(This article was first published inmy column at Sun.Star Davao on February 10, 2019. [https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1786948/Davao/Opinion/Estremera-Nothing-wrong]. But to make it more fun for this blog, I’m posting here some file photos of my adventures and misadventures). THROUGH the 15 years as editor-in-chief and eight years as some other kinds of editor of Sun.Star Davao, friends and […]
Category: everyday life
The ostriches of Queensland
No, not Queensland in Australia. Rather Queensland Lodge, a well-known motel (and all that it implies) in Davao City. Queensland has a baywalk that has become a public park where people do their morning exercises and promenade or go fishing. Mingling among them are five ostriches. Yeps, real live ostriches owned by the Queensland owner […]
Not so known food practices
I’M obviously hooked, just in case you didn’t notice it yet. Hooked on learning how people live with so little up there in the mountains. I’m hooked too on discovering that what I thought I know pales in comparison with what the indigenous peoples know but which they shrug off as common knowledge, fixed in […]
Beast of burden
The epitome of a beast of burden, carabaos or water buffaloes are necessary companions of Filipino farmers. This is the carabao we rented to carry our things to sitio Lapinig where I was scheduled to meet an old datu who is reputed to be able to talk to farm pests. Like the work horses in […]
Toys for big boys
Up there in the mountains where money is scarce, playthings are not stuff you would think of buying. That doesn’t mean they don’t have toys. Menfolk make tops. Big tops. Out of food. They use their bolos to make these. They chopped off a branch and then cut out a top; from the round top […]
Artists and artisans of Bali
It was my first time in Bali and we only had one day to go around after spending three days at the Bali Convention Center in Nusa Dua, which was a bit on the expensive side. No, not a bit. Expensive, period. That day in Ubud, however, was awesome. So awesome, it rankles on your […]
Smile for me, please
What’s a perfect smile? Is it the smile of a sister, just a year or two older, as she takes care of her baby brother? Is it the half-smile of a boy peeking out from behind his friend’s back? Or is it the sweet glow from the face of a boy no matter how unwashed? […]
Nudibranch ballet
‘Tis a lesson you should heed: Try, try, try again. If at first you don’t succeed, Try, try, try again…” — William Edward Hickson Stalking a nudibranch in the waters of Paradise Island Beach Resort in the Island Garden City of Samal…
Maan’s birthday frog
IT was the eve of Maan’s birthday and Kublai’s gang gathered for food and wine. The after dinner talk was a very long one that spanned topics from how many architecture schools give more premium on design rather than functionality of a structure and thus produce spaces that give so much importance on the looks […]
Sun.Star Davao: That’s just the way it is
This is my Sunday’s column at Sun.Star Davao telling the story of young boys in the hinterland villages of Davao City…. and since this is a blogsite, then you get an extra. Photos of the little boys. http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/opinion/2012/02/18/estremera-thats-just-way-it-206828 Jason as a participant to an art workshop my buddy Kublai and I held for children of […]
