In December, I wrote a short article concerning Filipino Culture which was in response to what I had read on INQ7.net (the official news website of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the Philippine's most widely circulated broadsheet). I had come across some opinion pieces that indicated the author believed the Philippines didn't have any kind of unique culture and that the Philippines had never contributed anything of any significance to the rest of the world.

Today, I was led to PinoyCentric, a Filipino arts and culture blog. Its epigram of "All Things Brown and Beautiful" doesn't do it justice. The blog is so much more than that. It's like a breath of fresh air in a country polluted by politics and violence. While they invite editorial submissions, they have some ethical guidelines that are easy to find on their website. PinoyCentric aims to incorporate standard journalism practices which include citing sources, issuing erratum and noting corrections, and providing coverage to events that are newsworthy.

If you're a Filipino, I recommend you take a look to see if you can benefit or contribute to the website, while rediscovering your heritage. If you're from another country, I recommend you take a look and educate yourself about a country that is much more than just rich in arts and culture. Perhaps you'll discover one or more of the reasons I chose this country for my retirement.