Monthly Archives: August 2014
4th impeachment complaint filed vs PNoy as allies seek term extension
July 16, 2014
QUEZON CITY — A fourth impeachment complaint against President Benigno S. Aquino III has been filed before the House of Representatives by a member of Congress himself.
The fourth complaint was filed by ACT Teacher party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio and signed by 16 other complainants, accused the President fo alleged betrayal of public trust and cuplpable violation of the Constitution citing the Chief Executive for allegedly continuing with the pork barrel despite having been ruled as unconstitutional and illegal by the Supreme Court.” Continue reading
South China Sea Challenge
In the past year or two there seemingly has been a sudden rise of fiery tensions between several South-East Asian nations – notably Philippines and Vietnam – and China over their competing claims to the Spratly (Nansha) Islands – a large group of over 230 islands and other rock formations (shoals, reefs, banks and cays) covering a vast area of over 800,000 square kilometers across the South China Sea (SCS). Meanwhile, Vietnam and China have engaged in aggressive skirmishing over competing oil rigs and fishing grounds around the Paracels (Xisha) Islands that lie between northern Vietnam and the southern Chinese island of Hainan. Continue reading
Walking down the aisle
Before there was Facebook, before there was cell phone texting, before there was Instagram and Twitter, there was a time when my wife, Edna, and I would just lie quietly in bed, reading books.
On my side of the bed lay a stack of books generally about politics, history and law. On Edna’s side were books about religion, personal growth and inspirational accounts of lives well-lived. Continue reading
A travesty of justice
N ow that the three musketeers of the pork barrel scam, and their mastermind Muse and Cheerleader Janet Napoles, are behind bars, and all the rest of their fellow (35 or so) plunderers or conspirators joining them, another deviant facet of our Philippine culture, besides the culture of corruption, has started to emerge and come under the spotlight once again. Continue reading
Usapang Saker (Pagkatapos ng World Cup)
Tumutok ang malaking bahagi ng populasyon ng buong mundo sa FIFA World Cup sa Brazil. Pero hindi ito masyadong napansin ng mga Pinoy. Hindi kasi nakapasok sa laban sa world cup ang koponan sa saker ng Pilipinas na Azkals. Mas tumuon pa ang maraming Pinoy sa laban sa kampeyonato ng San Antonio Spurs at Miami Heat sa National Basketball Association (NBA) Continue reading
CRUISIN’ THE MULTIVERSE The Warp Drive Explained Part two
Humanity must develop technologies to travel to the stars; it’s our only hope to stave off extinction. Books have been written, popular science magazines illustrate reasons, science fiction movies and television programs opine that humanity’s ultimate survival depends on colonizing habitable exoplanets. Continue reading
The Shades and Shadows of a Filipino
Having been blessed with the opportunity of living in different continents, I cannot help but recall the many times I met Filipinos who valued their regional origin (e.g. Ilocano, Bicolano, Tagalog, Bisaya, et.al) more than their national identity. Born, raised and bred in Manila, with parents from different sub-ethnic groups and different linguistic backgrounds Continue reading
China Blinks!
Geopolitical games are like a game of chess, if a player blinks it shows weakness. And that’s exactly what happened last July 15, 2014 during the oil rig standoff between China and Vietnam in the disputed waters near the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea. The following day, China withdrew her oil rig. Checkmate! Continue reading
The Neighborhood We Thought We Knew
It was like reliving our first year in the U.S. all over again when we decided to move back from Buffalo Grove to Chicago last year in August. Honestly, we didn’t think we’d like it at all here. We had, after all, been so used to the quiet , clean and beautiful suburban community we had known, lived in and moved around for 28 years. Bart didn’t think he’d like city living anymore. I, on the other hand, was more open and willing to sincerely try. Continue reading
Cheers and Jeers for SONA
Going into his last two years in office, President Benigno S. Aquino III delivered his 5th State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 27 before the joint session of Congress. As usual, the Chief Executive’s report on his administration’s accomplishments was glowing but was wanting on many other issues. Thus, as in his other SONAs, the report drew cheers and support and jeers, especially from his known critics. Continue reading