My family was in the middle of action (or darkness) during this year's earth hour, not by choice but by circumstance. We were in Shang...

In October last year, I began writing my latest book with approximately 118,000 words, due March this year. It's been more or less six...

Every Thursday I don my respectable look (blazer, high-heeled pumps, and a knowing smile) and hie off to the transnational university where ...

During last Sunday's sermon, one-year-old Elijah (grandson of one of our church members) went straight to the front pew and listened to ...

In my travels, I always bring a book—aside from my Bible—with me. I am an early riser so after my quiet time, and while waiting for the wor...

The red flag was up. About one million protesters and supporters of fallen Prime Minister Thaksin were supposed to march while we were ther...

Together with eight of my clients cum friends, I am off to Bangkok. My netbook will be safely left behind so I can soak in the sights, soun...

He was a cute little boy, only about six years old, when he started playing the drums in our church's praise and worship team. At first...

(I was requested to upload my talk at the Christian Writers Fellowship. Sharing with you an abridged version.) No generic writing habit e...

For five days, grace made me remember the joy and magic of being a child again. The Hiyas School Tour brought me to five grade schools, eac...

Writing these past three weeks has been difficult. MyDSL has been acting up. On, off, on, off. Despite daily calls to PLDT, nada. Some P...

I got those on Valentine's Day this year. But first, let me tell you about one February 14 years ago. We got caught in a three-hour...

Hunan province is located in the south central part of the Chinese mainland. Hunan is also the name of a nameless restaurant that serves ...

I met Perry for the first time when Tony brought me to a Rotary function. Perry sang the Philippine National Anthem and I was dumbstruck. Hi...

My books, and how I write them, have been featured in various magazines and newspapers—blessings beyond measure. When one article occupied ...

Tying-loose-ends day is how I call those rare, extremely rare, days I can set aside for doing the teeny odd jobs that I put on the back bur...

My storybook series, Oh, Mateo! , takes place in an obscure town called Umingan. “Is it a real place?” “Where is that?” These are some of ...

The first thing I did was to let out one loud gasp. Followed by even louder gasps. The sight of hundreds of white umbrellas hanging down...

Going over my photos, which I just uploaded to my netbook, I found these two shots which make me, well, proud. They don't really show t...

We are all dyers—Yay, Rose and I. We dye our hair. Well, that's pretty commonplace, considering that practically everyone (the youn...

Clammy hands. Body drained of blood. Paralysis. Irregular heartbeat. Fuzzy brain. Malaise. Disorientation. Jelly knees. Did I have a ...

(Big, big thanks to Daniel M. Floresca, 11, for this incisive review of "Crying Children," published in the Manila Bulletin, Fun P...

"O" is for overwhelmed. And "Daet" (Camarines Norte) is the place where I saw, front row, genuine caring and nurturing. ...

Our 65th annual clan reunion, passionately chaired by my cousin Faith—held from Dec. 30 to Jan. 1—threatened to be our last. It was grand...