a main suspect of Costa Rican background, was arrested were friends and relatives of the couple able to breathe a sigh of relief. (more…)
TORONTO – Noon taon 2018, mga taga Ontario ay nag rehistro nang 835,175 na mayroon mahigit na isa ang pag aari nang tirahan ayon sa statistik Kanada. Noon Hulyo 2020, tayo ay katatapos palang nang unang dagsa nang Kobid. At ang CTV ay nag ulat na “Katteges ari arian pambenta ay nag taassan sa dahilan ang mga Kanadiano ay nag tratrabaho sa mga liblib na lugar.” (more…)
TORONTO – In 2018, 835,175 Ontarians were recorded as “multiple property owners” by Statistics Canada. In July 2020, we were just getting over the First Wave and CTV was reporting: “Cottage real estate market heats up with more Canadians working remotely”. In April 2021, the Globe & Mail reported that “in Toronto, as many as 1 in 5 homeowners own more than one property”. (more…)
TORONTO – Nung Mayo nitong taon na ito, maraming mga manok at mga isda ang nangamatay sa Dagupan, Philippines, dahil sa tinding init na umabot sa 52 Celsius. Nitong tag araw sa Canada, ang baryong Lytton sa BC, ay uminit nang matindi na umabot ng 49.4 Celsius, tapos nasunog ito sa sumunod na araw. Nung 2018, dalawang kamaganak ko ang bumiyahe sa San Francisco para makipagkita sa mga pinsan na dumadalaw galing sa Pilipinas. Nang pababa na ang eroplano nila, kitang kita nila ang mga sunog sa California. Paglabas nila sa hantungan, puro usok ang naamoy nila at nangailangan silang magsuot ng maskara. Nung huling araw nila sa SFO, yung mga cable cars na likas na San Franciscan ay hindi pinahintulutan na umandar dahil sa alikabok at mababang aninag sa dadaanan ng mga ito. (more…)
TORONTO – May 12th of this year saw chickens and fishes dying from the heat in Dagupan City, Philippines. The temperature that day registered at 52 Celsius. Early this summer, Lytton, BC, registered a record high of 49.4 C. The following day, wildfire devastated the village. In 2018, two relatives travelled to San Francisco early November to meet up with their cousins who were touring the US. While their plane descended for landing, they could see wildfires from the plane window. When they stepped out of the terminal, smoke was in the air. They had to wear masks. This, in SFO, in November. On their last full day in that city, the cable cars, which give SFO its character, stopped running for the day. The streets of San Francisco were covered in dust and visibility was so low, operating a cable car became risky, given that this is done manually. (more…)
Ito ang makikita sa Times Square ngayon: New York Now. Nung nakaraang taon, matumal ang ang mga taong nagtitipontipon sa Times Square dahil sa pandemya: New York A Year Ago. Pero ngayon, bumabalik na ang sigla sa lugar na ito. (more…)
This is the view of Times Square right now: New York Now. This is what it was over a year ago, at the height of lockdown: New York A Year Ago. While the number of people congregating in Times Square now is nothing compared to the sweltering crowds of Summer 2019, one thing is for certain – New York City is starting come back to life. (more…)
TORONTO – Sa kasalukuyan sa isang lugar, mayroon 18,000 sukat na talampakan na bodega, mayroon mga tapetang pang lamesa at 5,000 silya napupuno nang alikabok at naluluma. Kung mayroon kang isang okassion, kailagan mo nang sibleta, kutsara’t tinidor, lugar para sa mga tao para upuan. Mga maliit na bagay bagay na marahil di natin binibigyan nang pansin dati rati. Ito’y maga bagay na bumubuo sa isang okassion nang isang industria na malapit nang mag wakas dulot, nang Kobid-19. (more…)
TORONTO – Somewhere out there, in an 18,000 square foot warehouse, table cloths and 5,000 chairs are rotting away. When you have an event, you need napkins, cutlery, places for people to stand, places for people to sit. Things like these, which you may never have paid much attention to before, in their own small way, contribute to the fabric of the Events Industry – on the brink of extinction, thanks to COVID-19. (more…)
Bago mag pandemya, may nakausap akong kaibigan na nagtatrabaho sa Eaton Centre. Pagka ang shift niya ay bago magsara ang tindahan na pinapasukan niya, nakakatagpo siya paglabas niya sa mall ng mga tao kakaiba ang kilos, na alam niya na may ininom o ininiksiyon sa katawan. Sabi niya, hindi siya nagaalala sa mga taong nakatira sa kalye. Ang inaalala niya ay mga “druggies” dahil nangmomolestiya sa mga hindi kakilala at sa pamamaraang hindi kanaisnais. (more…)
Once, I had a short conversation with a friend who works retail at the Eaton Centre, downtown Toronto. He has varying work shifts. When assigned a closing shift, he observes a resurgence of nocturnal people, mostly behaving oddly, presumably due to drugs. (more…)
Noon Bieyernes 25 nang Hunio 2021 ang pagunahin balita na umuugong sa Google ay Kryptokuransy (1) Ethereum, Dogecoin, BNB, XRP, (2)- maga pagalan parang planeta, diretsong galing sa siansiya pangisip-na nag dudulot nang kaguluhan o pag kasindak. Sa lahat nang ito ay ang Bitcoin. Kunting pagka takataka? Ang 52-lingo taas nang Bitcoin dating $64,863. Noon 9:06 Bieryernes nang umaga nang 25 nang Junio 2021 ito ay bumagsak pag baba nang $33,100.54. Maga experto sa prohekto sinabi na ang bagay na ito ay lalong lalala. (more…)
On Friday, June 25, 2021, the number one news trending in Google was cryptocurrency. Ethereum, Dogecoin, BNB, XRP – sounding like names of planets, straight out of science fiction – were causing quite a stir, if not panic. At the centre of it all was Bitcoin. Bitcurious? The 52-week high of Bitcoin had been $64,863. At 9:06 am on Friday, June 25, 2021, it plummeted down to $33,100.54. Experts project that things are going get worse. (more…)
Nang bumisita ang aking ina sa Toronto nung dekadang setenta, ito ang binigay niyang impresyon sa siyudad: napakalamig at maraming puno. Datapwat pumanaw na siya, aking naaalala siya ngayong sumusulat ako tungkol sa mga punongkahoy. Ipinanganak at lumaki ako sa lungsod ng Manila na konti lang ang mga puno. meron meron naman isang matandang Acacia na malapit sa amin na ginagamit na tagpuan o palatandaan ng mga tao. (more…)
When my mother returned to Manila from her visit to Toronto in the early 70s, she was asked of her impressions about the city, to which she gave the following observations: it is too cold and the city is a forest. My mom is gone now yet I think of her as I write this piece. Like her, I’m an urbanite. Born and raised in Manila where trees were a rarity when I was living there, I can only remember one big tree near our place – an Acacia tree. It was so old that people used it as a landmark when giving directions. (more…)
Ang katapusan mundo ay parang nasa atin na nitong Marso 2020, nang ang maga iskuwelahan at maga tindahan ay sabaysabay nag sarado. Samantalang makikita ang mahabang pila ay makikita na palaki nang palaki sa harap nang tindahan kanabis Armsterdam. Sa Toronto noon unang dagsa, sa pakiramdam mo ang grosaring tindahan lang ang nakabukas. Iyon at ang tindahan lang nang kanabis. Parang ang kanabis ay lumalabas ito’y nasa listahan nang importanteng pagagailagan. Sa pag bisita harap harapan sa iyong pamily doktor ay hindi nasama sa listahan. (more…)
“The End of the World” was upon us in March 2020 and as schools and shops were shuttering up, long lineups built up in front of cannabis cafes in Amsterdam . In Toronto during that First Wave, it felt like the only place open was the grocery store. That, and the cannabis shops . Somehow, cannabis made it to the list of essentials . In-person visits to your family doctor, did not . (more…)
The name Amazon is an afterthought. “Cadabra” was Jeff Bezos’ first choice but his lawyer pointed out that the word is ambiguous, it being associated with what is uttered when performing magic, ie, abracadabra. The replacement is a better choice: Amazon, for the largest river. (more…)
Ang unang ipinangalan dito ay Cadabra pero nung pinuna ito ng abogado ni Jeff Bezos na hindi karapat dapat dahil ang pangalan ay may kinalaman sa mahika, binago ito at ipinalit ang pangalan na Amazon, naturingang pinakamalaking ilog sa mundo. (more…)
Ang National Health Service (NHS) nang UK pinagmamalaki na iniulat na walang isang buwan mula noon 17 nang Mayo hanggang 14 nang Hunio 2021, 5 milyon na tao ang bumisita sa NHS ups.
