Culture and Arts Notebook

Quezon City, Philippines–  “Hope is everywhere, and if hope has a name…it would be, everything”–this is the main concept of the book, Life After Dark: Messages of Hope, which had its physical book launch at Jess & Pat’s Cafe in…

Patricia Ríos read one of the first essays I ever wrote in English back in 1998. In blue ink, the essay described a conversation I had with a friend. The essay’s title was “From the Other Side of the Street.”…

POEM     After years and years go by You may perhaps If the gods of fortune do please Have A Steady job, an occupation (a daily drip of income to cover the ever-increasing expenses) A Family, kids (to fuss…

Quezon City, National Capitol Region–  Various art organizations together with different writers’ groups from the National Capital Region, Bicol Region, and other parts of the country will be holding a virtual book launching of the collaborative writing project Life After…

When a moment arises that plants seeds of inspiration and snares a sense of renewed feeling and fortuity, it bursts with an explosion of words that tries to capture what it intimates, meanings that add grace, wonder, beauty, and a…

The fallout from Tsai Ing-wen’s massive defeat in the Nov.26 Taiwan Elections. Satire By John V. Walsh In recent local elections in Taiwan, the Party of President Tsai Ing-wen, the US-allied, pro-secessionist candidate lost badly.  We have obtained a recording…

POEM     The wind swirls around and strums the leaves. The monsoon arrives without a warning. A deluge, an outpouring from the heavens, As if in answer to the call of the earth. Parched, dry, drought, famine. Thousands, in…

POEM     In the darkness With eyes closed In the silence I call you   I sit and breathe in Waves of calmness Waiting quietly For you   I ask no questions I seek no answers I simply want to…

POEM     I can see the sky getting darker I can hear the gods playing with thunder. I can see the wind blowing stronger I can hear the dogs barking harder.   I can feel you when you cry…

a personal narrative   I was rummaging through some stuff from the past to let go, when I came upon an old magazine– a Rogue Magazine (circa May 2008!) that featured its first annual Philippine Music Portfolio featuring the heavyweights,…