Monthly Archives: November 2012
The Concept, the Writer and the Message
by Paul Ballard
November 1, 2011
Dear Reader,
I am thrilled to be invited by Yoly to become a columnist for Filam Megascene. Before launching into my first piece, I should introduce myself.
In this column – ‘ Tea Leaves Under Stones ‘ – I want to ask questions and explore issues from different perspectives. I want to look for the ‘tea leaves’ – the forces shaping our future – under the “stones” – the first-sight appearances of a reality we think we know well, but may not.
Continue reading
Discovering Woodhaven Lakes Resorts
by Ting Joven-Giovanelli
November 1, 2011
Life is full of surprises. It’s like opening presents on a Christmas day – you never know what you’re going to get. Some will take your breath away, and some will make you grope for words to say. Continue reading
The Life and Times of Alex Esclamado
by Rodel Rodis
November 1, 2011
The last time I saw Alex Esclamado was in August of 2011 just before he left for the Philippines. I had given him a US Pinoys for Good Governance t-shirt (“Our Soil, Our Oil”) which he proudly wore. Just before I snapped his photo, Alex gestured for me to lean forward towards him as he whispered in my ear “Yes, let’s keep the oil in the Spratlys for the Philippines,” he said in slow, halting tones, showing the deleterious effect of almost a decade of Parkinson’s disease, which had damaged his body’s motor functions but not his mind which remained sound. Continue reading
Childhood Obesity
by Dr. Philip S. Chua.
November 16, 2012
In our culture, a chubby kid is somehow considered a healthy child by 9 out of 10 mothers. Most TV commercials today use plump and rotund children in their food and vitamin ads. This sends a wrong and dangerous message, and a disservice to the public, especially to our youngsters. Continue reading
Amerikang Walang Kuryente
by Fermin Salvador.
November 16, 2012
May nagsasabing ang ‘power outage’ o ‘brown-out’ ay karanasang pang-3rd world country lamang. Sariwa pa sa alaala ng mga Pinoy ang mala-bangungot na pagkawala ng kuryente nang halos araw-araw at tumatagal nang maghapon at/o magdamag noong pagbungad ng dekada nubenta. Papatapos ang termino ni Pres. Cory at ang paboritong tudyo ng yumaong sikat na peryodistang si Joe Guevarra: “I-NAPOCOR, e!” (“Use NAPOCOR” na ang kasingtunog ay “Enough of Cory”). Continue reading
“Thanks!”
by Fred C. Wilson III
November 16, 2012
A simple ‘thank you’ goes a long way. It says a lot about a person. A grateful attitude smoothes over many of life’s tough spots; being thankful enhances a person’s ability to appreciate the gift received and respect the gift giver. Having an authentic sense of gratitude opens the possibility of receiving continued blessings and greater benefits from the gift giver. Anyway you look at it gratitude is a win-win situation for all parties involved. Continue reading
The Silence is Deafening… Keep it That Way!
by Nelia Dingcong Bernabe
November 16, 2012
The silence is deafening. There’s nary a peep, a twitch, nor a sigh. Nothing. Instead I hear silence, deafening silence that runs through the core of my body like a dagger to my chest. Why so quiet, peeps? In the voice of my African American friend Mich (she’s really real), “Where you at? Where you at, fool?” Continue reading
Federal Welfare Spending Soars 32 Percent Under Obama
by Don Azarias
November 16, 2012
According to the Congressional Research Service (CRS), welfare spending has grown substantially over the past four years, reaching $746 billion in 2011. That’s more than Social Security, basic defense spending or any other single chunk of the federal government. Continue reading
Thoughts for Thanksgiving
by Arnold De Villa
November 16, 2012
If you know what you knew then or know what you did not know, would you act on that new knowledge or would you behave as if you did not know? In one of the many Thanksgiving parties I attended, despite the jovial atmosphere of friends sharing the fellowship of so many reasons to be thankful. Continue reading
Typhoon Ofel, Other Typhoons and Family Reunion 2012
by Carmelita Cochingco Ballesteros.
November 16, 2012
Tuesday, Oct. 23. Typhoon Ofel was reported to be in Mindanao. We live in Mendez, Cavite in Southern Luzon. So we thought we were safe.
The Block Rosary devotion visited us at the Faithful Shepherd’s Garden. This devotion involves the home visit of a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the praying of the rosary as well as Bible reading and sharing. The visit lasts about a week. Continue reading