IKOT.PHIt has been almost two years since the pandemic shifted our lives. An era that continues to challenge our daily living, to this day, and pushed some of us to the brink of giving up. No industry or sector was spared by the wrath of the COVID-19 pandemic. People losing their jobs, sources of income […]
Whether it be through cartoon animation or ramen, which sounds so good right now in this rainy weather, Japanese culture has been making waves in various landscapes in the country, long before the dominance of our Oppas and Noonas from K-dramas and K-pop scene. Shout out to the ARMYs and BLINKs out there! For this […]
One of the things that kept me busy through this pandemic is my attempt to learn a new language. Since I chose to study Korean on my own, I found it to be more difficult than I expected. It’s completely different from what I’m used to because the characters they use are different. The romanized […]
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of new societal and cultural norms have emerged. Some are well-known, while others are isolated only to communities where they exist. It will always be better to be knowledgeable about these new emerging cultures as they contribute to the betterment of our society at large. Thus, […]
If the food we eat is what we are, then who are we? Filipino cuisine has been around for centuries. It went through several changes of the seasons and colonial influence. These are evident in every food we serve on the table today. But when it comes down to it, what does our food really […]
Cinemalaya, the country’s premier independent film festival, has produced some of the best movies that graced the Philippine cinemas. It has been a breeding ground for filmmakers and actors who wish to break boundaries and create statements through the art of filmmaking. Since Cinemalaya started in 2005, we witnessed old and new representations with their […]
“My source is endless, as an artist. In my search for the heavens, I have to look down instead of looking up. Down to Earth is my way up to heaven. Mindanao, amongst islands, is the closest to Earth. “ Art is an essential element of society. It depicts life, culture, and state of mind […]
Binondo, the country’s Chinatown and the world’s oldest, continues to brim with pride. It held its fort from its humble beginnings when it was all just a flat, marshy land until it erected buildings and establishments of cultural relevance. Binondo’s heritage can be traced back to the Spanish colonial era when Chinese immigrants were restricted […]
We have entered a new era in OPM or Filipino music. For years, even decades, mainstream music was dominated by novelty songs. We can’t help it – Filipinos are simply happy people. It’s one of the reasons why novelty songs almost always reach our households and communities faster than the speed of light. Who doesn’t […]
Flickering lights, fair-goers moving at a glacial pace – I stopped. The mini-Octopus ride next to me starts spinning. As the riders shout on top of their lungs for the temporary high, the familiar sound of the first piano key of ‘Oo’ started playing. Behind a sea of blurry heads nodding and hands waving, that moment, […]