None so blind than one who will not see . . . By Emmanuelle Annie and Lenny were born February and December of the same year. They were first cousins, their mothers being sisters. They were neighbors as their parents built houses adjacent to each other. They were schoolmates from…

Playground in my mind By Emmanuelle THEN  our playground was gone. It didn’t disappear overnight. It took a long-time coming, like all things proverbial, slow but sure. We should have prepared ourselves for it, like waiting in dread for the next tooth to give-up its walls, exposing the nervy pulp…

This used to be my playground! By Emmanuelle Of course, we remember! The playgrounds. Not at the malls! At the school, at the town plaza, at every imaginable place where there was nature, where there was space. Firmly packed earth or loose sand for bare feet to run or jump…

Our real, not reel, “Pinoy brothers” By Emmanuelle THE biggest Fil-Chinese federation builds schools for the barrios the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII), to date, is a network of 170 chambers of commerce and trade and business associations all over the country. It is the…

Vanned! By Emmanuelle This is a true story. Maybe it’s yours. She was the last passenger in. Actually, she was not supposed to be allowed in. The van was too full with Monday riders and their baggage. If it were not for her soulful eyes which she used shamelessly on…

And then you told me . . . By Emmanuelle The setting is just right – a table for two out in the patio, table swathed in white, roses and wine.  Dim light from a shaded lamp. Faint glow from a near-full moon. Your fingers entwine with his across  bowls…

Truth is a lie is the truth! By Emmanuelle Surely, you know about Mary, Mary quite contrary? She contradicts herself beyond belief. Probably, when she says “Yes!” she shakes her head furiously from side to side. Possibly, when she says “No!” she nods and nods and nods. Have you read…

Jules’ Eulogy By Emmanuelle On Saturday, July 6, we laid to his rest one of Pangasinan’s famous legal minds, Atty. Julio F. Desamito, retired COMELEC Commissioner. A native of the eastern municipality of  Pozorrubio, he was considered to be one if not the most loyal Pozorrubian. Jules’ eulogy, penned by…

Cooling Off! By Emmanuelle Last week, we got heated up with Of curses, Of course!  This week, we cool it. This column ran out of space for a more lengthy soliloquy, tongue-in cheek, on the fire-wallowers or those who would rather swallow the fire of their anger.  The fire-spitters, or…

Of course, of curses! By Emmanuelle How would you react when a Cherry Gil look-alike throws red wine on your thousands-worth of straightened hair, make-over and white gown; and, adding insult to injury, she contemptuously proceeds to spray laway on your shocked face with the famous line: you are nothing…