PEACE-MAKER The Thai parliament hosted last week in Bangkok the second meeting of the ICAPP Business Council, an affiliate group under the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP). The ICAPP Business Council was established to promote and facilitate potential business...
BETTER DAYS For many people in countries like the Philippines where a judge decides a court case, getting to know how a jury goes about its work and reaches its conclusion can be fascinating. Although just like that of a judge, the verdict of a jury can save lives or destroy the future of the...
PEACE-MAKER We were elected congressman of Pangasinan for the first time in 1969, at the age of 32, after serving as presidential assistant and economic minister and press counselor at the Philippine Embassy in Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh) from 1966 to 1969. Among our colleagues in the Seventh...
OF TREES AND FOREST The recent political rigodón in the Senate brought back memories from my time as a legislator. As my readers probably know, beginning 1992 I was a member of the House of Representatives, later on becoming its speaker. I was also fortunate to have been given the mandate...
FINDING ANSWERS All Saturdays this May were devoted by the Children’s First One Thousand Days Coalition (CFDC) to train different batches of trainers who, in turn, will train those in government and non-government organizations (NGOs) on how to go about fighting malnutrition among Filipino...
PEACE-MAKER Last week, our old friends Dr. Charles Yang of South Korea and Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister Ek Nath Dhakal of Nepal, international chairman and Asia Pacific chairman, respectively, of the New York- and Seoul-based Universal Peace Federation (UPF) visited us in our home....
OF TREES AND FOREST When I was still in the legislature, one of the advantages of being a public servant (and this was especially true during the electoral campaigns) was the opportunity to visit the beautiful towns and cities of the Philippines. When I was a child I only saw the...
FINDING ANSWERS Last week’s passage on third and final reading of House Bill (HB) 10079 authored by Bulacan Representative Salvador Pleyto is a welcome development that has long been awaited. It’s a step closer to improving the midwifery profession in the country which, in turn, would hopefully...
PEACE-MAKER The ICAPP Business Council (IBC), an affiliated body under the 352-strong International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP), will hold its second meeting in Bangkok next week, May 27 to 30, and will be hosted by the ruling Pheu Thai Party of Thailand. The IBC was...
OF TREES AND FOREST The world is shaped by mothers. That is why we celebrate Mother’s Day and that is the same reason why we should not confine celebrating mothers to one day. Everyday should be Mother’s Day. I was once asked a question — what was it in your childhood that made you the...
FINDING ANSWERS At the inaugural of the Kapihan sa Manila Prince Hotel we hosted last week with former Press Secretary Sonny Coloma, the topic focused on the issue of political dynasties that has dominated our political landscape in the past 37 years despite being banned by the 1987 Constitution....
PEACE-MAKER As we honor mothers worldwide this Mother’s Day, it is essential to extend our tribute beyond the traditional roles of motherhood to encompass the extraordinary women who lead nations with vision, grace, and strength. These women, often called “mother” of their countries,...
