I was tickled pink to be interviewed by Sinta & Co on how to plan a multicultural wedding! Read more
Category: Blog
Comfort soup
I remember the exact time my love affair with kimchi began. I'd just written a 3-hour exam, all essay questions, and I was ravenous. But on a Sunday afternoon in downtown Vancouver, there wasn't much choice. Finally I wandered into a Korean internet café that also served some hot dishes. I ordered the bulgogi plate … Continue reading Comfort soup
Book review
Duran Duran, Imelda Marcos, and Me by Lorina Mapa My rating: 5 of 5 stars This book made me laugh, cry and remember. How strange and marvellous to see parts of my own childhood drawn out, and to read in Mapa's clear, honest prose some of my own thoughts and feelings that I've kept locked … Continue reading Book review
Spring gardens
Sometimes I think that heaven must be like a sunny spring day in British Columbia. And if it is, then the heart of heaven must be like the Butchart Gardens. The first and only other time I visited this beautiful spot was 20-odd years ago. So I'm very grateful to my friend Maureen for taking … Continue reading Spring gardens
Children of my heart
At the start of this new year, instead of making a bunch of resolutions, I made a few lists in answer to the following questions: What should I start? What should I stop? What should I do more? What should I do less? What should I continue? What should I be grateful for? The first thing … Continue reading Children of my heart
New flavours on one of North America’s oldest streets
I was overjoyed when, in the middle of a chat about Asian cuisine, the Indonesian waiter at one of my favourite restaurants, Gado-Gado, told me that there was a new Filipino restaurant on rue Notre Dame, just a couple of blocks from where I live. But I have to admit it was a little surreal … Continue reading New flavours on one of North America’s oldest streets
Sugar shacking
When I was about eight years old, my grandparents came back to Manila from Vancouver for Christmas, and they gave me the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder as a present. I loved them — partly because they had such good eating in them, and also because they described daily life in a mileu that was totally … Continue reading Sugar shacking
After the quake*
Funny thing about turning forty. It changes people. Suddenly, you’re not just one year older—you’ve stepped into a whole new decade. And not just any decade, but the first decade of the rest of your life. Perspectives change. What’s important becomes clearer. You start seeing what’s still worth your time and energy. And it’s easier to … Continue reading After the quake*
What matters most
It's been a while since I've written anything new here. I've been through a lot these past few months: turning forty, going back to the Philippines for the first time in twenty three years, jet-lagging for two weeks upon returning home while trying to catch up with work, and helping with preparations for my brother's April … Continue reading What matters most
Maria Olaguera 