List of Opposites, East and West
Cultural differences between the West and Asia, from the mundane to the divine.
Philippines
Portrait of a Filipino Jazz Musician
I first heard Ryan play the keyboard at Tago Jazz Café in Metro Manila, where he performed with his trio and with other groups, then later at the Ayala Museum. His work made me an instant fan, I think in part because of our love of Keith Jarrett, who speaks of improvising one note at a time. Ryan and I share a common view of inspiration, or, as my favorite music critic, Alan Rich, wrote decades ago in New York magazine, “I am neither a church-goer nor an atheist, and the reason I am not the latter can be …
KMU Celebrates Six Years
This is a look at the sixth anniversary of a Filipino soup kitchen with interviews with its founder, his wife and a volunteer.
An American Husband in Filipino Court
This is an interview with an American who fell for a Filipina only to discover that she was already married and planned to take him to court for his money. This happened twice.
Jireh Calo Graduates from Berklee
This is an interview with Filipina musician Jireh Calo about her experience studying at the Berklee School of Music in Boston, one of the world’s best conservatories for jazz.
A Memoirist of the Marcos Years, Part 3
Susan Quimpo’s book “Subversive Lives” discusses the activities of her activist family during the Marcos martial law period. After the international edition came out, she made a book tour in the US, speaking with audiences of mostly Filipino-Americans about the Marcos period as well as the current situation with Duterte and the extra-judicial killings. This is an account of that discussion.
A Monk from the Matayog Health and Wellness Center
A few months ago I posted an interview with Richie Quirino, author of The Amen Vibration, the story of his spiritual journey (link) Recently he introduced me to Dada, a childhood friend who had lived in India, Africa and South America and was now back in the Philippines as the head monk at the Matayog Health and Wellness Center in Parañaque. (link). Dada and I talked at the coffee shop in the Hotel Kimberly across the street from my subdivision in Tagaytay. Thanks to Dada for the photos I pulled from the center’s Facebook page. Dada’s story I understand you’re …
From Metro Manila to Cavite Province, Part 2
This is the second of a two-part account of my life in Tagaytay, Cavite after moving from Metro Manila.
From Metro Manila to Cavite Province, Part 1
This is the first of a two-part account of my life in Tagaytay, Cavite after moving from Metro Manila.
A Remarkable Journey with Light and Sound
I first interviewed Richie Quirino about his books and video on Filipino jazz in “A Jazz Musician and Jazz Journalist.” (Link). Recently we spoke in the Hotel Kimberly coffee shop in Tagaytay about his latest book. The Amen Vibration, Volume II, was published under his spiritual name, Echad. The Kindle version is now available free online. (Link) The book follows an unpublished manuscript of decades earlier. It presents a chorus of voices on the positive and negative effects of light and sound on humanity—science and religion with variations. Richie’s story In the first chapter of the book, God says, “Let …