WHILE Europe continues to struggle with an economic crisis and the Republicans and Democrats in the House of Representatives are still locking horns over what to do with the looming “fiscal cliff,” the Philippines is experiencing a sunnier side in the economic scene. The country is currently the best performing nation in Southeast Asia, exceeding…
THE Philippines was ranked 87 out of 141 countries, in Forbes’ annual look at the Best Countries for Business. With a 3.7 percent GDP growth and inflation rate of 4.8 percent, the country maintained its position from last year and remained at the bottom half of the list. The country outranked China and India, but…
ACCORDING to a report from Bloomberg Businessweek, a Gallup poll revealed that the Philippines is the “most emotional” nation in the world. The survey was conducted in 152 countries, with the Philippines ranking 151st among the least emotional nations — conversely making us the”most emotional” country among the lot. Social media was replete with mixed feedback…
The move of the Senate to pass the Sin Tax Bill is a vital step forward in improving and expanding public health safety nets for all Filipinos, a Palace official said on Wednesday. Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda issued the statement during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Wednesday after the Senate passed the Sin…
It’s just hard to imagine that this place was once submerged in water. Rocks that were once in the abyss of the ocean seemed to have risen as the waters disappeared; a mountain is born. This lovely place located in Mountain Province-Sagada-now exhales, after a billion years, cool and crisp air to visitors who come…
For cigarette smokers and those who may be tempted to start, here’s a bit of truly disturbing new information from the American Chemical Society. New research revealed that tobacco smoke causes genetic damage within minutes of inhalation of cigarette smoke, not years. The adverse effects are almost instantaneous as the smoke gets into the lungs….
The month of October greets us with tons of excitement and brings us weeks loaded with grandiosely conceptualized events and pompously celebrated occasions that literally filled up our calendar, aside of course, from enjoying the globally celebrated Oktoberfest which originated in Germany. Oktoberfest was established in 1810 with the marriage of King Ludwig I of…
“The juveniles are fun to watch. The young males enjoy sparring, often in the shallow rocky areas off shore. That play, characteristic of male mammals of many species, humans included, is pretty clearly fun and, certainly in the case of elephant seals, it serves to prepare them for the dominance battles as adults. Seals in…
SOME people are content being average. There are also those who want to make a difference in the world they live in; who want to make their lives count — they are people who are committed to serve others through their talents and abilities. Such is Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino, who has made it his…
A renewed pact is brewing between the Philippines and the United States. By next month, the two countries will sign the visiting forces agreement that will permit for another bilateral military exercises, to take place in the Philippines. Done yearly, the exercises are expected to further strengthen the diplomatic ties and defense system of both…
ALLIANCES are supposed to create new and stronger organizations. But history may show that sometimes, integrations may look good on paper but fall short of what is expected. From Nov. 15 until 20, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) gathered the region’s heads of states and dignitaries for the 21st Asean Summit and Related…
SEN. Pia Cayetano is tired of all the bickering and delays in the Senate, over the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill. Outspoken Sen. Miriam Santiago is getting as equally impatient, saying that the Senate “cannot be held hostage by the fact that one senator is not ready with his interpellation (she was referring to Senate President…
In order to be the best, a team must have the best. Perhaps such idea was running through the minds of the Philippine Amateur Baseball Association officials who wanted to make America’s most loved game a favorite sport in the country too. Noting how foreign-based Filipino players were recruited to play for the Philippine football…
THIS week, we glorify the heroism and gallantry displayed by American and Filipino World War II veterans. This celebration encourages those of us who are now enjoying freedom, to pay tribute to all these freedom fighters — those who survived and perished when world peace was compromised. Former President Franklin Roosevelt vowed that Filipino soldiers…
And just like that, the highly-anticipated 2012 US presidential elections is finally over. In what turned out to be one of the closest and costliest presidential races in history, President Barack Hussein Obama secured a second-term, snatching the gilded seat of chief executive away from Gov. Mitt Romney by almost a hundred electoral votes. At…
