As the sun sets, I face the dark night that taunts me with my goal. We grope in the gloomy facets of twilight, warm with the hope that in between the fleeting aeons we will burn in darkness; but we have yet to see ourselves — lured from a night when ugliness has no face […]
The title is a double entendre when thinking of that aspect of security – online security that is. The global pandemic has forced on us the need to safeguard our well-being while still maximizing our productivity and throughput in our careers and/or day jobs. “Work from home” took an all-new meaning from what it was […]
All these years, I never really appreciated Father’s Day for the simple reason that I thought it didn’t apply to me for the longest time until about nine months ago when I finally had a son myself. I never thought of the folly of it until I came about a quotation from Clarence Kelland that says, […]
In my line of work, one important aspect of continuous improvement is outlining lessons learned. This serves a variety of purposes: it streamlines operations by knowing what works, what doesn’t and the probability of each of them happening; it serves as a template for other projects to avoid certain pitfalls by mining a treasure-trove of […]
When I became aware of my existence; When I felt inexpressible joy being with friends; When I first marveled at the beauty of creation… When I took the first step in the journey of life; When I met stumbling blocks on a thorny path; When I became indecisive which way to go… When I was […]
It has been a tradition in the Philippines, particularly around the vicinity of the Quiapo Basilica in Metro Manila, that Semana Santa (Holy Week) comes a week after the New Year revelry, or so it seems. Thousands of the faithful descend to the venue quite popular as plagued by traffic gridlock, petty crimes, supernatural cures, […]
Saint Patrick’s Day in the United States has been traditionally regarded as “booze day” every particular weekend in March, that the public have been so used to the police and administrators of the metro urging folks to take the trains instead of insisting to drive home; and never to take drinks with them into any […]
Visita Iglesia is a practice steeped in tradition especially in the Philippines. This is usually done during the Holy Thursday Vigil when the Holy Sacrament is transferred to the altar of repose. While not essentially part of the liturgy, this however has been widely accepted as popular piety. The custom of visiting seven churches probably […]
Intramuros at the time of the Spanish Colonial period was synonymous to the City of Manila. Other towns and suburbs beyond the city walls were referred to as “extramuros” or “outside the walls”. It was both the seat of government and center of its social institutions: religion, education and economy. In December 1941, despite the […]
The advent of the Holy Week in the Philippines herald the start of the travel season, especially since most schools have not yet adapted to the September school opening. For countless among us, our smartphones and laptops are a must-bring to make our travel productive and memorable. Be it taking selfies or walk-about vlogs, video-conferencing […]
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they […]
This is a usual game…or should I say unusual? Hands are dealt but there’s no point in winning, since although one wins, it’s neither a victory nor triumph over something. For some, it’s a rather selfless game, since the usual player normally shields the other from a bad hand. Any other, but himself. A game […]
As little kids, we were more enamored by Christmas with its jolly air and countless gifts; we didn’t know yet then that there is still a more significant celebration and symbol that ought to take hold of us — and it isn’t the Easter Bunny, silly! Perhaps one good thing that the rather gloomy, poignant […]
Filii Sancti Dominici Philippinensis (International) “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet,” so did the Great Bard opine about this primordial question. Anyone hearing for the first time FSDPI’s formal corporate name would almost instantaneously inquire, “What in heaven’s good name do those words mean?” As with most words, the etymology of […]
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 […]
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 […]
Attending night prayers at the seminary almost always meant hearing that ancient but rather beautiful melody of “Day is done“. Many years later even as we close this maiden issue, I hear similar thought-provoking lyrics, albeit, this time on a more worldly tune. Most would tag Barry Manilow ancient though, considering he started way back […]
…when the good things in life aren’t really free. There is an ongoing misconception that the internet is a relatively safe place, and that our online presence is meant to mask our identity or offer a different persona than who we are. With internet fast allowing for seamless inter-connectivity among governments, businesses and individuals, there […]
Newborn: Between 1 day and 4 weeks … Infant: Between 1 month and 12 months … Toddler: Between 1 and 2 years… Pre-school: Between 2 and 4 years… Baby: Between 5 and 9 years (when they’re at their cutest and loveliest)… Pre-adolescent: Between 10 and 12 years… Adolescent: Between 13 and 17 years… Youth: […]
I remembered a couple autumns ago when I was still living in Virginia, I received rather unexpectedly, one very good and priceless advice from a person I didn’t even know. I haven’t considered it a lesson learned though, for it only enhanced my own opinion of the matter, something which I have always believed. I […]
