Opinion and Commentary

Ledesma: A Davao City-Samal bridge at last! 

THE long-awaited Davao City-Island Garden City of Samal bridge has finally come to fruition with the signing of the concessional loan made available by China to the Philippines. The long wait is finally over. Finance Sec. Sonny Dominguez and Ambassador Huang Xilian of the Peoples Republic of China... Read More

Ledesma: United we stand, divided we fall

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte issued a clarion call to the nation to unite behind the incoming administration.  Indeed, we are facing the biggest challenges -- the wave after wave of oil price increases and resulting in the looming food crisis.  We have just wiggled out from the... Read More

Ledesma: Midnight madness

SENATOR Imee Marcos minces no words in describing the fish importation as “midnight madness” which Agriculture Sec. William Dar approved. Obviously, a fiery senator cannot hold her temper any longer.  Navotas fish port was awash with freshly caught fish and here is the head of... Read More

Ledesma: Meanwhile in Davao City

HUGPONG ng Pagbabago ruled over in the just concluded elections. But what else will one expect? Except in the mayoral race where former congressman Ruy Elias Lopez challenged Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, While social activist Magz Maglana tested a bid for a congressional seat against... Read More

Ledesma: Flying out and coming home

WHAT do we have here? VP Leni Robredo has flown to New York City to attend her daughter’s graduation. We should not deprive her of that. She too will have the opportunity to be in a community where she won in the overseas elections. She will find comfort there with Loida Lewis as her host. The... Read More

Ledesma: The stakes are high 

ELECTION is over. The results are out. Perhaps by the time this article comes out, most of the winners have been proclaimed. The usual family dynasties are back in power, some unexpected winners, some first-timers. Most of those who did not make it have gracefully accepted... Read More

Ledesma: It’s game over

I HAVE lived long enough and stored in my memory bank episodes of fraud and election-related crimes and venalities that occurred in at least nine presidential elections. Without fear of contradiction (to borrow that cliche), I can say that the May 9, 2022 polls are the most peaceful. Well, we... Read More

Ledesma: The ingrate son

WHAT kind of son is he who has the gall to disown his mother just because they differ in opinions and options? How vainglorious can a son get just because he thought he is free from the umbilical cord of his mother and is now on his own and can afford to renounce the woman who brought him into this... Read More

From the Mail: Is RSF’s press freedom index a joke?

By Atty. Perry SolisPRESS freedom is alive and well in the Philippines despite the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) release of its annual World Press Freedom Index (WPFI) putting the country in an unenviable position of no. 147 under what it called a new methodology, down from 138 last year.According... Read More

Ledesma: Tinderbox in Davao 

WE can count with our fingers the number of days left in the campaign and soon the electorates will cast their ballots for the May 9 elections. At this point, it would take radical and earthshaking issues and events to alter the voter’s decision for their preferred candidates, especially for... Read More

Ledesma: Are we ready for our new leaders?

NEXT Monday, we will be electing to office our new set of National and local leaders. Some will be leading us in the next 3 years while some for 6 years. Depending on how and what they will be doing or not doing, it can be the longest or the shortest 6 years for us Filipinos.  More often... Read More

Ledesma: The beneficiary of plots and counterplots

THE press conference called by presidential aspirants Isko Moreno, Ping Lacson, and Norberto Gonzales turned out to be the exact opposite of the general expectations. The presumption was that these presidentiables will have change of heart, let go of their aspirations and throw their support behind... Read More

Ledesma: Easter reflections

HAPPY Easter! There is no doubt that Easter is one of the most important and happiest celebrations among Christians. It celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 3 days after his crucifixion, death, and burial. His rising gave His Disciples and believers renewed hope and... Read More

Ledesma: Everybody loves a winner

AT an average of 59 percent which all the survey firms have identically tallied from March to April it is most likely that the country will have a president elected by the majority. The survey outfits have not actually factored in the endorsement of Iglesia Ni Cristo which is known for its bloc... Read More

Ledesma: You before me 

“TRUE leadership must be for the benefit of the followers, not to enrich the leader” — John Maxwell.It is just less than a month from D-Day. And as we draw near to the day when we will choose the next set of leaders who will shape and direct the course of our... Read More

Ledesma: Trouble hounds Partido Reporma

THE unceremonious ditching of Senator Panfilo Lacson as the presidential candidate of Partido Reporma by the party President Pantaleon Alvarez in favor of Leni Robredo of the Liberal Party has triggered a major disorganization and disorientation in its ranks and dwindling supporters. During the... Read More

From the Mail: Sara's mantra

By Chito Fuentes  THE desperation shot was bound to happen. A day before the campaign for local posts kicked off, former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez hugged the headlines when he declared his support for Vice-President Leni Robredo. This prompted Sen. Panfilo Lacson to resign from... Read More

Ledesma: Filipina leaders

“EMPOWERING women is key to building a future we want.” – Amartya Sen According to the latest Grant Thornton’s annual Women’s Business Report, the Philippines ranks first globally in terms of women in leadership positions. The report showed... Read More

Ledesma: The die is cast

ONE consummation devoutly wished by the presidential aspirants is to be endorsed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte. Even the most rabid critic of Duterte among them cannot hide her wish. Well, she may deny it but when the President said he would prefer a lawyer to be president her camp cannot suppress... Read More

Ledesma: Absence does not make heart grow fonder

WE are all familiar with the proverbial saying, "absence makes the heart grow fonder.” It means that when people we love are not with us, we love them even more. It conveys the idea that when we are far from someone, that’s the time we realize how much they mean to us, how much... Read More