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International Day of Peace
THE United Nations (UN) declared International Day of Peace in 1981. At that time, the world was still immersed in a bipolar world order, with a Cold War between the East and West and with many internal and inter-state conflicts in many parts of the world. The resolution of the United Nations to declare September 21 the International Day of Peace called on states and parties to internal and global conflict to observe a ceasefine during the day. At the same time, the United Nations (UN) affirmed its commitment to work to address the root causes of conflict. UN interventions for peace today cover a wide range of concerns that include poverty reduction, HIV/AIDS prevention, humanitarian assistance, promotion of human rights, development of international agreements and legal instruments, peace operations, electoral assistance, support for democratization, preventive diplomacy and economic and social development.
National Day of the Republic of Malta
THE Republic of Malta celebrates its national day today.
Sowing the seeds of liberty and prosperity
SEPTEMBER 19 is celebrated throughout planet Earth as World Law Day. In the Philippine Supreme Court, we commemorate World Law Day by holding the annual presentation of the Judicial Excellence Awards. Since three years ago when I was named chairperson of the Supreme Court’s Committee on Judicial Excellence, I have seen and followed the development of this annual search for and awarding of the best and the brightest in the judiciary. Knowing the stringent process by which one comes to be considered, evaluated and chosen as an awardee, I take great pride and honor indeed that the award is bestowed and received on this significant day.
Saint Matthew: apostle and evangelist
MATTHEW was a Jew who had the unenviable job of working as a tax collector for the Roman Empire occupying the Jewish homeland. Presumably Jewish tax collectors like Matthew received a share of the revenues they raised from their own people. Feeling oppressed by the Romans, the Jewish religious leaders vilified tax collectors and stereotyped them as sinners. Yet it was just such a sinner that Jesus invited to be one of the twelve apostles.
The call of Matthew
Matthew 9:9-13
Our half-sister
IF Mexico and Filipinas are sisters, Cuba must be our half-sister if only because of certain striking similarities in the way we were conquered by the United States of America. At the end of the 19th century, it was the popular belief that the USA, out of sheer benevolence, was constrained to intervene in the Caribbean to free Puerto Rico and Cuba from the cruel yoke of Spanish colonialism. In that part of the New World, the Spanish-American War was cleverly marketed as the "splendid little war" which actually duped an assortment of socialists, trade unionists, agrarain groups and well-known propulists into supporting Pres. William McKinley’s expansionist policies. It took some time for the real truth to come to light; the avaricious members of the Sugar Trust were goading and bribing politicians to take over places like Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Cuba and Filipinas, for their selfish interests.
Arrogance
THE arrogance with which some Charter change proponents proclaim what they see as virtues of their advocacy is the one reason many people are turned off by any discussion of constitutional reforms.
The AIM Policy Center’s tenth birthday
ON August 28th, the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) Policy Center celebrated its tenth anniversary with a dinner at the Philippine Plaza Hotel. The theme was, appropriately, "In Pursuit of the Philippine Competitive Edge."
Migration & extradition
(Editor’s note: RP’s ballooning population creates the economic force for migration. The lessons of Joc-joc Bolante and Atong Ang may discourage similar ventures as noted by the author.)
Requiem for a nah
IF it’s true that the days of the PCGG are numbered, that it should be buried like stinking fish, per Senator Pimentel, who says that the agency has outlived its usefulness, it shouldn’t be counted against the Arroyo administration.
Hold that requiem!
IT was the most expensive free concert I have ever attended.
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