June 13, 2025

A Mother’s Grief Turned Into Advocacy

Dengue claimed her only daughter’s life. Now this mother is on a mission to help prevent the same fate from happening to others.

Losing a child is one of the...

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A Mother’s Grief Turned Into Advocacy

Dengue claimed her only daughter’s life. Now this mother is on a mission to help prevent the same fate from happening to others. Losing a child is one of the...

Loida Nicolas Lewis: Trailblazer Extraordinaire

Decades before ‘women empowerment’ became mainstream buzzwords, Filipino-American Loida Nicolas Lewis had shattered the glass ceiling many times over. Business icon. Lawyer. Philanthropist. Human rights advocate. One of the world’s...

Nina Daza Puyat: The Making of Food Legends

Filipino food connoisseur and writer Nina Daza Puyat is on a mission to advocate flavoursome food journeys from farm to table for kids to appreciate where their food comes from....

Shawntel Nieto: Serving The Underserved

If you have food on the table, a roof over your head, clothes on your back, kids in school, running water and electricity, and a job that pays for the...

Ruth Yu-Owen: Failures Fuel Success

“If you grew up poor, you grew up dreaming, you grew up tough. If you grew up poor, you grew up thankful. But mostly you grew up too quickly.” This...

Ana Zigic: Everyone Has Their Own Ocean

At the end of 2023, Ana Žigić and three other brave women set out to row across the Atlantic in a human power boat. For 39.5 days, through walls of...

Marie Kondo: Putting Order In What Matters Most

“Does this spark joy?” The quintessential catchphrase prompted us to clear our closets following KonMari method: tidying up by "quickly and completely" discarding whatever it is in the house that...

Gemma Correll: Her Life In Comic Strips

Decades before mental health became mainstream British cartoonist, writer and illustrator Gemma Correll has given voice to issues such as anxiety and depression through her witty yet punchy comic strips....
WOW was founded as a response to the issue of the underrepresentation of women in leadership positions in all sectors worldwide. (Image: WOW)

Jocelyn Goh: Boundaries Matter

Do boundaries keep people out or fence you in? For Jocelyn Goh the answer lies in why they were put up in the first place. Boundaries shield us mentally, emotionally...

Leatrice Eiseman: The Power Of Color

She has been called “the international color guru” whose career spans over 30 years. The author of 10 books – all about colors – travels around the world giving presentations...

Bella Borgers: What Skateboarding Taught Me

I’ll be honest – some days I think: “Wow, I really shouldn’t be on a skateboard.” I’m terrible at looking both ways before I cross the street. I feel genuinely...

Lessons from Anthony Bourdain

“Never order fish on Monday,” Anthony Bourdain wrote in his 2000 bestseller autobiography, Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly, where he explained that restaurants typically work with supplies purchased...

Sabrina Gacad: Unmuting The GBV Conversation

Gender-based Violence (GBV) is a muted issue cloaked in fear. Stigma and shame are often the reasons victims keep mum and suffer in silence. Speaking up may make their situation...

Sophie Chen: Provoking Women To Succeed

Sophie Chen lives by her own mantra. She built a career – and let her voice be heard – in the male-dominated hospitality and casino business long before ‘empower women’...

Nichol and Nicholas Ng: Care For The Hungry

Siblings Nichol and Nicholas Ng, founders of Food Bank Singapore, have always been surrounded by food since they were born. As kids, they saw their father, uncles and aunt hard...

Jean Goulbourn: Hope and Healing

Nothing could be worse to a parent than losing a child to suicide due to depression. “The tragedy of losing a child to suicide is not the same grief that...

Bryan Peh: Outside The Box

A stereotypical millennial university graduate would have set out to land a job in the corporate world. No one would have dreamt of working in a sweatshop as a “karang...

Janti Joso Brasali: Keto Lifestyle

You can have your cake and eat it too. It’s quite literally the keto diet premise. But what do we really know about the keto diet? In a nutshell: no/low...

Natalie Dau: Keeping Fitness Real

Can exercise and fitness really be your friend? Natalie Dau believes so. The athlete, media personality, content creator, brand ambassador, health and wellness speaker and social media influencer believes in...

Jason Wong: A Father’s Heart

Editor’s Note: Dads are the silent guardians. They hide their true feelings and mostly stay in the background as they watch their children grow. Jason Wong is an exception. His...

Sujata Sheth: Ode of Love

"To describe my mother would be to write about a hurricane in its perfect power," American poet, memorist and civil rights activist Maya Angelou once described her mother. This could...

