JUDICIAL reform remains to be an important policy issue in the Philippines. The institution is still haunted with problems relating to corruption, incompetence, delay in the administration of justice and access to justice by the poor. The current situation in Makati City is not helping resolve such a herculean task. Tension enveloped the city after…
A 17-year-old Fil-Am, Christian Rasner, is in critical condition after a brutal beating from two unidentified men in a shopping center parking lot on Wednesday, March 11. The beating took place in the parking lot of the Westfield Valley Fair Mall in San Jose, Calif. The suspects’ whereabouts and identities are still unknown. Rasner is…
IS President Benigno Aquino III liable for the Jan. 25 botched Mamasapano operation that claimed the lives of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) policemen and 18 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) troopers? The submission of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Board of Inquiry (BOI) report would probably prompt the President to explain himself further. Moreover,…
WITHOUT gender equality, without the skills of women, global society is functioning ‘with one eye covered.’” This is the message shared by Leymah Gbowee, a Liberian peace activist, during this year’s celebration of International Women’s Day “Imagine trying to watch a beautiful movie with one eye covered. Imagine trying to get something done with one…
THERE are more than seven billion people in the world, but only 1,826 are included in this year’s Forbes magazine list. Of the top billionaires, 11 of them are Filipinos. “Despite plunging oil prices and a weakened euro, the ranks of the world’s wealthiest defied global economic turmoil and expanded yet again,” Forbes staff Kerry…
DUBBED as the “Fight of the Decade,” the highly anticipated dream match—between Filipino champion Manny Pacquiao and undefeated American boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr.—has been making headlines even before the fight was finalized. Luckily for their adoring fans, the deal has been set and the two fighters will indeed slug it out on May 2 in…
THE Philippines dubs its roughly 10 million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as modern heroes for their sacrifices and their huge contributions to the national economy. In 2014 alone, roughly million OFWs remitted $26.294 billion, breaking the previous record by a 6.2 percent increase in 2013. According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), about 1.6…
INFECTED bacteria from contaminated medical instruments is suspected in a “superbug” outbreak at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center that has infected at least seven patients, two of whom died. More than 170 others may have also been exposed to the antibiotic-resistant germs. They were potentially infected with Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae, or CRE, during endoscopic procedures…
EVERY day, people walk the earth daunted by security challenges. With alarming terror threats on the rise, attacks on journalists also remain a worldwide scourge. With a score of 41.19, the Philippines is ranked 141st out of 180 in the 2015 World Press Freedom Index by the Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF- Reporters Without Borders). While…
MAJORITY of Filipinos are sympathetic to the families of the 44 Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) troopers who were allegedly killed and slaughtered by members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and its breakaway group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF). Since the massacre, the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is undeniably in peril….
THE search for truth and justice continues for the bloody clash between PNP-SAF and MILF forces in Mamasapano, Maguindanao that left 44 elite policemen and 19 Moro rebels dead on Jan. 25. As various investigations over the deadly encounter dig deeper, one of the main reasons cited for the botched police operation—for the arrest of…
FOUR vital agencies of the Philippine government are currently headless after three of the commissioners retired and the other one recently resigned. This February, Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. stepped out from his post. Francisco Duque III also retired as chief of the Civil Service Commission (CSC). Following their footsteps is Grace…
“WHAT was the direct line of command between the President and the operators? It was not clear whether he just approved the operation at the very start and then let it have its own life or he approved the particular operation. If so, whose advice is he taking and what precautions were taken to protect…
IS peace between the government and the Muslim extremist group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) attainable? In a pessimist’s point of view, there might not be any remedy to the insurgency in Mindanao, which has spanned four decades long, especially now that the notorious group is behind the bloody slaughter of 44 Philippine National Police-Special Action…
