PEACE-MAKER Jose de Venecia Jr. Former Speaker of the House We are saddened by the recent passing of our old family friend, spiritual adviser, and shepherd of the Roman Catholic flock in the archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan for 18 years, from 1991 to 2009, Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz. He was such...
FINDING ANSWERS Former Senator Atty. Joey Lina These are difficult times and the near future is beset with uncertainties as the coronavirus pandemic continues its rampage. Around 5.2 million Filipino families or 20.9 percent of the population found themselves with nothing to eat at least for once...
OF TREES AND FOREST Former Senate President Manny Villar It is the nature of great men and women that, long after they have died, their footprints remain embedded in the memories of their nation. Such is the case of Manuel L. Quezon whose 142nd birth anniversary we observed just last week. In fact,...
GOVERNANCE MATTERS Former Vice President Jejomar Binay I came across two recent developments that convey all too clearly the absence of harmony among the key agencies and institutions undertaking the crucial work of addressing the pandemic and its myriad effects on our economy and everyday life....
PEACE-MAKER Jose de Venecia Jr. Former Speaker of the House Following Malacanang’s renewed calls for unity and cooperation in the midst of continuing battle against the coronavirus, perhaps President Duterte may consider establishing some sort of a “Government of National Unity” by enlisting...
OF TREES AND FOREST One hundred twenty-two years ago, in the early evening of August 13, 2020, the American flag was raised over Fort Santiago marking the start of American colonization of the Philippines. This was preceded by the so-called “Mock Battle of Manila,” a charade of a skirmish...
GOVERNANCE MATTERS Former Vice President Jejomar Binay Since April, the government has been making discordant statements on its capacity to fund programs to control the coronavirus pandemic and revive the economy. The national leadership says the funds have run out. And until a vaccine arrives,...
FINDING ANSWERS Former Senator Atty. Joey Lina Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. It’s one of the longest words in the English language and it may mean something so wonderful and extremely good. Being so, one may relate it to the awaited coronavirus vaccine being developed — the long road...
PEACE-MAKER Russia’s discovery of a COVID-19 vaccine seems to provide light at the end of the pandemic tunnel. President Vladimir Putin has announced that the Russian-developed vaccine offers “sustainable immunity” against the coronavirus. He revealed that it was even administered on his...
GOVERNANCE MATTERS The government’s communications office has shared, on several media platforms, the contents of the National Action Plan (NAP) against COVID-19. The acronym could not have been badly done. But that is the least of my concerns. The NAP may be diplomatically described as ambitious...
OF TREES AND FOREST Do you remember how you learned about the concept of Bayanihan in elementary school? I clearly recall—just like very adult Filipinos who attended basic education in the country—that image of people in a community helping their neighbor relocate by literally...
FINDING ANSWERS Despite all the lockdowns and stringent measures already laid out, how come we have not flattened the curve of the coronavirus that continues to spread widely? I dare say the fault lies in enforcement. And I say this based on my experience tackling the SARS epidemic in 2003 when I...