Aaron Yeoh: His Beating Heart

Aaron Yeoh’s heart beats for humanity. His empathy for the vulnerables is so deep he chose the path of compassion. He has a soft spot for People with Disabilities (PWDs)...

Lily Goh: Breaking Sound Barriers

Don’t call Lily Goh hearing-impaired. To the Deaf, hearing impaired is derogatory. They do not live with hearing loss that poses a problem. A lack of hearing need not be...

Charie Villa: In A Higher Place

A series of personal tragic events steered former broadcast journalist Charie Villa to flee the rat race and find peace in a higher place, in the bosom of nature to...

Gina Romero: Unchaining Women

Portraying Gina Romero as tech-smart, business-savvy, down-to-earth, and a connector of people and ideas is too simplistic. There’s more to her than meets the eye. “I often introduce myself as...

Martika Ramirez Escobar: Genre and Gender Bender

Generation Y female filmmaker Martika Ramirez Escobar became the first Filipino feature film director to win an award at the prestigious Sundance Film festival for her movie ‘Leonor Will Never...

Sera Murphy: Sustainably Chic

The fashion industry has been one of the biggest casualties of the pandemic. As a result, the idea of dressing up for many women has shifted after months of being...

Angela Gaspar: Recipe for Success

Angela Gaspar is an avid runner, clocking 5 kms a day on average. One day she woke up and couldn’t walk, which was later diagnosed as due to an inflamed...

Bailey Cherry: Girl Power Behind Sustainable Literacy

It is rare to come across young change-makers who took on the world, made a difference in their community and did it successfully on their own terms. Bailey Cherry did...

Philip Lawson Johnston: Glass Is His Canvas

Philip Lawson Johnston holds the distinction of Specialist Hand Engraver of Glass By Appointment to Her Majesty The Queen, and is considered one of the most influential glass hand engravers...

Janice Wong: Multisensory Edible Art

Janice Wong is a visionary pastry chef known for creating edible art on the plate and on the wall. Her multisensory palate-pleasing desserts and delightful art installations reflect a sweet...

Third Culture Kids: At Home In Their Own Skin

“Where are you from?” A geographic location may not be the best answer. To many expat sons and daughters of career parents who spend a considerable portion of their formative...

Bryan Koh: The Universal Language of Food

Food allows us to open the door and share otherwise lesser known cuisines. It tempts us to taste new flavours and moves us to engage with those with whom we...

Mita Kelder: Life Behind The Lens

“Life is like a camera. Just focus on what’s important, capture the good times, develop from the negatives and if things don’t turn out [well], take another shot.” – (Unknown)...

Adoption: A Tale of Two Fathers

“The world may not change if you adopt a child, but it would certainly change that child’s world.” (Unknown) To adopt or not to adopt. There are no right or...

A Global Nomad: Travels With A Gourmet

Living abroad wasn’t something I planned. I have been on the move, so to speak, since 1992. It’s come to a point now that I have lived overseas much longer...

Alvin Yapp: A Deep Love For All Things Peranakan

“Hello! Welcome to my home.” You know you’re in for a good time at The Intan museum when Alvin Yapp warmly greets you by the door with his disarming smile....

Claire Jedrek: A Vrooming Life

Singapore’s only female race car maven’s life on the fast lane zips from zero to 100 km per hour on any given day, and she doesn’t have any sign of...

Rich & Miko: Less Talk, More Dance

A wise person once said: “We can’t choose the music that life gives us but we can choose how to dance it.” Master choreographers, dancers and instructors Erich Edralin and...

Tina Tan Leo: Elevating Asian Fashion Designers From Local To Global

Tina Tan-Leo clearly has an eye for fashion. She is credited for introducing more than 70 style brands – including global iconic labels Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, Chloe, Givenchy, Roberto...

George Clooney: Made With Care Movement

What goes into a perfect cup of coffee? It’s a long cherry-to-cup journey that begins with farming the land. But it’s not as simple as it sounds. From India to...

Anousheh Ansari: An Astronomical Life

A young girl with dark curly hair dreamt of travelling to outer space. She would make the most of clear nights stargazing from her balcony, enthralled by the sheer mystery...

Hsien Hsien Lei: Building Bridges

Breaking down walls comes naturally to Dr Hsien Hsien Lei. Brick by brick, she builds bridges to connect individuals and businesses, or narrow the knowledge gap between layman and scientist,...

