We’re almost on the home stretch. Most articles we were committed to writing have been punctuated swimmingly with a period. And a few that we thought we could deliver within the given timeline hit a snag. We were able to pull some magic out of our hat and replaced undelivered ones without compromise. We honestly […]
Welcome to the December Edition of Epistoliorum! Learn from the business success of our Fray in Focus, Eugenio Michael Plana who has used as his life guides the charisms of The Dominicans and attained spectacular success in various businesses he embarked on. Outwit hackers by learning from Fray Joel Gabriel how to make and maintain […]
Christmas brings back a lot of nostalgic memories of my youth: the Latin Pastorel songs in the the dawn masses at our parish church in Calinog, Iloilo, the inexpensive exchange gifts bought from the Chinese store near the town plaza, the Ray Conniff Christmas songs played loudly on Akai quadrosonic stereos of the well-to-do, the […]
Several decades ago, we were all strangers from different lands, with varying backgrounds and upbringing, but the Lord plucked us out from our individual comfort zones, and put us in a place inhabited by men in black and white. There, we were honed in the black and white tradition and discipline, but some of us […]
People fall in line lots of things are a-flying Li’l Luke Skywalker. Waited for a year Bargain hunters on the loose Beanie baby dolls. It’s holiday craze The day after Thanksgiving Tickle me Elmo. What’s the fad this year? Fingerling Glitter Monkeys? Or Roaring Tyler? Let the child decide. But what about you, yes you? […]
Ikaw at ako ngayong Pasko Tila ang kulay ng dusa, lungkot at pagdaralita naglalahong bigla. Init ng pusong umiibig Aking gabay sa hanging kay lamig Damdamin na hatid: tuwa na kay tamis, mundo na kay rikit. Aking buhay na may pait Pagsubok at lumbay Aking dinadalit. Diwang puno ng pag-asa, Mundong pumapayapa, ang siyang pumapalit […]
At the intersection of King and Bay Streets, a big yellow school bus full of kids stopped to unload its passengers. Right behind the bus, motorists in private cars and Uber cab passengers grew impatiently weary as kids take their time leisurely from getting off the bus, oblivious to the traffic urgency they created. School […]
This tradition is something unique to “30 Rock”, the moniker that produced a 2006-era sitcom. Where else but at 30 Rockefeller Center in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. The event ushers in the start of the Yuletide season, with a little help from the dazzling sound-and-light display at the adjacent Saks Fifth Avenue department store. […]
Passwords have been around since time immemorial as a way of user identification, identity authentication and as a way of gaining access to a restricted resource. The Greek historian Polybius has discussed in detail how passwords, or quite specifically, “watchwords” were used by the Roman military in the changing of the guards, thus protecting from […]
“Do not be deceived. God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” – Gal. 6:7 Welcome back! Last time, we paused on the idea that our thoughts and feelings about money matter. Here’s why. Because these very thoughts and feelings are powerful. In fact, our circumstances are merely products of these very same […]
Like strangers in the night, the holidays are here creeping at our doorsteps! La Fiesta Dia de Gracia celebration is over now, so what is next? Eat the leftovers? Ouch! How long did you think those leftover dishes had been standing at room temperature, more than 2 hours? From the time it cooled down in […]
Arrested for Laughing A young woman who was several months pregnant was sitting in a bus. When she noticed a young man smiling at her she began feeling humiliated on account of her condition. She changed her seat and he seemed more amused. She moved again, and then on seeing him laughing even more, she […]
At the Roxas City airport, a guy who just arrived from Manila, asks a lady vendor, “Manang, saan po nakatira itong si Mrs Jasmin Fuliga?”, showing her a piece of paper on which the name is written. “Fuliga? Ay ti, taga Dumalag ina siya” (She’s from Dumalag) the lady answers spontaneously in her Capiznon dialect, […]
Coming from a small town of Zarraga, Iloilo in the Philippines, and born from a simple Ilonggo family, I cannot fully appreciate when friends introduce me to others as “Mike, my friend, the businessman.” Nothing in my curriculum vitae, either in academics or in ancestry, suggested I would become a businessman. My wife and I […]
Stones or sandals bouncing off the weight reinforced tin can planted upright on the ground. Kids hustling back and forth taking turns as either thrower or keeper, either way, they all play with great enthusiasm as they cry uuuhs and aaahs everytime a stone or sandal hits the tin can and sends it tumbling down away […]
The greatest blessing given by God to us is HIMSELF. He gave Himself to us without reservation. This is mind boggling, to say the least. Yet it might just be the greatest challenge He has given us — to give ourselves to Him and to others. Christmas is a wonderful feast to remind us of […]
Editors’ note: Fray Jimmy has served the Rotary as Past Governor for Rotary International District 3830 and Past President of Rotary Club of Rizal West in the National Capital Region, Philippines One of the things I am often asked about is my involvement in Rotary. Why am I seen and heard doing Rotary work in so many […]
I know not what’s best to you to give As you go through life from here onward Words of wisdom as long as you live For you’ll leave this world in high regard, If you can keep all your thoughts on guard. Because as we sow, so shall we reap, in the fertile field which […]
It was Martin Luther who said, “beer is made by men, wine by God”. Well, to drink or not to drink, that is the question. Drink, I say. My toil may be really long, my body aching, I move on. For as soon as I get home, My wine is waiting. My respite. From all […]
This year, Conde Nast Traveler’s readers picked Boracay in the Philippines as the “best island in the world,’ outside of the U.S. Their choice includes Cebu and Palawan as the next two best islands in the world! The Philippines is indeed the “Pearl of the Orient.” Last summer, we spent our family vacation in Boracay. […]
Travel is an antidote to our provincialism.
Who do you think you kid? Are you really a photographer like you said your are? Well, I can easily find out if you are just disguising as one behind that expensive DSLR you hang around your neck. Let me see how you hold your camera. There you go. (See answer at the bottom of […]
