Category Archives: Columns

MANILA, Philippines–When I started writing this weekly column on Feb. 11 this year, I laid out my basic belief that “every leader and every organization, big or small, must have a clear idea of what they ultimately want to accomplish, and of the specific ways to achieve the declared goals.” Every leader must publicly commit to and aggressively pursue “a clear vision, mission and core values.” Moreover, “leading by example is the best, if not the only, way to accomplish the vision/mission.” In short, visionary leadership by example is the best success formula. Continue reading →

MANILA, Philippines–Jose Cruz (not his real name), a lad barely in his teens, wakes up at four o’clock every morning to be able to catch the early delivery of the newspapers he peddles to motorists at a busy intersection in Makati. Continue reading →

MANILA, Philippines–Last Sunday, I outlined the four inviolable legal parameters that qualified party-list winners must observe to obtain additional seats, and discussed how the Supreme Court, in “Veterans Federation Party vs Comelec,” converted these parameters into a mathematical formula. Continue reading →

MANILA, Philippines–Last Friday, Dean Raul C. Pangalanan, who I believe should have been named to the Supreme Court years ago, wrote on the “party-list conundrum.” Earlier, Fr. Joaquin G. Bernas labeled it an “experiment.” Last week, the Commission on Elections named the 13 party-list winners that are each entitled to one “qualifying” seat in the House of Representatives. Continue reading →

MANILA, Philippines–Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV formally took his oath of office before a barangay chair in Caloocan City a week ago. That he chose to swear before the humblest elected official in the country is indicative of his conviction that he owed his election to the great multitude that are underserved and underrepresented. Continue reading →

MANILA, Philippines–The last elections produced some jolting results, the most startling being the victory of Antonio Trillanes IV on the national level, and of Ed Panlilio on the local level. Both began their terms yesterday. Inexperienced in the ways of politics, both defied the organizational odds of “men, money and machine,” ran on plain guts, and won convincingly even if by slim margins. Both symbolized the yearning of our people for genuine reforms, and their disgust for “lying, cheating and stealing.” Continue reading →

MANILA, Philippines–Last Sunday, I wrote about my visit to Tokyo to thank the Japanese government for the P300-million unconditional grant to help build the Philja Development Center in Tagaytay. Thereafter, my wife Leni and I joined a grand tour of Japan arranged by Globus, one of the largest tour operators in the world. Globus packages may be bought from any travel agency here. Continue reading →

MANILA, Philippines -Accompanied by my wife Leni, I arrived from Osaka a few days ago. Earlier, in Tokyo, I called on Japanese Chief Justice Hiro Shimada and Senior Deputy Foreign Minister Katsuhito Asano to thank them for the no-strings-attached P300-million grant the Japanese government gave last year to help the Supreme Court in building the Philippine Judicial Academy (Philja) Development Center in Tagaytay. Continue reading →

MANILA, Philippines – After President Joseph Ejercito Estrada assumed office, a close friend wondered whether she could still address him by his nickname Erap. So she asked him, “Now that you are our President, how should I call you?” “No problem Mare, you can still call me at my old telephone number,” Estrada jokingly replied. Continue reading →

MANILA, Philippines–To boost its theme of “One Global Filipino” as well as to stabilize its claim of being ?the voice of Philippine business and the catalyst in creating wealth in the country,? the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) organized a Council of Senior Advisers (CSA). Continue reading →