Lifted from Saga Sphere Kudkuran: The Coconut Grater of the Filipino Household. When we talk about the forgotten household treasures of Filipinos, one of the most iconic yet fading tools is the kudkuran—the humble coconut grater. Imagine this: a low wooden bench, usually hand-carved from sturdy wood, with a serrated metal blade sticking out on one side. At first glance, it looks ordinary, almost like a small stool. But for centuries, this simple tool has been the heart of Filipino kitchens, especially when preparing our most beloved dishes and desserts. 🥥 Daily Use in the Ancient Kitchen The coconut has always been called the “Tree of Life” in the Philippines, because every part of it is useful—from the leaves to the husk, from the shell to the fruit itself. And the kudkuran? It was the bridge between the coconut and the Filipino table. Back in the day, whenever families needed coconut milk (gata) for dishes like ginataang gulay, laing, bicol express, or kakanin, the process was almos...

Lifted from Saga Sphere The Heat of the Pugon: Ancient Filipino Clay and Stone Ovens Long before modern kitchens were filled with stainless steel gas stoves, ovens, and electric appliances, the heart of the Filipino household pulsed with the glow of the pugon—a clay or stone oven that once defined our ancestors’ way of cooking. The pugon was more than just a cooking tool; it was a bridge between cultures, a sign of resilience, and a centerpiece of community life. In this story, we’ll rediscover its history, its uses, and why it remains a powerful reminder of Filipino ingenuity. The Origins of the Pugon The earliest forms of the pugon were believed to have come from Asian neighbors like China and India, where clay ovens had long been used. When Spanish colonizers arrived, they brought their own version of brick and stone ovens for baking bread and pastries. Filipinos, as always, adapted. They combined native clay and volcanic stone with Spanish design, creating ovens that could handle b...

Lifted from Saga Sphere Banig: The Timeless Handwoven Sleeping Mat of the Filipino People Have you ever seen a simple mat made from colorful leaves, neatly spread on the floor, where the whole family gathers to sleep, rest, or simply talk together? That, my friends, is the banig—a traditional handwoven sleeping mat of the Filipino people. The banig is not just an ordinary mat. It carries with it the story of Filipino creativity, resilience, and connection to nature. It is made from pandan leaves, buri palm, or tikog grass, carefully cut, dried, dyed, and woven by hand. Each banig is unique, showing the artistry of the weaver who pours patience and love into every strand. 🌱 How the Banig is Made The making of a banig begins with nature. Leaves are harvested, then softened under the sun. Sometimes they are boiled or dyed with natural colors. Then, patiently, the weaver interlaces the strips to form intricate patterns—zigzags, diamonds, and colorful designs that reflect local culture. So...

11 September 2025 Thursday 

Pag-aakda ni Martha Carrera IN THE PHILIPPINES,  RIGHT NOW THE WORD OF EVERY HOUSEHOLD IS "CORRUPTION." THE ENDLESS INVESTIGATIONS RESULTS TO NOTHING. BUT MORE WASTING OF THE FILIPINO TAXPAYER'S MONEY. IN FEW WEEKS LAHAT NG INVESTIGATIONS NA YAN, WILL VANISH NA PARANG BULA. WALANG MAKUKULONG, WALANG KAHIT SINGKO NA PERANG NAIBABALIK SA MGA TAO. VOICELESS PA RIN SI JUAN DELACRUZ. POBRE PA RIN NA ISANG KAHIG ISANG TUKA. AND THESE WILL CONTINUE UNTIL MAG KAAPO NA TAYO & THE GENERATIONS AFTER GENERATIONS OF POVERTY JUST GETS WORST.  ANONG GAGAWIN? 1. HWAG NA HWAG IPAGBILI ANG MGA BOTO NYO. 2. BANTAYAN ANG BOTO NYO. 3. BE SILENT KUNG SINONG IBOBOTO NYO. BUT MAKE SURE YOU DECIDE AS FAMILY. 4. HWAG NA HWAG IBOTO ANG MGA SOBRANG MATATANDA AT KINAKALAWANG NA SA GOVT.  LALO NA YUNG MAY BAHID NG CORRUPTION AT MAY MATINDI NA KAWALANG HIYAAN. YUNG MGA IMMORAL, MAYAYAMAN NG SOBRA SOBRA SA SUELDO NILA AS A GOVT EMPLOYEES.  5.  THERE IS NO MORE WORDS NA MAKAKAPAG PA GUILTY ...

