Dangwa By Virginia J. Pasalo   LATELY, my body seems to function very slowly. The many things I used to do in a day spills over the next day, and the schedules for that next day, gets spilled over to the day after that. There are only two possibilities, that…

Eyeball to eyeball By Virginia J. Pasalo   I arrived much earlier than my appointment at Asian Eye Institute. So many people of all ages, mostly with family names composed of two or three letters. I recognized someone but could not remember her name, or where I saw her. She…

Of men and TRAIN By Virginia J. Pasalo   FOR a long while, I have not been to Jollibee V. Luna. I passed by it daily for the walk to the buko vendor, and for the daily affirmation of my love for the kaimito tree that still stands opposite its…

Herbal Balls By Virginia J. Pasalo   THIS afternoon, I was treated to a very special massage at Nuat Thai by a friend, Girlie Villariba. We wanted to have a foot spa earlier, but she offered me a choice. The massage areas were partitioned by curtains, and I can easily hear…

The Jasmine Revolution By Virginia J. Pasalo   TODAY, I woke up to the smell of sampaguita, the ones that used to adorn the sidewalks of Palacpalac, along the Manila North Road. The flowers of my childhood, picked early morning before sunrise, with my Auntie Intay, who bundled them together…

The armpit By Virginia J. Pasalo   IT is a day of quiet, an unusual quietness in a place that teems with voices. My favorite seat, and the seats within its periphery were vacant. Only two women sat beside the adjacent table on my right, quietly drinking coffee. Suddenly, a…

“Finger-lickin’ good” By Virginia J. Pasalo   2018, and the kaimito still stands! I walk with hope each day, praying that this tree will survive man’s attempt to claim space, thriving despite the “engine” air. So many people passing by, just walking and stopping to take rides. I crossed V….

Loose change By Virginia J. Pasalo   LA UNION representative and former Agoo mayor Sandra Eriguel is proposing to carve out 26, 0000 hectares out of 31,000 hectares of forest and watershed along both sides of the Marcos Highway, an area declared protected by Presidential Proclamation 1754, signed by President…

Condom By Virginia J. Pasalo   HER father had been ill for ten years. She will have him cremated next week, after all the relatives are gone, with her mother and siblings attending, a quick reunion to honor the passing. “Makapasangit. Inasikaso na met ti lamay. Kasla inayat na met.”…