THE VIEW FROM RIZAL Before the end of December 2023, the research organization Social Weather Station released the results of a survey that said that almost all Filipinos are hopeful that 2024 is going to be a better year. According to the survey results, some 96 percent of the respondents said...
THE VIEW FROM RIZAL Last Dec. 30, 2023, the nation marked the 127th anniversary of the execution of Dr. Jose Rizal at what was then called “Bagumbayan.” At this time of the year, those among us who remain interested in and fascinated by his life and character usually reflect on two things....
THE VIEW FROM RIZAL How do I begin the year right? What resolutions should I make? A friend from college asked me this question at a Christmas gathering. The question made me recall a piece of advice I shared with our readers several years ago in this column. I recall that my wife used to ask me a...
THE VIEW FROM RIZAL In keeping with our tradition in this column, we are sharing once again the letter I wrote to my eldest daughter, Cassandra, in 2011. Our readers will recall that she was just three years old when I wrote her this letter. I published that letter and shared it with our readers in...
THE VIEW FROM RIZAL When news of the bombing incident which took place at the gymnasium of the Mindanao State University last Dec. 3 became viral in news and social media, a friend remarked: “How sad it is that people should get hurt and die while exercising their faith.” My friend’s remark...
THE VIEW FROM RIZAL Yes, there are Filipinos who are officially “knights.” They have been given the privilege of sporting the title of “sir” before their names and they did not even have to kneel before the King of England to be entitled to it. In a country like ours where honorific titles...
THE VIEW FROM RIZAL One of the unresolved “debates” in academic and historical circles – and even among ordinary Filipinos is this: who should be our national hero – Dr. Jose Rizal or Andres Bonifacio? Several scholarly writers who have tackled the subject matter have done us great service...
THE VIEW FROM RIZAL Since 2011, the Department of Education (DepEd) has been spearheading the country’s celebration of the National Reading Month. The celebration aims to inspire our youth to adopt and stick to the habit of reading. During this month, schools will be doing activities to get them...
THE VIEW FROM RIZAL Last week, the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) celebrated its 54th anniversary. It was a privilege to become part of the agency, having served as its general manager twice, although just for short periods. I was glad because the celebration focused on a body of water...
THE VIEW FROM RIZAL The recent plebiscite conducted in the province of Bulacan was an interesting sidelight in this year’s Barangay-Sangguniang Kabataang Barangay Elections (BSKE). In the plebiscite, Bulacan voters were asked whether or not they approved ratifying a proclamation signed by former...
THE VIEW FROM RIZAL When my eldest daughter was nine years old, she asked me this question: “Dad, why is there an All Saints Day?” I was not ready to answer that question. My mind raced back to my days in Marist School, hoping to recall what our teachers may have taught us in Religion class...
THE VIEW FROM RIZAL In the olden days, the barangay chairman was called barrio captain. Kapitan del Barrio, our elders used to call them. Much earlier, he was “tentyente del barrio” – the successor of the “cabeza de barangay.” His position must be so important that from Barrio Lieutenant,...
