AFTER the revelation brought upon by the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel controversy, there hasn’t been a more perfect time to call for greater and more meaningful participation and accountability of the government, particularly when it comes to how public resources are allocated. Some Filipinos strongly believe that pork barrel will still…

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III has appointed Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court (SC), amidst allegations of the latter’s ‘disloyalty’ to the Philippines. Though he was the president’s choice to fill the SC vacancy, Jardeleza was initially excluded in the short list of candidates. Based on the supplemental comment submitted by…

“The things you do for yourself are gone when you are gone, but the things you do for others remain as your legacy.” – Ndukwe Dike Kalu, American football player DEMOCRACY emphasizes equality. As one of the most popular ideologies in the world today, it gives the people the power to make demands for greater…

FOR now,  Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario admits that resolving the case with China over the disputed South China Sea (West Philippines Sea) is far from reality. China’s refusal to at least recognize the problems, makes it also difficult for other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)—who are also entangled with…

DO not take Sen. Jinggoy Estrada out of the running just yet. As law would have it, he is innocent until proven guilty. Not only is he qualified to run for a higher position in the upcoming 2016 Philippine national elections, but according to a recent Pulse Asia Survey, Estrada is the 7th choice to…

A YEAR and nine months before the upcoming presidential elections, politicians are already creating their own buzzes, as if to catch the attention of the public – there are those who are clear of their intentions of running for the top position, while others are still in the process of grooming their image through ‘charitable’…

THE THREE great departments of the Philippine government—the Executive (President), Legislative (Senate and House of Representatives) and Judiciary (Supreme Court and all other courts)—are empowered by the Constitution to preserve freedom and democracy among its people. To serve such purpose, these institutions are accorded with distinct powers and responsibilities. However, to prevent any form of…

A FILIPINA nurse, abducted and raped; a Filipino construction worker beheaded because of religion; what will it take to make kababayans—caught in middle of the ongoing Libyan Civil War—to heed the Philippine government’s call for evacuation? With a desire to rise from the slump, Filipinos choose to work abroad. Considering higher salary in exchange to…

IN his past State of the Nation Address (SONA), Pres. Benigno Aquino III enjoyed endless applause. He has been commended by his political peers and foreign observers for his ingenuity in restoring the Filipinos’ faith in the government. It is not just an annual tradition. It is mandated by law for a Philippine president to…

HAVING a consistent population count for years, the Philippines should now expect a new census update. Recent reports say that the Philippines is bound to have at least 100 million people this year, and depending on one’s perspective, it may sound either good or bad. Based on the national census of population in 2010, the…

THE Philippines joins the international community in extending its sympathies to the families of the passengers on board Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 that crashed in Ukraine on Thursday, July 17. “At this difficult time, we stand with them in solidarity as one people and one country,” Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte. The Philippine government is…

WITH an average of 20 typhoons every year, there is no reason why the Philippines should not always be prepared for calamities. On Wednesday, July 16, Typhoon Glenda (international name Rammasun) traversed the same path Typhoon Milenyo took way back in 2006—giving Manila whips of strong wind and heavy downpours of rain. This was the…

DESPITE controversies surrounding the Philippine government and its leaders, Pinoys have always remained auspicious. With notable democratic icons as his parents (the late Former Sen. Ninoy Aquino and and Former Philippine President Cory Aquino) Pres. Benigno Aquino III had the “Yellow Magic.” It catapulted him from being Tarlac’s 2nd district representative, a senator and now…

THE Philippines will not be a free and independent country that it is today if it wasn’t for the groundwork laid out by a valiant organization formed more than a century ago. On July 7 1892, Filipinos formed Katipunan or Ang Kataastaasang, Kagalanggalang, Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (KKK) ng mga anak ng Bayan…

AS granted by the Constitution, anyone who is charged with a penal offense has the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty. With the pile of evidence and charges against him, and public outrage for his alleged abuse of power, presumption of innocence is probably the only card left to play for Sen. Jinggoy…

TO address global challenges and ensure stability, nations have to embark on business meetings to assure prosperity for their people. Since World War II, Japan—being a staunch adherent of globalization—has always provided ways to help the Philippines gain its full potential. This bilateral relation was built by trust and support. With an aim to build…

THERE was never a better time to call this world a civilized society. Because of current laws existing, we are bound to live vicariously, based on respect for the sanctity of life, democracy and human rights. But, without proper enforcement, stringent national and international laws do little in promoting and protecting the right of every…

IN the Philippines, politics and show business are no strange bedfellows.  Through the years, the country has been (and still is) under the influence of different officials – be it Mayor, Congressman or Senator, majority of which came from a family of renowned politicians and showbiz personalities. Not that we are saying that they are…

WILL justice be truly be served? Only the aggrieved party can tell. When news broke out of the P10-billion Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel scam in July last year, names that have been dragged by the alleged misuse of the government’s money, and the Philippine politics, have come under increased scrutiny. Almost…

AT THE recent 3-day Asia-Europe Meeting(ASEM) conference on disaster risk and management, President Benigno S. Aquino III emphasized the need for countries to come together, to make the world climate-proof. He said that climate change has been a major threat to island-countries and that Super Typhoon Yolanda serves as a major warning about the worsening…

THE match may have not ended the way he wanted it to, but it was a victory nonetheless. Fil-Am boxer Nonito Donaire Jr., scored another victory for his kababayans when he won against South African Simpiwe Vetyeka at the Venetian Resort’s Cotai Arena in Macau on June 1. Donaire took home an improved record of…

ACCORDING to official data released on May 29, a succession of natural disasters (The 7.1-magnitude earthquake in Bohol and Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013) has slowed down growth of the Philippine economy in the first quarter — uprooting it from its position as best performing economy in Asia. With gross domestic product (January-March) at 5.7…

Four weathermen from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) have decided to move on to greener pastures. Currently, PAGASA has 13 expert weather forecasters left. Three of them have pending offers to work in the Middle East. While there are available personnel to fill the vacated posts, it will take years for…

IN an attempt to counter China’s continuous aggression in the contested waters of the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea, Filipino hackers took it upon themselves to defend the country’s sovereignty. A message was plastered on each hacked website: “China’s alleged claim on maritime territories and oppressive poaching can no longer be tolerated. Stand against oppression!…

FROM May 21 to 23, Metro Manila will be host to heads of state and business and civil society leaders from over 30 countries  at the World Economic Forum (WEF) on East Asia – a first for the Philippines. With top-caliber participants to the WEF, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said they “are people we would…

WITH the Philippines and Vietnam entangled in recent incursions with China on contested waters in the South China Sea, members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) gathered in Myanmar over the weekend to express serious concern at the brewing tension. China asserts sovereignty on almost the entire South China Sea. International observers have…

DESPITE economic improvements, the Philippines’ ranking in the 15th global “State of the World’s Mothers” report (released by Save The Children, a non-government organization) has slipped four notches — placing 105th among 178 countries. The country is one spot below Iraq — a nation burdened with significant violence and conflict, as reported by Inquirer.net. Five…

COURTROOMS are required to be open to the public. As enshrined in the Philippine Constitution, the right of the people to information on matters of public concern shall be recognized. In some cases, however, the judiciary may conduct confidential proceedings and/or seal documents, when it feels secrecy is justified. It is perhaps through this principle…

“OUR commitment to defend the Philippines is ironclad and the United States will keep that commitment, because allies never stand alone.” – Pres. Barack Obama’s remarks at the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Leyte in Fort Bonifacio Strong words uttered by the US president, who is considered as one of the greatest leaders in…