Opinion and Commentary

Ledesma: Herd immunity, Pharmally, and Blue Ribbon Committee

December 15, 2021, 1:03 pm

AS I write this piece the Covid -19 new cases in the Philippines is down to less than 500. This week too an unprecedented 24-million doses of various vaccines arrived in the country thus ensuring a substantial supply of vaccines from now all the way to the first quarter of 2022.  About 55% of… Read More

Gomez: Davao stories

December 13, 2021, 7:58 pm

DAVAO City may be many things to other people. Frontier land. Gateway. Food basket. Melting pot and migrants’ haven. Fruit capital. But for me, it will always be one thing: home. Although born in Manila, I grew up and spent all my adult life here. My youth, from the 1960s to the 1970s, was… Read More

Ledesma: How can I help you?

December 12, 2021, 12:10 am

IN my new favorite medical drama series "New Amsterdam”, the main character Dr. Max Goodwin, assumed the job of running the New Amsterdam Hospital and started bringing back humanity, decency, and purpose in the workplace by asking everyone a basic question: "How can I help you?"  He believes… Read More

Ledesma: Power grab

December 10, 2021, 1:01 pm

THE unethical takeover of commercially viable franchise areas of Northern Davao Electric Cooperative (NORDECO) by the Davao Light and Power Company via an equally immoral legislative route is despicable, to say the least.  DLPC, an Aboitiz Power firm, wormed its way via the congressional route… Read More

Ledesma: Where will it bring us?

December 2, 2021, 6:26 pm

WHEN we were kids, my late grandfather will always remind us that for every action we do, every word we say, and every choice we make, there is always a corresponding consequence. That it will surely result in something good or something bad, not only immediately, but more importantly in the… Read More

Ledesma: Bong Go decides

December 2, 2021, 6:20 pm

THE withdrawal of Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go from the Presidential derby came as a surprise as when he was pushed by party leadership into the race.   I can feel the excruciating predicament he suddenly found himself in. He was 40 days into his Vice Presidential quest when Davao City Mayor… Read More

Ledesma: Is Parlade someone’s marionette?

November 22, 2021, 6:28 pm

ANTONIO Parlade, Jr. filed a Certificate of Candidacy for president and came out berserk accusing Sen. Bong Go as “kasama siya sa problema ng bayan” but ended saying “I will not explain”. Maybe pressed by the media to elucidate on his accusation he claimed that Bong Go, a long-time… Read More

Ledesma: A narrative to a political destiny

November 14, 2021, 1:01 am

FOR those not familiar with how politicians indulge in the vagaries of the electoral contest, the unfolding of events, starting with the withdrawal of Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte for her re-election bid, is an enigma. This, after she made an announcement each time she is asked or prodded… Read More

Ledesma: Starting to enjoy the ride

November 8, 2021, 12:29 pm

AS of this writing, the Philippine Stock Market Index (PSEi) has just breached the 7300 level. Though further corrections are still expected, analysts say that it will hover around 6,900 to 7,300 levels before it breaks another threshold by yearend.   This means that if you’re one of those… Read More

Ledesma:  2022 polls the race of the dead

November 4, 2021, 8:16 pm

THERE had been so many arguments and extraneous explanations about who should get the credit for the enforcement of the 13th-month pay. Let’s face it, the strict implementation of the 13th-month pay was during the time of Pres. Ferdinand Marcos.  The “dictator”, as the opposition would… Read More

From the Mail: An Open Letter to UP Visayas Community

November 2, 2021, 3:36 am

THE dialogue between the Regional Task Force-ELCAC 6 and UP Visayas officials on October 29, 2021 drew flak from different organizations of the university. The following organizations made their remarks and demanded transparency and accountability: 1. UP Visayas University Student Council (UPV… Read More

Ledesma: Leni sa ‘bibig nahuhuli’

October 29, 2021, 2:04 pm

THERE is a Filipino proverb which says, “Ang isda ay  sa bibig nahuhuli”. Translated into English: “the fish is caught by its mouth”.  Another way of saying it: “Ang isda’y sa kanyang labi nahuhuli, At ang tao nama’y sa salita’t sabi”.  The chairperson of the Liberal Party,… Read More

Ledesma: It’s a season of weird promises

October 22, 2021, 11:41 am

THE Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration has announced that the  La Nina phenomenon has started. This means most of Luzon, Visayas, and the National Capital Region will experience above normal rainfall conditions that will last up to the 1st quarter of… Read More

Ledesma: Who among the VP bets can deliver?

October 18, 2021, 1:05 am

SOME quarters are belittling Vice Presidential aspirant Christopher “Bong” Go. A first-termer in the Senate, yes, yet he is always part of the vilification campaign by “Oust Duterte“ movement and the opposition propaganda machinery from day one.  Starting off as an Executive Assistant to… Read More

Badoy: The Ignoble Nobel

October 9, 2021, 8:55 pm

I HAD to sit in silence since finding out that one of the most despised and least trusted persons in the Philippines has been given the Nobel Peace Prize for her “efforts to safeguard freedom of expression” in one of the most vibrant democracies in the world with such an excess of freedom of… Read More

Ledesma: The Yellow Ribbon Committee

October 8, 2021, 10:29 pm

THE Blue Ribbon Committee has become a virtual Yellow Ribbon Committee. It took us for a ride around the globe. It purports to do investigation in aid of legislation but the truth, as it is turning out, is that it has become a veritable investigation for re-election. This is a worn-out phrase… Read More

Ledesma: Expect the best, prepare for the worst

October 7, 2021, 9:19 pm

WE all make plans, either personal or business-related. And when we plan, it’s human nature to always expect that things will work out the way we want it, the way we planned it. We set our own expectations. And when things didn’t go as expected, we feel unhappy and disappointed.  Many… Read More

Ledesma: A period of discernment

October 1, 2021, 2:00 pm

DAVAO City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte is on leave from October 5 to 8. Again it has stirred the hornet’s nest. She personally announced that it will be for a medical leave in Singapore but some quarters are not buying that.  Interestingly, the dates the Commission on Elections has set  for the… Read More

Ledesma: Imponderables

September 23, 2021, 3:35 pm

“IT ain't over till the fat lady sings". It simply means that one should not rush to judgment or presume to know what is ahead on an ongoing event. This saying aptly applies to the many changes obtaining in plans and organizations that pertain to the regular elections in 2022.  The announcement… Read More

Ledesma: Salute to our educational front-liners 

September 21, 2021, 2:55 pm

WHEN we talk about front liners, the first persons to come into our mind are our medical health workers - doctors, nurses, and allied medical staff. These are the people who, on a daily basis, go out and risk their lives to take care of the sick and to keep us safe and healthy. And we truly… Read More