A glimpse of Negrenses’ fight for freedom through the homes of the Generals Perhaps it wouldn’t be as stretch to say that among the most pivotal moment in Philippine history happened on June 12, 1898, when the Filipino’s quest for freedom was finally fulfilled. What many may not know much...
45402 The City of Firsts has officially signaled the beginning of its holiday celebration with the lighting of its iconic Giant Christmas Tree on Nov. 11. Decked with dazzling lights, colorful ornaments, and glittering tinsels, the Giant Christmas Tree situated at the Times Square Food Park in...
LANDSCAPE Gemma Cruz Araneta With bracing directness, Senator Imee Marcos called VP Leni Robredo an “extraordinary housewife.” That was last Oct. 27, when she was interviewed by the gentlemen anchors of “On the Spot.” They asked her to describe all the presidential aspirants. So, Imee said...
LANDSCAPE Gemma Cruz Araneta These days, the query — what have you done for the country? (Ano bang nagawa mo para sa bayan?) — is a galling trick question intended to mock and discredit. The malicious interrogator does not want you to state how you perform your civic duties, on the contrary, he...
LANDSCAPE Gemma Cruz Araneta Recently, along the cyber highway, I found my missing-in-action Haitian friend, Rosemarie Lelong. In 1990, we bade each other tearful goodbyes at “Los Venaditos,” a favorite haunt. We had felt a special affinity, our homelands were shrouded in darkness by military...
LANDSCAPE Gemma Cruz Araneta Vice President Leni Robredo has raised the standard of political discourse in this country. That was evident in the acuity of her speech (in Tagalog) announcing that she will run (sasabak ako!) for president in the elections of 2022. I viewed it on YouTube so I could...
LANDSCAPE Gemma Cruz Araneta Pundits, pubic intellectuals, political analysts and media practitioners have spoken and written about the decay of our national institutions. This seemingly unstoppable process threatens the very existence of the Philippines. Our country used to be called the...
LANDSCAPE Gemma Cruz Araneta Political winds now ravaging the cyber super highway are like typhoon signals that warn us of an impending electoral tsunami. Most of the presidential wannabees from various regions of this archipelago are already hymning praises to themselves. Social media is...
LANDSCAPE Gemma Cruz-Araneta As this writing (Sept. 15), I am commemorating two events close to my heart. The first was the inauguration of the Malolos Congress in 1898, in Malolos. The second is my 56th wedding anniversary. My husband, Antonio Araneta, and I chose that significant date to...
LANDSCAPE Gemma Cruz Araneta When Pres. Joe Biden decided to extricate the United States of America from Afghanistan, he said it was to end the “forever war” in that distant land. He does not want to send more American soldiers to their death. After 20 years of military intervention and...
LANDSCAPE Gemma Cruz Araneta What is happening in the USA is definitely none of my business, but allow me to give my two cents worth about President Joe Biden’s decision to terminate the 20-year US occupation and war in Afghanistan. He said: “I am the President of the United States of America,...
LANDSCAPE Gemma Cruz Araneta “La Solidaridad,” that valiant fortnightly of the Propaganda Movement bid its readers farewell on November 15, 1895. Its maiden issue was dated February 15, 1889, and against all odds, it survived for almost seven years. Graciano Lopez Jaena was its first editor,...
