Velez: Dread
THE killing of 23-year-old nurse and Filipina-Chinese Marjorie Kwan by motorcycle-riding robbers is just the tipping point of the Davawenyos rage over the crimes that are running rampant of late.
The past years have seen a rise in incidences of robberies, snatching, and theft. But each time the crime has become more brazen. And now this city, which boasts the tagline, “Life is here,” is no longer safe. Dread is here.
Editorial: Reproductive rights revisited
IT IS not often that our country is used as an example in a high-profile policy debate in the United States. But a time.com article, “When a Country Cracks Down on Contraception: Grim Lessons from the Philippines” posted on Feb. 21, 2012 (Feb. 22 in the Philippines) did just that, although in a negative sense.
Roperos: Angry jobless youth
THERE is this story in the International Herald Tribune Friday last week about Britain’s hordes of frustrated jobless youths. It seems that the British youth have been affected by the economic “downturn” going on in Europe during the past many months. Austerity as “corrective” measure has somehow alienated the youth from job opportunities.
So: Nap and Joel and their Vibram 100K
CONGRATULATIONS, Nap and Joel, for finishing the Vibram Ultra Trail in Hong Kong last weekend in a temperature so cold that something in your lower anatomy was said to have shriveled into prunes.
You bring pride to Cebu for being among the 506 of 755 ultra runners from all over the world who hurdled 100 kilometers that passed through mountains, forests and beach sand within 32 hours. It’s OK if neither of you finished in the top three.
Seares: Congressmen as tele-series ‘kontrabida’
SHOOTING down the resolution of Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr. asking film and TV producers to stop depicting House members as villains who dress badly and look funny was an act of mercy by his colleagues.
Co-legislators rained flak on Gonzales's Resolution #2140, joining other critics who believe House members have better things to do than worry over collective public image.
Espinoza: Public funds not for private use
EVEN if the prosecution witness, Philippine Airlines (PAL) vice president for sales Enrique Javier, was not allowed to testify in Tuesday’s impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona, those who observed the proceedings were told what Javier would have testified about.
The prosecution said Javier’s testimony would delve on the privileges and free travel benefits that Corona and his wife received while the Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines (Fasap) case was still pending.
Speak Out: Nabuclod, a Tourism Goldmine in Pampanga
REGULAR visits of Gov. Lilia “Nanay” Pineda in almost all barangays within the province have made the Capitol closer to the people, most especially the less privileged sector of our society.
Sapnu: Tree Planting sa Kaarawan ni Gob
ISANG tree-planting activity ang isinagawa noong Lunes bilang pagdiwang sa kaarawan ni Gobernadora Lilia “Nanay Baby” Pineda.
Maagang nagpunta doon si Pineda kasama ang ilang board members, empleyado ng Kapitolyo at mga ilang miyembro ng Pampanga Police Provincial Office (PPP0) sa pamumuno ni Senior Superintendent Edgar Tinio.
At siyempre kapag nandoon si Gob nandoon din ang mga alkalde na pinamumunuan ni Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo bilang pangulo ng Pampanga Mayor’s League (PML).
Cajucom: My golden girl
SHE became a member of our family in the summer of 2004, and felt at home the minute she walked into our front door. She was barely three months old and looked all cuddly and pretty in all her brownish glory (she was not yet golden then). It was not difficult to find a name for her – unanimously we agreed on naming her after the charming lady-love of Shrek: the name Fiona suited her like a glove. She was given as a gift by my childhood friend and former schoolmate Abi, and the minute she offered to give me a golden retriever, both hubby and I got excited with the idea and did not exactly think it out before we said yes. It was not exactly all pleasant during Fiona’s first months with us. It was no bed of roses; in fact, it was an awful bed of pee, poo and wet, messy newspapers and loads and loads of air freshener, not to mention seemingly absurd vet bills and special dog food for the newest member of our family then. There were times we got really annoyed with some of her habits as she grew, and sometimes I wondered why we got ourselves into that hairy mess.
Bagawi and Co: Post-Valentine's: More fun in Baguio
HEART-SHAPED balloons and candies, long-stemmed roses, and sappy greeting cards painted the city red on Valentine's Day, hence warping one's view of what the city can offer for both couples and singles who wanted to celebrate that day. For those of us who want to celebrate love, or the lack of or desire for it, ex post facto to avoid the red and heart-shaped clichés that abound on the 14th, Baguio has plenty to offer. Here are some starters.
