Category Archives: Editorial

Rise of the Dutertegarchs

Speaking in front of a group of former communist rebels, President Rodrigo Duterte emphasized his resolve to prevent the wealthy from stealing money from the taxpayers – he’s going to kill these crazy rich people.  His audience must have been delighted to hear that their president would kill their traditional enemies – the oligarchs — that they have… Read More »

What if China shuts off the Philippines’ power grid?

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) is a privately owned corporation that was created on January 15, 2009.  It is a consortium of three corporations: Monte Oro Grid Resources Corporation, Calaca High Power Corporation, and the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC), which has a 40% stake while the other two has 30% each.   The NGCP… Read More »

Day Of A Lifetime 

        That third Monday of February was just another typical Ole Winter’s day.         Nothing out of character, it was always be one of those times when I avoided answering the door lest my face is lashed by a sudden blast of Arctic wind, which could be worse than being startled by a jolt of static electricity.         Answering the phone… Read More »

JOEY & The Company: MAKING LOVE ON STAGE 

This show didn’t miss a second late – the clock ticked 7:30 pm and the headliners were on stage – Joey Albert and The CompanY (Moy Ortiz, Annie Quintos, Oj Mariano and Diohanna Sweet Plantado Tiongson)  What better way to start – dishing out all original pinoy music “songs that reflect who we are, our values and our… Read More »

Trump calls Duterte’s bluff

Two weeks after reports that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened the U.S. that he will terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the two countries, U.S. President Donald Trump reacted by saying he didn’t mind that the Philippine government terminated the agreement. “We’ll save a lot of money.  You know my views are different from other people.… Read More »

China First or Filipino First?

Since 2016 when Rodrigo Duterte was elected president of the Philippines, the demographic landscape of the country has dramatically changed with the immigration of Chinese nationals from Mainland China.  Duterte, who claimed Chinese blood from his mother, has demonstrated an openly biased pro-China policy. However, his Chinese heritage doesn’t seem to influence his pro-Chinese leaning, which is most… Read More »

God’s Plan, Time, Will

 In His own well-laid plans and mysterious ways, God makes things happen according to His plan, His time and His will. This, I believe so.         January passed with a lot of glad and sad surprises, all of which were worthy to be kept in my shoebox trove of great memories. *****         Geez! My kumare Sally and inaanak Karen,… Read More »

Duterte threatens to scrap VFA

Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte warned the U.S. last January 24, 2020 that he would scrap the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) if Washington did not reinstate the visa of Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, Duterte’s political ally. Dela Rosa is a former Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief who is now a senator.  When he was PNP Chief, dela Rosa, led the… Read More »

Pogos breed crime and prostitution

Since Rodrigo Duterte took over the presidency of the Philippines, the influx of Chinese nationals has increased dramatically.  As a result, gambling and prostitution have become a huge problem.  Most of the Chinese nationals who have come to the Philippines are involved in a new gaming industry called Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (Pogos).  Hundreds of Pogos are in operation right now,… Read More »