A FITTING TRIBUTE TO SHARON CUNETA

Trivia: For many decades megastar Sharon Cuneta has been endeared to countless people around her, especially close chums out of her unique yet pleasant personality. This writer can attest to it, out of our durable friendship. With the resounding box office of her screen comeback via Three Words to Forever and the touchingly joyous celebration of her birthday… Read More »

The influx of Chinese workers

O It’s simply incomprehensible why a country that’s exporting workers in the millions would open its doors to foreign workers in jobs that Filipinos could easily fill. It’s like importing mangos when you are one of the world’s biggest producers of that fruit. So we ask: Why is the Philippines opening up its labor market to foreign workers,… Read More »

Strive To Be Happy

       American writer Max Ehrmann’s famous prose-poem Desiderata (1927) states with finality:        And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.        Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be.        And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.… Read More »

Lest We Forget

Widower Impong Tasyo (IT for short) is very fascinated with his techno gizmo, the latest cellular phone-camera-recorder (CPCR) he got as a gift from his son during his 71st birth anniversary a few weeks ago. Quivering fingers that insisted on moving elsewhere after his mind has coaxed it to press either a green or red icon never deterred… Read More »

Militarization won’t curb corruption

In an obviously knee-jerk reaction to another case involving the smuggling of billions of pesos worth of shabu through the Bureau of Customs, President Duterte ordered last week the placement of the corrupt agency under military control. Fuming mad over the recently discovered P11-billion shabu shipment that escaped the scrutiny of Customs personnel, Duterte also placed the entire… Read More »

AMERICAN FILMS UPLIFT LOCAL MOVIES

Trivia: From the late ‘40s to the ‘60s, did you know some American films shot in the Philippines uplifted the local movie industry? The vehicles not only brazenly magnified the stunning countryside of the country but also the hidden talents of Filipino actors comparable to world level of acting. To begin with, top Hollywood star then Tyrone Power… Read More »

FAMILY DISPUTES AND FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS

Q. Dear Atty. Wong, I have come across your website/page and hope you can give me some advice. You can just call me Vince. My family is currently facing disputes and problems and wish everything to be fine, or at least be civil with each other. Here is the scenario: 1. We are a family of 5: father,… Read More »

A culture of hatred

In praying for the dead, the injured and the families of victims in last week’s Pittsburgh synagogue shooting that resulted in the death of eight men and three women and injuries to six other persons, Pope Francis denounced the “inhuman act of violence” and prayed for an end to the “flames of hatred” that fueled it.   The… Read More »

Worst cha-cha attempt yet

Funny how a youthful party-list representative put the recent attempt by former President and now House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and 21 of her allies to subvert the charter change proposals of a commission charged by President Duterte to come up with a draft of a proposed new Constitution. “The least trusted official of the country [Gloria Macapagal… Read More »

Memories of Dad

Heydyo, wanabaywats? Wat? Yulusyurwats? Wanabayitagen? Beritsip onliporyu. My nose bleeds each time I recall my father’s funny but ridiculous oral mimicry of the above post-World War II comedic ‘sales talk’ scenario that reverberated in war-ripped Manila. However, my heart bleeds when it dawns on me that my dad’s aper was of war-ravaged Filipinos desperately scrounging for any means… Read More »