THE sight of the country’s senators raising their hands to declare their vote of confidence in the senate presidency of Juan Ponce Enrile was the surest sign that Noynoy Aquino’s Daang Matuwid is running parallel to another thoroughfare, the Congressional Expressway. The Congressional Expressway is decidedly not the straightest and smoothest road in our hapless republic. It…
FOR most Filipinos, telenovelas have proven more affective to regular households than the evening news. The recognition and relevance that the audience accords to the narratives from the characters they follow reveal a meaningful social, cultural and even political function that can be attributed to telenovelas. Analogous to a telenovela, the historic impeachment of Supreme…
THE guys at my favorite watering hole in Daly City are, as usual, confused about the state of affairs in the Philippines. And, as usual, they turn to me for enlightenment. I oblige, of course, knowing that in the land of the blind, the one-eyed is king. Take the Sin Tax, hailed by President Noynoy…
ON January 6, the much-awaited and much-anticipated new tourism campaign was launched by the Department of Tourism (spearheaded by DOT Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr.) to dispel the nation’s disappointment over the previous (and now debunked) “Pilipinas Kay Ganda” campaign. “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” is the final product, born out of convoluted pitches and…
TO commemorate the Feast of the Black Nazarene Monday, Jan. 9, some brave volunteers tried to secure the image of the Black Nazarene throughout the procession, while seven million maroon-clad devotees braved the streets of Manila hoping to touch, kiss or simply see the centuries-old image of Christ. Housed at Quiapo Church in Manila, the…
The New Year is a usual time for Filipinos abroad to visit their loved ones in the Philippines. But for most Pinoys in the Middle East, it was an involuntary homecoming due to political turmoil that has been going on in the oil-rich countries. Giving utmost priority to the safety of our kababayans abroad, local…
“LEARN from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.”- Albert Einstein Forget the past and start anew. This is perhaps a trend now as the world economy begins a new year. In his speech before year 2011 ended last week, Obama expressed his confidence for an economic comeback for the United States. Reflecting on a…
DURING this holiday season, we are bombarded with advertisements about the latest and greatest deals on how we can celebrate Christmas with awesome gifts and welcome New Year with a bang. It is easy to get caught up in the hoopla of purchasing that perfect something, or scoring a sweet deal on the hottest items…
IT’S the season of gift-giving. And President Benigno Aquino III (PNoy) wasted no time looking for the perfect gift for his nemesis, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) – a suite befitting of a former president, in jail. Now, only a few weeks after GMA’s arrest and before Christmas, PNoy and his constituents in Congress have…
Since Benigno Aquino III assumed the position of president, he made his intentions very clear of weeding out officials who did the country wrong during their terms. The aggressiveness of the current administration in going after those who have allegedly betrayed the public trust, was seen in the recent hospital arrest of Former President Gloria…
HEADING into a new year, things are getting to be quite polemic, as we see 2011 nearing its end with a succession of controversies. Philippine politics seems to be turning into an impenetrable and tumultuous jungle, as the year closes. The situation is ripe for a political savior to step on the scene. Redeeming a…
HIS administration may have received criticisms for underspending the local budget during the first half of 2011, but President Benigno S. Aquino III is determined to have all that change next year. According to reports, the President recently met with his economic managers on December 6, at the Christmas party of Bulong Pulungan at the…
DESPITE her rigid efforts in bringing the Philippine justice system to a reputable form, Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Leila De Lima is now in hot water – with the possibility of losing her license as a lawyer. In a nine-page complaint filed on Monday, in perhaps a form retaliation from Former President Gloria Macapagal…
57 INDIVIDUALS (32 of whom were journalists) perished on November 23, 2009 in Ampatuan, Maguindanao province in Mindanao. A 58th victim, journalist Reynaldo Momay remains missing. Now, two years after the gruesome incident, for the victims’ families and friends the pain lingers on — the thirst for justice remains unquenched. Amid the threat of explosives…
Amid the much-publicized conflict between the camp of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the incumbent administration, President Benigno Aquino III still managed to meet up with South Korea’s President, Lee Myung Bak, to further strengthen bilateral ties. Coming straight from the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) summit in Bali, Indonesia, the South Korean President…
