MALOLOS MANSION
The town of Guiguinto in Bulacan is known for its simplicity. Though relatively close to Manila, the town still was able to maintain its rural way of living. But amidst this quaint town is an abode like no other.

The Bonnga's house looks intriguing even on the outside. It is not the typical residence you would have seen in a town like this. Its gate, made of wood, looks more at home in a house from the Spanish Era. A large bell and water pump, worn with age, decorate the front lawn. read more...

TANGING INA
I had reservations in watching Tanging Ina. Even if I know for a fact that it' s the top Filipino film, grossing Php155 million in its first four-week of theatrical run, it is still not on my movie list. Afterall, I grew up with a notion that Filipino films are either corny or baduy, thanks to bad (and almost always bold) Filipino movies shown and produced while I was growing up. But Tanging Ina is an intriguing movie right from the start. With a title that sounds like a Tagalog swear word, it has piqued the interest of the people enough to lead them to the movie houses to watch it. read more...

 

LOVE'S SACRIFICES
by Arvee Salazar

It was another Friday afternoon. As I got home from school at 7:30 in the evening, my father was already there making dinner. He was bustling in the kitchen, cooking the rice and making another delicious meal. My dad's dishes are always yummy to the taste but recently I have noticed that he makes Fridays' meals always extra special. The smell of deliciously baked chicken is already feeling my senses.

I greeted him and went to my room just to change my clothes and put my bag down. After that, I went out to join my brother in cleaning the house. He was already halfway finished in dusting the last room and so I went to get the broom and started sweeping. In a comfortable silence, we went to finish our chores.

This has been the routine in our house every Friday. This has been our Friday routine ever since my mom got promoted and has to work 5 hours away from our home.

Five years has gone by since that day when she told us the news. I was 16 and my brother was 13 when her office has promoted her and assigned her to a place 5 hours away from our town. She said we didn't have any choice. We can't live on my father?s income alone and she values her career too and so we just have to sacrifice. She would leave for work early Monday or late Sunday and will be back home by Friday. 'Don't worry baby,' she said. 'I'll go home every week. Nothing is gonna change.'

But I am worried. What if things did change? What if she forgot about us or what if she had an accident on the road or '? Oh, why does she have to be so far away! So many questions raced in my head. I am so confused' am just gonna miss my mother! But I knew what she said was true and we just have to take this as it is.

As time goes by we began to settle in our new situation. And my mother was right, things don't have to change. Sure, she was not there physically but she is still very much involved in our household. She would call on the phone always to check on us or to just say hi and have a little chat. She was still there for me and my brother when we needed a mother to make our will strong and to inspire us. And our pranks and naughtiness still doesn?t go unnoticed from her ultra sensitive radar. We still get scolded from our misdemeanors even if she?s hundreds of miles away.

The 10 o?clock chime has sounded and my dad dropped everything that he is doing and got the car keys. It was time to fetch my mom in the bus station. It will be just be another 1 hour and a half till we see her again. Our house is as clean as it can ever be and I know my mother would approve. I went to take a shower.

She arrived shortly afterward. Time is ticking and I know the weekend would be fast and we wanna savor every moment of togetherness. Weekends were always spent visiting family, going out on the mall together or just plain hanging out at home. As much as possible, I avoided going out with friends on weekends. She still cleans the house and does the laundry. We say that she doesn?t have to do that and that we?ll just do it for her but she insists saying that it makes her happy doing these things for her family.

Sunday came too soon. I was in bed early for I still have an early class the next day. At 11:30 pm, I awaken with my mom at my side kissing my cheek. It was that time again, time for her to leave. I kissed her too on the cheek. ?I love you, baby,? she said. ?I love you too, mom. Take care? And she was gone.