Opinion
Consider the reality of a Filipino family living in a structure that has weathered decades of storms and seismic activity. While the land is theirs, the dwelling itself is deteriorating, unsafe, and inadequate for a growing household. They dream of a better home, yet the soaring costs of real estate—where price growth has consistently outpaced…
Former Chairman and Administrator of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), Roberto V. Garcia, is widely credited with transforming the Subic Bay Freeport from a struggling agency into a profitable, vibrant economic zone during his tenure from 2011 to 2016. Appointed by President Benigno Aquino III, Garcia inherited an agency plagued by financial difficulties, low…
There are really two republics in the Philippines. The first is the one written in the Constitution. It is displayed in government buildings, mentioned in speeches, and repeated during every State of the Nation Address. This is the formal Republic, with its agencies, departments, policies, plans, and promises. The second republic is the one Filipinos…
If you start to believe the hype about yourself, then you start to lose the bigger picture, and your focus is in the wrong place.—English musician Justin Chancellor The clay-court season has been harsh for Filipina tennis sensation Alexandra “Alex” Eala, with just four wins to show across five tournaments played. And like the rest…
“Mankind must put an end to war, or war will put an end to mankind.”—John F. Kennedy —o0o— Days after US President Donald Trump ended his visit to China with scores of American tycoons and billionaires in tow, it was Russia President Vladimir Putin’s turn to touch down at the Beijing International Airport on May…
If countries were renamed based on what their citizens experience most, perhaps the Philippines would no longer be called the Republic of the Philippines. Perhaps it would be more honest to call it the Republika ng Pangako. Every administration arrives with a new slogan, a new roadmap, and a new set of grand declarations meant…
BEHIND THE SENATE SHAKE-UP It is truly a marvel of modern political theater to watch observers dissect every shift in our legislature as if witnessing something entirely new and unprecedented. Every time the gavel changes hands in the Senate, commentators rush to their microphones, sounding as though they are defending a wronged leader or denouncing…
People who bite the hand that feeds them usually lick the boot that kicks them. — American philosopher and social critic Eric Hoffer Questions have now been raised as to why and how arrested volunteer driver Mel Oragon was in possession of a firearm when National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents entered the Senate premises…
This issue came up in a recent conversation with Congressman Bonifacio Bosita, whose long advocacy for transport workers continues to surface a hard reality on Philippine roads: drivers are being punished for violations rooted not in their own actions, but in failures beyond their control. Imagine a bus driver. Four in the morning. Same route…
Located in the northern part of Luzon, in the province of Zambales, San Antonio has attracted growing interest because of its large reserve of hydrogen gas. The discovery of this reserve presents great potential for transforming both the local economy and the overall energy landscape of the Philippines. Unlike traditional fossil fuels, hydrogen represents a…