A congratulatory message from Bianca Manalo to her former partner, Sen. Win Gatchalian, after his election as Senate President drew mixed reactions from netizens, with online discussions focusing more on interpreting the post than the political development itself. In her Instagram Stories, Manalo...
Top officials of the House of Representatives have welcomed on Wednesday morning, June 17 the formal election of Senator Sherwin Gatchalian as Senate President, with the ranking solons expressing faith in the latter 's steady hand as leader. House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III...
OF TREES AND FOREST I think I was on my way to a meeting—this was a while ago—when I happened to pass by a new sari-sari store being coated with fresh blue paint and bearing the logo of a popular soft-drink maker. Through the open door, I could see a couple of women arranging canned goods with...
Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Ejercito Estrada on Thursday, June 4, questioned the validity of the quorum used during the Senate session that led to the election of Senator Sherwin Gatchalian as Senate President Pro Tempore, insisting that the chamber should still count all 24 senators in determining...
Ranking House of Representatives members view as a positive development the latest upheaval at the Senate--which has led to the installation of Senator Sherwin Gatchalian as Acting Senate President. Leading Gatchalian 's well-wishers in the lower chamber was none other than House Speaker...
The influential Makati Business Club (MBC) and the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) called on the Senate to remain non-partisan in the upcoming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, warning that pursuing political interests could further damage public trust in the...
OF TREES AND FOREST It is saddening to read reports that two foreign tourists assaulted the owners of a local business in Siargao after seeing a pro-Palestinian flag outside the shop. The foreigners allegedly threw rocks at the storefront and destroyed a nearby CCTV camera. The local community...
OF TREES AND FOREST In 1992, I reluctantly decided to run for the lone congressional seat in the then-district of Las Piñas-Muntinlupa. My introduction to politics came when my father-in-law, Congressman Filemon Celestino Aguilar, fell ill. As the May 1992 elections neared, people were busy...
The Senate formally honored BINI on Wednesday, May 6, after adopting a resolution recognizing the group’s historic appearance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in California last month. During the plenary session, senators welcomed the eight-member P-pop act as they approved Senate...
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson on Wednesday, May 6, said more pieces of evidence may be submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman as part of an ongoing inquiry into alleged irregularities in public works projects. Lacson disclosed that aside from previously discussed matters,...
Senator Rodante Marcoleta on Tuesday, May 5, reiterated anew why he decided not to sign the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee 's partial committee report, which he called “unfinished” and lacking collective judgment. In a manifestation, Marcoleta asked if Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo...
Amid heated discussions around the Senate Blue Ribbon panel’s partial committee report on Tuesday, May 5, an unexpected offer of praise was made by Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III to Senator Erwin Tulfo for his grasp of parliamentary procedure. This was after Tulfo stated that he...
