Our Top Ten Stories of 2015

New This Week:

'The Month of December, 1872' : Dr. Jose Rizal's Rough Draft
       Dr. Penelope V. Flores digs up a little known satirical piece by our National Hero, whose 119th death anniversary is today.

Our Most-Read Stories 2015
       Read Again the stories that riveted our readers this year.

1) 10 Things You Need to Know About Kapampangans By Robby Tantingco
2) Op-Ed: Mr. President, Feel for the Fallen By Criselda Yabes
3) Please Stop Calling The Philippines PI By Michael Gonzalez
4) Watch Out World: Ryan D. Aguas, Urban Farmer Game-Changer By Elizabeth Ann Quirino
5) Leonor Rivera, A Hero's Sweetheart By Elizabeth Ann Quirino
6) This Is American History By Aimee Suzara
7) Watch Out World: Namee Jarolan, Author of the First Filipino Baby Food Cookbook By Elizabeth Ann Quirino
8) Thriving In The Dust Bowl By Agatha Verdadero
9) Bongbong Tries to Explain VP Run to Mom By Rene Ciria-Cruz
10) Growing Up in UP's Area 1, A Model Neighborhood By Nathaniel “Dinky” von Einsiedel 

The Happy Home Cook: Double Chocolate Cookies
     A perfect comfort dessert that can take the sting out of your New Year hangover.

Our Video of the Week: New Year in the Philippines

Scandal and Good Deeds

When regular contributor Myles A. Garcia, a history buff, caught a whiff of the scandal from Down Under involving one of the biggest family fortunes in Australia, he immediately drew on his Internet sleuthing skills and trained his sights on the Filipina that was in the midst of it all. "How To Marry A Millionaire Aussie/Pinoy Style" dishes on the legal battle that had all the elements of a sordid telenovela, and includes a list of online information sources for those who want more of the story.

In New York in the meantime, the musicale "Here Lies Love" which focuses on Imelda Marcos, is creating waves and has branched out to London and will soon tour major American cities. Tricia J. Capistrano writes about the long-dormant emotions that the show resurrected for her.

Remember Carl and Clarence Aguirre, the conjoined twins from Negros Occidental who were successfully separated in 2004? It took more than a village to bring them to New York for their operation, and first-time contributor Carmen Sarmiento tells us the story of the men and women who worked together to make their journey possible. Read "The Aguirre Twins -- A Back Story Paid Forward."

In this week's blog, I write about growing up in UP, in "Childhood Reveries."

For "Video of the Week," pop singer Gary Valenciano surprises balikbayans on a flight home.

Hope your autumn is as colorful as the changing leaves.