Prayers and Reflections

“Art is a collaboration
between God and the artist,
and the less the artist does,
the better.” – Andre Gide

Photos by Riz

Recent Posts

Take six breaks a day, write 30 random words, novelist suggests

Int'l fiber art biennale opens online

Artist Claudio Fiori creates online store

Stay strong for the #NextNormal: Think deeply, pray fervently, live bravely

Veronica Pulumbarit

Dec 12, 20201 min read

Stay strong for the #NextNormal: Think deeply, pray fervently, live bravely

Veronica Velarde-Pulumbarit, a journalism graduate of UP Diliman, has been a writer and editor for almost 30 years. In 2017, she was...

Pink respirator launched to support breast cancer warriors

PRNewswire

Oct 24, 20203 min read

Pink respirator launched to support breast cancer warriors

HONG KONG (PRNewswire) -- Frontliners Med launched a special edition warrior pink respirator to protect breast cancer warriors and their...

A tribute to Ninong Richard, a real-life hero

Veronica Pulumbarit

Sep 19, 20204 min read

A tribute to Ninong Richard, a real-life hero

This afternoon, I was stunned to receive news about the passing of our good friend, Richard Ng, the most civic-minded person we know....

Women Supporting Women: Challenge accepted

Veronica Pulumbarit

Jul 28, 20204 min read

Women Supporting Women: Challenge accepted

This afternoon, my sister in Canada, Melissa, tagged me in the #womensupportingwomen challenge. It was the first time that she tagged me...

Pope Francis: Send hugs, cards to elderly

Veronica Pulumbarit

Jul 26, 20202 min read

Pope Francis: Send hugs, cards to elderly

Pope Francis urged young people to reach out and encourage the elderly, especially those in nursing homes, amid the COVID-19 pandemic....

Veronica Pulumbarit

Jul 25, 20202 min read

Fly free, my friend Peppa Pigeon

A beautiful pigeon visited us today and stayed on our balcony for hours. Photo: Riz Pulumbarit I called it "Peppa Pigeon" because our...

Five lessons from the deadly 1990 Luzon earthquake

Veronica Pulumbarit

Jul 16, 20203 min read

Five lessons from the deadly 1990 Luzon earthquake

I thought I would die underneath a rubble of books during the deadly Luzon earthquake that happened 30 years ago on July 16, 1990.

Veronica Pulumbarit

Jul 16, 20202 min read

How to talk to kids about COVID-19

How do you talk to kids about sensitive issues such as COVID-19?

400-year-old Santo Niño statue missing in Pandacan, Manila church fire

Veronica Pulumbarit

Jul 11, 20201 min read

400-year-old Santo Niño statue missing in Pandacan, Manila church fire

The historic Santo Niño de Pandacan church in Manila, built in 1760 during the Spanish period, caught fire on July 10.

Priest-architect behind iconic PH churches dies at 50

Veronica Pulumbarit

Jul 9, 20202 min read

Priest-architect behind iconic PH churches dies at 50

The Catholic Bishops Conferences of the Philippines (CBCP) announced the passing of renowned priest-architect Alex Bautista on July 9....

10 good and bad things I learned from my brother

Veronica Pulumbarit

Jul 2, 20204 min read

10 good and bad things I learned from my brother

My brother Fernando Velarde is the middle child in the family and his birthday, July 2, falls right in the middle of the year.

How a wristwatch brought Mom and Dad together

Veronica Pulumbarit

Jun 30, 20203 min read

How a wristwatch brought Mom and Dad together

A wristwatch, or "lack" of it, brought our parents together.

Pope Francis: Unite with others despite differences

Veronica Pulumbarit

Jun 29, 20202 min read

Pope Francis: Unite with others despite differences

On Pope's Day, Pope Francis urged Catholics to unite with others despite our differences because God did not make us all alike.

Veronica Pulumbarit

Jun 28, 20202 min read

R.I.P. Pacman the Dog

Sending out hugs and sympathies to the family of Senator Manny Pacquiao as they grieve the death of Pacman the Dog. GMA News Online...

Lessons from Father Bob Astorino, UCA News founder

Veronica Pulumbarit

Jun 28, 20203 min read

Lessons from Father Bob Astorino, UCA News founder

I didn't immediately shed a tear when I learned on the news that my former boss, Father Bob" Astorino, passed away.

Veronica Pulumbarit

Jun 26, 20202 min read

Who is Saint Josemaria Escriva?

June 26 is the feast day of Saint Josemaria Escriva, the saint of ordinary life.

#Reflection: How to celebrate baptismal anniversaries

Veronica Pulumbarit

Jun 26, 20203 min read

#Reflection: How to celebrate baptismal anniversaries

Celebrating one's baptismal anniversary is not very common among Catholics in the Philippines.

Remembering Michael Jackson, the 'King' who always wore a mask

Veronica Pulumbarit

Jun 25, 20201 min read

Remembering Michael Jackson, the 'King' who always wore a mask

June 25 marks the 11th death anniversary of "King of Pop" Michael Jackson, who was often seen in public wearing a mask. Many thought the...

Remembering 'Slice of Life' cartoonist Larry Alcala

Veronica Pulumbarit

Jun 24, 20201 min read

Remembering 'Slice of Life' cartoonist Larry Alcala

National Artist for Visual Arts Lauro "Larry" Zarate Alcala is one of the Philippines' foremost cartoonists.

#InternationalWidowsDay: Mom, the brave widow

Veronica Pulumbarit

Jun 23, 20202 min read

#InternationalWidowsDay: Mom, the brave widow

June 23 is International Widows' Day but I do not know what to say to our Mom, who has been a widow since our Dad passed away in 2007.