On the Road Again

The vagabond life--who hasn't dreamt of living one? Being on the road with nary a responsibility except to oneself, chalking up a different experience each day, getting to meet a variety of people, getting to know oneself deeper. What's not to love?

For those who are planning to travel but haven't yet decided where to go, here are some stories that will inform, inspire and prod you:

10 Survival Tips for Summer Travel in Europe by Cherie Querol-Moreno is a must-read for those heading to the Old World;

Seattle to Fairbanks and Back, in 9 Days by Noni Mendoza talks about a daredevil road trip by two seniors in their 70s who just had to complete their bucket list;

Revisiting El Nido by Criselda Yabes reveals a less-touristy but nonetheless spectacular side to this highly popular travel destination;

Come Join Me in Portugal is a Read Again by Tiago Gutierrez Marques who wrote lovingly of his homeland;

Viña del Mar by Migs Bassig is a deeply personal narrative about being in Chile.

And then as first-time contributor Dayumman Marie Ngoddo writes, there's nothing like travel to make one appreciate the delight and comfort of Home, Sweet Home.

Safe travels everyone.

For those aching for some comfort food, Rene Astudillo's recipe for Fish Tocino is our Happy Home Cook feature this week.

Filipino-Canadian singer/comedian Mikey Bustos returns with our Video of the Week, a very funny and clever parody of Meghan Trainor's hit "No," which becomes, in Mikey creative mind, a statement on what makes a Filipino.

Justice on Trial

Extrajudicial killings have been in the headlines lately -- in the Philippines and in the US -- driven by different reasons, all resulting in pain, human rights tragedies and tinder for social volatility. History professor Vicente L. Rafael offers an insightful comparison of EJDs in both countries, the better for us to understand and reflect on how we should react and act on these travesties of justice.

An equally important call for humanity comes from Fr. Jett Villarin, currently the president of the Ateneo de Manila University, who has the distinction of being both a Jesuit and a physicist. He recently spoke at the University of San Francisco on Pope Francis' Laudatu Si encyclical on ecological justice. Manzel Delacruz elaborates on Fr. Jett's plea for the convergence of science and religion to save nature and humanity.

Meanwhile, as Rio de Janeiro prepares for the Olympics, Contributing Writer Myles A. Garcia, who has written a book on Olympics history, writes an "Ode to Olde Olympia and the Olympic Games" where he witnessed a reenactment of the original ritual of getting fire from the sun to light the Olympic flame.

And in case you missed them, Read Again two of our popular stories:

"Please Stop Calling the Philippines 'P.I.'" by Michael Gonzalez, a reminder that P.I. is a colonial term and to use it to refer to our homeland is an insult to its hard-earned sovereignty.

"When Lolo's Debating Team Vanquished America" by Liana Romulo relates the historic victories of the Philippine debating team led by her grandfather, the great statesman Carlos P. Romulo.

Our Happy Home Cook recipe this week is my personal comfort food, Humba, this one by the Philippines' original top chef, Nora Daza. I reached for her popular recipe book "Let's Cook with Nora," the bible of Filipino immigrants everywhere, when our friend, her eldest son Bong, passed away recently. Bong attested to the deliciousness of all the recipes in this book because he was the taste tester when his mom was putting it together.

Who's Afraid of Human Rights?

Human rights matter, asserts political analyst Walden Bello, as he calls for critical opposition -- defined as supporting the good, criticizing the bad -- to the newbie Duterte administration. A strong opposition is a necessary ingredient in ensuring the evolution of Philippine democracy, Bello explains in his opinion piece this week.

For those dreaming or actually planning adventure travel this year, here are two options:

Tawi-Tawi, the southernmost island of the Philippine archipelago, boasts its sacred mountain, Bud Bongao. Read Again environmentalist Gregg Yan's report on "The Holy Mountain of Tawi-Tawi."

And then there's the pilgrimage walk to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, an adventure that requires good health, endurance and determination (as well as good walking shoes). Read Again contributor Patricia Araneta's first-person account, "A Walk to the End of the Earth: The Camino de Santiago de Compostela Pilgrimage."

Art, as in acting and painting, takes center stage with our profiles this week. LA-based Anthony Maddela focuses on Jessalyn Wanlim, a Filipino-Chinese-Indonesian actress/martial arts expert starting to make waves in Hollywood. Chicago-based Rey de la Cruz meanwhile reaches out to Rod Pedralba, a Vancouver-based painter, who draws on his Surigao roots for inspiration.

Another ideal summer dish is Coconut Shrimps with Mango Salsa, shared by our resident foodie Elizabeth Ann Quirino, as our Happy Home Cook featured recipe.

For Video of the Week, did you know that the biggest hammock that dangles above a rainforest is in the Philippines? Watch and feel your stomach turn somersaults (if you're afraid of heights).