Opinion and Commentary
Zaldarriaga: Good news for Meralco customers as overall rates lower this month
April 12, 2023, 1:22 pm
The summer and dry season in the Philippines is unlike any other. Over the past few years, heat index has been reaching the dangerous levels of 42 to 51 degrees Celsius, where heat-related illnesses such as stroke and cramps are said to be probable. Last year, the Philippines registered a heat… Read More
Lauengco: Motivational rice and affective presence as a tool
April 12, 2023, 10:31 am
“I really want to be nice, but annoying people just won’t let me” – from coolfunnyquotes.com Because of all this commentary about motivational rice lately, I recently had a daydream of famous vloggers singing, “We don’t talk about that motivational speaker” a la “Encanto” the… Read More
Cal: Scary peace talks right inside rebel territory (2nd of 4 parts)
April 9, 2023, 8:31 pm
The following year in April 1977, I was assigned to cover the opening of peace negotiations between the government and MNLF in a bid to find a just and lasting solution to the armed conflict in the southern Philippines.To show its sincerity, the government peace panel would go to MNLF areas where… Read More
Lauengco: Random Holy Week thoughts and memories
April 6, 2023, 10:37 am
“Unless there is a Good Friday to your life, there can be no Easter Sunday” – Ven. Fulton Sheen This week, we have our annual Holy Week non-working days plus one (aside from Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Black Saturday and Easter, we get Monday off, too). It is one of the longest Holy Week… Read More
Zaldarriaga: Conserve water
April 4, 2023, 1:30 pm
The month of March became an intense period to endure amid the extreme weather condition that was felt just a few days after the state weather bureau announced the official start of the warm and dry season. According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services… Read More
Cal: In the line of fire (1st of 2 parts)
April 2, 2023, 9:12 pm
As the defense reporter of the Philippines News Agency (PNA) for four decades, I had the rare privilege to go around the country countless times to cover news events, particularly at the height of the Moro insurgency war in Southern Philippines. I also covered the Visayas region during the ‘70s… Read More
Samonte: Spotlighting the PNA at 50
March 30, 2023, 4:40 pm
This columnist was one of those invited to the celebration of the golden anniversary of the government-run Philippine News Agency (PNA) in its editorial offices at the National Media Center along Visayas Avenue in Quezon City last March 24. I accepted the invitation enthusiastically for two main… Read More
Lauengco: Musings on the water crisis
March 29, 2023, 3:09 pm
“There is simply no way to overstate the water crisis of the planet today” - Maude Barlow Stuck in traffic on a hot day, I find myself thinking about water and more specifically about the water crisis. Lately, there has been a surge of pronouncements on the looming and “creeping” water… Read More
Zaldarriaga: PH agri sector up for a boost under BBM's watch
March 28, 2023, 10:35 am
From being a long-neglected sector, the Philippine agriculture industry is now up for a major overhaul to become one of the keys to economic development. None other than President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who took on the role of heading the agriculture sector, himself believed that with sound… Read More
Laurel: ‘Soon it will be vomited’
March 27, 2023, 5:41 pm
In 2021 US President Joe Biden convened the first ever “Summit for Democracies” hoping to demonstrate the US model of democracy by bringing together countries from around the world he perceived as modeling themselves after the US prototype that serves as the “Beacon on the Hill.” I have… Read More
Samonte: MRT Line-7 was planned as LRT Line 4 during FVR's time in 1995
March 23, 2023, 3:45 pm
Did you know that the Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT)-7 now under construction from Quezon City to San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan was originally planned as Light Rail Transit Line 4 (LRT-4) during the administration of former President Fidel V. Ramos (1992-1998) and would begin from the Old… Read More
Lauengco: BTS movement template for helping farmers
March 22, 2023, 8:13 am
“My grandfather used to say that at least once in your life, you will need a doctor, a lawyer, a policeman, and a preacher. But every day, three times a day, you will need a farmer.” - Brenda Schoepp Farmers are truly an integral part of our lives. Unfortunately, our farmers still lack many… Read More
Zaldarriaga: Future-proofing through digitalization, technology advancements
March 21, 2023, 7:55 pm
Companies around the globe are noticeably banking on technological advancements to grow their businesses and maintain the efficiency and relevance of their products, services and systems. The nature of the rapidly evolving world demands such, that only those that can keep pace, are expected to… Read More
Laurel: China: World's peacemaker
March 21, 2023, 11:16 am
President Xi Jinping arrived in Moscow to meet his “good old friend” President Vladimir Putin just about two weeks after the historic “miracle” China pulled off with Iran and Saudi Arabia sealing a peace pact that put an end to the nearly half-a-century conflict between the two major… Read More
Samonte: Completion of Mindanao Ave. Extension seen under PBBM admin
March 16, 2023, 1:48 pm
There is bright hope that the long-delayed Mindanao Avenue Extension from the North Luzon Expressway-Mindanao Avenue Toll Plaza in Ugong, Valenzuela City to Gen. Luis Street in Barangay Caybiga, Novaliches, North Caloocan City may finally be completed under the "Build Better More" Program of… Read More
Lauengco: Neurodivergence in PH: The fight for awareness, inclusivity
March 15, 2023, 2:46 pm
“We should celebrate neurodiversity – the world would be poorer and life duller if we were all the same.” – Neil Milliken “In a culture that believes great minds think alike, people whose brains work differently are often ignored or excluded.” – unknown author This week (March 13 to… Read More
Zaldarriaga: More players needed to lower ride-hailing fares
March 14, 2023, 12:24 pm
When ride-hailing giant Grab Philippines merged with its sole competitor Uber Philippines five years ago, there have been several criticisms about how the merger resulted in fewer choices for the commuting public as well as higher fares squeezing their pockets. Last year, online news outlets… Read More
Samonte: The 1st barangay polls in PH after the 1972 martial law
March 9, 2023, 9:14 am
A column in this Section last March 1 by Atty. Gilberto Lauengco about the importance of the coming Oct. 30, 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls prompted me to look back at the very first Barangay election held in the country a year after then President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. lifted… Read More
Lauengco: Attention economy, jeepney strikes, nat'l issues and goldfish
March 8, 2023, 9:02 am
“I sometimes worry about my short attention span, but not for long” - Herb Caen This week, a lot of people in Metro Manila gave their take on the week long jeepney strike. Social media is abuzz with one liner comments, posts, memes, rants, jokes about the said strike. One of the main… Read More
Zaldarriaga: Airports mirror country's image
March 7, 2023, 12:05 pm
The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), for the longest time, had been ranked among the worst and most stressful airports in the world, with travelers complaining of long queues, numerous security checks, lack of seats, delayed flights, and delayed luggage release, among other things. Last… Read More
