Recently a bill came out of the Philippine Congress granting a P2,000 increase in retirees’ social security pensions. President Benigno Aquino III vetoed it, angering the retirees. The pensioners are restive. But it was Mr. Aquino’s legislative allies who let him down in the pension mess. His non-allies put him in a tight spot, intentionally surely. Any legislation… Read More »

  MANILA The temperamental President Manuel L. Quezon famously said: “I prefer a government run like hell by Filipinos to a government run like heaven by Americans.” You know what they say, be careful what you wish for. Filipino politicians from Quezon’s time to today must have thought that his statement was a wish and they’ve been working… Read More »

  It’s was Christmas Eve, the country was agog as it awaited the day Christ was born. The malls were still brimming with people, jampacked to the seams, on the last shopping day before Christmasday. The popular markets of Divisoria, Baclaran, Quiapo and all the smaller tiangges (Filipino flea markets) were wall-to-wall with shoppers. These places were so… Read More »

  Politicians here are a smart breed. They can rationalize anything under the sun. Look at the people running for the two highest offices of the land in the national elections on May 2016. Under normal circumstances the pairings would be seen as either ludicrous, impossible or plain silly. Under normal circumstances, the players themselves wouldn’t team up… Read More »

  The Senate Electoral Tribunal here, stacked with more senators than justices, ruled that presidential candidate Grace Poe is a natural-born Filipino. A newspaper headline said Poe “jumped for joy” when she heard the news of the SET decision. When she lands back on earth, she should be scared, very scared. Several petitioners have questioned Poe’s citizenship status… Read More »

MANILA There are things we do as a people that indicate we’re not serious about nation-building. Many of these things are basic communal failings that include our cavalier attitude toward protecting our environment. Look at all the litter in public places and the vandalism of buildings and walls. We’re inconsiderate of other people’s safety, security and convenience. We cheat,… Read More »

MANILA After months of thinly disguised positioning for a run for higher office, Sen. Grace Poe has finally put her cards on the table, announcing her candidacy for the presidency. The way Poe kept President Aquino twisting in the wind as he tried to get her as Mar Roxas’ vice presidential running mate has left a bad taste… Read More »

MANILA Despite all the bad news swirling around Vice President Jojo Binay, the crowds still turn out wherever he goes. Are those people just being polite, as is the Filipino custom, and warmly welcome any guest to their communities? Or maybe they’re the usual Filipino rubber-neckers who have nothing better to do than come out and gawk around… Read More »

MANILA Sen. Grace Poe hasn’t been around much. In fact, there’s a doubt, or intrigue, among her detractors that she doesn’t qualify to run for either president or vice president because she lacks the required residency in the country of 10 years. But, for someone who’s relatively newly repatriated back here (from America), she’s been in the news… Read More »

There’s no longer any doubt that Sen. Grace Poe is the people’s darling. Nor is there any more doubt in her mind that she can be president or vice president in 2016. What a position to be in. Every political party wants her on its 2016 ticket. It’s heady days for Ms. Poe. But could all the attention… Read More »