Commuting in the Philippines is a staggering and herculean experience. Squeezing nearly half a million people in a metal train every day is something one must probably get used to when living in a city. You get to see a variety of people in different stages of life in these zones of liminality: a worshipper […]
For the longest time, Leigh Dispo believed that names have power. Putting a name to the attraction she has for both boys and girls would trigger an avalanche of shame and guilt that she was not equipped to deal with. It was a “form of sadness that dragged on and on” until she had the […]
Films move beyond entertainment; there is more to a film than the audience’s enjoyment. They have the power to engage with and to open discussions with people and to influence their level of consciousness and understanding toward what’s being shown or how it’s shown. In the case of LGBTQ+ representation in the media, one issue […]
We are the captive audience at the mercy of showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss. We know it, they know it. Two years ago, we watched a block of ice melt to get the season seven premiere date. We waited 595 days for season eight. Warning: Spoilers below The first episode of Game of Thrones […]
Whenever you’re hungry, you grab your phone, tap a square, punch in your latest cravings, and painfully wait for someone to arrive at your door. However, outside the comfort of your home, what happens to the sole bridge between you and your food? Among the jeepneys and tricycles filling our streets are the delivery personnel […]
One would think that Noli Me Tangere, the Opera would need no further explanations. After all, Dr. Jose Rizal’s book is firmly etched in history—and in our basic education curriculum. Felipe Padilla de Leon and Guillermo Tolentino’s opera traces its history from its first run in 1974 in the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). […]
It has long haunted our country. We’ve all heard the numerous urban legends about contaminated needles in dark cinema halls and other tales that took on the form of monsters under our beds. Above it all, the implied shame. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the acquired immunodificiency syndrome (AIDS) was a conversation the Philippines […]
There is a common misconception that Binondo and Ongpin are one and the same. Many use the names interchangeably to refer to the oldest Chinatown in the Philippines and the world, but Binondo is the official name of Manila’s Chinatown and Ongpin is merely one of the most famous streets. Nestled near the heart of […]
With the rise in popularity of animal cafés, anyone who is fond of these lovable creatures now had a go-to place for food and warm hugs. Yet, a now viral post on social media brought a more critical eye toward these animal wonderlands. As Wagging Tails, a pet café, became increasingly notorious among netizens, so […]
Family has a hallowed place in Filipino society. For decades, the model of the nuclear family has been hailed as the archetype of virtuous citizens in a strong community. The dutiful wife, the provider husband, two children, and a nice home—the only thing society will deem as the epitome of a fulfilled life. Anything different […]