November 2025 – I had the opportunity to visit the UNESCO Creative City and World Heritage Site of Tétuoan. The story of Tétouan is tied to the narratives of the expelled Hispanic Jews in the 15th century. The largest influx of Jews to Africa came after a series of violent episodes against Jews during the…
Tag: Culture
Northwest Morocco: The Blue City of Chefchaouen
On the last day of my stay in Tangiers, I initially wanted to stay and see the city. Besides, I was already excited to see Rabat, Marrakech, and Casablanca in the next five days, after a lengthy official meeting with my professional organization. On my last day in Tangiers, I had planned to go spelunking…
Aachen’s Charm is a World Wonder
And of course, Aachen is a world wonder because its cathedral (Aachen Cathedral) is another UNESCO World Heritage Site. My third time in Germany, second time in Cologne. This time, on official business, as an Executive Committee member of the International Federation for Theatre Research, whose members met at the University of Cologne for the…
Salem – the story of a religion gone awry
My trip to Boston was meant to support a good friend whose work as a playwright was having a world premiere at the Boston Arts Center. Boston is a city known for its significant role in the American Revolution, leading to the independence of what is now known as the United States. When thinking about…
Miss Liberty of NYC
The Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island is arguably the most popular UNESCO World Heritage Site in the United States. Many foreigners, especially my fellow Filipinos, commonly think of Miss Liberty as the ultimate symbol of the United States. When asked what they think about it as a symbol, often, one gets the “land of…
Hello, Philly! or Where the US of A was born
When I think of Philadelphia, I think of a sandwich made of thinly sliced beef, melted cheese, and often sauteed onions, all served on a hoagie roll. That beef is usually ribeye! The cheese – oh all American – what else – Cheezwiz! But other Philly (how Philadelphia is called in the US) locals use…
New York City Theatre District: A World Heritage Site?
“Aren’t you glad – you are walking on the streets of your dream city?” commented my good friend and former officemate at the University of the Philippines Los Baños, who was visiting New York City for a few days en route to Winnipeg, his new home since more than a decade now. My friend and…
Mary, Joseph, and Jesus in Bethlehem
Two years ago, my family and I embarked on what was publicized a “life-changing journey” to the Holy Land. Our travel agency identified three countries belonging to the Holy Land cluster: Jordan, Israel, and Egypt. However, we actually visited four. The agency missed Palestine. The State of Palestine is literally and figuratively at a crossroads….
Celebrating the All Saint’s Day in Kutná Hora
Today is the last day of our Germany-Czech tour before returning to Frankfurt for our flight to Manila. It’s the 31st of October. Commonly, on this day, the Philippines is really busy – cleaning the nitso, the puntod, and the mausoleum of dead loved ones. The next day is All Saints’ Day, and on 2…
Once upon a time, there was an “Artist Playground,” somewhere in Germany
They call it a colony, a space where people with a shared interest live together. The interest: German modernist art, particularly art nouveau. It was my second time in Frankfurt—for the same reason: to participate in the Frankfurter Buchmesse. I was here in 2017 to launch a book at the Philippine stand (there was not…
Tanghal Kultura 