THE aftermath of last week’s political disarray only serves to illustrate the materializating of the country that President Benigno Aquino III imagines he’s creating — and the one that actually exists. Assigned into office on a message of frugal economy and honest government, Aquino who still continues to pitch the ideal of a “new era”…
“TWO groups play the game. Each side has five members: four guards and a captain. The game is played on the court. The objective of the game is for one group to walk or run through the court from one to the other and return without being caught by the defending group who keep guard…
SHAMCEY Supsup, the Philippines’ representative to the recent Miss Universe pageant, heralded a strong message of empowerment to Filipinas, when she placed third runner-up. On November 6, two more Filipinas echoed her achievement when Philippines was once again distinguished as one of the best in the glittering world of pageantry. Looks like the country is…
In the year 2014 to 2020, half of the world is expected to be filled up with seniors nearing their retirement age. This was affirmed by the Executive Director of HealthCore Philippines, Joyce Socao-Alumno, who also said that the aging generation of baby boomers could also be seen as an advantage for Filipinos practicing in…
From years 2014 to 2020, half of the world’s population will be seniors nearing retirement age. This was affirmed by Joyce Socao-Alumno, Executive Director of HealthCore Philippines, saying that a market of now aging generation of baby boomers would be an advantage for Filipinos in the medical field, both in the Philippines and abroad. Envisioned…
AS WE commemorate the day of the dearly departed, the world also recognizes another milestone for humanity, with the birth of the 7 billionth baby. Baby Danica May Camacho, born in the Philippines on Monday, is the United Nations’ chosen symbolic seven billionth baby. Humankind didn’t hit the 1 billionth threshold until the 19th century….
THE leader and president of the California Public Utilities Commission is being criticized by groups that are indifferent to the plight of our state’s six million Asian Americans and 600,000 Asian American-owned businesses. Our great friend in California, Governor Brown, is in a unique position to address these criticisms since CPUC President Mike Peevey has…
THE furor over the assertion of US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas that 40% of male foreign visitors are sex tourists reminds me of the newspaper headline that declared, “50% of the people in Congress are crooks.” Expectedly, the honorable solons reacted violently to that dishonorable accusation and demanded a retraction. The newspaper, forthwith,…
THE Pinoys’ plight to travel towards the “straight path” might serve them well in the long run, according to a recent study made by a Singapore-based financial service group. In its research entitled Asia 2020, the Development Bank of Singapore (DBS) said that the Aquino government’s campaign on curbing corruption could mean more foreign direct investments for the country as it…
US AMBASSADOR to the Philippines Harry Thomas, Jr. may have exaggerated in his statement, but that doesn’t mean the problem of sexual tourism in the country does not exist. In a text message sent to Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario the US envoy said: “I am sending you a response expressing regret for my…
“ALMOST everything–all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure — these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are…
The debate on whether or not amendments should be made in the constitution has been similar to an endless dance of Cha-cha; wherein government officials keep dancing to and fro without really going anywhere. This time, however, the lawmakers seemed to be getting pretty tired from all the dancing. A majority of the members of…
“THE Filipino, it seems, has lost his soul, his dignity, and his courage. We have come upon a phase of our history when ideals are only a veneer for greed and power, (in public and private affairs) when devotion to duty and dedication to a public trust are to be weighted at all times against…
The Philippine coconut industry and the Aquino administration has all reasons to be thrilled with the big time companies in the United States recently expressing their willingness to invest in the Philippines. In a statement, head of the Presidential Communications and Strategic Planning Office, Ricky Carandang, told the press that President Aquino was “excited” that …
WITH 85% approval for his performance in the past three months, Vice President Jejomar Binay is enjoying the highest approval and trust ratings (85 percent approval rating and 86 percent trust rating) anew among key government officials in the latest Pulse Asia Survey. The country’s chief executive, President Benigno Aquino III, received 77% approval and…
