I’m missing Bangilo

Aerial shot of Paoay fields in Bangilo (Malibcong, Abra).

PAOAY, BANGILO (Malibcong, Abra). I’ve been here many times, walked along its endless pilapils and side-trails, wondered about its soil’s sustained productivity, ate with friends in nearby houses, helped gather riverlife sarep-style for dinner, took shelter in its pakarsus, and celebrated quite a few rituals (and danced with my two left feet!) in its community gatherings.

Ay apo, Bangilo, makapailiw ka a pudno!

(Photo courtesy of Chadly Balga )

###

Pulsars, women in astronomy, and Kuya Obet

Joyce Bell-Burnell, key scientist of the radio astronomer team that discovered pulsars

In 1968, when I first entered the Philippine Science High School, our science textbooks and even books in the school library were not very strong on astronomy.

But my older brother, Kuya Obet, an avowed astronomy fanatic who was then in his graduating year at the same high school, more than made up for the apparent lack of school books on the subject by buying what his monthly scholar stipend could afford.

Continue reading “Pulsars, women in astronomy, and Kuya Obet”

A 4-point lecture on the newest flavor of the month

Me on my bike, buying a bus ticket for my endless, pathless travels


Contractors are the newest flavor of the month, on the perennial issue of corruption. Or should I say, rather, they and their connects in government are the newest whipping boys of the “class-conscious” commentariat.

Most of us are now focused on the Discayas and the other contractors listed by PH President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos (BBM).

Not a big problem with me. The guilty ones must indeed be pilloried from post to post, at least in social media and other public arena if not in the courts and penal colonies where they belong.

Continue reading “A 4-point lecture on the newest flavor of the month”