A Hazy Start to September: Transboundary Haze Reaches the Philippines

 Many of us in Metro Manila woke up on the first day of September to a thick haze hanging over the city, blurring the skyline and obscuring buildings that we normally see even from afar.  At first glance, it looked like the typical pollution that plagues the city or, since we had experienced continuous rains before it happened, lingering rain clouds.  But we later learned that it was haze that actually traveled hundreds of kilometers, originating from burning forest and peatland fires in Indonesia and carried to the Philippines by the southwest monsoon, or what we call the habagat.

We in Metro Manila were also not alone.  Social media was abuzz with posts saying the haze also affected parts of Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, and the Visayas.   Authorities advised the public to limit outdoor activities and wear face masks due to worsening air quality.  I put on a face mask as I left the house, and seeing other people in the streets wearing face masks reminded me of the pandemic six years ago.  Some local governments across the country also suspended classes to protect the children's health,

AI-generated image

Unsurprisingly, the Philippines was not the only one affected.  Neighboring Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries such as Malaysia and Brunei also experienced haze and poor air quality from the Indonesian fires.  In fact, these countries bore the brunt of the current transboundary haze because of their proximity to the fire-affected areas.  Their air quality reached hazardous levels, disrupting daily life, schools, and transportation. 

Transboundary haze from Indonesian fires is not new to the region.  Southeast Asia experienced major haze crises in the last three decades.  I remember that an edition of the Southeast Asian Games in Singapore was even plagued by haze, with some officials worrying about the health of their participating athletes.  But for me, what made this episode notable was that the Philippines, which, as far as I can remember, had largely been unaffected by past events, found itself directly impacted.

I know the previous incidents led the ASEAN leaders to adopt the Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, where member states agree to work together to monitor fires, share information, and help prevent future haze episodes.  I am now watching how ASEAN responds to this latest incident under the Philippines' chairmanship.  It would be interesting, given that ASEAN's principle of non-intervention often leads to inaction.

What I find even more unsettling is that this was not a natural disaster.  News reports linked the ongoing forest and peatland fires in Indonesia to land-clearing activities for corporate agriculture.  Unlike typhoons or earthquakes, these incidents are often preventable.  Some reports also indicated that parts of Indonesia are experiencing a long dry spell, contributing to fires spreading in areas not intended for burning.  It is quite frustrating to know that actions taken hundreds of kilometers away could force us here in Metro Manila to wear face masks, stay indoors, and worry about the air we breathe. 

Thankfully, it started to rain again.  The weather bureau hopes the continuous rain helps wash smoke particles out of the atmosphere and improve air quality in Metro Manila and other affected areas. 

This new haze problem provides a simple but very important lesson: in an interconnected region like ASEAN, we share the air we breathe.  What happens in one country can affect millions in another.  Protecting our environment is a shared responsibility.

Exploring San Fernando, Pampanga: Arts, Food and Faith (Last of 3 Parts)

 After lunch, we continued our trip with a visit to the Sunken Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in Bacolor. The shrine stands as a powerful reminder of the devastation brought by the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991. Massive lahar flows buried much of the original church, with only the roof visible from street level. Today, the shrine continues to serve as a place of worship, but it also stands as a monument to the community's survival and resilience.

One of the shrine's most remarkable features is its altar, carved from the very lahar that once buried the church and surrounding communities. The altar retains the rugged texture and gray tones of the hardened volcanic deposits, creating a stark yet beautiful contrast with the sacred statues and decorations around it. 

At the center of this altar stands the original image of Our Lady of Lourdes, preserved despite the destruction brought by the eruption. The image appears to triumph over the tragedy as it stands atop the lahar deposits. At the same time,  the altar served as a powerful reminder of how devastating nature can be when it unleashes its fury. Yet it also shows how communities can rebuild, recover, and find meaning even after immense loss.

Behind the altar was a stairway we climbed, which brought us closer to the Our Lady of Lourdes image. There, I touched the image's veil and quietly offered a short prayer. It was a simple yet meaningful moment that added a personal and spiritual dimension to our visit.

Earlier in August, the shrine was flooded after heavy rains from the southwest monsoon, locally known as "habagat."  The statue of the Lady had to be moved to the parish office for safety.

