THE Chinese people led by Dr. Sun Yat-Sen succeeded in bringing to a close the Ching Dynasty on October 10, 1911. This historic event has been celebrated by Chinese around the world as the "Double Ten.’’

THE previous week was punctuated by timely reminders of the urgency of passing the Anti-Terrorism Bill. The bill is one of the seven bills that Congress has agreed to prioritize during last week’s Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac) meeting in Malacañang. It has passed the committee level and is about to be discussed on the floor of the House of Representatives. It is still pending in the appropriate committee in the Senate.

THE military establishment, obviously at the instance of civilian authority (which is supreme), warns that anyone recruiting for the overthrow of government by force will be arrested. Of course, it’s illegal to overthrow the government by force.

CPR or maximum tolerance?

ALTHOUGH opinion polls show that most people do not care for the parliamentary system (of which they know nothing), its promoters push on without relenting.

(Speech delivered at the 33rd UNESCO General Conference, October 6, 2005, Paris, France.)

THERE is nothing wrong about the Con-Com’s existence if its main purpose is to help make Congress aware of possible major constitutional issues that the lawmakers may overlook and suggest needed amendments. Harking back to when the Con-Com was to be created as announced by the Palace, I did not take it to mean that the body will usurp the functions and constitutional mandate of Congress as apprehended by the opposition. But what is really objectionable is that, since it was created by an Executive Order (453) and granted the President authority to appoint its members with allocation of funds from a budget needing approval of Congress, then this is a body for constitutional amendment not provided for by our Constitution.

THE Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) will celebrate jointly the 14th Anniversary of the Local Government Code of 1991, the landmark statute that devolved responsibilities to local government units and opened up mechanisms for participative local governance that has been in operation in the last decade and a half.

IT is that kind of a decision by the Supreme Court that is punctuated by an emphatic phrase – "with finality."

PRESIDENT GMA has called on political allies to fully back the campaign to amend the Constitution and shift to a unicameral parliamentary government, and "there is no going back on this campaign," says a determined Speaker Jose de Venecia.

WHILE still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, "This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah.