On Sept. 19, 2024, Joel Butuyan’s Phil Daily Inquirer column, “Flea Market of Ideas,” published an article about the Pope’s recent Asian tour. The article “All Religions are Paths to Reach God” refers to the Pope’s bold and daring assertions. I responded to Butuyan’s article on Sept. 30, https://opinion.inquirer.net/177171/religion-a-giant-conspiracy-theory. This article is an expanded version of my response.… Read More »
Cielito Habito’s commentary in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, “Dynasties: Our Spreading Cancer” ( Aug. 13, 2024 ), has focused on one of the causes of our intractable and unrelenting poverty in a way that is not summarily seen as having a significant impact on our well-being. Despite government statistics showing 15.5% poverty, Mahar Mangahas’s SWS- Social Weather Stations… Read More »
This ordeal reminds me of the famous catchphrase “Da Plane,” “Da Plane,” which appears in the opening credits of the TV show Fantasy Island. My version would read “Da Pain,”” Da Pain!” in the context of total knee replacement surgery or TKA ( Total Knee Arthroplasty). The immediate aftermath of the procedure overwhelmed the excitement of having it… Read More »
This article challenges Eleanor Pinugu’s Phil Daily Inquirer’s commentary: WHAT HINDERS CREATIVITY, June 24, 2024 (https://opinion.inquirer.net/174649/what-hinders-creativity). PDI published Edwin’s response to Ms. Pinugu’s article ( https://opinion.inquirer.net/175085/the-invisible-gorilla-a-metaphor-for-phs-regressive-path ) on July 11. Below is the complete version of my response. The invisible gorilla that Eleanor Pinugu talked about in her latest commentary, “What Hinders Creativity,” PDI, June 24, 2024, an… Read More »
It was inconceivable not too long ago that one day, I would put memories and feelings in print and, more improbably, in a book. Apart from a short story I wrote when I was 12, my academic standing suggests that I could not write anything worth putting on the school paper. The editor, reporters and contributing writers all… Read More »
PRODDED by an email from a friend on the continuing fallout of the latest PISA ( Programme for International Student Assessment ) results, a no holds bared article in the Philippine Star by columnist Tony Lopez, titled “Mass Stupidity,” again highlighted the terrible state of education in the Philippines. The latest literacy test ( reading, math and Science)… Read More »
No, it’s not the latest Karaoke tune to grace the Philippine airwaves, but in Metro Manila, you never know. Slogans and catchphrases are Filipino specialties. Why “There is More Fun in the Philippines” has not caught up with “Amazing Thailand” could be a big blow to our ego. My generic friend Freddie sees it simply lacking a catchy… Read More »
THE MAKING OF “MEMORIES AND REFLECTION”. I never fully understood the phrase “Labour of Love” until I embarked on this long self-publishing journey. Having no publishing experience but a ready manuscript ( the book is a collection of the articles I have written in the last ten years ), I thought, how much more do I need to… Read More »
“Palengke” in the old Parañaque By Edwin de Leon “PAMILIHANG BAYAN NG PALANYAG” was the prominent sign of the Parañaque public market of the post-war years, right into the 50s. Anybody who has travelled between Manila and Cavite has passed the front of this iconic building along Quirino Avenue, the only thoroughfare connecting Manila to the southwest. … Read More »
AH! What a glorious sunny-cool day again today! You can’t beat the weather in the Philippines at this time of the year. Despite climate change, there is still an excellent window of the old “dry and cool” Jan-Feb. Month. Occasional rain cannot dampen the generative power of a warm climate to an aging “infrastructure,” anatomy now stiff, crumbly,… Read More »