Lifted from Saga Sphete The Forgotten Treasure: Banga – The Clay Water Jar of the Filipinos Have you ever wondered how our Filipino ancestors kept their water cool, fresh, and drinkable—long before refrigerators or bottled water ever existed? 🌊 The answer lies in one of the most valuable and forgotten household treasures of ancient times: the Banga, or the Clay Water Jar. This earthen jar was not just an ordinary container. It was a symbol of resourcefulness, sustainability, and community living. Today, let us journey back in time to discover the story of the banga—its purpose, its beauty, and why it still matters to us in the modern world. Part 1: What is a Banga? The Banga is a large clay jar traditionally used by Filipino households to store water. It was often made from red clay, carefully molded by hand, and baked in open fire until hardened. What makes it special? Unlike metal or plastic containers, the clay jar naturally kept water cool and refreshing, even on the hottest tropi...

10 September 2025 WHEN PANDORA'S BOX WAS OPENED IN THE PHILIPPINES, the HOUSE OF THE LAWLESS, CROCODILES, VULTURES AND DRACULAS were UNTAVELLED. "Pandora's box" refers to the literal box from a Greek myth that contained all the world's evils, which were released when Pandora opened it out of curiosity, leaving only hope inside. Figuratively, opening a Pandora's box means to do or start something that will cause many unforeseen and complex problems or troubles. It's a metaphor for any source of misfortune that, once set in motion, can't be easily undone.   The Origin Story The Gods' Punishment: According to Hesiod's epic poems, the gods created Pandora as a punishment for humanity after the Titan Prometheus stole fire.  The Gift: Zeus gave Pandora a jar (often depicted as a box) containing many evils and ailments but also hope.  Pandora's Curiosity: Pandora, driven by her curiosity, opened the jar, releasing all the world's troubles—such...

10 September 2025 Lifted from Archlight ₱28-BILLION NA PAUTANG NG SOUTH KOREA PARA SA MGA TULAY SA PILIPINAS, IPINAHINTO NI PRESIDENT LEE Ipinag-utos ni South Korean President Lee Jae-myung ang agarang pagpapatigil sa nakatakdang ₩700 bilyon o katumbas ng humigit-kumulang ₱28 bilyong pautang sa Pilipinas para sa mga proyektong pangtulay. Ayon sa mga ulat, nagpasya ang pamahalaan ng South Korea na ihinto ang financing bunsod ng mga umano’y iregularidad at isyung korupsyon sa ilang proyektong pang-imprastraktura sa bansa.

10 September 2025 Likha ni Rado is  𝗟𝘂𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗸𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗻 Makabagong “Lupang Hinirang” Sa panulat ni Rado Gatchalian   Bayang nabaliw Pagpag ng Silanganan Alab ng tiyan Sa pitaka mo’y umaapaw   Lupang Ninakawan Duyan ka ng suwail Sa mandarambong Hakot bilyon-bilyon   Sa dagat at bundok Lahat ay makukurakot May dilag ang pera At kapangyarihang minamahal   Ang kislap ng watawat mo’y Niyurakan at binaboy Ang bituin at araw niya Sawi’t nabalot sa dilim   Lupa ng araw ng pighati’t hirap Buhay ay impyerno sa piling mo Aming kabiguan sa bawat pagnanakaw Mamamatay ang Pilipino ng dahil sa iyo Sagot ni Susan Dancel Isip: Ang mga buwayang walang kabusugan Dumadami at nagkakampikampi Puno na ang bayon maleta at baul  Ng nakaw na yamang pera ng bayan Tikom ang bibig ng bawat isa na animo'y  Tupang di makabasag pinggan.

