Geronimo: Down to earth views of Investment Upgrade

WHEREAS the first two speakers at the round-table discussion I had organized last May 24 (Ms. Cora Guidote of the SM Group and Mr. Diwa Guinigundo of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) gave their aerial view of the implications for the investment upgrade the country had recently received from international rating agencies, the next three expressed their views with their feet on the ground.

Editorial: Conflicting laws

PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III recently made pronouncement to protect Baguio City and the island resort of Boracay from continuing environmental degradation.

But the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, notwithstanding the President’s marching orders, continue to issue free land patents, even in danger zones in the city.

Cajucom: My cool learning experience (a.k.a. MCLE)

IN compliance with Bar Matter No. 850 and Bar Matter No. 1922, members of the legal profession are required to undergo Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) once every three (3) years, and complete 36 units of the subjects or topics prescribed under the rules to ensure that we keep abreast with the latest in substantial law, rules, procedures and in matters of legal ethics, as well.

Luczon: The K to 12 dilemma

ALAS, the opening of classes for the school year 2013-2014 in elementary and high school has just begun and blessed be, some went smoothly and some apparently never changed especially in the public schools.

Ravanera: World Environment Day

TODAY is World Environment Day.

Even for a day, let our consciousness touch base with Gaia (Mother Earth), to be aware of the present state of the ecosystems and that awareness should propel us to action, thus, the adage, “Think Globally, Act Locally.”

Morales: Something (not) funny happened at Clark Airport Immigration

MY daughter tells of a harrowing tale over at the Clark International Airport on the early morning of May 29, when the entire family – my daughter, her five kids aged 2 to 14 years old, with their yayas and one ‘tita’—were stopped at Immigration.

The problem? Two yayas were traveling with them.

Mercado: Dong-Oca row

IT IS not with little sympathy that we understand the grief of Rep. Dong Gonzales who lost to City Mayor Oca Rodriguez in the 3rd District polls.

Mayor Oca garnered 140,826 votes as against Gonzales’ 108,275.

Tulabut: How do they live?

(Ed’s Note: The writer, as requested, intentionally did not name some of the personalities involved in this article. They can be divulged on a personal and on case-to-case basis, our columnist assured.)

DIFFERENT walks of lives.

Sanchez: Delayed arrivals and flights

AS A frequent flyer to the big cities, I applaud Iloilo City Rep. Jerry Treñas who questioned the latest rule set by the Philippine Airlines that imposes P1,500 fine on passengers who “fail to report in the check-in counter” 45 minutes before the estimated time of departure (ETD).

A PAL memo dated May 7 enforces a P1,500 fine as “late check-in fee” for “passengers who report at the checked-in counter less than 45 minutes prior to departure.”

Editorial: When protocol muffles the heart

SO, THE villain here is the Cebu Pacific pilot. He did no land on the runway despite the fact that runway lights were all ablaze. At least, that is what we will tend to believe if we listen to airport authorities.

But how can you gag the hundreds of “sundo” and departing passengers who were thrown into pitch darkness that night for a split second, a few minutes, time enough to get disoriented?

Gonzales: Salamat po, Doc!

TWENTY years ago, when we started noticing the signs of autism in my 3 year old son, we brought him to his pediatrician to ask why he was not talking yet. We were first referred to an ear doctor to rule out hearing impairment. A simple test of reacting to the bell by following its sound from his back or sides proved that our son can hear well. We were then referred to a developmental pediatrician. Before, there were only two doctors in the Philippines who specialize in Developmental Pediatrics, and both were based in Manila.

Ledesma: Thanks for the mishap

THE caption to this item may sound sick and paradoxical but there is much to be thankful for the near-tragic incident that involved a Cebu Pacific plane going out of control as it landed in the Davao International Airport during a rainy early Sunday night.

Editorial: Classrooms to collect

HERE is one election campaign promise that bears watching: by the end of this year, the shortage of classrooms in public schools should be met.

President Benigno Aquino III made that promise during a campaign visit last April in Bogo City. In the same speech, he also said his administration had inherited a backlog of 66,800 classrooms as of 2010.

Roperos: The economy

THERE is this economist who suggested that we should “build on advantages (in our economy) to fuel economic growth.” In a report in the business section of this daily, the professor pointed out to Sun.Star Cebu that “Philippine attributes such as English proficiency, youthful demographic, central location and natural resources would well complement the country’s current credibility.” In short, our country has the foundation for economic growth.

Wenceslao: Schooling

MY TWO sons will be back in school today, or two days after the opening of classes in public schools. I called up the admin last Sunday to confirm the schedule. It was June 5, indeed. I asked why it had to be on that date, the answer: “Kay private school man ni.” Oh well.

Nalzaro: Response to a letter

THE letter here of Mr. Wolfgang Bonnen, a German national who claimed to be one of the foreign observers sent here by their country's international organization in time for the May 13 elections, has triggered reactions from our readers.

In his letter, Bonnen criticized Mayor Mike Rama for having a showbiz and superstar complex when he danced and sang just to get votes. And though he called Tomas Osmeña arrogant, he praised the former mayor for the way he ran the affairs of the city government in his time.

