For many Filipino consumers, buying a Louis Vuitton bag has rarely been about subtlety. The appeal lies in recognition—the reassurance of a pattern that announces itself clearly, carries global legitimacy, and, for many first-generation luxury…
St. Rose of Lima: The Philippines’ forgotten patroness
At the grand stone façade of the Manila Cathedral, a figure carved from travertine looks serenely upon the faithful. She is St. Rose of Lima, honored across the Americas as a beloved saint, canonized in…
A new era of craft, culture, and conscious…
This September, Lagen Island in Palawan’s Bacuit Bay unveils a sweeping transformation, marking a new era for one of the Philippines’ most beloved island sanctuaries. Long known for its raw beauty and quiet charm, the…
Arxan’s green diplomacy on the Mongolian border
With a population barely topping 28,000, Arxan would seem an unlikely player in regional politics. Yet this remote city in Inner Mongolia has reinvented itself from a timber hub into a cross-border showcase for China’s…
Linguistic complexity in the Philippines’ earliest written document
Every August, the Philippines celebrates Buwan ng Wika, a month-long observance promoting the Filipino language and the linguistic heritage of the nation. Schools and institutions nationwide mount festivals and exhibitions honoring the power of language…
The oracle returns: Descendants bring Jose Rizal’s fortune-telling…
What began as a cherished keepsake in a family’s possession is now a revived cultural gem, brought back to the spotlight by two remarkable women. Former tourism secretary Gemma Cruz-Araneta and her grandniece, Hannah Maxine…
A Silk Road revival in a cup of…
In the oasis city of Kashgar, once a vital crossroads of the ancient Silk Road, history is not confined to ruins—it breathes through alleyways, fragrances, and stories of new encounters. Located at the edge of…
How a 337-day siege gave birth to Philippine–Spanish…
Today, June 30, the country marks Philippine–Spanish Friendship Day, a commemoration of compassion, mutual respect, and an extraordinary chapter in shared history. The law behind this annual event—Republic Act No. 9187, authored by the late…
The Philippines had its K-Culture moment. It let…
While South Korea turned long-term cultural investment into global soft power, the Philippines failed to match vision with infrastructure. In the late 1980s, as French cinema sparked late-night conversations among young artists in Seoul, a…