When the Distillery District Turned Filipino
By Anjo Pallasigui It was the kind of Toronto summer evening you wish you could bottle. Warm breeze, golden hour light, and music echoing off cobblestone streets. But for many of us there, it wasn’t just another weekend—it was a first. For the first time in its 14-year history, the Italian Contemporary Film Festival opened its stage […]
Rosanna of Lui Skin Tech: From Dubai Dreams to Canadian Grit
By Anjo Pallasigui “Sarap mabuhay sa Canada, basta wala kang inaapakan.” That’s one of the first things Rosanna said during our interview — and that pretty much sums up her story. She’s the woman behind Lui Skin Tech, a small clinic in Ontario helping clients (mostly kababayans) feel confident in their skin without breaking the bank. […]
The Power Plant That Refused to Die: The Story of the Hearn
Every city has its ghosts — structures that refuse to leave, that linger like unsent letters from another era. In Toronto, one such ghost still stands, silent but unyielding: the Hearn Generating Station. Opened in 1951, Hearn was once a giant — one of the powerhouses that kept half of Toronto alive with electricity. Fueled […]
Michael Sobrepeña: From Silent Supporter to Champion Coach
You might not notice him at a party. Off the court, Michael Sobrepeña is quiet, unassuming. But inside a gym, he’s electric — clapping, calling plays, locked into every drill with the intensity of someone who’s found his purpose. Michael didn’t start out as a coach. Just a proud dad cheering from the sidelines, watching […]
Toronto’s Wildest Homes: From 7 Feet Wide to 50,000 Square Feet
When Cherie Mercado-Santos set out to explore Toronto’s quirkiest and most iconic homes, she found herself standing in front of two extremes—a house so small it once went viral on Ellen, and another so massive it contains its own concert hall. Her first stop: Toronto’s smallest house. Built in 1912 by Arthur Weeden on a plot […]
Josie De Leon: Building Confidence, One Performance at a Time
At first glance, JDL Performing Arts looks like a simple kids’ theatre program. But step inside on rehearsal day, and you’ll find something much deeper—community, creativity, and heart. Founded by Josie De Leon, a singer and actress whose love for the stage began in her youth, JDL was born from a desire to give Filipino children […]
Ray Montaniel: From Scarborough Courts to a Nation-Building Mission
Coach Ray Montaniel knows what hunger looks like. Not the kind that skips breakfast — the kind that drives kids in the Philippines to play ball like their lives depend on it. Because for many, it does. Ray grew up in Scarborough, learning the game on local courts, playing for Mother Teresa High and the […]
I Am Canadian. And I Am Filipino.
In this spoken word piece from Anjology, Anjo delivers a proud, poetic declaration of identity—one that stands firmly in two worlds. He isn’t a lumberjack, doesn’t own a dogsled, and still doesn’t know how to skate. But he can brave a snowstorm, wait eight hours in the ER, and say “po” when ordering a double double. […]
From Kitchen to Skincare: How H’s Beauty Studio Found Its Glow
When Helen started offering facials from her home, it wasn’t part of some big business plan. It was survival. A mother of three and a former baker, she needed a way to earn income while staying close to her children. What began as a side hustle during maternity leave slowly grew—fueled by late nights, word-of-mouth, […]
Hiraya Battlegrounds: A Historic Night for Filipino Hip Hop in Canada
It wasn’t just another rap battle. It was a movement. A gathering. A declaration. Hiraya Battlegrounds recently brought the fire to Toronto, uniting Filipino battle rappers, performers, and fans from across Canada and the U.S. in a night that felt less like a competition and more like a community reunion. Set against beats, bars, and […]
