“Only younger brothers will understand me. We’re following in the footsteps of older brothers. You are looking up to your brother. You want to do the same things. You want to do as good as he and do it even better.” – Wladimir Klitschko Blood is thicker than water. Now a full-pledged politician as head …
OPINION
My former heckler, Tito Sotto
“Making people uncomfortable is one of my hobbies. I’m always hoping that half the people get the joke and the other half are the joke.” – Josh Homme NEW YORK CITY – The incident occurred in the morning on April 2, 2004 while I was being interviewed by GMA-7 in the lobby of the Sarabia …
‘Promdi’ power in bar exams
“The power of the lawyer is in the uncertainty of the law.” –Jeremy Bentham The results of the 2016 bar exams showed law schools outside “Imperial Manila” are improving and can no longer be taken for granted. For the first time in history, perennial “topnotchers,” the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, San …
Developing tourism
I remember meeting Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo in Davao City, where she told me she was looking for out-of-the-box tourism ideas. Tulfo-Teo has been around travel and tour operation circles; she knows the industry well. Our own DOT-Region VI (DOT-6) Director, Atty. Helen Catalbas, is one such innovator and, knowing her, the …
Why do locals demand door-to-door service for the most mundane things?
After living overseas for years and traveling to various parts of the world, one of the oddities that is, most likely, distinctly Bacolod City is the unnecessary need of seemingly able-bodied people to be dropped off at the door of whatever destination and sending their (presumably) family member to go park the cart – a …
Witnessing how ‘the last leaf clings to the bough’
“Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime.” –Martin Luther Recently, myself and media colleague, Regine Algecera of Cable Star-Iloilo, witnessed the words of The Cascades, “live with the lonely leaf that clings to the bough,” from the song The Last Leaf, in the real …
Comelec red tape and the resulting disenfranchisement
Last Saturday marked the voter registration deadline for the upcoming barangay elections, currently scheduled for October. Local Commission on Elections (Comelec) officials already announced no deadlines would be given, which, personally, makes no difference. As discussed in previous columns, upon moving to the Philippines, after voting absentee in the 2010 presidential election, visited the local …
‘Operation Tokhang,’ a different version
By Reuben P. Navarro Tokhang. The word has come to evoke fear among many today; for some, it could mean imprisonment for many years – for others, death. Why? What does “tokhang” mean? It’s become a favorite word among the media?, yet, why do many cringe in fear from there mere mention of the word? …
The demand for higher sugar prices will only diminish the industry
With a rally planned this coming Labor Day, Monday, May 1, the General Alliance of Workers Association (GAWA), through Secretary-General Wennie Sancho, announced their demonstration would also include the current issue surrounding the importation of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) by companies like Coca-Cola, which they, along with people like Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, …
The poor showing in the Palarong Pambansa is alarming
“Sports do not build character. They reveal it.” –Heywood Broun There seems to be no real challenges or rivalries among young athletes in the Philippines today. As of this writing, the lead held in the medal count by the National Capital Region (NCR) appears they are poised to wrap up this year’s Palarong Pambansa, taking …