The failed, yet much ballyhooed Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) passed quietly into the night last Monday, its death cheered by both farmers and landlords. The farmers, who were supposed to be its beneficiaries, would not mourn the agrarian reform program’s death because, in the words of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas chair and party list Rep. Rafael… Read More »
~ The realization of the truth seems to be sinking in now. One indication is the commentary by an agitated blogger who took a swipe at the wife of an official for promoting herself to feed a craving for public attention. Her husband is spared even as he is equally guilty of parading himself, the spouse and their… Read More »
“Clearly… while it is the President who proposes the national budget, it is the Congress that prescribes the form, content and manner of budget preparation albeit subject to the limitations found in the Constitution. Hence, as the ‘power of the sword’ belongs to the President, the ‘power of the purse’ resides in Congress.” “While its constitutional conferment is… Read More »
In late June this year, four of those accused of having exploited for their personal advantage funds from the Congress ‘pork barrel’ have, one by one and separately, voluntarily presented themselves to agencies executing the decisions made by of the Office of the Ombudsman and the Sandiganbayan for their arrest and arraignment. To me, this was an ok… Read More »
The name Cusipag is synonymous to Fil-Canadian journalism. Ruben Cusipag, founder and first publisher/editor of Balita, pioneered the news business about the Philippines in Canada. This was remarkable because starting a newspaper in the early days was a thankless and unprofitable enterprise. It was really for the love of the written word that pioneers like Ruben dared to… Read More »
CHICAGO (JGL) – I have been hearing rumors that the Philippine Supreme Court is in the cusp of deposing my friend, former President and incumbent Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada, and have him replaced by defeated Mayor Alfredo S. Lim. But I cannot find the right reason that could complete the trifecta and totally humiliate the brewing Estrada… Read More »
~ The fancy celebrations, the posh parties, the preposterous claims to fame – they all come together to lull Toronto’s Filipino community into a world of make-believe. One such event has winded up a bash with no president in attendance, and another is coming up with a promise to save millions worldwide. Toronto’s 200,000-strong community members must be… Read More »
We could have heaved a sigh of relief after reading reports that the Ombudsman has finally filed graft and plunder charges against businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, at least four senators, a few congressmen and some government and private individuals in connection with the P10-billion pork barrel scam that has haunted the country for almost a year now. Finally,… Read More »
The Philippine Congress is composed of millionaires, according to recent news. They’re there either to make big bucks or to protect what they already have. And add to it. It’s no surprise to the people that many members of both houses of Congress here are rich beyond any ordinary man or woman’s wildest dreams. Even though the ethos… Read More »
~ The unfolding summer activities in Toronto would surely give way to the most ostentatious claims again. Numbers would be inflated like soaring balloons. It’s the season of the superlative events. No longer would it be a surprise to see one bash after another being labeled as “the most glamourous . . . “, “the greatest . .… Read More »