OFF THE BEATEN PATH For too long, exercising our right to vote has been hampered by long lines, inconvenient schedules, and cumbersome processes. This discouraged participation, especially among busy individuals, marginalized communities, and those residing far from registration centers. Yesterday,...
OFF THE BEATEN PATH Coldplay in Manila, the air thrummed with a thousand beating hearts. Neon stars bathed the audience as Chris Martin’s voice soared, a British rock symphony echoing through the cavernous space. It was a cultural confluence, a dazzling spectacle not just of musical prowess, but...
OFF THE BEATEN PATH The question of modernization is not "if," but "when." It is an irrefutable necessity, not just for efficiency and cleaner air, but for the very sustainability of our communities. Yet, like passengers crammed into a jeepney itself, opinions on "how" to navigate this journey...
OFF THE BEATEN PATH Two days ago, we ushered in a new year, with a majority of Filipinos expressing hope for a better year ahead. While some experienced a great 2023, there were those who were only too happy to have survived 2023 for a number of reasons. Financial difficulties, work and...
OFF THE BEATEN PATH Last weekend, several cities in the Philippines celebrated World Bicycle Day by having events with cyclists. This is a very welcome development, which I hope provides a push in the right direction with encouraging more people to get into cycling again. During the pandemic, there...
OFF THE BEATEN PATH Last Monday, Filipinos trooped to voting centers all over the Philippines to cast their votes in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE). With bated breath, candidates from 42,000 barangays waited for the final vote to be cast, hoping that their campaign days...
OFF THE BEATEN PATH BSKE, otherwise known as the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan election may not be as headline-grabbing as the mid-term or presidential races but it is no less contentious or controversial, with local candidates, often friends or neighbors, running against one other. It can turn...
OFF THE BEATEN PATH Last Sept. 28, I took off for a birthday weekend drive to the Visayas. I needed to transport a vehicle to the Visayas, in preparation for a drive to Western Mindanao later in November. I took the opportunity also to talk with some friends, so I would play some music while...
OFF THE BEATEN PATH Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez issued an ultimatum to Office of Transport Security (OTS) Administrator Mao Aplasca to resign before the House of Representatives tackles the agency’s proposed budget or he will personally block it. I cheered, for the tourist whose $300...
OFF THE BEATEN PATH 1,414,487 million people submitted their certificates of candidacy (COC) ahead of the 2023 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) on Oct. 30. 672,432 seats are up for grabs, including barangay chairperson, sangguniang barangay members, sangguniang...
OFF THE BEATEN PATH When asked to pick my top five choices from León Gallery’s The Magnificent September Auction happening on Sept. 9, I found myself literally stumped because I am no art expert, just an eager afficionado whose only claim to a “collection” is an HR Ocampo “Mother...
OFF THE BEATEN PATH He was dismissed from service. Without any doubt, Wilfredo Gonzales should be the PNP’s poster boy of what a gun owner shouldn’t be. But to our great surprise and disbelief, he surrendered three guns allegedly in his possession. What begs to be asked is this – how...
