Aton goes to Mely’s Café

FOR their monthly business meeting, the Alliance of Tour Guides of Occidental Negros (Aton) chose to hold it at Mely’s Café. And why not?

Mely’s Café offers just the sort of goodies the tour guides would happily suggest to a visitor to Bacolod. Some long-time Filipino favorites we had were bihon malabon, cassava bibingka, and tsokolate.

Top things I did in Palawan (and you can't tell my parents)

I ATE Tamilok, also known as shipworm, but technically, this is not a worm. It is an elongated mollusk that grows inside the dead trunks of mangrove trees.

Meditated on top of a Karst in Matinloc Shrine in El Nido!

Sofia’s May 1 fiesta baptism

WOULD your summer be complete without attending even just a single fiesta?

With La Castellana’s Banana Festival, Himamaylan’s Himayaan, Hinobaan’s Pagbanaag, Victorias City’s Malihaw, Hinigaran’s Hinugyaw, La Carlota’s Pasalamat Festival, EB Magalona’s Ugyunan, Binalbagan’s Balbagan, Escalante’s Manlambus Festival and the mother of all festivals in Negros Occidental – the Panaad sa Negros - you will hardly run out of choices which fiesta to attend.

May is Mary’s month

ONE of the merits of being an early morning walker is that you get to have many welcome surprises. One of them is experiencing local color most unexpectedly.

I was making my way out of the Cathedral one Saturday after the 6 a.m. Mass when I saw a very colorful crowd preparing for a procession. Children and teenagers in vibrant flower colors were waiting for their cue and their positions. The writer in me couldn’t help but be interested in what was going on.

Osaka mayor believes comfort women necessary

WELL, simply put, this is an outrage. Not only is it an affront to all the surviving comfort women who struggled through years of scorn being called traitors, collaborators and whores, but it’s also an insult to the people that were subjugated under the Japanese Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere during World War II.

Toru Hashimoto, who serves as the Mayor of Osaka, told reporters at his weekly press conference on May 13 that "anyone would understand" the role of "comfort women" when soldiers were risking their lives and that you wanted to give them "a rest."

Random thoughts and hopes after the elections

NOW that the counting is almost done (some still doing it manually… geez…) we have the results and instead of ranting and complaining, we accept and embrace all the elected officials. Congratulations to all of you!

Just like most, we were glued to our television sets the evening of the D-day and on to the next morning and we even still follow the news. Whether local or national, as a voter who exercised my right, I want to know what the latest is.

Jimenez: 25 years of success in the sugar industry

IT was more than a two-hour drive the other week when this writer and PR man Charles Lim with JG Summit Holdings Corporate Communications lady Len Balmonte joined URC-SONEDCO boss Lance Gokongwei and the officers and employees of the Gokongwei-owned sugar central in its celebration of 25 years of business success.

The people of the Rising Sun in the Pearl of the Orient

WHEN you think of the historical relationship that the Japanese had with the Philippines, only one thing comes to mind – they were here during World War II, and they abused, tortured, raped and murdered our people.

That’s the answer you’ll get from most people. That image of Japan has been so ingrained into Philippine history that we even call the World War II years “tiempo-Hapon” or “the time of the Japanese”. However, World War II was not the only time the Japanese came to our shores.

The Feast of the Ascension and the elections

THIS Sunday is Ascension Sunday and why is it significant? Christ’s ascension completes the resurrection. Without the resurrection, Christ’s death would be meaningless and, without His ascension, the resurrection would likewise be incomplete and meaningless. That would limit Christ in His anointed mission by the Father.

“The ascension is the important link between His work on earth and His work in heaven which begins with the ascension.” (Walvoord, Jesus Christ Our Lord, p. 224).

“Variations” by Jeffrey Montaño

FORTY sculptures, mainly in wood and a few in stone, show off once more the skill of a sculptor. Extended until May 20, 2013, “Variations” opened in April 15 at the Museo Negrense de la Salle at the University of St. La Salle. Jeffrey Montaño showcased the various styles of making forms and figures through this art exhibit. The exhibit also shows how his style evolved after five years as a full-time self-taught sculptor.

