Ilonggo solons are not rubber stamps… yet

Posted by watchmen
March 21, 2017
Posted in OPINION

“Enjoy your time in public service. It may well be one of the most interesting and challenging times of your life.” –Donald Rumsfeld We still have faith in our Western Visayas representatives, even if the authenticity of their independence has been under a microscope after constituents believed their unanimous approval of the death penalty revealed …

Read More

Promoting Bacolod City, Negros to northern Mindanao

Posted by watchmen
March 21, 2017
Posted in OPINION

Last Thursday, I took the maiden Cebu Pacific Air Bacolod City-Cagayan de Oro flight, hosted by Department of Tourism-Region X (DOT-10) Director May Unchuan. It was my first time in northern Mindanao and I was provided a tour of Iligan City, a RoRo crossing to Ozamiz City, and spent the night in Oroquieta City. Misamis …

Read More

Nurturing a ‘suplado’

Posted by watchmen
March 20, 2017
Posted in OPINION

Four years and counting since moving to the Philippines after living in the United States for nearly 30 years and there are still cultural barriers encountered in the assimilation process. One of the first issues that continue to linger is the habit of many individuals who refuse to offer friendly greetings and, in many cases, …

Read More

Duterte wants to hurt Drilon, not Mabilog

Posted by watchmen
March 20, 2017
Posted in OPINION

“I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.” –Thomas Jefferson It is becoming obvious, after repeatedly tormenting Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog with unfounded accusations he is engaged in narco-politics, President Rodrigo Duterte is really targeting Senator Franklin Drilon. For the nth …

Read More

Nurturing a ‘suplado’

Posted by watchmen
March 20, 2017
Posted in OPINION

Four years and counting since moving to the Philippines after living in the United States for nearly 30 years and there are still cultural barriers encountered in the assimilation process. One of the first issues that continue to linger is the habit of many individuals who refuse to offer friendly greetings and, in many cases, …

Read More

Iloilo City jeepney operators are acting like spoiled brats

Posted by watchmen
March 20, 2017
Posted in OPINION

“People want to see big, escapist fare. They don’t want to be challenged to think.” –Harvey Weinstein Jeepney operators in Iloilo City need to stop acting like spoiled brats and consider the P0.50 fare hike being proposed by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB). The increase would assess P0.50 for the first five …

Read More

More teeth in local traffic management

Posted by watchmen
March 20, 2017
Posted in OPINION

After the Land Transportation Office-Region VI (LTO-6) recently conducted deputation seminars in Bacolod City and Kabankalan City, the local government will have more involvement in road management. The agency should be lauded for the move, as it will provide the imperative teeth the city needs in traffic management. * * * The upcoming Association of …

Read More

Rules for pedestrians

Posted by watchmen
March 20, 2017
Posted in OPINION

Beyond the frequent musings about the state of traffic in Bacolod City, there is also the issue of pedestrian etiquette and the apparent fearlessness of local pedestrians. In other countries, there are customs that followed, including crossing at crosswalks, waiting for pedestrians signals, and looking both ways before the crossing the street. Instead, along any …

Read More

Duterte appoints new Iloilo, Negros judges

Posted by watchmen
March 20, 2017
Posted in OPINION

“I love judges and I love courts. They are my ideals that typify on earth what we shall meet hereafter in heaven under a just God.” –William Howard Taft President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed the following judges for the islands of Panay and Negros: Daniel Antonio Gerardo S. Amular (RTC Branch 35, Iloilo City); Oscar …

Read More

A card reading system will eliminate overcharging

Posted by watchmen
March 20, 2017
Posted in OPINION

“When a company owns one precise thought in the consumer’s mind, it sets the context for everything and there should be no distinction between brand, product, service, and experience.” –Maurice Saatchi Back in May 1993, when the Panay Electric Company (PECO) was applying for a 25-year extension of its franchise before the Iloilo City Council, …

Read More