Sa isang maliit na panahon, Ang NHS ay nag kamit nang 2.7 na bagong gumagamit. 51,000 ang rekord, 614,000 prikripsion, 50,000 doktor apointments. (more…)
The National Health Service (NHS) of the UK proudly reported that in less than a month, from May 17 to June 14, 2021, 5 million people logged into the NHS app.
In such a small amount of time, the NHS app has gained 2.7 million new users. 51,000 records, 614,000 prescriptions, 50,000 doctor appointments. Sounds like a success. (more…)
Meron 17 na tindahan ang nagsara sa Bloor, 8 nito ay may karatulang “Prime Retail for Lease” sa mga dingding nito. Ang nabanggit na kalye ay lugar na mamahalin na tindahan katulad ng Louis Vuitton at Hermes. Mula nang tumungtong ako sa bayan na ito nung 1974, hindi ko pa maalala kung kailangan ganito karami ang nagsarang tindahan ng mga damit. Pero nalulungkot ako sa pagkawala ng Gap sa kanto ng Bay at Bloor kasi doon ako namimili ng mga bagong polo shirt ko at mga pan-regalo ko pag pasko. (more…)
On a stretch of 1.9 kms, sandwiched between Yonge Street and the Royal Ontario Museum, lies the posh district of Bloor Street where the rich buy their Louis Vuittons and Hermes. These days of the pandemic, 17 stores or boutiques are closed, 8 of which have the sign “prime retail for lease” stuck to their windows. Never in my Canadian life, since I first set foot here in 1974, has there been that many vacancies, until now. While I can’t remember which boutiques ceased operating in Bloor, one store stood out for me — the Gap which is not even high-end but had 3 levels of shopping space which I would visit when I needed new shirts or items for Christmas gifts. (more…)
Isipin mo kung maaksidente ka sa kotse at dinala ka sa Imergensy Dipartment-at ikaw ay tinaboy dahil di nila alam kung ano ang gagawin sa iyo. Hindi nila makita ang medikal rekord mo. Hindi nila alam ang personal historia mo, at kung anong gamot ang iyon iniinom. MRI iskan, CT iskan, X- rey iskan ay barado. Lahat ito ay hawak hustage nang Ransonware. (more…)
Imagine getting into a car accident and being rushed to the Emergency Department – only to be turned away because they do not know what to do with you. They cannot access your medical records. They do not know your personal history, nor what meds you are on. MRI scans, CT scans, X-ray scans – all blocked. All held hostage by Ransomware. (more…)
Parang hindi pa sapat ang ating maga problema na dinaranas tumitigin sa atin balikat sa Kobid 19, ngayon kailagan pang tumigin sa langit sa pag bagsak nang racket . Manok na Maliit pagarap na “Ang Lagit ay Babagsak” ay hindi nakakatawa. Ang 100 talampakan haba nang instil na raket sinabi na walang paganib na Ito ay masusunod sa pag pasok nito sa atmuspir ipagpatawad mo ang akin pag tanong: Sino ang may risponsibilidad kung ang isang bagay ay magkaluko lumabas sa ispase? Mas nakakakilabot na tanong, ano ang mangyayari sa kataohan kung tayo ay mawalan nang importanteng satilite? (more…)
As if we did not have enough on our plates looking over our shoulder for COVID-19, we now had to look up to the sky for a falling rocket. Chicken Little’s pleas of “The Sky is Falling!” – not so funny. The 100 foot Chinese rocket, claimed to pose no risk as it most likely would burn up in our atmosphere upon re-entry, begs to ask the question: Who is responsible for things that go awry in Space? More chilling, what would happen to humankind if we were to lose a vital satellite? (more…)
May isang emplado tawagin natin sa pagalan na Susie, pumasok para maga trabaho nakita na walang wifi. Tumawag siya sa kompania nang tulong pero walang sumasagot.
Sa madali niyang pag iisip nakakuha siya nang kanilang email sa selular na telepano. Pero kunti lang ang magagawa nang selular telepano para paandarin ang isa opisina sa buong araw pang samantala.
An employee, let’s call her “Suzie”, showed up for work only to find that the Wifi was out. She phoned Tech support, but no one was in.
Thinking quick on her toes, she managed to get some emails across by turning on “Cellular Data” in her cell phone. But there is only so much you can do to keep the company afloat for a regular work day by buying time on one’s cell phone. (more…)
Meron akong matagal nang kaibigan na naging empleyado ng isang kompanyang panghimpapawid. Retirado na siya. Pagkatapos ng 46 anos na pagsisilbi, hindi na niya kailangan bumagon nang maaga para lumipad, kumain ng agahan sa gabi, matulog hindi sa gabi kundi sa araw dahil sa iba’t ibang oras sa mga pinupuntahan niya. At nakakasiguro ako na nagpapasalamat siya na tinganggap niya ang gintong relo na ibinigay sa kaniya ng kompanya ngayong may kaguluhan na nangyayari sa himpapawid. (more…)
I am old friends with a recently retired airline crew member of a flag carrier of an Asian country. He does not regret his decision to stay on the ground after 46 years of flying. For once, he does not have to deal with wakefulness at night, inability to sleep long hours during the day, eating breakfast at dinner time, and leaving for early morning flights because of various time zones. With the recent goings in air travel, I’m sure he is just thankful he accepted that prized gold watch given to retiring airline crew. (more…)
Maraming ginagawang trabaho sa kampus nang Unibersidad nang Toronto, St George downtown, kampus. Mayroon bakod ang King’s College Circle; kahoy na bakuran proteksion para sa makahulugan puno. Parang ang mundo ay binaligtad. Alam ko na para ako nakakita nang balon. Binubunkal ang lupa nilayuan nang buto para tumubo iisang bagay na maganda. A kondo siguro? Kung ang maga bata ay nasa bahay, bakit nila inaapura bigyan itong kampus na ito nang makabagong mukha. (more…)
There is a lot of construction going on at the University of Toronto St. George downtown campus. There are fences around King’s College Circle; wooden boards protecting historic trees. The earth is upturned; I could have sworn I saw a plough. They are sowing the seeds for something better to come. A condo, perhaps? If the kids are all at home, then why are they rushing to give this campus a makeover? (more…)
Paano mo babakunahanan and 7.7 bilyones na katao sa mundong ito. Napakahirap pero posible. Nitong nakaraang lingo, ang mga namumuno ng G-7 na bayan ay nagpulong ng tatlong araw sa Cornwall, UK, para tapusin ang pandemya. WHO direktor heneral Tedros ay nagsabi na kailangan mabakunahan ang 70% na katao sa mundo para matapos ang pandemya. (more…)
How do you proceed to vaccinate 7.7 billion people. With extreme difficulty. This past week, the leaders of the G-7 nations met for a 3-day summit in Cornwall, UK, to tackle first and foremost the world health crisis and bring to an end the pandemic. (more…)
Noon 10 nang Hunio 2021, BBC ay nag ulat na may bagong na diskubre na maka pagpababa sa Dengue impeksion nang 77%. Ang “World Mosquito Programme” sumubok nang experimento kung saan ang lamok na impeksion sa Wolbachia bakteria na kinalabasan nang Dengue birus (DENV). Itong Wolbachia-lace lamok at ang kanilang itlog ay pinakawalan muli sa Yogyakarta siyudad nang Indonesia. Ang “World Mosquito Program” pinagmamalaki inulat na ang pag subok ay nag resulta nang 86% pag bawas nang maga Dengue nauuspital. At sa mundong na mayroon pang kalusugan pag aalaga ang sistema ay wala nang biglang pag bagsak nang sa KOBID-19 pandemia pina baba ang kabuoan pag hihirap sa hospital gumagawa nang malaking kaibahan. (more…)
