The Bohol and Quezon Tragedies
THE BOHOL AND QUEZON TRAGEDIES In this world there are two tragedies. One is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it. The last is much the worst – OSCAR WILDE They could have been averted if not their effects diminished had the local government units…
Skewed Priorities
There is enough in the world for everyone’s need, but not enough for everyone’s greed (Frank Buchman (1878-1961), U.S. evangelist. Remaking the World (1947). In the January 10, 2005 issue of the Philippine Star, it reported: (Mayor Hernando Avellaneda) estimated that…
Paang Bundok
Paang Bundok is a child’s paradise. While his city counterpart has the Paraiso ng Batang Maynila, the kid from Paang Bundok has that entire Eden all to himself. Paang Bundok is nestled at the foot of an unnamed hill in Calauag, Quezon. Curiously, while that…
Cursum Perficio
This phrase which literally means “I completed the course” or “I finished the race”, was found etched in one bench marble in the mansion of Marilyn Monroe shortly after she was found dead of apparent drug overdose on August 5, 1962. She was 36. Marilyn Monroe never…
Please Help Quezon
Privatized Intelligence And Discretionary Funds Annually, the local chief executive has the calamity fund, the gender fund, the intelligence fund, and the fun funds (the 20% development fund parlayed at the unfettered discretion of the LCE). The Intelligence Fund can…
Sins of Local Government Units (LGUs)
In the early 60s, the clamor then was the emasculation of the Executive branch insofar as fund support for local governments is concerned. It was then the heyday of Imperial Manila where one saw the spectacle of local officials making beelines to the Office of the…
Gusot Mayaman
“Just as Buddhas are covered with gold, so people want fine clothing” (Chinese proverb). In 1997, I started changing my Barong Tagalog wardrobe from the Santana of the 90s to the Gusot Mayaman of the 2000s. Of course before the Santana we have the chiffonile of…
Jueteng and Pork Barrel
JUETENG Did you know that jueteng has been with us for the last 100 years? Some historians may dispute this, as some kind of lottery was already mentioned by Jose Rizal in one of his writings. And when you say circa Rizal, you are talking of the 19th century or 200…
Polly Pobeda
He now belongs to the league of icons that never grow old. His picture will always remind us that he’s all that: irreverent, unorthodox, fashionable, incisive, humorous, and naughty. To die at thirty five is duplicative of the great men who died before him. Dying at a…