Opinion and Commentary
Lu: A doable approach to solving self-sufficiency in food security
June 2, 2023, 10:24 am
We all know that the Philippines is an agricultural country. It is unfortunate, however, that all sorts of agricultural products are imported, undermining local production. What is untenable is that hunger and malnutrition continue to hound Filipinos when we have the most fertile land and abundant… Read More
Samonte: Why rainy season is also time for water conservation?
June 1, 2023, 12:17 pm
As the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is expected to announce soon the country's official transition from the dry season into the rainy season, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has advised the public to conserve water amid… Read More
Lauengco: MSMEs, RCEP, BTS ME
May 31, 2023, 4:54 pm
“Supporting another person’s success won’t ever dampen yours” – We Buy Small This week, about a thousand owners of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) gathered in Cabanatuan City to launch the city’s chapter of the MSME NGO group, “Basta Tayo Sama Sama sa Micro/Medium/Small… Read More
Zaldarriaga: Government, private sector team up in war vs. illegal drugs
May 30, 2023, 11:34 am
Although implementing a slight change in its approach, the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. remains steadfast in its fight against illegal drugs. Under the Department of the Interior and Local Government's (DILG) “Buhay Ingatan, Droga'y Ayawan” (BIDA) program, the government… Read More
Lu: Nano enterprises in the limelight
May 26, 2023, 2:57 pm
It was an unprecedented move for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. On the 42nd Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), he pushed for recognition and support for nano-businesses that have been "unrecognized but are impacting on the everyday lives of the people." To quote the… Read More
Lauengco: Denver Nuggets, media influencers, neurodivergence and innovation
May 24, 2023, 9:53 am
“You want to be ahead of that curve. You don’t want to be the team reacting to it or fighting that. It’s fun. You just got to make sure you’re constantly challenging yourself.” - Michael Malone, Denver Nuggets Coach In this basketball crazy country, where Filipinos follow the NBA as much… Read More
Zaldarriaga: Public deserves more ride-hailing services
May 23, 2023, 8:56 am
For the nth time, ride hailing giant Grab Philippines has again been slapped worth millions of penalties allegedly for its repeated failure to refund its customers for the supposed surcharges it imposed a few years ago. In 2019, it can be learned, that the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC)… Read More
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
