Monthly Archives: October 2013
Help the quake victims
October 16, 2013
A terrible earthquake rocked the Visayan islands of Bohol, Cebu and nearby provinces and caused untold destruction on roads, bridges, town halls, hospitals, colleges, hotels, malls and other public and private buildings. Priceless Filipino heritage – the centuries-old churches, some of them more than 400 years old, among the oldest in the Philippines – were not spared. Continue reading
Aquino, Senate, House honor Megan Young
October 16, 2013
MANILA – President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomed Filipino American Megan Young for winning the Miss World beauty competition that was held in Bali, Indonesia on September 28.
Young, who made history as the first Miss World winner from the Philippines, paid her courtesy call on the Chief Executive in a simple ceremony at the Malacanang Palace’ Reception Hall. Continue reading
Northern Samar’s Biri rock formation now in Top 10 Philippine Gems list
October 16, 2013
TACLOBAN CITY – Northern Samar’s amazing rock formation has been included in the Top 10 Philippine Gems, a project undertaken by Isla Lipana & Co. to entice more tourists and encourage possible investments. Located in the island town of Biri facing the Pacific Ocean, the formations are said to be carved and shaped by nature for millions of years. Continue reading
Pacquiao agrees to rematch with Bradley
October 16, 2013
A rematch between world boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and American champion Timothy Bradley Jr. may happen soon. This after Bradley scored a split decision win over Pacquiao’s Mexican nemesis, Juan Manuel Marquez, during their match last week in Las Vegas, Nevada. Continue reading
POEMS FROM A LOST GENERATION
October 16, 2013
Poetry will occupy center stage on October 24, with the launch of the new book, Companionable Voices: Five Filipino Poets, at the Upper Lounge of the Malayan Plaza at Ortigas Center, Pasig City. The book contains a selection of poems by five contemporary Filipino poets from the 1960s who have been largely silent the last three decades and are collectively dubbed A Lost Generation. These are Cesar Ruiz Aquino, Recah A. Trinidad, Erwin E. Castillo, Wilfredo Pascua Sanchez and Juan Jose Jolico Cuadra, recently deceased. Continue reading
Pasay to undertake 300-hectare Manila Bay reclamation project
October 16, 2013
PASAY CITY – Pasay City Mayor Antonio Calixto, Vice Mayor Marlon Pesebre and the City Council have been asked to make public the plans for the reclamation and development of 300 hectares in the Pasay side of Manila Bay starting at the seawall at the Mall of Asia. Continue reading
Drilon finally decides to sign Napoles subpoena
October 16, 2013
PASAY CITY – Senate President Franklin Drilon finally decided to sign on Wednesday the subpoena compelling alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Napoles to appear before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee. Continue reading
Two Americas ? – Will Where You Live Decide if You Benefit from Obamacare?
Watching the fervor of Republican efforts to “defund” the Affordable Care Act (ACA – or Obamacare), I have been wondering : is it just ‘kabuki’ theater – acting out a ritual attack on Pres. Obama? Or, do they actually have teeth to undo the reform in U.S. health care ? Last November, Speaker Boehner said Obamacare is now the “law of the land”. It’s worth recalling, in 2003, Democrats supported implementation of the Republicans’ Medicare Prescription Drug legislation, after they had opposed its design. In 2013, should we not expect Republican legislators to do the same for Obamacare? Listening to Sen. Ted Cruz tell bed-time stories to us all from the Senate floor, it was difficult to see what practical impact Republican opposition may have on the ACA. He has made no specific proposals to “lower health care costs without growing government”. Continue reading
The Master Propagandist at work
For the past 41 years, Philippine newspapers have continuously reported that Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law on September 21, 1972. Ironically, the news reports commemorating that dark chapter in Philippine history were often accompanied by a copy of the front page of the Sunday Express displaying a photo of Marcos with the banner headline “FM Declares Martial Law”. Continue reading
Coffee: wonder drug
The wonder drugs aspirin, statins, and erectile dysfunction pills now share the spotlight with coffee. Yes, the beverages that has gotten an undeserved bum rap for decades, the morning-waker-upper many of us enjoy, is now considered a wonder drug. Continue reading