On June 10, 2021, BBC reported that a new discovery reduces the rate of Dengue infections by 77%. The World Mosquito Programme performed an experiment whereby mosquitoes were infected with the Wolbachia bacteria that outcompeted the Dengue virus (DENV). These Wolbachia-laced mosquitoes and their eggs were re-released into Yogyakarta city in Indonesia. The World Mosquito Program proudly reported that this trial results in an 86% reduction in Dengue hospitalizations. And in a world that has health care systems non the verge of collapse from the COVID-19 pandemic, reducing the overall burden on hospitals makes a big difference. (more…)
Delano Europa ay nakapagtapos nang bilang isang mang ba batas na digree sa San Beda College sa Pilipinas noon 1970. Bago siya magimigrate sa Kanada Delano Europa ay mambabatas nang 13 taon sa Pilipinas. Siya ang munisipio korte husgado. Siya ay kinilalang at binigyan nang plaqueng karagalan bilang isa sa sampung pinakamabilis na mag litis sa buong Pilipinas. Siya ay isang batas na guro nang 17 taon sa St. MaryUnibersidad sa probinsia nang Nueva Viscaya. (more…)
Delano Europa is a graduate of Bachelor of Law degree at San Beda college Philippines in 1970. Before immigrating to Canada Delano Europa is a law practitioner for 13 years in the Philippines. He is a municipal trial Court Judge. He was recognized and awarded a plaque as one of the top ten fastest deciding judge in the Philippines. He is also a law instructor for 17 years at St. Mary’s University in the province of Nueva Vizcaya. (more…)
Noon ika 8 Hunio 2021, ang enternet ay bumagsak. CNN, ang New York Times, ang UK gobbiyerno, Amazon, PayPal, ang Financial Times, Bloomberg News, Reddit, Spotify, Twitch, Verge, kasama ang libo libong iba ibang gobbiyerno, balita, at sosial midya web cites- lahat ay nahulog sa grrd. Ang kanluran hemisphire ay kasalukuyan nasa panaginib lupa at halos lahat tayo ay hindi pa nakakapag umagang kape. Lahat ay nangyari halos bago mag ala 6 nang umaga “EDT.” (more…)
On June 8, 2021, the internet broke down. CNN, The New York Times, the UK Government, Amazon, Paypal, the Financial Times, Bloomberg News, Reddit, Spotify, Twitch, Verge, along with thousands of other government, news and social media web sites – all fell off the grid. The western hemisphere was still in dreamland; most of us had not even had our morning coffee yet. It happened just before 6 am EDT. (more…)
If you find yourself in the downtown core of Toronto and you’re in Church Street, you’ll notice the words Church-Wellesley Village over a background of the rainbow colour (in the pic), a signature of LGBTQ2+, below the street name. This is the gay district of Toronto. (more…)
Pag ikaw napadapo sa Church Street ng Toronto, mapupuna mo ang sulatan na Church-Wellesley Village na nasa ibabaw ng pangalan ng kalye na may kulay na bahaghari ng LGBTQ2+. (more…)
Noon isang taon mayroon isang dating cenator at TB komentator na tinanggal nang CNN dahil sa kanyang sinabi “Tayo’y bumuhay nang bayan parang wala…mayroon tayong maga katutubong Amerikano pero…wala masyadong katutubong Amerikano sa Amerikano kultura sa grupo nang maga batang konsebativo nag pulong noon Abril para makinig sa kanyang pananalita tungkol sa maga rehiligion kahalagahan nang Uropian maninirahan sa US. (more…)
Last month, a former US senator and tv commentator, was dismissed by CNN when he said “We birthed a nation from nothing … we have native Americans but … there isn’t much Native American in American culture” to a group of young conservatives gathered in April to hear him speak about the religious values of European settlers in the US.
(more…)
May isang hayup na inaasahan patay na dahil sa matinding lamig nitong nakaraan na panahon ay natagpuan buhay na buhay pa. Dahil sa dating nang bumubulusok na Kobid 19 pandemia, karahasan nang tag lamig na panahon, pag kukulang nang pag kain, at maga kalaban hayup, ang kanta ni Elton John na “I am still Standing” ay nag balik sa akin kaisipan. Ito’y naging magandang pakiramdam na kuwento na maari natin magamit nitong maga panahon na Ito. (more…)
An animal, which should have died over the winter because the odds were against it, was found to be still alive. In defiance of a raging COVID-19 pandemic, an unrelenting winter, food shortage and predators, the Elton John song “I’m Still Standing” comes to mind. This is a feel-good story; we could use more of those these days. (more…)
Noong dikadang 52 BC ang Romanong Emperador na si Julius Ceasar pinutol ang pag agos nang pag kain sa Gauls na barbaro pinamumunuan ni Vercingetorix. Sa pag kontrol sa pagkain siya ay na pahina ang kalaban at na sukol niya ang maga Ito (https://www.britannica.com/
In 52 BC, the Roman Emperor Julius Caesar cut off the food supply of the Gauls led by the “barbarian” Vercingetorix. By controlling the food supply, he was able to weaken and conquer them (https://www.britannica.com/
Ako any hindi indiginous Kanadian na nag imigrate sa bayan ito na galing sa Asia. Nang nabasa ko na may nakitang na nakabaon 215 katawan nang maga bata na ang pinaka bata ay tatlong gulang lang sa dating bahay paaralan sa Kamloops, BC ako’y namuhi. (more…)
I am a non-indigenous Canadian who immigrated to this country from Southeast Asia. When I read about the remains of 215 children, one of whom as young as three years of age, being found at a former residential school in Kamloops, BC, I was appalled. (more…)
Noong Marso 2020, “Penelope” ay nag karoon nang tagyawat matapos mag trabaho sa gim. At noon lumabas ang pandemia. At sa mahigit na isang taon katulad lahat nang iba siya ay nakaranas nang “maskne” (https://hypebae.com/2021/5/maskne-acne-face-mask-causes-treatments-how-to-prevent-dermatologist-tips-products) – tagyawat lumaganap dahil sa pag susuot nang maskara nang oras hangang matapos. Penelope’s tagyawat ay hindi umalis o kumalat. Matapos ang isang taon na pamumuhay na bahagi noong tambok sa kanyang mukha, Penelope alam niya na mayroon mali. (more…)
In March 2020, “Penelope” developed a pimple after working out at the gym. Then the pandemic hit. And for over a year like countless others, she would experience “Maskne” (https://hypebae.com/2021/5/maskne-acne-face-mask-causes-treatments-how-to-prevent-dermatologist-tips-products) – acne breakouts from having to wear a face mask for hours on end. Penelope’s pimple never went away, nor did it ever evolve. But after a year of living with that bump on her face, Penelope knew there was something wrong. (more…)
Noon isang araw nakarinig ako nang kuwento na hindi maganda. May isang lolo na binisita ang kanyang apo na 18 buwan lang ang idad. Nakatayo siya sa may pintuan at parati siyang naka maskara. Sa sandaling ibinaba niya ang maskara niya sa baba para uminom nang tubig, ang 18 buwan gulang ay umiyak sa takot. Iyon ang unang kita noon baybi sa kanyang lolo na walang maskara. Noong nakaraan na taon, iyon baybi ay nasanay na makakita nang tao na palaging may maskara. (more…)
The other day, I heard a troubling story. A grandfather went to visit his 18-month-old grandchild. He stood by the door and wore his mask all throughout. The minute he brought his mask down to his chin to drink from a glass of water, the 18-month-old cried out in terror. It was the first time he had seen his grandfather without a mask. In the past year, the baby had been accustomed to seeing people only with masks on. (more…)
Ang manunulat na si Sara Gruen nang “Water Elephant” sinulat “na ang pag dadala nang iyong pan labas na panigin na mayroon ka pang sinasabi ay mahirap pero mahalaga.” Sino ba ang gumawa sasalitang “Ang pagtanda ay regalo” ay maaring mayroon pang ilalabas sa pananalita subalit matanda bata o may edad ay sa sangayon sa akin kapatid sinabi ko na maari mayroon ka pang ilalabas na itinatago pero kadalasan itong katagian ito ay isang monumentong trabaho para sa isang tao. (more…)
Filipino elderly celebrating her 80th birthday in the Philippines.
