Opinion and Commentary
Samonte: How Caloocan's Bagong Silang became biggest barangay in PH
May 20, 2023, 1:13 pm
Fifty-two years ago, or in 1971, the administration of then president Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. created Barrio Bagong Silang from the former Tala Estate in Novaliches, North Caloocan City, bordering with San Jose del Monte, Marilao and Meycauayan, Bulacan, and Montalban, now Rodriguez town in Rizal.… Read More
Lu: Senate’s push for an anti-smuggling court
May 19, 2023, 1:05 pm
Due to the failure of courts, our senators are now pushing for the creation of special courts to exclusively try smuggling cases that are worth billions of pesos. For business owners whose operations have consistently suffered from goods smuggling, this is a welcome development. For so long,… Read More
Lauengco: Youth mental health, pandemic and more participative solutions
May 17, 2023, 2:59 pm
“Not caring about many things does not mean being indifferent; it means being comfortable with being different” Mark Manson During a recent hearing on the implementation of the Mental Health Act of 2017 conducted by the Senate Committee on Health, several figures from the Department of Health… Read More
Samonte: Why Andres Bonifacio deserves a place at Libingan ng mga Bayani?
May 11, 2023, 2:55 pm
As the Filipino people prepare for the celebration of their 125th Independence Day on June 12, I have in mind what I think is a very relevant question: Why we are not giving one of our foremost heroes a rightful place at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (LNMB)? Of course, I am referring to Gat Andres… Read More
Lauengco: Politics II: Short form content and politics
May 10, 2023, 11:33 am
“So the writer who breeds more words than he needs, is making a chore for the reader who read.” - Dr. Seuss Recently, there were several news articles in international media about some researchers’ warnings on the continuing and unabated rise of short form content and its effects. According… Read More
Zaldarriaga: Patriotism to PH
May 9, 2023, 10:59 am
The travel and tourism industry is a known crucial revenue generator for the government and it was one of the first sectors we looked into to revive the ailing economy. Prior to the pandemic, share of the travel and tourism industry to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) was at 12.9… Read More
Lu: Upholding solo parents’ welfare
May 7, 2023, 9:01 pm
It was a fun-filled day when the Quezon City government held the 1st National Solo Parents Week on April 25, 2023. Elected city officials and members of civil society organizations attended the event at Sunken Garden at the Quezon City Hall grounds. In my capacity as representative of the business… Read More
Samonte: The Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital in Tala: Now and Then
May 4, 2023, 2:56 pm
On April 22, 2023, Manila Times columnist and noted book author, movie scriptwriter and director Mauro Gia Samonte (no direct relationship with this writer except for having the same family name and being a newfound Facebook friend) had a captivating write-up about the former Central Luzon… Read More
Lauengco: Politics I: Artificial intelligence and political campaigns
May 3, 2023, 10:04 am
“But in practical affairs, particularly in politics, men are needed who combine human experience and interest in human relations with a knowledge of science and technology.” – Max Born Recently, there have been some news and features items abroad that featured the growing impact of… Read More
Zaldarriaga: PLDT provider of fastest internet service in PH
May 2, 2023, 2:11 pm
In today’s digital age, access to a reliable and fast internet service has become a necessity. With the increasing reliance on technology, high-speed internet service is now considered an essential tool in nation-building as it can drive economic growth, promote education by enabling… Read More
Lu: Civil society organizations and good governance
April 28, 2023, 4:54 pm
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) cited in its Governance Brief several good governance outcomes that have been documented when civil society organizations (CSOs) worked with the government for good governance. It mentioned the following: increased state or institutional responsiveness, lowering… Read More
Samonte: Dizzying transformation of Novaliches from a barrio to a diocese
April 27, 2023, 8:36 pm
A diocese within two dioceses. This best describes the present and unique situation of the former town of Novaliches, now divided between the two neighboring cities of Quezon and Caloocan in northern Metro Manila. History shows that Novaliches was among the hundreds of municipalities created in… Read More
Lauengco: SIM card registration, alerts, mañana and operant conditioning
April 26, 2023, 12:31 pm
“Sometimes success is less about making good habits easy and more about making bad habits hard.” – James Clear Last Sunday, Globe users in the Philippines were jolted by emergency alerts sent to their phones reminding them to register their SIM cards before the deadline. The alert with its… Read More
Zaldarriaga: Greener future through One for Trees program of Meralco
April 25, 2023, 2:52 pm
The pressing environmental issues of global warming and climate change are no longer distant threats. Devastating consequences are already being felt around the world -- from rising temperatures and sea levels to more frequent and severe natural disasters. Therefore, the need to come up with… Read More
Cal: The guns of August (4th of 4 parts)
April 24, 2023, 9:49 pm
Another unforgettable experience I had as a journalist was when I covered the failed coup d’etat staged by rebel soldiers against the government of President Corazon C. Aquino on August 28, 1987, eighteen months after she assumed the presidency following a four-day People Power revolution that… Read More
Samonte: The 33 golden jubilarians of Filipino press: 1952-2002
April 20, 2023, 3:10 pm
What was the typical impression or observation by newspaper readers and the general public about the conduct or behavior of the immediate post-World War II Filipino journalists? I found the answer to that question while I was going over the varied articles in the Commemorative Book published by… Read More
Lauengco: Bar exams post mortem and musings
April 19, 2023, 11:42 am
“The bar exam does not define you” - Anonymous Last Friday, the 2022 Bar results were finally released much to the relief of many who took it. Like all those who came before them, the bar was the culmination of a long exhausting journey. Each and every one of the taker probably had their own… Read More
Zaldarriaga: Reinforcing public trust via MMDA single ticketing system
April 18, 2023, 3:32 pm
Having an effective transportation system is essential for any society's economic, social and cultural development. A reliable transportation system enables people to commute to work, access essential services and engage in social and cultural activities. Hence, it is closely linked to the… Read More
Cal: Air-to-ground firefight (3rd of 4 parts)
April 16, 2023, 5:52 pm
But the most horrifying experience in my brush with death was when the PAF helicopter we were riding, together with American journalist, Marc Lerner, correspondent of Washington Times based in Manila, engaged in an unexpected daring air-to-ground gun battle with communist rebels of the New… Read More
Samonte: The La Mesa Dam of yore in my memories
April 13, 2023, 4:33 pm
Whenever the dry season months of March, April and May is around, I am thinking about a part of my life over 50 years ago when I was still an assistant correspondent of the former Philippine News Service (PNS) covering the two parts of Novaliches belonging to Quezon City and Caloocan City. During… Read More
