Regret came with every step—at least in the beginning. Between the biting cold, the thin air, and the early, early morning darkness, the hike up Mount Pulag in Benguet was a shock to the system for those who, like me, do not usually climb mountains “for fun.” But, as it is with this kind of...
Category: Lifestyle
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A ‘bangus’ lover to the end of time
“I’ve brought you there before,” my protesting husband declared after I told him I’d honor an invitation to witness and take part in the Bangus Festival in Pangasinan early this month. For some reason I couldn’t recall that experience. Instead, I have memories of a lechon festival in the same province, when I was mindful...
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As near as I could get to St. Peter’s Basilica
By that I meant the Basilica of St. Martin of Tours in Taal, Batangas. I recall a senator once telling me to not miss a chance to visit this church, especially after its lighting, frescoes and tromp l’oeils were improved and restored. A visit here, she said, felt like being transported somewhere in Europe when...
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Dalipe River: Antique’s case for tourism without development
PANDAN, Antique—In a province known for its rugged coastlines and rising ecotourism spots, one inland destination continues to stand out by remaining largely untouched. Dalipe River in Barangay Guia in the municipality of Pandan offers a quiet alternative to the more frequented attractions in the area. Free from commercial development and large tourist crowds, it...
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Fukushima presents lessons for the whole world
FUKUSHIMA, Japan—Here, in the course of three weeks at the height of winter, I visited the area where the earthquake struck, the coast where the tsunami hit, the nuclear plant where the “accident” occurred, all in a prefecture that still grapples with the memory of a disaster that happened 15 years ago. For those of...
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From culture vlogger to viral restaurant owner
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet—Surprised to see lines of people on one side of the highway starting around 9 a.m. in Barangay Beckel, just at the border with Baguio City? They’re drawn by internet-personality-turned-restaurateur Etag TV and his restaurant. Etag TV is actually Mark Dave Yamoyam, a registered nurse from La Trinidad who has been vlogging about Igorot...
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Relapsing into phone addiction, and getting out again
Last August, CoverStory ran a piece I wrote on three simple ways to lessen screen time. That was six months ago and, like a dutiful patient out of rehab, I am reporting on how it has been, some losses and some gains, since I weaned myself off my phone. Suffice it to say that it...
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Harking back to Pope Francis’ Ash Wednesday call to return to God
Ash Wednesday, marked by the administration of ashes on the forehead or head of the faithful, begins the solemn season of Lent. (In the Catholic liturgical calendar, Lent refers to the 40 days from Ash Wednesday to Good Friday. Lent 2026 starts on Feb. 18, Ash Wednesday, and ends on April 2, Holy Thursday, before...
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Homegrown brews in what feels like a European setting
BAGUIO CITY—I don’t want to be that girl. That one who, after a trip to Europe, starts comparing, and very loudly, things Philippine to European, taking every opportunity to brag about the places she saw and the stuff she tried there. But I did spend time there pursuing a master’s degree under the Erasmus+ program....
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Me and my 21-year-old car
When I turned 50, my wife gifted me with a compact SUV. More than two decades and close to 380,000 kilometers in the odometer later, it is still with me. And my wife seems to be truly, finally resigned to my not parting with it anytime soon. More than my oft-stated reasons for keeping it—like...