THE massacre of 44 elite police troops in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on January 25 last year is President Aquino and his presidential candidate Manuel Roxas II’s political graveyard. Aquino, in his hubris that he could catch international terrorists, and then in his paralysis when the operation turned awry dug the grave, enough to fit Roxas since…
Osmeña: New Mamasapano probe may hurt President Evidence to be presented by Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile when the Senate reopens its investigation of the Mamasapano massacre may ruin the legacy of President Benigno Aquino 3rd, Sen. Sergio “Serge” Osmeña 3rd said on Tuesday. Enrile had said he has evidence to prove that Aquino…
FEBRUARY 1 is a big day in US politics as it marks the beginning of the primary elections in the United States. This is when both the Democratic and Republican parties choose their nominees for president in all the 50 states of America, the victors of which will be in the race for the General…
TO this day, terrorism poses a serious threat anywhere in the world. Clashes among cultures continue to have a damaging impact on world peace and security. Grim news of insurgency and terror attacks are thrust onto international headlines every day. Because of cross-cultural ignorance, the essence of civilization is compromised. Even with an intensive and…
THE problem confronting Senator Grace Poe had its antecedents in certain provisions of the Dual Citizenship Law, RA 9225, that Filipino-Americans objected to, even as we lobbied hard for its passage. I was part of a group that met with both President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and then Senate President Franklin Drilon to appeal for the deletion…
PRESIDENT Barack Obama delivered his final State of the Union (SOTU) to the American people last Tuesday, Jan. 12. According to a CNN/ORC instant poll of those who watched the speech, a majority of Americans — 53 percent — gave “very positive” feedback. This matched the highest rating of his presidency reached following his 2013…
When it comes to K-12 education, America’s parents want more choices. In fact, almost two thirds of parents—64 percent—say they wish they had more options for their children’s education. In a society where Americans choose practically everything, from the brands of coffee they drink in the morning to the types of cars they drive, it…
ALONG WITH MAMASAPANO, SENATE SHOULD ALSO INVESTIGATE THIS IT is President Benigno S. Aquino’s criminal negligence that resulted in 44 police commandos massacred; that should convince us never, never again to have such kind of yellow leadership, especially that of a haciendero scion. It is the criminal mismanagement by his candidate, Manuel Roxas 2nd, of…
A RECENT public opinion poll conducted for Manila Standard by research specialist Junie Laylo indicates that “corruption” is considered “the most important problem of the country,” rating 31%, or more than twice the next highest ranking issue, “poverty” (15%). These are followed by “drug addiction/illegal drugs” (14%), “unemployment/lack of jobs” (10%), “high prices of goods/services” (9%), “criminality”…
THE historic two-term tenure of the first African-American president is almost over. On Tuesday, Jan. 12, President Barack Obama delivered his last State of the Union (SOTU) address. Deemed as his valedictory speech, the president reported to the American people what his administration has accomplished and set the road map to where he hopes the…
WHILE every life is a cause for celebration, taking care of the next generation by keeping tabs on the population is a daunting challenge. Stabilizing the population — to not outstrip economic growth and the country’s resources — is a more challenging task. Environmental stress, biodiversity loss, climate change and pressure on natural resources signal…
Examining the slate of presidential candidates for the upcoming Philippine election, l believe that Vice-president Jejomar Binay is the most qualified among all the candidates. Please take pause and consider that we will be electing someone to the highest position in the land. This person will not only be managing the affairs of the nation…
An estimated 260,000 Filipino soldiers fought alongside American troops during World War II, helping us win one of our most important victories. In recognition of their bravery and sacrifice, they were promised citizenship by the United States government and to give them the same benefits that all of our veterans deserve. Despite this promise, Filipino…
IN a rare display of emotion, President Barack Obama shed tears as he passionately spoke to the nation about the urgent need to cure the gun violence epidemic in America and save lives. He recalled the innocent first-grade kids massacred in Sandy Hook, among other victims whose lives were cut short because of these senseless…
DESPITE ardent calls by the international community to halt its military assertion in the West Philippine (South China) Sea, China remains undaunted in reiterating its “indisputable sovereignty” and has moved forward with its reclamation activities. While the Philippines was enjoying the New Year revelries, China was busy completing the construction of a 3,125-meter-long airfield on…
Early in the year I began expressing through the social wire my initial views on the candidacy of Vice President Jejomar C. Binay for President. For sheer want in specifics on the demolition job being undertaken against him, I could only resort to citing historical patterns by way of contributing to his cause. Jojo and…
MY dear friend, Sluggo Rigor, editor and publisher of FilAm Bulletin in Seattle, reacted to one of my columns, “May Angal: Circa 2016,” which was about the callousness and insensitivity of the Aquino administration in the face of clear instances of incompetence and impunity in PNoy’s nearly six years of governance. Stirred by what I…
Hope sure springs eternal among Filipinos, as revealed by the results of the Fourth Quarter 2015 Social Weather Survey. The SWS survey results showed that 92% of adult Filipinos entering the coming year with hope, and only 8% with fear. This would compare with 93% who entered the year 2015 with hope, and only 7%….
In 2010, I was told by confidential sources that we should be very careful about who we elect as president. I thought that as a journalist I would open a topic for discussion. That did not happen but as my sources consoled me—just think when all is said and done you can say “I told…
Since English is the most widely spoken language in the world, it should come as no surprise that there are so many ways to learn about grammar. There are many online tutorials and resources to help you learn, so your English is on point. But how can you accurately check your English grammar? With so…
The battle starts in our minds I HOPE you all had the merriest Christmas with your loved ones. This happy holiday season also heralds the ending of the year, and the beginning of a new chapter in our lives. No matter how crazy and busy our schedules haven been in the last days of the…
BEFORE we charge 2015 to history, we are again reminded to look back and reflect on all the important events that have happened in the past 12 months. This year we celebrated triumphs and suffered defeats. Which way does the Philippines go? Will Filipinos learn from mistakes and lead themselves to better lives, or will…
DESPITE President Benigno Aquino’s challenge for them to pass the measure before the holidays, the House of Representatives adjourned for its Christmas break without passing the Basic Bangsamoro Law (BBL), now called the proposed Basic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BLBAR). The House will reconvene on Jan. 18, 2016, with a three week final…
THE Commission on Audit had been, even through martial law, one of the most prestigious agencies of our Republic, its reputation untainted by graft or partisanship. With just a few months remaining for this inglorious Administration, the COA will be left as another institution damaged by President Benigno Aquino 3rd, who has turned it into…
I WOULD like to apologize to everyone I have called an idiot for believing that Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte deserves to be president of the Philippines in spite of his womanizing, his potty-mouth and his homicidal bluster. On reflection, there is in all of us a kind of idiocy that causes us to resort…
GIVEN the unsure situation the world is facing today, we are looking for some sort of a sign this Christmas—something that could calm our fears about what lies ahead. Times may be difficult, but Christmas and its spirit of love, faith and hope will always endure. It’s that time of the year—when war, conflict, political…
Labor groups and people supportive of the candidacy of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday said they have repackaged the tandem as “Team AlDuB”. A take from the phenomenal noontime show love team between Alden Richards and Maine “Yaya Dub” Mendoza, popularly known as “AlDub”, the political “AlDuB” refers…
The candidates for the 2016 Presidential race are all ready to rumble. The top contenders are Mar Roxas, Jejomar Binay, Grace Poe, Miriam Santiago and Rodrigo Duterte. Mar Roxas is from the Liberal Party. He was the former DILG head and part of the hierarchy of the current administration. He is remembered with the Zamboanga…
WITH over 30,000 Filipinos living in Long Beach, conversations about raising the minimum wage and wage enforcement in the city are important issues to the Filipino community. Most Filipinos in Long Beach have settled in Westside Long Beach, an area tucked in between the 710 freeway and the bustling Port of Long Beach. Filipinos living…
“THE success of Donald Trump has so defied the conventional wisdom of political punditry that a new genre of analysis has come into being. Call it Trumpology. It consists of reaching for exotic explanations from surprising sources. For example, Barton Swaim, who wrote ‘The Speechwriter: A Brief Education In Politics,’ hears magic in the Donald’s…
