PEACE-MAKER We are saddened by the killing of our kabalayen, Marjorette Garcia of San Jacinto, Pangasinan, who was an overseas Filipino worker in Saudi Arabia. It was a sad day not only for her loved ones but for the country. For Marjorette’s death is not just a personal tragedy, but a...
OF TREES AND FORESTS Last Sept. 28, 2023 I was invited by the Chamber of Real Estate & Builders' Association (CREBA) to be their keynote speaker during their National Convention & Housing Expo at the SMX Mall of Asia. I would like to thank its national president Mr. Noel “Toti” M....
FINDING ANSWERS A lifetime of heartaches has finally led to a euphoric explosion of national pride as Gilas Pilipinas captured the gold in the Asian Games. It was an exhilarating display of tenacity, passion, on-court wizardry, and never-ending hope as our national team pursued a dream that was...
PEACE-MAKER We in the 350-member ICAPP, the International Conference of Asian Political Parties, take pride in the recent achievements of our women colleagues – Khuon Sudary of Cambodia and Nalinee Taveesin of Thailand. Khuon Sudary, vice chairperson of our standing committee, ICAPP’s governing...
OF TREES AND FOREST That is the literal meaning of Pan Xenia — the name of my fraternity when I was studying at the University of the Philippines-Diliman. Its full name is Pan Xenia International Professional Foreign Trade Fraternity. I entered UP in 1966 and decided to take up Business...
FINDING ANSWERS Before the commemoration of National Teachers’ Month in the Philippines culminates this Thursday, Oct. 5, when World Teachers’ Day is observed across the globe, let me pay tribute to the special men and women who nurture young minds and develop a productive citizenry....
OF TREES AND FORESTS The traffic was horrible and I was stuck inside my car for what seemed like forever. I was looking outside and my mind was wandering when a familiar song suddenly played on the radio. “We skipped the light fandango” it began. It was A Whiter Shade of Pale which was released...
FINDING ANSWERS He certainly lived up to his name. For Filipinos who deeply value good governance and unrelenting political will, he was a true modern-day hero whose untimely demise last Friday shocked many of his admirers. I myself was shocked when I learned about the tragic accidental fall of...
OF TREES AND FORESTS One of the things that the Covid-19 pandemic and its attendant lockdowns deprived us of was our mobility. It severely limited our ability to get out of the house, go to work, meet our friends, run our errands and just basically get some fresh air. The pandemic also halted our...
PEACE-MAKER After many years in Philippine politics and in political party and parliamentary diplomacy in the international community, we have spent the last three years just observing political events and developments. We are heartened that our son, Congressman Christopher, has continued our and...
OF TREES AND FOREST A modern, efficient, and sustainable transport system is essential in the life of a metropolis. Population growth and urbanization have a tendency to choke modern cities that in turn reduce the quality of life of its residents. More people are leaving their rural hometowns and...
FINDING ANSWERS With the average Filipino being a voracious rice eater, consuming almost one-third kilo of the staple daily, there’s no doubt that rice is the most basic of all food items needed to survive. So basic indeed that before price control took effect on Sept. 5, the scarcity of rice...