10 September 2025 Billions Lost, Blame Shifted The government has mastered the art of corruption by distraction. While congressmen quietly ram billions into the General Appropriations Act, they point their fingers at Senator Chiz Escudero over a few campaign donations from friends. Donations worth thousands are paraded in the headlines, while appropriations worth billions are hidden in the shadows. That’s not accountability—it’s a cover-up. The same lawmakers who juggle diversified foreign loans worth billions—debts every Filipino will be paying off for decades—pretend innocence while they fan the flames elsewhere. And where is Zaldy Co, the very author of the General Appropriations Act? Not in the halls of Congress, not facing the people—he’s in the United States, hiding behind the tired “sick card” that crooked politicians always pull when they’re caught red-handed. But the corruption trail doesn’t stop with Zaldy Co. It leads straight to Speaker Martin Romualdez. You cannot talk abo...

10 September 2025 Lifted from Rob Rances  It’s not enough to call him a hero. We all love him. We all miss him. Some of us still cry watching his old speeches—the ones that made us feel seen. The ones that made us feel brave. The ones that woke us up from being slaves in our own land. But here’s the truth we don’t want to say out loud: We’ve taken our love for him too far. We’ve turned the man who bled for this nation into a symbol we cling to… As if he alone still holds the answers. As if he alone still holds the strength to save us. We call him Tatay. But we forget what it means to be ANAK. We forget that the highest honor a child can give a father… is to CARRY THE FIGHT FORWARD. YES, WE FIGHT TO BRING HIM HOME. But not so he can save us. We fight to bring him home so he can witness with his own weary eyes that the passion he planted in us was not reduced to noise— But has become a voice that shakes the palace walls. That unsettles the comfort of the elite. That defends the power...

Lifted from Prince Umpad 9 September 2025 Vendors work all day just to earn ₱400 and still pay taxes. Jeepney drivers spend hours in traffic, risking their safety, only to bring home ₱500. Meanwhile, corrupt officials hide billions in “room vaults.” Imagine entire rooms stacked with stolen money. That kind of money could have built schools so children do not sit on broken chairs. It could have provided job opportunities and raised wages so families can actually live with dignity. It could have funded hospitals with enough medicine and doctors. Filipinos are poor not because we do not work hard. Mahirap ang Pilipinas because greed keeps stealing from the very people who sacrifice every day: drivers, vendors, and workers. Billions stolen, tax-free, while the poor pay every single peso. The Philippines and Filipinos deserve better. (Photo Courtesy: House of Representatives #fblifestyle)

Lifted from Rob Rances 9 September 2025 “Protect the institution.”  Observers suspect it was the whispered rationale for the lightning-fast Senate leadership shift after the Blue Ribbon hearings detonated.  Chair Marcoleta’s committee, backed by the notarized confession of the Discaya couple, dared to name names: House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Rep. Zaldy Co, and a kickback culture tied to insertions and unprogrammed funds. But instead of the House absorbing the heat, the Senate’s leadership bore the blow. Chiz Escudero was out, Tito Sotto was in, with 15 votes smoothly cast. And Marcoleta was replaced by Lacson as Blue Ribbon Committee Chair. The stated rationale? Allegedly, to “protect the institution.” Yet here lies the paradox: when “protect the institution” means silencing its own accountability mechanisms, it stops being protection—it becomes complicity. I. A CONFESSION THAT CRACKED THE DOOR The Discaya couple’s testimony confirmed what the public has long suspected. Wit...

07 September 2025 Lifted from Alexandra Eala 🇵🇭 HISTORY MADE! Alex Eala becomes a WTA champion for the first time, defeating Hungary’s Panna Udvardy to win the 2025 Guadalajara 125 Open. A milestone that cements her place in Philippine tennis history! ✨🎾 #HistoryMade #WTA #AlexEala #ProudPinoy #Tennis