Opinion and Commentary

Samonte: Reminiscing on July-August 1972, 2023 typhoons and floods

August 10 2023, 5:40 pm

The aerial inspection and personal visit made by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (PBBM) to the flood-hit Central Luzon provinces of Bulacan and Pampanga on Aug. 7 made me recall an almost similar incident 51 years ago involving his late father, former President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr., more… Read More

Lauengco: Snip Away – Consider Vasectomy

August 9 2023, 2:46 pm

“With vasectomy you get snipped but you are still equipped “- Unknown August is “Family Planning Month”. As part of the annual celebration and activities of the said month, the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) recently called for more medical doctors in Northern Mindanao to… Read More

Zaldarriaga: Boosting PH tourism through sports

August 8 2023, 4:31 pm

Set to become beyond memorable, the month of August has certainly elicited a wave of excitement amongst basketball fans because exactly 17 days from today, the much-anticipated FIBA World Cup 2023 will once again take place in the country. This is truly a monumental milestone that will not just… Read More

Lu: Strengthening filial piety, shared values for harmonious society

August 4 2023, 8:23 pm

The launch of the Chinese People’s Federation for World Peace-Philippines (CPFWP-Philippines) in Quezon City on July 27, 2023, was an auspicious occasion, bringing together government officials, representatives from various sectors and esteemed guest speakers. The CPFWP envisions an… Read More

Samonte: PBBM pursues his late father's energy program for PH progress

August 3 2023, 6:29 pm

There is a bright indication that the much-awaited electrification of the entire country may be realized before the end of the six-year term of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. or BBM in June 2028. This can be gleaned from his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 24 where… Read More

Lauengco: The starfish organization in business, politics (Part 1)

August 2 2023, 2:15 pm

“The harder you fight a decentralized opponent, the stronger it gets.” - Ori Brafman and Rod Beckstorm The starfish is a unique organism. If you cut of an arm it regenerates a new arm and the small arm becomes a new starfish. This ability comes from its decentralized neural structure. In… Read More

Zaldarriaga: Support of Filipinos key to success of FIBA World Cup 2023

August 1 2023, 3:38 pm

The Philippines has long been known as a “basketball country” and now that the highly anticipated FIBA World Cup 2023 is just weeks away from being staged once again in the Philippines, the opportune moment has come to let the world see how this beloved sport has the power to unite our nation… Read More

Samonte: The importance of infrastructure in PH's economic development

July 27 2023, 3:43 pm

Anticipating the importance that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. was expected to give to infrastructure development in the country in his second State of the Nation Address (SONA), I retrieved from my filing cabinet two weeks ago an old book containing some of the speeches of the late President… Read More

Lauengco: Know the landscape before you start something

July 26 2023, 12:37 pm

“Always be aware of your surroundings.” - ancient quote The filing of candidacy for the coming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections is from Aug. 27 to Sept. 2. A few days ago, a childhood friend of mine told me that he decided to run for barangay chairman in the said elections and asked… Read More

Zaldarriaga: Approved NLEX toll rates hike lower than inflation rate

July 25 2023, 1:41 pm

Patience is a virtue – an overused expression but also a valuable statement, which holds undeniable truth. NLEX Corporation's remarkable display of patience while awaiting the decision of the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) regarding their request for price adjustment is a sign of its high regard… Read More

Samonte: 1st Dumagat tribe member from Bulacan town finishes education

July 20 2023, 4:34 pm

When the Metro Manila College (MMC) based in Novaliches, Quezon City held its 49th Commencement Exercises last June 24, one of the very grateful graduates was a 35-year-old female member of the indigenous peoples (IPs) Dumagat tribe from the eastern Bulacan section of the Sierra Madre Mountain… Read More

Lauengco: It is time to ‘link up’

July 19 2023, 12:40 pm

“We are all joined to each other like links in a chain. Lift one link and others are raised with it.” - Dr. Arlene K. Unger from her book, “COURAGE” “Let’s Volt In!” – Voltes V Link up is the act of connecting or putting together. As a phrasal verb, link up in common usage is to… Read More

Zaldarriaga: PLDT, SMART dominate as fastest internet provider in PH

July 18 2023, 9:34 am

PLDT and SMART is recognized, for the fifth time, as the fastest internet provider in the country. This was announced last month by Global benchmarking company Ookla®. PLDT has dominated the Ookla® Speedtest Awards™, achieving a top speed score of 86.52 in 2022 affirming the telco's… Read More

Samonte: How the former Novaliches town was dismembered 75 years ago?

July 13 2023, 4:06 pm

Exactly seven decades and five years ago this coming July 17, the then two-year-old First Philippine Congress (1946-1949) enacted Republic Act 333 which made Quezon City the new capital of the country in place of Manila. The new law was signed by then President Elpidio R. Quirino (1948-1953) who,… Read More

Lauengco: The microchips of Taiwan and tensions in the region

July 12 2023, 9:41 am

“Even the largest avalanche is triggered by small things.” – Vernor Vinge Lately, there has been an uptick of news and discussions about escalating tensions in the Taiwan Strait. There is a renewed interest in the said region among Filipinos especially in the light of recent events involving… Read More

Zaldarriaga: Telco industry lauds EO 32 (s. 2023)

July 11 2023, 2:18 pm

The pursuit of collective prosperity, especially for a developing country like the Philippines, requires collective and aligned initiatives from all sectors of the society. Since driving the country towards advancement should not only depend on government efforts, fostering a culture of… Read More

Lu: National feeding program should benefit local dairy producers

July 7 2023, 12:02 pm

In 2018, former President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11037, or the "Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act," with the aim of addressing the problem of undernutrition among Filipino children. The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Social Welfare and… Read More

Samonte: How Novaliches almost became Imelda City in 1976?

July 6 2023, 9:31 pm

Who remembers former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos, and how? This question in a nutshell, posted several times on Facebook on the occasion of the recent celebration in Malacañang of the 94th birthday of Mrs. Marcos, mother of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., prompted me to look back at an… Read More

Lauengco: Water shortage and desalination

July 5 2023, 2:16 pm

“Thousands have lived without love but not one without water” – W.H. Auden“There is an imminent risk of a global water crisis” - UN World Water Development Report 2023 Last July 4, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), through its… Read More

Zaldarriaga: PLDT backs ARTA’s drive to streamline processes for telco towers

July 4 2023, 5:37 pm

Navigating through the aftermath of the pandemic, the government continues to work hand in hand with members of the private sector to propel the country towards recovery and to once again, push for economic growth. To achieve national advancement faster and easier and to improve ease of doing… Read More