OF TREES AND FOREST *(Part 1)* The 2022 Fourth Quarter Social Weather Survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations revealed some very interesting information about Philippine democracy and how people view democracy. Let me go through the results first before offering my insights. The survey,...
OF TREES AND FORESTS One of the reasons why I love to travel is that it expands our perspectives. By seeing other places, experiencing other cultures, and, living — even for a brief moment — another way of life, we are able to compare our situation with that of other countries. Comparison...
OF TREES AND FORESTS Mount Pamitinan is a popular destination for hikers and adventurous travelers. It is located in Sitio Wawa, Rodriguez, Rizal and has a height of almost 1,400 feet above sea level. Hiking has never been my thing. I have always been a laidback, sit-in-a-cafe,...
One day I was in between meetings and was sitting by myself drinking coffee and just watching people walk by the Coffee Project branch I was in. I was elated by the high volume of people entering the mall to eat, shop or just wander around. And I started thinking how blessed we are for surviving the...
OF TREES AND FORESTS I was extremely happy and proud when I found out that Coffee Project was cited as one of the best Instagrammable cafes in the world for 2023. The honor was given by Big 7 Travel, an online platform that provides “current, curated recommendations on “where to go and what to...
Real estate tycoon and billionaire, Manny Villar, was conferred the prestigious Accountancy Centenary Award of Excellence in recognition of his integrity and vital contributions to the development of the accounting profession in the Philippines. This distinct honor was given to Villar as one of...
OF TREES AND FORESTS Many know me as a public servant and an entrepreneur. I spent 21 years of my life in government serving both as Senate President and Speaker of Representatives, accomplishments which I am extremely proud of. And I have been an entrepreneur all my life — starting with the time...
OF TREES AND FOREST Jeepneys are not just utilitarian modes of transportation for Filipinos. It is that, yes. They offer an affordable mode of transportation for students, workers and the general population that also supports the livelihood of thousands of drivers and independent operators. Back in...
OF TREES AND FOREST Former Senate President Manny Villar Have you ever taken a vacation in a place that is rural, rustic and very provincial? You wake up to the crowing of the rooster, you have freshly opened coconut juice for breakfast, and you just lounge around all day in a place where time...
OF TREES AND FORESTS Former Senate President Manny Villar I am deeply saddened by the devastation caused by the strong earthquake that hit Türkiye and Syria. As I write this column, the death toll has already passed 28,000 per the report of the BBC. The death toll regrettably includes two...
OF TREES AND FORESTS Former Senate President Manny Villar Being president is a complex and difficult job. The President has a multitude of responsibilities. He is the Chief Executive in that he overseas the entire bureaucracy of the Philippine government. He is the foremost architect of our foreign...
OF TREES AND FOREST Former Senate President Manny Villar We are back. The Philippine economy beat expectations by recording a spectacular growth of 7.2 percent in the last quarter of 2022. This in turn contributed to a 7.6 percent growth for the whole year. This was nothing short of astounding in...
