Opinion and Commentary

Lauengco: Snip Away – Consider Vasectomy

“With vasectomy you get snipped but you are still equipped “- UnknownAugust 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... Read More

Zaldarriaga: Boosting PH tourism through sports

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 mark... Read More

Lu: Strengthening filial piety, shared values for harmonious society

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

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 he... Read More

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

“The harder you fight a decentralized opponent, the stronger it gets.” - Ori Brafman and Rod BeckstormThe 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

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... Read More

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

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

“Always be aware of your surroundings.” - ancient quoteThe 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... Read More

Zaldarriaga: Approved NLEX toll rates hike lower than inflation rate

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

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’

“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 VLink up is the act of connecting or putting together. As a phrasal verb, link... Read More

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

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?

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

“Even the largest avalanche is triggered by small things.” – Vernor VingeLately, 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... Read More

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

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

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?

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... Read More

Lauengco: Water shortage and desalination

“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 2023Last July 4, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA),... Read More

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

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

Samonte: Why I want to give a try to the proposed MIF Act

While going over the newscast of the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on its website on June 23, I came across a story written by the wire agency's Senate reporter Wilnard Bacelonia and quoting presidential sister Senator Imee R. Marcos as assuring that Congress has the oversight function that allows it... Read More