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Karina Lagdameo-Santillan

A Filipina from Manila, Philippines. A longtime Humanist. A Creative Director and Advertising Communications professional for many years, she has been active in the Community for Human Development, facilitating workshops for personal and social change to help build a culture of peace, nondiscrimination and nonviolence. She is currently a freelance writer and a volunteer editor-writer for Pressenza in Asia.

Quo Vadis, Philippines?

Opinions   I’m a retired senior citizen of the Philippines, just one of your average middle-class Filipinas. Last May 9, 2022, I, and millions of citizens, turned out to cast their votes in a hotly contested National Election for the…

To the One

POEM       Be it mother or father son or daughter brother sister your beloved life companion… This is To the One.   We are stronger than we think. We are deeper than we feel. We are wider than…

The Bird by my Window

POEM       Morning companion, my buddy, my friend Every day, she sits on her favorite branch Right outside my bedroom window.   She wiggles, she chirps She stretches her wings She looks at me, straight in the eye.…

Hymn to the Human

POEM       O, lord of all divinity, I ask for your guiding grace and beauty.   In this world, a wondrous rainbow Of races, colors, and creeds,   How can we continue down this path of impunity. Show…

Conflict in Ukraine: a virtuoso composer-musician speaks out

I never knew that Alexandr Misko was Russian. All I knew and what mattered was that he plays a mean guitar in a unique fingerstyle that will dazzle you and he composes melodies that penetrate and inspire. His music on…

Incense

POEM       Sometimes At night While lying in bed Drenched with the sweat of memories The scents and flavors Of memories waft away–   Sweet With remembrances of love given and received Bitter With longings and hopes, unfulfilled…

Aletheia

PROSE POEM     Little one. I named you, Aletheia. You know why? Because that’s the name the early Greeks first gave to signify the search truth, sincerity and wisdom. Philosophy’s authentic name, Aletheia. Sophia is a lovely name as…

Diwata*

A TALE          Once upon a time in a not so distant past, there was a girl named Nora. She was your typical little girl who loved to play in the garden, climb trees and read books…

Kurit-Lagting Art Collective: When artists come together to become social activists

VISUAL ARTS     Sorsogon is a city in the Bicol Region located in the southern part of Luzon island, Philippines. Starting out as a mural artists’ group and joining several contests in the city, the group coined the term…

Intimations: A haiku journal #1

THREE HAIKUS AND A BACKSTORY       #1. all-embracing sky under your protective dome seas breath, mountains rise.   #2. there on an empty lot on a lone brown hilltop— tall, tall sunflowers.     #3. the dew on…

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