I joined the Philippine Daily Inquirer in 1995, as a proofreader, a year after Amando Doronila—“Doro,” accent on the second syllable, to his colleagues and friends—became the paper’s editorial consultant and Opinion columnist. I had always admired journalists like Sir Doro, but when I needed to talk to him for the first time to clarify...
Author: Christine Ang-Buban (Christine Ang-Buban)
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I remember my other mother
In a recent phone conversation with my mom, she mentioned my nanny, who lived with our family for almost 60 years before passing away in 2014. I told my mom—she is based in the United States; we speak daily—that we were both lucky to have been cared for by a remarkable woman who loved us...
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Still lovely: Baguio in a day
BAGUIO CITY—From the lowlands we drove to the country’s summer capital and stayed for 10 hours. And we enjoyed every minute of our visit. We (my husband Charles and I) came up with the plan last year, when travel restrictions due to Covid-19 were eased. We carefully chose the date, taking into consideration the factors...
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How decluttering helps ease mind and heart
Who wouldn’t want a house that’s free of clutter? Why not dispose of the things that have been gathering dust and eating up space for years and years? Easier said than done, of course, because what might be clutter for others is a trove of special memories for you. Many of us have heard of...
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Small dogs are all the rage, but think twice before buying these fur babies
You often see them in malls and other public places looking so cute and cuddly. But laying aside their lovable appearance, is the proliferation of small dog breeds anything to be worried about? Of course, each one of us is free to choose the kind of pet and breed that we want to bring home...
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Save the dogs (and other creatures)
CAPAS, Tarlac—In the news lately is the order of Mayor Carmelo Lazatin of Angeles City, Pampanga, to file criminal charges against three men said to have killed and cooked a dog last week to serve as bar chow for their drinking session. It only goes to show that the law, in this case Republic Act...
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The Year of the Rabbit is ‘a year of recovery’
The Year of the Water Rabbit starts on Jan. 22 and ends on Feb. 9, 2024. And even with the traditional fireworks display, dragon and lion dance, red envelopes and family feasts, the celebration will not be complete without a glimpse of what the lunar new year will bring. According to Hanz Cua, one of...
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Our Lady is our mother for always
Dec. 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, is a special nonworking holiday nationwide by virtue of Republic Act. No. 10966. The law calls Our Lady “the principal patroness of the Philippines,” but more than that, she is the “mother” of millions of Filipinos who look to her as the fount of love...
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With volunteers as driving force, Angat Buhay shows how to help those in need
Leni Robredo went live on Facebook last Oct. 29 to thank all the volunteers who quickly came to the aid of the families whose lives were harshly buffeted by Severe Tropical Storm “Paeng” (international name: “Nalgae”), and to appeal for more help. Speaking from Harvard Kennedy School in Massachusetts in the United States where she...
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For Fiat, the reward is seeing that others are helped
In 1995, a group of 15 women professionals decided that it was time to give back and be of service to their fellow Filipinos. They knew they had the capability to make a difference and that it would mean a missed opportunity if they could not make use of what they could share. They came up...