Marjorie Chu: Her Life’s Work

“Choose a job that you love and you will never have to work again in your life.” This line is often quoted but rarely do I actually meet people who...

7 Reasons Why We Love BTS

J-Hope. Jimin. Jin. Jungkook. RM. Suga. V. Seven trailblazing members of K-pop BTS boy band, all in their 20’s, smashing records in the world of entertainment. Only after I volunteered...

The Maid Who Made It

“It’s our turn to tell our story.” Multi-awarded street and documentary photographer Xyza Cruz Bacani has been putting a spotlight on under-reported migrant workers stories, primarily on labour migration and...

Voice For The Voiceless

Amanda Griffin Jacob is a familiar face in the Philippines and Singapore. She is a model, a TV personality, an entrepreneur, a social media influencer and a proud mother of...

Brushstrokes: New Life In Art

After over two decades chasing business results, Sandra Yu finds a new canvas to give voice to a new pursuit: watercolour painting. “I was a stereotypical Asian kid, academically very...

The Portfolio Life

Curtis Chin wears his Asian-American heritage as a badge of honour. His passion for people, the planet and partnerships is infectious and reverberates in much that he does, his messages...

Charles Lankester Podcast: Three Things

Do you find igniting small talk into a meaningful conversation at any gathering a challenge? Then perhaps you could take a page off podcaster Charles Lankester’s newly launched series: Three...

Lockdown Meltdown: Finding Peace

“Where in the World is Peace?” may sound like an existential question that calls for a deep, philosophical answer. Valerie Ang-Cheng mulled over the question and penned her answers in...

Rhodora Palomar-Fresnedi: Purpose, Potential & Possibility

If sunshine came in human form, she would look, sound and act like Rhodora Palomar-Fresnedi. An advocate for special needs and those with different abilities, she brings colour and hope...

Lessons From Dad

The adage “Children Learn What They Live” couldn’t be more true as evidenced by these eight kids who speak from the heart as they pay tribute to their dads. WS...

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Sole Journeys Feed The Soul

Life on the road as a Single offers freedom and flexibility that are attractions by and in themselves for those who choose it. Single serial traveler Anna Testa embarks on...

Remembering Pope Francis’ Simple Palate

During his 12-year reign as the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State (March 2013 – April 2025), the late Pope Francis was known and...

The Joy of Solo Travel

Traveling alone could be the scariest yet most liberating, life-changing experience. Try it at least once. It will stimulate all your senses, inspire curiosity, and teach you about the world...

Make the Invisible Visible

Whenever I mention that I have epilepsy, there’s a moment. A pause. A bit of disbelief. Sometimes an awkward laugh. As if I just said something that doesn’t quite fit....

Improve your looks. Improve your luck.

Beauty may not be subjective after all. Several studies conducted in Europe and America provide scientific reasons why individuals with good looks are generally perceived to be intelligent and successful....

Embrace Degrowth

What would happen if we were to say ‘no more’ to the outdated ways of growing our businesses at the expense of the earth’s assets? And, how would that in...

Elizabeth, My First Influencer

No one goes through life unscathed. We all have our own stories with episodic little dramas — the good, the bad and the ugly — unfold daily just like plots...

Alcoholism: The Afflicted and the Affected

“Hi, I’m Jim and I’m an alcoholic.” It is not easy to admit being an alcoholic. Many are in denial due to shame, guilt, low self-esteem and to protect themselves...

Courage: Taking Action Despite Your Fears

I’m not courageous? I have never regarded myself as a courageous person. I often feel like a little gray mouse, enviously looking at how other people do what I want...

K-dramas Humanise Mental Disabilities

Mental health-themed TV series or films are sometimes hard to watch because they tend to be too intense, dark, clinical, macabre, or preachy. Western narratives may be negative or positive,...

Fashion For All Seasons

What’s in your closet? Chances are it’s a mix of high and fast fashion articles of clothing and accessories, possibly more than half of which you haven’t used in ages....

Social Media Distancing

Are you more engaged in virtual space than in the real world? Are you snapping images of your food instead of enjoying it? Are you more hung up on taking...
It’s not really the gifts that we remember most. Rather, it’s that snug feeling that they bring that we look forward to every year. (Image: magnifissance.com)

Presence Over Presents

Yuletide carols fill the air. Streets and stores are dolled up in festive red, green and gold. Airports are jammed with excited passengers heading home for Christmas. The sounds, scents...

