Sorely missing Lumbia Airport

HOW do we say our goodbyes to one who has been so much a part of our lives and of Cagayan de Oro for over six decades?

I am referring to the recent closure of the iconic Lumbia Airport last June 14, 2013.

Eye-to-eye with Ninox leventisi

A RARE find, a newly discovered endemic specie Camiguin Hawk Owl (Ninox leventisi) and Philip Godfrey C. Jakosalem or Godo to his friends, finds love at first sight.

Jakosalem works as a conservation biologist specializing in ornithology. He is a biologist, with a Masters degree in Applied Ecology and Conservation at University of East Anglia in UK with the support of the International Fellowship Program of Ford Foundation. He recently had another eye-to-eye encounter with one of the world’s endemic species found in Camiguin island.

'Chronicles of a Death Foretold' in the mall

I AM reading Chronicles of a Death Foretold on a bench against a lavender wall, an island of peace and quiet, much like my favorite bench in the university sunken garden, but where the trees are of steel leafed in multi-colored skirts, blouses, and gowns on fragile hangers.

They surround me, these tributes to womanhood, silently begging to be bought, like the lines and layers of shoes that seemed to cry out in their little high-heeled and strappy voices, “me! me! me!” as I approached the third floor from an escalator at the SM department store in MOA.

Dad’s Special Day!

A FEW more days and we will all be celebrating Father’s Day.

And for sure, just like in the past several years, we have all given our special attention to our dad, just like we did for our mom.

When Dengue claimed ‘Angel’ (Last part)

(Writer’s note: This article is an edited and paraphrased version that was written to me last 2010 by a dear friend who requested to remain anonymous. It is about a boy named ‘Angel’ who fought the last minute of his life against an alleged misdiagnosed dengue case. I find this article timely considering June is also the Dengue Awareness Month. The setting took place in one of the private hospitals in Cagayan de Oro City. The first part of this two-part article was published last June 7, 2013)

THAT Sunday morning, the medical team panicked as Angel succumbed to cardiac arrest.

Roa: The face of the Kagay-anon

JUNE 4 is the 113th anniversary of the Battle of Macahambus, where the Filipinos won their first victory against the Americans in the 1900-1901 Resistance War in Mindanao.

The account of this historic battle has been published in this column several times and I would not want to write it for the nth time.

Pastrano: Pasaway na bata

THE rains are here -- it’s time to go back to school.

Over the weekend, the family traipsed about town to do our last-minute shopping for school things.

The lightkeeper of Talaandig culture

I GREW up surrounded by sugarcane fields that became my playground to look for wild spiders in the absence of malls and supermarket.

In that small village, I frolicked in the sun at the foot of the mountain along the side of the Istaka river surrounded by sugarcane fields and bamboos.

When Dengue claimed ‘Angel’ (First of two parts)

Writer’s note: This article is an edited and paraphrased version that was written to me last 2010 by a dear friend who requested to remain anonymous. It is about a boy named ‘Angel’ who fought the last minute of his life against an alleged misdiagnosed dengue case. I find this article timely considering June is also the Dengue Awareness Month. The setting took place in one of the private hospitals in Cagayan de Oro City.

Angel was an adopted child of my uncle and aunt who could no longer bear children. There was nothing really special about him.

On prostate cancer

THE month of June typically marks the end of summer season in our country. However, did you know that June is also declared as the Prostate Cancer Awareness Month?

Sleepless in Siargao

SIARGAO is a seascape of liquid memory: pristine waters in watercolor blues stretching far into the horizon, all the way to the unknowable future -- a mesmerizing meditation charged electric by the laughter of waves.

Of course, the waves. Siargao is waves.

Camiguin honors month of the ocean

LIVING in this country makes one naturally communes with the sea which connects more than seven thousand islands. On a glorious sunny day, water ripples like diamonds in the seven green seas or switches to hues of blue that reflects the spectacles of a tropical sky.

The month of May has been declared as the “Month of the Ocean” through Proclamation No. 57, s. of 1999 which recognizes that “coastal and marine resources provide both economic and ecological benefits, such as food, livelihood, recreation and other services, as well as biodiversity, aesthetic value, and shoreline protection.”

‘Worst headache of my life’

MAX (not his real name) is 42, and lucky to be alive. He just had a brain surgery last month for a ruptured aneurysm and now he is gradually going back to his usual activities at home.

‘How I captured Col. Velez’

THE American officer who captured Col. Apolinar Velez in Opol on January 4, 1901 was Capt. Sidney A. Cloman, who then became the military governor of Jolo Province.

Twenty-two years later, he wrote an account on how he captured Velez, the head of the Western Mindanao Battalion of the Liber Troop on the June 1923 issue of the World's Work, an American publication.

Treasures, “trashures” and snakes

This is a continuation of last week’s column in which I wrote about my yearly top-to-bottom housecleaning, and finding treasures and “trashures” in the mess.

One of the intentions of the general cleaning was to get rid of everything that was no longer of use or value. As we all know, one is supposed to sell, donate or toss out “collections” that merely collect dust. We are told by housekeeping experts, and spiritual directors too, that hording things and hanging on to emotional baggage that have outlived their reason for being eat up space and impede one’s emotional growth.

