By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo   MY windows are always open to allow the air and the scents from the garden to come in. The gardenias, the ginger lilies, the jasmines and all the smells of weeds and grasses waft through the curtains as freely as birds fly through, and perch…

By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo   I realized that some of the people closest to me are experiencing challenges which they have chosen to keep for themselves. Over the years, we have shared thoughts, acted on problems together and celebrated our successes. It is heartbreaking when you see them suffer, whether…

By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo   AMONG the many adventures and memories of my travels is a Korean song, sang by a Korean religious, during one of the regular meetings for the World Conference on Religion and Peace held in Thailand. The song got stuck in my brain, hibernated there for…

By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo   IN this world, it appears that most things are possible, at the same time, most things are not. For those who try and try, the possible entails a lot of preparation and hard work. For those who do not try, it is a miracle, achieved…

By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo   INDULGE me a bit. At times when I look at the moon in the dead of the night, I wonder if, my life, as little as the lights in the houses from a distant mountain, still matters to the universe. Perhaps, this is why I…

By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo   “IMITATIO” is not plagiarism, or copying verbatim the work of another artist. It is like innovating on the original recipe of a dish like adobo or pinakbet, in the hands of different chefs, creating their own versions and creating their unique signature tastes. I chanced…

By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo   I hardly watch a football game. The last time I watched was at Princeton University, and I do not even remember who played. What I remember was the excitement, as opposing teams compete for the goal, and we shouted from the bleachers to cheer. After…

By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo   HOW many times have you watched a movie and shifted to another in less than thirty minutes? There are others I’ve watched as a series, which are too long, and I quit in the middle, or almost at the end, knowing how predictable the outcome…

By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo   I don’t know why I’m here. I just followed my instincts. In the process, I searched for my stolen credit card in the last establishment where I bought the boxes to store the books I have not read. After that, I bought myself empanada and…

By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo   AFTER a very long day of errands, my sister Emma and I had inihaw na tuna panga (grilled tuna jaw) at Davao Tuna Grill. Here was a simple dish served with soup, pickled cucumber and tomatoes, and a dipping sauce made from the mixture of…