“May America’s oldest alliance in Asia always be renewed by our friendship and mutual respect.” – Pres. Barack Obama’s message in the Malacañang Palace Guest Book, April 28, 2014 IN a courtesy call at Malacañang Palace on Monday, Pres. Obama was conferred the Order of Sikatuna, with the highest rank of Raja or Grand Collar…

A RECENT global survey conducted by Pew Research Center (2013 Global Attitudes Project) revealed that 85 percent of Filipinos polled have a most  “favorable” view of Americans, while Americans only came second, at 84 percent in having a “favorable” view of themselves. According to Pew Research’s website, the Global Attitudes Project “conducts public opinion surveys…

“I INVOKE my right against self-incrimination.” These were the only words squeezed out of Janet Lim-Napoles, the suspected mastermind of the P10-billion Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF or better known as the pork barrel) scam, when she faced the Senate Blue Ribbon committee’s investigation into the alleged misuse of public funds in November last year….

“Humility provides everyone, even him who despairs in solitude, with the strongest relationship to his fellow man, and this immediately, though, of course, only in the case of complete and permanent humility.” – Franz Kafka (1883-1924) The Holy Week and Easter Sunday are very spiritual and significant times for the Christian faith. In observance of…

IT was a hard-fought battle, but on April 8 success gleamed when the Philippine Supreme Court (SC) deemed the basic principles of the controversial Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RH) law as constitutional. Parts of Section 7 (Access to Family Planning) and Section 23 (prohibited acts) of the law were struck down by the High…

By this time, Pambansang Kamao Manny Pacquiao would already be prepped and psyched for his rematch fight with Timothy Bradley at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Amid put-downs made by his opponent Bradley (who said that Manny no longer has the “killer instinct”), the good-natured Filipino boxing champ took the high road and viewed Bradley’s…

“THE best place to make a pilgrimage is not even a church. The best place to go is your conscience and allow the voice of right and wrong to prevail.” – Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) President The days making up this week hold a deep meaning to Filipino…

LIVING in the mecca of entertainment and filmmaking, it is unavoidable for Filipinos in Los Angeles to imbibe the Hollywood culture. Films (whether fictitious or based on real-life events) and award-giving events like the Oscars and Golden Globes, have become an integral part of any Angeleno’s life. Therefore, it is not surprising that Diego Luna’s…

THE Philippine Constitution defines plunder “as taking undue advantage of official position, authority, relationship, connection or influence to unjustly enrich himself or themselves, at the expense and to the damage and prejudice of the Filipino people and the Republic of the Philippines.” According to Article 2 of the Philippine Republic Act No. 7080 or the…

ON MARCH 27, after 17 years of tumult and unrest, the Philippine government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) inked a historic pact for lasting peace in Mindanao through the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB). “Today, we celebrate the shared victory of the Filipino and Bangsamoro people. This is a fitting solution to the…

DESPITE some hiccups caused by natural disasters in the final quarter of last year, the Philippine economy remains as one of the fastest-growing in Asia. It was a remarkable turnout, with the Philippines finishing at 7.2 percent overall for 2013, just a little behind China’s 7.7 percent. Now that those threats are behind us, and…

MARCH 27 has been delegated as the Community Call to Action Day by a coalition of Filipino-American groups, who have been advocating for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for the Philippines since November 2013, after the extensive devastation brought to the country by Typhoon Haiyan. The designation of TPS for the Philippines will benefit hundreds of…

“THE sea is the space where, since primordial times, humanity has carried out the greatest range of economic activities, which ensured the survival of those who engaged in them. It was by sea that links among peoples were established, cultures were founded, and affinities were created. All told, the sea was the essential element for…

SPEAKING to students of the Hope Christian School on Thursday, Pres. Benigno “PNoy” S. Aquino III said that he seeks not only to run after corrupt government officials –he also wants more jobs and less poverty to become his legacy, which would be felt through “massive investments in agriculture and education,” as reported by Philstar.com….

MYSTERY still surrounds the case of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, which vanished into thin air (according to radar screens from ground control) while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing over the weekend. In a latest development, Malaysian authorities said the plane might have changed its course. The Malaysian military has radar data showing the…

THE United States and the Philippines have expressed alarm over China’s recent move. On Wednesday, China announced a 12.2 percent increase in its military spending, amounting to $132 billion — “likely a considerable underestimate of actual spending, but still far less than the $600.4 billion the US spent last year,” reports the Associated Press. US…

MARCH is International Women’s Month. It has been designated to acknowledge and celebrate the many achievements and contributions of women around the world. With the theme: “Celebrating Women of Character, Courage, and Commitment,”  people are encouraged to examine the changing cultural perceptions of women in society, and to honor their contributions to all aspects of…

WHEN it comes to contending for world records in the Guinness Book of World Records, the Philippines is always game. Recently, the country (through the Polytechnic University of the Philippines or PUP) broke India’s record for the most number of organ donation pledges in an hour in a single site, the Department of Health (DOH)…

THE principles behind international law are based upon universally accepted values and moral standards. Today, more and more aspects of regional relations are regulated by international legal norms. They involve issues such as security, trade, finance, the environment and communication. Quoting the late British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Aquino said that the country will protect…

THIS year’s commemoration of EDSA People Power will be different from past celebrations. The tone will probably be less celebratory and grand. President Benigno S. Aquino III prefers to spend the 28th anniversary of EDSA 1 with the victims of calamities in the Visayas and has requested that the celebrations be held in Cebu, instead…

SINCE its introduction to Filipinos in 1994, the Internet has provided boundless channels for people to exercise their right to know, express and be heard. Article III Section 4 of the Philippine Constitution states that “No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of…

Michael Christian Martinez’s may not be bringing a medal home, but in the eyes of his kababayans, he has already achieved a milestone — being the first Filipino-born, the first Southeast Asian and the youngest figure skater to compete in the 2014 Winter Olympics. The 17-year-old Martinez is nothing short of a miracle worker —…

THE world’s population didn’t hit the 1 billionth threshold until the 19th century. Today, the numbers have since been growing by giant, exponential leaps. The world population has already breached the 7 billionth mark. In the UN World Population Fund’s (UNFPA) list of the world’s most populous countries, the Philippines ranks 12th. The nation’s population…

SEVERAL developments in immigration occurred this week, beginning with the possibility of raising the cost of acquiring US citizenship, if immigration reform pushes through. The current cost of filing for naturalization (or US citizenship) is $680. But according to a report from the Associated Press (AP), immigration reform could push the cost to spike up…

IN one of his most remarkable songs, popular singer/songwriter Elton John said that sorry seems to be the hardest word. This is true for most people. A sincere apology is the most effective solution to defuse personal tensions, even in resolving international problems. Pressure mounts on the Philippine government to issue a formal apology over…

ACCORDING to Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and Director General of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Arsenio Balisacan, despite the slew of disasters that hit the Philippines (Zamboanga siege, Bohol earthquake and Typhoon Haiyan), the country’s economy still grew by 6.5 percent in Q4 of 2013 — placing the country’s annual gross domestic product (GDP)…

FILIPINOS have long desired for a more open and accountable government — a dream that may become reality soon enough. Gone are the days of secrecy and authoritarianism. President Benigno Aquino has successfully made “Tuwid na Daan”  the country’s mantra, to help restore people’s faith in politics and politicians. After the revelation brought upon by…

SEN. Bong Revilla’s privilege speech on January 20 seems to have generated more hatred for the actor-senator, instead of alleviating the public’s ire over his alleged involvement in the multi-million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF or better known as the pork barrel) scam. Inquirer.net opinion writers, Conrado De Quiros and Randy David have regarded his…