 Our driver later told us about another church in the area that had been buried by the lahar, with only its bell tower and dome still visible above ground. Curious to see it, we set out to find the site. Unfortunately, despite following directions from people we asked on the street, we couldn't find it.

 Since we couldn't locate the church, we decided to take a break at Our Cafe, considered the largest cafe in the country. Before heading home, we made one final stop at L.A. Bakeshop,  famous for its cheese bread. I bought a box of 16 pieces while my sisters bought other pastries such as the ube ensaymada.

We had a great day in Pampanga and experienced more than just sightseeing. Each stop exposed us to the arts, cuisine, and other aspects of Pampanga's heritage and character. It was a day filled with learning, good food, and memories.

Exploring San Fernando, Pampanga: Arts, Food and Faith (2nd of 3 Parts)

After our museum visit, we had lunch at Souq (pronounced "sook") Restaurant along Lazatin Avenue. Souq offers a creative fusion of Kapampangan cuisine, widely regarded as among the best in the Philippines, alongside other Filipino and Asian dishes. Since we wanted to sample a variety of flavors, we ordered several dishes to share.

One of the items I instantly liked was the restaurant's take on Okoy, a favorite Filipino treat traditionally made with shrimp and vegetables. Souq's version was both familiar and unique, a combination of grated papaya, kamote (sweet potato), and kalabasa (squash), topped with shrimp. The fritters did not have the usual patty-like appearance; they looked like a bird's nest and were crunchy and tasty. 

I ordered the crab rice, which I found very good. The rice was soft and must have included malagkit (glutinous rice), and the crab flavor was rich and creamy. Its savory taste made it satisfying, and it paired well with the other dishes we ordered.

My sisters also tried the kare-kare, which featured tender pork belly instead of the usual ox tail or tripe. My sisters, however, found the peanut sauce much sweeter than what we typically expect from a traditional kare-kare. The sweetness was quite pronounced, and I even suspected that the cook might have used peanut butter instead of actual peanuts to make the sauce. Of course, that was only my personal impression, and some diners may enjoy this variation. However, I prefer a more savory and nuttier kare-kare that lets the flavors of the meat, vegetables, and bagoong shine through.

I also had the opportunity to try the Asado Matua, a Kapampangan take on the Chinese dish asado. The dish featured pork shoulder slow-cooked in tomatoes, soy sauce, and calamansi, resulting in a deep, savory flavor balanced by a nice tanginess. The meat was tender and absorbed the rich flavors of the sauce. In a previous trip to Pampanga, I learned that "matua" is the Kapampangan word for traditional or old-style, which made the dish even more interesting. The Asado Matua is the pride of Kapampangan cooking, often served during celebrations and important occasions.  

We also ordered the Pasta sa Taba ng Alimango, or pasta in crab fat sauce. I did not get the chance to try it because I had already ordered the crab rice and did not want to double down on crab dishes. My sister was the one who sampled it, and judging from how little she ate, I suspect she was not particularly impressed. 

Since I was not the one who paid for lunch, I do not actually know how much the meal cost. However, my sisters were very happy with the bill and felt that we received excellent value for the quality and quantity of food we enjoyed. They even said that we probably would have paid considerably more for a similar lunch in Manila. We appreciated the experience even more because of that observation. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our meal at Souq, and I'd gladly go back to try their other dishes. 

Original images taken during our trip. No intended copyright infringement.

Apple Pay Finally Arrives in the Philippines

 

Image from apple.com/ph

Apple Pay has finally arrived in the Philippines. After years of wondering when I would be able to use it, Apple Pay launched in the Philippines today, August 4, 2026. The service allows users to make secure payments in stores, apps, and online using their Apple devices.

As someone who already prefers cashless transactions, I’ve been looking forward to this feature on my iPhone and Apple Watch for a long time.

At its launch, Apple Pay had partnered with four banks: Chinabank, GoTyme Bank, Metrobank, and UnionBank, which became the first institutions to support the service, allowing eligible Visa and Mastercard cardholders to add their cards to Apple Wallet and begin using Apple Pay. Hopefully, more banks will join in the months ahead as the service gains traction locally.

