More than nine months after President Aquino certified the bill that would extend the life of the agrarian reform program by two more years, House Bill 4296 and a related measure, HB 4375, remain languishing in the House of Representatives apparently because of strong opposition from landlord members of the lower house. Without the extension, more than… Read More »
MANILA Where is our country going? Our current state of affairs indicate that we Filipinos haven’t learned the art of good governance. Our insularity makes us believe that we’re among the best in the world in many fields of endeavor. But, sad to say, that self-assessment is only in our minds. It’s like the delusional individual who’s a legend… Read More »
“You do not fight fire with gasoline.” — Author Unknown CHICAGO (JGL) – Despite the hawkish advocacy of my friend, former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph E. Estrada, to go after the traitorous members of the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) and BIFF (Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters) who, could be accused of committing war crimes… Read More »
When this short comment is uttered towards a person, it can have several meanings. It could mean you do not belong; you are outside of the group. If the person is an interviewer for a job, it is a sign that he/she would not hire you. You do not fit the job. Your accent will be a hindrance… Read More »
THERE are many reasons for people to demand that President Aquino step down, the latest and most plausible being the mishandling of the operation to hunt down two terrorists in Mamasapano in Maguindanao that resulted in the massacre of 44 Special Action Forces policemen. From the moment Aquino revealed his arrogant and vindictive behavior when he personally… Read More »
WITH the United States focused on eliminating the growing threat of Islamic extremism in the Middle East and Russian adventurism in Ukraine, and the Philippine government caught up in the maelstrom of the bloody Mamasapano carnage and corruption scandals, China quietly doubled its efforts to build new islands in the volatile South China Sea to bolster its claim… Read More »
MANILA President Benigno Aquino III must be quaking in his loafers now that a prelate somewhere has demanded his resignation. The deadly encounter between police commandos and Muslim fighters in Mamasapano, Mindanao, last Jan. 25 has spawned a lot of noise calling for Aquino to resign or be impeached. The Roman Catholic archbishop of Batangas wants Mr. Aquino… Read More »
“Oh, how I would like a poor Church, and for the poor,” with these words, Pope Francis set the tone for his papacy. The Pope has shown he meant what he said by discarding expensive vests in favor of simple white robes, staying in modest housing instead of the papal apartments, and using a Ford Focus instead of… Read More »
MANILA Actually, the conquest was mutual. Pope Francis charmed and conquered the Filipinos, while they overwhelmed him with their devoutness. He conquered our emotions as we conquered his admiration. The Pope, in the Philippines Jan. 15-19, will never again see anywhere in the world such multitude displaying their religious enthusiasm and fervor. The Pope’s visit was a much-needed opiate… Read More »
“If you speak a language a person can understand, that goes to his head, but if you speak his mother tongue, that goes to his heart.” — Nelson Mandela CHICAGO (JGL) – Pope Francis was not reinterpreting the message of Jesus that if someone slaps your cheek, you can offer the other cheek. I think what the… Read More »