Features

In depth stories and standout topics that offer context or analysis.

Visual metaphor for the limits of AI empathy. The image reflects the article’s core message: that chatbots may offer comfort, but they often misread or oversimplify human emotions—especially in non-Western contexts like the Philippines.

Has ChatGPT Become Your Friend, Confidant—and Therapist?

By Richard Jonathan O. Taduran, Ph.D.

July 11, 2025

Over the past few months, I’ve noticed something quietly unsettling. People from all walks of life have begun turning to ChatGPT for guidance—on everything from…

Chefs Vince Garcia and Manuela Cherry Pasion-Tan in front of the Kalayaan Ball stage in Milan, just before the dinner service. Kapampangan cuisine in Milan table setting with Filipino dishes

Kapampangan Cuisine in Milan: They Came for the Food, but the Tears Filled Their Hearts

By Tatung Sarthou

July 10, 2025

Even before guests arrived, preparations were already in motion. Volunteers moved briskly. Kitchens buzzed with energy. The air, thick with garlic and anticipation, set the…

Quiet Confessions and Queer Longing Over Tapsilog: A Boys’ Love Novel Excerpt by Danton Remoto

By Simpol

July 10, 2025

What does queer friendship look like when it isn’t loud or tragic, but quiet, ordinary, and true? This story begins with a casual night out…

We Live in Two Worlds Now

By Tatung Sarthou

July 10, 2025

One moves at the speed of light. The other, at the pace of life. One is fast, reactive, always updating. The other requires waiting, tending,…

Bigg’s Diner: A cultural icon in Bicol

By Tatung Sarthou

July 9, 2025

Biggs in Naga and the Rise of a Regional Icon Where Generations Grew Up If you were a teenager in CamSur, chances are you spent…

A warm bowl of molo soup on a wooden table, representing the culinary heritage. Iloilo UNESCO Gastronomy City chefs and food community celebrated in 2023

Inside Iloilo’s Soulful Kitchens: The City That Feeds Hearts

By Chef Waya Araos-Wijangco

July 3, 2025

When UNESCO unveiled its latest list of global Creative Cities in 2023, one Filipino destination quietly stole the spotlight: Iloilo was officially named a UNESCO…

Lotto 6/42 ticket being checked against winning numbers, capturing the life-changing moment of a ₱102 million jackpot win.

The ₱102 Million Moment: Luck, Life, and Lessons from a Lotto Win

By Simpol

July 2, 2025

A routine bet. A life-changing win. In a quiet barangay in Talisay City, Cebu, a man placed his usual bet on the lotto. He chose…

Illustration of a human silhouette with circuitry patterns representing artificial intelligence, set against a sunset cityscape—symbolizing the rise of AI in the Philippines and the beginning of the Intelligence Age.

Ready or Not, the Intelligence Age Is Here

By Richard Jonathan O. Taduran, Ph.D.

June 28, 2025

Most people still think of artificial intelligence as just smarter search engines or more personalized social feeds. But what’s unfolding is far more profound. We’re…

Show posters of Somebody Feed Phil Manila episode and I Love Filipino placed side by side, illustrating two different approaches to Filipino food storytelling—one emotional and personal, the other structured and curated.

Who Said It Better? Two Netflix Shows Try to Tell the Filipino Food Story

By Tatung Sarthou

June 21, 2025

Phil Rosenthal always has a funny way of saying things that seem off—until they make perfect sense. Take this line from the Somebody Feed Phil…

Sunlight illuminating the Cagayan de Oro business district skyline, showcasing traditional energy infrastructure as the city moves toward solar energy in the Philippines.

How the Sun Is Quietly Powering a Filipino Revolution—From Mindanao’s Hubs to Manila’s Skyscrapers

By Gelo Lopez

June 19, 2025

Cagayan de Oro: The City of Golden Friendship Meets an Energy Challenge Cagayan de Oro, the “City of Golden Friendship,” stands as a vibrant gateway…

Assorted foraged mushrooms in Sagada laid out on a flat surface, showcasing the diversity of wild fungi collected during a forest foray — a visual glimpse into sustainable foraging practices in the Cordillera region.

Damayan: What Mushrooms Teach Us About Feeding a Nation

By Waya Araos-Wijangco

June 19, 2025

Chef Waya Araos‑Wijangco ventured into the misty forests of Sagada in search of wild mushrooms—and returned with more than ingredients. Each harvest revealed a story…