Food for the pure of heart

  

BY JUANA YUPANGCO

FEBRUARY 9, 2026

Halibut steak with brown butter dashi sauce | Photos by Mikey Yabut

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With Valentine’s Day around the corner, let me share a short story of food, relationships, and how they all relate—with a fabulous recipe at the end.

I have a friend who dated a guy who liked to cook. The highlight of his culinary repertoire? Creamy sauces made in the French style. This included béchamel, mousseline, beurre blanc, and bearnaise sauce—and these sauces covered everything he cooked, from fish to steak, to eggs, and the little vegetables he ate.

The food covered in sauce also covered his not-so-good personality and pretentious taste in food, which was really a reflection of other pretenses in his life—but let’s save that for another column. This fellow fell under the category of people who think food has to be complicated, reflect a labor of love, or impress people (again, covering up a lot of things).

Newly found Michelangelo foot sketch sells for ₱1.3 billion

 

Rare study for the Sistine Chapel fetches a record price at an auction

By Poch Eulalia

Published Feb 7, 2026 02:14 pm | Updated Feb 10, 2026 09:54 am

RENAISSANCE FEET A foot sketch by Michelangelo has fetched a whopping $23 million at an auction.

While people online are sending out feet pics for free, this newly discovered Michelangelo foot sketch just sold for $23 million (₱1.3 billion) at an auction.

Michelangelo Buonarroti, not to be confused with the ninja turtle, was a driving force for the Renaissance art era. He was best known for his fine sculptures and iconic paintings, such as "The Creation of Adam." Though arguably, one of his most important pieces can be seen gracing the Sistine Chapel's ceiling in Vatican City. His artworks are deemed priceless, but an unsuspecting owner from the US just found out how much one of his sketches is worth after it was sold after 45 minutes of intense bidding at Christie's within the Rockefeller Center in New York.  

'STUDY FOR A FOOT OF THE LIBYAN SIBYL' red chalk, 5x4 inches

The small red chalk sketch can be dated as far back as 1511 to 1512, when Michelangelo was working on the Sistine Chapel ceiling. According to the anonymous owner, he received the chalk sketch after inheriting it from his grandma. He mentions the sketch had been passed down by their family since the 1700s. He submitted it to Christie's online auction estimate site when it was identified by Giada Damen, a specialist in Christie's Old Master Drawings Department. She used infrared reflectography to study parts of the drawing and cross-referenced it with Michelangelo's drawing at the Metropolitan Museum to verify its authenticity. According to her research, the foot sketch was drawn as practice for the right foot figure of the Libyan Sibyl, at the far east end of the Sistine ceiling.

Michelangelo's foot sketch was sold alongside other works by classical artists like Rembrandt, Titian, and William Blake, among many others. Sold pieces include Artemisia Gentileschi's "Self-Portrait as Saint Catherine of Alexandria" for over $5.7 million (₱333 million) and Canaletto's for $30.54 million (₱1.7 billion). 

Andrea Del Rosario's unforgettable encounter with Vin Diesel

 

By Manila Bulletin Entertainment

Published Feb 9, 2026 01:05 pm

Actress Andrea Del Rosario recalled the surprising and memorable way she met Hollywood action star Vin Diesel, a chance encounter that left a lasting impression.

“I saw him—actually, no, he saw me. Syempre galing akong Boracay. Kamukha ko si Pocahontas. Tapos, my hair is up to—I don't know where. I was with another friend of mine at that time, Michelle Bayle.” (“I saw him—actually, no, he saw me. Of course, I had just come from Boracay, and I looked like Pocahontas. And my hair is up to—I don’t know where. I was with another friend of mine at the time, Michelle Bayle.”) said Andrea during an interview for the YouTube show "TicTaLK with Aster Amoyo."

Andrea Del Rosario (YouTube)

Andrea added, “So, ayun nag-invite lang siya (So he invited us) — ‘Hey, would you like to join us,’ and it’s a big group. We went as a large group to his Beverly Hills house. (Hey, would you like to join us?’ and it’s a big group. We all went as a big group to his house in Beverly Hills.)"

After accepting Vin's invitation, Andrea said they had a few conversations that helped build their connection.

“He shared that may twin brother ba siya? I don’t know, ha—correct me if I’m wrong. But he has a brother, married to a Filipina.” (He shared that he has a twin brother? I don’t know—correct me if I’m wrong. But he has a brother, married to a Filipina.) she stated.

When asked if they ended up together, Andrea was quick to clarify that nothing romantic happened.

