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Pi Sigma remembers: Memories of Dr. Francisco ‘Dodong’ Nemenzo

December 30, 2024 saw the country commemorating the 128th martyrdom anniversary of Dr. Jose P. Rizal at the Luneta Park. Government officials, led by Pres. Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., participated in the traditional wreath-laying ceremony in honor of the country’s national hero. On that day, in...

On that night I died and woke up the next day

And I have done it again. The days counted revert to none. And just like that, I go by zero day after day. Every step I took in the days I counted, I stepped on again backwards like a retrograde had pulled my...

Meeting Ninotchka Rosca Again

Meeting Ninotchka Rosca, or Notch, evoked a slice of teenage years. One day, she suddenly popped up among us English Majors, a rather “formidable” and exclusive group, in the eyes of Engineering, Law, and Fine Arts students at the University of the Philippines...

The Day Tradition Died

Salubong is a Tagalog word I have always associated with St. James, the Apostle, better known as Santiago Apostol to Plarideleños—the people of my hometown, Plaridel, in Bulacan Province.  Santiago Apostol is our town’s patron saint, the star of the show held on Dec....

Ricky Lee: Tale of a motherless child

Many things about Ricky Lee’s life are worth rewinding. As he turns 76 this March 19, he has obviously come to terms with what life has given him. His life’s chapters look like scenes from a teleserye or at best, from Victor Hugo’s Les...

Where’s the patis?

A Filipino may denationalize himself but not his stomach. He may travel over the seven seas and the five continents and the two hemispheres and lose the savor of home and forget his identity and believe himself a citizen of the world. But...

Random Pickings

Memories of my mother by Frank Sionil Jose, National Artist for Literature

My mother, Sofia Sionil, was born on September 30, 1900. Her parents were Ilokano settlers in Rosales, Pangasinan. I called her Inang. When I...

Viva Señor Jesus Nazareno!

January 9, a non-working holiday in Manila, is the feast day of the Black Nazarene. And this year, 2023, will be the third time...

Rogelio ‘Roger’ Mangahas: Poet on the stalk of life

Philippine literature has lost a precious gem. In the morning of July 4, multi-awarded poet Rogelio ‘Roger’ Mangahas died after suffering a massive stroke....

Becoming a European and later, a global citizen

In these times overshadowed by COVID-19-related doom and gloom, it is a welcome respite to look back into my own past from 1994 to...