THE election process is more complex than just casting votes and counting ballots, as it is a right and a privilege — one of the perks of a democracy. In light of the US election, and the coming Philippine election next year, access to information on elections (from registration, to voting processes, to deciding who…
ONLY two years in office, yet President Aquino’s government has been constantly making efforts to improve the lives of its constituents. Amid upgraded credit ratings, huge investments and renewed business confidence from all over the world, the Aquino administration continues to expand movement towards poverty reduction as well. The Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program of…
DR. JUNE Caridad Pagaduan-Lopez reached another milestone in her long and distinguished career. On October 25, the United Nations elected the well-renowned Filipina doctor to its Sub-committee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (SPT). She was elected during the fourth meeting of Optional Protocol to the Convention against…
IT’S that time of the year again — for a celebration universally known as Halloween. Spooky decorations of skeletons, ghosts, witches and pumpkins dangle on windows and lawns with almost the same regularity as Christmas lights. Parties are organized, with attendees making careful preparations on their costumes. Each year, in different parts of the world,…
HISTORICALLY, it has long been a natural occurrence in Philippine politics that family members or relatives of a political figure would eventually run for a position in government — more popularly known as “political dynasties.” With the 2013 elections fast approaching, expect the same scenario to unravel, as several prominent (both old and new) politicians…
It’s the latest snapshot of the growing burden of student debt and it’s another discouraging one: Two-thirds of the national college class of 2011 finished school with loan debt, and those who borrowed walked off the graduation stage owing on average $26,600 – up about 5 percent from the class before. The latest figures…
THE Philippines dodged a bullet when it was spared from a Financial Action Task Force (FATF) blacklist. After making a “high-level political commitment” to address deficiencies in its law against money laundering, the country was granted four months to render necessary amendments, with a condition to fast-track implementation of compliance efforts with international regulations, before…
Overall, the general view on the outcome of Tuesday’s second presidential debate is that Pres. Obama dominated (to make up for his lackluster performance in the first debate), while Republican presidential candidate Gov. Romney kept his ground. In the CNN/ORC International poll of 457 registered voters, it indicated that Pres. Obama won round 2 of…
Sharing common hopes of a progressive country, more migrant Filipinos abroad are expressing their interests in participating in the coming 2013 elections. Although enthusiastic about casting their votes, Filipinos overseas believe that there are changes that still need to be done especially in the existing Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 2003 (RA 9189 . With…
A SAINT may come in different shapes, forms and religion. “I would like to hope that after his canonization, Saint Pedro Calungsod would become not only an exemplary role model for our youth but also the patron saint of all Filipino migrants,” Philippine Vice President Binay said before leaving for Europe to represent President Benigno…
IT is a clear day in Angono. The streets are filled with bystanders-residents and non-residents alike-who are eagerly waiting for the presence of something big. Looking above, the view of the sky is adorned by an assemblage of colorful banderitas. The sun slips in a little of its light upon these strips of color and…
The recent catastrophic devastation of hurricane Sandy and the down-the-drain aftermath that emotionally impacted and economically ravaged even the strongest of heart were all but parts of life’s never-ending challenges and Sisyphean trials. We just have to admit that being born on earth means we should enjoy what life has to offer and suffer the…
Anyone who has ever been a bride, a bridesmaid, mother of the bride, a debutante, or someone who has dolled up for a special occasion, shares an unguarded secret about getting ready for a major event: It pays to hire a professional hair and make-up stylist! Virtually, every bride can benefit from having their make-up…
It was a seeming reflexive reaction the moment news about Lorli Villanueva’s concert at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center in New York reached her fans and even those who were merely curious about what she would actually show. Lorli, a proud recipient of a Best Supporting Actress award during the 1972 Manila Film…
It is that time of the year again, when filmmakers and film-lovers from around the globe converge in New York City to attend the much-awaited Tribeca Film Festival. This year is promising to Filipino and Filipino-American film-makers and performers as there are various films that feature (or were megged by) them. On top of that…
