Opinion and Commentary
Lu: A millennium of PH-China relations
June 28, 2024, 12:06 pm
We should not forget that the Philippines and China have a long history of trade and diplomatic ties -- far longer than any other country in the world -- amid the backdrop of souring diplomatic relations over the West Philippine Sea (WPS) issue. To put it bluntly, the relationship between the… Read More
Samonte: The party-list system of elections: Is it beneficial for the people?
June 27, 2024, 1:42 pm
The 48 members of the 1986 Constitutional Commission (Con-Com) appointed by then-President Corazon C. Aquino to draft a new Charter decided to include an entirely new section providing for the development of "a free and open party system according to the free choice of the people." In accordance… Read More
Lauengco: Arbor Day – trees, planning, creative thinking
June 26, 2024, 10:57 am
“The true meaning of life is to plant trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit. “- Nelson Henderson Last Tuesday was Arbor Day in the Philippines. Though it is celebrated on different dates in other countries, Arbor Day is celebrated every June 25 in the Philippines pursuant to… Read More
Zaldarriaga: Better connectivity
June 25, 2024, 11:16 am
Last week, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the inauguration of a new connector road and the groundbreaking of two more projects designed to significantly improve access and travel between Metro Manila and the Southern Tagalog region. President Marcos Jr. was joined by businessman and… Read More
Lu: A call for diplomacy, unity
June 24, 2024, 11:35 am
The simmering conflict in the West Philippine Sea between our country and China has reached a critical juncture. Reports of aggressive actions by Chinese vessels against Filipino fisherfolk and the Philippine Coast Guard have escalated tensions, raising fears of an unwanted armed conflict that… Read More
Samonte: The rare total solar eclipse in PH on June 20, 1955: A recollection
June 20, 2024, 3:23 pm
Where were you and what was your immediate reaction when the sunlight dimmed and the hot day turned into a few minutes of darkness in the whole Philippines and some other Asian countries on June 20, 1955, or exactly 69 years ago today? A rare astronomical phenomenon called total solar eclipse… Read More
Lauengco: The need to push unpopular but beneficial measures
June 19, 2024, 10:28 am
“The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few” – Spock (Star Trek) Last week, the City Government of Baguio announced a proposal submitted by Metro Pacific Tollway Corp. (MPTC) to implement a congestion fee system in certain parts of the city. Under the scheme, owners of private cars… Read More
Zaldarriaga: Closing the loop
June 18, 2024, 9:53 am
Around a month ago, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said the government is hard at work to improve and upgrade the country’s transportation system, even committing to make the Philippines a “leader in smart and sustainable transportation.” While the Philippines still has a long way to go… Read More
Lu: Stop violence against children
June 17, 2024, 8:55 am
Violence against children remains a critical issue globally, with the Philippines being no exception. The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) estimates that three out of five Filipino children experience violent discipline. On a larger scale, of the 33.4 million… Read More
Lauengco: Linus security blanket and the West PH Sea
June 12, 2024, 11:29 am
“It is not so much that we are afraid of change but it is that place in between that we fear… It is Linus when his blanket is in the dryer. There is nothing to hold onto.” - Marilyn Ferguson In the widely popular Peanuts comic strips written and drawn by Charles Schulz which featured Snoopy… Read More
Zaldarriaga: Kite-flying and public safety
June 10, 2024, 6:02 pm
Rapid urbanization has changed the way we do many of our activities including favorite pastimes such as playing in the streets and kite-flying. Just a few months ago, a boy reportedly sustained severe injuries after he tried on his own to retrieve a kite that got stuck in an overhead powerline.… Read More
Lauengco: The clock is ticking. Should we go nuclear?
June 5, 2024, 12:42 pm
“Risk comes from not knowing what you’re doing.” – Warren Buffet For the past few weeks, occasional brownouts have plagued many areas in the country, including Metro Manila and neighboring provinces. On Tuesday, the Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) announced that rotational power… Read More
Zaldarriaga: Insights from the private sector
June 4, 2024, 2:17 pm
With the Philippines working to become an upper middle-income economy in the coming years, the vital role the private sector plays in the pursuit of this goal is further highlighted as a pillar of growth and a driver of innovation. The private sector generates 93 percent of the Philippines’… Read More
Lu: The importance of Philippine mangroves
May 31, 2024, 9:16 am
This situation is truly alarming. A report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) stated that half of the world’s mangrove ecosystems are at risk of collapse due to climate change. The IUCN, known for its Red List of threatened species, has now highlighted the threat to… Read More
Lauengco: Road rage and the need for stiffer penalties
May 29, 2024, 1:42 pm
“If you wait by the river long enough the bodies of your enemies will float by”- Sun Tzu Yesterday, a stay-in driver was shot and killed in an alleged road rage incident which occurred on the EDSA Ayala tunnel. According to witnesses and reports, the victim had an altercation with the suspect… Read More
Zaldarriaga: Lowball
May 27, 2024, 1:41 pm
The Philippines is set to conduct its first-ever online voting for Filipinos abroad next year —a milestone in the country’s suffrage history and a move that signals commitment towards greater digitalization. With millions of Filipinos around the world expected to participate in the 2025… Read More
Delos Reyes: After Antheus
May 24, 2024, 3:57 pm
Demigod Hercules must have been so flabbergasted at how the fight to the death with Antheus (son of Mother Earth, Gaea) was turning out. Each time any part of Antheus' body touched the ground, his strength was renewed, fought with more reserves of vigor. Hercules' strength was on the wane. In one… Read More
Lauengco: Has technology outpaced human development?
May 22, 2024, 9:56 am
“The development of technology will leave only one problem: the infirmity of human nature.”- Karl Kraus A few weeks ago, two large circular live interactive video portal installations resembling “stargates” were installed in two different locations. One portal was set up in a busy part of… Read More
Zaldarriaga: Promoting long-term stability in the energy industry
May 21, 2024, 11:35 am
When it comes to discourse on economic development, energy security is often overlooked compared to other factors such as infrastructure, agriculture, and education. But in today’s highly interconnected world, the importance of reliable electricity service cannot be overstated. It can dictate… Read More
Lu: Sanitation: Issues of water and toilets
May 20, 2024, 9:00 am
I found it intriguing to read a report from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) stating that only 84 percent of Filipino families have access to basic sanitation services. This means that 16 percent of families lack access to these services. According to the 2020 population… Read More
