Biantan: DJ Mo, Angelica pick wrong fight

LONDON -- I love showbiz next to God, my wife, my son, daughter and football.

Bacaoco: ‘Misunderstanding’ caused drop in millgate prices

FEBRUARY 24 Bid Results: Vicmico A = P1,626, B = P1,980.10 & molasses = P7,000; Hawaiian (Ahssi) A = P1,625, B = P2,024 and molasses = P6,850 (Unifed) A = P1,620, B = P2,003 & molasses = P6,855; Lopez A = P1,626, B = P1,970 & molasses = P5,995; Sagay A = P1,626 & B = P1,970; First Farmers A = P1,618, B = P2,025 & molasses = P6,830; Sonedco (Kabilog) A = P1,606, B = P1,970 & molasses = P6,868; La Carlota A = P1,615, B = 1,921 & molasses = P6,930; Biscom-BIPA = P1,605, B = P1,915.84 & molasses = P6,928; URC-Passi B = P1,911.55; Casa B = P1,970

Honeyman: Numbers

LAST October, it became clear that our fledgling ethanol industry could not compete with the well-established ethanol business from Brazil. Despite high transportation costs, it was reported that ethanol from Brazil could be purchased by, for example, Petron for around P32 per liter whereas domestically produced ethanol would be around P40 per liter.

Hence the Ethanol Producers Association of the Philippines (EPAP) sought the imposition of a 20% tariff, thereby giving some, but perhaps not enough, protection to our domestic ethanol industry.

Sánchez: Sauce for the goose and gander

OF COURSE, Flory May Talaban of Bacolod City has been proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt by a competent Thai court of law.

Talaban’s sentenced to life imprisonment and is now jailed at the Ngam Wong Wan Central Women’s Institution in Bangkok, Thailand for possession of illegal drugs.

Editorial: Pres. Noynoy Aquino delivers

THE euphoria over President Noynoy Aquino’s visit to the province is still palpable.

Understandably, the recipients of the benefits and projects handed out by the President are ecstatic. Among them are the agrarian reform beneficiaries who received their CLOA’s, the families which were given their certificates of occupancy for the DSWD-funded housing projects, and the recipients of livelihood assistance as well as Philhealth and Negros Occidental Comprehensive Health Program (NOCHP) coverages.

Pacete: Wow Airport!

CLOUDY Saturday afternoon. The arrival of Air Phil plane was delayed. It was expected to touch down at 4:30 p.m. I was at Silay Airport as early as 3:15 p.m. My wife, Roselyn, was coming home after a 4-day library tour in Metro Manila together with her colleagues. My friends from the CAAP told me to wait until 5:45 p.m.

Legaspi: RH Bill?

THE Population program of the Philippines had been in question for a long time. I remembered that when I was in my college, I was one of those who stood against the Cairo conference. Then, came the Beijing conference and today, the RH Bill in the Philippines. The Philippine government had been so dependent upon the proclamations of the first world countries regarding the national population program.

Bacaoco: Impact of drop in millgate prices

FEBRUARY 24 Bid Results: Vicmico A = P1,626, B = P1,980.10 & molasses = P7,000; Hawaiian (Ahssi) A = P1,625, B = P2,024 and molasses = P6,850 (Unifed) A = P1,620, B = P2,003 & molasses = P6,855; Lopez A = P1,626, B = P1,970 & molasses = P5,995; Sagay A = P1,626 & B = P1,970; First Farmers A = P1,618, B = P2,025 & molasses = P6,830; Sonedco (Kabilog) A = P1,606, B = P1,970 & molasses = P6,868; La Carlota A = P1,615, B = 1,921 & molasses = P6,930; Biscom-BIPA = P1,605, B = P1,915.84 & molasses = P6,928; URC-Passi B = P1,911.55; Casa B = P1,970

Sánchez: Social media hot seats

MANY people think social media is something to kill time, link up with friends. Or to create a stir with posts meant to shock other internet users.

