FLIPSIDE
2011: What’s Looking Back at You?
by Nelia Dingcong Bernabe
January 1, 2011
Where did 2010 go? Did it whisk by without making its indelible mark? As we said goodbye to 2010, most of us readied ourselves for the New Year and launched our resolutions into flight sooner than anybody can finish saying Happy New Year! Continue reading
Merry Christmas!
by Nelia Dingcong Bernabe
December 25, 2010
Where I grew up, Christmas comes in a rather simplified fashion. There’s all the visual and auditory fuss and excitement but the simplicity comes from a more ethereal place. When the holiday season arrives, usually at the onset of the “ber” month, September, the entire landscape changes dramatically, transcending any religious, political or personal bias. Continue reading
A Procrastinator’s Plight
by Nelia Dingcong Bernabe
December 18, 2010
The clock is definitely ticking for I can see Christmas from my kitchen window. A few more days and the bearded man in the red and white suit will rack up major mileage on his sleigh delivering presents to every good girl and boy. But we know that beyond this bourgeois mindset – far more important than the red and white suit, gifts, and glitter – is the essence of why the Christian world celebrates this very special season. Continue reading
No Longer a Death Sentence
by Nelia Dingcong Bernabe
December 3, 2010
Wednesday was World AIDS Day and this year’s theme was Universal Access and Human Rights. A few sobering facts: it is estimated that about 33.3 million people are living with HIV, including 2.5 million children; 2.6 million people were infected with the virus; and about 1.8 million people died from AIDS in 2009. Continue reading
Mixed Message of Thanks
by Nelia Dingcong Bernabe
November 28, 2010
It’s a great week! It’s a week for gratitude, thanks and acknowledging all our blessings. Heck, even the Pope got in on the action. He says condoms are now the lesser of two evils to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS. Finally, The Church budged from its stock-still stance on contraceptives and now Catholic prostitutes have one more reason to be thankful for. Continue reading
Why I go to Church
by Nelia Dingcong Bernabe
November 12, 2010
Self-discovery, like the proverbial “light bulb moment,” could happen anywhere at any given time. It springs up unannounced and forces us to delve deeper within ourselves to seek out answers that would otherwise be overlooked. Continue reading
Much Ado About Nothing
by Nelia Dingcong Bernabe
November 6, 2010
There is no question that I’ve mastered the art of procrastination. Every week, I knowingly put off writing my column until the very end when things get really ugly and panic sets in.
Ah…the dilemma of a procrastinator disguised as a writer. Continue reading
Back in the Saddle
by Nelia Dingcong Bernabe
October 30, 2010
All it takes is a little spark for the fire to be fueled. It has been a while since I’ve done something that could be described as spur of the moment. Sad as that may sound, a lot of us – including me – go through life trying to get from point A to point Z and unknowingly forget what living and not merely existing truly means. Continue reading
Lessons Learned From 2000 Feet Below
October 15, 2010
It was riveting and captivating. The dramatic pictures allowed the world to experience the suspense and jubilation firsthand, front and center. Like the millions who watched, I was transfixed and spellbound. It was history in the making captured in almost two days. Continue reading
Color Me Purple
October 8, 2010
He had to pay the ultimate price. Death. His own death.
Nobody knew his name until word got out that a Rutgers University freshman killed himself by jumping off the George Washington Bridge. Tyler Clementi was only 18 years old. A promising musician, a son, and a friend. Foremost, he was way too young to die. Continue reading