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Congratulations to Her Excellency, President Michelle Bachelet of the Republic of Chile
THE Republic of Chile shares many commonalities with the Philippines, the most contemporary being the struggles of our peoples to liberate ourselves from dictatorial rule. Close to two decades after our countries re-established liberal democracy, our nations once more have something in common, a woman Chief Executive, after the Chilean voters elected their first-ever woman President, Socialist Party leader Michelle Bachelet.
Unfortunate decision
OVER the weekend, text messages kept circulating that AFP Chief Generoso Senga has resigned. It is good that at the first opportunity, Senga was able to call radio and tv stations to deny them and to assure everyone that the military is solid behind the Constitution and the chain of command. These text messages are the handiwork the old gang who have kept trying a power grab but have utterly failed at every turn. These worn-out attempts at threatened military adventurism, combined with political harangues, have long been dismissed by the Filipino people and rejected by a professionally – loyal armed forces. It is time to leave this sad episode behind and get back to workeven as the authorities hunt down and recapture the Magdalo fugitives. The focus of the President remains on the economy, serving the poor and unifying the nation — and no one can distract her from it.
Praying for Pacquiao
UNQUESTIONABLY, the hero of our time is Manny Pacquiao, who won in the tenth round. Just the right time for a people starved for heroes.
Pacquiao’s message
MANNY Pacquiao said it a hundred times, he would beat Erik Morales for the Filipino people, not for the politicians who fly to ringside in Las Vegas to bask in reflected glory and not for the other politicians eager to greet him before the media cameras when he comes home.
Losing gov’t corporations
NATION is in the grip of coup jitters again.
Radio is candid
ON the whole, radio listeners do not rely much on the medium’s capacity and credibility as a news source. They know for a fact that stories aired are mostly lifted from newspapers.
University of the Philippines College of Medicine Centennial Grand Scientific Symposium 2006 at the historic landmark Manila Hotel
FROM today, January 23, until January 25, 2006, the historic landmark Manila Hotel will serve as the venue for the University of the Philippines College of Medicine Centennial Grand Scientific Symposium 2006 with the theme "Emergencies and Disasters: Pearls for the 21st Century Primary Health Care Provider."
Championing Philippine Sports and the Filipino Athlete
THE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) came into being on January 24, 1990. It was created as the top government sports body by Republic Act 6847, "The Philippine Sports Commission Act.’’ Since its birth in 1990, it has grown into one of the country’s formidable institutions, with the mission of transforming the Filipino people into a healthy citizenry through various sports development programs.
The new Cold War
LONDON - What did you do during the new Cold War? Blink and you missed it.
Jesus and Beelzebul
THE scribes who came from Jerusalem said of Jesus, "He is possessed by Beelzebul," and "By the prince of demons He drives out demons."
Jesus and His family
Mark 3:31-35
Responsible citizenship: What for?
MANY reasons can be given for the practice of responsible citizenship. The most important has to be the common good of our country and of all Filipinos. But as we refer to the "common good" of all Filipino citizens, we should never forget that at the end of the day this must mean that every Filipino ends up happy and contented with real, solid accomplishments made in life.
Unity after victory?
AT this writing, the electrifying news has traveled faster than sound: Manny Pacquiao defeated his Mexican nemesis, Erik Morales, in the 10th round. As expected, Filipinos (a lot of government officials!) who flocked to Las Vegas to watch the fight were jubilant. As if claiming responsibility for Pacquiao’s prowess, a rapturous First Gentleman (FG) wormed his way up the ring and at his heels clambered an equally ecstatic Chavit Singson. However, while basking in Pacquiao’s limelight, they were booed, most probably by their own countrymen. Then the world was made to eavesdrop as FG called GMA to give the gratifying news, punctuated with a rather contrived declaration of love in Spanish. (How ludicrous.)
President Arroyo: Master politician?
SPECULATIONS on the seriousness of the escape of the Magdalo military officers from their Fort Bonifacio cell in Taguig continue to be a public concern, fuelled by fears the breakout was part of a welllaid web of deceit to bring down the Arroyo government.
Medical tourism: The next big thing
FIVE years ago, when I needed cataract surgery, one of my knowledgeable stepsons advised me, "Do it here. It is much cheaper than having it done in the States." He had, himself recently undergone similar surgery and knew the difference – from 30 percent to 50 percent. At the time I had tooth implants, going back and forth to New York for the step-by-step procedure cost ,000 in medical bills over a three-year period. And such procedures are not governed by medical insurance since they are considered "cosmetic" and elective.
Handbook on coups
IT is not enough that the government is prepared to meet force with force to quell any coup attempts to overthrow the government. The government may first isolate two items of information which are crucial to the planning of the coup d’etat to counter the plotter’s strategy. As per the "Coup d’etat Handbook" I referred to in my last column – which book was written by a coup expert Edward Luttwak, born in Transylvania, educated in Italy and Britain, and lived and worked in a number of countries in Eastern and Western Europe, North Africa and the Middle East – those two items of information are: (1) the nature and composition of the units which have an intervention capability, and (2) the real operational echelon within them, with the potential forces of intervention.
People as observers
THE so-called consultations with the people allegedly conducted by Con-com have no minutes or a summary of what the "people" told the Con-com officers and members whose compensation packages were paid by the taxpayers.
Socratic Salonga
A SPLIT Liberal Party celebrated its 60th anniversary in two separate venues, one in Manila and the other in Mandaluyong. The one in Manila, led by Mayor Atienza, associates itself with the Arroyo administration, and the other, led by Senate President Drilon, is opposed. The schizophrenic celebration was somehow redeemed by honoring the party’s icon, Jovito R. Salonga, at Club Filipino.
Flirting with military ill-advised
FORCING the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the Philippine National Police to be a party to partisan politics can only bring in short-term relief from distasteful and wasteful political feuding. If and when the military has savored the addictive lure and dizzying powers of politics, that will be the beginning of long-term tyranny and military autocracy.
Listen to Pacquiao
MANNY Pacquiao knocked out Erik Morales in the tenth round of their return bout in Las Vegas last Sunday.
Winning battles Pacquiao style
THE country can win battles in political, economic, and other fields if goals or targets are defined and efforts are sustained.
Blood sport
NEVER saw so many macho TV commercials until I watched the Morales-Pacquiao fight of a lifetime last Sunday! Never saw a boxer endorse so many commercial products on one show as Laban Pacman did last Sunday, when the TV spots were interrupted by the bruising battle of champions.
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