Halcyon islands in Masbate to fire your summer!

Most of the time, the best medicines are not in the form of capsules, syrup, or tablets, but natural wonders such as the beach, sunshine, and or salty/air. One good thing about working overseas, particularly for those working in the middle of the desert, is the blazing anticipation for and of the beach. I couldn’t’…

When the Usage of “Po/Opo” Becomes “Pabebe”

In Philippine culture, the usage of “Po” and “Opo” is a sign of respect. That is, respect when talking to elders and authority figures. We, Pinoy, pride ourselves in using those words. It shows how polite and respectful we are and it is revered by foreigners. When I was in the academe and the corporate…

21 #RiyadhSunsets of 2020

Happiness, peace, and comfort for me during the lockdown days were catching some rays and fresher air at the rooftop, walking in the park, and watching the sun slowly dips into horizon. The latter is obviously a personal favorite because of four things: the sunset makes the skies change in mesmerizing colors; the sunset reinforces…

An Ordinary Rooftop in Al Izdihar is in the Spotlight

When the coronavirus pandemic hit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the rest of the world in March this year, we were mandated to confine to our apartments or houses. The stifling room environment every day made me look for a way to get some fresh air and just be outside, safely, from time to…

The Senescent Arabian Wonder that is “Al Balad” and its True Owners

Two years before the launch of Saudi Vision 2030 in 2016, Al Balad Town was already declared a heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). It was one of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s proactive efforts in realizing the first of the vision’s theme: A Vibrant Society. Diving into the…

Enchanted and Revived by the Red Sea in Jeddah Corniche

Visiting the second largest city in the Kingdom, Jeddah, has already crossed my mind a few years ago since I saw pictures of that UNESCO Word Heritage Site in Al Balad and the Corniche nestling in city. The site is a reminiscent of the “Ushaiger Heritage Village” in Najd region of Riyadh Province and “Calle…

The Doors, Windows, Lamps, and Mud-Built Structures Of Ushaiger Heritage Village

Facts of the past were my academic energizers back in the day. Memorizing names, dates, events, and anything akin to history interest me—still. When I was invited by a good friend to join his squad’s trip to Ushaiger Heritage Village, the wandering feet’s engine automatically zoomed off to say, “Yes!” A grant-in-aid for The Stories…

Beyond the Claddings of King Fahad National Library

It was a random winter day in 2012 when my optical organs got magnetized by those claddings that surround the King Fahad National Library while cruising over King Fahad Road in Olaya District. I’ve always been fascinated by the unique architectural design of the building. There wasn’t a time that I didn’t take a gander at…

Back to Basics with Indoor Plants in Riyadh

Our company had us worked from home last 16 March 2020. We got back in the office after five months or last August 17. During that period, it was inevitable to develop a face-off against a tsunami, a duel against the invisible. Coping with the inconveniences, anxiety, and stress this situation brought upon us was…

Riyadh’s White Canyon: A Home to Grand Gorge and Other Desert Wonders

The Hiker’s Maxim: “Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time (J.K.).” When I received the internal communication regarding a big discount offers relative to the celebration of International Men’s Day on 19 November 2019, I immediately chose and registered in Hikemania Club’s hiking trip to the White Canyon in Nemar….

Update: Punctuation Marks in Email Greetings…”Do as you please” (The Chicago Manual of Style)!

Caveat: The purpose of this series is neither to proclaim myself as a grammarian nor to despise people who are still unfamiliar with common grammar mistakes. It is to serve as a reminder that there are rules in English that refute those mistakes. I am well aware that I still have a lot to learn in English and I will…

Hail: Saudi Arabia’s Tourism Attention Seeker

Recently, I visited Hail for work-related reasons. It was an accidental trip I may say as my position does not entail going on business trips. It took me a 45-minute plane ride from Riyadh and another hour and a half drive from the airport to get to the plant in the wee hours of the…