FINDING ANSWERS It is a triumph of the law and our criminal justice system. That’s what I said in my Facebook post on Oct. 1 when the guilty verdict was promulgated by the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 11 against 10 fraternity members of Aegis Juris for the 2017 hazing death of UST law...
PEACE-MAKER In February 2011, demonstrations broke out in the Libyan city of Benghazi, which eventually led to the tragic death of Muammar Gaddafi in October the same year at his hometown of Sirte, located between the capital Tripoli and Benghazi. This columnist is no stranger in Libya as we...
OF TREES AND FOREST Whenever I travel abroad, in Europe or anywhere in the world really, I am always amazed at how the other peoples of the world are crazy about football. It is regarded as the world’s most popular sport in the world with an estimated 3.5 billion fan base. One of the reasons for...
FINDING ANSWERS With today’s start of the eight-day period for filing of certificate of candidacy in the 2025 elections, let me call on Filipinos who are God-fearing, competent, compassionate, and with the right strategy to uplift our country, to offer themselves and run for elective posts. May I...
PEACE-MAKER Looking back on years spent in public office and the campaigns that shaped them is a mixture of nostalgia, lessons learned the hard way, a clearer understanding of the complexities of public service, and the joy of having contributed to nation-building. Political campaigns are...
OF TREES AND FOREST One of the proudest moments of my political career was being elected Senate President, first, during the latter part of the 13th Congress, and later at the beginning of the 14th Congress. It was truly an honor to be chosen by my esteemed colleagues to lead the upper chamber of...
FINDING ANSWERS Whether it’s less or more, evil is still evil. Unlike a choice between good and evil, being left with nothing else but an array of poisons can be quite challenging. But not making a choice might even make matters worse. The recent comment of Pope Francis that voters must choose...
PEACE-MAKER Our Philippine Embassy in Lebanon has called on some 11,000 Filipinos in the country to leave immediately, following the series of explosions in the capital Beirut, South Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley, resulting in about a dozen deaths and some 3,000 injuries. We remember visiting...
OF TREES AND FOREST The hardest part of any journey is the first step. This is true in every aspect of life: Your baby’s first step; your first bike ride without anyone helping you; your first date; your first day in school. It is terrifying simply because of our fear of the unknown and...
FINDING ANSWERS It’s National Peace Consciousness Month this September, a time to boost awareness of the need to strengthen and sustain peacebuilding as a cornerstone of national development, greater harmony and unity. Peace month in the Philippines aligns with the International Day of Peace on...
PEACE-MAKER Since we retired from public office and narrowed our international engagements, we have been spending more time in our congressional district, which includes our hometown Dagupan City and the towns of Manaoag, San Jacinto, Mangaldan, and San Fabian. We are now, however, more of an...
The Senate resolution honoring the life and legacy of former House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. has brought the name of this illustrious gentleman back to the news and opinion sections of media platforms. Hailed as a “towering figure in Philippine politics and governance” by Senator Loren...
