Rise of the Dutertegarchs

Speaking in front of a group of former communist rebels, President Rodrigo Duterte emphasized his resolve to prevent the wealthy from stealing money from the taxpayers – he’s going to kill these crazy rich people.  His audience must have been delighted to hear that their president would kill their traditional enemies – the oligarchs — that they have… Read More »

What if China shuts off the Philippines’ power grid?

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) is a privately owned corporation that was created on January 15, 2009.  It is a consortium of three corporations: Monte Oro Grid Resources Corporation, Calaca High Power Corporation, and the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC), which has a 40% stake while the other two has 30% each.   The NGCP… Read More »

The Significance of the EDSA Revolution

Rodel J. Ramos       The EDSA revolution was the trigger that started a worldwide peaceful revolt that overthrow dictators and communist governments all over the world. The world witnessed the bravery of the Filipinos who toppled down a fearful dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos from power. This was followed by Haiti under another dictator, then Poland under communism and… Read More »

Day Of A Lifetime 

        That third Monday of February was just another typical Ole Winter’s day.         Nothing out of character, it was always be one of those times when I avoided answering the door lest my face is lashed by a sudden blast of Arctic wind, which could be worse than being startled by a jolt of static electricity.         Answering the phone… Read More »

CLOSE SHOWBIZ FRIENDS TO REMEMBER

It is true showbiz friends become closer on being involved in family events. That’s why this writer recalled my recent 42nd wedding anniversary with my wife Mer brings back my attachment to showbiz people in and out of the camera range decades ago. They were stars, producers, warblers and co-movie writers. Aside from her nod to be one… Read More »

REFLECTIONS ON MORTALITY AND RELIGION

“We are imperfect mortal beings, aware of that mortality even as we push it away, failed by our very complication, so wired that when we mourn our losses we also mourn, for better or for worse, ourselves. As we were. As we are no longer. As we will one day not be at all.”  Joan Didion, The Year… Read More »

JOEY & The Company: MAKING LOVE ON STAGE 

This show didn’t miss a second late – the clock ticked 7:30 pm and the headliners were on stage – Joey Albert and The CompanY (Moy Ortiz, Annie Quintos, Oj Mariano and Diohanna Sweet Plantado Tiongson)  What better way to start – dishing out all original pinoy music “songs that reflect who we are, our values and our… Read More »

Trump calls Duterte’s bluff

Two weeks after reports that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened the U.S. that he will terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the two countries, U.S. President Donald Trump reacted by saying he didn’t mind that the Philippine government terminated the agreement. “We’ll save a lot of money.  You know my views are different from other people.… Read More »

This and That

By Tess Taylor It has been more than 2 weeks since I watched the multi-award winning Korean movie Parasite at the Cineplex.  I thought at first it was a natural disaster movie, which is not my cup of tea. My idea of a movie night is to relax. Not to be tense and disturbed. But from a brief… Read More »