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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
Never in the history of the United States was “politics of fear” used to bring out the worse in people and sow fear in them. And by doing so, John McCain has created a “lynch mob” mentality among white voters. McCain unleashed his running mate, Sarah Palin, to attack Barack Obama with lies and innuendoes. At a Florida… Read More »
“Financial markets are collapsing. Credit is drying up. Your savings are in danger, and your retirement is at risk. Jobs are disappearing. The cost of health care, your children’s college, gasoline and groceries are rising all the time with no end in sight, while your most important asset – your home – is losing value every day.” “We… Read More »
What do you do when you have been an accomplished soldier and an officer, an EDSA national hero and a president of the Philippines? Relax? Playing golf or enjoy the fruits of your retirement and write your memoirs? What do you do when you’re going 80 years old, when most people of that age can hardly walk, hear… Read More »
If there were one subject barrio people loathed in discussing, it would be about the dead. Call it part of religion and folkways so that when someone would pass away, the concern was how to inter the body, which should not be beyond three days. In the barrio, the family of the dead had two choices for the… Read More »
One of the cruelest and dumbest things that have emerged out of the financial crisis now rocking the US and global markets is the unfair attempts by conservatives in the media and by some politicians to blame the current mortgage and financial crisis on minorities who were granted home ownership through the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). This is… Read More »