Dawn Masses

THE excitement of Catholics to wake up every morning to attend the nine-day dawn masses to celebrate Jesus’ birth is undeniably evident even if some residents have yet to recover from last year’s tragedy, which happened just a few days before Christmas.

Beating stress by really trying

YOU have a very important interview to make so you jump off from your bed early, take a hasty shower, gulp your breakfast, climb into your car and drive away.

The great lessons a year after ‘Sendong’

“I HEARD something coming, like a flow of water,” said my husband Alain early morning of December 17, 2011.

The Kagay-anon Poet

DO YOU know that Toribio Chaves, the first elected mayor or municipal presidente of Cagayan de Misamis in 1898, was a poet?

That was how Kagay-anons held their poets in high esteem for they never made any distinction between one who is an artist to one who governs.

Children's party for the elders

THE past years, media practitioners in Davao have always chosen the House of Hope, a halfway house for children with cancer, as beneficiary of its annual gift-giving activity.

Understanding values… What drives your life?

“SMILE on me your servant; teach me the right way to live God’s ultimate goal for your life on earth is not comfort, but character development.

Luab: 'Simbang Gabi'

TODAY is the first day of the “Misa de Gallo” or "Simbang Gabi" (i.e. dawn mass in preparation for Christmas). The churches will be over-flowing with people. In order to be sure of a place in a pew, people will come one hour earlier than the scheduled mass. In spite of the extra mono-block chairs at the Redemptorist Church, some parishioners will borrow chairs from the painitan (breakfast) stalls and some will bring their own stools.

Smartphones can soon be used to 'e-hail' NYC taxis

NEW YORK — Raising your arm and yelling "taxi!" is the old-fashioned way to nab a New York City cab. Soon, all you'll need is a smartphone app.

New York City's Taxi and Limousine Commission on Thursday approved a pilot program allowing riders to "e-hail" yellow cabs, starting Feb. 15 on a test basis. Until now, the city has banned yellow taxis from prearranging rides.

A jovial wedding to remember

STEPHEN D. Zarate and Stephany M. Eslava happily exchanged their “I do’s” at the Saint William the Hermit Cathedral at San Fernando, La Union last December 8.

Their proud parents Engr. Florante and Mrs. Elaine Zarate (for the groom) and Engr. Rosalino and Mrs. Erlinda Eslava (for the bride), relatives, friends and sponsors showed their support to the couple during this very memorable occasion.

The worst of Sendong

THOUGH it’s heart-breaking to reminisce the struggles I’ve been through during those times, yet, it has given me the chance to share how God has been so good and merciful to his children.

I remembered also the very tricky line I would want to coin from the preaching of Fr. Rudy, “An experience is not complete until it becomes a memory, and a memory is not complete until it becomes a story.”

Dream high for all

HAVE you ever asked yourself what you want to truly live for or perhaps what drives and motivates you to do things that you keep on doing every single day?

Friday Block Lañas, director of nursing services at the Davao Doctors Hospital (DDH), has a handful of those advocacies to share.

Paper Boat

“SAY, Mama, Mr. Sun is shy again today.”

“Yes my little boy.”

Reminiscing: A year after ‘Sendong’

TO commemorate the first anniversary of the ‘Sendong’ tragedy, Xavier University came out with a collection of stories to honor the victims and survivors. The stories were the product of a creative writing workshop called "Sharing your Sendong Stories" held on November 9 to 10, which was facilitated by the English Department-College of Arts and Sciences.

'Lincoln' leads Golden Globes with 7 nominations

BEVERLY HILLS, California — Steven Spielberg's Civil War epic "Lincoln" led the Golden Globes on Thursday with seven nominations, among them best drama, best director for Spielberg and acting honors for Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field and Tommy Lee Jones.

A wish come true for cancer patient

THE wish of a 14-year-old girl from Paracelis, Mountain Province who was diagnosed with leukemia to be with her parents and eight siblings in a day full of joy has been granted.

Cobcobo: Mixed tips

HERE are tips that might help...

1. I prefer shaving the eyebrows than plucking or threading them because plucking and threading it may hasten the sagging of the skin of our eyelids. Shaving eyebrows is more precise but the disadvantage is that it grows faster.

