PEACE-MAKER Jose de Venecia Jr. Former Speaker of the House Tensions in the South China Sea have once again escalated in the midst of the recent heated exchanges between the United States and China. The two countries recently conducted their respective military exercises in the South China Sea. It...
OF TREES AND FOREST Former Senate President Manny Villar Ironically, the piece of legislation providing for the celebration of National Heroes Day — Republic Act No. 3827, passed by the Philippine Legislature on October 28, 1931 — did not specify any particular hero. And so while we have days...
GOVERNANCE MATTERS Former Vice President Jejomar Binay Last week, Congress received from the Executive the proposed budget for 2021 totalling P4.5-trillion. The budget reflects government’s optimism that the economy will be able to rebound from the recession triggered by the extended lockdown...
FINDING ANSWERS Former Senator Atty. Joey Lina Will the United States of America break up into a white and colored country? Now, more than ever, the degree of divisiveness is getting clearer. Eventually, as the polarization sharpens, the conservatives in the US will not act on the deep-seated issue...
PEACE-MAKER Jose de Venecia Jr. Former Speaker of the House We are saddened by the recent passing of our old family friend, spiritual adviser, and shepherd of the Roman Catholic flock in the archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan for 18 years, from 1991 to 2009, Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz. He was such...
FINDING ANSWERS Former Senator Atty. Joey Lina These are difficult times and the near future is beset with uncertainties as the coronavirus pandemic continues its rampage. Around 5.2 million Filipino families or 20.9 percent of the population found themselves with nothing to eat at least for once...
OF TREES AND FOREST Former Senate President Manny Villar It is the nature of great men and women that, long after they have died, their footprints remain embedded in the memories of their nation. Such is the case of Manuel L. Quezon whose 142nd birth anniversary we observed just last week. In fact,...
GOVERNANCE MATTERS Former Vice President Jejomar Binay I came across two recent developments that convey all too clearly the absence of harmony among the key agencies and institutions undertaking the crucial work of addressing the pandemic and its myriad effects on our economy and everyday life....
PEACE-MAKER Jose de Venecia Jr. Former Speaker of the House Following Malacanang’s renewed calls for unity and cooperation in the midst of continuing battle against the coronavirus, perhaps President Duterte may consider establishing some sort of a “Government of National Unity” by enlisting...
OF TREES AND FOREST One hundred twenty-two years ago, in the early evening of August 13, 2020, the American flag was raised over Fort Santiago marking the start of American colonization of the Philippines. This was preceded by the so-called “Mock Battle of Manila,” a charade of a skirmish...
GOVERNANCE MATTERS Former Vice President Jejomar Binay Since April, the government has been making discordant statements on its capacity to fund programs to control the coronavirus pandemic and revive the economy. The national leadership says the funds have run out. And until a vaccine arrives,...
FINDING ANSWERS Former Senator Atty. Joey Lina Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. It’s one of the longest words in the English language and it may mean something so wonderful and extremely good. Being so, one may relate it to the awaited coronavirus vaccine being developed — the long road...
