Rina Diane Caballar

"But pasalubong is more than simply a souvenir or gift, with layers of meaning and ritual lying behind the word."

"Combined support from academia, the state and the private sector is likely needed to enable social enterprises to expand and strengthen their role in supporting women."

"The safety pin’s origins as a fibula highlight class differences, but its current use to signify solidarity emphasizes support for marginalized communities. The safety pin has always offered a way to hold clothing together. Now it transcends that utility, promising to hold people together too."

"As evidenced by what has been carried out in different areas of the world, using names for natural weather events helps citizens, the media, and the government prepare, respond and recover. Naming natural weather events can be a solution to lessen the destructive effects of meteorological catastrophes—but it has to be done responsibly and by the right bodies for the right reasons."

"These incidents have not gone unnoticed as lawmakers and city officials are starting to take action to make women feel safer on the streets. Quezon City, the largest and most populous city in Metro Manila, revised its Gender and Development Code on May 16 to include penalties for sexual harassment of women in public spaces."

"Coffee shops like Commune provide an opportunity for Filipinos to broaden their taste buds and embrace the specialty coffee movement."

"As the capital city of the Philippines, Manila welcomes you with open arms and the signature warmth of Filipino hospitality. Its hustle and bustle keeps you on your toes and makes you feel more alive than ever. It’s a city that never sleeps, with an energy so contagious it brings out the life in you."

"I worry about him—I will for as long as we both live—but I’m also learning how to let him go a little. If this is what it’s like to have loved and raised a child, I know I’m fortunate to have experienced it. For now, though, I’m still learning what it means to live my life for me."

"Making polvoron was as much a part of my childhood as Mama’s absence was. It was a tradition, then a rite of passage made more poignant by my mother’s brief visits home. With each return came the knowledge of a new step in the polvoron process, and with each new step came the promise of my mother’s permanent return – her homecoming."

"My life is intricately tied to my father. For every day that I am alive, so is he. It’s not only because his blood runs through my veins or because we have the same chocolate brown skin. It’s because, on my 27th birthday, my father got a second chance at life."

"Back in Manila, pan de sal are often part of my weekend breakfasts. After all, those soft and crumbly bread rolls are the quintessential breakfast bread of the Philippines. But for me, pan de sal will always remind me of my father, and my home."

"Even though they belong to everyday experiences like drinking with friends, customs like tagay and kampay affect us profoundly. The simple acts of having a designated pourer, of drinking from a single glass, of toasting, bring us together."

"Sapin is a Filipino word which means “layer” and is an apt name for this three-layer rice cake made of steamed glutinous rice mixed with coconut milk. Each layer has its own flavor and color: purple yam for the top purple layer, coconut milk for the middle white layer and jackfruit for the bottom yellow layer. Sapin-sapin is topped with latik, a desiccated coconut reduction cooked until brown, which gives it added crunch and texture."

"Our trip to Coron, part of Busuanga Island in Palawan, was memorable for lots of reasons. We climbed more than 700 steps to reach the summit of Mount Tapyas, where stunning views of the surrounding islands more than made up for the tiring uphill journey. We visited Kayangan Lake, often called the cleanest lake in Asia, and were amazed by its crystal clear waters surrounded by limestone formations. We went island hopping on a banca, or outrigger boat, stopping by different beaches for a quick swim. And on our last day, my husband proposed."