OFF THE BEATEN PATH The live interview last May 7, 2024 with fishermen while we were in Scarborough Shoal hinted a sentiment that deserves a lookback. When Anthony Taberna asked Kapitan Efren whether the latter is satisfied with the government’s efforts on the territorial issue, the response was:...
OFF THE BEATEN PATH To the youth graduating this year, I cannot recommend strongly enough that they should revisit two crucial and inter-related matters in our history: Proclamation No. 1928 series of 1962, which moved Independence Day from July 4 to June 12; and the ideological journey of the...
OFF THE BEATEN PATH When I heeded the call of the unfamiliar, the compass of my curiosity pointed me to Scarborough Shoal. Fully aware of our precarious situation there, I ventured forward nevertheless. This remote speck in the West Philippine Sea, a point of contention primarily because it is a...
OFF THE BEATEN PATH While much of the conversation on El Niño dwells on its economic impacts and ways to mitigate them, a silent crisis is unfolding behind bars – one that directly contradicts our supposed commitment to human dignity. We adopted the neutral term “persons deprived of...
OFF THE BEATEN PATH As El Niño tightens its grip, anxieties surrounding water scarcity rise. Without sufficient water from reservoirs, agriculture suffers, jeopardizing food security for millions of Filipinos. This is not mere inconvenience as we observe the heat index hitting record highs; the...
OFF THE BEATEN PATH Can one day a week truly transform a city? In the heart of Manila, Makati is daring to experiment with car-free Sundays, an initiative that challenges ingrained habits and asks a crucial question: is our reliance on cars inevitable, or can we envision a future where streets...
OFF THE BEATEN PATH For too long, exercising our right to vote has been hampered by long lines, inconvenient schedules, and cumbersome processes. This discouraged participation, especially among busy individuals, marginalized communities, and those residing far from registration centers. Yesterday,...
OFF THE BEATEN PATH Coldplay in Manila, the air thrummed with a thousand beating hearts. Neon stars bathed the audience as Chris Martin’s voice soared, a British rock symphony echoing through the cavernous space. It was a cultural confluence, a dazzling spectacle not just of musical prowess, but...
OFF THE BEATEN PATH I will never fully comprehend the excuse, justification and absurdity of a supposed world-class airport that suffers from an eight-hour brown-out. Somehow, there is no explanation that makes remote sense no matter how it is spun and stretched to the limits of our imagination....
#ASKGOYO Atty. Gregorio Larrazabal Recently, there was a request sent by some legislators and stakeholders to COMELEC to extend the period for voter registration, which is scheduled to end September 30, 2021. I had posted on social media that it would be problematic for the Commission to extend...
#ASKGOYO Atty. Gregorio Larrazabal That’s been pretty much my attitude and mindset when it comes to COVID-19. It may sound weird and defeatist, but it actually helps me be better prepared and alert. Many eyebrows will probably be raised over why we should adopt the mindset that getting the virus...
#ASKGOYO Atty. Gregorio Larrazabal In one of the lectures I conducted last week, one participant had an interesting question. She started by describing the usual scenario in politics where voters have options but seem to be stuck with choosing, in her own words, “the lesser of two...
