It seems quite remarkable that it has been 15 years since I first posted part 1 of this list. Back then, it was challenging to have to comb through releases to spot the gems that proudly trumpeted our culture and history. Today, with the emergence of P-Pop and new music production technology, the unrivaled dominance […]
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Culture
The Rise of Felip and His Bisaya Songs – From P-Pop Idol to Heritage Champion
From Ben Zubiri and Pilita Corales to Kurt Fick and Jacky Chang, the Bisaya tongue has had its fair share of champions in the music industry, as it should. After all, Binisaya is ranked as the second most generally spoken language in Filipino homes. With more and more artists emerging from the south, it isn’t […]
Ten Best Filipino Music Videos (OPM) Featuring Philippine Culture | Part 2 – 2015-2019
I must admit, this list was far more difficult to put together than the first one I compiled five years ago. It’s almost as if we suddenly awoke to an awareness of national identity, resulting in an explosion of Filipino elements even in mainstream music. This should be a good thing really, except now, there […]
Vega, Lagbas, Pelaez Ancestral Houses – Misamis Oriental’s Enchanting Cultural Treasures
Before Covid-19 put the entire world at a standstill, I was fortunate to have had the chance to get a glimpse of three of Misamis Oriental’s most enchanting cultural treasures, three stunningly beautiful ancestral houses that have endured the inexorable, and often ruinous passage of time. It may be awhile before other curious wanderers set […]
Bantayan Island Then and Now – Revisiting a Dream
Retracing my steps became an obsession. I dreamt of it so often, that periods of wakefulness became exercises in frustration. To think I’d only been there twice before. This, I suppose, is a testament to its allure. Either that, or I was compelled by the intensity of familial proddings. Notwithstanding my utter lack of resolve […]
History
Bonbon Old Church Ruins History – Mt. Vulcan Unleashed
During my recent trip to Camiguin, one of the attractions that enthralled me the most was the Old Church Ruins in Bonbon, also known by its older name, Old Guiob (or Gui-ob) Church Ruins. Declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines,[1] it features just what its name suggests, the remnants […]
Revisiting Cagayan de Oro History in a Water Tower
Just a few steps away from the Cagayan de Oro river bank is a curious white, cylindrical figure, hemmed in on two sides by the San Agustin Church and Gaston Park. Although it is by no means imposing by modern architectural standards, its unique appearance, visible nowhere else in the city, commands attention. Water Tower […]
Natural Heritage
Explore Camiguin Island in Two Days – Top 10 Places to Visit
Camiguin Island has two excellent qualities. The first is its small size. At a mere 237.95 square kilometers, it holds the distinction of being the second smallest province in the Philippines. It is so small, that devotees on a Holy Week penance say that you could circle the entire island on foot in one day. […]
Camiguin: Island Born of Fire – Why it’s Worth the Visit
With its proximity to Cagayan de Oro, my homebase of 10 years, you’d have thought I would‘ve found my way to Camiguin sooner, and yet I hadn’t. I’d heard of the island’s white sand bar and its volcanoes and didn’t think they were enough of an enticement. It took a bout of depression to finally […]
Culinary Heritage
Kinilaw History, Origin and Evolution – Into the Heart of Freshness
I’ve had experience researching and writing about the origins of Filipino dishes before, but while dinuguan, Bicol express and sisig seemed straightforward enough, kinilaw / kilawin proved surprisingly complicated. What I thought would be a walk in the park has morphed into a wild ride around a vast, evolving culinary universe (Oops). 🙂 It behooves […]
Dinuguan Origins and Regional Variations across the Philippines
I only eat dinuguan when the meat in it is prime cut pork. I do know of course, that the more traditional versions of the dish contain animal innards. In Cris C. Abiva’s A Quick Guide To Filipino Food & Cooking, part of dinuguan’s description includes, “Pork, beef or chicken and innards stewed in fresh […]
Sisig Origin – How the Perfect Beer Match Came to Be
Sisig and beer are like peanut butter and jelly; coffee and cream; pencil and paper; running shoes and socks; Kris Aquino and controversy. They just really go well together. To be clear though, this popular Kapampangan dish isn’t just for beer drinkers, happy hour patrons or people who want to drown their sorrows (or the […]
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