Barrita: No more drink and drive?

PRESIDENT Noynoy Aquino has signed into law the “Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act of 2013.

The law penalizes anyone caught driving under the influence of alcohol, dangerous drugs and other intoxicating substances.

Carvajal: Sabotage

AT FIRST blush you would think Rep. Eduardo Gullas was a gracious loser. He readily conceded defeat and did not blame the PCOS machines. He also put up a sign thanking the people of Talisay for their support. It sure was looking like he knew why he lost and why this time he had to go.

But soon this proved to be a wrong take. Subsequent events tended to show that Mr. Gullas was right there scheming to get back in power.

Editorial: Down in the dumps

OFFICIALS and students of the Philippine Science High School-Cordillera are calling on the City Government to contain the stench of garbage from the transfer and sorting facility at the Irisan limekiln as the school is set to relocate nearby.

It is lamentable, the parallelism of the state of the PCHS-Cordillera and the state of education in the country – in the dumps.

Fernandez: Tribute to a development worker

ALLOW me to publish this piece written by colleagues and friends of John Paul Barbero who was killed on the 28th of May in Abra. Authorities have yet to conclude the investigation of his death. DSWD Cordillera grieves his tragic and untimely passing.

Carino: Tariff glide path

DEPENDING on the Energy Regulatory Commission's approval, 29 electric cooperatives in the country, including Beneco, will implement a new rate methodology by January 2014.

The rate scheme, called the Tariff Glide Path (TGP), will sort of radicalize the way the rates for distribution, supply and metering (DSM) charges are computed.

Domondon: Visiting a sister city

THE members of the City Council travelled on Sunday to its sister city Dipaculao, Aurora to meet with their counterparts in what is expected to be a joint legislative session.

According to the web, Dipaculao is a 4th class municipality in the province of Aurora, which, according to census in 2010, has a population of more than 27,000 people. The municipality itself was created in 1950 and the natives of the town are Ilocanos and Tagalogs.

Alamon: "Ganito kami noon, ganito pa rin ngayon"

THE passing of the great Filipino director Eddie Romero last week is a sad occasion for Philippine cinema and for the nation as well. Among the giants in Filipino film, he stands in the company of Lino Brocka, Ishmael Bernal, and Mike de Leon - film makers who understood the value of art and film-making beyond its commercial purposes. Their body of works are sharp, comprehensive, and timeless interrogations of the Filipino soul.

Ravanera: The 7th Co-op Principle

AMIDST the darkness of poverty and ecological disasters, a beacon of light is rising in the horizon signaling the dawn of a new day of cooperative re-awakening.

Pacete: Be proud to be a Silaynon

"PAGKAMADINALAG-ON: Bugal sang Silaynon!" is the theme of Silay City's 56th Charter Anniversary. Mayor Jose "Oti" Montelibano has planted a seed in the heart of the Silaynons so that they may rise above common selves, be achievers, and strive to be number one.

Jimenez: Never-ending problems in school opening and the K-12

IT'S more Fun in the Philippines! That's the tourism tagline that our country is carrying and surely it really represents the Philippines. While one does not want to talk bad or dirty about this country, it is often amusing to think that it is our leaders that make one talk about this nation. ***

Limlingan: First day at school

AS I write my column for today, children are having their first day of school. It was the start of classes yesterday, Monday, in public schools and in some private educational institutions. Observing things that take place inside private schools which started their classes simultaneous with government learning facilities, there seemed to be no problem except for some young schoolchildren who would not want to be away with their parents or yayas.

Tantingco: First Filipino martyr for freedom

YESTERDAY, June 3, Kapampangans marked the 442nd anniversary of the martyrdom of their first hero, “the brave youth from Macabebe” who, in 1571, refused to welcome the Spanish conquistadores and paid for it with his own life.

Remember that Tondo’s king Lakandula and Manila’s two chieftains, Rajah Matanda and Rajah Soliman, entered into a treaty of friendship with Miguel Lopez de Legazpi on May 18, 1571, which was the signal for Legazpi to occupy the city and the rest of the island in the name of the King of Spain.

Editorial: Quick action needed

PASSENGERS were obviously flustered, that the Cebu Pacific crew seemed not up to act fast in an emergency made them even more flustered, but that the airport authorities were not able to dispatch hands quickly made the passengers angry.

We can understand the anger. But we can also understand accidents. What we cannot understand is the slow reaction to the accident that has thus triggered anger.

Hidalgo: Techie gadgets, boon or bane -- in schools (Part 2)

WE ARE aware of a meritorious undertaking of groups of persons raising funds to purchase computer sets or laptops to be donated to schools. There is a yen among citizens to modernize by providing them with these up-to- date techie gadgets. Now, here is the question. When are the pupils or students ready to make use of computers or laptops? This must be understood by well-meaning administrators of any school. Introducing a pupil or student to computer-assisted learning needs a thorough knowledge of the psychologically and educationally sound steps in the learning process.