Claridad Clan Reunion

AFTER covering the 71st Anniversary celebration of the Fall of Bataan and the 53rd General Alumni Homecoming of the Negros Occidental High School, I got the rare privilege to be invited by World War II veteran and NOHS alumnus Mr Pio Rodrigo to the 33rd Claridad Clan Reunion that was held at the San Juan Nepomuceno Covered Court in Barangay Sum-ag, Bacolod City last April 28, 2013.

The venue is just beside the Sum-ag Catholic Church, which was named after San Juan Nepomuceno, the Spanish name for St John of Nepomuk, national saint of the Czech Republic and martyr to the cause of defending the Seal of the Confessional.

World Red Cross Day in our corner of the universe

WHAT the Swiss businessman Jean Henri- Dunant and Geneva lawyer Gustav Moynier and the other three members of the “Committee of the Five” started back in 1863 to give relief to the wounded has provided more aid to help the suffering humanity.

Simple, small, yet meaningful. These characterized the 150th year anniversary celebration of the Philippine Red Cross, Negros Occidental- Bacolod City Chapter of the World Red Cross Day.

May's Garden and Restaurant

TRYING to look for a getaway for a luncheon is not anymore difficult. There are many interesting places to go, thanks to the very ingenious women who have transformed their homes and gardens to entrepreneurial endeavors as well as sharing environment friendly efforts to a community that is hungry to likewise join the parade of preserving the earth.

Vicki Belo: 23 years of mastering beauty

WITH the news and papers all talking about politics and lunch/dinner invitations for senatoriables and political candidates to introduce themselves and their programs, it was a welcome treat to receive an invite to a Vicki Belo lunch.

We know how popular Vicki Belo is. All the more celebrated stars never fail to express their gratitude to her during their shows or guestings. But Vicki Belo has also been known for some notoriety. That is not what prompted my decision to go.

Super Trouper Abba Mania

“I HAVE a dream, a fantasy …… And my destination makes it worth the while…I have a dream…a song to sing.”

Remembering the Veterans of World War II

SUMMERTIME in Bacolod City is always marked by general alumni homecomings at the Negros Occidental High School. For Summer 2013, the school observes its 53rd General Alumni Homecoming.

For one week, from April 22 to April 29, alumni gather to reminisce and relive those memorable moments of high school life spent in the said school which once served as a station of invading Japanese forces during World War II.

Victor Ortega makes the cut

IN ONE of those bad hair days, I was lured to the Victor Ortega Salon at The District at North Point. It’s a very new salon and barely a month old. I had balked at the pricey services it offered but then this was a particularly bad hair day and any woman would know what bad hair does to her psyche. (In my case, my bad hair days outnumber the good ones.)

North Korea’s five-star failure

THE luxurious 105-storey Ryugyong Hotel dominates Pyongyang’s skyline with its remarkable arrow-shaped façade and its shiny glass exterior.

It was supposed to boast no less than five revolving restaurants, more than 7,000 guest rooms, service that would put rival hotels to shame, and surprisingly – western operated casinos and nightclubs. Take note that I used the word “supposed”.

More than the Ice-ing on the cake

PRETTY as her presentations, Ice Valderrama, is an accurate depiction of her products.

I saw Ice (Isabelle B. Valderrama)starting out as a young mom entrepreneur making accessories and polymer clay sculptures. They were cutesy little items, too tedious to do and, although they took much time and love to create, I as a manufacturer myselfknew the returns would not be reflective of the tender loving time,care andeffort invested into each item.

Mothers and flowers

APRIL 23 was my mom’s birthday. She would have been 96 now had she not passed on last year.

I was reading an excerpt of Paula J. Fox’s Heart of a Mom from Simple Truths and this is what she had to say: “Mothers are also a lot like flowers in many ways . . . each one has her own unique beauty and each is designed by God to bloom where she is planted. As the heart of a Mother grows and blossoms in beauty and grace, she spreads her fragrance of love not only in her home, but throughout her world.”

