PEACE-MAKER As our modest way of honoring the memory of Pope Francis, we are reprinting part of our column dated March 17, 2021, ‘Pope Francis’ journey in Iraq; the 1990 earthquake in Pangasinan and pioneering in the Middle East’: “We join Roman Catholics around the world in praying...
PEACE-MAKER Today, as Christendom celebrates the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are once again reminded that hope triumphs over despair, light over darkness, and peace over conflict. Yet even as churches across our country echo with joyful proclamations of “He is risen!”,we...
PEACE-MAKER As the political campaign heats up, we are once again seeing the country gripped by division, mudslinging, and personal attacks. The atmosphere has become toxic — full of noise, anger, and venom. This is not what our democracy should be about. Healthy debate and differences of...
PEACE-MAKER The recent 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar and Thailand has shaken Southeast Asia to its core. With over 1,600 lives lost and many more injured or missing, it has become a heartbreaking reminder of nature’s fury and of our shared vulnerability. In Mandalay,...
PEACE-MAKER As speaker of the House of Representatives and in the course of our modest foray in parliamentary and political party diplomacy, we have had the privilege of meeting UN Secretaries-General U Thant, Javier Perez de Cuellar, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Kofi Anan, and Ban Ki-moon — all men of...
PEACE-MAKER March marks a significant milestone for women across Asia and the international community as it is celebrated as the National Women’s Month. The occasion serves not only to recognize the achievements and contributions of women but also to reflect on the issues and...
PEACE-MAKER Once again, our country finds itself grappling with unbearable heat as summer temperatures soar to alarming levels. Several areas in the Philippines are experiencing extreme heat indices, prompting the Department of Education and various local government units to suspend classes...
PEACE-MAKER As our wife Gina and we embark on our current visit in Japan, we are enveloped by a profound sense of nostalgia. This beautiful country, with its harmonious blend of tradition and modernity, has been the backdrop to numerous pivotal moments in our public service career. During...
FINDING ANSWERS For young Filipinos not yet born in 1986 and who now comprise half of our country’s population of around 115 million, let me give you a glimpse of the first-ever People Power Revolution the Philippines commemorates today. A shining period it certainly was in our nation’s...
PEACE-MAKER In her column, Driving Thoughts, titled “Let’s plant 3 million trees!,” last Feb. 20, our esteemed executive editor and columnist of this paper, Pinky Concha-Colmenares, talked about the program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), called...
PEACE-MAKER Yesterday, Feb. 15, the love of our life and the pillar of our family – Gina — marked her 76th birthday. We are filled with gratitude for the life of a remarkable woman whose strength, grace, and compassion have touched countless lives, including our own. Gina is our...
PEACE-MAKER The Manila Bulletin marks its 125th founding anniversary this year, a monumental milestone for an institution that has steadfastly chronicled the events and developments that have shaped Philippine history. For over a century, this newspaper has been a witness and a chronicler of...