Benham Rice

Crispy fried shrimp and fish with lato salad at Dap-ayan Restaurant, La Trinidad, Benguet



An afternoon at the Falls - Hinulugang Taktak



Hinulugang Taktak is a natural attraction located in the City of Antipolo. There was a time when it was a popular leisure destination for many people but due to rapid urbanization and wanton development, it became very polluted and dirty that it was closed to the public.

Happy to know that the City Government of Antipolo made an effort to rehabilitate it and made it accessible to the public once again.

I have been to the falls before when I was still a child . But that was so long ago that when I recently visited it , it was like seeing the place for the first time. I can not say that it is spectacular compared to other falls I have seen elsewhere but at least it was still a refreshing and a relaxing sight - an oasis of green in the city that is fast becoming an urban jungle.

The government, both local and national through the DENR has done a commendable job cleaning the place. But for sure, this work is far from over and keeping it clean will always be a work in progress. For this to happen, the local residents and the people of Antipolo should also be involved and do their part in keeping this place and their city clean.

A reminder of how much work on cleaning up the place still has to be done is the  pile of litter that has accumulated just at the lower portion of the stream not far from the falls.

Part of the down stream that was not rehabilitated

Group Crafting to combat idleness, loneliness and social isolation

In its simplest definition craft is defined as "an activity involving skill in making things by hand". 

For me however, crafting is not simply an "activity". It has many benefits. and it can play a vital role in promoting personal and social well being.

Crafting engages people in a productive enterprise. It can be a source of livelihood but it can also help fight depression. It makes the hand busy at the same time that it challenges the mind to explore the limits of creative possibilities.

Crafting can be done alone but better if done collectively. It is after all a social activity and is a good way to bring people together.

At a time when urban living has made loneliness and social isolation prevalent, crafting can be a valuable instrument to address this problem.

2018 - May we get our values back

Kois and coins - kois symbolize strength to face the challenge of the year ahead and coins to symbolize prosperity. But what can be a good symbol for values?

New Year is the time people trade good wishes for each other. The standard wishes are for good health, prosperity and happiness and I still wish for it for everyone, me included.

But I also wish that we as a people get our values back - to realize the primordial importance of truth from which all values are based and  to reject lies and falsehoods by totally defeating and punishing their bearers.