Category Archives: Columns

LAST Sunday, I commended—among others—retiring Justice Adolfo S. Azcuna’s ponencia upholding the constitutionality of the 20-percent senior citizens’ discount. In reaction, readers asked me to explain the extent and coverage of the seniors’ privileges. Ambassador Ramon J. Farolan, in tandem with Vice President Noli L. de Castro, has long been championing the senior citizens’ cause. In support of their advocacy, I am answering the questions. Continue reading →

IT is said that when the United States sneezes, the Philippines catches a cold. Well, the US (together with much of the developed world) is down with pneumonia but, thankfully, the Philippines is not in coma. Only in sniffles… so far. Why? Continue reading →

AS the keynote speaker during the First Integrity and Human Rights Conference in Manila on Jan. 28, I found the opportunity to update my July 6, 2008 column titled “Most corrupt.” Attended by about 300 delegates, including the diplomatic corps, the confab was sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme represented by Renaud Meyer, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chaired by Leila M. de Lima, the Transparency International (TI) headed locally by retired Judge Dolores L. Español, and the Business for Integrity and Stability of Our Nation (Bisyon 2020) chaired by Fil-American tycoon Loida Nicolas-Lewis. Continue reading →

A FEW days ago, I received an interesting e-mail that, in part, read: “I’m Jerald Jayme, 17 years old and an avid reader of the Inquirer. I would like to ask you this. In your own opinion, do you think Chief Justice Puno has what it takes to be Philippine president? It always haunts my juvenile mind.” Continue reading →

TOMORROW, Jan. 19, Congress will resume its session amid talk that an impeachment complaint would be filed against Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno for allegedly withholding the promulgation of a decision, penned by Justice Ruben T. Reyes, ousting Jocelyn Sy Limkaichong from her congressional seat. I believe that, by itself, this withholding cannot support an impeachment. Continue reading →

MANNY Pacquiao’s stunning victory over Oscar de la Hoya seems to have catapulted boxing to the top of Philippine sports. I personally prefer basketball. But whether in boxing or in basketball, an impartial referee is non-negotiable. Had the referee been biased or unfair, Pacman’s victory would have been skewed. Continue reading →

MUSIC and credit risk. Ivory keys and default probabilities. Musical scores and balance sheets. Mozart and Black-Scholes. Munich and Stanford. Can we behold all these seemingly unrelated topics and names in one memorable evening? Continue reading →

MANY friends, especially in the diplomatic corps, are amazed at the exceptional role our Supreme Court has played in our recent history. For example, in 1997 and 2006, it stopped imprudent efforts to revise the Constitution through a peoples’ initiative. In 2001, it defrocked Joseph Ejercito Estrada and validated Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s ascent to the presidency. It has also annulled presidential issuances (like Presidential Proclamation 1017 declaring a state of national emergency), nullified acts of Congress, and voided government contracts. Continue reading →

PRESIDENT Macapagal-Arroyo visited China at least eight times during the last seven years: on Oct. 29, 2001, Sept. 1-3, 2004, Oct. 27-Nov. 2, 2006, April 21, 2006, June 5-6, 2007, Oct. 1-2, 2007, Aug. 7-10, 2008 and Oct. 23-27, 2008. She took six of them during the last two years (2006 to 2008). In contrast, her predecessors went to China only once during their respective incumbencies: Ferdinand Marcos on June 7, 1975; Corazon Aquino on April 14, 1988; Fidel Ramos on April 25, 1993; and Joseph Estrada on May 16, 2000. Marcos reestablished diplomatic relations with our giant Asian neighbor in 1975. Continue reading →

THE Charter change (Cha-cha) express via the constituent assembly (Con-ass) is being derailed by a defiant Senate, a delayed test case on the “joint or separate vote” issue, a Supreme Court trying to maintain its heroic place in history and other legal obstacles. Continue reading →