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Essay

When winners lose it

As the first Japanese—and Haitian, too—to win the US Open, one of tennis’ four Grand Slams, Naomi Osaka is something more than a winner:  she is a role model.  The sport has seen a lot of champions, and sure, their exploits have inspired...

My first literary prize

Aside from the few fan mail that I got because of the prize, something wonderful also happened. After we left the WG premises, I noticed for the first time a change in my companion’s tone of voice. They say that no matter how many...

Why I am still Catholic

“They hid it all.” It says so right there, on page seven, of the redacted report of a Pennsylvania grand jury investigation into the sexual abuse of minors committed by priests and systematically concealed by the Catholic Church over a period of 70 years. ...

WW II Aftermath: One man’s tale of Japan’s surrender and rise (2nd of two parts)

On September 2, 1945, World War II ended when representatives from the major countries involved in that great conflict witnessed Japanese officials formally signing the document signifying the Japanese acceptance of unconditional surrender. This took place on the deck of the American battleship...

Two tales from World War II: The fall and rise of Japan (First of 2 parts)

On August 15, 1945, the Japanese people heard their Emperor Hirohito’s voice for the first time in a radio broadcast. The Emperor announced to his people of Imperial Japan’s unconditional surrender. An English translation of the Emperor’s surrender speech was published by the Nippon...

We should be dancing, yeah

Now that a week’s worth of news cycles has passed, the matter of Mocha Uson’s federalism-inspired choreography can be discussed rationally. At least that is my hope, because that is what the subject begs—a rational discussion. Therein, however, lies the problem.  Federalism, as...

Random Pickings

The bookshop my parents built—growing up at Solidaridad

When Solidaridad, the bookshop my parents, Frankie and Tessie Jose, set up in 1965 on Padre Faura Street in Ermita, Manila, turned 50, we...

The remarkable life of Blas F. Ople

“The world pays a premium not for occasional flashes of brilliance but for sustained commitments to the performance of tasks.”—Blas F. Ople On Feb. 3,...

Press freedom: Yes, it matters

A free and independent press is one of the benchmarks used to measure the strength of a country’s democracy, and the level of its...

Two tales from World War II: The fall and rise of Japan (First of 2 parts)

On August 15, 1945, the Japanese people heard their Emperor Hirohito’s voice for the first time in a radio broadcast. The Emperor announced to...