Category Archives: Columns

Congratulations to the new archbishop of Manila, Luis Antonio Tagle. Intellectually gifted, eloquent and truly humble, he can explain the most complicated theological questions in simple English or Filipino. Only 54, he will soon be elevated to the college of Catholic cardinals. Continue reading →

A titanic war is looming between the executive and judicial branches of government over the judiciary’s budget. Simply stated, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad is proposing that appropriations for unfilled judicial positions should not be diverted to other purposes (like salary increases for incumbents) but should be reverted to the national treasury. Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez objected, saying that Abad’s proposal violates fiscal autonomy. However, beyond the legalism and money rhetoric is – I think – a deeper problem: delayed justice for our people. Let me explain. Continue reading →

The CEOs of the top corporations in the country have pledged to renounce any form of bribery and to conduct their business ethically according to a new “Unified Code of Conduct.” It seems the “Integrity Initiative” – the anti-corruption campaign launched by the Makati Business Club, Management Association of the Philippines, European Chamber of Commerce, American Chamber of Commerce, and the Hills Program on Governance of the Asian Institute of Management – has electrified big business. The core idea is that corruption cannot flourish unless business allows it. Continue reading →

Two career jurists were recently promoted by President Aquino to the Supreme Court (SC). Court of Appeals (CA) Justice Bienvenido L. Reyes replaced Antonio Eduardo B. Nachura. Another CA justice, Estela Perlas-Bernabe, took the seat of Conchita Carpio Morales, who retired June 19 and later named ombudsman. They balance and compliment the first SC appointee of President Aquino – Justice Maria Lourdes P. A. Sereno, who had a distinguished record in the non-career sector, in the academe and private practice. Continue reading →

“Will we be allowed to vote during national elections without having to execute the affidavit that endangers our status in the US?” dual citizens (“duals”), immigrants and green card holders (“greens”) inquire. Since columns are uploaded in Inquirer.net at past midnight, Philippine time, which is daytime in America, US readers are usually the first to read them and to e-mail questions. This query is frequently asked. Continue reading →

Filipino Taipans accompanied President Aquino in his China trip. Their main purpose was to help generate trade and investments. However, I will not write on their business acumen but digress a little and take up their passion for education. Continue reading →

Tourism is the world’s biggest and most exciting industry. Last year, more than a billion tourists spent over $1 trillion gallivanting around the planet. The top 10 destinations, according to the United Nations-affiliated World Tourism Organization, are (1) France, (2) the United States, (3) Spain, (4) China, (5) Italy, (6) Great Britain, (7) Turkey, (8) Germany, (9) Malaysia and (10) Mexico. Continue reading →

I cannot fathom why Iloilo Representative Niel C. Tupas Jr., chair of the committee on justice of the House of Representatives and ex-officio member of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), wants to water down the standards in screening applicants for appointments to or promotions in the judiciary and in the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB). Continue reading →

The pursuit of peace always commands top priority in the agenda of every new president. This is why President Aquino set aside normal protocol and ventured to Tokyo recently to meet Murad Ebrahim, chair of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Indeed, the best way of ending violence, death, destruction and dislocation in our country, especially in Mindanao, is a negotiated peace accord. Continue reading →

“When the US sneezes, the world catches a cold,” so goes a popular adage. And it was never truer than during the past few days when the financial markets in the world, including the Philippines, gyrated wildly after the credit rating of the United States was downgraded by Standard & Poor’s (S&P). Economists may understand the ins and outs of the turmoil but non-eggheads like me need to make sense of it in less technical language, in terms of how it originated, how it can be solved, and how we, in the Philippines, can cope with it. Continue reading →