Well, some people do manage to create a stir alright, and what comes out is not a tempest on a teapot. Take police athletic shorts. What’s so revealing about them?

Editorial: What goes around, comes around

FOR the 31 chiefs of police in the different towns and cities of the province who were relieved from their posts yesterday, this day marks a major move from their comfort zones.

From being the ‘King of the Hill’ in their respective turfs very recently, they now troop to the Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office HQ as ‘trainees’ who will undergo the leadership enhancement seminar and as ‘examinees’ whose performances, particularly in the campaign against jai alai, will be evaluated by a committee formed by Noppo chief Sr. Supt. Allan Guisihan.

Legaspi: RH Bill, Edsa and March?

THE mammoth rally last February 23 indeed was a giant one that shocked the consciences of the legislators. That is, if they still possess one. The 25th year of Edsa should also have an impact to all those aspiring to follow the footsteps of Marcos and other dictators. March is a month of graduation and everyone will be so busy preparing for it that major issues shall pass without notice once again.

Delos Santos: Public hearings and De Lima

VARIOUS reactions were expressed in the wake of Gen. Angelo Reyes’ suicide which many blamed on the effect the Senate hearing had on him. That of Honasan is easily the most asinine. He proposed for the senate to limit its public hearings, meaning that the public be excluded from these.

Ariola: Restaurant bloopers

EACH and every one of us has had our own restaurant blooper experience, both comical and harrowing. In fact, these incidents continue to haunt us for the rest of our lives. Personally, I have had quite a few of my own which I would like to share with you, my dear readers, in the wake of my latest episode in a local fast food last week. One word of caution, though - in case you happen to be involved in a similar incident, don’t ever come back to eat in that restaurant again. You’ll never know they might get back at you by putting something in your food or spitting in your drink.

Hagad: The message of our Destiny 

I’M SORRY I missed the People Power celebrations in Bacolod.  This year’s event is significant, given the fact that as we  toppled a dictator 25 years ago, citizens in Egypt have just ousted theirs and Libyans are in the process of achieving their own freedom from one-man rule.        

Honeyman: Labor

NOT all of us are avid supporters of our Rep Doc Golez, but even his detractors have to concede that he works hard. A recent press release stated that he had drafted 72 Bills for consideration by the House of Representatives.        One particular draft Bill expressed concern about call center operatives having to work at night (our night corresponds to daytime in the US, where most call center activities come from). Doc Golez suggested in a draft Bill that call center night work should attract a 20% premium.       

Delos Santos: Bacolaodiat and Masskara

1st column

I AM wondering why the local Chinese community allowed Leonardia to bastardize their celebration of the Chinese new year. I have not traced the historical roots of their new year, but it must be of great significance as Chinese communities celebrate it with abandon.

Pacete: Philippine Eagle

A CHARMING lady met us at the reception area of the Philippine Eagle Center at Malagos, Davao City. “Hi, Im Eden. I’m happy to accommodate our friends from Silay.” That was the start of our interesting day with the critically endangered Philippine Eagles (Pithecophagajefferyi).

Sánchez: Learning from Naga

MAYBE Bacolod is a victim of its own successes. The city is no longer the city that we used to know 20 years ago. New commercial centers are sprouting like mushrooms after a rainstorm.

Pacete: Sugar meets Durian

DAVAO International Airport; Saturday. Our reception was amazing. We were met by beautiful ladies of Tagum City. Later, I was told that they are students from different colleges taking up Hotel and Restaurant Management. The leis donned to us were made of indigenous materials and symbolize the rich ethnic culture of Mindanao.

Hagad: There are always heroes

WATCHING television in our daughter and son-in-law’s house at Palmerston North, New Zealand, our attention became glued to a piece of “breaking news” which announced that an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.3 had hit Christchurch, the tourist capital of this Commonwealth nation. As bits and pieces of what happened started to come in, it was shocking to learn the extent of the damage wrought.

