Mutya ng Dabaw 2010
By Janelle Tee
Opening to grace
GLOWING with positivity and she passes this on. That's what I have always described this lady, Nikki Serrano-Honasan, a friend and a yoga practitioner. She has opened herself to grace and she knows one day I will.
This is what I love about her. Nothing is ever compelled but believes and...
The making of a winner
FOR 25 years, we have gawked at them in their most colorful best, inching up the main thoroughfare: The floral floats.
But very few, except the artists and artisans tasked to make them, get a ringside view of the goings on before the float are done.
That was what I was able to...
A welcome addition
By Stella A. Estremera
Feeling the love from Davao to Boracay
YOU can never have enough visits to paradise.
A peek into Justice Sereno's thoughts
THE newspapers were abuzz about the appointment of a new Associate Justice to the Supreme Court, the first appointed one by President Benigno C. Aquino III.
Thus, it was difficult to turn down an invitation to interview her, right here in Davao City, where she was attending a grand family...
Quiet
By Stella A. Estremera
Nostalgia
EVERYTHING happened in the big white house.
From way back, the bog white house stood regal and mighty along Legaspi Street.
Each time I pass by, staring in awe was the usual expression. It must have been that house that implanted in me the desire to be an architect.
Live green
SUN.STAR Davao is turning 15 next month and thus it has been busy with build-up activities for the grand event. Among them, a confirmation of Sun.Star Davao's long reputation as a champion for environmental issues.
Eating with pi
By Stella A. Estremera
Eight months and still waiting
IT WAS the eighth month of the Ampatuan massacre and lawyers, members of the civil society and the media were once again gathered to commemorate what could hopefully be Philippines history's worst attack on media and lawyers.
This is the makeover
By Stella A. Estremera
All Filipina
THERE is the over stocking of rice at the NFA, the misappropriation of calamity funds, the need for delicadeza and resignation of midnight appointees, buildings instead of trees by the La Mesa Dam, bonuses of officials that can pay the benefits of the members instead and the undying spread of...
Superbalita on its 11th year
WE CALL it our big little sister. This is because it is smaller in paper size and smaller in number of staff.
Sarap, busog
IT'S not new. It's a newly opened branch and we were there because we were hungry and because I wanted to know if this more accessible branch offers the same quality of food they offer in this residential house turned restaurant along Lacson Street (better known as the street along MacDonald's...
The Company of Connoisseurs
IT WAS long overdue -- a relaxing gathering with chit-chat over dinner that would go way past midnight, wine and more wine until it's all about crawling to get home having one drink too many and waking up to a hang-over the next day and probably miss whatever appointment you positively RSVPed to...
Ramadan: Beyond fasting
IF the Christians rejoice in the birth of Jesus Christ calling it Christmas day in December, Muslims celebrate Ramadan, the ninth month in the Islamic calendar (Hijri), where the Holy Qur'an was revealed to Muhammad (Sallallahu-Alaihi Wasallam).
Ramadan is set to begin in the second week...
One more reason to bust your zipper
By Stella A. Estremera
From ramp to martinis
THE white runway was splashed with hues of the rainbow. It's every woman's dream parading before her eyes, beautiful clothes divinely accessorized. The new pair of Choos in her closet is searching for its perfect match and she may just have found it sashaying on the ramp.
On the streets where they live
INDAY, 36, is mother to nine children, the eldest girls who are aged 14-16 are prostituted.
Living in one of the slums of Davao City where videoke houses for visiting workers abound, the girls opted to drop out of school and find some source of money. But in a community like theirs, young...
Education for kids at work
IN SEPTEMBER 2000, member states of the United Nations (UN), including the Philippines, gathered at the Millennium Summit to affirm commitments towards reducing poverty and the worst forms of human deprivation.
Too early
EMMANUEL Arpon, better know among his peers as Kulot, is a bright and cheerful 16-year-old Dabawenyo. He is the kind of person who can instantly make someone laugh by continuously cracking the timeliest jokes. He seems to be living a happy life, but his sun-burnt skin and heavily calloused hands...
When summer is gone...
THE ride towards my hometown was paved and easy. It only took three hours for us to traverse from the municipality of Mati on board a local jeepney, still it seemed like my body was weary with the long ride.
Savoring Morocco
MISSING the chance for an actual trip to this mystical land and walk the streets of Marrakesh and search for treasures in the amazing souks of the land, I will have to settle at the next best thing - the food!
Kambingan at lambingan
By Stella A. Estremera