The author Sara Gruen in “Water for Elephants” wrote, “Keeping up the appearance of having your marbles is hard work, but important”.
Whoever coined the phrase “Aging is a gift” may still have all his marbles, so to speak, but any elderly, junior or senior, will agree with me when I say that keeping up appearances to possess these marbles is oftentimes a monumental task for the person.
Nagugulhan ako. Sa mundon nag kakaipit ipit sa mRNA, sali protin, maga agos nang pagsubok at pag iintay nang pagalawang tusok nang bakuna (hindi malaman kung maroon pa) marami pang pinapang kaguluhan. (more…)
I’m confused. In a world wrangling with mRNA, spike proteins, lateral flow tests and timing for the second dose (if there will ever be one), there is a lot to be confused about. But what I really really wanna know right now is: what is that brown thing climbing up the tree outside my window?! (more…)
Himpapawid na pag lipad para gumamit ay malaking pag babago mula noong 9/11. Maga papaalisin na pasahero ay kaylagan dumating sa airport dalawa o tatlong oras bago dumating ang oras nang pag lipad nang kanilang eroplano at dadaan nang tatlong sikkurity tanggal ang sapatos, dadaan sa makina para sa katawan na iskreen, bagahe na pag iskan, pag tatalo get nang imigrasion opisyal bago makapunta sa naka asaia na pintuan na kadalasan ay nasakabila nang parte nang paliparan. Kabang kasalukuyan nasa himpapawid ang huling marinig nang pasahero ay mayroon na posibleng bomba ang eroplano. Ito ang nangyari sa Ryanair noon 23 nang Mayo 2021. (more…)
Air travel since 9/11 has changed. Departing passengers arrive at the airport 2 to 3 hours before their flights, go through an average of 3 security checks, remove their footwear, go through body scans, luggage scans, interviews by the immigration officials, before proceeding to their assigned gates which can be located at the opposite side of the airport. During inflight, the last thing a traveller needs to know is that the plane has a possible bomb in it. This was what happened to Ryanair on May 23rd, 2021. (more…)
Who could forget the Northeast Blackout of 2003? Eighteen years ago, on August 14th,
50 million people in Canada and the USA lost power.
In Toronto, I remember hearing stories of students having to walk from their summer jobs down at Queens Quay to Yonge and Finch, 4 hours to get home, uphill. Along the way, variety store owners were offloading buckets of ice cream to these kids for their freezers had broken down.
Sino ang makakalimot sa blakout noon 2003. 18 taon nang lumipas noong 14 nang Agosto, 50 milyones na tao nang Kanada at Amerika ay nawalan nang koryente. Sa Toronto natatandaan ko ang maga kuwento nang maga istudiante na maga nag lakad mula sa tag init na trabaho nila sa baba nang Queens Quay Yonge hangang Finch apat na oras nag lakad papauwi pataas. Sa kanilang dinadaan ay mayroon na barieti na tindahan na pinamimigay ang ginds nilang sorbetes na natutunaw na dahil ang maga preserve nila ay tumigil na. (more…)
Global population needs to get vaccinated to end this pandemic. If we want to regain that spontaneity in our lives, something we treasured and lost on March 12, 2020, we need to be on the same page with this. (more…)
Ang buong mundo ay dapat mabakunahan para matapos itong pandemia. Kung gusto natin mabilis ang datin pamumuhay natin na pinahahalagahan natin at nawala noong 12 Marso 2020, kaylagan tayo nasa pareparehong pahina. (more…)
Itong artikulong ito ay tungkol sa numero, ganyan talaga ang sensus – numero. Ang pinaka mahalaga ay ang pag uusap sa numero na buhay nang tao ang naapektohan. Handa ka hawakan ang katawan mo dahil ang artikulong ito ay puro numero. (more…)
This article discusses numbers for this is what census is all about – numbers. More importantly, it discusses how these numbers affect people’s lives. So, brace yourself for this number-filled article.
It’s census time in Canada. We are reminded of this daily through ads on tv and on social media like Facebook. I filled up mine online and sent it on the same day that I received the questionnaire. Unlike the 2016 census wherein religion was not asked, this year’s questionnaire saw the re-appearance of this issue. (more…)
I’ve been eating adobo ever since I can remember. My adobo is the chicken and pork preparation, cooked exactly as it appears in the photo accompanying this article. It is the national dish of the country I come from and a derivation of the Spanish word adobar, which means to marinate raw food in a stock of vinegar and herbs. This is one legacy of Spain to the Philippines after three and a quarter centuries of colonization. Spanish presence is evident in my old country, not just in foods but also in Filipinos’ names, like mine. (more…)
Kumakain ako nang adobo simulat mula pa na akin natatandaan. Ang adobo ko ay manok at baboy na pag luluto ay katulad na tulad nitong nasa larawan kasama nitong artikulong. Ito ay ang pambansang pagkain nang bayan na pinanggaligan sa Kastilya salita na “adobar” na ibig sabihin ay ang preskong pagkain ay binabad sa suka at iba ibang mga ispises. Ito’y isang makasaysayan pamana nang Espania sa Pilipinas sa mahigit na tatlong daan taon at bente singko pag papatakbo nang bansa. (more…)
Nakapanood ka na ba nang sine na naapektohan ang buhay mo na umabot na kailagan
Ibahin mo ang kilos mo o mag ingat na para sa sarili? Oo, mayroon ang “Jaws” ay binibigyan ako nang mag isip dalawang beses bago ako lumagoy sa malalim nang dagat. “Exorcist” na gawa kong mapag isipan ang maga masasamang bagay na nakikita ko ay kadimonyohan. Hindi nasa ko dapat banggitin pero itong pelikulang Ito ay napanood ko noong ang edad ko ay maga bente annos palang ako at na bisita ko uli ang Jaws pero hindi ang Exorcist ay nilayuan ko na. (more…)
Have you ever watched a movie that affected your life to a point as to alter some of your movements in a cautionary way? I have. “Jaws” made me think twice before heading to the deep part of the ocean. “Exorcist” made me imagine the bad behaviour I witness out there to be demonic. Needless to say, I watched these movies when I was in my early twenties and, though I’ve revisited “Jaws” once, I admit having stayed away from “Exorcist” altogether. (more…)
Tayo ay pumipila para sa palengke.
