“Figaro” is the name of the main character in the play, “The Barber of Seville,” which was first played in 1775. But today – or should I say in the last decade – “Figaro” was the name of the most powerful and, allegedly, the most corrupt person in the Philippines. You don’t read “Figaro” everyday in the newspapers.… Read More »
Since 2005 Philippine Press Club Ontario has played host to annual winners of Marshall McLuhan Prize for excellence in Philippine journalism. This year’s winner is Carol Arguilles, news editor of prolific no-nonsense weekly web-based paper published from Davao City, the Mindanews. The Marshall McLuhan Prize is a “flagship public diplomacy” initiative of the Canadian Embassy in Manila. Named… Read More »
Finally, after five years of being classified as “Top Secret,” the Aquino administration released the “Mayuga Report” but only after the Department of Defense reviewed it. Oddly, but not surprising, the report cleared four generals of alleged involvement in the “Hello Garci” election cheating scandal in 2004. Those cleared were generals Hermogenes Esperon, Roy Kyamko, Gabriel Habacon, and… Read More »
The most sensible thing I heard from the Philippines in the past week were the words coming from Senators Franklin Drilon and Allan Peter Cayetano, who said there would be no let-up in the investigation by the Senate blue ribbon committee of the corruption allegations against the ailing Arroyos. Drilon and Cayetano were, of course, referring to Gloria… Read More »
Alahoy! Alahoy! Ala nang sasaya! Bakasyon dun satin, kaibang – kaiba! Lalut ke tagal nang di nakauwi ka! Sa NAIA palang haping – hapi ka na! * * * Paalala, ingat! Sus, paulit – ulit! Kaingat kanino? Tinamaang lintik! Huh! Si Joe Damasco, agad niyang sambit! “Sakin sila ingat!” Saka humagikgik. * * * Si Pilosopong Lao, pinagmamalaki!… Read More »
Who would ever think that Manny Pacquiao would make it big as a singer? Well, his song Sometimes When we Touch recorded in U.S. currently lands in no. 11 in the music charts there. Hold your breath, Manny now ranks among the biggest hit makers all over America like Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, The Journey, among others..From a… Read More »
CHICAGO (jGLi) – The Manila Hostage Crisis a year ago devastated the Philippine tourism industry just as 9/11 caused inbound tourism in the United States to take a nosedive. But unlike the United States, which does not have a national tourism czar, the Philippines is one of the many developing countries, which elevated the duties of promoting the… Read More »
Q. Hi Atty Wong, I am a follower of your column. Sa tulad naming mga OFWs dito sa Canada, at malayo sa mga kamag-anak at mahihingian ng payo, ang iyong column ay ang aming sandigan kung kami ay may mga katanungan. Ako ay malapit ng ikasal. Ang mga papers ko po, visa, work permit, school records, at pati… Read More »
Does President Noynoy Aquino’s refusal to apologize to relatives of the eight Chinese victims who died in the infamous Luneta hostage taking incident a sign of arrogance or lack of sensitivity? Trekking to Manila to remember the first anniversary of the tragic August 23, 2010, the Chinese kins presented four demands from the President among them the issuance… Read More »