So far, according to the Apple website, merchants such as Abenson, Anko, Ayala Malls Cinemas, Ayala Malls, Beyond the Box, Coach, Digimap, Foot Locker, Globe, HOKA, Hollister, Jollibee, Lush, Power Mac Center, Rustan’s, SaladStop!, Shake Shack, Smart, The Loop, The Matcha Tokyo, The Movie Snackbar, The Underbelly, and WalterMart Supermarket, and apps and websites including foodpanda, Jollibee, Rustan’s, and Shopee, will accept Apple Pay on launch date. 

To use the service in a participating store, double-click your iPhone’s side button, authenticate with Face ID, and tap the payment terminal. When shopping online, selecting Apple Pay lets you check out without repeatedly entering card details and billing information.

Security is another major advantage. Apple Pay does not store actual card numbers on the device or share them with merchants. Instead, it uses a Device Account Number. Every transaction also requires authentication through Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode, ensuring that payment information is not compromised. What’s more, if your iPhone gets lost or stolen, you can use the Find My app to quickly locate, lock, or suspend payments from that device.

Like any new service, Apple Pay Philippines still has some limitations. Only four Philippine banks and a limited number of establishments currently support the service. Some merchants may not be familiar with Apple Pay just yet since the rollout is so new. I expect adoption to grow as more banks and businesses come on board.

Even with those early limitations, Apple Pay is, I think, an important step forward for digital payments in the Philippines. It’s a small convenience, but one that makes everyday transactions faster, easier, and more secure. I am already excited to use it for my next store or online purchase.

Exploring San Fernando, Pampanga: Arts, Food and Faith (1st of 3 Parts)

We went on a road trip to San Fernando, Pampanga last month, and it was both a memorable and enriching experience.   It took us almost two hours to reach the city, and our day trip gave us a glimpse of the many facets of Pampanga’s heritage, including paintings and religious artifacts, Kapampangan food, and historic churches.

Our morning started with a visit to the Museum of Philippine Arts and Culture, where we explored an impressive collection of works by some of the country's most celebrated artists, including Juvenal Sansó, Ang Kiukok, H.R. Ocampo, Malang, and Magsaysay-Ho.

The museum's collection, divided into two sections, included works by artists who received the Presidential Merit Award and those who were honored as National Artists of the Philippines. While each gallery showcased a different artistic perspective, together they painted a compelling portrait of Filipino life, history, and identity.

One fascinating detail we learned from our guide, Seb, was that artists such as Ang Kiukok and Juvenal Sansó often included a small dot or distinctive mark in their paintings to help identify the work as an original. Some visitors might overlook that detail, but it added another layer of appreciation for the artist's personality.

 

The art pieces are part of the personal collection of former Commissioner Andrea Domingo, and I noticed that many of the paintings celebrated Filipino women. Although expressed and painted in different styles,  they all seemed to capture the grace, strength, beauty, and femininity of the Filipina. The women portrayed in these works were not merely subjects; they were central figures in the story of Filipino life and culture.

 

Another recurring theme in the collection was Philippine rural life. Many of the paintings featured scenes such as farmers planting rice in lush fields, fishermen bringing in their catch, women weaving baskets by hand, and others gathering fruit from trees or carrying the day's harvest. Seb explained that many of the artists drew inspiration from the places where they lived, and it was easy to see how their communities, landscapes, and everyday experiences found their way onto canvas.

 After viewing the paintings, we went to another building in the complex that houses a collection of historical and religious artifacts. Among the most notable pieces were the many images and statues of the Virgin Mary and the Santo Niño. The images reflect the deep Catholic faith that has shaped Filipino’s belief and culture for centuries. 

The collection also included old pots, earthenware, and other ceremonial objects that offered a glimpse into how the earlier generations lived.

While I found the artifacts fascinating, I could not help feeling a little sad as I looked at some of them. Many of the religious images were clearly very old, and several appeared worn, faded, or in need of restoration. Their appearance may give them character and authenticity, but it also raises the need for their preservation.

Nevertheless, these artifacts, along with the artworks of Filipino masters, would someday help us better understand and remember the cultural, artistic, and spiritual foundations of our society.

Original images taken during our trip. No copyright infringement intended.