To end its weeklong celebration for the second year anniversary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) Act, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has recognized exceptional program beneficiaries and local government units (LGUs) that served as model implementers. (From...
LANDSCAPE Gemma Cruz Araneta (Part II) Thanks to President Diosdado Macapagal, we no longer celebrate our Independence on the very same day that the USA does, July 4. Although June 12 seems more appropriate than July 4, it may not be as accurate as you may wish it to be. The Declaration of...
Landscape Gemma Cruz Araneta Since 1962, we Filipinos have been celebrating Independence Day on June 12. Before that, it used to be on July 4, a historical aberration corrected by President Diosdado Macapagal who said Filipinos, “… called the whole world to witness their powerful resolve...
Landscape Gemma Cruz Araneta In the winter of 1889, Filipino ilustrados in Madrid were alarmed that the Russian flu, first spotted in Bukhara, then in St. Petersburg, attacked Madrid with ferocity after only five days. Already, 6,180 deaths were reported and in Barcelona, 52,000 were infected with...
Landscape Gemma Cruz Araneta Seventy-eight frustrating years had passed since the promulgation of the 1812 Cadiz Constitution which stipulated that colonies and overseas possessions should be considered as provinces, integral parts of Spain, the metropolis. As provinces, these territories would be...
Cast of 'The Eternals' A new super powered group arises from the MCU. The official trailer for Marvel Studios dropped last night (May 24, Manila time) and we have our first full look at the new upcoming ensemble superhero film from Marvel. The Eternals “Is a group of immortals who have been on...
LANDSCAPE Gemma Cruz Araneta Time to foray into history: 31 May 1890, in the lead story of “La Solidaridad,” editor Marcelo. H. del Pilar (a.k.a. Plaridel ) argued the obvious. How can the Cortés (Spanish parliament) legislate in favor or against the Philippines without first-hand knowledge of...
LANDSCAPE Gemma Cruz Araneta The first electoral law of the Spanish empire, contained in the Decree of 29 January 1810, called for representatives from Las Islas Filipinas, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, Chile, Venezuela, in short, from all of Spain’s colonies in America and Asia to join the...
LANDSCAPE Gemma Cruz Araneta Who was Pi y Margall? There is a street in Sampaloc named after him and when last I saw the sign, the name was misspelled. Not even the City Administrator could tell whether Margall wasa famous or an obscure Spanish colonial official, or someone’s birth place in...
LANDSCAPE Gemma Cruz Araneta A UP professor friend sent me a photo of a burly band of youngish males, properly protected with surgical masks and face shields posing in front of the Maginhawa community pantry after depositing donations in kind. They were wearing tees of various colors and designs,...
LANDSCAPE Gemma Cruz Araneta I am convinced that the policeman who first set his eyes on that community pantry in Quezon City must be afflicted with terminal dyslexia. Upon seeing a handwritten sign saying “community pantry” he read “communist party” and was alarmed at the audacity of...
LANDSCAPE Gemma Cruz Araneta Or, when they think you are super annuated, so obsolete and defunct! By “they” I mean not only my grandchildren, grand nieces and nephews, but also my own children, even if they themselves will be senior citizens in less than a decade. I must look rather frail...