Comfort Food for the Soul

American chef and food writer Ruth Reichl’s memoirs and novels are my comfort food for the soul. They are soaked in raw emotions seasoned in anecdotal nuggets filled with ebbs...

Fear of Ageing

The fear of growing old (FOGO) can trigger intense feelings of uncertainty. How do we cope with ageing? Do we confront it? Challenge it? How old is “old”? If we...

How can we feel compassion for the people who have hurt us?

Last month I had the good fortune of traveling to Dharamshala, a small town near the Himalayan slopes in Northwestern India, for a private audience with His Holiness the Dalai...

Who Takes Care of the Caregiver?

Are you a designated or volunteer caregiver? Do you feel overwhelmed, worried and stressed? Are you not getting enough sleep? Do you sometimes feel alone and unappreciated? These are but...

Self-discovery: How deep are you willing to dig?

I’m a bit of a self-discovery junkie. I value self-development, spiritual exploration and the discomfort and challenge of questioning myself. The process of being uncomfortably vulnerable, digging out the things...

Yoga Beyond The Mat

Is yoga a therapy or a lifestyle? With over 300 million people around the world practicing yoga there are, potentially, over 300 million answers to this question. The responses would...

Reiki: The Healing Power of Touch

The first time I experienced the benefits of Reiki, I was suffering from the most excruciating pain of a pinched nerve under my right shoulder blade. I was on heavy...

Toy Stories

The emotional bond between toys and kids cannot be downplayed. They are a source of comfort and security. Toys become the trusted sidekicks they talk to, confide in, laugh and...

On Borrowed Time

Like a rollercoaster that you just can’t get off, grief comes with spasmodic dive drops, half-twist turns, sudden jolts and a scream escaping from the hollowed depths of your soul....

Think Before You Freak: What anger really does to you

Are you fast to react? Do you lose your temper quickly and "see red" regularly? Being angry all the time won't only reduce your hopes for better social interactions and...

The Power of Podcasts

There’s no shortage of stories. But what draws us to a story is the way it is told. In a podcast, the storyteller can influence a shift in our perception...

Back in Time

Time flies at supersonic speed. A sense of retrospection creeps in the moment a new year rolls in. It is around this time when I usually go on a sentimental...

Beyond Dental Care

A bright smile is the best accessory anyone can wear. But with teeth problems most of us shy away from smiling in front of others. Well, we can carry that...

K-drama Food Rhapsodies

A heap of romance, a pinch of action, a dash of suspense, and a huge dollop of gummy actors are what make K-dramas the perfect concoction to lift your mood....

Steamy Hot Yoga

An active body calms the mind. This is the essence of hot yoga. Hot yoga is an exuberant form of yoga performed in a very warm and humid studio. Typically,...

Twogether Against Depression

Mental illness is not a trend, something you can snap out of, a choice, attention seeking, an excuse nor always visible.” This is but one of the many encouraging quotes...

His Father’s Son

Not everyone grows up with a positive male role model in the household. There are, however, fortunate ones who have been privileged enough to grow up with fathers who showed...

Wearable Negative Ions

Can negative ions fabrics produce positive health results? The buzz on negative ions products, including fabrics, has picked up in recent years. They are designed to replicate or generate negative...

On Screen. Off Screen.

It’s a Wired World. Parenting in a hyperconnected digital age can leave parents flustered. The choice between screen time and scream time can be mind-bending. It is a tough, tricky...

Home Away From Home

Where are you now? If you are reading this story while living outside your birth country, you are one of 250 million migrants around the world. One in 30 people...

Moving In. Moving On.

Reboot and Reframe aren’t mere jargon to Lia Padilla-Medalla. The mother of three reflects on life as they move in and move on in three adopted cities the family relocated...

An Antidote To Ageing

I am anti-ageing. I found my own antidote after two years of self-reflection. But that’s getting ahead of the story. When I turned 50 I had this disquieting feeling of...

Merry Twistmas To Traditions

Christmas traditions and rituals are a huge part of our happy memories. Looking back, it’s not really the gifts that we remember most. Rather, it’s that snug feeling that they...

Felicity Feasts: Eat. Drink. Be Merry.

Holiday merry-making won’t be complete without indulgent food and tipples spread on dazzling tablescapes. Lavish festive menus may have evolved – vegan, gluten-free, sugar-free and vegetarian dishes are now added...

incrEDIBLE Eats: Ditching Disposable Spoons

Disposable spoons are thrown away every day without a second thought, contributing to the plastic waste problem. There will be more plastic than fish in the oceans (by weight) by...

