The Philippines was both being diplomatic and showing signs of weakness when it said it would not respond to any provocation from China in its widening rift with the Asian superpower over disputed islands in the South China Sea. Instead of aggressively opposing any illegal action of the Chinese as the Vietnamese are doing, it seems the Aquino… Read More »
MetroManila seems doubly abuzz in the month of June- schoolchildren set for school, maintenance and repair of water drainage at a hectic pace ( why do they time this work just as school was opening? always.) to ward off the floods expected during the rainy season. Oh yes, it is now officially rainy season in the country, hopefully… Read More »
~ The fun and funny moments in Toronto’s Filipino community will roll soon as peacocks in human form take center stage in a grand celebration of anything and everything. It’s “halo-halo” and “chopsuey” put together in a fiesta combination recipe prepared and cooked to near-perfection by peacocks and fundraisers to bleed the pockets of the community. The arty-farty… Read More »
With the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) reduced to a toothless tiger that could only urge “restraint” and express “serious concern” over developments in the region without even mentioning the name of China, we can now expect Asia’s bully to become even more assertive in its claim to nearly the entire South China Sea. Even as… Read More »
The Americans are lucky because they enjoy extreme popularity here in the Philippines. They usually get what they want from our government. Look at the recently signed Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement between the Philippines and the United States. The usual critics say the document was rushed in time for US President Barack Obama’s visit last April. And… Read More »
We will be completing the first half of the year this month. Before we realize it, ayan na, 2014 will be giving way to yet a new year in our lives. Time really flies fast. I think of profound thoughts about past personal experiences that have given me much happiness, pain and sorrow, too on a number… Read More »
~ A feel of history – that’s how I view this day-long visit to the seaside resort city of Brighton, a relaxing one-and-a-hour train ride from London. The beach wasn’t far from the station. As soon as I took sight of the sea – the English Channel – my mind wandered to the time nearly 70 years ago… Read More »
~ The grand illusion comes out nice and clear with no less than a mutual admiration club lending its name to what amounts to pulling the wool over our eyes. If a recent announcement in Facebook by this fundraiser is given merit, the local media association has grown bigger that it has ever been. From a small community in… Read More »
My attention was caught by an ad wherein a young man whom he said was from the Philippines was expressing his appreciation for the education he has received from schools in Canada. He has been in this country for six years and he appears to be in his late teens now. So he must be around twelve when… Read More »
It was a deft tiptoeing act US President Barack Obama put on when he visited here last April 28-29. He segued from being non-committal about defending the Philippines to pledging “ironclad” support. Before coming to Manila, Obama had gone to Japan as the first stop of his recent four-nation tour. In Tokyo, Mr. Obama was unequivocal, he pledged… Read More »