Alon Lunurin mo ang aking kasamaan Ihampas sa dalampasigan Ang sama ng aking budhi Maging malakas ka Ihatid mo at ilibing Sa pusod ng dagat Ang sala ng sanlibutan *** a poetry in Filipino written by Nic Gabunada and published in Davao Harvest An Anthology edited by Tita Lacambra Ayala and Alfredo N. Salanga 1979 ****This was also published in my earlier blog www.wednesdayswithnic.com on June 29, 2011
A Mentor and A Friend Let me tell you about an excellent mentor and friend —Fr. Francisco “Kiko” Glover, SJ. For years, right up until the COVID pandemic, I’d always make a point to go home to Davao every January, especially around the 11th. Why that date? It’s Fr. Glover’s birthday, and those of us who were Management Engineering (ME) students from Ateneo de Davao would gather for our annual get-together. Honestly, we picked the date because we all wanted to celebrate him—a mentor and a friend. For many of us, Fr. Glover was like our North Star. He had this way of bringing us together, no matter how busy we all got. Former ME students based in Davao would always coordinate with him, and
After the noise of Media Noche dies down and the plates are cleared, I find it helpful to pause and reflect on the year that was, and to define what I want 2026 to be. This reflection is vital to appreciate the why behind what we do. As we enter 2026, my wishes feel clearer, heavier, and more deliberate than before. On this blog, I spent much of the past year writing about things that frustrated me, worried me, and sometimes kept me up at night. I wrote because staying silent felt wrong. I wrote so future generations could live in a country that values accountability, true public service, and refuses to accept failure or corruption as normal. One can hope, and should hope,
As Christmas arrives, I find myself reflecting on 2025. It was a year that tested our patience, our trust in institutions, and sometimes, even our faith in each other as Filipinos. 2025 was a difficult year, marked by scandal after public scandal. The flood control issue, in particular, was painful to watch: billions allocated, yet communities remained submerged, lives disrupted, and livelihoods washed away—with thin explanations and even thinner accountability. This blatant and systemic corruption reminded us how deeply rooted our problems still are, and how costly they have become for ordinary families who simply want safety, dignity, and a fair chance. Yet even amid this turbulence, I found moments that reaffirmed why I write in this space. This blog is where I share what
There is a distinct, crisp feeling in the air when December 16 rolls around—a sensation that goes beyond the shifting winds of the season. For many Filipinos, the true herald of Christmas isn’t the flashing lights or the crowded malls, but the distant tolling of church bells well before the sun begins to stir. This is the start of Simbang Gabi (or Misa de Gallo), a cherished nine-day tradition that weaves faith, community, and the comforting aroma of freshly baked bibingka into the tapestry of our holiday spirit. Whether you remember the excitement of spotting a crush in the dimly lit pews or the anticipation of the warm tsokolate waiting for you at home, this tradition is more than just a novena—it’s a memory etched
I came across this old video from Singaporean producer/actor/singer Alvin Oon from 2020, and it took me back to the time of COVID – when the world stood still, but we still found ways to keep on moving. It’s him singing “We’re Not Going to Anywhere This Christmas” (sung to the tune of “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas”). Here’s the video: A Christmas Song That Only 2020 Could Have Produced Alvin sings about not being able to travel. Everyone had to stay home that year. But the song never turns bitter. Instead, it lands on a simple idea: what matters most is having the person you love right there beside you. It is a light, cheery piece about going nowhere. He
Vanda sanderiana – that is what the folks at the Philippine Orchid Society and a lot of hobbyists call this orchid. But to people from Davao, Cotabato and Zamboanga, where this orchid is, we call it waling-waling.
On October 18 and 19, 2025, the high school Batch 1975 of St. Michael’s School of Padada came home. Fifty years had passed since we walked out of those gates in Davada del Sur. Some of us had grown old in Manila. Some had grown old abroad. Some did not make it back at all. My batchmates asked me to give the inspirational talk. They wanted to hear about the road I had taken since graduation — from a small rural town in Davao del Sur to the Metro, and to a front-row seat in a Philippine presidential campaign. Here is that speech, lightly edited for reading. My dear batchmates of St. Michael’s School of Padada — MAAYONG GABII SA INYONG TANAN! (Good evening to
There is no Christmas like a Filipino Christmas. Every Filipino knows that the season officially starts during the “Ber Months”, making it the longest Christmas celebration in the world. It’s becoming a tradition that on September 1, you can expect the Jose Mari Chan memes to pop up on your feed, marking the start of the season. During this time, malls and other public spaces already start putting up Christmas decor, a full three months before December even starts. It’s funny, because nowhere in the world will you see Christmas decorations come up even before the Halloween decor – in some places, they even just put them up side by side. But beyond the decorations, the months-long celebration, and the memes, there is a rich
In 1975, after high school, I was awarded several college scholarships in Manila. However, I chose to study at Ateneo de Davao. My Alma Mater was one of three colleges run by the Society of Jesus (SJ) in three very strategic centers in Mindanao: Davao, Cagayan de Oro, and Zamboanga. It was the college of choice for most of the local elite – if they didn’t go to Manila for college, they went to Ateneo de Davao. I would miss my hometown of Padada, but Davao City was close enough. If I had transport money, I could always go home. Also, my elder sister was staying in Davao, so I planned to stay with her and her family to save on board and lodging costs.