“Hindi tita. Of course, it could have grown, but alam ko naman na we have different lives. Fairy tale kind of experience lang that I’ve met him.” (No, Tita, no… Of course it could have grown, but I knew we had different lives. It was just a fairy-tale kind of experience that I got to meet him)," she said.

The actress further explained that she and Vin did not communicate again after having a few encounters.

“I think when he promoted a movie here, I emailed him kasi email pa noon Tita, wala pa tayong instagram. I told him, ‘Hey, I heard you’re in town. Welcome, and I hope you enjoy your stay.’” (I think when he promoted a movie here, I emailed him because back then, Tita, we didn’t have Instagram yet. I told him, ‘Hey, I heard you’re in town. Welcome, and I hope you enjoy your stay)," she shared.   

Andrea also shared that Vin replied to her message, but that was the end of their exchange.

“Nakakatuwa lang, I never thought I'd meet somebody like him, di ba? He was very nice, he was a wonderful guy. Nakakatuwa lang na meron din pala siyang connection sa culture natin. (It was really nice, I never thought I'd meet somebody like him, right? He was very nice, he was a wonderful guy. It was also nice to learn that he has a connection to our culture)," she said.

Talking about her relationship with her husband, Anthony Garcia, Andrea joked that he resembles a Hollywood star.

“Tingnan mo si Anthony—kalbo, oh di ba? I got my local version of Vin Diesel. (Look at Anthony—he’s bald, right?)," she said.

Andrea also shared her heartfelt gratitude to her husband.

“I wanna say, thank you for being a wonderful partner, father, friend, polo teammate, babysitter, travel companion, sister, brother, son. You are amazing, and I just wanna say, thank you for being you. I’m just very grateful that God gave you to us. I know you care for us and love us, so thank you. Thank you for the love. We can’t wait to build more wonderful memories with you,” she added. (Elizza Callos, intern)

You nullify the word of God

 

By Manila Bulletin

Published Feb 10, 2026 12:05 am

REFLECTIONS TODAY

What is clear here is that Jesus accepts the Law in the Decalogue (Ten Commandments) as binding. What God said to Moses holds. On the other hand, Jesus assails the oral tradition which renders the true aim of the Law void. One such case is the qorban.

As Mark explains it to his non-Jewish readers, qorban means “dedicated,” a gift given to God. People dedicate some things to God, reserving them for sacred use and withdrawing them from their intended use. In a hypothetical situation suggested by Jesus, the son declares his property qorban, legally excluding his parents from its use. Should he regret his decision, he must submit his case to the Pharisees and scribes for arbitration. In this case, to satisfy God’s legal claim, the experts of the Law tell him that his vow must be honored, thus not allowing him to help his parents in need. This tradition may be based on honoring one’s vow (Dt 30:2), but this should not be used to negate the greater commandment of honoring and supporting one’s parents in their old age. There is a saying in Latin, ubi maior, minor cessat. “Where the greater is there, the lesser ceases.” Before the greater commandment of honoring one’s parents and caring for them, the qorban becomes negligible.

Gospel • Mark 7:1-13

When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. (For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds.) So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?” He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts. You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.” He went on to say, “How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition!

For Moses said, Honor your father and your mother, and Whoever curses father or mother shall die. Yet you say, ‘If someone says to father or mother, “Any support you might have had from me is qorban” ’ (meaning, dedicated to God), you allow him to do nothing more for his father or mother. You nullify the word of God in favor of your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many such things.”

Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2026.” E-mail: publishing@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.

„Unmöglich, es aufzuhalten“: Neue Plage rückt Europa näher – Parasit bereitet große Sorge

 

Stand:

09.02.2026, 17:17 Uhr 

Von: Martina Lippl   

Tödlicher Parasit aus Asien bedroht Europas Bienen: Tropilaelaps-Milbe ist verheerender als Varroa und breitet sich nach Westen aus.

Frankfurt – Es ist ein winziger Schädling, der sich auf den Weg nach Europa macht – und er könnte verheerender sein als alles, was Bienenvölker bisher erlebt haben. Die Tropilaelaps-Milbe ist gerade mal so groß wie ein Stecknadelkopf, aber alles andere als harmlos. Der Parasit ist in Asien verbreitet und hat bereits Georgien erreicht. Fachleute in Europa sind alarmiert.    

Gefährlicher Parasit aus Asien: Die Tropilaelaps-Milbe hat vier Beinpaare und ist mit dem bloßem Auge sichtbar. © EU RL Bee Health/anses

„Die Globalisierung, der Klimawandel und andere Faktoren lassen uns sicher sagen, dass er früher oder später zu uns kommen wird und wir müssen bereit sein“, warnt Marco Facchinelli, Präsident des Imkerverbands Trentino in der italienischen Zeitung Il Dolomiti. Der Parasit ähnelt zwar der bereits bekannten Varroa-Milbe, ist aber deutlich gefährlicher. „Es ist unmöglich, es aufzuhalten. Wir müssen versuchen, die Ausbreitung zu verlangsamen, sobald sie auftritt“, so Facchinelli.   

