This Rugged JoyFull Home

While the looming crisis of a Russian invasion of Ukraine unfolded last week, I had a serious sit-down talk with my kids to make sure we were all aware of what was going on and what was likely to happen.  What have we made of what we have seen and heard on social media since the war broke out six days ago? How do we verify the validity of these claims? How can we be sure that there is no bias in the reports on our newsfeeds? How can we tell fact from fiction? What are the most reliable news sources available to us, considering that much of the information is controlled and broadcast by western media ? How I wish I had all the clear answers to these questions. I cautioned them to be careful about what they reshare on social media—to really think well before they click. To be mindful how they respond to FAKE news, as it is rampant everywhere you turn. They must verify the sources of the news they read, stay observant, and remain vigilant. Amidst all the chaos, it is of utmost importa...

Behind The Glass Partition Domodedovo Airport, Moscow, the Russian Federation. I got up from my seat and dragged my weary body out of the plane, where I had sat for almost five hours of a peaceful flight from Dubai. Pacing myself, I walked straight to the long tube that led to the long queues, which led to the immigration officers who would stamp my PILIPINAS passport, granting me access to enter this bolshoi nation—a place I sometimes fondly call Mother Russia. Moscow that evening had a welcoming temperature of -3 degrees Celsius, and I thought that it was not so bad, coming from +27 degrees back home in Manila. As I stood there acclimatizing myself to the weather, I realized that the temperature inside the airport was actually rather toasty, as always. I stared at the people's expressionless, perfectly contoured faces and tried to mentally rehearse what to do next when my turn came. First, I would remove my eyeglasses; second, I would approach the immigration officer and give he...

In my recent blog posts, I briefly shared my insights on the seasons of togetherness and separateness . It's a process, an ongoing journey that I embrace wholeheartedly, as underscored by what's going on in the world now. Every country is on a preventive COVID-19 lockdown. It is important to mention that as I labor and pounce on the keyboard, my husband, my children, and I are in three different geographic locations, namely Moscow, Batangas, and Mindoro. What a way to illustrate "separateness" and "growth" when you are actually living it! I think that I will never be the same once this pandemic is over. Businesses were closed and millions of jobs were lost. Then, suddenly, we found every student homeschooling and most workers at home — working. Words like "social distancing," "quarantine," "hoarding," "panic buying," "flattening the curve," and "lockdown" have become just a few of the operative wor...

The Old Arbat Street is one of the oldest roads in Moscow, dating back to the late 14th century. It is a cobblestone pedestrian street that spans 1.25 kilometers and is famous for its lively showcase of street artists, rows of souvenir shops, coffee shops, restaurants, and theaters. We went to Old Arbat Street many times during the summer of last year, but there is always something to look forward to each time we visit.  One reason is the diversity of people teeming along this famous street. We have the red, the black, the yellow, the white, and of course, the brown race being represented here; everyone garbed in their most fashionable outfits, making this bustling street their informal runway; everyone here dressed well, in case I haven't mentioned it yet. It felt like walking down the streets of Paris or Rome! (Though we've never been to Western Europe before.) Another reason we looked forward to going here is the opportunity to just walk in a leisurely manner—slow-walking, i...