Tayo ay kailagan pumila para sa bakuna.
Ang Kanada ay kailagan din pumila para gasolina? Ang atin kaibigan sa atin kanluran ay kailagan pumila hangang limang oras para maka bili Lang nang gasolina. Itoy parang katulad noong ang Arabo ay nag lagay nang pag papaliit nang pag benta nang gasolina noong panahon noon 1973 na siya ang naging dahilan sa mahahambing pila sa maga gasolinahan. Para sa iba ibig sabihin nito ay 125 na sasakyan bawa’t isang oras bago makapag lagay nang gasolina sa kanilang sasakyan. (more…)
We have had to line up for grocery stores. https://twitter.com/Faiza_AminTV/status/1248328135780769798
We have had to line up for vaccines. https://twitter.com/blogTO/status/1387808919561588747
Will Canada have to line up for fuel too?
Our friends south of the border waited a staggering 5 hours to fill up their tanks. Some even reminisced about the Arab oil embargo of 1973 and how that caused long lineups at the gas pump. While others estimated that the current panic buying was resulting in an average of 125 cars per hour trying to get their fill. (more…)
Ang kulay ko ay nalalagas. Huwag kang mag alala hindi ito Kobid. Hindi naman ako nasa kimo. May maliit na bukol sa mutha ko. Parang tagyawat. Maaring pumasa ito bilang isang tagyawat. Alam ko hindi tagyawat ito dahil mahigit nang isang taon na nandito ito. Kung ako’y mamatay sa pandemia wala akong kilay at puno nang tagyawat ang mukha. Hinahanap morning iyon dati kong mukha na puno nang kilay at walang tagyawat. Pero ganyan talaga ang buhay hindi mo maari ang lahat. (more…)
My eyebrows are falling out. Don’t worry, it’s not COVID. I’m not on chemo. There is a tiny lump on my face. It looks like a pimple. It could pass for a pimple. I know it’s not a pimple because it has been there for a year now. If I die in this pandemic, I’m going to be eyebrow-less, pimple-faced. I miss the old me, the one that was eyebrow-full, pimple-less. But in this life, you can’t have it all. (more…)
Sa isang kilalang at ginagalang na Unibersidad sa masikip na siyudad mayroon maliit na lugar na kulay berdeng damo. Ang maga tao ay dinadaan nang paikop Ito, hinahakbagan, o linalampasan. Kahit Ito’y bakuran para makontrol ang mga nag daraan na tao iniikutan, hinahakbagan, o linalampasan pa rin. (more…)
In a reputable university, in an overcrowded city, there is a small patch of green. People walk around it, over it, through it. Even when it got barricaded for crowd control, people still found a way to walk around it, over it, through it. For the record, it is a soccer field. Okay, okay, field hockey/lacrosse too. (more…)
Nitong nakalipas nalabing tatlong buwan minarkahan nang di pang karaniwan paraan upang makipag usap sa zoom. Ang mga tao nag tratrabaho sa bahay sa pamamagitan nito na kahit anong bagay ay na pag uusap kung ano ang na ka taas sa kanila. Ang mag aanak,mag kakaibigan pinasukan na rin Ang ganitong paraan para makipag usap sa isat isa. Sa walang katapusan sarado at utos na mamalagi nang bahay, itong pandemia ay binansagan na malungkot. (more…)
These past thirteen months have been marked by an unusual way of communicating – Zoom. People have been working from home and resorting to this platform to discuss the status of whatever has been assigned to them. And, families and friends have been accessing the online chat feature of the app to connect with each other. With the never-ending lockdowns or stay-at-home orders, one thing defines this pandemic: loneliness. (more…)
Maakit ka ba nang Kobid 19 bakuna kung hindi ka kumbinsido sa bisa nito, o masamang epekto na binabalita nang midya, o politika panigin kaugnay sa kanila? (more…)
Would you be enticed to get vaccinated if you’re uncertain of the COVID 19 vaccines, perhaps because of their efficacies, side effects reported by the media, or political views related to them? (more…)
Malayang araw pang ulat sa mundo ay ipinahayag nang UN General Assenby noon Disiyembre 1993 ay ipinagdiwang 3 nang Mayo nitong taon na Ito. Pinagalanan ang araw sa pagalawa nang istoria. Ito’y “tinawag sa pag tanggap nang kahalagahan at kahulugan na ang impormasion ay para sa kabutihan nang publiko, at pinag aaralan kung papano Ito mapapaunlad para sa paggawa sa pag kalat at pag tanggap nang laman sa kabutihan nang joarnalist at paunlarin malinaw pagiging matatag na walang iniiwan kahit sino paman.” Washington Post nag pugay sa araw palatandaan para kay Austin Tice sa isang buong pahina pa alala. (more…)
World Press Freedom Day, proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in December 1993, was observed on May 3rd this year. This year’s theme is the title of this piece. It serves as “a call to affirm the importance of cherishing information as a public good, and exploring what can be done in the production, distribution and reception of content to strengthen journalism, and to advance transparency and empowerment while leaving no one behind”. The Washington Post marked the day with Austin Tice in its full-page ad. (more…)
Sa Pilipinas dalawa klase lang ang panahon; tayo at basa. Ang panahon nang tayo ay nag uumpisa sa Oktubre hangang sa ikatlong lingo nang Mayo samantala ang basa panahon ay nag uumpisa sa ikatlong lingo nang Mayo umuurong hangang sa maaga nang Oktubre. (more…)
There are just two seasons in the Philippines: the dry and the wet. Dry starts in October and ends in the third week of May, while the wet starts on the last week of May and moves on to the early part of October. (more…)
John Smith ay hindi mabuti ang pakiramdam. Nagising siya ngayon umaga masakit ang ulo. Pakiramdam niya pagud na pagud. Masakit ang likod at buong katawan. (more…)
John Smith isn’t feeling too well. He woke up this morning with a headache. He feels tired. (more…)
Nitong maga nakaraan araw naka basa ako nang dalawang artikulo tungkol sa Kanada rasion nang bakuna. (more…)
In the past few days, I’ve read two articles referring to Canada’s vaccine supply. (more…)
Napag-alaman ko na ang aking sarili ay apektado ng maraming nakakabagabag na balita at mga pag-post na sumabog sa aking pahina ng sosyal medya. (more…)
I find myself being affected by so many disheartening news and postings that bombard my social media page. (more…)
Back in February 2020, shopping habits radically shifted from clothes and furnishings to toilet paper, paper towels, disinfectants, baby wipes, hand sanitizers and canned goods. A month later, the pandemic would be official. (more…)
Noon Pebrero 2020 Ang pamimili ay biglang nag bago ang takbo na dati rati ang damit at kasangkapan pang bahay naging, toylet papel, papel tuwalya, pang linis na tubig, babee na pang punas, kamay pang linis at pag kain nasa lata nang maging oppissial na may pandemia. (more…)
Naka tira ako sa Toronto at masasabi ko na siyudad ay mabuti para sa mga tao na may problema sa pag ihi. Mulls katulad nang Eaton sentro ay may toylet bawat palapag at dalawa sa kainan para sa publiko. (more…)
Above is a creation of Jan Buchczik from NYT opinion columnist Nicholas Kristoff’s “America is Not Made for People Who Pee
I live in Toronto and I must say, this city is bladder-friendly. Malls like the Eaton Centre have washrooms in every level, even two at the food court level, to accommodate the public. (more…)
A year ago, I was sweating, literally and figuratively, to get back to Toronto from Manila. (more…)
Noon isang tao pawis na pawis ako sa katawan at pag iisip sa totoo lang para makabalik sa Toronto galing Maynila. (more…)
Free food? Why not. Especially at a time of pandemic where everything that can help is welcome. (more…)
Libreng pagkain? Bakit nga ba hindi. Laluna sa oras nang pandemia na kahit ano basta makakatulong ay tinatanggap. (more…)
Garry Tanuan Trustee TCDSB, Eminence Cardinal Thomas Collins, Orontes V. Castro Philippine Consul General Toronto, Rev. Mark Kolosowski Pontifical Master of Ceremonies, office of the Cardinal.
