Category Archives: Editorial

The new Golden Boy

I must admit I was wrong. But so were Bob Arum and Freddie Roach. In a previous article, entitled “Not exactly a mismatch,” I dared defy veteran boxing writers and experts and even some Filipinos, who said the “Dream Match” between Oscar de la Hoya and Manny Pacquiao was a mismatch, and that De la Hoya would just… Read More »

A nightmare before Christmas

It had the makings of a soap opera, a telenovela starring a MexicanAmerican ring idol and icon, Oscar De La Hoya, aka the “Golden Boy “ of boxing, touted as the heavy favourite against Filipino champion Manny “Pacman “ Pacquaio, the underdog who many predicted stood no chances against his much bigger and superior opponent. The mega-million bout… Read More »

The impact of Bolante’s lies

When former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-Joc” Bolante finally appeared before the Senate on Friday, senators thought his two-year detention at an immigration holding cell in the United States had softened him and he would spill the beans on the P728-million fertilizer scam. They had another think coming. His health restored after relaxing for more than a week in… Read More »

The Driver of Bus 29

The most outstanding and popular driver of the barrio was Mang Badong. He was considered outstanding for he worked for a prestigious bus company that plied between the towns where the barrio was located and the city. During those years, to be a driver for a big bus company was the ambition of many young men in the… Read More »

The Thoughts on Christmas in the Barrio

Every year Christmas comes to Christendom in unerring certainty. Symbolized by Christ child, Christmas is for children. However, this red letters day is likewise shared by the elders, for amongst them, there would always be the feeling and thoughts of childhood and the children in them. Christmas, to many of us, is the storehouse of our memories in… Read More »

The Cinderella President

In the popular movie “Pretty Woman”, there was this final scene of millionaire Edward played by Richard Gere climbing the fire escape of the apartment to claim his lady love, Vivian, (Julia Roberts) the former prostitute . At the same time a man crossing the street exclaim” This is Hollywood, the land of dreams. …. Some dreams come… Read More »

A Victory for Inequality

While America was upholding the result of decades of battle for civil rights by electing an African American to the presidency, tens of thousands of Californians were institutionalizing inequality, injustice and bigotry by passing Proposition 8, which sought to ban gay marriages in California. They wanted to include in the state constitution a provision that would deprive a… Read More »

Sadyang Ganyan Kaya Ang Kapalaran?

Tahimik si Carlos dela Riva nakahimlay sa sofa ng kanilang balkonahi at dinadama niya ang malamig na hagin na nagbubuhat sa bulubundukin ng Daly City, California. Sa kanyang pag-iisa ay laging sumasagi sa kanyang ala-ala ang kanyang buhay na sinasapit noong mga nakaraang panahon sa Maynila na siya kung tawagin ay “smart business tycoon” na owner ang manufacturer… Read More »

Three Myths about Mental Illness

In my practice, I have met many misconceptions about mental illness from patients and their relatives. I can’t blame them. Mental illness has not been understood for a while. In fact, it has created a stigma that people dismiss its importance and its impact in their lives. Some even hide their emotional difficulties from the scrutiny of their… Read More »

The Bicolanas

In one of the rooms of the residential apartment in pre-war Intramuros was occupied by three girls from the Bicol Region. These three girls coming from the different provinces of the region by mutual agreement rented the space while they pursued their education in a school located in Walled City. They could have enrolled in their home provinces… Read More »