By Sonny Angara Over the past two years, we are seeing a resurgence in the Philippine tourism industry. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) recently came out with its 2023 Philippine Tourism Satellite Accounts data, which showed the sector posting the highest growth rate since the agency started monitoring this in the year 2000. PSA measures the …
OPINION
Metonymy: Unpacking the toolbox
By Herman M. Lagon Metonymy, often overshadowed by its flamboyant cousin metaphor, is a figure of speech where a concept is not called by its own name, but rather by something closely associated with it. Imagine referring to the corporate world simply as “the suits” or to artistic masterpieces residing in “the Louvre.” This …
Is gov’t paying lip service to human rights?
By Ade S. Fajardo The House of Representatives committee on human rights is now holding hearings on the thousands of deaths that resulted from the drug war implemented by the Duterte administration. The House appears to have risen from a stupor. It used to kowtow to the wishes of the former President, even participating in …
Conversion a continuing affair
By Fr. Roy Cimagala What can we learn from the parable Christ told the chief priests and the elders of the people, about a father with two sons whom he asked to work in the vineyard? (cfr. 21, 28-32) The first son at first said no, but later on changed his mind and went to …
A dance on shards
By Herman M. Lagon A few songs challenge our socio-political narrative the way “Sayaw sa Bubog” by The Jerks does. Released amidst the early 90s, a turbulent time for the country as it wrestled with the vestiges of dictatorship and the illusions of a new democratic dawn, this song encapsulates a profound skepticism towards …
Stomach viruses
By Dr. Joseph D. Lim A class of viruses known to cause severe diarrhea can grow in the salivary glands of mice and spread through their saliva. This was discovered by scientists at the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH). Their findings show that a new route of transmission exists for these common viruses, which …
Escalating tensions in the South China Sea
By Ignacio Bunye The June 14, 2024 Communiqué from the Group of Seven (G7) Summit in Apulia, Italy, has once again brought attention to the escalating tensions in the South China Sea. As the world’s leading industrialized democracies, the G7 leaders expressed serious concern about China’s behavior in the region, particularly its “dangerous use of …
The duty to love everyone
By Fr. Roy Cimagala Indeed, we have such duty! Christ himself told us so in no unclear terms. We have to love everyone, including our enemies! “You have heard that it was said, you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who …
Pediatric care, pandemic woes
By Dr. Joseph D. Lim What we have known to have happened here in the Philippines has just been confirmed to have occurred in the United States. According to a study published in the Journal of the American Dental Association, the likelihood of a child in the U.S. having a dental visit in 2020 was …
‘Everything is grace’
By Herman M. Lagon Each moment, event and encounter carries a whisper of grace in our lives. This notion, deeply rooted in spiritual wisdom, especially in the teachings of St. Therese of Lisieux and the essence of Ignatian spirituality, tells us that grace intertwines with our daily experiences, shaping a life rich with meaning …