Non-invasive Path To Pain-free Lifestyle

Osteopathy is an often misunderstood form of physical therapy solely for the elderly with weak bones and those who sustained bodily injuries. But this is just a fraction of what...

Spain At Your Table

Are you missing home? You are not alone. For many of us, 2020 made us realise how far away we were from home. As the world went on lockdown, as...

The Next Wave: Filipino Fashion Designers

There’s no reason to dampen your shopping mood just because of pandemic social distancing measures. If anything, this may be a good time to get a hefty dose of retail...

Cycling Through Singapore’s Green Corridors

After being cooped up indoors, it’s the perfect time to unwind, de-stress and experience Singapore’s best sights. There’s no better way to do that than by bicycle. Imagine the wind...

Breaking the Stigma

Is it really okay not to be okay? Experts say it is. But in reality it’s easier said than done. In a culture of “don’t ask, don’t tell” it takes...

The Joy of Reading

A writer only begins a book. A reader finishes it. – Samuel Johnson There’s always that one book that makes us feel good, takes us to a happy place, makes...

Imagine One World Kimono Project

“No need for greed or hunger… a brotherhood of man… and the world will live as one…” The poignant lyrics of John Lennon’s famous song “Imagine” came to life as...

Nida Shay: Hand Embroidery Couture

It’s not common to find bespoke artisanal sartorial and ready-to-wear couture in this part of the world. What is even less common are distinctly designed ensembles that require delicate hand...

A Quiet Mind

How do we stop the constant chatter swirling in our head, free ourselves from stress and anxiety? How do we enter a state of inner tranquillity? Meditation may just be...

From Farm To Table Ethics

Little Farms is widely known as a homegrown gourmet grocery online chain that delivers fresh produce to our doorsteps. It has had a lot of success as an effect of...

Freeloafers: Rising to the Occasion

Freeloafers never do anything half-baked. Whether it’s baking a loaf of sourdough bread or a Zoom call, you get a taste of their passion and enthusiasm. What started out as...

Elizabeth Little: The Little Brand that Could

“The Little Engine that Could” is an American folktale which was published in 1930. It is a story used to teach children about the value of optimism and hard work....

Over The Moon With Mooncakes

Some centuries-old customs and traditions live on. The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of them. Also known as Mooncake Festival, mooncakes are regarded as an indispensable delicacy – a custom that...

Furry Friends

Love and loyalty bond humans and dogs. Once that connection is forged no one and nothing can come between them. As the saying goes: money can buy you a fine...

Fly Me To The Moon

White. Yellow. Blue. Red. These are the colours of the moon as it rises and sets on earth. Whether it's a full, a waning gibbous, or a waxing crescent moon...

Birds in the Wild

What does it take to capture birds in stills? Patience, patience, and more patience. Many of these flying creatures can run, jump, swim and dive. With their rhythmic chirping sounds...

Homegrown Flavours of Latin America

Latin America has produced some of the greatest players in football history, from Pele, Lionel Messi to Diego Maradona. And it certainly got the world dancing on its feet to...

Everyday Thailand

Claro Cortes IV is a Filipino photojournalist with almost 30 years of professional experience. Prior to relocating to Bangkok, he was an Editor-in-Charge at the Thomson Reuters Global Pictures Desk...

Are We Ready for a Plant-based Diet?

The plant-based diet is the newest kid on the block. Is it just a fad, trending after the likes of impossible burgers and tofu cheesecakes? Apparently not. The plant-based diet...

Indoor Flora

Brighten up your space with a splash of green. Indoor plants spark joy and unleash good vibes. They boost your mood, reduce stress, lower anxiety, eliminate air pollutants, and bump...

World Travel: An Irreverent Guide

ANTHONY BOURDAIN. Who amongst food lovers, world travellers, and culture mavens does not know him, respect him, and wish he were still around? He was a singular voice in food...

Thirst Quenchers

Shaken. Stirred. Straight up. On the rocks. Chill with these classic cocktails - perfect as sundowners, party starters or pre-dinner sips. Classic Singapore Sling Ingredients: 30ml Gin15ml Cherry Heering7.5ml Dom...

Honouring Tradition and Craftsmanship

If you’re looking to sprinkle some sizzle into your wardrobe for Singapore’s forever-summer weather, Maracuya’s handmade artisanal accessories will add that sultry touch in a snap. Maracuya is Spanish for...

