Familiar faces from past struggles, alongside a new generation of activists and advocates, gathered in an informal reunion during the first Panay-wide, multisectoral assembly of the Risa Na! Movement at the La Paz Plaza Covered Gym. The event served as a venue for uniting individuals and groups from various political backgrounds
June 18, 2026
Conversations over food are always enriching, especially when shared with culinary professionals, gastronomy practitioners, and food writers from our ASEAN neighbors through the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. During the Filipino Food Month gastronomy symposium held at UI-Phinma, I found myself gathered around a table for lunch with our guests in the
April 16, 2026
Celebrating 120 years of service, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI-Iloilo Chapter) has seen Iloilo evolve from periods of challenge to moments of progress, emerging as a dynamic and rapidly growing center of commerce. Pioneering leaders such as Raymundo Melliza (1904–1908) and Walter Smith (1918–1923) helped steer the Chamber
November 19, 2025
The October 2025 concert of Cecile Licad in Iloilo City was a night that will linger in the hearts of all who were there. The first evening at the St. Anne Cathedral of Molo was damp and humid, enough to trigger an asthma attack for a concertgoer like myself. The second
October 29, 2025
Our colliding and boisterous laughter was imprinted from our first encounter, at an all-Chopin concert by Cecile Licad that he organized in 2018. Then again, in late 2024, Pablo and I were among the last few noisy guests lingering at the reception dinner for the exhibition The Patrimony of All, just
October 20, 2025
I eat fish and vegetables most of the time, and I used to think that was enough. But I recently found out it might not be. I may not even be one of the two in every 10 Filipino adults who meet the recommended global daily intake of vegetables, which is
September 1, 2025
“We live in a time when every day brings ample evidence of the disposability of human life,” writes Neferti X.M. Tadiar in her book Remaindered Life. Tadiar’s reflections resonated deeply with abstract artist Les Amacio and me as we both exchanged messages following the untimely death of 41-year-old Overseas Filipino Worker,
August 20, 2025
Professionals in marketing and public relations recognize the importance of experience engineering, a specialized discipline dedicated to the strategic design of customer experiences that foster lasting impressions, trust, and brand loyalty. My modest background in marketing, spanning fast food, health supplements, advertising, events, and media, fueled my interest in attending Ken
August 9, 2025
Though brief, my encounter with renowned Filipino contemporary artist Mark Justiniani was rich, substantive, and memorable. It provided critical insight into the conceptual foundations of his artistic practice and deepened my understanding of his art and life, offering valuable lessons for art writing. I met him as he lingered with the
July 29, 2025
It was one of those rare July evenings that stays with you long after it’s over. I found myself in the company of some of the most respected artists—Les Amacio, Alex Española, Joel Ferraris, Ed Defensor—and none other than National Artist for Visual Arts, Benedicto Cabrera, or simply BenCab. We were
July 22, 2025
The Dinagyang Festival, one of the country’s celebrated cultural events, is not just a display of devotion and theatrics but also a showcase of Iloilo’s gastronomic expressions—a celebration through food. Visitors can see and taste a variety of offerings, both in restaurants and on the streets. Every block in the downtown
January 25, 2025
Last year, amidst a political carnival between two warring dynasties—the Marcoses and the Dutertes—highlighted by the Quadcom hearings, and the normalized economic hardship reflected in exorbitant food costs at the local level, plus debates on the increase in real property tax and expressed discontent by local artists over the organizing of
January 11, 2025