THE "United Nations" was the idea of US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The name was first used in the "Declaration by United Nations" on January 1, 1949, where representatives of 26 nations in World War II pledged their governments to fight together to defeat the Axus Powers. After the end of the war, representatives of 50 countries gathered in San Francisco from April 25 to June 26, 1945, and drew up the United Nations Charter. They ratified it on October 24, 1945, thus giving birth to the United Nations.

FARMERS wanted to storm Malacañang but are stopped. They will try again.

IN calling for the designation of socalled Freedom Parks in the metropolitan area, Mayor Lito Atienza, Chairman of the Metro Manila Mayors League, draws on his experience as a street parliamentarian of pre-martial law days. He remembers the tragedy of Plaza Miranda, in which the leadership of the Liberal Party was all but decimated. The bloody incident was blamed on President Marcos on one side and on another on Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. (as he was absent from the rally), until the truth was later discovered: That it was the handiwork of a group of communist operators. In Atienza’s view, Freedom Parks would prevent a similar tragedy happening in these critical times.

IT has often been said that the good deeds of each one of us shape and strengthen the good of our country. And each good deed gives luster to our name. Naturally we all can add luster to the name and reputation of our country by going about our life, trying to do as much good as possible.

RESPECTED personalities, both from business as well as the church, have fulminated against the EVAT, a devilish instrument that will eliminate the middle class and threaten the existence of the poor.

OUR forefathers fought and won the revolution against colonial rule not only with bolos and bullets. They also fought with pens and paintbrushes. Those who used the pen composed poems, songs (kundimans), and novels and boosted the morale of those in the battlefield. Juan Luna y Novicio used the paintbrush and the easel and was as successful as those who fought in the battlefield.

(Speech delivered at the 2005 Conference on facilitating the entry into force of the comprehensive nuclear test-ban treaty at the United Nations, New York, September 22, 2005.)

TODAY marks the 41st Independence Day of the Republic of Zambia.

PROTESTS that have been going on recently to the extent that some rallyists and policemen got hurt by water cannon by the police and the uncontrollable commotion at the rally were not something unusual and cannot be considered as the precursor of President Arroyo’s presidential exit. As said by Peter Buckman — who has been involved in radical activities both in the US and England — mankind is animated by discontent. You can’t find a citizen in a democratic country who isn’t unhappy at higher taxes, workday routine, overcrowding, pollution, insecurity, increasing impersonality of government, and corporate control, or rising costs defended by administrations who clamp down on wages. These are the concerns of otherwise contented people in capital states.

THE Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) traces its roots to the Agricultural Tenancy Commission (ATC) created by Republic Act No. 1199 in 1954. The ATC was created to provide legal assistance to agricultural tenants. It was later renamed Tenancy Mediation Commission (TMC).

JESUS was teaching in a synagogue on the Sabbath. And a woman was there who for eighteen years had been crippled by a spirit; she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect. When Jesus saw her, He called to her and said, "Woman, you are set free of your infirmity." He laid His hands on her, and she at once stood up straight and glorified God.