SM store rocks!

WHAT’S new, pussycat? From one level, SM Store is now three levels high and ready to offer a new kind of shopping experience. The 23,800 square-meter store becomes more exciting for the serious shopper because not only does it have the dernier cri in fashion in stock but it also has new interiors that match the spirit of the city. With sleek, modern designs inspired by Bacolod's culture, architecture and arts, New York retail design firm Point Design, Inc. combined colors, materials, and patterns that make up this particular branch's environment.

America's tragic week

SAYING that the United States has had a rough week would be a bit of an understatement. It seems that the powers that be have decided to drop the hammer on the world's most powerful nation by sending it wave after wave of terror and tragedy.

Tuesday, April 15 (Monday in the United States) will forever be remembered by the people of Boston and the world as the day of the Boston Marathon Bombing.

Salt of the earth

WHEN summertime comes, salt is sold cheaply. The blazing hot sun makes it quicker for the seawater to evaporate from the salt evaporation ponds so there is an abundance of this most essential element.

Salt is not only important for survival but is also a valuable commodity, hence, the word "salary" which comes from the Latin salarium which, in turn, is from sal or salt. The word "salt" is used in idiomatic expressions.

Remembering the fall of Bataan

"IN MEMORIAM to the Unknown Soldier. Dedicated to a soldier whose name is not known, who left his loved ones in a lonely home, who fought our battles nobly to the end that we may stay our homes to tend. He fought for flag, for God, for you and me, that we may live forever free."

These are the moving words inscribed on the Monument to the Unknown Soldier at the Bacolod City Public Plaza, venue of our local government's 71st anniversary celebration of the Fall of Bataan last April 9, 2013.

Elemental beauties

THEY’RE not air benders, or water tamers. Neither did they spring from the earth nor are tinkering metallurgists. With their normal human heights and fair skin, they don't look like avatars. Earthlings, homo sapiens, students are they. But for just 30 minutes, in their quest for the most expressive and scenic posterity shots, and of course, to win in the team building exercise, they were able to capture the magnificence of the different elements and thematic concepts present in the scenic sights of the Guerrero Farm and Mountain Resort at Sitio Mambucano in Barangay Concepcion, Talisay City.

A cut above the rest

THE city of Talisay: rich in history with its heroes like General Aniceta Lacson, Julio Diaz, General Simon Lizares and so many more, plus vibrant in culture and heritage is evolving into a progressive city but still maintaining its country lifestyle.

Epic summer at Resorts World Manila

IT WAS a fun flight on board Cebu Pacific Air’s Airbus A-320 with full passenger capacity on last Saturday’s trip to Metro Manila. A quick taxi ride brought me across NAIA3 and to Remington Hotel where Resorts World Manila PR Manager Archie Nicasio who provided a comfortable two-night stay to experience the best summer party of all – Epic Summer held at the top floor of Maxims by the glass swimming pool.

Angelo Ortiz: An amazing young man

ONCE in a while, you meet someone for one purpose and it turns out that there is a whole different story about this person.

My friend Telly Moran told me that she was hosting a friend and wanted me to meet up with him because he is into all the latest products and machines for self-enhancement.

What’s the deal, Kim Jung Un?

IF I were to write a letter to the esteemed and benevolent ruler of the glorious Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, I would ask him what he wants to do with all the attention he’s been getting lately. It’s no big secret that North Korea will be renamed “The Great Korean Crater” if it opts for nuclear war, and Kim is (supposedly) not an idiot.

The only thing that Kim is gaining from all this saber-rattling and threats of nuclear annihilation is attention. Sanctions are not being lifted, efforts of reconciliation are not being made, and worst of all North Korea is further alienating the only country that it can truly call a “friend” – the People’s Republic of China.

A diary inspired by nature

1:00 p.m.: I’m standing at the check-in counter of The Quiet Place in a full-skirted floral sundress looking like I was on my way to Capri only to be waylaid by the lush green ricefields of Barangay Tabunan in Bago City.