FOLLOWING the bloodbath between the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF), elements of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on Sunday, Jan. 25, the fate of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) hangs in a balance. The Bangsamoro Basic Law is a peace pact made…
IT is fair to give credit to the security personnel who kept Pope Francis safe during his four-day visit to the Philippines. Unlike the previous papal visits, no suspicious forces were able to get near the head of the Catholic Church. In the streets of Manila, where millions of Filipinos waited for the pontiff’s mobile…
IN his visit to the Philippines, Pope Francis has generated positivity and raised hopes among the Church’s followers. Throughout his sojourn, the high prelate captured wide audiences and sympathies for his cause—a mark of a true Catholic leader. During one of his speeches, Pope Francis said he admires the Filipinos’ indomitable spirit and strength in…
MILLIONS of Filipinos lined up the streets of Roxas Boulevard in Manila with their desire to have, at least, a glimpse of Pope Francis, when he arrived in the country on Thursday, Jan. 15. Pope Francis’s visit to the Philippines coincides with the Church’s “Year of the Poor.” For a devoted Juan dela Cruz who…
IN a historic walk for solidarity, world leaders joined French Pres. Francois Hollande on Sunday, Jan. 11 to denounce acts of terrorism. This came days after 17 people were left dead following a string of deadly terror attacks in Paris, which began with the ghastly shooting at the offices of Charlie Hebdo, a satirical magazine,…
IT was no surprise that over five million Filipino Catholic devotees joined the procession of the 408-year-old image of the Black Nazarene on Friday, Jan. 9. The image has been a celebrated icon ever since its arrival in 1606 from Acapulco, Mexico. The image depicting Christ with a dark complexion was a sculpture by an…
WITH a growing middle class, strong domestic demand, stable economic policy and GDP growth, even doing business can be more fun in the Philippines. By providing a dynamic and mature market to further its recovery, the new year is deemed promising for one of Asia’s emerging economies. Forecasts on its economic performance are also expected…
THE flu has become a national epidemic, and the number of deaths it is blamed for—including 15 children this past year—continues to increase, as flu season begins its peak usually between the months of December and February. The latest figures, released Wednesday, Dec. 31 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cover the…
THE world was shocked over reports of the sudden disappearance of yet another Malaysia-based aircraft. It was the third time in 2014. AirAsia flight QZ8501 was scheduled to arrive to Singapore, but went missing early Sunday, Dec. 28 with 155 passengers and 7 crewmembers on board. Earlier statements of the company said the aircraft disappeared,…
BEFORE we bid 2014 adieu, we are reminded to look back and reflect on all the important events that have happened in the past 12 months. Will Filipinos learn from their mistakes and lead themselves to better lives and meaningful democracies, or constitute a false dawn? Despite some low points on the country’s track record,…
“WE should not lose sight of the bigger picture which is to get justice. And since criminal jurisdiction is with us, we would be able to try [US Marine PFC Joseph Scott] Pemberton in a Philippine court under Philippine law,” Foreign Affairs spokesperson Charles Jose said regarding the ongoing murder trial against the American serviceman for…
EVEN after a series of reshuffling of prison guards and officials, corruption and illegal activities are still rampant inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP), as proven by a back-to-back raids conducted by the Justice Department this week. Authorities discovered more than what they expected. As it turned out, instead of serving as a penitentiary for…
A THIRD of Filipinos are expecting a more prosperous Christmas celebration. According to a recent Pulse Asia survey conducted from Nov. 14 to 20, 34 percent of the 1,200 respondents said Christmas would be more prosperous this year, up by 12 points from 22 percent last year. During this season, it is easy to get…
THE Philippines government’s efforts to improve the economy paid off after an international credit watchdog raised the country’s credit rating. Moody’s Investors Service recently upgraded the Philippines’ foreign and local bond ratings to Baa2, just a notch bellow investment grade from Baa3, noting that the outlook for the rating was stable. The upgrade, according to…
IT is official. Vigan City in Ilocos Sur has been named one of the New 7 Wonders Cities of the World. Also dubbed as urban wonders, these cities are put under the spotlight to initiate cultural heritage among the public, to involve them in the process of preserving all heritage sites across the world. Completing…
By: Charisse Trinidad The Gawad Kalinga Community proudly hosted the book launch of renowned British journalist Thomas Graham’s newly published book Gawad Kalinga’s The Genius Of The Poor. The event was held at ground floor of Fully Booked, Bonifacio High Street last Saturday (29 November 2014) where highly regarded bloggers, book buyers, and important contributors…
