By Dennis Gorecho Music is the hidden language of cinema. An original soundtrack (OST) is more than background music — it’s a storytelling tool that heightens emotion, sets the tone and strengthens the narrative flow of a film or television series. Korean drama (K-drama) fans were recently serenaded by Korean singer Isaac Hong, known for …
Kuwentong Peyups
In memoriam: Judge Carmela Pasquin
By Dennis Gorecho “Why no car, Judge?” It was a rainy Thursday evening in Iloilo City when good friend, Fiscal Myra Duremdes, mentioned over coffee the death of a female judge due to a motorcycle accident. The 41-year-old Carmela Rosario Pasquin, Presiding Judge of the Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC) of Pinamungajan-Aloguinsan towns in Cebu …
The Bud Dajo Massacre, Quezon and the Filipinos’ struggle for self-determination
By Dennis Gorecho The Bud Dajo Massacre in Jolo was carried out under the command of General Leonard Wood, the same figure who clashed with the Filipino nationalist leadership, including Manuel L. Quezon, as they advocated for independence in the United States. Wood was a key figure in Philippine history, as governor of the Moro …
Women power in Cinemalaya 2025
By Dennis Gorecho The 21st Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival ended with emphasis on women empowerment in the film industry. Sari Dalena of “Cinemartyrs” delivered an inspiring speech about discrimination against women in film as she received the Best Director, Best Original Musical Score and the Special Jury Prize. “Para sa lahat ng babaeng pinahiya, tinapakan, …
‘One Piece’ flag as a symbol of protest
By Dennis Gorecho “One Piece” Straw Hat Jolly Roger flags had become common fixtures during the recent anti-corruption rallies. The mass actions are closely linked with the flood control corruption scandal that revolves around the diversion of billions of public funds to a network of favored contractors, lawmakers and officials tied to flood control projects …
Female examinees outnumber males in the 2025 Bar
By Dennis Gorecho For the second consecutive year, female examinees outnumbered males in the Bar Examinations. Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier, chairperson of the 2025 Bar Examinations, noted that among the 13,193 admitted to take the exams, there were 6,673 women, comprising 51 percent compared to 4,764 men. The statistics highlight the …
21st Cinemalaya Film Festival: ‘Layag sa Alon, Hangin at Unos’
By Dennis Gorecho “Layag sa Alon, Hangin at Unos” is this year’s theme of the 21st Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, reflecting the festival’s decades of weathering every storm of its era. “Cinemalaya promises to serve as a vessel for top-tier visual storytelling that ignites imagination and amplifies diverse voices in cinema, anchored by the …
Rattan and climate change
By Dennis Gorecho OSAKA, JAPAN — The use of rattan for the façade of the Philippine Pavilion may seem simple, but it is also symbolic: a sustainable way of addressing climate change concerns. During the panel discussion on “Health and Climate Change: The Greatest Challenge of Our Time,” experts emphasized how climate change impacts both livelihoods and …
The iconic three dots tattoo of Apo Whang-Od and copyright
By Dennis Gorecho Buscalan Tinglayan, Kalinga — I was inked last Holy Week in my right forearm with the iconic three dots tattoo by Apo Whang-Od, the so-called last and oldest surviving mambabatok. Batok refers to the traditional Filipino tattooing practice, particularly in the Northern Luzon region that has been around for more than a …
Mahjong as part of Chinese influence in Filipino culture
By Dennis Gorecho Mahjong has a special place in our family as we grew up with weekend gatherings of aunts and uncles for mahjong sessions while we (cousins) play traditional games. Mahjong is a Chinese tile-based game of skill, strategy and luck, which can be fun but can also be deadly. Mahjong is commonly played by …