Opinion and Commentary
Samonte: The proliferation of acronyms in PH and elsewhere
November 24 2022, 2:14 pm
Have you ever noticed the seemingly unending proliferation of acronyms of almost all kinds not only in the Philippines nowadays, but also in other countries throughout the world? An acronym is defined by the dictionary as "a word formed by the combining of initial letters or syllables and letters… Read More
Lauengco: The next generation of Filipino farmers
November 23 2022, 11:27 am
“It takes a village to raise a child.” This is an old proverb commonly attributed to African cultures. It means that it takes a whole community of people to provide the environment for children to properly grow and develop. In meetings with several farmers lately, I have been hearing a common… Read More
Zaldarriaga: Staying alert helps prevent road accidents
November 22 2022, 9:21 am
Long before the pandemic hit the Philippine economy, transportation had already been a huge challenge to Filipino commuters. The lack of quality infrastructure, railway projects and public terminals has taken its toll on the quality of life of the commuting public and heavily affected their… Read More
Laurel: Marcos: A new journey in PHL-China cooperation
November 21 2022, 4:02 pm
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will be meeting China’s President Xi Jinping in the first official visit outside of ASEAN in the first week of new year 2023. That is a significant point in itself I point out to many people, signifying the highest importance President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is… Read More
Samonte: The 1973 oil crisis and PH
November 18 2022, 12:49 am
Filipinos born a few years before the advent of the September 1972 martial law maybe interested to know that during the 1973 global oil shock, the Philippine government had to ration regular and premium gasoline to vehicle owners and other users of such fuel products. Such rationing was… Read More
Lauengco: Look north to Taiwan
November 16 2022, 1:06 pm
Perceptual constancy or object constancy is a tendency to view familiar things as having the same characteristics regardless of changes. For example, when we see a person, often, we sometimes do not notice certain changes in their appearance or demeanor. Hidden in the middle pages of one of our… Read More
Zaldarriaga: Stronger collaboration needed versus cable theft
November 15 2022, 7:04 pm
Illegal cable cutting and theft are now considered some of the biggest challenges for utility and telecommunications companies in the Philippines amid the disruptions they cause to electricity, cable and internet services and the life-threatening risks they pose. Data from the Manila Electric… Read More
Laurel: PH-China cooperation in the ‘Asian Moment’
November 14 2022, 10:37 am
The world’s attention is now focused on Asia as the rare convergence of several crucial regional and international activities pursuing the unity and welfare of mankind are convened in Cambodia, Thailand and Indonesia this November. Three major regional and international meetings of world leaders… Read More
Samonte: LGUs and 'One Town, One Product' strategy
November 10 2022, 1:04 pm
There is a bright prospect that after 18 years, an economic-boosting program launched through the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) by the administration of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (2001-2010) to provide much-needed stimulus to the economic growth of towns, cities, provinces… Read More
Lauengco: Situational awareness: Basketbrawls, politics, business
November 9 2022, 12:36 pm
"In today’s dynamic world, your effectiveness … depends on your readiness to adjust quickly to the moments of need or opportunity, adversity, and change.” — Jennifer Touma One of the trending topics this morning is the punching spree that occurred during the NCAA basketball game… Read More
Zaldarriaga: National gov't support crucial to enhance LGU operations
November 8 2022, 4:15 pm
We are all living proof to this—business and government transactions a few years back were among the most challenging and time-consuming interactions Filipinos have ever encountered. Citizens have had to endure long lines and spend a significant amount of time to process documents and pay taxes… Read More
Laurel: The pitfall traps to PH modernization
November 7 2022, 3:13 am
I was recently invited to speak at the “Think Asia” global forum entitled “A dialogue amongst leading think tanks in Asia for the 21st century 2022: Asia in a Complex World” held on Nov. 2, 2022. The introduction to the forum explained, “’Think Asia’ seeks to affect policy… Read More
Samonte: Why November is unique month in PH history
November 3 2022, 4:36 pm
November, one of the four months of the year with 30 days, along with April, June and September, can be considered unique. It is the only month that begins with a number in red, being a legal holiday, and ends with another number also in red. In Philippine tradition, Nov. 1 is observed as "All… Read More
Lauengco: The logic of organic
November 2 2022, 11:14 am
Abandon Normal Instruments – there are times when we must change the way we do things when they do not help us achieve our goals. If these supposed tried and tested methods harm us as well , this change must be done immediately… In life we must sometimes discover the recipes we use and change… Read More
Zaldarriaga: Balancing business and consumer welfare this Christmas
November 1 2022, 9:38 am
The fourth quarter of the year is what most Filipinos usually look forward to especially since the Philippines has the longest Christmas season, the most important holiday to many Filipinos. However, what we anticipate as a joyful Christmas will hopefully not be a bleak one, following the… Read More
Laurel: China: Beacon of peace in the tumult
October 31 2022, 11:50 am
“The world is entering a decade of tumult as the pursuit of a more just world order clashes with the arbitrary hegemony of the collective West...” Russian President Vladimir Putin is quoted to say at the annual meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club held from Oct. 24 to 27, 2022 in Moscow. US… Read More
Samonte: PBBM-VPSZDU30 Team: A nice choice by Filipino voters
October 27 2022, 6:15 pm
When Filipino voters elected with an overwhelming majority the tandem of President Bongbong Marcos (PBBM), and Vice President Sara Z. Duterte (VPSZDU30) last May, they deserved an accolade for having opted for the nicest, if not the best, combination of the country's top two officials in terms of… Read More
Lauengco: ‘Chaos’ can sometimes be useful, necessary
October 26 2022, 12:59 pm
Chaos often breeds life when order breeds habit. – Henry Adams Chaos is often defined as something that produces disorder and confusion. It is generally perceived as a negative state of things and something to be avoided. FEAR OF CHAOS Recently, I gave a lecture to some local government middle… Read More
Zaldarriaga: Powering adoption of electric vehicles
October 25 2022, 9:48 am
Just when mobility began increasing as the country recovers from Covid-19, the war between Ukraine and Russia -- two of the world’s largest oil producers, sent economies tumbling after the massive increases in global crude oil prices that dribbled down to the local fuel industry. Based on data… Read More
Laurel: 20th Party Congress: National and Global Peace and Prosperity
October 24 2022, 8:49 am
The final takeaway from the Communist Party of China (CPC) 20th National Congress is the promise of China’s achievement of its own high-quality modernization and development, national strength against the many challenges being interposed on its path to National Rejuvenation, and the invitation… Read More
