Rules of engagement

To most of us, nothing can possibly be more exhausting than to defend ourselves day after day against those who have chosen us to be their enemies.  But some people are like Nietzsche’s warrior:  they seek resistance and they need resistance to sustain their strength. There are 2 members of President Ramos’s official family who … Read more

Aetas

If angels are real, then this year they came to us in the form of the Aetas. “Angelos” is the Greek term for messenger.  And the Aetas have come with a simple message: think beyond yourselves.  By their sheer presence in the streets of Manila during these holidays, the Aetas have challenged us to rethink … Read more

The art of sleep

In the last few years, a hormone which carries the name  melatonin has become very popular among people who have trouble summoning sleep. When first launched, it was meant as a cure for jet-lag.  Today, it is also being advertised as an antidote to old age. Melatonin is produced naturally by our pineal gland during … Read more

Chito Roque: the alien next door

Why should anyone believe Chito Roque, the man who has come out to name the key players in the underworld of jueteng? His credibility is in tatters.  His overall appearance is that of someone who has not cared to look after himself in a long time.  There is no trace of the bearing of the … Read more

The ethics of a face

There is a 2-year-old baby  in our house.  No, she is not the child of any of our children.  She is the daughter of one of the maids.  She got pregnant and her boyfriend would not marry her.  We told her maybe it was just as well since they were both too young, but that … Read more