THE Philippines is a country of varied traditions, and practices, unique rituals, and profound beliefs. Epics and legends, sayings, songs and dances are the expressions of these varied ways of life found in our country.

ONCE again, the President has demonstrated that she is not only a national leader but also an international leader whom her peers listen to.

I WAS taught in my younger days to like what I got since I couldn’t get what I liked, the corollary to which is that if I couldn’t get more, I should be content with less. This prepared me for government’s "Buddhist" — not necessarily "voodoo" — economics.

AS a minimum wage increase is assured, thanks to the rising prices of practically every good and service, a Business World article on the high ratio of "informal sector workers" makes one wonder how many are to enjoy the wage increase.

THE three rig drivers (kutsero) con-trolled the whole transportation system of the barrio with their three horse-drawn rigs (kalesa).

ERAP’s trust rating higher than that of GMA. But of what use is it if he’s living in a gilded cage while she is safely ensconced in Malacañang?

IT was an exciting week last week. It brought forth historic and memorable statements, some of which are shortened here for emphasis. And, as in the past, they are punctuated by our side comments.

WHEN the name of the newly elected pope was announced (Habemus papam…), many were happy but many were also disappointed.

CALLS for stability and growth in various areas of life have reverberated lately both domestically and internationally.

(Inspirational talk of Dr. Helena Z. Benitez, Chairperson, Philippine Home Economics Foundation, at the World Home Economics Day Symposium, March 19, 2005, Conrado Benitez Hall, The Philippine Women’s University.)

JESUS said to the eleven, "Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents [with their hands], and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

IN thanksgiving to the good Lord for giving the Catholic Church a new shepherd in the person of Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, now His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila commemorates Pope’s Day today.

THE hunt’s afoot, said Sherlock Holmes, except that the hunt is for the anonymous high-ranking PNP officer who told media that three (only three?) relatives of high officials profit from jueteng. They also dictate the appointment and assignment of provincial commanders.

AS responsible citizens we are called upon to have the strength of character and to speak out as well as work hard for the good of our country.

WHILE we rally behind battered wives, no one has come out in defense of maltreated husbands. Perhaps it is because very few suffer physical abuse and have no wounds, bruises, and scars to show. In fact, in my friendship roster, there are only two physically battered husbands — a burly American-Vietnam war veteran married to a willowy Pinay mestiza and a handsome Frenchman espoused to a petite but ferocious Mexican. Maybe I should include this other Mexican whose fiancee smashed the windows of his new car with a baseball bat after he broke off the engagement.

THE Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) conference came and went in Manila with no official discussion of the Myanmar problem (The most critical question is not on the IPU agenda, 4/7/05). But even more surprisingly, the informal "retreat" of ASEAN foreign ministers that followed in Cebu hosted by Foreign Secretary Bert Romulo also concluded its two-day session without reaching an official position on Myanmar. The problem, if the reader will recall, is that Myanmar is due to take the rotating chairmanship of ASEAN in 2006, and chair the summit in Yangon but it has not lived up to its promised reforms and is being pressured by the US, the European Union (EU), the IPU, the United Nations (UN), and the Philippine Congress to withdraw.

THE United Republic of Tanzania celebrates its National Day today. This country is located in southeastern Africa, bounded on the north by Kenya and Uganda, on the east by the Indian Ocean, on the south by Mozambique, Malawi, and Zambia, and on the west by Zaire, Burundi, and Rwanda. The country includes the island of Zanzibar and Pemba and other offshore islands on the Indian Ocean, making it the biggest country in East Africa.

THE local Civil Registrar is responsible for the civil registration program in the local government unit concerned, pursuant to the Civil Registry Law, the Civil Code, and other pertinent laws, rules and regulations issued to implement them. The Civil Registrar maintains and updates records of births, deaths, marriages, and status of persons in the local government unit and issues the corresponding certifications. With recent changes in the law, Republic Act No. 9048, Civil Registrars are now empowered to change or correct clerical or typographical errors and effect changes of first names or nicknames in accordance with the provision of the law. Aside from the expanded functions, many civil registrars now apply advanced information systems to record, retrieve, and issue civil registration information. With the help of national government agencies, especialy the National Statistics Office under the Office of the Civil Registrar General, the local registration system across the country has seen many significant changes.

THE World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) declared April 26 as World Intellectual Property Day in 2001. "Think, Imagine, Create’’ is the theme for the observance of Intellectual Property (IP) Day 2005. The theme is directed at young people, for them to reflect on how human creativity and innovativeness help create a better world for everyone.

LAW enforcers, some of them anyway, have the unenviable habit of proclaiming that a high-profile crime of violence has been solved in a matter of days, not months or years.

TOMORROW, April 27, the people of Cebu will celebrate in commemoration of the Battle of Mactan as they recall the heroism of Lapu-Lapu in that historic event 484 years ago.

SOME well-meaning politicians have expressed alarm of an alleged double whammy on power rates. There is no need to be alarmist about the earnest measures being carried out by the Executive and Congress to set our fiscal house in order. The government is not glossing over valid concerns raised over the rising cost of living amid the power rate hike and the spate of oil price increases. The government is also taking concrete actions to ease the pain of the public. However, we have to bite the bullet to gain a better economic footing through the value-added tax bill and the rate hike of the National Power Corporation.

"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." – Ralph Waldo Emerson

John 14:27-31