OFF THE BEATEN PATH I am writing this column from Washington DC, where I’m an official observer of the US Presidential Elections, participating in the IFES US Election Program. This will be the third US elections I’m officially observing. Through the years, I’ve noticed a...
THE VIEW FROM RIZAL Last year, we noted the appearance of several articles in the World Wide Web that were critical of the idea of the Filipinos’ remarkable quality of resilience. They were written mostly by younger members of the millennial generation. We understood their objection to what they...
REFLECTIONS TODAY What Jesus demands in today’s Gospel is radical following of him by placing him at the top of our priorities. Thus, the surprising injunction to “hate” one’s family members when following Jesus has to be understood in this light. Surely, it is not actual hating them...
The Senate has retained the proposed P733-million budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) that the House of Representatives earlier approved in its version of the 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB). Senator Grace Poe, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance,...
The Department of Energy (DOE) along with the Landbank of the Philippines have inked a deal that allows the efficient use of funds that would support host communities, specifically those under the Energy Regulations 1-94 (ER 1-94) Program. The ER 1-94 was made to ensure communities get a reasonable...
Mason Amos buried five triples and helped power La Salle to an 82-71 win over University of the Philippines and into the semis of the PGFlex Linoleum Invitational Tournament on Monday, Nov. 4, at the Paco Arena in Manila. Showing why he was added to the Gilas Pilipinas pool last year, the...
Cebu is fast becoming an emerging force in the Philippine cacao industry since its rich soil and warm climate are ideal for the cultivation of the cacao tree whose seeds are used to make chocolate. As the premier province of Central Visayas, Cebu is benefiting from the global and local demand for...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Saying “yes” to invitations seems to be a matter of course for most of us. After all, who does not want to be invited, especially to significant events like the wedding of a friend’s son or daughter? And yet, it may also be true that we give priority to other things...
UNDER THE MICROSCOPE It was with some hesitation that I accepted an invitation to fly to China, specifically Guangxi province, for the First Bonsai Clubs International (BCI) Landscape Bonsai International Convention, knowing the growing tension that continues to fester between China and the...
K-pop group The Boyz and Yeonjun, member of Tomorrow X Together, copped the first two places in the weekly album chart in South Korea. Korea’s Hanteo Chart released the weekly album chart for the period Oct 28 to Nov. 3. The albums were ranked based on Hanteo’s proprietary physical...
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (left) confers on Philippine Navy (PN) Seaman First Class Underwater Operator Jeffrey Facundo the Order of Lapu-Lapu Rank of Kampilan in a ceremony at the Western Command headquarters, Camp General Artemio Ricarte in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan on June 23, 2024,...
Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Monday, November 4 called for the responsible use of protocol plates after a sports utility vehicle (SUV) with plate number 7 was caught using the EDSA busway and tried to run over an enforcer of the Department of Transportation (DOTr). ...