Papano mong Ipagdiriwang ang limang daan taon istoria na nakaraan sa tatlong kontenent sa panahon nang pandemia? (more…)
Pope Paul Francis and Cardinal Tagle of the Philippines during Special Papal Mass in the Vatican Rome, March 14, 2021. Celebrating the 500th Anniversary of Christianity in the Philippines.
How does one celebrate 500 years milestone history in three continents, with a pandemic? (more…)
Noong naipit ang isang malaking higanteng barko sa Suez Canal, tinignan ko lahat nang aking gamit at kung saan gawa. (more…)
When the super large container ship which some describe as a behemoth got stuck in the Suez Canal, I took a close look at everything I owned and where they were made. (more…)
Noon huling panahon na nag nagkaroon nang magandang pagkakataon sa Oskar ang Asyanon pelikula ay Couching Tiger, Hidden Dragon na nakakuha nang sa lung pag kakataon manalo. (more…)
The last time an asian film made waves was Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, which nabbed 10 Oscar nominations. (more…)
The end justifies the means. Let us delve into what this adage means. (more…)
What vaccine would you choose to combat the virus? If given the option, I bet you’d go for Pfizer. Or Moderna. (more…)
Ang katapusan ay binibigyang-katwiran ang mga paraan. Suriin natin kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng kasabihang ito. (more…)
Anong bakuna ang pipilin mo para sa panlaban sa birus? Siguradong kung bigyan ka nang pag kakataon pumili Pfizer o Moderna ang pipilin mo. (more…)
What you see is what you get. Do you have that certain friend who takes pride in being transparent? (more…)
Pag napagkausapan ang tungkol sa homosexuality, ang parati kong sagot ay hindi ako homopobia, marami akong pamangkin lalaki at babae na naging bakla. (more…)
In 8 minutes, the City of Toronto is going to shut down our water. (more…)
When first asked about homosexuality, my first response without hesitation is I am not homophobic. (more…)
Sa walong minuto ang siyudad nang Toronto ay isasara ang tubo nang pinangagaligan nang tubig. (more…)
Is respect earned or given? Many believe one has to earn respect. (more…)
Kailangan bang maging karapatdapat tayo bago tayo irespeto? O, ibinibigay ang respeto sa lahat (more…)
Itong kobid 19 na ito ay parang isang pag gising sa ating lahat. (more…)
The CovId 19 virus has been a wake-up call for all of us. A mask has been a necessary accessory in our wardrobe and a pocket-size hand sanitizer too. For me, an added face shield completes my attire. (more…)
With the three political party scampering for conventions one after the other. (more…)
May kasabihan, kung nagkakasala ang iyong kapatid, pumunta at ituro ang kanilang kasalanan, sa pagitan ninyong dalawa. (more…)
There is a saying if your brother or sister makes a mistake go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. (more…)
Election in the Air/Party Conventions
I have been attending political party conventions for four decades now mostly as a member of the media. (more…)
Noon 1996 isang sikat na artista ay tinawag an nang pansin sa midya sa kanyang negosyo na nag kakahalaga nang $300 milliones pag gawa nang mga damit na May kinalaman ang mga sari sari kongpania sa Amerika. (more…)
In 1996, a famous American television celebrity’s attention was called out by the media regarding her US$300 million line of clothing carried by a multinational retail corporation based in the US. (more…)
Wala namang nakakakita at nakaka-alam. Ligtas na tayo gumawa ng hindi katanggap-tanggap. (more…)
No one is looking. It is safe to do the unacceptable. No one will know. (more…)
Si Garry Tanuan ay pinaganak sa siyudad nang Dumagete Negrose Oriental sa Pilipinas. (more…)
Garry Tanuan was born in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental Philippines. He was educated by Holy Cross Fathers at an early age and graduated from Silliman University with a “cum laude” degree in Electrical Engineering. (more…)
Cannot make up your mind? There can be so many unknowns. Worrying about the downside? Are we playing it safe, or taking chances? On the Covid-19 vaccination, what is in it? Is it safe? What about side effects? (more…)
Hindi ka makapag diside sa isip mo? Maraming bagay na hindi masyado malinaw? Iniisip natin kung ano ang maaring ika bagsak nito. Linalaro ba natin nang mabuti para lidtas o nag babakasali tayo? Sa kobid 19, iniksion, ano nga ba Ito? Mabuti o magaling ba Ito para sa akin? (more…)
Greater than 14 purchases per week. Spending a long time searching and acquiring said purchases. Unsuccessful attempts at decreasing purchases. Interpersonal problems due to purchases. Craving Amazon can be compared to addiction, nowadays. Using Amazon in hazardous situations. High tolerance to Amazon. Withdrawal symptoms. I have to come clean here. I think I have a problem. (more…)
Pamimili nang mahigit na 14 bagay sa isang Lingo. Pag tatagal, pag hahanap nang mabibili sa net. (more…)
Matuturing na ako ay baylingual. Nag sa salita, nag susulat at nakakaintindi ako nang Engless at Pilipino. Pilipino ay tinutulad sa Tagalog. (more…)
I’m an Asian. Not the typical-looking Asian. I’m more Hispanic-looking, with medium brown eyes and a fair complexion, something I acquired from my Spanish fraternal ancestors. (more…)
I am bilingual. I speak, write and comprehend English and Pilipino languages. (more…)
I am Asia-Kanedian. Hindi tulad nang karamihang na nakikita at nalaman mo agag na sila ay galing sa Asia. (more…)
Ang pag uugnayan ay mas mahalaga sa akin imbes na manalo ka sa isang pakikipagtalo. (more…)
A relationship is more important than winning an argument. It is more important than proving you are right, more important than getting your way and more important than getting your point across and accepted. Voice out your view but do not force it. (more…)
Before I encountered the word “multitask” I must admit that I had been practicing and applying it in my life long before the word evolved. (more…)
Bago ko pa marinig ang salitang iba ibang gawain matagal ko nang nakasanay ang ganitong ugali sa buhay ko bago umiikot at lumabas itong salitang ito. (more…)
Maraming naniniwala na ang pagbibigay ay mas mahusay kaysa sa pagtanggap. (more…)
“The lesser of two evils principle (or lesser evil principle and lesser-evilism) is the principle that when faced with selecting from two immoral options, the one which is least immoral should be chosen.” (Wikipedia) (more…)
“Ang mas maliit sa dalawang masasamang alituntunin (o mas mababang prinsipyo ng masasamang mas mababa at masasamang kasamaan) ay ang alituntunin na kapag nahaharap sa pagpili mula sa dalawang masama na pagpipilian, ang isa na hindi gaanong masama ay dapat mapili.” (Wikipedia) (more…)
Nawalan tayo nang bakasion. Nawalan tayo nang trabaho. Nawalan tayo nang kalayaan maglakad na walang takip ang mukha malaya, palaging nag iisip nang kamatayan. (more…)
We lost vacations. We lost jobs. We lost the freedom to walk down the street without a face mask, freely, without the thought of imminent death looming over our heads. (more…)
Noon ako ay lumipa sa Kanada sa maaga na dekada 70s, hindi ko masyadong binigyan nang pansin ang kahalagahan nang relihiyon na kinabibilangan nang Unang Ministro Pierre Truduea. (more…)
When I immigrated to Canada in the 70s, I did not focus on the religious affiliation of then Prime Minister Trudeau. (more…)
Taong walang bahay ay isang masakit na kalagayan na hindi kanais nais para kanino man, ngunit marami ang nahahanton sa bagay na ito at hindi makabagon at hindi makaalis sa pag walang matirahan na tumatagal sa pagiging walang bahay. (more…)
Homelessness is a state nobody ever wants to be in yet some people end up being homeless and a number of them remain that for years. (more…)
Sa buhay nang tao dumarating ang panahon na nag hahanap nang isang lugar mapuntahan na tama para humanap nang kapayapaan sa kalooban. Pinili ko ang Roma Etalia sa akin buhay. (more…)
Once in a lifetime of a person comes where one has to go somewhere for reflections on pilgrimage. (more…)
How often have we heard the saying, “if it feels good, it must be good” and the very popular reasoning that, at this age, the number one validation of one’s action is “as long as I’m not hurting anyone, it is okay.” How convoluted and scary is this belief? (more…)
>> Ilan beses natin naririnig ang panalita na “kung maganda ang pakiramdam siguradong maganda”. (more…)
