He used to rummage through the neighborhood trash in Cebu for whatever could be sold to the nearest junk shop to augment his school allowance. Today, he does not have to do that anymore.

He has come a long way—from an urban poor community to the glittering world of Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, where he was just named “Nurse of the Year.”

Rhigel Alforque Tan, 35 is the only child of a retired schoolteacher and retired policeman. He took up nursing at the Cebu State College-Cebu City Medical Center College of Nursing (CCMC) where he Rhigel Tan, now a professor of nursing graduated cum laude in 1990. (more…)

Not very long ago, a close friend forwarded to me an email sent to him by Tony Abbott, the new leader of the opposition. I will not bother to glorify Abbott’s email by publishing it as it can be found in the website of the Liberal Party. Suffice it to say that these were empty promises of a “Trapo” or Traditional Politician.

I have not forgotten that Tony Abbott, though not directly the author of Work Choices, was actually behind the entire concept. It resulted in my unfair sacking at the university. It was the Liberal Party who really oppressed the low income group during the reign of that unpopular politician John Howard. That caused his downfall in the elections that followed.

The Labor Party inherited all the nation’s problems from the Liberals. It will take many years for us to finally recover from the administration of Howard whose policies were glaringly pro-wealthy. (more…)

A newly-organized theatre arts company in the Filipino community is now conducting an open audition for children, youth, and adults from age 7 to 70. No stage experience is required as free training will be provided to interested people with good speaking voice, clear diction, and who can make themselves available during week-end rehearsals.

This is a maiden presentation of Fine Artist Collaboration (FAC), a dedicated group of professional Filipino artists in Sydney. They have banded themselves together to help preserve, promote, and develop Philippine arts and culture via theatre, music and dance collaborations. (more…)

(Editor’s Note: The author of this poem spent Valentine’s Day in hospital with doctors and nurses tending to his broken bones. Read on to find out why.)

My darling, my lover, my beautiful wife, marrying you screwed up my life.
I see your face when I am dreaming. That’s why I always wake up screaming.

Kind, intelligent, loving and hot; this describes everything you are not.
I thought that I could love no other – that is until I met your sister.

Roses are red, violets are blue; sugar is sweet, and so were you.
But the roses are wilting, the violets are dead, the sugar bowl’s empty
and so is your head.

I want to feel your sweet embrace; but don’t take that paper bag off your face.
I love your smile, your face, and your eyes – Damn, I’m good at telling lies!

My love, you take my breath away; what have you stepped in to smell this way?
My feelings for you no words can tell; except for maybe “Go to hell.”

What inspired this amorous rhyme? Two parts tequila, one part lime.

Is your passport still valid?
You think renewing your Australian passport is easy?

Not these days apparently! Gone are the days when you can pop in to your local Australia Post Office and you can easily get a Renewal Form from the shelves without having to queue up to the counter.

Having realised that our passports are expiring this March, I decided to get application forms from our local post office at Stanhope Gardens. Our coming overseas trip starts in April and we need to submit our details to our cruise company two months before we sail so we (barely) have enough time. (more…)