The Agony of Danding
"The right merchant is one who has the just average of faculties we call common sense; a man of a strong affinity for facts, who makes up his decision on what he has seen. He is thoroughly persuaded of the truths of arithmetic. There is always a reason, in the man,...
What If Your Correspondent is on the Payroll of the News Subject?
This is a valid question especially where the news reports call for an objective narration of what exactly happened in an event that comes close to the heart of the press: the death of a broadcaster. There is no denying the fact that, true, media practitioners must...
A Bicolano Betrayal
" 'Tis not seasonable to call a man a traitor that has an army at his heels." John Selden (1584-1654), British jurist, statesman. "Traitor," Table Talk (1686). We pride ourselves with our regionalistic inclinations. We identify ourselves with our friends, relatives,...
Barefaced Local Corruption
In its September 14, 2003 issue, the Philippine Star reported the following: ASIA'S LARGEST CONVENTION CENTER TO BE BUILT IN SUBIC SUBIC BAY FREEPORT The Subic International Hotel (SIH), the Freeport's largest hotel, will invest P300 million for the construction of a...
One Quezon
Quezon Province, no doubt, is one big stretch of a country. A former governor once mused that Pres. Quezon, being a semi-dictator in his time, personally delineated the metes and bounds of his province, Tayabas, using a pencil in the presence of the chiefs of the...
Investors, Anyone?
The other day I was talking to a "veteran foreign investor", that is, someone who has clinched a project or two during the last twenty six years starting with the LRT and other forgettable ventures with local businessmen. He said nothing can top Marcos' time by the...
All Rise
Of all the three branches in republican government, the judiciary is unique. It is described thus because the persons appointed in it are insulated from the people's popular approval. Unlike the legislative and the presidency, the members of the courts are not...
Quo Vadis Quezon?
Now that the sound and the fury of the May 2004 elections have dissipated, where is Quezon going?It is not going to the dogs as some of us fear, but our fears are certainly real since we are going straight not to the wailing and hungry canines but to a long, cold, and...
Anti-Poor Supreme Court
The Constitution mandates that the Supreme Court shall promulgate rules and regulations that foster inexpensive litigation and the rendition of justice is conveniently made available to all. Thus, it shall (p)romulgate rules concerning the protection and enforcement...