THE Philippine Commission governed the country after the defeat of the Philippine Republic and proceeded to enact a series of repressive laws. On August 23, 1907, it passed the Flag Law prohibiting the public display of Philippine and revolutionary flags as well as the playing of the Philippine National Anthem. This law was repealed on October 30, 1919, following the United States Congress’ approval of the Jones Law of 1916 which gave full domestic autonomy for the Filipino people. Governor General Francis Burton Harrison issued an executive order lifting the prohibition and the public display and playing of the Philippine national flag and national anthem was officially proclaimed. Since then, these two historic and symbolic emblems of our people’s identity have been venerated.

NO story in the Holy Bible has evoked as much ridicule and unbelief as the story of Jonah, a prophet who was swallowed by a great fish. This story is found in the Book of Jonah in the Old Testament. Modern critics of the Holy Bible who claim that the throat of a whale is not spacious enough to allow the passage of a human being like Jonah ask: "Did it happen? Could it happen?"

IN her criticism of the Bush administration’s stance on human rights, Anne-Marie Slaughter, dean of the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University, opened with the second verse of "America the Beautiful," which runs:

ONCE again, the Philippines has ranked among the lowest in a survey of countries with severe corruption. This problem seems to be a reoccurring one, and every year seems to be worse than the previous year for our country.

IN recent years, Asia has become the world’s fastestgrowing economic region. Nowadays, many experts are saying that the Asia-Pacific, to include Australia and New Zealand, will soon become the main source of global economic power. That forthcoming era — when our continent and its archipelagic states become the growth engine for the whole world — we all hope to see within 5-10 years and benefit from. Yet, we are also well-aware of how relatively weak education in Asia still is, when compared to education in the West. Then, there is the reality that education in many Asian countries is still plagued by inequalities — that while tiny elites among our peoples get first-rate university education, the great majority still receive very little education, if at all. Leaders, educators, economists and social scientists around the world know how a poor education system, a stagnant economy, shorter life expectancy, and mass poverty are parts of the same vicious cycle.

IT is our custom nowadays to sneer at martial law and exaggerate its defects. In contrast, we extol democracy and belittle its dangers. It is about time that we reviewed such judgments. It is simplistic to say that the Marcos regime had created all our present problems. We are resurrecting repeatedly this chapter in our history as a convenient scapegoat for present failures.

"To die, to sleep,

THE front-page stories of recent weeks deal with persons who are wanted by various government agencies to answer questions or to answer for alleged criminal acts. Unfortunately the persons are not within Philippine territorial jurisdiction because, they were able to evade the process to compel their attendance – certain police and AFP officers who were wanted for alleged criminal offenses, for example. A Comelec high official made good his escape with the alleged connivance of official of other government agencies. He was reported to have been brought to Singapore, later London, much later Poland. As I wrote previously, when the trail of this official becomes hot, perhaps he will be taken to Brazil. I just hope that if capture or expatriation by the authorities of the host country will be imminent, he will not disappear in the jungles of the Amazon river basin. Worse, I hope he will not end up as piranha fodder.

LOTTERIES began in the Philippines in 1833. They were held primarily to generate revenues for the government. They were revived in 1932. Many lotteries were held to support the Philippine Tuberculosis Society and its anti-TB projects. This year, the government held a lottery to support the Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation’s sports projects for the Filipino youth. To widen the humanitarian mission of the National Charity Sweepstakes, the former name of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), the National Assembly passed Act No. 4130 on October 30, 1934, and created the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

BOURBONNAIS, Chicago — Here’s a medical story worth reflecting on the feast of "All Souls’ Day."

IMPACT of oil prices on the Philippine economy

JESUS spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens [hard to carry] and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’ As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’ You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called ‘Master’; you have but one master, the Messiah. The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted."