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…
MOTHERS’ DAY this year is extra special for me. It is a milestone because this 2014, I have also became a grandmother with the birth of my first apo — Azshara Angelina Relos Reinheimer — last April 12. I have yet to see my granddaughter face-to-face, and will have to wait to finally hold her in…
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…
SUPER Typhoon Yolanda. Heat waves, drought and wildfires. Torrential rains and flooding. Many of us have been asking why these calamities have been happening more frequently these days. Do we still doubt that these are symptoms of Mother Nature ailing, and that her deterioration is going at an alarming and ominous rate? People in a…
There was a collective expression of disappointment among many Filipinos and the media because Barack Obama “gave no categorical commitment” that America would “defend” the Philippines if its dispute with China “escalates into an armed confrontation.” They had hoped that Obama would be as clear in his position on the Philippines-China dispute as he was…
“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…
ONE controversial issue during the visit of President Barack Obama to the Philippines last April 28-29 highlights those instances when Fil-Ams, who have already been naturalized American citizens, have to confront two directly opposing perspectives and are challenged to make a stand. What do we value more: a deal that will be beneficial to America…
“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…
IT WAS, indeed, a very proud and fulfilling moment — becoming part of The Filipino Channel’s (TFC) celebration of its 20th year in using the airwaves to touch the lives of kababayans worldwide. TFC is the first and most successful Filipino content distribution company in the US. It has been helping Filipinos abroad to remain…
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…
PRESIDENT Barack Obama will be visiting the Philippines for the first time, on April 28-29 — the last stop of his 4-Asia nations tour in the region. As news reports state, Obama hopes to strengthen ties with allies in the region, amid growing concern about China’s tactical “bullying” of smaller nations in Asia. On a lighter note,…
“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….
THIS year marks a very important milestone for ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation, the media company that produces Balitang America — a daily newscast which delivers news about Filipinos and for Filipinos in North America. The Filipino Channel (TFC), the international division of ABS-CBN, is celebrating its 20th year of serving Filipinos worldwide. TFC is the first…
For Christians, Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and the fulfillment of God’s promise for deliverance of man. But what precedes God’s rising again is his agony and death, which to me is also a poignant manifestation in His own life, the message delivered in John 12:24:…
“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…
DESPITE opposition from the mighty Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines, key provisions in the controversial Reproductive Health(RH) Bill have been upheld by the Philippine Supreme Court (SC) as constitutional on Tuesday, April 8. The long and bumpy road to the SC’s decision started almost 14 years ago. After several presidencies, senate and house representation…
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…
In 2005, the late Samuel Ong, then deputy director of the NBI, blew the whistle on the Hello Garci phone calls that resulted in the “election” of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the sinking of Ronnie Poe’s presidential hopes. For that, Ong was charged with sedition, instead of being praised. It was for that reason that I…
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…
Three senators believed to have been key players in the multi-billion pork barrel scam in the Philippines have already been charged with plunder. One of them, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, is in the United States for medical reasons. Estrada sat down with Balitang America’s LA Correspondent Steve Angeles for an exclusive interview, and talked about what…
On Saturday, April 12, my husband and I became a lolo and lola. It’s a milestone that we’ve been looking forward to, after our daughter Misty got married in 2012. When that day finally came, however, our excitement was eclipsed by fear and anxiety because it came too soon. Misty was only 24 weeks and…
“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…
A MAJORITY of the viewers (76 percent) of The Filipino Channel’s Balitang America, who voted in the online poll regarding the Philippines seeking the United Nations’ (UN) intervention in its standoff with China, believe that the UN’s involvement will help resolve the dispute faster and will strengthen the Philippines’ position in its territorial dispute against…
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…
WHEN it comes to the territorial row, China does not want the United Nations (UN) to intervene and demands that the Philippines should resolve the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea dispute with China alone, through bilateral talks. Should the Philippines just go with what China wants? President Benigno S. Aquino III remains undaunted with 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…
FILIPINOS in California are still in a state of shock and disbelief, after waking up to the news last Wednesday. After a series of raids in the Bay Area and Sacramento, California State Senator Leland Yee was arrested on March 26 for being implicated in an alleged corruption conspiracy, which involves arms trafficking and fraud…
THOSE of you who are waiting for a Freedom of Information Bill crafted to your full satisfaction should not hold your breath. You folks will pass out from lack of air circulating in your system and it still won’t happen. But Congress could pass a bill that will give the citizenry access to the business…
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…
