Symbols in our Lives
I was passing by a small flower shop inside the Finch Subway when my attention was caught by a row of sampagita plants in pots. The label was jasmine, but I know it was the Philippine sampagita with its small white sweet-scented blossoms. I know many of us grow them indoors during the cold weather and put them… Read More »
Desperate situation, desperate measure
Sen. Manny Villar and his party mates at the Nacionalista Party must be very desperate. Indeed, with less than a month to go before the elections, desperation would understandably set in when you still trail by double digit percentage points in surveys after spending millions of pesos peddling lies in full page advertisements and radio-TV commercials. … Read More »
Traditions in Filipino Spirituality
Holy Week had just passed and once again, the Philippines was featured on television. Scenes from some areas were shown wherein men, the upper parts of their bodies naked, walked along the dusty roads, flagellating themselves on Good Friday. The “Penitensya” has become a tourist attraction that draws crowds from distant places, some of whom are foreigners to… Read More »
Subdividing the Estate amongst the Heirs
Q. Please help me see my way through the following dilemma: 1. My father died intestate, how are we to divide the properties left behind with our mother and four siblings? 2. Another concern is that my brother has been estranged from his legal wife for 30 years. He got a live-in-partner and adopted a son some 25… Read More »
MEA CULPA, MEA MAXIMA CULPA
After four decades, the Vatican has absolved the Beatles, calling their pop songs “ beautiful melodies “ ending years of acrimonious relationship between the famous British pop group who made musical history in the 1960s and the Catholic church, a report from the L’Observatore, the official newspaper of the Rome-based tiny city-state said. The Vatican had called the… Read More »
Mang Atong, the Perennial Loser
“The public loves a winner” could never be so applicable in the chronicling of events. In battles, the names of the winners were emblazoned in gold and marbles markers. In crime cases, the police officer who solved the case would get the accolades. In political contests, the names of winners were in the headlines of newspapers. … Read More »
‘sa totoo lang’ – ‘anything can happen and it does!’
Greetings from the Philippines. My deep apologies for some mistakes printed in my last column- the April was supposed to be March- the last week of which was designated start of campaign for local election candidates. So sorry po. Well, the carnival which is Philippine 2010 elections ay tuluy- tuloy pa rin, makapigil- hininga, makabagbag damdamin, at punung-… Read More »
GMA’s DISGRACEFUL APPOINTMENTS
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” — George Santayana CHICAGO (JGLi) – The midnight appointments and that of the Chief Justice of the Philippine Supreme Court being contemplated by outgoing President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (GMA) must surely be causing her father, President Diosdado Macapagal, to… Read More »
Fast Food For Thought
OUR HEROES By Rudy M.Viernes The Philippine government cannot provide employment opportunities to its teeming employable citizens, sad to say. So, many Filipinos go abroad where employment abounds. Thus the template OFW was coined for Overseas Filipino Worker (which used to be OCW for Overseas Contract Worker) and has become commonplace, a phenomenon nevertheless, and its here… Read More »