OF TREES AND FOREST Why do we celebrate the new year? Why do we go through all the trouble of going back home to the provinces or gathering everyone around the dinner table before the clock strikes midnight? There is a psychological importance to bidding goodbye to the old year and to welcoming a...
FINDING ANSWERS It’s New Year’s Eve, a time to be very hopeful of the coming year. But for those who are so worried of the unknown, who sense danger in the darkness ahead, the following would bring solace. “And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: ‘Give me light that I may...
PEACE-MAKER As we marked our 88th birthday last Dec. 26, 2024, we found ourself reflecting on a life spent in the service of our nation and the greater cause of peace in the world. It has been 60 years since we first entered public life, a journey filled with victories and defeats, successes and...
OF TREES AND FOREST (Second of two parts) One of my staff asked me recently: “Sir, what was your Christmas like when you were growing up 25 in Tondo?” I do not know why but my memory immediately took me back to Mary Johnston. Mary Johnston Hospital (MJH), run by the United Methodist Church, is...
FINDING ANSWERS It’s now Christmas Eve and most people, whether Christians or non-Christians, can be so immersed in celebrating the most joyous time of the year when abundance of love and generosity binds humanity. At the heart of the worldwide celebration lies the birth of our Savior Jesus...
PEACE-MAKER Our nation stands at a crossroads. We are being torn apart, not by external threats, but by internal discord. The acrimonious exchanges, heightened tensions, and political conflicts among our leaders are polarizing our country to an alarming degree. This relentless bickering is...
OF TREES AND FOREST (First of two parts) You hear a lot of people say that Christmas is only for children. Christmas is indeed for children. First, the season is about the birth of child Jesus, our Lord. Second, it is simply wonderful to see the pure and unadulterated happiness in the eyes of...
FINDING ANSWERS The elevation of Pablo Virgilio David to the rank of cardinal is certainly appropriate for a towering figure whose legacy of courage ought to inspire admiration and pride among the Filipino faithful. In the rich tapestry of Catholicism, his name now shines brightly as he was among...
PEACE-MAKER The overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad has marked a pivotal moment in Syria’s tumultuous history, ending over five decades of authoritarian rule. This transition presents both profound challenges and opportunities for the Syrian people and the international community. The...
OF TREES AND FOREST The American industrialist Henry Ford once said, “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at 20 or 80. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.” We cannot stop learning once we step out of the university or once we reach a certain age. And it is not just about learning...
FINDING ANSWERS Despite public outcry and reform efforts, corruption remains a big problem in the Philippines. From petty bribery to large-scale plunder of public funds, pervasive corruption has defied solution for decades. Our country still ranks among the corruption-plagued in the world,...
PEACE-MAKER Our wife Gina and we recently visited Bangkok, a city that holds a special place in our career as five-time Speaker of the House of Representatives and in our modest foray into parliamentary and political party diplomacy in Asia and the global community. During our trip, we met...
