Some 18 years ago, Umberto Eco (in The Name of the Rose, Foucault’s Pendulum ) echoed a sentiment of many great writers. He stressed that literature creates a sense of identity and community. In his book, On Literature, he said it is unimaginable for Italian to have evolved into the...
OF SUBSTANCE AND SPIRIT Diwa C. Guinigundo (Conclusion) Bad governance has to yield to good governance. The International Monetary Fund is now busy monitoring whether public officials are working for the best interest of their citizenries. Its thrust is to highlight transparency and disclosure...
OF SUBSTANCE AND SPIRIT Diwa C. Guinigundo (Part I) The coronavirus has created a synergy between macroeconomics and epidemiology which explains and predicts infection dynamics and public health containment strategies. This is why the IMF has categorized the pandemic as a crisis like no other. Only...
OF SUBSTANCE AND SPIRIT Diwa C. Guinigundo (Conclusion) How do we assess the three concerns of Fitch? So far, the government has been keeping to its broad policy framework that made our good economic situation of the last 20 years possible. Bayanihan 2 was passed by Congress and approved by the...
OF SUBSTANCE AND SPIRIT Diwa C. Guinigundo (Part I) Credit rating agencies (CRAs) are usually behind the curve. From the time of their on-site assessment and actual rating action, significant events such as market-moving policy reforms could come out of the legislative mill. Thus, the assigned...
Diwa C. Guinigundo OF SUBSTANCE AND SPIRIT In the 24 years that Boy Noriega created dramatic characters and plots, he was also engaged in economic planning and public policy. In government bureaucracy, then and now, patience, tenacity, and perseverance are prerequisites. Having worked for...
Diwa C. Guinigundo OF SUBSTANCE AND SPIRIT Boy Noriega was fulfilled as a literary person because writing drama was more demanding. The muse required him to exceed his imagination. Economics, on the other hand, to him was like a most understanding wife. “I am able to cope with the...
Diwa C. Guinigundo OF SUBSTANCE AND SPIRIT (First of three parts) A technocrat as a Filipino National Artist? In theater arts, and in the person of Bienvenido M. Noriega, Jr, why not? The Order of National Artist— Order ng Pambansang Alagad ng Sining — is awarded to individuals who have made...
OF SUBSTANCE AND SPIRIT Diwa C. Guinigundo In dealing with the pandemic and attempting economic recovery, the government has displayed very weak public communication. Information itself has been locked down. Of course, in social media, photos, even those that serve as “proof of life” or...
OF SUBSTANCE AND SPIRIT Diwa C. Guinigundo V ery recently, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra was quoted as saying that the IATF is alarmed by the country’s rising suicide rate. He urged religious leaders to help address this increase which is linked to the pandemic and the havoc it has...
OF SUBSTANCE AND SPIRIT Diwa C. Guinigundo T he President intimated that we are running on empty. “Wala ng pera.” The Government has no more funds even as the battle with COVID-19 continues to threaten Filipino lives and economic activities. It doesn’t help that new strains of the...
OF SUBSTANCE AND SPIRIT Diwa C. Guinigundo Hell has no fury like a virus that is tested but not traced. And from all indications, we have not seen the worst. Last Monday’s new cases stood at a high of 6,958 pushing the total confirmed cases to 136,638. We are now Southeast Asia’s COVID-19...