Re-imagining The Future

Acclaimed up-and-coming artist Debbie Ding is a visual artist and technologist from Singapore. Her works often utilize non-conventional media such as holograms, food and soil, and explores subjects including archaeology,...

Fun Activities to Take 5

Being grounded nowadays could lead to frustration and lethargy. Here are some therapeutic, even cathartic, ways to get your mojo back. These venues accommodate groups of 5. Time to book...

No Guilt Sweet Treats

Fix that craving! Indulge in these heavenly and healthy treats without counting calories. Photo Source Links: https://www.instagram.com/25gramsbakery/ https://www.instagram.com/guiltfreefoodsg/ https://www.yoleicecream.com https://www.instagram.com/dailyfix.sg/ https://www.instagram.com/kekitobakery/ https://www.instagram.com/guiltfreefoodsg/ https://realfoodgrocer.com/slow-bakes-menu https://www.instagram.com/dailyfix.sg/

ARTstronomical Feat

Lakshmi Mohanbabu is floating on air quite literally. She has every reason to feel over the moon with her ‘Cube of Interaction’ art piece. It is one of the 100...

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Christmas Heart and Hearth

The Yuletide season is usually a time for togetherness, for gathering around the table to celebrate this time of the year.

New Zealand God’s Movie Set

It’s been said there are more sheep than human beings in New Zealand. But there are no snakes here, Mate! Only enthralling sights and friendly Kiwis (as local residents are...

Dressed in Holiday Style

The most dazzling time of the year is here. Streets are draped in twinkling festive colours from shimmering green-and-gold giant trees and red-suited Santa on his sleigh to dazing shop...

Museums You Should See At Least Once

Japan is famed for its cherry blossoms, sumo wrestling, manga and anime, onsens, tea ceremonies, and Zen gardens. Of course, a visit won’t be complete without food tripping on its...

Be A Santa

It’s that time of year when the mood shifts from moody to jolly as we go about decking our homes with boughs of holly, planning festive menus for get-togethers and...

Tropical White Christmas

There is a reason why Christmas is called the most wonderful time of the year. It is the season that gives us an opportunity to pause and reflect. No matter...

Volunteer Lessons From Bali

What does an 18-year-old high school graduate do with eight months to shape whichever way he wants? Since university in Australia starts in February 2023, I decided to go on...

Where Are You From?

Every once in a while, a gem of a story comes along that I feel compelled to share. Some articles that I come across or talks that I listen to...

Nailing It

Who would have thought that an indulgent manicure-pedicure could spur social change? Cheryl Ou did after a previous nail salon business had gone south. It made her pause and rethink...

Eat. Give. Feed.

Singapore is a food paradise that offers an abundant spread of diverse cuisines ranging from gourmet to street hawker fares. Amidst its sumptuous smorgasbord are F&B social enterprises that are...

Not Your Typical Museums

The mere mention of Art conjures up images of paintings, sculptures and ceramics. Rarely, if ever, do fashion, furniture, photographs, posters and such considered conversation pieces. They are often under-appreciated...

For The Love Of Coffee

Most Asians wouldn’t know the difference between Arabica, Liberica and Robusta coffee beans. But that doesn’t stop them from enjoying a cup or two to perk up their day.

Epic WOW Factor

Is it art? Is it fashion? Is it art-and-fashion stitched together to blow your mind? Step into the World of WearableArt (WOW) Museum in Nelson, New Zealand and your head...

Hot K-drama Spots

Raise your happiness index by taking a trip to K-drama Land. Summon your inner fan. Step into the world of your favourite dramas’ picturesque filming locations. It just might be...

Fathers Matter

“I want my mommy!” A call for affection. A cry for help. Rarely do we hear “I want my daddy!” when such a need for attention arises. It can’t be...

Nurturing Nature

Sustainability by definition means meeting our own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. In addition to natural resources, we also need social and...

Putting On The Glitz

City sidewalks, busy sidewalks Dressed in holiday style In the air there’s a feeling of Christmas Children laughing, people passing Meeting smile after smile And on every street corner you’ll...

The Next Frontier For Climate Action

The multi-billion dollar gaming industry’s importance goes beyond culture, social networking and entertainment. Opportunities abound to rally millions of gamers across the world towards sustainability efforts to protect and save...

Wrapping Meaningful Gifts

“Blessed is the Season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.” (Hamilton Wright Mabie) Gifts can give back double the dose of positivity, especially this time of...

