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Consul Khrys Corpuz Popov: Finding love in Gotham
By Cristina DC Pastor Some diplomats fell in love with the country they were sent to, the culture and its people. Consul Khrys Corpuz just fell in love. Period. Khrys is returning to Manila, after six years in New York City, with her Ukraine-born American husband Dmitry Popov. She’s put in her time, made a […]
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That thing called ‘space’
By Ludy Astraquillo Ongkeko, Ph.D. Just weeks after this year’s spring term had concluded, topped by commencement trimmings, a FilAm mother of five, contacted me, saying between sobs: Her oldest child had just moved out of their Los Angeles home because she needed “space.” Lilly — affectionately called “Nanay,” by her household — requested me […]
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Teaching my son to curse
By Tricia J. Capistrano “Mama, can you please look at this and let me know if they’re correct?” I read the words in pencil written by my 10-year-old son, Emil, on crumpled notebook paper. dumb – walang imik mean – ibig sabihin stupid – hangal I was surprised and then heartbroken. Emil did tell me […]
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Inang
By Alex Brown I will never forget seeing the rolling of the forests. It was a sea of green, and as we carved through I realised that this scenery, and this nature, was not foreign to me. When we first moved to New Zealand my parents would take me on countless road trips, and as […]
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A mother’s ‘special place’ for adults with autism
By Cristina DC Pastor In the beginning of her journey into autism advocacy, Lirio Sobreviñas-Covey was like some parents whose children had the condition: “I was in denial.” She and her husband Michael brushed aside unwelcome remarks that their younger son, Mikey, was too quiet, too slow, and a little delayed in his speech. They […]
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Nanding & Laura find love anew and a life of purpose
By Cristina DC Pastor The prelude to Nanding and Laura’s love story had a religious backdrop. They met at Simbang Gabi sa Konsulado in December of 2013. They were lining up before the buffet table when Fiesta in America CEO Fernando ‘Nanding’ Mendez spotted an old acquaintance, and said, “Hey, I think I know you.” […]
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Parents of the Year Menchu and Judith Sanchez: They don’t believe in spanking kids
By Cristina DC Pastor For registered nurse Menchu Sanchez, being recognized by the White House for her heroism during the 2012 Hurricane Sandy may be a lifetime achievement. Being named, with husband Judith, Parents of the Year is an equally stunning honor. “We’re very happy,” she said of the recognition conferred on them by the […]
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The master-maid relationship is considered normal in Philippine families
By Tiara Camille Teruel They were the unsung heroes of our household. The protectors of our children and the sounding boards of our parents. They woke us up in the morning, made us food, bathed and dressed us and got us to school every day. They cleaned our homes, watered our gardens, bought our groceries, […]
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When the woman is much older: Brigitte Macron and Dionesia Pacquiao and their skirmishes with sexism
By Cristina DC Pastor In my search for the Filipino Brigitte Macron, I circled back to Dionesia Dapidran Pacquiao. Except for the huge age gap these women have with their significant others, I find nothing else they have in common, except, notably, the public’s obsession with their relationship with much younger men. Brigitte is the […]