This Rugged JoyFull Home

While the looming crisis of a Russian invasion of Ukraine progressed last week, I had a serious sit-down talk with my kids to make sure that we are all aware of what was going on and what was about to happen.  What do we make of what we see and hear from all social media platforms since the war broke out over the last 6 days? How do we know the validity of their claims? How can we be so sure that there are no biases on the reports that we see on our newsfeeds? How can we tell fact from fiction? What are the most available reliable news source we have on our hands considering the fact that these are mostly  controlled and broadcasted by the western media ? How I wish I have all the clear answers to these questions. I cautioned them to be careful what they re-share in social media. To really think well before they click. To be mindful how they respond to FAKE news as they are rampant anywhere you turn. To verify the source of the news that they are reading; to observe; to be vig...

Domodedovo Airport, Moscow, The Russian Federation— I got off my seat and dragged my weary body outside of the plane where I sat for almost five hours of peaceful flight from Dubai. I paced myself and walked straight to the long tube that led to the long queues that led to the immigration officers that will stamp my PILIPINAS passport that will give me access to enter this  bolshoi nation, sometimes I fondly call this, Mother Russia. Moscow that evening had a welcoming temperature of -3 centigrade and I thought that it was not so bad coming from a +27 centigrade back home in Manila. As I stood there acclimatizing myself with 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 I tried to mentally rehearse what to do next when my turn comes. First, I will remove my eyeglasses; second, I will approach the immigration officer forward and then give her a polite but...

The Old Arbat Street is one of the oldest roads in Moscow dating back to the late 14th century. It is a cobblestone-covered pedestrian street that spans 1.25 kilometers and is  famous for its lively showcase of street artists and its rows of souvenir shops and coffee shops and restaurants and theaters.  We've been to the Old Arbat Street many times before during the summer of last year but there's always something to look forward to each time we visit here. For one is the diversity of people teeming 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 run-way; 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 ...