De los Santos: Patriotism - Refuge of scoundrels

THAT top military officers are literally robbing the country blind is nothing new. All of the attempted coups in the past, even the successful ones, were sparked mainly by junior officers who felt left out like hungry mosquitoes outside the mosquito net. Of course, coup plotters always claim that theirs was an act of patriotism, but these sprung mainly from envy over the scandalous raids made by top officers on their meager budgets.

Sánchez: EDSA I gains

JUST like many Filipinos, I joined rallies and demonstrations during that time. I played a significant role, if pretty much in the background, in the anti-Marcos movement here in Negros.

I rejoiced with other Filipinos with the ouster of the seemingly well-entrenched dictator. I knew the “snap election” would be a big but cruel joke on the electorate that the opposition candidate has a chance for an electoral upset against the Marcos juggernaut.

Ariola: Before EDSA I

LIKE any pubescent kid during the pre-Martial Law years, I only have the faintest recollections of the political goings-on in the country, or more particularly in my hometown of Silay City. One thing I am certain of was that Lolo Estong was a staunch Nacionalista. So naturally in my grandfather’s house in Silay City where I grew up, the Nacionalistas were the “good guys” and the Liberals were the “bad guys.”

Editorial: Sanctity of Life

“THE quality of mercy is not strain'd,  It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven  Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest:  It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.”

Thus wrote the great English poet and playwright William Shakespeare in his play “The Merchant of Venice”, as Portia pleaded for the life of her father against the pound of flesh which his father’s creditor demanded.

De los Santos: The challenge for De la Paz      

WE ARE extending to new police chief de la Paz our warm felicitations. But beyond this, we are also hoping that under him, the Bacolod Police will turn out better than what it was during the previous police chiefs’ disappointing performances.

Bacaoco: Production Highlights

FEBRUARY 17 Bid Results: Vicmico  A = P1,600, B = _______ & molasses = P6,850; Hawaiian (Ahssi)  A = P1,616, B = P2,180 and molasses = P6,800; Lopez  A = P1,615 & B = P1,700 (partial); Sagay  A = P1,615 & B = P2,115; First Farmers  A = P1,610, B = P1,500 (partial) & molasses = P6,868; Sonedco  (Kabilog) A = P1,618.88, B = P2,070 & molasses = P6,938; La Carlota  A = P1,615, B = 2,100 & molasses = P6,990;  Biscom-DOLE (sugar workers’ share) A = P1,617 & B = P2,165.35;  URC-Passi  A = P1,635.11 & B = P2,195;  Casa  A = P1,635.11

* * *

Honeyman: Vestiges of feudalism

FEUDALISM, the dominant social system of medieval Europe - where the peasants were expected to give homage to their Feudal Superiors and the superiors looked down disdainfully on the peasants - is, regrettably, alive and well in the Philippines.       

Sánchez: Mule-headed

THAT’S what I call drug mules: mule-headed.

We know of Marita Reyes, the Filipina drug courier who was busted last week for smuggling capsules containing heroin in Manila. She ingested 10 small capsule-filled heroin while a bigger package was inserted into her private part.

Editorial: Support reprieve for Flory May Talaban

CUMULATIVE remittances from overseas Filipino workers for 2010 stood at US$18.8 billion, according to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco, Jr. The figure represents close to 10% of the country’s gross domestic product.

OFW remittances fuel the country’s economy in no small way. The income which they send to their families here sustains the domestic demand for goods and services which, in turn, provides livelihood opportunities to other Filipinos.

Legaspi: A matter of catechesis?

DEATH Penalty, Reproductive Health Bill, irrational price hikes, irrational anti-life and peoples’ bills and inhuman treatments by our supposedly peace officers are some of the pressing issues today in our country. Some sectors are advancing the cause of anti-life policies in government. We have a president who does not know what to do, we have a legislature that is more concerned of how to get back what they had spent last elections and a judiciary that does not know what laws to interpret. This is the sad state of our country.