holiday cheer

Separated from each other by distance, distancing, natural disaster, and new alarming variants of the virus that kept us apart last year, people are still finding ways to celebrate and enjoy the holidays.

Christmas Eve 2021

Finally we're spending our first Christmas together in several years, but missing the many other bubbles of our family elsewhere. Holing up at home with honey, turkey, takeout and holiday videos - we want to spread the cheer of our favourites around as much as possible.

relief & assistance for Typhoon Odette/Rai

The central Philippines region has been slammed by the recent Typhoon Odette [Rai], making nine destructive landfalls in the country on December 16. 

Typhoon Odette crisis response page on Facebook

In Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte; Cagdianao, Dinagat Islands; Liloan and Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte; and Pres Carlos P. Garcia and Bien Unido in Bohol.

Palawan Relief Efforts

Multiple sources report that Typhoon Rai has caused extensive damage in passing the Philippines. The typhoon caused widespread disruptions in the Philippines from flooding, landslides, and strong winds. Overall, at least 146 people were killed. 

crafts of home

Christmas is in the air! Happy holiday cheer to all! 

native bamboo Christmas ornaments

The Philippines is notorious for having the longest Christmas season and Filipinos throw ourselves fully into the holiday spirit with great gusto. 

We have countless Christmas customs to celebrate the occasion - with food, feasting, and festivals fare. Christian, traditional, or familial - we all have our special triggers, practices, and customs that enliven our celebrations. 

a unique Christmas celebration

There bamboo trimmings capture the spirit of Christmas in our island home. They are a collaborative creative achievement between Hacienda Crafts of Manapla, Negros Occidental and CM Bamboo Craft Centre of Iloilo. 

power pinays

Another Pinay is one of two photo journalists tapped to showcase the accomplishments of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Maria Ressa.

Fellow Filipina and prized photojournalist Hannah Reyes Morales has been tapped to highlight Nobel Peace Prize winners through a photography exhibition in Oslo, Norway and share their stories with us and the rest of the world.

Images: Nobel Peace Center; Hundred Heroines

Morales, along with her fellow photojournalist Nanna Heitman's coverage of Dmitry Muratov, will feature the significant contributions of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize laureates, who were selected “for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace.” 

Morales “has created a documentary photo series that depicts how social media permeates everyday life in the Philippines. This work is personal: like many of us at home, watching the consistent assault on truth has been deeply disturbing.” 

Morales told the Nobel Peace Center, “I’ve been able to take a closer look at the chaos that is rooted online, and in the dark, I was reminded constantly that on the other side of the screen are people.” 

Brava! Mabuhay ang Pinay!