Sagada’s lemon pie

SAGADA, Mountain Province – When god gave this town lemons, Joseph Daoas made lemon pie.

Owner of the Lemon Pie House in the highland town, Daoas, has been making lemon pies since the 1990s with the secret of the lemon concentrate kept safely only by him.

Decadent ‘Sandwich’ Cakes

CAKE has been popular for such a long time that they have been used in almost all occasions and activities where there is a get-together -- be it christenings, birthdays, weddings, graduations or any event when one, two or more people meet or gather.

Princess Soraya bares best Christmas Gift

CHRISTMAS is synonymous to gifts and presents. Others are happy receiving material gifts but there are those who value life more than the material blessings.

Fruits and vegetable salad

IN LESS than a fortnight, the eve and the day of Christmas will be upon us. It also seems, after asking around, the general consensus is that the menu; on the eve and on the day of Christmas will be the same traditional pinoy style. We will all try to have the old favorites. There will be Jamon, a lechon if affordable, lechon kawali, fried chicken, chicken pork adobo, embotido, morcon, mechado, and any and all kinds of meat dishes.

Embrace the edgy-luxe look with Kikay's Pink Sapphire

IT'S long been known in the industry as purveyor of sleeky feminine accessories, but fans of Kikay Accessories Company also know it to carry its share of ultra-chic clothing as well.

Goods, cash pour in for Pablo victims

RELIEF operations and cash aid continue to pour for the victims of typhoon Pablo.

SM City Cebu and SM Foundation Inc. have launched Operation Tulong, and put a booth at the lower ground floor of the main mall in SM City Cebu (between Air Philippines and Country Crafts).

Vicsal Foundation donates fire safety suits to CFCVFB

VICSAL Foundation (VSF) Inc. recently turned over 44 sets of brand new firefighting suits to the Cebu Filipino-Chinese Volunteer Fire Brigade Inc. (CFCVFB) in a ceremony, which was highlighted by the signing of a memorandum of understanding.

Getting a bite of a sinful snack

JUST imagine a triple burger beef patties piled one after another and stuffed with cheese, egg, jalapeno, and sauteed onion. How enticing, isn't it? But it could also be very sinful, even risking your hard work for one or two weeks of diet.

Better way to skin care

THE young lady behind Stella's Beauty and Skin Care Center has a passion for healthy skin.

Stella Marie Cadotdot, who hails from Bansalan, Davao del Sur, was a regular client of high-end skin care centers in the city after she moved here a few years back.

‘Nan natagowan tako:’ A great book for the grand Cordilleran people

THIS book entitled “Nan natagowan tako Cordillera History and Festival” will be launched on December 15 at the University of Cordilleras. Let us have a preview, a narration of the making of this great book by the author.

“A diverse people with a truly unique yet Filipino culture; a colorful history, Lush, Kabunian blessed land, exuberant festivals, weaving and music that captures the spirit of the people, the majestic Cordilleras.”

Elephant dung coffee: An exotic brew at $50 a pop

GOLDEN TRIANGLE, Thailand — In the lush hills of northern Thailand, a herd of 20 elephants is helping to excrete some of the world's most expensive coffee.

Trumpeted as earthy in flavor and smooth on the palate, the exotic new brew is made from beans eaten by Thai elephants and plucked a day later from their dung.

Don’t overindulge this Christmas season

IF THERE is a time of the year that you allow yourself to relax and forget about strict diet and constant work-out trips to the gym, it’s the Yuletide season. It’s when you are already winding down towards the end of the working year and gearing up for the holiday season.

There are lots of parties to attend, fruit cakes to nibble and Noche Buena leftovers to enjoy, all the while relaxing in the cool breeze.

Ring in the Holidays with Something Wonderful

YOUTHFUL, dedicated talent. Timeless, classic show tunes. Seasoned musicians and performers. This heady and potent mix all comes together starting today until tomorrow in a unique, theatrical concert entitled Something Wonderful, Something Musical.

Striking ‘Fresh fruit-topped’ Cakes

WITH the advent of unique flavors and designs of cakes from all over the world, plus our ingenuity, skills and constant “experimenting” on new tastes, we become bolder in our quests for new designs and ideas for cakes and pastries.