The ouster of Gov. Fr. Ed Panlilio from the governorship of Pampanga once again reinforces the belief that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is being used to “terminate” the political lives of the enemies of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Panlilio was the third governor who got axed for not playing ball with Gloria. The day before Panlilio’s ouster,… Read More »
As I write this feature, Canada has garnered 21 medals. I know because I just saw it on television, the magic that instantly communicates around the world what is happening in the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. The women’s figure skating competition has just been concluded. It was about 12:00 midnight eastern time, 9:00 pm in Vancouver. I… Read More »
She could not be more than 22 but she looked much younger. Her delicate light complexion, her dark brown hair, petite and her fondness for bright coloured dresses would make many to guess wrong as to her real age, even among other women. She would walk effortlessly as her hips swayed like a well time pendulum, making… Read More »
It is infuriating that 24 years after the Filipino people brought down a dictatorship and restored democracy, some military personnel act like martial law was never rejected resoundingly by the militants at EDSA. It seemed generations ago when the brutal soldiers of the Marcos dictatorship terrorized the Filipino people, and yet from time to time in this supposed… Read More »
There’s more than meets the eye in the two-page advertisements that the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) has been running in three major newspapers in the Philippines heralding the alleged accomplishments of the Arroyo administration in the economy, social development, public works, law and order, job generation, agriculture, energy, environmental protection and digital infrastructure in its nine… Read More »
The term “pork barrel” refers to the use of government funds that are intended to benefit the constituents of a politician in return for their votes. In effect, it is an institutionalized — and legalized — form of vote-buying. So, whoever controls the allocation of pork barrel funds wields immense political power. In the nine years that President… Read More »
In the course of our journey as journalists, we have witnessed heels and heroes changed the course of history, as in the Marcos years and in the redeeming people Power EDSA revolution of 1986. We rubbed elbows with rogues and criminals; clinked champagne glasses with the high and the mighty or shared “tagays “ of cheap gin and… Read More »
Tuesday, February 9 became the official start of campaign for candidates for the national elections in the Philippines. The 90- day campaign period culminates on May 10, 2010, the day when citizens of the country decide who will take them either to glory or to hell for the next six years. Tense ang atmosphere sa Comelec office as… Read More »
Cora and Rosa became steadfast friends when they met in the dressmaking school in downtown Manila. Coming from two different regions of the country, they both enrolled in the same school hoping someday to become couturier. In no time at all, they became close to each other and they were always seen together at work in the… Read More »
In the first week of January, the Commission on Population estimated that by year’s end, the Philippines’ population would reach the 94-million mark. It warned that the additional two million Filipinos would mean two million more mouths to feed, two million more heads to give shelter to, two million more to educate, and two million more… Read More »