Sugar Rush

Chill out in the Museum of Ice Cream (MOIC) to experience an unlimited delicious sugar rush like no other. This pink wonderland is a sweet dream space that houses multi-sensorial...

Out of Time

Singapore’s dying traditions offer a glimpse of this city’s rich cultural heritage. Behind the skyscrapers and the giant malls of ultramodern Singapore are deeply rooted traditions that doggedly resist the...

Evocative Skylines

Skylines can bring joy, awe and wonder all at once through an interplay of colours. Slivers of white. A flush of crimson. A splash of aqua. A swash of yellow....

Bliss from Sunrise to Sunset

Dreaming of a blissful holiday? Whether it’s a place you want to revisit or one that’s been on your bucket list, now is a good time to ponder that vacation...

Nurturing Beautiful Minds

Every once in a while we come across films dealing with autism that inadvertently leave an indelible mark on us. The movie “I Am Sam” (Sean Penn, Dakota Fanning, Michelle...

Japan Finds

The Land of the Rising Sun is dazing. It’s probably the only place in the world where you’ll encounter quirky, fun, spiritual and awe-inspiring places in a day that will...

Palliative Care for Children in Need

No child should ever have to live or die in pain. Dealing with a dying person is a heartbreaking affair for caregivers. Rachel House is lending a hand and bringing...

Golden Moments

Hues of orange and tints of glimmering gold cloak Singapore’s skyline at sunset. Be awed by the gorgeous images shared by friends of Weekly Sparks.  

Earth, Wind, Fire and Ice

Signs of habitation are few and far between in the countryside. Iceland is roughly one third of the size of the Philippines or Malaysia, but has a population of only...

Keeping Dragon Kiln Pottery From Extinction

There are no dragons spewing fire in dragon kilns, which were once essential to the ancient art of traditional pottery. Sadly, the art of wood-firing dragon kilns might just be...

In the Eye of the Beholder

What attracts you to a painting? To most laymen, the initial response would likely be associated with an emotion ranging from “it makes me happy” to “the colours are so...

Dog Whisperers

Derrick, founder and president of Voices For Animals (VFA) in Singapore, attests that his love for animals saved him from himself, quite literally.

A Buffet of Local Classics

In Singapore the word “makan” is a local expression that either poses the question “Have you eaten?” or it’s an invitation to eat. One of my earliest memories of sampling...

Trails In The City

Singapore lives up to its reputation as Asia’s Garden City, where pervasive greenery is an inherent part of its urban landscape. Health wellness and fitness advocate Amanda Griffin Jacob shares...

When Sustainability Complements Luxury

My wife Eva and I first visited the Maldives in the 1980s. We fell in love with the country, holidayed here many times and, in the early 1990s, started to...

Kindness Virus Spreads Hope for the Hawkers

Anyone born and bred in Singapore would unabashedly declare that eating is a national pastime and food is a national obsession. At the centre of this food passion are the...

Painting With No Hands

There’s something about art paintings that draws me in. Whether the subjects are people, landscapes, flowers, sunlit forests, or street scenes I always marvel at the chromatic interplay of colour...

Beaches for the Soul

Spark dreams and lasting memories under a canopy of blue skies with sand between your toes. Images courtesy of Chit Consunji, Debbie Coloma, Helen Lewis, Roxanne Aquino and Swati Mitra

Singapore On Foot

Getting up close and personal with nature in Singapore is fairly easy. There are several walking and cycling trails that wind through nature reserves swathed in lush greenery and forests...

WOW Stories

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Michelle Ressa Aventajado: Motherhood Inspires Advocacies

There are no benchmarks for a mother’s unconditional love for her children. It’s the kind of unwavering affection that cannot be reduced to a checklist of traits. Because to love...

Claire Dreyer: Living Consciously

Claire Dreyer is a woman who lives consciously—with intention, clarity, and purpose. Her journey has taken her across industries, countries, and challenges, but at every turn, she’s chosen to grow,...

Jenica Dizon-Mountford: A Thirst For Serving Others

Consuming water from bottles or from water dispensers has become the norm for most urbanites in places like metro Manila, where city dwellers generally don’t trust drinking tap water. That...

Merly Barlaan: Peace Begins With Me

Reality is how things are. Idealism is how things should be. Sometimes, a disconnect between reality and idealism occurs when even the most iron-clad master plan slows down or fails...

Leah Sweet: Weathering the Gender Bias Storm

Imagine working in an environment where you face discrimination constantly: people talk down to you, your abilities are underestimated, and you are overlooked for good opportunities. Yet you love what...

