For 18-year-old Bianca Bustamante, nothing beats the joy of hearing “Lupang Hinirang” being played as she took the Philippines to the top step of the podium right after the conclusion of Race 2 of Round 2 at the F1 Academy held on May 6 at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain. “The anthem was...
Author: Charles E. Buban (Charles E. Buban)
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For a healthier lifestyle, wake up earlier
When the 3 a.m. alarm went off it should have started a familiar routine that involved hitting the snooze button a number of times, closing my eyes again, and thinking of excuses for welshing on a commitment. To say that mornings are rough is to make an understatement. But this was no ordinary morning engagement,...
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Why we should continue to wear face masks
Planet Earth has been learning about Covid-19 ever since this highly contagious respiratory disease that killed so many was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020. The knowledge led to mobility restrictions in many countries including severe lockdowns in the Philippines, not to mention a global race on who could...
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There’s such a thing as a Rainwater Collection Law
Ever wonder what happened to Executive Order No. 26, which then President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law on May 16, 2017? It was practically a nationwide ban on smoking, with strict guidelines similar to what were imposed in Davao City when Duterte was its mayor. What about Republic Act No. 10913, or the Anti-Distracted Driving...
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Film continues to help Filipinos remember the sins of martial law
Shortly after World War II, many survivors of the attempted annihilation of Jews by Nazi Germany and its allies recalled the final plea of their fellow prisoners while being herded to impending death: “Remember! Do not let the world forget!” It was in honoring that anguished plea that Holocaust survivors set up exhibits and scholarly...
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Kidlat Tahimik’s ‘Balikbayan #1’ reverses the colonialist narrative
The story of humankind is replete with plot twists and unexpected events. Take, for example, the matter of who first circumnavigated the world. The usual answer is Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan who, on Sept. 20, 1519, led a five-ship, 270-strong expedition from Spain to search for a westward route toward the Spice Islands, now the...
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She shows the way to volunteerism and empowerment
On International Women’s Day, Patreng Non easily comes to mind as a Filipino woman who constantly strives to help, to empower, and to make a difference. It would seem that Patreng—formally Ana Patricia—is everywhere. Last month, the 27-year-old founder of the Maginhawa Community Pantry was busy going to and from San Jose in Nueva Ecija,...
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LeBron, Kareem make indelible moments in NBA history
There are certain indelible moments in the history of the US National Basketball Association, whether you witnessed them first-hand or not. One such moment happened on April 5, 1984, during the match between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Utah Jazz in Las Vegas. The Lakers called a time-out with just under nine minutes left...
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Soviet ‘hypnotist’ and US ‘mystics’ in a 93-day chess duel to remember
Chess legend Anatoly Karpov has “many memories” of the Philippines, including what is regarded as the most entertaining, if not bizarre, World Chess Championship match in history that was held in Baguio City 45 years ago. The match that took three months—July 18-Oct. 18, 1978—was between Karpov, then the 27-year-old titleholder from the then Union...
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Syrup’s recall a warning on what we give our kids
Back when we were children, our parents made sure we took our multivitamin and mineral supplements every day. It was generally deemed good practice: Vitamins and minerals are believed essential for life, and deficiency in one or more may lead to various ailments. Today’s parents still hold to this belief, but a growing number of...