Saturday, January 8, 2022

required reading

A dramatically new understanding of human history, challenging our most fundamental assumptions about social evolution―from the development of agriculture and cities to the origins of the state, democracy, and inequality―and revealing new possibilities for human emancipation


For generations, our remote ancestors have been cast as primitive and childlike―either free and equal innocents, or thuggish and warlike. Civilization, we are told, could be achieved only by sacrificing those original freedoms or by taming our baser instincts. 

Friday, December 31, 2021

a renewed 2022

Paghidaet sa Bag-ong Tuig. Peace in the New Year.


This fine new year, may we all be showered with wealth and prosperity!


image, freepik, free vector


Yes, utterly and completely rich - wildly and unapologetically. Rich in love. Rich in life. Rich in connection.


With one another and all that really matters. Filled to the brim and bubbling over. With more and spilling over a lot.


Full of laughter, acceptance. With less worry, less sorrow, less loss.


Rich in renewed experience, of a whole new year!


Happy 2022, dear ones!

Monday, December 20, 2021

the true catastrophe

Our home island of Negros Occidental declared a state of calamity in the wake of Typhoon Odette - a disaster that wreaked so much havoc in its wake. 

a long standing record of service to the nation & its people

With local national elections in full swing this becomes a double edged sword. Those working on the ground are often hampered by show boating politicians who have until now been largely absent to local citizens and constituents. 

The Philippines' latest failure - President Duterte

Saturday, December 11, 2021

a proud moment

Pinoy pride fills our heart and spirit to overflowing as we listen to Maria Ressa's acceptance speech at the Nobel Peace Prize awarding ceremony. 

Philippine VP Leni Robredo with Maria Ressa

The Nobel Peace Prizes were awarded today in Oslo, Norway. This year's winners were two journalists honored for their unrelenting pursuits of truth in a world becoming less free.

Dmitry Muratov, editor of one of Russia's last independent news sources, was recognized for his work. Philippines journalist Maria Ressa, editor of Rappler.com, called for a reform of social media platforms.

Nobel Peace Prize Awardees - MLK & Maria Ressa

At stake are truth, facts, our democracy - threatened most by social media and technology. Where the spread of lies, laced with anger and hate, is prioritized over facts. Without the facts, you can't have truth. If you don't have truth, you can't have trust.


murdered Philippine journalists - GenSan, Mindanao 2009

Without trust, all is compromised and much is lost. These are the folks at the forefront of this fight. Kudos to them for holding the line for truth and accountability for the rest of us.

This win is a victory for press freedom advocates across the Philippines and the world. Mabuhay!

Tuesday, November 30, 2021

honor our revolutionary spirit

As we commemorate the 158th birth anniversary of the The Father of the Philippine Revolution, Andres Bonifacio - may we honor his revolutionary spirit by upholding freedom for all Filipinos.

AndrĂ©s Bonifacio y de Castro, (November 30, 1863 – May 10, 1897) was a Filipino freemason and revolutionary leader and the First President of the Philippines. 

excerpts of "Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa" by Andress Bonifacio
English translation by Epifanio de los Santos

We are proud to be Filipino and have a hero like Andres Bonifacio, who fought for, encouraged, and supported his ideals, fellowmen, and country. 

As he did, may we love our country more and complain about Filipino behavior and our local situation less. Act as we must to support and improve matters instead - in however way we can.

Mabuhay, Pilipinas!

Monday, November 15, 2021

season of resistance

Dissent was my primary mode of operation growing up - at home, in school, with relationships. I believed moving to the United States of America would be less repressive and corrupt than the false democracy of my Philippine homeland. 

Jingle dancers at Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, July 2020

I relocated in 2006 and with Barack Obama as US president from 2009 to 2017 was all too easily lulled into the belief that this was truly the land of equal opportunity, freedom and liberty. With the US' reputation abroad and the American economy significantly improved we all had our blinders on. 

 Jingle Dress Project - a healing dream

Sunday, November 7, 2021

a life of lies

The visual illusion being imposed on Filipino voters [and played on the world stage] by the political machinery driving yet another Marcos campaign is both pathetic and scary. 

We had the sheer luck of escaping a world order of Trump and his Trumpians only because his man-baby ego-driven persona is so huge it is his own giant obstacle. 

masked & distanced

This too is the sad and silly story behind the Marcos machinations and maneuverings to get their lone male heir to win back their glory days in politics and erase their bloody history.