INSURANCE provides assistance in times of accidents, death, and loss of property. Lloyd’s of London introduced non-life insurance to the Philippines in 1829. The first domestic insurance company in the Philippines was established in 1906 by The Yek Tong Lin Fire and Marine Insurance Company (now Philippine First Insurance Company) and the first domestic life insurance company in the Philippines was begun by the Insular Life Assurance Co., Ltd.

WE have reasons to become increasingly optimistic about business and investments in the near term as confidence grows following the completion of Phase One of President Gloria’s reform program.

THE crackdown on corruption started two years ago by Chinese President Hu Jintao is reportedly showing signs of slowing down.

BUSINESS confidence continues to sink due to high oil prices and their effect on practically all other commodities and services, according to a survey by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

THE five barrio residents were extremely excited. They were about to go on their first-ever trip to the city. Only a handful of their barriomates had seen the big city which was a good 19 hours by bus. Soon they too would be among the select few. A distinction of honor in their remote and isolated barrio.

CONDITIONS are ripe for military intervention, says a retired commodore.

IT is beyond question that the accepted public opinion about a jueteng investigation that the Senate is poised to conduct anytime this week is one of skepticism. "It will lead to nowhere," goes the perception of many citizens.

IN the last half century, the Philippines has undergone social, economic, and political transformation in its search to become a modern and prosperous nation. The country, however, continues to face development challenges in the 21st century, the most formidable of which is the need to reduce the number of proportion of underprivileged families.

NEW DELHI — India’s United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh completed one year in power Sunday with low-key celebrations marked by the absence of its left allies.

WITH many issues confronting us, it’s about time we get our act together in order to survive and grow as a democratic country.

AS Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before Him, and asked Him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus answered him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; you shall not defraud; honor your father and your mother.’" He replied and said to Him, "Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth." Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, "You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to [the] poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow Me." At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

PRESIDENTIAL Proclamation No. 393 issued on May 21, 1989 declared May as Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’s Month. The proclamation gives due recognition to our farmers and fishermen – the providers of the lifeblood of our country’s economy – who, together with their families, play a vital role in our country’s economic growth and nation-building.

YOU may have noticed how the information highway has become congested with self-proclaimed "terrorist experts." Recently, a media colleague from Singapore, Mr. M. Rajaretnam, warned me about Dr. Rohan Gunaratna, author of the best seller Global Network of Terror, published in June 2002, by no less than the University of Columbia Press. Although the opus got excellent reviews the world over, it is best to read it, and other books like it, with cynical eyes.

THE administration’s success in rallying all sectors behind its campaign may be gleaned in the two-day cultural summit that starts in a Manila hotel this morning. Sponsored by the National Commission on Culture and the Arts, it will gather media and cultural workers under one roof to tackle the perennial problems of poverty and corruption.

ATREND that was validated by data published in a recent issue of the Economist is that environmental issues are no longer the sole province of well-meaning governments or busybody NGOs, but have actually moved up to the balance sheets of major companies.

WE go through a ritual: Before every function, we openly pray. We invoke the Almighty and ask for His blessing. We raise our heart and mind to God. This is a great custom that has to be deeply and permanently embedded in our tradition as a people.

BORN to immigrant Chinese parents Vicente Ang and Chin Lim in Davao City 74 years ago, Ang Kiukok was one of the most vital and dynamic figures who emerged during the 60s and had a major impact on the Philippine art scene.

THE letter of invitation you sent me spoke of you studying hard, sleeping little and training hard to be able to come this point and finally graduating as the UP College of Medicine’s Class of 2005. I share today in your triumph as you finally get "liberated" from the requirements of the College of Medicine. However, I also wish to convey to you today a real commencement message to future Filipino doctors.

ERITREANS celebrate their national sovereignty today, commemorating the country’s 1993 declaration of independence from Ethiopia after waging Africa’s longestever civil war. Led first by the Eritrean Liberation Movement (LEF), then by the ELF breakaway group, the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front (EPLF), the 30-year struggle ended with a referendum on independence in which some 1.1 million Eritreans voted for freedom from Ethiopian rule.

LAST Friday evening, I found myself at a classy hotel lobby waiting for two friends with minor problems, compared to the country’s state of war against jueteng and the "plotters."

PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s recent promises of more jobs, better education, and improved health care, among other benefits to the people "in the next coming months," sounded like a political campaign rhetoric, but they bring hopes to a lot of people, especially the poor and those in the margins of society.

THERE is still ample time in the three weeks before Congress goes on recess to fix the date to start its inquiry into the jueteng operations. All the senators, specially those in the rules committee, have to do is decide whether Senate Pres. Drilon’s suggestion that Sen. Lapid’s and Sen. Villar’s committees be joined in conducting the public hearing should be approved. An alternative to hasten the start of such inquiry before Congress recesses is for Sen. Lapid to inhibit himself from the inquiry proceedings of the committee which he heads, as urged by Sen. Pimentel on the ground that Lapids’ son is the governor of Pampanga where jueteng is pervasive. Within the ante-recess three weeks time, at lest the inquiry should be able to identify the alleged witnesses to begin with.

Mark 10:28-31