Exotischer Parasit Tropilaelaps bedroht Bienen in Europa

Die Tropilaelaps-Milben sind flink und bewegen sich schnell über Brutwaben, heißt es im Steckbrief des Friedrich Loeffler Instituts (FLI). In kurzer Zeit könnten Honigbienenvölker zugrunde gehen, warnt das FLI. Die Milben ernähren und vermehren sich in der Brut von Bienenlarven und -puppen. Sie schwächen aber auch erwachsene Bienen erheblich. Befallene Völker zeigen verkrüppelte Flügel, Beine und Fühler sowie geschrumpfte Körper. Für den Menschen stellen Tropilaelaps-Milben kein Gesundheitsrisiko dar, betont das FLI.

Tropilaelaps-Alptraum aus Asien: Gefährliche Milbe breitet sich nach Westen aus

Der Parasit stammt ursprünglich aus Asien und war auf Riesenhonigbienen spezialisiert. Mittlerweile haben sich die Tropilaelaps-Milben von Iran bis Papua-Neuguinea ausgebreitet – nach jüngsten Berichten der Europäischen Union (EU) ist der exotische Schädling bereits in Georgien bei Westlichen Honigbienen (Apis mellifera) aufgetaucht – ein alarmierendes Zeichen.   

Bienen in Europa

Bienen sind für Umwelt und Wirtschaft von entscheidender Bedeutung. Schätzungen zufolge tragen Bestäuber, darunter Honigbienen, Hummeln und Wildbienen, jährlich mindestens 22 Milliarden Euro zur europäischen Landwirtschaft bei. Jährlich produzieren rund 600.000 Imker mit 17 Millionen Bienenvölkern 250.000 Tonnen Honig. Die Europäische Union ist nach China der zweitgrößte Honigproduzent der Welt.
Quellen: EURL Bee Health,  Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe)   

Tropiaelaps-Milben als gefährliche Bienenkrankheit eingestuft   

Tropialaelaps-Milben sind zwar bislang noch nicht in Deutschland, Italien oder anderen EU-Ländern aufgetreten. Doch die EU sowie die Weltorganisation für Tiergesundheit (WOAH) haben Tropilaelaps bereits als gefährliche Bienenkrankheit eingestuft, um ihre Einschleppung und Ansiedlung durch Importe zu verhindern. Der Internationale Imkerverband Apimondia forderte im Dezember 2025 koordinierte Maßnahmen auf europäischer Ebene, um das Risiko der Einschleppung und Verbreitung der Tropilaelaps-Milbe in die Europäische Union zu verringern.     

„Hat sich Tropilaelaps erst einmal etabliert, ist eine Ausrottung nicht mehr möglich“, heißt es auf der Webseite des Deutschen Bienenmonitoring (DeBimo) in einem Artikel aus dem Jahr 2023. Nach den historischen Winterverlusten im Jahr 2003 haben sich Bieneninstitute unter DeBimo zusammengeschlossen, um die Gesundheit der Honigbienen zu überwachen. Auch andere Insekten machen Europa zu schaffen: „Tödlichstes Tier der Welt“ wird resistent – Studie entdeckt neue Hotspots in Europa. (Quellen: European Union Reference Laboratory for Bee Health,  Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), Il Dolomiti, FLI) (ml)

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Why do 98% of Miss Philippines contestants not look Asian? They look Latin American or with substantial European blood

 

Kiersten Jayne

 · 

Chemist at Bureau of Internal Revenue Philippines (2019–present

Simply put, most of the contestants they send to these beauty pageants are half-white, half-Filipino. Some are half-Asian (some other Asian ethnicity aside from Filipino) and half-Filipino. Some look typically Filipina (morena).

Megan Young: Dad is American, mom is Filipina

Pia Wurtzbach: Dad is German, mom is Filipina

Charlene Gonzalez-Muhlach: She’s mixed with European blood (Spanish) but not sure how much percentage

Karen Ibasco: Dad is Chinese, mom is Filipina

Venus Raj: Dad is Indian, mom is Filipina

Janine Tugonon: no significant mixture, she’s pure Filipina

Shamcey Supsup: no significant mix too

But to end this answer, you can agree with me that they are all equally beautiful, right? :)

Filipina beauty is diverse.