PAGBABAGO Yesterday was the 31st anniversary of the declaration of press freedom by the United Nations. At the beginning, the annual themes focused on violence perpetrated on journalists. The Philippines, having been for several years “one of the most dangerous countries for journalists according...
PAGBABAGO My column, “Letting go” where I described my efforts to whittle down my earthly belongings elicited more comments than previous pieces. I suppose people within my age and social group empathize with my attempt to re-organize my life by decluttering – either by selling or...
PAGBABAGO This title was suggested by a friend after I told her that I was almost at the end of a task that many seniors had to face – letting go of possessions that had been accumulated over the years. Actually “letting go” started six years ago when I moved from an old house...
PAGBABAGO As we reflect on the lives of our national heroes who had fought against oppression and tyranny to enable us to enjoy our freedoms today, we had forgotten a large sector in our society which had toiled and struggled to enable us to enjoy freedom of food security – our farmers and...
PAGBABAGO The main message of the resurrection is hope – hope that we can do something to improve our “material world” and to alleviate its present condition. Studies show that the primary concerns of our people focus on their economic and personal wellbeing – freedom from hunger and...
PAGBABAGO Our friend, Dr. Ciel Habito, in his recent column, aptly captured the various ways our middle class demographic profile group spends the four days of the Lenten season. Like taking the family out to a beach in or out of the country. And preparation for the season starting with the...
PAGBABAGO A big stride that would benefit senior citizens is the bill that Albay Rep. Salceda and the House Joint committee on senior citizens and ways had approved recently – expanding senior and PWD discounts by 20 percent on promotional items and services. They will also enjoy a 15...
PAGBABAGO It seems that our legislators are in a rush to change the “restrictive” economic provisions in the Constitution. The primary reason given is that we are not attracting enough foreign direct investment But two senators, Senators Grace Poe and Risa Hontiveros as well as former...
PAGBABAGO On International Women’s Day which we celebrated yesterday, we were heartened to learn that the Philippines is still deemed the most gender-equal country in Asia, according to the World Economic Global Gender Gap Index. It is second best in educational attainment and worst in political...
PAGBABAGO Sonny’s passing a few days ago came as a shock to the literary circle in Pangasinan, his friends and admirers in the country and other parts of the world. He was a leader in the movement to revive Pangasinan as a literary language. At 53, his rise to become...
PAGBABAGO A growing concern today is the plight of journalists who work under difficult circumstances. They not only have to fortify themselves with new knowledge and skills to be able to function effectively and protect themselves from various forms of threats. Especially in places like the...
PAGBABAGO At the second hearing conducted last Monday, Feb. 12, by the Senate subcommittee on Constitutional Amendments chaired by Senator Juan Edgardo Angara, we (Dr. Bernardo Villegas, Atty. Rene Sarmiento and myself, framers of the 1987 Constitution), were requested to share...
