I HAVE BEEN LIVING in the City of Manila for a month exactly today. I have avoided this part of the metro for so long but now call it home. While I am suddenly immersed in its history, I am actually more interested to know if I have a future here. L’s work in the hospital means being on-call and proximity can save lives. Me, I am more flexible, and this is actually my 12th address to date. But there’s something… Read More »Manila’s bright spots, dark corners
HUGS ARE THE FIRST ones to go. Kisses will be reserved for the ones you’ll die for. Flying smooches, as airborne as they could possibly take off, must land 3 meters away. Handshakes will smell like 70% isopropyl alcohol and 30% trust. The list goes on, you know. Fist bumps will lose their, errrmm, bumps. High fives will now leave you high and dry. Saying “I love yous” will be muffled, coming from behind masks. Asking someone sick to “go… Read More »Rx: Social Distancing
A WEEK since its first signs of unrest, Taal Volcano remains in Alert Level 4 indicating possible explosive eruption “within hours to days.” While its symptoms take a backseat now that allow people to take a breather, the science beyond the surface—measured in number of plumes, quakes, ash, levels of SO2 emissions, or even where the wind blows—tells a different story. How something so critical to remain largely unpredictable escapes me. How something beautiful turn so deadly—that one, we’re not so… Read More »Of ashfall, gabok and the taal eruption