Macasinag: Getting your wardrobe right in any setting
WHETHER you like it or not, you are immediately judged by your appearance. For this reason, a professional appearance is encouraged among teachers and other professionals. As an employee, you should dress to reflect your company’s customs, morals and trade. Teachers must exert a certain amount of judgment in their choice of clothing to wear to work. Because we face students on an almost daily basis, respectable attire is necessary for all school employees. Promoting proper decorum is part of the teaching-learning process.
Bayan: Think about it!!!
DURING the February 20, 2012 City Council Session, a group of environmentalists, advocates, organizations, and students came to the city council to express their strong opposition to the earth balling or cutting of 182 trees situated at Luneta Hill for the construction of a parking complex. Dr. Michael A. Bengwayan, an environmentalist, when given the time to speak before the city council to further explain his position on what Hon.
Sánchez: Fun at the airport?
TOURISTS are expected to have fun when they land or exit at Negros Occidental’s airport.
Well, maybe not, judging from several local news items. That is, unless their concept of fun is to swelter from the air conditioning that seems to be conditioned to as a heating system inside the pre-departure. Right system, wrong place since Negros is situated smack in the tropics. Our airport’s heating system should be exported to Europe where Europeans are experiencing extreme winter. That would be fun for us from the sale proceeds, and fun for Europeans who need to stave off the extreme cold.
Pacete: The EDSA Gaudery
WHAT eventuated at EDSA? Was it an act of God? Was there an intifada? Did the military rebels stage a coup d’état? Was it a miracle? Did Uncle Sam utilize CIA for the show?
Ombion: Poverty and disorder at sugarlandia’s capital
THE capital of Negros sugarlandia was once praised in a Manila-based magazine as the country’s most livable city, citing as main bases the costs of living, accessibility to basic services, and peace and order situation.
Two years ago, Bacolod was chosen as the most developed IT center in region VI.
In December 2011, Bacolod was once again adjudged as the most business-friendly city in the country.
Well, these are little things that make us proud being a Bacolodnon, the premier of sugarlandia.
Editorial: Updating the SALN
MANY public employees or officials who have been subjected to a lifestyle check laimed they won the lottery.
That surprising observation appears in a 2006 paper by then Assistant Ombudsman Pelagio Apostol, retrieved from the website of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Roperos: Getting a passport
ONE of the most sought after government service whose importance has tremendously increased is the grant of documents to citizens who want to travel abroad for various reasons, but mostly for employment.
Wenceslao: Sinkhole, Navarro
THAT sinkhole in Barangay Camboang, Dumanjug is actually not as scary as the one that showed up in Guatemala City in 2010.
Nalzaro: Politcal conflict in Danao, 2
I WROTE last Monday about the political conflict in Danao City between two brothers, Mayor Ramon “Boy” Durano Jr., and Vice Mayor Ramon “Nito” Durano III. I noted that “innocent” people who are just doing their jobs have been caught in the crossfire.
Barrita: PNoy’s good news
PRESIDENT Noynoy Aquino has promised “very good” news about the country’s economy in the next few days.
“In the next few days, I will give you news that is very good concerning the economic sector,” he said.
But he’s putting it on hold.
The very good news on the economy can wait, but the attacks against Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona can’t.
***
It seems no one can stop the continuing word war that has erupted between PNoy and Chief Justice Corona.
Carvajal: Saint as model
I HAVE always held the position that the Son of God became human so we could feel both the spiritual and physical warmth of God’s love for man.
Moreover, by stepping down from His divinity, God also became imitable, His way of life achievable on earth. When a Christian, therefore, is canonized a saint it is to serve more as a model imitator of Christ’s life than as the intercessor, protector or provider that so many devout Christians have made of them.
Amigo: Please… Mr. President, stop!
THE die is cast.
Ledesma: Truth, lies and propaganda
I ALWAYS hesitated to write about my own perception on the ongoing impeachment trial simply because I do not want to tread on the legal niceties which characterized the trial from the very start. I too have my own prejudices from the very beginning when the lower house railroaded the impeachment proceedings and even rejected a pretrial conference.
Covington: Biltong
WHERE to start? Dead celebrity worship? Foreigners behaving badly? The impeachment circ... sorry, the impeachment trial? Or how about this headline on Wednesday -- "Kenyan nationals welcome at Araw ng Dabaw marathon?"
Speak Out: Cognitive decline
AT ALMOST this same time last year, I came across a family that did not believe that their mother may have Alzheimer’s Dementia. She had subtle signs of the neurodegenerative disease so much so that denial would be expected. I revisit the illness and point out that cognitive decline may be detectable in the early middle age population of 45 to 49 years of age.
