Opinion and Commentary

Ledesma: Optimism amidst Covid-19

August 28, 2020, 6:06 pm

DEPENDING on one’s character and motivations, the Covid-19 pandemic can be a bane to many but a boon to those who see opportunities under the new normal. Of course, the crisis shocked and dislocated us from our comfort zones. We lost jobs, kept us un the four corners of our home, movements were… Read More

Ledesma: Make up and glasses for 2022 

August 26, 2020, 2:17 pm

THIS early there is a perceptible move and movements all geared towards 2022 regular elections. These rumblings bring together the political oppositions of varied ideological persuasions, rightists, and the radical left in what looks like they are having a sweetheart deal. This strategy brought… Read More

Tabije: Preserving the earth thru logging, mining

August 25, 2020, 3:15 pm

“WHAT? That’s a crazy idea”, is the most common reaction to this idea. The common thinking being that, in fact, logging and mining have contributed much to the problems of climate change, environmental degradation, frequent floods and such in the country. So how can they be the solution?… Read More

Ledesma: The greatest gift  of all

August 19, 2020, 2:21 pm

I CAME from a middle single income family. My father was a regular employee while my mother was a full-time housewife. Despite this, they managed to send me and my 3 siblings to a local private school. But I remember, there was a time when our family faced a crisis that affected our finances.… Read More

Ledesma: The prize of a death wish

August 18, 2020, 10:46 pm

PILO Hilbay and Erin Tañada exemplify the irrational behavior of today’s opposition and their propaganda machines. Pitiful, for by all indication, they had been nosing around and keeping track of President Rodrigo Duterte who flew quietly to Davao City last weekend. Obviously they were caught… Read More

Tabije: PH performance in global fight against Covid-19

August 16, 2020, 1:49 am

OF late, there have been so many commentaries saying, in so many words, that the Philippines has been a failure in the fight against Covid-19. What is the real score? There are so many factors that can be used to gauge the performance of countries in the fight against Covid-19: (a) no. of tests,… Read More

Ledesma: SPMC the vile critics didn’t know

August 14, 2020, 2:39 pm

IF the opposition and their propaganda machinery think they scored big with what they claim was a damaging revelation that the Southern Philippines Medical Center received a huge sum of reimbursements from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, they better save the cow for their party… Read More

Nieva: SPMC and the heartbeat of Mindanao

August 14, 2020, 2:28 pm

THE news headlines labeling Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) as “Davao City hospital” are obviously misleading and have underlying malice. Such morbid typecasting is a blatant insult to the good governance and competent workforce of the hospital that have transformed SPMC into an… Read More

Ledesma: The 4-Way Test

August 13, 2020, 3:25 pm

I REMEMBER a story shared by my high school teacher about a father, a son, and a pony. One day, the father eagerly put his son on the pony as he was bringing him to the town plaza. On their way, they noticed their neighbors were looking at them saying “look at that boy, he’s younger and… Read More

Ledesma: A symptom of desperation

August 12, 2020, 1:11 pm

PEOPLE are getting sick by the thousands but what is sickening is the maniacal glee of some quarters seeing the rise of numbers of people infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). Like so many countries we are between the heavens and the deep blue sea but only in the Philippines do we see… Read More

Ledesma: Misreading Duterte

August 3, 2020, 6:45 pm

THE telecom duopoly must be feeling the heat of the President’s hyperbole. He wants to speak with God in Bethlehem but all the answers he gets is ‘’ the number you are calling. cannot be reached”.The so-called  “ber” months are just around the corner and soon it will be… Read More

Castillo: Mayor Eric B. Africa ready to defend Lipa

August 2, 2020, 10:58 am

ARRIVING at the Lipa City hall, we can’t help but appreciate the inside office of Mayor Eric B. Africa. PR Excellence, House Rep. Emelie Katigbak, showed us the way and introduces us to the staff of the office. After the pleasantries, we were accommodated by the amiable secretary of the office… Read More

Laurel: US trust rating suffers steep crash: SWS

August 2, 2020, 10:52 am

THE first striking result from the SWS 3rd quarter 2019 survey report is the huge drop of US Trust Rating amongst Filipino in that period. The survey results were reported out to the media in July of this year, almost half a year after it was done by the Social Weather Station (SWS). As one… Read More

Ledesma: You can hate PRRD but his temper delivers

July 29, 2020, 2:11 pm

AFTER the sound of fury and the usual incendiary rhetorics and political analysis that came on the heels of Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s State of the Nation Address here we back to facing the stark realities. What do we expect from human slot machines and dye-in-the-wool anti- Duterte cabal who can… Read More

Castillo: The lady solon, ‘siling labuyo’ in fighting form

July 27, 2020, 10:41 am

THE cool breeze of the early dawn excites us as we travel down south heading to Lipa City of Batangas. As we drive towards SLEX and STAR Tollway and exiting the quiet part of the Balete town, we started to notice its charm and give us a nostalgic feeling. A warm welcome greeted us as we meet the… Read More

Ledesma: Red Carpet to the High Court

July 24, 2020, 12:11 pm

A NUMBER of barangays in the countryside that used to be the hotbed of the New Peoples Army have declared open defiance to the armed elements of the Communist Party of the Philippines and its legal fronts. Recently, several barangays in Negros Occidental and Davao Region had declared the… Read More

Castillo: Volunteerism challenge: Fulfillment and sense of pride

July 21, 2020, 12:35 pm

VOLUNTEERS are the heart of non-profit community organizations. These organizations depend solely on the willingness of its members to fulfill their commitment to help their community. Extending help mostly in challenging times like this pandemic. Every Individual has this innate desire to help… Read More

Ledesma: Cybercrime

July 20, 2020, 6:01 am

BEFORE Bong Go’s lawyer asked the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct a probe into what appears like a syndicate of character assassins out to besmirch the image of the Davao Senator, several other politicians filed separate complaints with the NBI against persons who use the social… Read More

Ledesma: Bong Go’s E-governance

July 19, 2020, 6:47 pm

THE call of Sen. Bong Go to government departments and agencies to avail of new information and communication technologies is not only part of the solution to mitigate the spread of the new coronavirus but will curb corruption in the government bureaucracy. The other ultimate advantage is… Read More

Nieva: PH’s health info system needs fixing

July 15, 2020, 2:36 pm

THE Covid-19 pandemic highlights the crucial role of the health information system (HIS). It has shown us the weakness of the entire HIS of the country and how the Department of Health (DOH) has been grappling with it. This problem is not new as advocates have been pointing this out over the past… Read More