By Dennis Gorecho “Red-tagging” is a threat to life, liberty and security. Thus declared the Supreme Court in the case of Deduro vs. Major General Vinoya (G.R. No. 254753, July 4, 2023) that overturned a lower court’s 2023 decision dismissing a 2020 petition brought by Siegfred Deduro, an activist and former representative of the Bayan Muna party-list. Deduro alleged that …
Kuwentong Peyups
Saving the Asin Tibuok of Bohol
By Dennis Gorecho The dinosaur-egg-like “Asin Tibuok” is a rare Filipino artisanal sea salt from my home province Bohol that was featured in an episode of “Replacing Chef Chico” in Netflix. “Replacing Chef Chico” is a series that follows Ella (Alessandra de Rossi), a sous-chef in a Filipino fine dining restaurant who became the head chef when the original head …
Giant Philippine flag in the Independence Day parade in New York
By Dennis Gorecho NEW YORK — A huge Philippine flag, estimated to be 25 feet by 50 feet, was one of the highlights of the parade in celebration of the country’s 126th Independence Day on Madison Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. Considered as the world’s largest Philippine Independence Day celebration outside Manila, this year’s parade fell on June 2, 2024 (it is traditionally held on the first …
VAWC and child support
By Dennis Gorecho Even if the marriage is declared void, the obligation to give support to a minor child subsists. This was the ruling of the Supreme Court in the case of Wilfredo Ruiz vs. AAA (GR 231619, November 15, 2021) that involves a case filed under the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act (VAWC), or Republic Act …
Cyber libel as legal threat to media practitioners
By Dennis Gorecho The threat of being prosecuted for libel stifles the dynamism of the conversations that take place in cyberspace. Thus declared Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen in the case of Disini vs. Secretary of Justice (G.R. No. 203335, February 18, 2014) in connection with the constitutionality of Republic Act (RA) No. 10175 or the Cybercrime …
‘Red-tagging’ a threat to life, liberty and security
By Dennis Gorecho “Red-tagging” is a threat to life, liberty and security. Thus declared the Supreme Court in the case of Deduro vs. Major General Vinoya (G.R. No. 254753, July 4, 2023) that overturned a lower court’s 2023 decision dismissing a 2020 petition brought by Siegfred Deduro, an activist and former representative of the Bayan Muna party-list. Deduro alleged that …
VAWC and child support
By Dennis Gorecho Even if the marriage is declared void, the obligation to give support to a minor child subsists. This was the ruling of the Supreme Court in the case of Wilfredo Ruiz vs. AAA (GR 231619, November 15, 2021) that involves a case filed under the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act (VAWC), or Republic Act …
History of PH Christianity thru Yoyoy Villame song ‘Magellan’
By Dennis Gorecho March 16 is a significant date in the history of Christianity in the Philippines. It was on that day in 1521 when Ferdinand Magellan arrived in the Philippines, while it was in 1565, or 44 years later, when the Legazpi-Sikatuna blood compact occurred in Bohol. “On March 16, 1521 / When the Philippines was discovered by Magellan / They were …
Sunflower Run as a campaign on empowerment of women, children
By Dennis Gorecho On March 29, 1984, Proclamation No. 2346 was enacted declaring April 30 as “Woman Suffrage Day” to enable Filipino women to “renew their advocacy and support for clean, honest and free elections and pursue with greater zeal their efforts towards this direction.” It was on April 30, 1937 when Filipino women exercised suffrage …
Mary Magdalene, Easter and ‘Noli Me Tangere’
By Dennis Gorecho Easter is closely related to Jose Rizal’s novel “Noli Me Tangere.” The title is lifted from a biblical line on resurrection in the New Testament’s Gospel of St. John (20:17). In English, it is usually translated as “touch me not” as Jesus’ response to Mary Magdalene right after he confronts her just outside his tomb after his resurrection. Mary …