Philippines

Little Tokyo In The Heart Of Makati

I've been hearing a lot about this quaint place for quite some time now. Many famous food bloggers have written great things about it and that picked at my interest. Little Tokyo is a small hidden gem in the heart of downtown Makati. It's located in Don Chino Roces Avenue ... read more

by Lilia Cornelio

24 Jan 2010

Philippines

There Is Something About The Old Wall

I had forgotten what Manila was like. I haven't visited it since that last field trip I took to the Manila Zoo when I was still in grade school. The urge to revisit the old walled city came to me when I took Rizal and Philippine Studies last year as ... read more

by Lilia Cornelio

24 Jan 2010

Philippines

Typhoon Pepeng and the Aftermath

       It was a typical Saturday for me: house cleaning. There was a typhoon on the way, but I didn’t worry too much. I experienced Hurricane Hugo several years ago and figured I could live through this one.      Mavi, my girlfriend, was over and helping me clean my ... read more

by Matthew Hamilton

06 Oct 2009

Philippines

Pepeng

Typhoon Pepeng is fast approaching the Philippines and is headed straight for my town. If it hits, I'll probably be without power for several days, maybe using my front door as a search and rescue boat and floating down side  streets in search for anyone in need of help. So, ... read more

by Matthew Hamilton

01 Oct 2009

Philippines

Drinking with a Spider

     My girlfriend texted me while I was at school and said there was a very large spider at her house, would I like to come photograph it? I said, sure, I'll be there later this afternoon.      When I arrived, her dad was drinking gin with a friend and ... read more

by Matthew Hamilton

30 Sep 2009

Philippines

Fiesta

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by Matthew Hamilton

04 Sep 2009

Philippines

Ending the Day with a Beer is Always a Good Idea

Atop a large chunk of volcanic rock in Cape Inganio sits a 200 year old light house. It was built by the Spanish and is now part of a national park. There is one house on the island and a small cattle ranch. The owner was not home; probably out ... read more

by Matthew Hamilton

29 Aug 2009

Philippines

The Golden Buddha

         I stopped on a gravel road near the beach and jumped off my bike. I stood by the monument and watched waves crash peacefully on the beach.      But 68 years ago this beach of Northern Luzon was being pounded by bombs and machine gun blasts. The monument—only ... read more

by Matthew Hamilton

17 Aug 2009

Armenia

Philippines

Introduction: Life as a Peace Corps Volunteer

       The Philippines is a caravan of more than 7,000 islands traveling through the Ring of Fire, the vigorous seismic zone that surrounds the Pacific Ocean. It is here, in a small town near the Northeastern tip of Luzon, where I live, work, and play.      “Life is calling. ... read more

by Matthew Hamilton

07 Aug 2009

Philippines

Yes Means "I don't know"...and half a dozen other things

     “Today we are going to learn about simple past,” I announced to the freshman class. Here are a few examples: caught, ran, walked, played, jumped. Here are a few sentences: I caught the ball, I ran home, I walked to school this morning, I played volleyball yesterday, I jumped ... read more

by Matthew Hamilton

07 Aug 2009

Philippines

Where There's Smoke, There's a Wake

I turned the corner and noticed something burning on the side of the road. The white smoke slithered toward me like a translucent snake. It eventually swallowed me. I was curious. Is someone burning trash? I walked over to investigate. As I got closer to the house, I noticed a ... read more

by Matthew Hamilton

02 Aug 2009

Philippines

Funeral

I jumped in my neighbor’s tricycle and he started the engine. We were on our way to a funeral. A relative of his died. Uncle, cousin, I forget which because Filipinos use those terms differently than Americans. An uncle here is not only your mother’s or dad’s brother, but he ... read more

by Matthew Hamilton

02 Aug 2009