By Dennis Gorecho I spent Valentine’s Day watching a concert of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) not directly about traditional love but one that imparts narratives of love of country, solemn heroism and resiliency. Through the universal language of music, “PPO Concert V: Hope at the Metropolitan Theater” commemorated the shared past of Poland and the …
OPINION
When fake news strikes
By Herman M. Lagon It was a typical morning, scrolling through updates, easing into the day, when a post stopped me cold. The announcement seemed official, bearing the name of a page titled “Jesuits (Society of Jesus),” and it broke the kind of news that strikes deep for someone who holds faith close: “With profound …
Decongesting Philippine prisons
By Sonny Angara During the public hearing on the budgets of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and its attached agencies, the Senate was updated on the alarming congestion rate of our jails and penal institutions. For one, the New Bilibid Prison (NBP), our national penitentiary, has a congestion rate of 344 percent. In exact figures, …
Why do we always have to forgive?
By Fr. Roy Cimagala Many reasons can come to mind to answer that question. One is that Christ himself said so. When asked by Peter how many times one should forgive, he stretched to practically infinite times the suggestion of Peter of seven times to 70 times seven. On another occasion, Christ also said that …
Will the Senate proceed ‘forthwith’?
By Ade S. Fajardo On Valentine’s Day, lawyer Catalino Gerenillo, Jr. filed a petition for mandamus with the Supreme Court seeking a writ to compel the Senate to proceed “forthwith” with the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. The petitioner cites Article 11, Section 3.1 of the Constitution which states that “in case the …
Unmasking martial law
By Herman M. Lagon February commemorates the Evelio Javier assassination (February 11) and the People Power Revolution (February 26 to 25), which changed Filipino history. Many rebelled against Marcos after Javier’s 1983 assassination. The People Power Revolution ended Ferdinand Marcos, Sr.’s rule in February 1986 by showing unity power. The years of martial law and …
CEAP stands tall for EDSA
By Herman M. Lagon History is not neutral, nor is it an abstract record of the past. It shapes the present, informs the future, and, when manipulated, distorts a nation’s identity. The Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) understands this deeply, which is why its firm stand on commemorating the 1986 EDSA People Power …
Faith always works wonders
By Fr. Roy Cimagala Indeed! That gospel episode where a centurion begged Christ to cure his dying slave (cfr. Luke 7:1-10) simply shows us that with a strong faith like that of the centurion, miracles can happen. “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof,” …
Is Comelec doing enough to ensure fair, honest, credible midterm elections?
By Ignacio R. Bunye The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has been actively enforcing laws against election offenses, particularly focusing on vote-buying and campaign violations. While these efforts are commendable, one must ask: Is the Comelec doing enough to ensure fair, honest and credible midterm elections? Comelec has formed the Committee on Kontra Bigay to enforce …
Salute to schools that keep EDSA alive!
By Herman M. Lagon It takes more than just remembering a date on the calendar to uphold the spirit of the EDSA People Power Revolution. This is why we must salute the schools that suspended classes on February 25, defying the government’s downgrade of the occasion. Their decision is more than symbolic — it upholds …