OF TREES AND FOREST Former Senate President Manny Villar As the election campaign nears, a lot of people have been asking me who I am voting for in the May national elections. I do not have an answer for that question right now but there is a question that I think is equally important—what kind...
OF TREES AND FOREST Former Senate President Manny Villar I know our nation is currently faced with a tremendous challenge. The COVID-19 pandemic has been ravaging our lives and our economy for close to two years now. Individually, people are confronted with the daily grind of making sure they can...
OF TREES AND FOREST Former Senate President Manny Villar Let me start by greeting everyone a very Happy New Year. I hope everyone had a nice and safe holiday break with loved ones and family. And I hope all of us are recharged to face the challenges of the new year. Let us make 2022 a rebound year....
President Duterte and Senate President Vicente Sotto III got high approval ratings in the recently conducted survey by Pulse Asia on the performance ratings of top government officials. President Rodrigo Duterte and Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III. (MANILA BULLETIN/Malacañang/Senate...
NIGHT OWL Anna Mae Lamentillo There’s a popular saying that goes, “When a door closes, another one opens.” Such is not the case for the richest man in the Philippines, real estate tycoon and former Senate President Manny B. Villar. He does not wait for another door to open, he builds his own...
OF TREES AND FOREST Former Senate President Manny Villar This has been a year of rebounds. We have survived periodic surges of the coronavirus and the ineffectual hard lockdowns that followed increases in daily infection rates. We have survived the loss of jobs and the economic downturn. Not only...
OF TREES AND FOREST Former Senate President Manny Villar It’s heartbreaking to see the devastation brought about by typhoon “Odette.” According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the reported death toll has risen to 31. This is expected to increase as...
The sheer volume of smuggled and misdeclared fruits flooding the country’s wet markets has reached alarming proportions, Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda has stated. Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda2 Salceda, chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Made, expressed dismay over the unabated...
All 82 provinces should expect a minimum additional national government allocation of P1 billion each for their development and livelihood projects, Partido Reporma chairman and standard bearer Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson and running mate Senate Vicente “Tito” Sotto vowed if they win in the...
OF TREES AND FOREST Former Senate President Manny Villar Our people deserve a Happy Christmas this year. After prolonged lockdowns, anxiety about their jobs and their future, Filipinos deserve to celebrate this coming holidays with a sense of normalcy and, of course, cautious celebration. And you...
The adamant stand of several senators against the grant of a legislative franchise to internet gambling via cockfighting won praises from lawmakers opposed to the franchise applications. Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano2 Led by former Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, congressmen lauded Senator Grace Poe,...
Partido Reporma presidential aspirant Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson is the country’s only hope of getting a “servant leader” who will lead by example and dedicate himself in serving people with sincerity and utmost integrity. Vice Mayor Giancarlo Sotto Quezon City Vice Mayor Gian Carlo...