Ann Beatty: Education Beyond The 3Rs

The impact of poverty on one’s access to getting an education cannot be underestimated. Children from low-income families are much more likely to miss out going to school. No one...

Susanne-Kikki Israelsson: Reframing Life In Post-pandemic Era

The Covid-19 pandemic brought the world to its knees. Its global impact is enormous: millions in deaths and cases, billions in lost revenues and jobs lost due to businesses and...

AI and Talent Sustainability: Putting Heartware In Hardware

A glimpse into an Artificial Intelligence-driven world was first manifested nearly 65 years ago in The Jetsons, a hugely popular American animated sitcom in the 1960s about a family living...

Embracing Multiculturalism In Supervisory Relationships

Many of us navigate multicultural contexts in our personal lives. I often joke that I don’t need to step outside my house to experience multicultural clashes. I was born and...

Soo Son: Women’s Health Equity Matters

Did you know that much of our medical knowledge has been based on a single body type: the white adult male body? That historically medications and treatments have been developed...

Debbi Francisco: Moving To The Beat Of Her Drum

An opening act for multi-Grammy winner Bruno Mars in a mega concert is undoubtedly on any musician’s wish list. Ecstatic doesn’t even begin to describe Debbi Francisco’s once-in-a-lifetime experience. There...

Kai Ning Lim: Silver Lining for the Silver Gen

It is rare to come across an MZer (under 30) looking out for retired or retiring Boomers. What is even more rare is a millennial with an advocacy to help...

The Power of Sisterhood: Nurturing ‘She For She’ Culture Amidst Prejudices

Struggling against social and workplace gender-based prejudices in a predominantly pro-men’s world is tough enough, but it isn’t the only thing blocking women on the road to success. Women have...

Milica Clayton: Living and Learning

A person’s life is like a book. Interwoven chapters encapsulate unique narratives describing the choices one makes, big or small, every step of the way. Milica Clayton’s life is a...

Lizette B. Suxo: Language Is The Soul Of A Culture

“To learn our language is to preserve the ways in which our ancestors lived in the world. How they saw, felt, and experienced the world. How they made sense of...

Julie Rees: Lessons To Live By

British educator Julie Rees is instilling life skills grounded in character-building values. While fulfilling the academic 3Rs (reading, writing, arithmetic), she also imparts values-driven 3Rs (respect, resilience, responsibility). The latter...

Aida Santaolalla: Rising Above Prejudices

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” A typical answer from little girls would be a dancer, a teacher, a doctor, a nurse, a singer, an actress,...

Isa Buencamino: The Trailing Spouse Plays Big

The mere mention of “trailing spouse” conjures images of a wife who follows her husband overseas often due to the latter’s job assignment. She leaves behind her comfort zone –...

Kasper Hansen: Strumming Heartstrings

Let’s Play is hitting all the right chords to encourage youth in the Philippines to strum some strings instead of thumbing their videogame’s console. Its motivation: Filipinos have an inherent...

Birthday Gifters

Receiving birthday presents is nothing new. But it’s not often that we hear about celebrants giving – or rechanneling – gifts for a good cause as a gesture of gratitude...

A Day At Willing Hearts

Cooked garlic and onions wafted through the kitchen, mingled with the strong nutty scent of sesame oil. It was especially hot and humid that morning, which was typical for Singapore...

A Bagful of Blessings

Most normal 20-year-old girls would be busy thinking about what they want to be when they “grow up” whilst filling their social calendar with fun activities. But not Emily Teng....

Fashion Statement

Spark up your look with fashion accessories that will make you feel good inside and out. Look good. Feel good. This simple philosophy is at the heart of Style Nomads....

Serving Second Chances

“I’ve been clean but can’t get a job because of my background.” This is a recurring grim account of many ex-offenders, who are haunted by their criminal past. Stigmas persist...

K-drama Therapy

Gong Yoo. Hyun Bin. Lee Min-ho. Park Seo-joon. Park Bo-gum. Kim Soo-hyun. Park Hyung-sik. Song Joong-ki. Ji Chang-wook. Jung Il-won. Lee Joon-gi. Lee Jong Suk. Lee Seung-gi. Seo In Guk....

Alice’s Storyland

“We are all storytellers,“ said Alice Bianchi-Clark, a lawyer-turned-storyteller. “Stories remind us that we are not alone.” Her Italian mother named her Alice, as if she almost knew that her...