Missing the Philippine Independence Day parade this year? Not to worry — plenty of ways to celebrate Philippine Independence Day at home! Here are some ideas to get you started:
How to Celebrate Philippine Independence Day at home
How to make a Parol (Philippine Christmas lantern)
Growing up in the Philippines, I never made a single parol.
They were ubiquitous, gracing homes for a little over 4 months each year, from the start of September (when Christmas unofficially but unanimously begins in the Philippines) all through the Christmas season. Named after the Spanish word for lantern, farol, they are not only symbols of the Star of Bethlehem, but the quintessential symbol of Christmas in the Philippines as well.
Continue reading10 Surprising Facts about Taal Volcano
Despite having heard of Taal Volcano and its must-see beauty practically all my life, I never felt a real desire to visit it. Until now.
Flying home again after more than a decade, we were browsing areas to visit, and Taal was close by. The more I read up on it, the more I realized how fascinating and little-understood this volcano really was. Needless to say, Taal made it to our must-see list!
Batangas, Philippines
A Crown for Lent
Holy Week – Mahal na Araw – was impossible to miss back home.
The Sacrament of Waiting
Written by a Jesuit priest in the Philippines, it resonated with me then (not only in matters of the heart, but especially so), as did a wise friend’s admonition to “Make haste slowly”.
Both are ageless in wisdom and ring true, especially to the young – perhaps now more than ever.
A Time to Wait
With six hours between flights and not much energy left, the last thing I wanted to do was walk or sit inside an airline terminal.
So I sat outside.
The Necessity of Leisure
Though we’ve enjoyed the cooler nighttime temperatures this past week, it is nevertheless a sobering reminder that the end of summer is drawing near. Soon enough, we’ll bid a wistful farewell to warm leisurely days and buckle down for the cooler more structured days of fall…
Versatile Blogger Award
A big THANK YOU, once more to Yulee Foster, Miss Philippines UK 2014, for nominating me yet again for another award! This time it’s the Versatile Blogger Award. Thanks, Yulee!
Pinoy Camp – Tinikling fun
On yet another sweltering day with occasional thunderstorms, we had some indoor fun by practicing tinikling, the Philippine national folk dance. (Rather, it is widely thought to be, though the national dance is actually the cariñosa.)
Pinoy Camp – Palayoks, kalans, and pottery wheels
Our big craft for the week involved making (rather, trying to make) clay cooking sets just like the one in the book, Araw Sa Palengke
Pinoy Roots 