And I thought the Philippines’ corrupt politicians are the worst. It turns out America’s own “dysfunctional politicians,” as global rating agency Standard & Poor’s describe them, can destroy this great nation just as badly as highly contentious politics tears the Philippines apart on a regular basis. In downgrading the United States’ credit rating for the first time ever… Read More »
Will she? Visualize the scenario: Gloria Arroyo in drab orange with a big “P” on her back (the “P” not signifying President but Prisoner), languishing in a women’s penal facility somewhere in the Philippines, mopping floors or scrubbing the grime off toilet bowls, her trademark pout now permanently lodged on her face. She might not even be safe… Read More »
Justice, denied for four years to one, Aquilino Martin Pimentel III, was finally served on Thursday, 12 August, 2011. Pimentel was officially declared the 12th duly elected senator in the 2007 elections in this country by the Senate Electoral Tribunal chaired by Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio. The dogged frenzy with which the new senator pursued his… Read More »
Summer is on its way out and so is the rumbling around festivals. But could you imagine a world for Filipinos without any festival at all — as in AT ALL? I could not. Filipinos would disappear from the planet the moment Euphrosyne, the goddess of mirth, takes away singing, dancing, beauty pageants, and anything to do with… Read More »
With the brouhaha over questions as to which festival is the biggest, the grandest, most popular, high-speed money-maker, one would wonder what would come next. If the intent is to outdo each other, then the same question will be asked all over again next round, next year. I was invited to the ‘ABS-CBN Canada One Kapamilya sa Mabuhay… Read More »
Did you hear about that woman and her little child who jumped out of a moving car, several days ago? They landed on the road with serious injuries. Fortunately, they were not hit by in passing vehicles. The road was closed for several hours. A criminal investigation was conducted. I went over the newspapers the next day for… Read More »
An awesome horror enveloped me when I heard and saw on television the horrific slaying and bombing that killed at least 76 people and destroyed considerable property in Norway. What???. Terrorism? Another 9/11? And then, I heard the announcer say that it was like that Oklahoman tragedy. A single person was responsible for all the blood spilled and… Read More »
Last July 31, 2011, while former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was in intensive care at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City recuperating from a spinal surgery caused by a pinched nerve, her husband Mike left for Hong Kong for a medical checkup. He could have gone to St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City where he… Read More »
“The people have spoken; the nation must move on.” These words summarized the messages sent by the two co-chairmen of the Congressional Canvassing Committee at the start of the joint plenary session of Congress last Wednesday (June 23, 2004) as it began its final round of debates on the controversial canvass of election returns in the just-concluded presidential… Read More »
Nice to hear from colleague Linda Rapadas that Claudine Barretto is back in top shape, showing her convivial and sprite nature once more. Claudine reportedly admitted to writer-chums that she underwent psychiatric treatment to fight stress and depression which tapped her then. Now, her marital relationship with Raymart Santiago turns smoother and stronger than before. Claudine has also… Read More »