ETCETERA; Thoughts between the lines

  A Special Birthday Update for Our Girls in Australia Dear Nina and Dang, Last night, we celebrated Mom’s birthday at Guidicelli Ristorante. By its name alone, you know it is an Italian restaurant on the fine-dining scale. It sits elegantly on the third floor of the newly renovated building in Molito—right where the old BMW showroom used to be. I wish you both could have been there with us, but you were definitely in our thoughts! The Ambience We were seated at the perfect spot, boasting a lovely view overlooking the vibrant strip of restaurants on the opposite side below. The place itself is beautifully designed—pristine white all the way, adorned with tasteful artworks on the walls. By any interior design standard, it is well above par. The table setting was immaculate, the chairs comfortable, and the service highly attentive. In other words, it is exactly the kind of place you look for to celebrate an important occasion. Or, as Erap Estrada famously put it: "You pay fo...

  Social media is full of advice on how to grow old—how to “age properly.” Stay active. Pick up hobbies. Keep moving. And yes, for those who still have their health, that advice makes sense. Many do exactly that, and it’s a good thing. But I find myself thinking about what comes after that—when the strength is no longer there. I see it twice a week during my morning walks. In our village, along the route I take, there’s a man named Jimmy. Frail, quiet, and almost always alone. Each time I pass, he sits on a small stool on a narrow strip of pavement, shaded by a makeshift umbrella and a line of trees. Just sitting. One morning, he called out to me: “Pagbalik mo, usap tayo.” (When you come back, let’s talk.) So I did. He told me his story. He is 88 now, once an executive at a travel agency. He still speaks clearly, thoughtfully. A newspaper rests on his lap, more for company than for reading. He used to meet a group of seniors for coffee every morning at McDonald’s. That h...

The world today is not simply facing random instability—it is dealing with the consequences of reckless leadership. Decisions made by destabilizing political leaders have intensified already fragile global conditions, turning manageable tensions into dangerous crises. Instead of pursuing stability, their actions have fueled conflict, disrupted energy security, and created uncertainty across nations. The absence of coherent, consistent objectives has only deepened the damage, leaving ordinary people—especially in vulnerable countries—to bear the heaviest burden. Unfortunately for us Filipinos, we are at the mercy of the prevailing consequences. We do not have oil. Our economy is sick. Every explosion in the Middle East or shift in the "Petrodollar" produces uncertain circumstances that surely produce hardship for most of us. I see the news about the US being buried in trillions of debt with fewer assets to back it up, and I wonder: What happens to us when the giants finally ...

  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 ...

  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...

  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...