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After Christmas, Reflections into the New Year

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  It’s official—the Christmas season of 2025 has come to a close. Little by little, the decorations are taken down and stored away. Our Christmas tree now stands bare, its finery stripped away much like a woman removing her “gargantilyas” after a grand, elegant evening. The Christmas lights, nativity scenes, and nutcracker dolls are now carefully packed for another year. Knowing us Filipinos, they will surely be welcomed back as early as September, right on cue with the first notes of Jose Mari Chan’s carols. For me, this past season was defined by fellowship and friendship. I followed my tradition of meeting with three different groups of friends, where the air was filled with jokes, laughter, and the latest news. We even achieved our goal of dining in various Michelin-starred and Michelin-selected restaurants—a wonderful culinary highlight to the year. Our Rotary Club Christmas party was another standout. While we are united in service, it is the warm fellowship that truly makes ...
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The Christmas Audit: Sowing for a Joyful 2026

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  As the Christmas lights twinkle and the 2025 calendar winds down, a quiet mood of reflection often sets in. It is a season for an "inventory"—a time to look back at the wins, the losses, and the intentions set twelve months ago. In this season of giving, the mind turns to the foundation of a good life: character . There is an inescapable truth found in the wisdom of Galatians 6:7 , which suggests that the harvest is always determined by the seed. To experience a harvest of happiness and joy, it is impossible to plant seeds of shortcuts or resentment. In looking for what this "harvest of character" looks like in practice, the lives of several Filipinos offer a masterclass in unblemished propriety. The Standard of Propriety: Ramon Magsaysay Character is often defined by what a person is willing to refuse. President Ramon Magsaysay set a high bar for propriety—the quality of being proper and honest. There is a historical account of Magsaysay canceling a gove...
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Michelin Holiday Feast

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  T raffic and more traffic—I guess that’s the scourge of the Christmas season. Notwithstanding, we embrace the frenzy: the shopping, the preparing, the endless parties, and the cherished get-togethers with family and friends. Like the rest, I am guilty of plunging right into the festive chaos! For my various circles, the Christmas group meal is a non-negotiable ritual practiced for many years. In fact, it was my longest-standing group of friends, sometimes called my Cuatro Cantos, that started this ritual of having monthly get-togethers. The constant challenge used to be selecting a venue: "Will the food be good?" Thankfully, that guessing game is now over. The arrival of the Michelin Guide in the Philippines has given us a fantastic roster of trusted choices. With 107 Michelin-named establishments—including one two-star, eight one-star, 25 Bib Gourmand, and 74 selected restaurants—the choices are abundant! The Three Feasts The journey began with my long time friends...
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The Stars Have Landed: Michelin Guide Lights Up the Philippines!

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  In light of the possible "upheaval" this Typhoon Uwan is expected to bring upon our country, many of us will be wisely staying at home, glued to the TV or checking our phones for the latest weather updates. During this period of worry, allow me to offer a little ray of sunshine—or perhaps, a sprinkle of star dust—to make your situation light and informative. While you're safely indoors, let's talk about the culinary news that has truly shaken up our archipelago: the Michelin Guide has officially landed in the Philippines! After years of waiting, the guide has finally announced its first-ever selection, featuring an incredible 108 restaurants across Manila, its surrounding areas, and Cebu. This is more than just a list; it’s a global spotlight on Filipino cuisine and the remarkable talent of our chefs. But what exactly is this famous guide? And how did a company that makes car tires become the world's greatest food critic? The story of the Michelin Guide ...
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SHORTCUTS TO MIRACLES

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  I was sorting books to donate for our Rotary Club’s school library project when I picked up  Tuesdays with Morrie  again. It’s a book that beautifully reminds us about kindness and what truly matters. Morrie, the kind teacher in the story, was very sick. He had a disease called ALS  (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) , which slowly weakens the muscles,    a condition that, in his time, was universally considered a death sentence. That made me wonder — is ALS still incurable today? So I looked it up. What I found amazed me! Doctors now have medicines that can slow ALS and help patients live longer. Scientists are also studying gene therapy and stem cells that might one day stop the disease or repair nerves. There is now real hope for people like Morrie. As I searched for answers, I discovered many advances that feel like shortcuts to miracles. Some are already helping people today. Others are still being tested in labs and hospitals in progressive countries...
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Hanoi and Sapa: Our Family's Treasured Chronicle (A Six-Month-Late Post!)

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  This post is long overdue—six months, to be exact! But our family’s adventure through Northern Vietnam was too rich and eventful not to be recorded in our treasured family chronicle. This is our story of Hanoi ’s hustle, Ha Long Bay’s serenity , and the one crucial lesson we learned high up in the misty mountains of Sapa . Day 1 – First Taste of Hanoi Our Hanoi adventure began with a very early start—up by 1 a.m. for a morning flight via Vietnam Airlines . After a smooth check-in and immigration at NAIA , we grabbed a quick Starbucks stop before boarding. The three-hour flight was on time and offered our first taste of Vietnamese cuisine: a simple but flavorful meal. My choice— beef with noodles —“pasado”. At Hanoi’s modern Terminal 2, we breezed through immigration, and our appointed van whisked us away to the Old Quarter . Our home base, Hotel Allure , greeted us with its charming French-style façade—a welcome sight after our journey. Since it was far too early for the...
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Minalin Rising: Discovering the Filipino-Spanish Charm of Minalin Sunset Park

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  Hello from the heart of Pampanga! As a proud native of Minalin, I’ve watched our town steadily grow, and nothing symbolizes our progress and resilience quite like the magnificent Minalin Sunset Park . It’s more than just a park—it’s a living testament to Minalin’s unique spirit and a must-visit destination for anyone exploring Central Luzon. The Minalin-Sto. Tomas Tail Dike: Our New Lifeline and Gateway In a twist of fate, the very infrastructure built to protect us has become our key to growth! Before the Tail Dike, Minalin was a more isolated town. Today, the dike itself functions as the most accessible road to Minalin, connecting us to our neighbors and the wider region. Thanks to this transformed dike road, reaching Minalin is remarkably easy: From San Fernando City: You can reach Minalin in as little as 15 minutes . From Angeles City: The trip takes less than an hour . From the West (Bataan/Zambales): Visitors can now access Minalin ...
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