Opinion and Commentary
Zaldarriaga: Healthcare access for persons deprived of liberty
March 19, 2024, 4:12 pm
With the Philippines ranking third in the world for prison overcrowding, it is a heavily concerning reality that persons deprived of liberty in the country face deplorable living conditions that compromise their overall health and well-being. Some 165,000 people are incarcerated across the country… Read More
Lu: People’s Council: Strengthening public participation in governance
March 15, 2024, 11:52 am
On Sept. 14, 2009, the Quezon City Council approved the Participation, Accountability, and Transparency (PAT) Ordinance of Quezon City. It is an “ordinance strengthening and institutionalizing the system of partnership in local governance between the Quezon City government and the people of… Read More
Samonte: Reminiscing on FVR as PH's 12th and Centennial president
March 14, 2024, 2:54 pm
Did you know why the late President Fidel V. Ramos (FVR), the 12th president of the Philippines -- the first democratic Republic in Asia -- was also called the country's Centennial president? Well, because, it was during his six-year term from June 30, 1992 to June 30, 1998 that the Filipino… Read More
Lauengco: Food tourism
March 13, 2024, 4:48 pm
“Every country can be defined through their food … That’s the soul of a country “ -Quincy Jones A couple of days ago, I had an opportunity to go to one of Taipei’s famous Michelin rated restaurants that specializes in various types of Taiwanese beef noodle soup. Located in one of the… Read More
Zaldarriaga: Bright skies ahead with NAIA privatization
March 11, 2024, 1:15 pm
After much discussion and anticipation, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) will finally be privatized and modernized —a welcome move that is expected to drive economic growth and position the Philippines as a premier tourism and investment hub. The Department of Transportation has… Read More
Lu: Celebrating women entrepreneurs
March 8, 2024, 7:00 pm
Join me in honoring the achievements of women this International Women's Day, celebrated annually on March 8. This global tribute recognizes the incredible contributions of women across various aspects of life. In the Philippines, the day holds special significance as it highlights the remarkable… Read More
Samonte: How I became a QC resident without leaving original family home
March 7, 2024, 5:50 pm
I was born in the flowery month of May 1939, just four months and 21 days ahead of the founding of Quezon City on Oct. 12 of the same year by then-President Manuel L. Quezon. I was baptized eight days later at the then 38-year-old Our Lady of Mercy Parish church in the former town proper of… Read More
Lauengco: Kaizen and direct to people aid programs, politics
March 6, 2024, 3:44 pm
“Excellence is not a destination, it is a continuous journey that never ends.”- Brian Tracy This year, several aid programs by both national agencies and local governments are set to be implemented. As usual, there are several naysayers who have rehashed their criticisms of direct aid… Read More
Zaldarriaga: Safety, fair play in the motorcycle taxi industry
March 5, 2024, 11:01 am
With many Filipinos required to report physically to work whether daily or a few days a week, many have become dependent on alternative modes of transportation including motorcycle taxis to beat traffic in Metro Manila. Despite the safety concerns hounding motorcycle taxi operations, it has become… Read More
Samonte: Usefulness of LEDAC meetings during PFVR's administration recalled
February 29, 2024, 3:52 pm
The five-letter acronym "LEDAC" stands for Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council which has been established under Republic Act (RA) 7640 signed on Dec. 9, 1992 by then President Fidel V. Ramos (FVR). Its primary function is to serve as an advisory and consultative body to the… Read More
Lauengco: The ubiquitous street vendors’ role in economy, governance, politics
February 28, 2024, 5:35 pm
“The best test of a nation’s righteousness is how it treats the poorest and most vulnerable in its midst.” – Jim Wallis Lately, the sari-sari store has been gaining a lot of notice. A recent report by analytics startup Packworks revealed that sales of sari-sari stores in the country posted… Read More
Zaldarriaga: Weathering El Niño
February 27, 2024, 1:13 pm
As the El Niño phenomenon persists in the Philippines, the need to take more proactive measures is further highlighted to help the country weather its impact, especially with the looming dry season. The Department of Agriculture in its most recent report said the damage of El Niño on the… Read More
Lu: Sari-sari stores important for economic growth
February 24, 2024, 9:08 am
A study states that sari-sari stores in the Philippines had a sale of PHP8 billion in 2023. This is a large sum considering that sari-sari stores thrive all over the country – in every nook and cranny. What is surprising is that the sale in 2023 represents an increase of 20 percent from the… Read More
Samonte: Why it's inadvisable for writers to deal with fake news
February 22, 2024, 2:06 pm
Much of the topics I often write about in this column, as can be gleaned from the title itself, is culled from personal experiences and observations, or what I have read and appreciated as very significant and inspiring in one's life. I normally begin with a glance at a certain event and proceed… Read More
Lauengco: Digitalization of national gov’t aid programs
February 21, 2024, 2:13 pm
“Technology is best put to work in the service of building a better world” – Simon Mainwaring Financial and other types of aid for individuals in various sectors of our society is a staple in many government programs. The standard method of distribution of aid is through face-to-face systems… Read More
Zaldarriaga: Soft skills in the digital age
February 20, 2024, 12:51 pm
Last week, I marked my 35th year in Meralco—a career milestone that, looking back, allows me to appreciate the decades of evolution that have changed and defined the way we do communications. While new technologies have disrupted many aspects of communications, the core principles and skills… Read More
Lu: QC vendor business school: in support of ‘nanopreneurs’
February 16, 2024, 9:13 am
Last Feb. 8, Quezon City Mayor Ma. Josefina "Joy" Belmonte launched the country’s first Vendor Business School (VBS), which aims to help market vendors become responsible entrepreneurs. The program was launched by the local government in partnership with the Consultative Group for International… Read More
Samonte: QC almost lost La Mesa watershed to Montalban in 1990s
February 15, 2024, 2:13 pm
This is the story of how Quezon City, the country's former national capital from 1948 to 1976, nearly lost its territorial jurisdiction over the vast La Mesa Dam, Reservoir, Watershed Reservation and Nature Reserve in the northernmost portion of Metropolitan Manila or the National Capital Region… Read More
Lauengco: Political marketing
February 14, 2024, 2:25 pm
“I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy” - John Adams This week, El Salvador’s popular and controversial president, Nayib Bukele, was re-elected by a landslide majority. A stunning 82.66 percent of or 2.7 million of the 3.2 million… Read More
Zaldarriaga: Inclusive digitalization for OFWs
February 13, 2024, 11:03 am
Businessman and philanthropist Manuel V. Pangilinan, who once worked as an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in Hong Kong, recently shared that “OFWs work hard because that’s the only way to cope with homesickness”. This leads me to ponder on the role our migrant workers play not just in… Read More