When this pandemic is totally put on halt, and all things go back to the way they used to be, will there be anything different in your life? Or is it what it is and everything goes back to the way it used to be? (more…)
Pag natapos na itong pandemia Ito, at lahat ay bumalik na sa dati, bago dumating ang kobid, sa palagay mo ba, walang pag babago sa buhay nang tao? O balik uli sa dating sarili, at dating ugali o dating gawain? Sa Kanada, kobid 19 kasalukuyan mayroon nang mahigit sa 22,000 ang mga namamatay. Sa Amerika mahigit na sa 550,000 ang namatay. (more…)
How many times do we find ourselves focused on other people’s roles, jobs, responsibilities and behaviour? (more…)
Ilan beses tayo na nakatigin sa exena, gawain, karapatan, kaugalian nang ibang tao? (more…)
ANO ANG TUNAY NA KULAY MO? Ngayon panahon nang bago teknolohiya tayo’y linalabas natin ang tunay na kulay natin, hindi lang sa komunidad natin kundi sa buong mundo. Ang atin bibig ay na palitan nang atin mga daliri. Kung ano ang priniprinta natin, at nilalagay sa sosial medya ay nagdudulot nang kapinsalaan sa atin pagkatao. Sinasabi natin na tayo ay tapat at maragal. Pero kung kumilos tayo, kadalasan, kabaligtaran sa atin pagkatao. (more…)
WHAT IS YOUR TRUE COLOR? Nowadays with technology, we expose our true colours not only within our community but also to the entire world. Our mouth has been replaced with our fingers. What we type and post on social media does so much damage to our character. We all claim to be honest and well respected. Yet, how we behave most of the time is so contradictory to who we are. (more…)
Noon mga huling taon na decada 90, nang pumutok ang dut kom, ang bawa’t tahanan ay nag nasang magkaroon nang pang sariling gamit sa pang lamesang kumputer, na may koneksion sa pang malawakan. Ang Amrikanon na linia ay naging bukang bibig. (more…)
In the late 90s, when the dot com bubble burst, every household felt the need to acquire a desktop computer and equip it with a server. America On-Line (AOL) became a byword. And Norton antivirus as well. Thus, started the evolution of modern technology. (more…)
Ang pakikipag ugnayan at tamang pagagalakay ay apat na pananalita na nag bubunguan nitong nakalipas na dekada, at patuloy pa rin. Hindi parepareho ang ibig sabihin, munit halos pareho ang nilalaman at magkakadikit. malapit sa isa’t isa. (more…)
“Ethical sourcing” and “fair trade” are four words that have made headways in the past decade and continue to do so. They’re not the same but are related closely in meaning. (more…)
When Dalton McGuinty was Premier of Ontario, I remember consulting with the Filipino Canadians about a study on installing a casino either in a downtown hotel or on the CNE (Canadian National Exhibition) grounds along Lakeshore Avenue. During the meeting, I discussed the pros and cons of having a casino within city limits, having experienced this in my old country. (more…)
Noon ang namamahal sa Ontario ay si unang Ministro Dalton Maguinty ay nag patawag nang pag pupulong upang makipaugnayan sa mga liderato sa Pilipino-Kanadian ako’y nag punta. Ang pagsa nang usapan ay pag lalagay nang kasino sa gitna nang lunsod nang Toronto o sa “CNE” Kanadian Nasional Exsibision. Sa paguusap, sinabi ko ang aking matinding kong karanasan sa baga na Ito. Sinalaysay ko ang kabutihan at ang masamang idudulot nito sa buhay. (more…)
Human rights violation in the Philippines, then and now…..MARCH 8,2021
Growing up in the heart of Manila where I was born, everything looked bright to me. I felt safe playing in the streets with my two younger siblings. My parents never had any cause to worry for our safety. The country which suffered at the hands of the Japanese Imperial Army during the war was experiencing a rebirth and everyone was excited to be part of this rebirth. (more…)
Lumaki sa siyudad nang Maynila na kung san ako pinaganak ay napaka ganda at mapayapa. Ako at mga kapatid ko ay nakakapaglaro sa kalsada na walang ano man masamang nanyayari. Ang mga magulang ko ay hindi man nagagamba at alam na kami ay nasa mabuting kalagayan. Ang Pilipinas ay nakaranas pa lang nang digmaan at napa ilalim sa mga kamay nang malupi na pamamalakad nang Hapon. Parang bagong paganak palang ang Pilipinas, punong puno nang pag asa at gustong maging bahagi sa pag unlad nang bayan. (more…)
Ang pinakamalaking ilaw na nakakabit sa krane makikita sa siyuda sa gitna nang mataas na paaralan nang Unibersidad ng Toronto. Ang malakas na hangin ay mapapansin mo na halos liparin ang mga pang samantala tinayo mga bubong para silugan. Marahil Ito lang ang kaguluhan na masasasihan sa isang araw. Halos apat na buwan na tayong sarado sa lahat nang bagay. (more…)
The largest spotlight crane in the city is pitched over an institution of higher learning in downtown Toronto. A gust of wind threatens to upturn the tarpaulin, the tents. This is the most excitement we are going to get in one day. For the past four months, we have been in lockdown. (more…)
Isang kamaganak lumapit sa akin at sinabi na siya ay sinabihan nang amo niya na siya ay “re-trenched.” Itong salitang Ito’y parang malalim ang ibig sabihin. Ang unang pumasok sa isipan ko ay noon unang digmaan na ang mga sundalo ay nasa mga trench, na may maduming tubig, putik, mga hayup na gaga, mga sundalo na may tama nang baril o sugatan, na ang paa ay namamaga. Kaya ang salitang trench ay parang magulong at mahirap na digmaan. Walang nag sabi na madali ang trabaho. May oras na maraming mo ang trabaho sa isang digmaan. (more…)
Someone close to me made an announcement the other day: “I’ve been retrenched”. There is something about this word that gets to me. Root word: trench. Like trench warfare, World War I. Fighting in the trenches, all that mud, dirty water, rats, gangrene. And to be “re-trenched” sounds like you have to go through with it all over again. Nobody ever said work is easy. At times, you really are waging a war. (more…)
Mataas ang pocento san ngalan nang taggutom-mga 18 millioness sa 110 millioness na bubuhay na mababa guhit sa numero nang tag guttom o nag hihirap na makaraos sa araw araw na panggagaylagan sa buhay. (more…)
Three years before I immigrated to Canada, then PM Pierre Trudeau announced that Canada would adopt multicultural policies to address systemic racial and cultural discrimination. This was unanimously supported in parliament. I look at my arrival in Toronto in 1974 as most opportune. (more…)
The Philippines has a rather high rate of poverty – around 18 million of its 110 million people either live below the poverty level or are struggling to meet the daily necessities of life. COVID 19 just exacerbated this with reduced economic activities and the undercounts of COVID infections due to lack of healthcare and the availability of water for handwashing. (more…)
Tatlong taon bago ako pumunta sa Kannada, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau binuksan ang pintuan nang Kannada para sa mga iba ibang lahi. At pinasimulaan ang mga ugaling laban sa mga ibang lahi at kultura. Itoy nakakuhan nang buong suporta sa kinatawan nang Parlamento. Itoy’ napakalaki ng pagkakataon para sa akin pagpasok sa Kannada.noon 1974. (more…)
Given the history of violence that accompanies these summits, most locals, i.e., Torontonians living in the downtown core opted to leave the city or stay in their domiciles. I preferred to be in the thick of things when such a magnitude of an event is taking place in my neck of the woods. With my Manila Times ID, I trekked to the (CNE) Canadian National Exhibition grounds, where the journalists were getting accredited with the mindset that if people from far away places like China, India and South Africa are able to travel here to cover the events, why not me who lives right in the heart of Toronto. When I arrived at the CNE, I presented myself as a foreign correspondent for The Manila Times. I encountered some resistance at first but after explaining in the interview that I had been to the White House and Parliament Hill, Asia Pacific Conference (APEC) to cover big events involving world leaders and that I was a governor council appointee, I was cleared by the CSIS and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). (more…)
Ang taon 2020 dumaan parang wala man miskinaanong mahalagang at makulay na pangyayari. Wala naka sulat sa akin aklat kung saan ako dapat pumunta at kung ano ang mga pinuntahan ko. Nagumpisa itong taon na ito napauwi ako sa Pilipinas at natapos na nakakulong ako sa bahay sa Toronto. (more…)
Philippine language Tagalog version.
