Category: Opinion & Editorial Columnists

A WEEK after the contentious election, we heard back again from the two gentlemen who ran for the Presidency. President Obama in his press conference praised Gov. Mitt Romney and expressed how he looks forward to talking with him and hear how he may be able to help the country with his ideas in the…

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…

CONTRARY to what some kababayans opine, President Barack Obama won the election NOT just because of race, nor by the force of the 47 percent of the American people, who according to Gov. Mitt Romney, “are with him (Obama), who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe that government has a responsibility…

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…

AFTER a fierce battle in the Presidential Election, American voters have made their choice — four more years for President Barack Obama after he defeated Republican challenger Mitt Romney in both the electoral and popular votes. The President has been re-elected after  going over the top of the required absolute majority (magic number 270) of…

Alex Esclamado is dead. He passed away last Sunday, November 4, in Cebu City from a lingering ailment. His demise is a loss for Filipinos in America, as well as those in the Philippines who endured the Marcos dictatorship. On May 9, 1989, President Cory Aquino conferred the Philippine Legion of Honor on Alex. The…

THE verdict of the American people is out: President Barack Obama wins over his Republican challenger Mitt Romney, after going over the top of the required absolute majority (magic number 270) of the electoral vote: 303 -206. The President also won the popular vote, 50 percent (59,935,130 votes), versus Romney’s 48 percent (57,256,881 votes). President…

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…

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…

Back in 1996, when President Ramos signed what was described as a “final peace agreement” with Nur Misuari’s MNLF, I wrote a piece guardedly welcoming the initiative and expressing relief over the possibility of peace in Mindanao. The pact was, concededly, not perfect, and the signatories on both sides had well-founded apprehensions over certain provisions….

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…

I frankly think that the protests and demonstrations over the Cybercrime Prevention Act are an overreaction. In the first place, the Philippine justice system has never been famous for enforcing the law or getting a conviction. In the second place, there are a number of ways to beat the libel rap. Back in the days…

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…

REALIZING that it is outmatched militarily with China, the US has responded to the country’s call for a defense modernization program and has agreed to help equip and train its military. By Western standards, the Philippines’ military capability has yet to prove itself. An example is its lack of sufficient transport aircraft capable of supporting…

THE first day of filing for Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) at the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) may have been rambunctious enough for COMELEC Chairman Sixto Brillantes to deem it “a circus.” Yet, it pales in comparison to the decibels raised (and are still being raised) by outraged netizens over some controversial provisions in the enacted…

In a recent conference held in Washington, Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima shed some light on what took the Philippine government to achieve its current state, as one of the fastest growing economies in Asia. Owing much to the continuous pursuit of good governance, Purisima confidently said that the Philippines is now on its way…

THE filing of candidacy for the 2013 midterm elections officially began. With 18,053 elective positions at stake, the country (especially its qualified voters) is in the throes of election fever. On a national scale, Filipino voters will declare who to fill the 12 senatorial and 80 party-list representations seats. The local elections involve voters to…

TODAY, more Filipinos are tightening their belts to sustain themselves not only through the rainy days, but for as long as the prices of commodities continue to rise. Despite the tough economy, however, fewer Pinoys are labeling themselves as “poor,” according to a recent nationwide survey. A non-government social and research institution, the Social Weather…

In spite of the brickbats hurled at Noynoy Aquino by his detractors, I continue to believe he is sincere in his vow to carve a Daang Matuwid or Straight Path towards a reformed and resurrected Philippine government. But are we to accept liko-liko (curves) and baku-bako (bumps) as a natural, inevitable and acceptable part of…