Lofoten, Norway, a High-Latitude Version of Paradise
On a bright April morning, bleary-eyed after an overnight passage from mainland Norway and four short hours of sleep, we stumbled into a dockfront cafe in Kabelvag, a small town on the island of Austvagoya, part of the Lofoten archipelago. As we walked past a crackling wood stove and a rusted ship’s anchor, the host […]
What is needed in order for a native title to prevail?
Dear PAO, Adjacent to our barangay is a vast barren land. A few months ago, I observed that a number of individuals who claim to be members of an indigenous group occupied the said land. A certain Mark who belongs to the same group even built a tomb. He made it appear that the same […]
How to Stay Safe if You’re Traveling and an Earthquake Strikes
On March 28, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar, devastating communities and killing at least 3,500 people. The quake also caused buildings to sway, even collapse, in the tourist hot spot of Bangkok. Videos posted online showed water from rooftop swimming pools spilling over the sides of high-rise hotels. Scientists can’t predict exactly where or […]
The New Philippine Passport Act of 2024
Dear PAO, I have adopted the surname of my husband in all of my public documents since we got married in 2020. However, after recently passing the board examinations, I realized that I want all of my documents to reflect my maiden name, especially in my passport. A friend of mine told me that she […]
How to Get a Great Rate on a Hotel Room
With the cost of hotel stays generally trending upward — 2024 saw the highest recorded average daily rates in the U.S., for starters — the luxury hospitality world may not seem the most fertile bargain-hunting ground. But you can still find deals, and they go well beyond those you can obtain by converting your credit […]
Prescription period on loans without written contract
Dear PAO, Ten years ago, I had a friend who was just starting his business and needed money. I lent him P500,000. We never got the opportunity to make a written agreement because I had to travel abroad for work. I also did not have the chance to seek payment for the loan because we […]
A Sneak Peek Inside Universal’s New Epic Universe Theme Park in Orlando
Believe the hype: Epic Universe, the first major new theme park to open in Central Florida in 26 years, lives up to its name and then some. Honestly, I’m as shocked as you are. But epic-ness was indeed my takeaway after recently spending two days inside Epic Universe as part of “technical rehearsals,” a type […]
Opinion | Stop Feeling Stunned and Wounded, Liberals. It’s Time to Fight Back.
The first week of President Trump’s return to power was a flurry of provocations, of attacks on the rule of law and raw exertions of power. Part of the point, it seemed, was to bury his opposition in the blizzard, to rapidly follow each assault with another, often greater, affront to democratic norms. The effect […]
Predatory lending practices: How ‘short-term, high-interest loans’ lead to cycle of debt
Dear PAO, Four months ago, I was unexpectedly laid off from work and have been actively looking for another job since. However, even that can be costly. Out of sheer desperation, I was compelled to borrow money from a microfinance company that offers quick and easy cash loans, certain that I would find new employment […]
Opinion | My Farewell Column
I never wanted to be a writer. I was an information designer. Becoming a columnist, like so many things in my career, was a bit of a fluke. As I end this column, I’d like to share the strange way that it began. After many years in The Times’s newsroom as a graphics editor and […]