By Dennis Gorecho The Oblation statue of the University of the Philippines (UP) depicts a man facing upward with arms outstretched, symbolizing a selfless offering of oneself to his union. UP was founded on June 18, 1908, or 117 years ago, through Act No. 1870 of the Philippine Assembly “to fill the need to meet …
Kuwentong Peyups
Two decades of Virgin Labfest
By Dennis Gorecho “May asim pa” is an appreciative Tagalog phrase often heard in storytelling involving middle-aged women that acquired its double meaning — sourness and sweet. Literally translated in English it means “sourness retained” or “sour still.” Paradoxically, the free translation is the exact opposite, as it describes a person, despite her age, still …
Photojournalism, fake news and copyright
By Dennis Gorecho The equivalent of fake news can be found in most periods of history, though it was not yet widely understood then or used as a term. An interesting 1951 Supreme Court sedition case on a published “fake death” (Oscar Mendoza vs. People, G.R. No. L-2990, December 17, 1951) was part of my …
‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’: A tale of shoes and cabbages
By Dennis Gorecho When I was younger, I always had dreams of flying by virtue of magical shoes. In Greek mythology, shoes, particularly sandals and winged sandals, symbolize various themes including speed, travel, divine aid, and even power or authority. Shoes, far from being mere functional items, symbolize universal experiences of protection, transition and identity …
Bohol sinks during the fiesta month of May
By Dennis Gorecho Bohol is “sinking” during May is a popular joke among Boholanos because the population of the island during this month is multiplied twice, thrice or even four times. May is a special month in the island because a fiesta occurs somewhere — in a sitio, barangay, town, or city on a daily …
The mysticism of Mount Banahaw
By Dennis Gorecho Before its closure in 2004, Mount Banahaw used to be a significant destination for religious pilgrims and those seeking spiritual experience, healing and miracles, particularly during the Lenten season. For two decades, Banahaw’s peaks had been classified as “strict protection zones” that remained off-limits to pilgrims and trekkers to revive its natural …
Confucianism and Filipino values in Chinese animation ‘Ne Zha 2’
By Dennis Gorecho The Chinese animation “Ne Zha 2” showcases elements of Confucianism, which in essence reflects Filipino values that have been significantly influenced by Christian morals. Watching “Ne Zha 2” revived my interest in Confucianism, which I first encountered during my history and philosophy classes at the University of the Philippines. Nezha is a …
Celebrating life through dances
By Dennis Gorecho Dance has always played a significant role in human culture, acting as a universal language that transcends borders, languages and time whether as a form of storytelling, a means of worship or simply a way to celebrate life. National Artist for Dance Alice Reyes said in an interview that dance is a …
UPCAT as gateway to being ‘Iskolar ng Bayan’
By Dennis Gorecho “Basically, your school has all the big fishes that came out of a small pond. You cannot always be the top student. It is impossible.” This is a line from the Netflix Korean drama “When Life Gives You Tangerines” told by Yang Gwan-sik (Park Hae-joon) to his daughter Geum-myeong (IU) about the …
‘Kisapmata,’ a tale of domestic violence, incest and the struggle to freedom
By Dennis Gorecho “Tatay knows best. Trust in Tatay. Trust no one else.” A father’s seemingly innocent loving lines from Tanghalan Pilipino’s (TP) stage adaptation of the 1981 drama film “Kisapmata” that, however, hide issues of domestic violence, incest and the struggle to freedom. I first saw the suspense thriller “Kisapmata” in the late 1980s …