BAO the unbowed

January kicks off year-round fiestas and festivals in the Philippines - when folks from all over, take to the streets in festive celebration, dancing to the beat of wild drumming and sharp staccato whistle blasts.  Visiting the Philippines this time of the year has several advantages. The weather is ideal for sightseeing and island hopping.  Amihan , the northeast monsoon blows through the islands - bringing cooling breezes and bright sunny days. Cresting in the wake of a notoriously long holiday season - the merry making continues on as the new festival season unfolds.  Image provided by The Augustinian Province of Santo Niño de Cebu Philippines Provincialate Offices At the center of most January festivities is the  Santo Niño , the image of the Child Jesus - venerated by many folks the world over and popularly celebrated all over the Philippines. Grand processions with hundreds of opulently dressed images of the Christ child are paraded in the streets amid frenzied...

At their simultaneous launch, we celebrated the long-awaited return of two classic books on Filipino food culture. SARAP: Essays on Philippine Food and PALAYOK: Philippine Food Through Time, on Site, in the Pot. Conceived and created by two enduring voices in food literature - Doreen G. Fernandez and Edilberto N. Alegre. book launch at Terra Madre Asia & Pacific 2025 These books are in print once more and republished for the first time since Sarap was released in 1988, and Palayok in 2000. The two new editions mark the first foray of publishers Exploding Galaxies outside fiction and into food. event speakers & organizers - Mara Coson, Romy Dorotan, Reena Gamboa & Joycie Alegre Their launch yesterday at the Terra Madre Asia and Pacific 2025 in Bacolod celebrated the slip cover release of Sarap and Palayok. Hosted by Reena Gamboa, niece, godchild and namesake of Doreen, in collaboration with the rest of the Slow Food #TMAP2025 team

Happy Birthday, Millie Kilayko !  the birthday girl at her gift giving post For many in Negros Island and its outlying provinces this remains a place where life can be a terrifying gamble. Families left to fend for themselves with rarely much support; where calamity moves faster than hope; and too many children have their lives and dreams cut short too soon.  at a local carabao dairy farm  In these neighborhoods, what catches the attention as we look around is a chilling observation - it is safer to be a soldier in the trenches than an infant in our islands. 

Shortly after BAO’s debut, in the time of COVID lockdown and great uncertainty — a majestic mosaic carabao took residency at the front steps of The Negros Museum, an apt home for this symbol of art and culture and the voice of our urban city and rural province. We wanted an art installation that would ignite the interest and kindle the imagination of its viewers — inspiring more to rediscover the roots and stories embedded and embodied here. We hope BAO — the unbowed carabao captures the hearts and wild imaginings of local viewers, visiting tourists, resident creatives, and the world at large. From being our steadfast farming companion, may this vibrant creature become NSC’s voice and presence — sharing thoughtful insights and current updates on relevant and valuable issues and topics. BAO installation at The Negros Museum Five years later, with 2025 ending — we are reviving and renewing BAO’s presence in the community. An enlivened emblem to the endurance and perseverance of a thrivin...