Amigo: A 1st for PH courtesy of Omni Aviation

SUBIC FREEPORT -- Unknown to many Filipinos, our country is in to be in step with other progressive ASEAN countries like Malaysia to own or introduce top-of-the-line US-made Redbird flight simulators.

And that is through the efforts of Omni Aviation Corporation (OAC), which is decidedly considered the Philippines' premier flight instruction and aviation service provider based in Clark Field.

Emata: It is all politics

POLITICS has always been in the limelight ever since the country became a republic. Politicians and leaders just could not work well without the usual political bickering and whatever.

Vugt: Truth in history

ON MY previous column "How to understand the Bible", I got two different reactions. One reaction came from somebody here in Cagayan de Oro who felt it difficult to accept my way of reading the Bible, a metaphorical way of understanding the stories in the Bible as distinct from the literal way of reading these stories.

Wenceslao: War freak Ameril Umbra Kato

WE surely appreciate the declaration of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that they are prepared with several mechanisms to address the issues raised by an ex-MILF commander who broke away to form a separate armed group in Central Mindanao.

Vugt: Spirituality of the Vocation

I HAVE been out of Cagayan de Oro for over a week. Together with my wife I attended the Spirituality Forum of the Carmelites in Manila. The theme of that Forum was “Spirituality and the Church of the Poor (Has the New Wind Really blown?)” - for our time, a very relevant topic, indeed.

Wenceslao: Much ado about Armm and peace

THAT the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has dropped its independence agenda is actually no news. It amuses us to see that it grab the headlines on the heels of the Aquino-Murad secret talks in Japan when this was already bannered by the secessionist front months ago.

Amigo: They are at it again

YES, people of the Philippines, they are at it again.

Emata: More Filipino-Americans are returning home

FILIPINO-Americans who have been in the USA for so long and who planned to retire here have utterly changed their minds and many have gone home for good.

Amigo: Aquino admin dead serious in helping homeless

JUST recently President Noy distributed housing units and land titles in Calamba, Laguna to around a thousand members of the armed forces so it seems the Aquino Administration is dead serious in helping homeless not only homeless soldiers but all Filipinos in the years to come.

Speak Out: Where has Your Heart Gone?

PHILIPPINE citizens, where has your heart gone? What is left sacred to you? What truths do you hold self-evident?

The Declaration of Independence in the United States of America was written by men who dreamed, and fought, and gave their lives.

Wenceslao: Hoping for a happy ending

THE present military campaign against Abu Sayyaf is a test not only for the capability of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to deal with heavily armed terrorists band but also to ascertain whether the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is involved in any way with the activities of the lawless elements.

Amigo: 'Too late to apologize'

THERE'S a song that was made famous by pop group "Timbaland" and it had right through the heart: "Too late to apologize."

Vugt: How to understand the Bible

THE Bible is a book that speaks of the mystery of God revealing himself to mankind. All the stories in the Bible have to be understood as such, also the so-called miracle stories. They are all symbolic presentations of the same thing: God’s revelation of himself, of his tremendous and everlasting love to mankind.

Amigo: GMA allies boycott hearing

THEY still make their presence felt when we -- or the whole nation -- think her allies already deserted her as the going gets tougher for GMA.

Speak Out: Operational implications of additional 2-year basic education in private high schools in Iligan City

DEPARTMENT of Education (DepEd) Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro, (FSC) is vent to introduce reform in the educational system by way of “K+12” as his signature campaign.

In so many a symposia, he spelled out the need for the development of manipulative skills as a counterproductive approach to the malignant unemployment problem besetting our country today.

Vugt: A new look at the old Book

THE Bible is a very old book. We have to make this book alive by reading its stories in the context of today, in the context of our everyday life today.

Soriano: Salvation outside the True Church 2

WE ALWAYS welcome comments knowing that some will be favorable to us and others will be against us but still favorable to us! The truth will always have its enemy.

Speak Out: Can DepEd go for quality education?

EXACTLY 86 years ago today, Monroe Survey was conducted to improve the Philippine educational system. This was followed by a series of surveys, notably the Philippine Commission to Survey Philippine Education (PCPSPE) during the incumbency of then Minister Corpuz (19763), the Education Act of 2001, EAF and Countless education initiatives.

But look what do we have and obtained from our 10 year basic education? Desolation, congested curriculum, half-baked high school graduates... and so many other lapses to mention a few.

Soriano: Salvation outside the true church

MOST of the religions established by man teach that outside their religion, there is no salvation. Here are some of them with their documented claims:

Vugt: The second Sona

WHILE I am writing this column I haven't heard the Sona of the President yet. I am only reacting to the protests that are being launched against the performance of PNoy during the second year of his presidency.

Emata: Happy Birthday to me

SAN JOSE, CA. July 25, 2011. Oh yeah! July 25 is my birthday. Thank you my Lord for giving me this much time in life and I hope there will be more years ahead of me -- in good health, kicking and happy. I thought if nobody would greet me on my birthday, at least I did it by saying happy birthday to me.

Editorial: Making promises

PRESIDENT Noynoy Aquino has enumerated all his accomplishments during his first year through his State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday.

Vugt: Spring of Carmel

EVER since its origin the Order of the Carmelites has called the Blessed Virgin Mary "Spring of Carmel". There was indeed a spring on Mount Carmel which is believed to be the fountain of the prophet Elijah, mentioned in the Book of Kings. Recently, I came across a book of Søren Kierkegaard with the title: 'What love does'. Kierkegaard is a Danish philosopher and a deep spiritual thinker. He became the Secretary General of the United Nations and he died in a plane crash in 1855.

Wenceslao: Another acid test for the MILF

WE WANT to believe that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front's (MILF) declaration disowning the leader and the band of a kidnap-for-ransom group behind the abduction of two Americans and their Filipino relative is an official state from the Front.

Amigo: Much ado about nothing (to gain again)

LIKE what former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo replied to the working media upon her arrival recently from Europe with husband Mike Arroyo..."talk to my liars, err, lawyers..."

Emata: Bad business practices

SOME Filipino businessmen in the USA are stubborn and stick on their ugly practices in business and as a result, miserably fail in their endeavor and vanish naturally.

Amigo: Big sacrifice

A CORONEL of the Philippine Navy has, to many Filipinos, recently made a huge or big sacrifice when he very well know that calling the Supremo of the Philippine Armed Forces and President of the land to resign would lead -- loud and clear - to his eventual service ouster.

Vugt: Our Lady of Mount Carmel

ON JULY 16, the Carmelite Order and also the Catholic Church celebrated the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. She is the patron saint of the Carmelites.

Emata: Filipinos are shock-free

FILIPINOS are lucky people, they are hardship-free and still smile amidst crisis, recession and all sort of difficulties in life. They are shock-free and go on alive even without job. Their families know how to survive crisis and their children are still kept in school no matter what.

FERN 2011 Leader's Summit brings prosperity to Cagayan de Oro

THE City of Golden Friendship was host to the second leg of FERN Inc.'s Leaders' Summit held at SM City Cinema 3 last June 25.

Visayas network leader and funnyman, Mr. Fernando "Diboy" Toledo, hosted the program together with the talented Ms. Sheryll Edman, Network Development Program speaker from Luzon.