Are you prepared to die? By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo   THAT question was asked of me by an agent of a firm selling memorial plans. It appeared then that she had a plan, and I bought into it. Somehow, I thought, it was an essential preparation so as not to…

Managing Epidemics: Contemporary Lessons from Asian Countries By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo   LUZON, the biggest of the three island groups in the Philippines, has been placed under quarantine until 12 April 2020, coinciding with the end of Holy Week, to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. It is the first…

Quo vadis, COVID? By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo THE Department of Health (DOH) must give us a projection, in real numbers, as to the rate of spread of COVID-19 so we can adjust our living priorities and strategies. By now, we cannot just base our moves on confirmed cases, but must…

Jeong By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo   THERE is a word in Korean that surpasses love. I encountered this word while watching a movie whose title I have forgotten, but whose dialogues and words I can remember very well. I remember one particular word because it is something I tried to…

Auntie Intay   By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo   PEOPLE, all sorts of people, are attracted to flowers. They visit gardens as often as bees and attract other insects with their own intentions. They stop to look, to pick, and react in various ways that often ties the flowers with what…

The orange bougainvillea   By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo MY mom was never a plant poacher, I am. When I see a neglected plant on the street, and it appears to want to be in my garden, I transplant without hesitation. This is the same habit I have in common with…

Seeding By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo   IN Matthew 13: 1-23 of the Bible, Jesus relates the Parable of the Sower (a.k.a. Parable of the Soils), to a large crowd. It is about a farmer who sows seed and does so indiscriminately: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he…

Drunken master By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo I remember your name. We were young and passionate about many things, but reserved in our feelings for each other. Restraint was the operative word, having already committed to relationships with partners we were comfortable with, and on the whole, desired. You would strum…

Light up Mayon Volcano? By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo ACCORDING to the proponents, the justification for the Majestic Mayon Lighting Project is “to increase the tourist arrivals in the Bicol Region”, which is “in line with the Duterte Administration’s national goal in providing more jobs and sources of livelihood for all…

Yold By Virginia Jasmin Pasalo A few years back while riding in a bus in Japan, I noticed an elderly Japanese woman standing on the aisle. I immediately stood up and offered my seat. She just looked at me and smiled and refused to take the seat. When we alighted…