Mahigit 300 na Pilipino-Canadian na ipit sa Pilipinas
Ang huling dalaw ko sa Pilipinas noong taon na 2014 para Iwasan ang lamig sa Kannada. Naka bill ako na tikket Disyembre 2019 na takda ako pupunta sa Pilipinas Enero 15, 2020 hangang Abril 2, 2020. Nakahanda ako nang Isang mascara dahil pumuputok ang bulkan nang Taal. Hindi ko akalain masmatindi pa sa pagsabog nang bulkan ang mararanasan ko, ang kobid 19. At ang hirap para makabalik ako sa Kannada. (more…)
Nakalipas na G8-G20 Toronto 2010
Dahil sa mga nakalipas na magulong storia nang pag pupulong nang G8-G20, maraming tao na nakatira sa sioyoda nang Toronto nag alisan, at ang iba nag kulong sa kani kanilang bahay. Ako’y naiiba dahil hindi ko mapapalagpas ang bihirang pag kakataon na Ito. Kung ang mga taga ibang bansa malalayo katulad nang Tsina, Indiya, at Afrika ay nakaka dayo nang malayo, wala akong makita ng dahilan kung bakit lugar ko Ito at hindi ako makadalo. Dali dali akong nag punta sa “CNE” para kumuha nang permiso para makadalo. Noong una, pinahihirapan ako sa mga tanong na mahirap sagutin. Matapos ang masusing pag susurin, nakita na ako karapatdapat, binigyan ako nang karapat dapat dumalo nang “RCMP-CSIS” (more…)
PILIPINO VERSION
May kasabihan ang tao puwede magkaroon nang pitong iba ibang linia sa buhay. Duda ako sa kasabihan Ito, dahil mayroon akong kakilala na babae 17 gulag nag umpisa na mag trabaho sa Isang malaking samahan pang himpapawid bilang Isang mang gagawa maninilbihan sa mga pasahero sa aroplano. Hangang ngayon iyon pa rin ang trabaho sa idad 62 at siya ay mag reretiro na. Sa idad na Ito, para sa iba, bata pa siya at puwede pang mag trabaho. Sa panahon ngayon, manirap mag umpisa uli at mabigat at manirap lumahok at sumabay lalo na sa panahon nang pandemia. (more…)
When you Google “Bayan Ko”, you’ll see words like Nuestra Patria (Our Country), patriotic, unofficial national anthem and seditious.
No Filipino living in any part of this planet can claim to be unaffected by this song. Bayan Ko became the rallying song after the 1983 assassination of a Marcos opponent, Benigno Aquino, and gained traction during the People Power Revolt of 1986. It’s a song that expresses opposition to anything that curtails Filipino freedom, be it a foreign power governing the Philippines or the imposition of martial law, as was the case during the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos when he declared this in 1972. (more…)
Kapag hinaharap mo ang ibig sabihin nang BAYAN KO, makikita mo tunay na pagmamahal sa inang bayan. Ang katang Ito’y hindi siya ang oppissial na pambansang awit. Walang Pilipino sa buong mundo na hindi na aapektohan nitong awit na Ito. Itong awit na Ito rin ang nag bigay daan para mabawi ang kalayaan na wala noong ipatupad ang batas militar ni Marcos noon 1972. Itong katang Ito, ay siya rin nag bigay daan para labanan ang puwersa nang happon noong ikalawang digmaan pang mundo. (more…)
My trip to the Philippines was precipitated by my need to connect with my older surviving siblings. When I arrived in January 2020, I immediately sought my older brother who had a stroke a few years back and who recently lost his beloved wife. He was glad to see me, despite him being unable to talk and wheelchair-bound. My sister who lived thirty minutes away also was very glad to see me. (more…)
TAGALOG VERSE (KAHIRAPAN SA PHILIPINAS). “TAGUMPAY LAYUNIN
Ang pag uwi ko sa Pilipinas ay upang bisitahin ang tattlo kong matatadang maga kapatid na may karamdaman. Nang ako’y dumating noong Enero 2020, pinuntahan ko agad ang lalaki kong kapatid na naatake sa puso at hindi nakakapagsalita at hindi nakakatayo. Patay ang kalahating katawan at naka “wheelchair”. Nakilala ako at masaya siyang makita ako. Pagkatapos doon, iyon kapatid ko naman babae ang pinuntahan ko na di kalayuan ang bahay niya. Siya ay tuwangtuwa nang nakita ako. Tinanong ko siya kung may balita sa isa pang babae na kapatid naming, na may sakit na alziemers. Ang sagot ay wala. (more…)
Once, during a religious seminar I participated in, the issue of Filipino parents sending their children came into focus. I admit, having been involved in the media for most of my Canadian life, this issue never came up in my front burner. I have always regarded it as a given in the Filipino immigrants’ life to send their child or children to a Catholic school. And I assumed that Canadians knew the Catholic background of the Philippines. (more…)
Isang besses mayroon akong nasalihan na pagpupulong na ang paksa ay tungkol sa mga magulang nang mga “Filipino-Canadian” sa kaugalian na pagpapadala nila sa kanilang mga anak sa paaralan nang pang Katolico. Inaamin ko na sa tagal na panahon ako’y nasa Kanada at sa larangan nang pagsusulat ni minsan di pumasok sa sarili ko kung bakit o among dahilan. Ang paniniwala ko ay itoy hindi kayla sa Kanada na ang Philipnas ay 95 % katolico at Ito kaunaunah at nagiisa bansa sa Asia. (more…)
