In the course of their travels oftentimes, The Traveling Chefs meet special people. At few times however, their path comes across with very special ones. When they entered Olde Carthage Farm in Carthage, North Carolina last September, two incredibly special people touched their lives. They will cherish in their hearts its memory. While searching for […]
This is a post mortem tribute to master photographer brother of ours, the late Fray Noel Paulo Zaragoza aka Leon Paulo Zaragoza. He is one of the many brothers we’ve lost during this COVID-19 pandemic. I don’t know if Fray Noel did succumb to the virus. We know many others did. At one of the […]
From The Desk of the Filii NA President, A warm greetings to all our brothers and sisters in Saint Dominic and to all our Epistoliorum readers. In behalf of the Filii NA which we humbly represent, we congratulate the Editorial Board of Epistoliorum for another job well done. In spite of seemingly insurmountable odds primarily […]
“Rational people don’t risk what they have and need for what they don’t have and don’t need.” –Warren Buffett Pay yourself first is the next money principle we are going to discuss today. Hello and welcome back to “Money Talk,” a series of discussions on financial independence here at Epistoliorum. I think it’s fitting […]
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts.” —Mark Twain This travel quote reminds me of a personal story. While traveling on a boat from Romblon to Boracay in the mid-’80s, I’ve met a French traveler named Christophe. He showed me minimalism before I’ve […]
It’s both a great honor and a humbling experience to represent Filii North America. Despite seemingly insurmountable odds, we have raised $2,390 for some of our brothers in the Philippines. We’ve learned that about 12 have benefited from our generosity. The recipients were the most adversely affected by COVID-19. Fray Mike Plana shared with us […]
“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” – Hippocrates Fortunately or not, we’ve developed our eating habits during our childhood years. Here in the United States, a country of immigrants from diverse regions of the world, people have varied eating habits. So in every State, one can find restaurants reflecting this great […]
“I do believe in an everyday sort of magic –the inexplicable connectedness we sometimes experience with places, people, works of art and the like; the eerie appropriateness of synchronicity; the whispered voice, the hidden presence, when we think we’re alone.” ~Charles de Lint On the revival of Epistoliorum, there is one word that comes foremost […]
This issue has been pushed back for a month due to several reasons, some of which are beyond the editorial control. We continue to receive below expectation for articles that might create balance content and widespread coverage, both from the Philippines and North America. We still remain hopeful that many among us who are gifted […]
Hello there! Welcome back! Last time, we’ve learned that the first principle of wealth accumulation is that we reap what we sow both metaphorically – in our subconscious, and physically – in the world. Today, we are going to talk about the second principle of wealth accumulation. It is, like the first, quite apparent in […]
The Soccer Champions of 1976 Forty two years ago, some members of the Dominican postulancy in Manaoag, Pangasinan, Philippines made history by winning the 1976 Region I, Ilocos Region Athletic Association (IRAA) Soccer Championship. It was possibly the best year in competitive sports of Dominican seminarians in the Philippines if not in the world. The […]
Life is a game that can be played well by anyone who knows its rules. But what a shame, for as we grow old we forgot what we’ve been told. “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you change and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt:18:13) When we […]
Dearest One, Legend has it that Saint Valentine wrote a letter to the daughter of his judge before his execution. I call it the first Valentine’s Day letter. Before the advent of commercialism, people have greeted each other on Valentine’s Day through letters. It’s been a long time since I wrote my last love letter. […]
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 […]
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? […]
“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 […]
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.
We thank the Almighty everyday, For all the blessings that come our way. For the sun that keeps us tan and warm, For His angels who shield us from harm. For Earth, our home in the Universe, Which to us all like a mother cares; With her valleys, streams, mountains and seas, With her fowls […]
INTRODUCTION “The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some have wandered away from the faith and have impaled themselves with a lot of pain because they made money their goal.” –1 Timothy 6:10 After reading the quote above, you won’t probably continue reading this article…But wait a minute, the quote […]
Let me tell you ’bout my favorite dish, Oh yes, it’s just a catfish. But my Dad cooked it in a special way, I can still taste it to this day. My Dad was short but very funny; He always called my Mom, “Honey.” He always said Mom’s smitten by his charm. She left all […]
In 2012, I drove my tiny Tiburon from Florida to Galveston, Texas, stayed there for a week by myself and drove back to Florida. Why I did that was a long story. It was possibly the longest time I’ve spent all alone here in America or elsewhere. I’ve spent over 36 hours on the road […]