World Health Day (last part)

LAST Sunday, April 7 was the 65th World Health Day. Since the founding of World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948, every year a theme is selected to highlight a priority public health concern that affects the entire world.

For this year, the World Health Day theme is controlling blood pressure.

World Health Day (First of two parts)

WORLD Health Day, which is celebrated every 7th of April since 1948 marks the founding anniversary of the World Health Organization. Every year, a theme is selected to highlight a priority area of worldwide public health concern.

The 2013 World Health Day theme is controlling blood pressure.

Vacation on a budget

EVERY time one goes on vacation, money is always the utmost consideration, although it is also as important as the time allotted for the trip.

I never imagined myself trying to squeeze out all the time available for a short visit. Way back in the late 80’s, when I first tried my luck in New York to work as a nurse, it was a time for explorations, new experiences and a lot of learning in the process in the big apple.

Alae holds 1st Alanihan Festival

ALL roads lead to the booming village of Ali, one of 22 barangays of Manolo Fortich in Bukidnon province, as villagers converged last Saturday for the Alanihan Festival 2013.

Alanihan Festival is the villagers' way of thanking their patron saint, Sto. Nino, for a bountiful harvest.

SM Accessories shows off pre-summer soiree

OVER the past holiday season, strong, bold and fierce were the standout trends. The stylish and sophisticated set were spotted donning eclectic prints, sleek and classy pieces, items with sophisticated elegance, and exquisite pieces with a regal touch – all by SM Accessories.

With the introduction of Xian Lim, Georgina Wilson, Richard Gutierrez and Anne Curtis as its newest ambassadors, SM Accessories established itself as the Philippines’ Fashion Accessories Authority.

Storing memories in print

PERHAPS the best treasure that we can keep and share with our family and the future generation are the memories that we keep in our minds.

But somehow, our memory will definitely go fainter as we age and those precious happy thoughts will soon be forgotten. But with the aid of something tangible in our hands like photographs, the finer points of those past events will be rekindled as we wish.

‘Doctoring the Law’ comedy musical set

ESTABLISHED less than a year ago, Thrive CDO, a non-stock, non-profit organization aimed to raise awareness against breast cancer, has had an increasing number of supporters all over the city.

From ordinary citizens to society bigwigs, Thrive CDO has found an ally. One of the newfound friends of the advocacy group came in the form of a Doctor and a Lawyer, two seemingly distinct personalities working in two polar opposite worlds who have found each other to work on one goal – to help raise funds to sustain the programs of Thrive CDO.

Wacky, wicked Halloween at SM

HUNDREDS of “little Monsters in different forms” gamely took part in this year’s “wacky and wicked Halloween contest” organized by SM City on Wednesday.

Out of the three hundred participants who came in their cutest, spookiest and wackiest costume, only one was chosen as winner in three of the categories set by the organizer.

Fashion show for kids with special needs

SPECIAL children deserve dedicated care. Often times, however, they are neglected, especially those from marginalized families as their parents struggle to make ends meet in these financially-challenging times.

Because of this, Little Angels Learning Center was born where a group of volunteer teachers took it upon themselves to do their share in providing support services and self-help skills to children with special needs.

Ms. Kagay-an 2012 contestants face Oro media

ELEVEN lovely candidates vying for the Miss Kagay-an 2012 crown were officially presented to the members of the Cagayan de Oro tri-media on Monday at the N Hotel.

The meaningful lifestyle

IN OUR younger days, we worked hard so we could acquire a lot of things. At the start, we were contented to just have one TV set in the living room. Then we decided to have another one in our room. It was the same with most things.

First, we bought a regular-sized refrigerator. Then we figured that a freezer would be nice. We then moved on to our washing machine, and we wanted to have a drier too. We needed a car, then we had to have another one. The needs just grew.

17 young ladies vie for Miss Teen CDO 2012

THE annual search for Miss Teen Cagayan de Oro is now having a blast as 17 lovely young ladies from different barangays in the city gracefully faced the local media during a press conference on Friday at Limketkai Center.

Tuna pancit

PANCIT is dish that we love, be it for special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, christenings, etc. or just plain day to day meal. What is in pancit that makes us wants to eat it? Maybe because it is a complete meal in itself -- carbohydrates, protein and fats. Or maybe because it is filling.

FIP studes bare designs in fashion show

YOUNG and promising designers from the Fashion Institute of the Philippines (FIP) showed off their extraordinary creations in a fashion show dubbed “Fashionology” held on Sunday at SM City.

The members of the Model’s Association of Cagayan de Oro wore with confidence the designs of FIP students Cheska Ma, Melanie Ching, Lyris Dablo, Khenny Mercado, Zoe Botwin, Mavylee Cooper, Elton Ladd Batinga, Tanya Kay, Inyaki Yuson, Badette Tan, Nemitz Zayas, Sol Morales, Nehaya Mipangcat and Charina Pistano.

Filipina’s role on equality

IN THE Philippines, women have always played a significant role in the history of the nation. Before the onset of western imperialists, women have played a significant role in society because early Filipinos regarded men and women as equal. Women in their time can own property and can even inherit chieftaincy over a barangay. Women, who were called babaylan or katalonan, performed religious functions as priestesses.