‘Now Jesus himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honour in his own country.” John 4:44 CHICAGO (JGL) – Many people think, the twin surreal triumphs of foul-mouthed President Rody Duterte in the Philippines and anti-establishment President-elect Donald Trump in the United States elections are the most lasting legacies left to us by… Read More »
A feeling of uncertainty has deepened in the Philippines as coup rumors and martial law talk ushered in the New Year. Both talks about the possibility of destabilization moves and a coup attempt and speculations about the possible declaration of martial law were started by President Duterte himself and his allies. As early as two months ago, the… Read More »
MANILA President Rodrigo Duterte’s communications secretary, Martin Andanar, has compared the President to an earlier one, Ramon Magsaysay. As they say in Hollywood, “that’s a stretch.” I’ve commented before that the work of mouthpieces is a tough one. I understand that rah-rah boys have to put the best spin on their clients: My boss is the best this… Read More »
One day this week, I got the bad news that the father of my children who has been battling brain cancer is back in the hospital and prognosis was uncertain. So my boys promptly took off for Atlanta, Georgia where he now lives with his new family, to maybe have parting words with their dad, and help out with his… Read More »
Lolo: I’ll be the Santa Claus. Grandchild: I’ll be the Christmas Tree! Lolo: Huh? Grandchild: Presents, Lolo, presents! ***** Aysus! Gifted child ba ang tawag diyan? Kung present, at hindi nag-forced leave, ang mga ninong at ninang at si Santa Kulas, puwede. Inspired lang duon sa sinabi sa sine: Be the tree, and they will come. ***** Dark… Read More »
Christmas Season can evoke nostalgia on everyone. The season can bring fond memories of loved ones long gone and of happy times spent together. It is like a magic blanket that relives those moments all over again, reuniting families. This Christmas despite all the rough and tumble in life that I have been through, I can still say… Read More »
CHICAGO (JGL) – President Rody Duterte was right when he called the United States hypocrite in flaming a foreign newsman for blaming Mr. Duterte of human rights violations when there were thousands of victims of extra-judicial killings under his watch without due process related to his war on drugs under five months of his presidency. “Tang-ina mo! (You… Read More »
Less than six months into his term, President Rodrigo Duterte is already being asked to resign. If you visit Facebook, you’ll see posts that carry increasing demands for the President’s resignation. The latest bone of contention is his order to Veep Leni Robredo, who belongs to a different political party, to “desist” from attending Cabinet meetings. Many people… Read More »
I just came from a brief trip to the Philippines with my wife to be with her mother on the latter’s 89th birthday, and like most who have recently been to the homeland, the horrendous traffic marred an otherwise eventful visit. A trip from a western point in Manila and Quezon City to the Makati Financial District would… Read More »
CHICAGO (JGL) – When Senator John F. Kennedy was elected president of the United States, it was the inventor of television, who got the credit. When Donald Trump was elected president last week, it was not just his Twitter and the social media that carried him as The Donald claimed afterwards. I think it was actually a slogan… Read More »